South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Spring football is often a time for acclimating young players to the intricacies of a division I playbook. It’s also a good time to emphasize and tweak countless position-specific techniques. New defensive coordinator, Mike Elko, has chosen to allocate a chunk of spring ball to teaching some of the fundamentals. To be more specific – teaching proper tackling.

Missed Tackles

According to College Football Film Room, the Irish missed a total of 106 tackles in 2016 and 112 tackles in 2015. These numbers equate to almost 9 missed tackles per game. Thinking back to last year, far too often the Irish defense was on the wrong end of a potential game changing defensive stop due to a missed tackle. The Brian VanGorder experiment was proof that a defense built on a foundation of scheme will always crumble. Furthermore, the idea of reverse engineering a defense by emphasizing scheme over fundamentals was a critical miscalculation. Fundamental tackling is at the bedrock of all great defenses.

Breaking Down Tackling Drill Highlights

The kind folks at 247 Sports shared a video of a live tackling drill featuring the defensive backs and wide receivers. Jump ahead to minute mark 1:38 for some actual pad popping fun.

• Rep #1: Devin Studstill lays a solid initial hit on Miles Boykin without leaving his feet awarding a quick whistle from the coaches.
• Rep #2: Nicco Fertitta (personal disclosure: he is quickly becoming my favorite player) breaks down at the point of contact and delivers a textbook tackle with his head correctly on the outer shoulder of Keenan Centlivre. Fertitta is by far one of the best tacklers on the team, and also capable of bringing the boom. Sadly, I must remind you that he will miss the first half of the Temple game due to a bogus targeting call on one of the best CFB hits of the 2016 season (language on the video NSFW).
• Rep #3: Spencer Perry executes a fundamental tackle on Austin Webster. Again, important to note that Perry did not leave his feet and has his head correctly on the outside shoulder of the ballcarrier.
• Rep #4: Captain Drue Tranquil breaks down and utilizes his size to overpower the ever elusive walk-on Chris Finke.
• Rep #5: Spencer Perry breaks down nicely when approaching Kevin Stepherson, but pausing the video at 1:58 shows he commits the cardinal sin of lowering his head, thus rendering him unable to “see what you hit” as the saying goes. This enables the long and talented Stepherson to shrug off the feeble tackle attempt.
• Rep #6: Isaiah Robertson goes low on Mick Assaf and shows good drive with his legs while wrapping up the legs of the ballcarrier. Good work from the early enrollee.
• Rep #7: Donte Vaughn brings down Arion Shinaver in fundamental fashion. Additional promising results from neglecting to lunge and leave his feet.
• Rep #8: Equanimeous St. Brown brushes past a tentative Jimmy Thompson. Thompson engages  St. Brown too high initially and is unable to recover against the more athletic wide receiver.
• Rep #9: DJ Morgan hesitates slightly against Miles Boykin, but is able to wrap up the bigger wide receiver. If you listen closely, you can hear a coach holler, “Don’t stop!”.
• Rep #10: I’m confident that the video captions are incorrect on this one. I highly doubt Brandon Wimbush is participating in live tackling drills. I believe the ball carrier is Chase Claypool, who puts a  shake-and-bake on the would be tackler (I’m guessing it’s Devin Studstill). Studstill commits multiple fatal flaws in lowering his head and leaving his feet. This single rep alone accentuates the fact that live tackling drills need to be performed early and often throughout spring practice.
• Rep #11: Another caption blunder – I’m thinking this is #7 Nick Watkins on defense and Chris Finke carrying the ball. Watkins fails to get his head on the outside shoulder of Finke forcing him to lunge with an unsuccessful arm tackle.
• Rep #12: Julian Love makes the same mistake as Watkins, but is fortunate enough to wrap up his arm tackle on Keenan Centlivre.
• Rep #13: Troy Pride Jr. breaks down too early and gets caught flat footed against Chris Finke, and all it takes is one jab step by Finke to fly by Pride.
• Rep #14: A jersey number 38 showdown of Deon McIntosh and Chris Schilling provides some fireworks with McIntosh opting not to get fancy, but instead lay some lumber as the ballcarrier and smash through Schilling. It will be interesting to see where McIntosh ends up on the depth chart as a high ceiling, versatile, and apparently quite powerful athlete.
• Rep #15: Kevin Stepherson claims another victim in a flatfooted Jalen Elliot.
• Rep #16: In a rematch with Stepherson, Elliot redeems himself by successfully bringing down the ballcarrier in fundamental fashion.
• Rep #17: Equanimeous St. Brown continues his success in the drill – this time against a visibly frustrated Drue Tranquil.
• Rep #18: Nick Coleman, new to the safety position, brings down the much bigger Miles Boykin. Coleman aggressively attacks Boykin’s hips and eventually trips up Boykin proving that the low man usually wins.
• Rep #19: Ashton White’s hesitation allows Chase Claypool to beat him to the the center (red colored) line forcing White to grasp for jersey as Claypool cruises by.
• Rep #20: Nicco Fertitta against Arion Shinaver – “That was textbook” says Coach Lyght…enough said.
• Rep #21: Brian Ball is no match for the more athletic and incredibly intriguing Alize Jones. Brian Kelly commented that Jones is virtually uncover-able in certain areas of the field. Translation – return of the jump ball fade pass in the corner of the end zone.
• Rep #22: Mick Assaf tries to take advantage of the passive technique of Isaiah Robertson, but Robertson again opts to go very low and takes out the legs of Assaf. Robertson will likely need to be more aggressive in the future to take down more elusive and athletic ballcarriers.
• Rep #23: Spencer Perry lacks the proper leg drive to take down Keenan Centlivre.
• Rep #24: Chris Finke does “slippery fox” things and leaves DJ Morgan with his jock in his hand. Against Finke and other agile ballcarriers, Irish defenders need to be as aggressive as possible while not overcommitting and leaving themselves susceptible to a stutter step.
• Rep #25: Deon McIntosh makes an early cut and lowers his shoulder against Devin Studstill who makes great first contact, but McIntosh’s impressive leg drive is able to power through another quick whistle.

