You can listen right now below, download in iTunes, or even load an mp3 on our BlogTalkRadio site. Enjoy!

Hope you’re ready for A LOT of highlights this Saturday that include the guy we interviewed this week on Down the Line. None other than Kevin McDougal, quarterback of the incredible 1993 Notre Dame Football Team! McDougal’s place in Fighting Irish lore remains entrenched for those that remember the magical run put on by Lou Holtz’s squad that fall. Rick Mirer was off to the NFL, All-Word QB recruit Ron Powlus was going to win 2 Heisman trophies in South Bend, and the athletic 5th year senior from Florida was headed to the final year of a career mostly spent on the bench. A late August injury to Powlus thrust McDougal into the starting role and what transpired is nothing short of remarkable.

Also joining us is Oscar McBride, starting tight end on the 1993 squad and routine road grader for Lee Becton and the Irish running attack.

Nothing captured the 1993 season quite like the Florida State V. Notre Dame game that November. ESPN packed up its bags for the first ever College Gameday live on a campus in a contest that lived up to its “Game of the Century” moniker. As you can imagine, both McDougal and McBride have fond memories of the game and Coach Holtz’s notes and messages to the team. They are shared on this podcast.

Both alums also have paid keen attention to the 2014 Irish Football team and took stock on what they think are the keys to winning this game and making a 2nd half run. McDougal spoke at length regarding what he’s seeing in Everett Golson and what he expects the message for him to be from Brian Kelly. All-around amazing stuff! Enjoy!

Twitter: @ManCaveQB

Email: herringbonesports@gmail.com

The post Podcast! Kevin McDougal & Oscar McBride Preview FSU! appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

You can listen right now below, download in iTunes, or even load an mp3 on our BlogTalkRadio site. Enjoy!

We also utilize this show to spread more awareness about Savin’ Aven fundraiser on GoFundMe. Read more here on HerLoyalSons or hit the Fundraising Page.

Legendary Notre Dame alum and 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown joined the show this week. The first wide receiver in college football history to win the Heisman has a new book out, The Making of a Man, and is on a nationwide book tour promoting it. He’ll be in Oakland this weekend to sign for his loyal Raider fans and be a special guest at the team’s home game.

We got Touchdown Timmy’s insight on the current Notre Dame receiver crop and he even shared his opinion on the reshuffling of the Notre Dame offensive line. Perhaps his most memorable quote came regarding the Irish defense. When asked if the unit had surprised him, he responded “No they haven’t surprised me … They’ve SHOCKED me!” All around great stuff from one of the game’s greatest ever.

Notre Dame Class of 1987 got some more attention on the show with Newsweek’s John Walters calling in to share his thoughts on the season, college football’s wild weekend, the new comedy show Mulaney, and ESPN’s Seth Davis and his career in New York City stand-up comedy. (No, seriously.)

Contact me:

Twitter: @ManCaveQB

Email: herringbonesports@gmail.com

The post Tim Brown Podcast! appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

You can listen right now below, download in iTunes, or even load an mp3 on our BlogTalkRadio site. Enjoy!

Tommy Rees joined our show for the first time this week and was extraordinary. Rees is a player that has every right to be somewhat defensive and guarded when it comes to his time in South Bend. From media and fan frustrations to QB controversies with multiple higher rated teammates to last second thrills and late game heartbreak  – Tommy Rees saw it all over four years in South Bend. For all he endured, Tommy came off as extremely personable and open during our first interview.

Yes … he possibly dropped an F-Bomb when asked about his first game experience and interception against Michigan in 2010, but that only makes the interview better!

Tommy also shared his thoughts on Everett Golson’s continued development as a quarterback and if coaching football is the next step for him. Great stuff all around!

Thanks to all our loyal listeners and we’re hoping to build more each and every week!

Contact me:

Twitter: @ManCaveQB

Email: herringbonesports@gmail.com

The post Tommy Rees Podcast! appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

You can listen right now below, download in iTunes, or even load an mp3 on our BlogTalkRadio site. Enjoy!

Who better than Lou Holtz to tell us how Notre Dame put a whipping on Michigan this past Saturday?!? Before Notre Dame’s 38-0 31-0 dismantling of the Wolverines in South Bend, Coach Holtz told the Pep Rally attendees that “this Notre Dame team is special” and “it’s time to take Michigan off the schedule to improve its strength!” He now appears prophetic.

