I’m too old to play. The game is too complicated for me to coach. But I’ve been working out my blessing arm and I’m ready to play to my strength. This is the National Championship, so I’m a blessing machine. You name it, I’ve blessed it. But I invite all loyal readers to let me know what else needs blessing. Here are the rules. ...
Brian Kelly
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: CHARGE!
How perfect it is for the long victory march to arrive at this place, at this time, with these men! How fitting to face the fiercest foe, the blackest blight of the dark decade now left behind! Twelve is an ancient number of perfection – and perfect the Fighting Irish will be, as no other team in the land! With one more struggle, with one more heroic charge, with one more win Notre Dame will have climbed to the summit of an undefeated season. But one enemy stands in the way – and let him! ...
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. ...
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Brian Kelly Stands By His Man
After the extraordinary drama of the thrilling win over Pitt had faded a little bit, Brian Kelly took to the podium as part of his weekly routine. Perhaps, by now, you've watched it, or read about it, but one exchange between the Coach and a, perhaps nervous, perhaps student, reporter caught my attention. At 12:05 in the video below, watch Coach Kelly deal with a perceived challenge to one of his players: http://youtu.be/b1TpQtJlm-k Louis Nix has got a lot in the Bank of Trust with ...
A Tale of Two QBs
There is no quarterback controversy. Brian Kelly has made that clear after each significant Tommy Rees appearance. And as much as I hated Kelly's baseball analogy after the Purdue game, he has indeed taken a baseball mindset to what is now clearly a two-QB system at Notre Dame. Unlike baseball though, once Rees the closer/reliever comes in, the gameplan drastically changes. ...
Quick Fixes for the MSU Game
Sometimes you don't have to play a perfect game to get the job done, and that was certainly evident last week in South Bend. But Notre Dame is 2-0 for the first time since 2008, and that's the most important thing, the only thing that Brian Kelly and co. care about. ...
Irish Survive Purdue, 2011 Flashbacks
Well, I definitely don't want to do that again. While the defense excelled, the Irish offense sputtered, a FG was missed, a costly turnover was made, and Tommy Rees found his way under center. It seemed like it was about to turn into 2011 all over again. However, the Irish held on, and Rees went 3-8 for 35 yards allowing Kyle Brindza to redeem himself from his earlier miss with a game winning field goal. Of course after the game there was only one question: "Has Brian Kelly gone back to Rees ...
12 & 13 – The ND Power Running Game
One of the most striking things of note during the ND/Navy game this past Saturday was just how much we ran the ball. Notre Dame ended the contest with 46 runs and 23 passes -- that's right, the rushes doubled the passes. More striking though was the fashion in which we ran the football as we saw a mix of personnel packages unlike anything we've ever seen in the Kelly era. ...