A Notre Dame Football Blog
Each week in this space, we examine two things: Notre Dame's strength of schedule (from USA Today's Sagarin rankings), and who Irish opponents are facing. For those of who want to scout future opponents, I'll give you my recommendation for who to watch when you're not watching Notre Dame Football. ...
What an unexpected year! No one should have been surprised that 2016 followed 2015; but the manner in which it followed was surprising: Not so much as night follows day, but more as a troop of rabid baboons follows the tourist who went to relieve himself behind the bushes and missed the bus back to the safari lodge, all while having his pockets stuffed full of beef jerky and hard candies. The Fighting Irish 4-8: We began the 2016 season ranked tenth and widely expected to vie for a place in ...
I never liked the Brian VanGorder hire. VanGorder was hired in 2014, following the departure of Bob Diaco to become Connecticut's head coach. The criticism of Diaco was his "bend but don't break" approach made his defenses appear somewhat vanilla or "boring." So what? They were fundamentally sound, rarely beat themselves and were always in the top half of the nation in total defense. Much enthusiasm ensued when the Irish brought VanGorder and his NFL pedigree to South Bend. Many media ...
Credit: Michael Heinz / Lafayette Journal & Courier
Coach Brian Kelly has fired defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder after the Irish's disappointing 1-3 start to the 2016 season. In a statement, Kelly said: "This is a difficult decision. I have the utmost respect for Brian as both a person and football coach, but our defense simply isn't it where it should be and I believe this change is necessary for the best interest of our program and our student-athletes." The new defensive coordinator is Greg Hudson, who held that position at ...
Notre Dame's Nick Coleman (24) brings down Nevada's Hasaan Henderson (12) during the Notre Dame-Nevada NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have failed to develop an identity three games into the 2016 season. Or, as Brian Kelly insinuated, the Irish have an identity - but it isn't what most would like it to be. In the coach's words, the Irish are sloppy. "The entire football team, and my coaching staff in particular, is in a position where they have to coach better. I've got to coach better…We're sloppy as a football team." They're sloppy on offense. The Irish receivers drop balls that hit them in the ...
R.J. Shelton #12 of the Michigan State Spartans scores a touchdown in front of Drue Tranquill #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half of a game at Notre Dame Stadium on September 17, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images
We can now confidently conclude that the Texas loss was no aberration. It was not the result of a hostile crowd, an outmatched-but-inspired Texas team or some fixable defensive errors. Notre Dame is a deeply flawed team this year; last night confirmed that. It was almost hard to watch the Irish make huge errors on special teams, continue to play defense with the density of Swiss cheese and make questionable coaching decisions in a game they absolutely had to win. There was seemingly no ...
Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick wings a pass during a game at Notre Dame in 2009. Nevada lost, 35-0. (Michael Conroy/AP file)
Torii Hunter Jr. is ruled out for today's game due to ongoing recovery from a concussion. This story and much more from the past 24 hours of Notre Dame football. ...
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder yells from the sideline during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Spring football game on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN
"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." - Winston Churchill. Much has been discussed, written, and analyzed of the 50-47 loss Texas handed Notre Dame this past Sunday. Many have called for change among the defensive coaching staff as it relates to the 50 points a young Texas team hung on the Irish defense. Ironically, the change that is being clamored for is due to the inability to do just that - change. In the ever evolving landscape of today's college football, ...
Notre Dame's Equanimeous St. Brown (6) falls into the end zone for a touchdown over Texas' Dylan Haines (14) during the Notre Dame-Texas NCAA college football game on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN
Brian Kelly meets with the media. The Texas game is further dissected. The Irish drop to #18 in the AP poll and #21 in the coaches' poll. This news and all others about Notre Dame football from the past 24 hours is below. ...
Credit: CSN Chicago
For every coach in the post-Lou Holtz era of Notre Dame football, the ending of a coach’s tenure came well before the final game. As a fan you can almost sense it, that point when you finally realize the program is not going to be truly great with that coach at the helm. For Bob Davie, it came in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl when the Irish got humiliated and manhandled by Oregon State 41-9. In the Tyrone Willingham era it was year two. With a road trip to Syracuse and a minor bowl bid on the line, ...