By now, most Fighting Irish fans are familiar with a certain kind of article about Notre Dame football. You know, the kind that serve mostly as click-bait to drive up the pageviews, coming in two flavors: "irrelevant" and "Notre Dame has sold it's soul for football". They, and their target audiences, simply can't reconcile that any school, much less Notre Dame, can achieve success in football by "doing it the right way" off the field as well. ND's current success simply must be a product of some ...
Alabama
Good Fridays w/Padre: Sing-Along
Even though it’s Advent, a time of sober preparation, and finals, a time of wailing and gnashing of teeth, people are already becoming sentimental and excited about Christmas. Maybe not Alabama students, since Tuscaloosa proudly calls itself Druid City (in which case we wish them a happy Winter Solstice). Even though it’s traditional to give presents on the Feast of the Nativity, the gift we are all hoping for won’t come until January 7. We’ll just pretend that there were actually four Magi ...
It’s Official: Notre Dame and Alabama in BCS Title Game
In perhaps EPSN's most anti-climatic BCS reveal show ever, Notre Dame and Alabama received their official invites to the BCS National Title game. At HLS, this now means we start the process of breaking down as much Alabama information as possible for the next month as well as bracing for some newfound SEC visitors that happen to stumble upon us. For now though, less enjoy some reactions from Brian Kelly and the players in celebration of this great moment. ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Mercy
We find ourselves is a strange position, awash with unaccustomed emotions. No, this has nothing to do with being undefeated and Number 1. That is our proper position and we should feel simple contentment for, indeed, all is right with the world. I mean we are caught up in the unusual furor of conference-hatred. Not belonging to one of these mutual-mediocrity-assurance societies, we have no natural animosity toward any of them. Normally, we deride them all equally. (Do we hate the Big 10? ...
Friday Roundup: The “One Miiiiiiiiiiillion…” Edition
2012 has been a hell of a year for Notre Dame Football (and at this rate, possibly basketball as well) and it's also been a banner year for HLS. Thanks to you, Loyal Readers, for the first time in our history, HLS has broken the one million pageview threshold in a single year. ...
The Myth of the SEC
The SEC is home to the last six BCS National Titles and they will have a shot to make it seven in January. They are home to some of the best teams that college football has to offer. Their style of play is the standard to which the rest of college football is measured in this era. Make no mistake, the SEC is good; however, like some good things, their actual excellence is oversold, over-hyped, and grown into a myth of epic proportions. ...
Looking Ahead: Georgia, Alabama Battle to Play Notre Dame
In case you missed it, Notre Dame defeated the USC Trojans 22-13 to finish a perfect 12-0 and pick up a Number One ranking in the BCS and AP Polls. If you really did miss it, and I have a hard time believing you did, given the game's 10.3 overnight television ratings, you must go back right away and read Tex's fantastic recap. Once you're up to speed, we can begin. Ready? Okay. On January 7, 2013, Notre Dame will in all likelihood play the winner of the SEC Championship. To be played ...
Friday Roundup: The “One Hell of a Week” Edition
From the last Roundup to now quite a lot has gone down. The #1 team in the nation fell, the QB Flavor of the Week Award Heisman Trophy race got another contender, Kansas State has a QB on the cover of SI, the usual sampling of news that can be found in the Roundup below, we got a new sponsor, our server had some major issues (I'll sleep one of these days), and the Notre Dame campaign is starting to get into full swing. ...
Declaratory Judgment
NOW INTO COURT, through undersigned blogger, comes The University of Notre Dame (hereinafter "ND," "The Irish," "The Fighting Irish" or "Notre Dame") to move this Honorable Court for Judgment declaring that it be ranked Number One in the Bowl Championship Series (hereinafter "BCS"). Petitioner does not seek for Judgment declaring that it is "the best" team in college football but, rather, that the objective data supports only one premise: the Irish are Number One. In the alternative, and only in ...
Friday Roundup: The “Just Win, Baby” Edition
Much of the talk this past week in college football has centered around one central topic. If Alabama, Kansas State, Oregon, and, yes, Notre Dame remain undefeated, who goes to Miami to compete for the national title? Schedules have been compared. Style points tallied. Tea leaves read. Throughout all of the these activities though, one thing must not be forgotten: win. Every. Damn. Game. ...