Also joining us is Tony Rice. You might remember him from classic games like Catholics v Convicts I or starring as the MVP of the 1988 National Championship Game. Coach Holtz’s trusted signal-caller appeared on this show way back in August of 2012 where he boldly predicted a bright future for yet-to-be-named-starter Everett Golson. We’re sure Tony will have some fresher takes on his fellow South Carolina native after Golson put on his second dominant performance of the season.

This show also includes locker room audio of Irish players exclusively obtained by TNNDN after the win, including Cody Riggs take on the rivalry compared to his experiences at the University of Florida.

Thanks to all our loyal listeners and we’re hoping to build more each and every week!

Contact me:

Twitter: @ManCaveQB

Email: herringbonesports@gmail.com

The post Lou Holtz & Tony Rice Podcast! appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

You can listen below, download in iTunes, or even load an mp3 on our BlogTalkRadio site. Enjoy!

Returning from a long hiatus, we were ecstatic to be joined by current Newsweek columnist, former Sports Illustrated writer, and always entertaining Twitter personality John Walters. The 1988 Notre Dame alum was a perfect choice to review the current state of affairs of Notre Dame Football in light of an academic fraud investigation. We touch on the way outside media continues to handle Fighting Irish missteps, the impact of the four Irish players who may miss games or the season, his expectations of the running game and QB play, and breaks down the Emmy’s.

We are huge fans of John at Down the Line as we never know for sure where the conversation is going to end up. Looking forward to many more in 2014-2015.

Thanks to all our loyal listeners and we’re hoping to build more in 2014!

Contact me:

Twitter: @ManCaveQB

Email: herringbonesports@gmail.com

The post Podcast – John Walters on Down the Line appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

You can listen below, download in iTunes, or even load an mp3 on our BlogTalkRadio site. Enjoy!

Look – I’m well aware that it’s been a frustrating week in the world of Notre Dame Football. Instead of getting psyched up about the rapidly approaching season (12 days & counting!), praising impressive freshmen (Trumbetti!), or game-planning our new offense (the era of Greg Bryant!) … we’re spending time scrambling for answers that we probably aren’t getting anytime soon, if ever.

But I am fairly certain that this investigation isn’t taking anything away from the 1988 National Championship team and Jerry Barca has written the definitive account of that team and their incredible season. Unbeatable: Notre Dame’s 1988 National Championship and the Last Great College Football Season, goes where no other research has gone on the team, coaches, players, fans, opponents, and more. Jerry kicks the show and 2014 season of Down the Line off right by providing some insight into his work creating this valuable piece of Notre Dame Football history. Buy the book while on campus at Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, on Barca’s website, and follow him on Twitter for updates on book signings and events.

Also on this show, Her Loyal Sons own Big Man on Campus, NDtex, stopped by the update fans on the changes and news for HLS heading into 2014. New content, new writers, new media, and other factoids from the Editor-in-Chief will help you properly prepare for the season here. Feel free to disregard the “debate” over who will start at QB for the Irish, as it was unsurprisingly announced 24 hours after recording.

Thanks to all our loyal listeners and we’re hoping to build more in 2014!

Contact me:

Twitter: @ManCaveQB

Email: herringbonesports@gmail.com

The post Podcast: Author Jerry Barca & NDtex on TNNDN! appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

At first it seems impossible to capture the essence and impact of Louis Nix on the Notre Dame Football program and fan-base. The depth of his tenure in South Bend is legendary in a way that almost seems void of a quality comparison. Why is it that we love to cheer for our All-American nose guard in manner unlike any other current or former Irish player? What is it about Louis Nix III that touches ND fans in such an astoundingly positive way? Bring up his name in front of any Domer and their reaction tells the story – Notre Dame fans instinctively smile at the mention of our favorite nose guard. How incredibly rare is that?!? Nix elicits a genuine emotion of joy at the mere reference of his name. And it’s not a joy or smile found in Brady Quinn’s aerial assaults or the astounding leadership of Manti Te’o or the championship heroics of Tony Rice & Joe Montana. It’s just different … and maybe his legacy is best if we don’t understand why we adore him so much. When you look back on the last four years of the Louis Nix III Experience, it’s becomes clear that we’ve all been privilege to the very special career of a transcendent, once-in-a-generation player and personality.

*Editor’s Note: The first 2/3 of this article was written prior to hearing Louis Nix was out for the season. We’ll still smile when hearing his name, but Saturday afternoon that grin will accompany plenty of tears from too many to count.

