Here at HLS, we are always striving to increase our understanding -- some days we discuss the art of the 3-4 defense, and others (like today) we expound on the liberal arts. In 1930, University President Father J. Hugh O'Donnell invited G. K. Chesterton to Notre Dame to conduct a series of lectures. Coincidentally, he was present at the Dedication Game of Notre Dame Stadium and wrote a poem to commemorate the occasion. Let us pause now and see how this work illuminates the current state of ...
Michigan
Easy With the Doomsday Predictions
No one likes to lose to Michigan. Ever. But I don't think the end of the world is any closer either. While the defense still has much work to do, the offense actually looks pretty good ... and will only get better from here in my humble opinion. Lets take a look at how the offense produced on Saturday. Tommy Rees - Rees completed twenty-nine of fifty-one passes for 314 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. This was also the first time in his career that he had back-to-back games ...
Dismantling the Defense
In last week's Irish Blogger Gathering, I got a question about Notre Dame's defense and if their performance against Temple was cause for concern against Michigan. I had the following to say: [Notre Dame] played a lot of man and press coverages, mixing in blitzes often, throughout the entire game. Even when the defensive play calling did get more conservative when the game was well in hand, the Irish were often blitzing and bringing five or more rushers on third downs to force Temple to ...
Good Fridays W/Padre: Misremembered
The world is a very different place up in Ann Abhor Arbor. The stadium is bigger, the fans are meaner, and the shade of yellow is urine-ier. They even have an entirely different perspective on the world and all that’s in it, as seen through their beady little giant-North-American-weasel eyes. What follows, then, is the Irish-Wolverine rivalry, according to the Book of Michigan. 1879 – A devastating fire rages through Notre Dame’s Main Building. Young men from the University of Michigan ...
Notre Dame vs Michigan: A Michigan Man’s Perspective
Usually we spend our Thursday's doing what we can to break down our next opponent. This week though, we are doing something a little bit different. Justin Potts over at Maize and Go Blue reached out to us earlier in the week and asked if we could detail how Notre Dame could beat Michigan. There was no way I was going to pass up a chance to blueprint Skunkbear demise on their on turf, so I graciously obliged. Now, we may hate Michigan with a passion here at HLS, but we are all about fair ...
Irish Blogger Gathering: The Penultimate Hate Week
Ah, Hate Week, it's good to see you again. I must admit, this week is when I really miss the "Old School" IBG in which every corner of the Notre Dame Blogosphere would tear Michigan a new one. The annual vitriol was simply amazing. However, much like the ND/Michigan series itself, the Irish Blogger Gathering has changed, but that doesn't mean I didn't give Keith Arnold of Inside the Irish a chance to do some Skunkbear damage. But did he take a swing at our enemy in Ann Arbor? Find out ...
If By “Historic” You Mean “Old,” Then Yes
I think it bears noting that Notre Dame plays Michigan on Saturday and most of the talk has not about been about the game itself. Nor have the pundits and talking-heads bothered, much, to analyze the respective performances, so far, of Irish or Wolverine. Instead, most of the bloviating has revolved around Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly's remark on Sunday that Notre Dame-Michigan is not an "historic, traditional rivalry" and his disappointing, but clever and nuanced, course-correction on ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Welcome
In 1863, a little over 20 years into our Northern Indiana adventure, I published a comprehensive disciplinary code for the lads. It has formed the backbone of our rules going nigh on 150 years now, albeit with revisions. Time marches on, customs change...Ted let in girls. So I have kept The Code as up to date as I can, both within reason and within the fine Notre Dame tradition of calling everything tradition and changing nothing except that which is absolutely necessary to change. Thus, ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Team Building
Brian Kelly is taking his show on the road. Specifically, he’s taking his team to beautiful Marion, Indiana, to start the season’s practices. In addition to being an exciting change of venue for the lads, Shiloh Park evidently offers something the University of Notre Dame, in all its glory, does not: A Challenge Course. And I was of the opinion that all of our courses were challenging. As it was explained to me, a Challenge Course is used in team-building exercises. And I was of the opinion ...
Know Thy Enemy, Know Thyself: Offensive Line
Say what you will about the 2013 Figthing Irish football season, the offensive line was dominant and the reason for the team's offensive success. Coach Hiestand's charges, starters all, held otherwise indomitable defenses in check. Stanford and Arizona State, both leaders in sacks per game, were held to one sack between the two of them. Michigan State's punishing attack average three sacks per game, yet left South Bend with none. The O-line's ability to open holes allowed three games in which ...