Today, HLS kicks off a new series of pre-season analysis: "Know Thyself, Know Thy Enemy." In it, we will be comparing and contrasting the likely starter at selected positions with the "best" of our opponents in 2012. So, without further ado and to get your week started off on the right foot, let's look at the punter and kicker positions. PUNTER The Irish: Ben Turk will probably be punting for the Irish in 2012. A 5'11" senior, Ben punted the ball 53 times last year, averaging 40.30 yards per ...
Make that 2 for #IrishMob14: Justin Brent is Irish. For now. It’s a verbal.
After a weekend visit to campus with his mother at his side, soon to be junior in high school Justin Brent accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Notre Dame, making him the second verbal commitment to the Class of 2014. According to my secret sources, the 6'3" Speedway High School WR knew that ND was the place for him while on a campus visit. To Ohio State. ...
If You Can’t Have a Bye, You May as Well Have Purdue
In 53 days and a wake up, we play Navy. I became acquainted with the "and a wake up" method of counting days when I was deployed and would anticipate going home as the sum of any number of days "and a wake up." That the phrase includes the act of sleeping makes it particluarly appropriate when considering Purdue and the possible negative effects playing in Dublin will have on the Irish in 2012. The NFL has played a game in London every year since 2007, when the New York Giants played the ...
Looking Back: 1993 ND v. FSU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cipJq3ZHuuQ "I understand why you feel that way, Coach, but I think I can lead this team to a national championship." That's what Kevin McDougal told Coach Holtz at the start of the 1993 season, my senior year. Kevin was a Manorite, like me, but there the similarities ended. Well, other than the winning smile and a funny throwing style. When the 1993 football season started, the program was, to be honest, kind of a hot mess: Coach Holtz was battling his ...
Mattingly Picks Irish
Danny Mattingly, a three star (ESPN and Rivals) recruit, (solidly) (for what that's worth) verbally committed to Notre Dame. Danny brings Notre Dame's Class of 2013 total to 15, or 1,345 fewer than Alabama. Danny's tall (6'5") and runs the 40 in 4.61 seconds. He was recruited by Coach Mike Denbrock, so it will be neat to see where he ultimately winds up. ...
Title IX is XL!
Today marks the fortieth year of Title IX, which for you LSU students out there is pronounced "nine." Title IX changed the face of education in this country and added "daughters" to "sons," though one really shouldn't try and sneak that in to the fight song, okay? Rather elegantly, Title IX (20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688) provides that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any ...
Simply the Best: Notre Dame’s Offensive Enemies, 1989 to 2012
In the latest installment of this site's efforts to run out the clock until we beat Navy (72 days, kids!), I wanted to look back at the best of those we've played since last we were the best. As a lawyer, I'm all about objective findings, so I used ND's 1988 National Championship as the last time we were "objectively" the best. I'm also all about the assumptions that underlie an opinion, so my "quest for the best" considered only those who played for our "traditional" foes: Army, Navy, Michigan, ...
Friday Night Fighting: Mike Lee Beats Durazo in Four. And in Six.
Notre Dame's very own Mike Lee defeated Mexico's Eliseo "El Negro" Durazo in a four round, err six round, fight on Friday night at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. If you've quit on boxing or if you've never been a fan because the MMA or WWE puts out a better product, Lee versus Durazo gave you fifty reasons why you made the right choice and fifty reasons why you need to give boxing another chance. Lee is a compelling fighter, if only because he's smarter than ...
Academics, Race and Recruiting: Jaylon Smith and the 99%
So, you've heard by now that Jaylon Smith verbally committed to ND on Saturday. Grantland-X did a great job covering the high points and what it means yesterday. I want to continue that analysis, but into an area that caught my eye. Not like this did, but also in a profound way. You see, to Jaylon Smith, football wasn't the important thing about ND. When you read the quotes, and hat tip to Tony Krausz for laying most of them all out there, the school, and its proximity to mom, was the thing. To ...
The 2012 Schedule: for God, Country and Notre Dame!
Yesterday, Grantland-X got the 2012 schedule debate started and argued that the schedule is perfect in every single way. Today, it's my turn and my opinion is this: our schedule is an awesome gauntlet, it's kryptonite to the ND-Haters out there who pretend we play a weak schedule, AND I LOVE IT. The Vincent DeSantis-trained historian in me, though, sees only two possible outcomes for the boys in blue and gold, and neither is an easy, or certain, slog. Dulce et decorum est... Bruce Feldman, ...