Overall the tackling drills are obviously needed and welcomed. From the short, yet revealing, video it is apparent that the Irish defense needs to continue to hammer home fundamental tackling. This includes not leaving your feet, seeing what you hit, being aggressive yet under control, and wrapping up after the initial hit. Hopefully, we get to see another video of similar tackling drills displaying many improvements before spring ball is over. Thanks again to Tom Loy of 247 Sports for sharing the video.

Cheers and Go Irish!

The post Spring Ball Miracle – Tackling Becomes A Priority appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly looks back at an official during the Notre Dame-Texas NCAA college football game on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, at Darrell K. RoyalÐTexas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. South Bend Tribune Photo/ROBERT FRANKLIN

Tuesday March 7th marked the annual Notre Dame football spring press conference.  The flood gates opened and the tweets of beat writers flowed into our twitter feeds. For many of us, this press conference is an overdue needle feeding a Domer junkie’s vein. Many beat writers commented about Brian Kelly’s perceived change in demeanor – keyword “perceived.” Kelly spoke at length about the institutional changes and changes within his own personal responsibilities that have taken place since last year’s deflating debacle of a season.

These changes, taken at face value, all appear to be positive steps in the right direction. However, this is said tongue in cheek with cautious speculation, because what national college football program doesn’t make considerable changes after an underachieving 4-8 season? More importantly, what are some of the changes taking place?

Relinquishing the Entire Offense to Chip Long

The infamous “play calling committee” or the “three headed monster” that was allegedly running the offense last year is no more. The three people being Brian Kelly, Mike Denbrock, and Mike Sanford. Kelly is the only remaining coach from last year’s failed committee and Tuesday he made a concerted effort to explain that the offense will no longer be managed on a committee basis.

Chip Long will be in charge of the offense – not just in title but also in day to day operations including game day play calling. Many among Irish nation have long called for Kelly to hand over the keys to the car and it appears that Long is positioned comfortably in the driver’s seat. To the skeptics, these comments will fall on deaf ears and any stagnation within the offense will be due to Kelly’s inability to stick to this plan. To the optimists, this change provides an air of much needed humility, and frees Kelly to become more of a CEO-type head coach where he can focus his individual efforts on all three phases of the game – rather than stubbornly micromanage the offense.

Brian Kelly says the offense is Chip Long’s to run. Long will be the offensive coordinator in name and practice. Tempo a priority.

— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) March 7, 2017

VIDEO: Brian Kelly, on why he's handing the keys to Notre Dame's offense to Chip Long. https://t.co/OxDke09ADv pic.twitter.com/MIvYTsY0Gm

— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) March 7, 2017

Spending More Time With Players During Offseason Workouts

Kelly normally did not attend offseason workouts prior to this past offseason. However, he found a common theme within his player exit interviews last year – a need for him to be more involved in all aspects of the program. To paraphrase, he cited his increased role in morning workouts and credited new strength and conditioning coach, Matt Balis, for “creating an environment where we could create the traits necessary for excellence.”

Kelly had not previously been at 5:45 a.m. workouts. Made decision to do that this year based on 93 exit interviews with players.

— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) March 7, 2017

Implementation of a Personal Daily Yoga Regimen

This is no joke. Old Purple Face has taken up a daily yoga routine, and has dropped 15 pounds and one pant size since last December, according to an interesting Sports Illustrated piece by Pete Thamel. Admittedly, I have never personally partaken in yoga exercises, but those who do explain that its benefits are both physical and mental. The SI piece also touches on Kelly’s added efforts to connect with his players on a more intimate level. Thamel elaborates with an anecdote, “He (Kelly) sat down at the daily team breakfast table with Hammann, the senior walk-on who happened to order the same thing. That sparked a conversation, something that Hammann says he’s had a lot more of with Kelly since last season ended. Sheepishly, Kelly admits that last year he may not have been able to recognize Hammann if he walked by him in the hall.”

The staff, institutional, and personal changes that have taken place over the last 6 months are encouraging for Irish fans. However, the harsh reality is that – from an outsider’s perspective – all will have been for nothing unless these changes transmogrifies last year’s team into a championship caliber machine.

Cheers and Go Irish!

The post The New And Improved Brian Kelly – Has He Learned From Past Mistakes? appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Some are so complete, the commercials are included. Others just include one moment – a Penn State kicker making a game-winning field goal, a Pittsburgh quarterback dropping a profanity on broadcast television or a 280-pound BYU punter successfully executing a fake. There’s games that will look awesome on your high definition television (trigger warning) and others that are lacking sound.

If there was multiple videos for the same game, I tried to choose the best. There’s three weeks worth of content here. (I haven’t watched it all.)

Subscribe to the playlist for all the latest updates and tell your friends. This took me hours, and I’m ridiculously proud of it.If