The Louis Nix Experience In Three Parts – What a Wild Ride

Part I – It’s probably time to accept that Louis Nix won’t ever again be suiting up for a game in Notre Dame Stadium. How he even ended up wearing the Blue & Gold is a story you’ve heard before but will always be worth telling. Louis Nix committed to the University of Miami in 2009 and seemed destined to join a long line of Florida prep stars to stay in-state at one of their three Division I powers. Nix kept a door cracked for Charlie Weis, even when the Irish stumbled down the stretch of their schedule and finished 6-6 after four consecutive losses that would seal the embattled Weis’s fate as Head Coach. Weis was fired on November 30th and in what was one of the oddest recruiting stories in memory, maybe foretelling his future in South Bend, Louis Nix III made what was a silent commitment to Notre Dame public despite his choice of school not employing a head coach. Plenty of athletes at academic institutions, Notre Dame included, claim to have made their choice with post-graduate motives in mind. Nix can stake claim to having made his choice when nothing was certain regarding any aspect of the football program. Notre Dame and South Bend were for him and the football part would take care of itself. It was the beginning of a complicated road to stardom in Northern Indiana.

Halfway through Louis Nix’s freshman season in 2010, it seemed difficult to project him as the second coming of Bryant Young in an Irish uniform. He showed up on campus out of shape and ill-prepared for the challenges of college football. He couldn’t crack a mediocre 2nd & 3rd team Notre Dame defensive line and ultimately red-shirted during Brian Kelly’s first year at the helm. Knowing now how disruptive a player Louis Nix could be, one can’t help but wonder what 5-10 plays a game of a freshman Louis Nix during a 4 point loss to Michigan, a 3 point OT loss to Michigan State and the still stings 1 point loss to Tulsa might have provided.  Instead Nix headed to the 2011 offseason as one of the biggest question marks on the team and a quick afterthought among fans following the signing of 5-Star defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt & Aaron Lynch.

While Louis Nix was prepping in 2011 for his first season of actually playing college football, he also dropped his first YouTube sensation – a peek into the hilarious, goofy, ridiculous, heart-warming character we were all about to start getting to know. What else is there to say – This is Louis Nix, up close and personal, terribly mouthing the words to Bruno Mars “Grenade” while lounging around in an Indiana Pacers jersey and chowing down on hearty chunks of banana:

[youtube id=”gvf7r9vG1fQ”]

It wouldn’t be the end of this media darling’s hits on YouTube. Just days before 2011 Fall Camp, Nix went back to the well and sang Rascal Flats “God Bless The Broken Road” while showcasing a box of Kashi GoLean Crunch. You couldn’t in a million years make this stuff up. He hadn’t made a tackle as an Irish player, but rooting for him was becoming a lot easier.

Things improved for Nix on the field as well in 2011. He stopped recording videos during the fall and started manhandling offensive linemen while sporting the #9 jersey in honor of Kyle Rudolph. He led all Irish defensive linemen in tackles with 45 while also tallying 4.5 Tackles for Loss. More importantly, Bob Diaco had found the ideal player to command double-teams and wreak havoc on the interior line, while keeping blockers off Manti Te’o – who would rack up 128 tackles playing behind a true 3-4 nose guard. It was really just the beginning for the man who’d dubbed himself “Irish Chocolate” and was about to take that moniker to a whole new level.

Part II – With the groundwork laid on and off the field in 2011, Louis Nix was primed for a breakout year in 2012. While much of the calendar would be filled with highlights, the Louis Nix III story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning what took place during 2012 spring ball. Irish fan’s projected wrecking crew of a defensive line saw Freshman All-American Aaron Lynch quit the team and transfer while at the same time, Nix’s classmate Kona Schwenke was beating out Irish Chocolate on the Nose Guard depth chart. Brian Kelly was low on praise for Nix during spring camp and the junior’s Twitter activity wasn’t exactly indicative of a happy camper. Looking back it was a blip on the career radar of Louis Nix, but maybe a clue to what Brian Kelly knew he had on his hands heading into his third season leading the program. Buttons needed to be pushed. It’d appear they worked.

