So much for a lull until the national title game. While I usually handle catching up on news in the Roundup, quite a lot has happened over the weekend and yesterday. Plus, I wanted to comment more than just a sentence or two to these stories. So here are four headlines that will dominate the rest of the week. ...
Manti Te'o
Double Butkus
A big congratulations is due to Manti Te'o who started out his long week on the awards circuit by winning the Butkus Award, which is given to the country's top linebacker. Manti's week, during which he is sure to keep piling up hardware (do they FedEx these things home or is he checking them in his suitcase?) will now officially end at the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York as Te'o was announced as one of three finalists alongside Texas A&M's Johnny "Scooby Doo" Manziel and Kansas ...
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. ...
Manti Te’o: The Only Logical Heisman Choice
Yes, I'm not pulling any punches with that headline and for good reason. Somehow Manti Te'o, the leader of the best defense that has led the Irish to a 12-0 season against a gauntlet of a schedule, is somehow an after-thought to Johnny "Football" Manziel. Many have called this race "wide open" with "no clear favorite"; however, if the Heisman voters are actually paying attention to what their award stands for the choice is simple: Manti Te'o in a landslide. ...
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 ...
The Invasion of Norman
The last time I dared to enter enemy territory, I was a senior at Notre Dame. During that 2006 season, I was hopeful that somehow the Irish would manage to upset Southern Cal on their home field and try to find their way into the national title picture. Six years later, I found myself on a bus to Norman hoping the Irish would pull off a different type of upset (by Vegas standards) against the Sooners with 50+ young alumni...and my father. ...
Irish Overcome Mistakes, Trap Game, Remain Undefeated
Two missed field goals, an interception off a facemask, a horribly inaccurate passing attack, and dumb, undisciplined penalties -- quite frankly the Irish resembled the 2011 squad instead of this year's top five version. However, unlike last year, the Notre Dame prevailed thanks to a career day from Theo Riddick and yet another solid performance by the Irish defense. ...
Friday Roundup: The “Ferris Bueller” Edition
I'm convinced that being a Notre Dame football fan might just be one of the strangest existences in sports today. Despite the fact that the Irish are 6-0, it is as if we as fans still have something to prove. ...