** As far as I know. If I’m missing a game, let me know in the comments section and I’ll be sure to add it.

#1: Nov. 1, 1913: Notre Dame 35, Army 13 (00:04:10)
#2: Nov. 27, 1913: Notre Dame 30, Texas 7 (00:04:54)
#3: Oct. 18, 1924: Notre Dame 13, Army 7 (00:02:35)
#4: Jan. 1, 1925: Notre Dame 27, Stanford 10 (Rose Bowl)(00:02:03)
#5: Nov. 12, 1927: Army 18, Notre Dame 0 (00:00:43)
#6: Nov. 10, 1928: Notre Dame 12, Army 6 (00:04:35)
#7: Nov. 17, 1928: Carnegie Tech 27, Notre Dame 7 (00:02:47)
#8: Oct. 26, 1929: Notre Dame 7, Carnegie Tech 0 (00:05:32)
#9: Nov. 30, 1929: Notre Dame 7, Army 0 (00:02:15) / part 2 (00:00:19)
#10: Oct. 25, 1930: Notre Dame 35, Pittsburgh 19 (00:03:19)
#11: Oct. 10, 1931: Notre Dame 0, Northwestern 0 (00:11:33)
#12: Nov. 21, 1931: USC 16, Notre Dame 14 (00:01:04)
#13: Dec. 2, 1933: Notre Dame 13, Army 12 (00:01:48)
#14: Nov. 2, 1935: Notre Dame 18, Ohio State 13 (00:02:01)
#15: Nov. 9, 1935: Northwestern 14, Notre Dame 7 (00:27:28)
#16: Nov. 27, 1937: Notre Dame 13, USC 6 (00:00:45)
#17: Nov. 11, 1939: Iowa 7, Notre Dame 6 (00:18:20)
#18: Nov. 2, 1940: Notre Dame 7, Army 0 (00:01:04)
#19: Nov. 16, 1940: Iowa 7, Notre Dame 0 (00:00:30)
#20: Oct. 3, 1942: Georgia Tech 13, Notre Dame 6 (00:03:05)
#21: Sept. 25, 1943: Notre Dame 41, Pittsburgh 0 (00:00:38)
#22: Oct. 30, 1943: Notre Dame 33, Navy 6 (00:01:43)
#23:  Nov. 11, 1944: Army 59, Notre Dame 0 (00:02:27)
#24: Nov. 3, 1945: Notre Dame 6, Navy 6 (00:02:01)
#25: Oct. 12, 1946: Notre Dame 49, Purdue 6 (00:10:06) / part 2 (00:10:03) / part 3 (00:10:11) / part 4 (00:07:07)
#26: Nov. 9, 1946: Notre Dame 0, Army 0 (00:09:02)
#27: Nov. 30, 1946: Notre Dame 26, USC 6 (00:01:37)
#28: Oct. 11, 1947: Notre Dame 22, Purdue 7 (00:10:37) / part 2 (00:10:01) / part 3 (00:10:30) / part 4 (00:10:25)
#29: Nov. 8, 1947: Notre Dame 27, Army 7 (00:02:24)
#30: Nov. 22, 1947: Notre Dame 59, Tulane 6 (00:01:01)
#31: Dec. 6, 1947: Notre Dame 38, USC 7 (00:03:37)
#32: Sept. 25, 1948: Notre Dame 28, Purdue 27 (00:03:49) / part 2 (00:39:59)
#33: Oct. 9, 1948: Notre Dame 26, Michigan St. 7 (00:03:48)
#34: Dec. 4, 1948: Notre Dame 14, USC 14 (0:00:13)
#35: Oct. 8, 1949: Notre Dame 35, Purdue 12 (0:09:43) / part 2 (00:09:11)
#36: Oct. 15, 1949: Notre Dame 46, Tulane 7 (00:01:48)
#37: Oct. 29, 1949: Notre Dame 40, Navy 0 (00:01:04)
#38: Nov. 5, 1949: Notre Dame 34, Michigan St 21 (0:02:05)
#39: Nov. 26, 1949: Notre Dame 32, USC 0 (00:05:45)
#40: Oct. 7, 1950: Purdue 28, Notre Dame 14 (00:07:54) / part 2 (00:06:49) / part 3 (00:04:11)
#41: Oct. 21, 1950: Indiana 20, Notre Dame 7 (00:02:16)
#42: Nov. 10, 1951: Michigan State 35, Notre Dame 0 (00:02:54)
#43: Oct. 18, 1952: Notre Dame 26, Purdue 14 (00:29:42) / part 2 (00:31:39)
#44: Nov. 8, 1952: Notre Dame 27, Oklahoma 21 (00:05:21)
#45: Sept. 26, 1953: Notre Dame 28, Oklahoma 21 (00:26:39)
#46: Oct. 3, 1953: Notre Dame 37, Purdue 7 (00:09:59) / part 2 (00:02:59) / part 3 (00:09:59) / part 4 (00:06:09) / part 5 (00:11:23) / part 6 (00:03:57)
#47: Oct. 24, 1953: Notre Dame 27, Georgia Tech 14 (00:02:57)
#48: Sept. 25, 1954: Notre Dame 21, Texas 0 (00:25:47)
#49: Oct. 2, 1954: Purdue 27, Notre Dame 14 (00:02:40)
#50: Oct. 22, 1955: Notre Dame 22, Purdue 7 (00:33:25)
#51: Nov. 12, 1955: Notre Dame 27, North Carolina 7 (00:06:42)
#52: Sept. 22, 1956: SMU 19, Notre Dame 13 (00:02:08)
#53: Oct. 13, 1956: Purdue 28, Notre Dame 14 (00:12:19) / part 2 (00:09:53) / part 3 (00:14:25)
#54: Oct. 27, 1956: Oklahoma 40, Notre Dame 0 (00:01:23)