June 11th, 2012 – A day that will live in infamy. Fans of Notre Dame and ridiculousness were blessed on this date with the debut of Chocolate News. The show’s run would be brief but unforgettable. Seeming to put the spring behind him, the debut episode featured Nix repeatedly mentioning the need to “get right” in reference to their shopping lists and multiple demands of freshman Sheldon Day to “put down the Honey Buns!!!”. While the rest of the College Football world was putting USC in the National Championship Game, we were getting fresh looks at life as an ND player with the perfect host. Nix’s final cut on the 5.5 episode series found him on the balcony of his hotel room in Ireland scanning the grounds, then pulling the camera to his face and uttering what we were all thinking:

“I’d pet a moose in Ireland cuz we’re in Ireland! We pet mooses around here!”

[youtube id=”rm0HCpaEjAI”]

Here is where we could wax poetic on all that was in the 2012 regular season. Let’s make it simple – Louis Nix was the best defensive tackle in America. Period. He faced what were arguably the nation’s top two centers in Gabe Ikard and Barrett Jones and embarrassed them physically. Maybe you point to the Stanford goal-line stand as the paramount moment during last year, but this SoCal-raised writer will never forget Louis Nix exploding through the line on USC’s 3rd & Goal attempt from the half yard line to set up the play that would seal regular season perfection. From our own Irish Twins (artist formerly known as Knute School Fool) – the USC stand in full. If you feel like watching it 10 times consecutively, every person reading this will understand:

[youtube id=”bc5MPrEC_2g”]

Part III – Parts Two & Three overlap a touch because this chapter really began when Nix made it official in mid December of 2012 that he’d be returning for his senior year. He was still a few weeks away from putting together one of few bright spots for the Irish in Miami and a few days from his NFL Draft Evaluation returning with a mid 1st Round Grade. Much like the decision he made 3 years prior, Nix took the more challenging, significantly more uncertain road that would end with a college degree instead of a massive payday. One that could pay for his mother’s much-needed knee replacement. They both were apparently on the same page: Louis Nix III had started something in South Bend that he was going to finish. Plus – he had a few more highlights to share.

Nix kicked off the 2013 Fighting Irish season by announcing he was going to wear jersey #1 because he wasn’t allowed to were double zeroes. This wasn’t going to be enough for his Spring Football buzz. During what has become a ballyhooed practice session, Nix stole the show yet again and did what he does best -made us smile. Trotting out late in the game, he lined up at quarterback and executed a perfect QB Draw for touchdown. When asked about what he was looking at before the play he proclaimed, “I was making checks … They were, um, silent checks.” Damn, he’ll be missed:

[youtube id=”DxS13tok_kw”]

It’s safe to say that 2013 hasn’t gone quite as Louis Nix had planned. He’s now claiming that he possibly injured the knee in the Alabama game where he played so valiantly. He had surgery Thursday that signals the end of his season and likely his collegiate career. His teammates and fans robbed of his play in 5 of 13 games this year when all is said and done. But is his third act at Notre Dame a “tragedy”? By no means.

What Louis Nix has accomplished on campus deserves nothing short of a celebration. He chose the path less traveled and it has made all the difference. In a few weeks he’ll be the first college graduate from his family. He overcame homesickness, weight struggles, family heartbreak, and much more than we’ll ever know to emerge as a loved program icon who spearheaded one of the greatest Irish defenses in history while giving a fan-base that often doesn’t deserve it a reason to smile.

Thank you Louis Nix.

What’s next for LNIII? I’d like to imagine that if we posed that question to him he’d respond with something like, “I guess I’ll get drafted and yada, yada, yada…”

The post The Louis Nix III Experience appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

On a very special episode of TNNDN’s Down the Line Podcast, we were joined by recent Irish players and graduates Dayne Crist, Mike Golic Jr., and Robby Toma. Truth be told, Golic and Crist knew they were coming on to rap on Senior Day, the 2013 Notre Dame Football Season, and update us on what they’re up to these days. Toma, who’d been on recently, had agreed to come on during their interviews and pretend to be a fan with a question. The question Robby Toma asked of his former teammates? It was pretty straightforward – “What did you think about playing with a guy like Robby Toma?” As I was in on the charade, I actually had to mute my microphone because I was laughing so hard. I could tell immediately that Toma was attempting, terribly mind you, to disguise his voice while Dayne and Mike seemed to get what was going on immediately but weren’t 100% sure so they played along to a certain degree. The whole segment with these guys is great but the gold starts around the 15 minute mark if you want to fast forward to it.

During our time with the guys we hit the trio up on the following topics:

1. Thoughts on the 2013 season, struggles, injuries.
2. Advising teammates with eligibility remaining but lofty draft prospects like Toma’s best friend Manti Te’o, Crist’s good friend Kyle Rudolph, and Golic’s linemate Zack Martin.
3. Dayne’s thoughts on Tommy Rees and his play in 2013.
4. Golic’s reaction to the team not practicing during the BYE week due to so many line injuries
5. Do BYU players actually have Old Man Strength advantages over other colleges? (The answer may surprise you.)
6. What makes Braxton Cave’s house and his mother’s burritos so special.
7. Memories of their own Senior Day

If you choose to listen to the back half of the episode, we preview and predict what will happen against BYU and hit on some of the news related to the men’s and women’s basketball programs. We have been credentialed for both hoops teams in 2013/14, so stay tuned for exclusive post-game audio clips and extended coverage once football season grinds to a halt, which is obviously coming way too soon.

Thanks for all your support – next week when we preview Stanford could be an all-time episode.

The post Mike Golic Jr., Dayne Crist & Robby Toma on Down The Line Podcast appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

First Thing – I must start off with a big thank you to the team here at Her Loyal Sons for welcoming me with open arms in light of the retirement of The Subway Domer. TSD was gracious enough to invite me to a bigger site back in the summer of 2012 after only a year of blogging solo at my original haunts of Herring Bone Sports. To have been extended an invitation by two of the most prominent Notre Dame blogs in such short order is in many ways humbling and I look forward to adding to the great content regularly produced at HLS.

For the uninitiated to my particular Fighting Irish stylings, <Troy McClure voice> you may remember me from  my podcast work on TNNDN (The New ND Nation) or when I shouted down Fran Tarkenton during a Huffington Post debate about the 2012 Heisman. I’m a SoCal native whose family bumped into Lou Holtz during a cross-country vacation in the summer of 1988 while touring the Notre Dame campus. Dr. Lou sold me on something that day and I’ve followed the team with a passion ever since in spite of no alumni relations or direct regional ties to the University. My father and would go on to take in every USC-Notre Dame game in Los Angeles between 1992-2000. I am not an alum but I’d prefer to blame that on my own goals on the gridiron. A former offensive lineman, my career ended at I-AA (FCS) Wagner College in New York City. Very fortunately, my family inherited a home a few years back about 35 miles from South Bend and it affords me the opportunity to head in a few times per year for games. Enough about me – looking forward to getting to know some new Irish fans on this site and I hope you enjoy the podcasts which are by far my favorite vice for discussing and debating Notre Dame Football.

This show is available in iTunes under the “TNNDN” feed or you can listen here via our BlogTalkRadio link.

Matt Mulvey (’12) & John Walters (’88), my USC Preview interviews, have been guests on most of my MCQB shows because I feel their insight (*and availability to me) brings a different and unique view of the team and the program. Mulvey was the original leader of the Red Army, experienced the Weis-Kelly transition as a player, is close friends with Tommy Rees & Everrett Golson, and quite simply knows what’s going on with the QB play better than any single person outside the program. It’s my goal each week to get something from him that you can’t find anywhere else. When providing the Red Army Reviews you’ll catch his commentary on footwork, audibles, defensive schemes, and insight into Brian Kelly’s playcalling. This week he discussed why Tommy’s completion rate has dropped so significantly in 2013 and what he thinks the coaching staff could do to help him be more successful in the season’s 2nd half. He also singles out a key Irish offensive weapon he’d like to see “get mad” and live up to his enormous potential on Saturday night. Walters left Notre Dame with classmate Tim Brown and moved right into Sports Illustrated where he did research and later wrote for the magazine for over a decade before heading on to other opportunities. He’s worked the Notre Dame beat and covered college football for over 20 years. His Twitter feed (@jdubs88) has become a beacon of honest opinions and insight into Irish football, pop culture, politics, financials, and almost anything else. Without a current position dependent on ND Football access, he’ll sit back and let it rip through tweets and during interviews on my show. Enjoy the show.

It’s great to be here at Her Loyal Sons and I’m looking forward to the next step.

Questions, complaints, concerns? Comment below or get at me

Twitter: @ManCaveQB

E-mail: HerringBoneSports@gmail.com

The post The Man Cave Quarterback Podcast: Previewing USC With John Walters & Matt Mulvey appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.