#55: Nov. 24, 1956: Iowa 48, Notre Dame 8 (00:01:02)
#56: Oct. 12, 1957: Notre Dame 23, Army 21 (00:01:23)
#57: Nov. 2, 1957: Navy 20, Notre Dame 6 (00:01:06)
#58: Nov. 16, 1957: Notre Dame 7, Oklahoma 0 (00:34:00)
#59: Nov. 22, 1958: Iowa 31, Notre Dame 21 (00:01:17)
#60: Oct. 3, 1959: Purdue 28, Notre Dame 7 (00:06:01) / part 2 (00:25:11)
#61: Oct. 24, 1959: Northwestern 30, Notre Dame 24 (00:29:14)
#62: Sept. 24, 1960: Notre Dame 21, California 7 (00:01:20)
#63: Oct. 1, 1960: Purdue 51, Notre Dame 19 (00:43:18)
#64: Nov. 19, 1960: Iowa 28, Notre Dame 0 (00:10:03)
#65: Oct. 7, 1961: Notre Dame 22, Purdue 20 (00:11:19) / part 2 (00:11:17) / part 3 (00:11:02) / part 4 (00:05:50)
#66: Oct. 14, 1961: Notre Dame 30, USC 0 (00:01:04)
#67: Oct. 21, 1961: Michigan State 17, Notre Dame 7 (00:01:22)
#68: Oct. 6, 1962: Purdue 24, Notre Dame 6 (00:10:21) / part 2 (00:08:19) / part 3 (00:10:50)
#69: Oct. 27, 1962: Northwestern 35, Notre Dame 6 (00:10:24) / part 2 (00:10:32) / part 3 (00:10:40) / part 4 (00:12:22)
#70: Sept. 28, 1963: Wisconsin 14, Notre Dame 9 (00:04:55)
#71: Oct. 5, 1963: Purdue 7, Notre Dame 6 (00:12:43) / part 2 (00:12:39) / part 3 (00:13:06)
#72: Oct. 12, 1963: Notre Dame 17, USC 14 (00:04:47)
#73: Oct. 19, 1963: Notre Dame 27, UCLA 12 (00:04:47)
#74: Oct. 26, 1963: Stanford 24, Notre Dame 14 (00:04:51)
#75: Nov. 2, 1963: Navy 35, Notre Dame 14 (00:04:45)
#76: Nov. 9, 1963: Pittsburgh 27, Notre Dame 7 (00:00:29) / part 2 (00:02:57)
#77: Nov. 16, 1963: Michigan State 12, Notre Dame 7 (00:02:57)
#78: Nov. 28, 1963: Syracuse 14, Notre Dame 7 (00:04:24)
#79: Sept. 26, 1964: Notre Dame 31, Wisconsin 7 (00:05:53)
#80: Oct. 3, 1964: Notre Dame 34, Purdue 15 (00:03:57)
#81: Oct. 10, 1964: Notre Dame 34, Air Force 7 (00:03:34)
#82: Oct. 17, 1964: Notre Dame 24, UCLA 0 (00:03:54)
#83: Oct. 24, 1964: Notre Dame 28, Stanford 6 (00:04:05)
#84: Oct. 31, 1964: Notre Dame 40, Navy 0 (00:03:45)
#85: Nov. 28, 1964: USC 20, Notre Dame 17 (00:37:42)
#86: Sept. 25, 1965: Purdue 25, Notre Dame 21 (00:44:59)
#87: Sept. 24, 1966: Notre Dame 26, Purdue 14 (00:41:12)
#88: Oct. 1, 1966: Notre Dame 35, Northwestern 7 (00:04:52)
#89: Oct. 8, 1966: Notre Dame 35, Army 0 (00:05:09)
#90: Oct. 15, 1966: Notre Dame 32, North Carolina 0 (00:05:00)
#91: Oct. 22, 1966: Notre Dame 38, Oklahoma 0 (00:04:21)
#92: Oct. 29, 1966: Notre Dame 31, Navy 7 (00:04:19)
#93: Nov. 5, 1966: Notre Dame 40, Pittsburgh 0 (00:32:33) / part 2 (00:34:32)
#94: Nov. 12, 1966: Notre Dame 64, Duke 0 (00:04:50)
#95: Nov. 19, 1966: Notre Dame 10, Michigan St. 10 (00:07:27)
#96: Nov. 26, 1966: Notre Dame 51, USC 0 (00:03:59)
#97: Sept. 30, 1967: Purdue 28, Notre Dame 21 (00:48:50)
#98: Oct. 14, 1967: USC 24, Notre Dame 7 (01:46:59)
#99: Nov. 18, 1967: Notre Dame 36, Georgia Tech 3 (00:01:55)
#100: Sept. 28, 1968: Purdue 37, Notre Dame 22 (00:43:44)
#101: Nov. 30, 1968: Notre Dame 21, USC 21 (00:15:24) / part 2 (00:15:24) / part 3 (00:15:24)
#102: Sept. 27, 1969: Purdue 28, Notre Dame 14 (00:42:04)
#103: Oct. 18, 1969: Notre Dame 14, USC 14 (00:01:18)
#104: Nov. 8, 1969: Notre Dame 49, Pittsburgh 7 (00:59:40)
#105: Nov. 14, 1970: Notre Dame 10, Georgia Tech 7 (00:02:47)
#106: Nov. 21, 1970: Notre Dame 3, LSU 0 (00:02:53)
#107: Nov. 28, 1970: USC 38, Notre Dame 28 (01:04:31) / part 2 (01:06:53)
#108: Jan. 1, 1971: Notre Dame 24, Texas 11 (Cotton Bowl) (00:15:06) / part 2 (00:14:44) / part 3 (00:08:21) / part 4 (00:08:00) / part 5 (00:11:07) / part 6 (00:12:40) / part 7 (00:13:27) / part 8 (00:13:42) / part 9 (00:04:10)
#109: Sept. 25, 1971: Notre Dame 8, Purdue 7 (00:00:50)
#110: Oct. 23, 1971: USC 28, Notre Dame 14 (00:01:16)
#111: Nov. 20, 1971: LSU 28, Notre Dame 8 (02:32:35)
#112: Dec. 2, 1972: USC 45, Notre Dame 23 (00:07:14)
#113: Jan. 1, 1973: Nebraska 40, Notre Dame 6 (00:31:28)
#114: Sept. 22, 1973: Notre Dame 44, Northwestern 0 (00:05:31)
#115: Sept. 29, 1973: Notre Dame 20, Purdue 7 (00:37:44)
#116: Oct. 6, 1973: Notre Dame 14, Michigan St. 10 (00:04:50)
#117: Oct. 13, 1973: Notre Dame 28, Rice 0 (00:03:20)
#118: Oct. 20, 1973: Notre Dame 62, Army 3 (01:20:02)
#119: Oct. 27, 1973: Notre Dame 23, USC 14 (03:15:08)
#120: Nov. 3, 1973: Notre Dame 44, Navy 7 (00:04:16)
#121: Nov. 10, 1973: Notre Dame 31, Pittsburgh 10 (00:03:00)
#122: Nov. 22, 1973: Notre Dame 48, Air Force 15 (00:03:48)
#123: Dec. 1, 1973: Notre Dame 44, Miami (Fla.) 0 (00:03:08)
#124: Dec. 31, 1973: Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23 (02:00:42)
#125: Sept. 28, 1974: Purdue 31, Notre Dame 20 (00:54:50)
#126: Oct. 12, 1974: Notre Dame 10, Rice 3 (00:02:51)
#127: Nov. 23, 1974: Notre Dame 38, Air Force 0 (0:00:38)
#128: Nov. 30, 1974: USC 55, Notre Dame 24 (00:15:20) / part 2 (00:15:23) / part 3 (00:15:23) / part 4 (00:15:21) / part 5 (00:07:03)
#129: Jan. 1, 1975: Notre Dame 13, Alabama 11 (00:52:25)
#130: Oct. 11, 1975: Notre Dame 21, North Carolina 14 (00:01:28) / part 2 (00:03:07)
#131: Oct. 18, 1975: Notre Dame 31, Air Force 30 (00:04:28)
#132: Oct. 25, 1975: USC 24, Notre Dame 17 (00:59:10)
#133: Nov. 8, 1975: Notre Dame 24, Georgia Tech 3 (00:02:29) / part 2 (00:02:02)
#134: Nov. 15, 1975: Pittsburgh 34, Notre Dame 20 (01:00:36)
#135: Sept. 11, 1976: Pittsburgh 31, Notre Dame 10 (00:45:48) / part 2 (01:02:20)
#136: Oct. 16, 1976: Notre Dame 41, Oregon 0 (00:15:06)
#137: Nov. 6, 1976: Georgia Tech 23, Notre Dame 14 (00:00:46)
#138: Nov. 13, 1976: Notre Dame 21, Alabama 18 (02:42:51)
#139: Nov. 27, 1976: USC 17, Notre Dame 13 (00:51:20)
#140: Sept. 10, 1977: Pittsburgh 19, Notre Dame 9 (00:01:41)
#141: Sept. 17, 1977: Mississippi 20, Notre Dame 13 (01:16:06)
#142: Sept. 24, 1977: Notre Dame 31, Purdue 24 (01:20:46) / part 2 (01:08:09)
#143: Oct. 1, 1977: Notre Dame 16, Michigan St. 6 (01:05:05)
#144: Oct. 15, 1977: Notre Dame 24, Army 0 (00:01:36)
#145: Oct. 22, 1977: Notre Dame 49, USC 19 (02:40:52)
#146: Nov. 12, 1977: Notre Dame 21, Clemson 17 (01:19:52)
#147: Jan. 2, 1978: Notre Dame 38, Texas 10 (02:47:12)
#148: Sept. 23, 1978: Michigan 28, Notre Dame 14 (00:23:34)
#149: Sept. 30, 1978: Notre Dame 10, Purdue 6 (00:42:59)
#150: Oct. 14, 1978: Notre Dame 26, Pittsburgh 17 (02:52:41)
#151: Nov. 11, 1978: Notre Dame 31, Tennessee 14 (00:47:51)
#152: Nov. 25, 1978: USC 27, Notre Dame 25 (03:13:42)
#153: Jan. 1, 1979: Notre Dame 35, Houston 34 (03:07:16)
#154: Sept. 15, 1979: Notre Dame 12, Michigan 10 (00:03:22)
#155: Sept. 22, 1979: Purdue 28, Notre Dame 22 (00:40:03)
#156: Oct. 27, 1979: Notre Dame 18, South Carolina 17 (00:06:27)
#157: Nov. 10, 1979: Tennessee 40, Notre Dame 18 (00:59:19)
#158: Nov. 17, 1979: Clemson 16, Notre Dame 10 (02:23:40)
#159: Nov. 24, 1979: Notre Dame 40, Miami 15 (Mirage Bowl) (00:04:34)
#160: Sept. 20, 1980: Notre Dame 29, Michigan 27 (00:06:02)
#161: Nov. 15, 1980: Notre Dame 7, Alabama 0 (01:53:57)
#162: Dec. 6, 1980: USC 20, Notre Dame 3 (00:07:51)
#163: Jan. 1, 1981: Georgia 17, Notre Dame 10 (Sugar Bowl) (02:43:17)

…and 320 more videos….

The post Here is Every Notre Dame Football Game on YouTube* appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Arrived at @ChefsBuffalo! Lunch with @CoachBabersCuse at noon. Stop by for some food & football. #NoHuddleTour16 (Credit: @CuseFootball)

Dino Babers, Syracuse’s new football coach, told a group of Orange alumni Tuesday that the upcoming meeting between Notre Dame and Syracuse should be the last at the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

“I’ve got something to add about the Meadowlands since we don’t have an athletic director right now,” Babers said. “I want this to be the last time we ever go to the Meadowlands to play Notre Dame University. The next nine times that we play Notre Dame University, we’re playing them in the damn Dome!”**

As a Notre Dame alumnus who lives about an hour’s drive from the Carrier Dome, I loved hearing Babers’ comment today.

But, with all due respect, coach: Your sentiment makes zero sense.

Now let’s examine why:

MONEY

The MetLife Stadium Company reportedly paid Syracuse and Notre Dame in excess of $4.7 million each to play in East Rutherford, N.J. Payouts have to be generous. After all, one of these teams is losing out on the revenue associated with a seventh home game, such as ticket and concession sales. (There’s also a financial impact to the businesses in Syracuse and South Bend if the games aren’t played at someone’s home stadium. I may be cynical, but I don’t think that’s even considered.)

The two teams set a Metlife Stadium attendance record during their September 2014 matchup, with a paid attendance of 76,802. The Carrier Dome seats 49,250 individuals. I think it’s fair to assume that Syracuse University would not have made in excess of $4.7 million from Notre Dame visiting Syracuse and not East Rutherford.

This is a significant payout that Syracuse – and perhaps Notre Dame, too – really needs. In 2014, Syracuse’s athletic department budget – for all sports – was about $67 million. This one game covers at least 7 percent of the total budget!

EXPOSURE

SU’s Walter Reyes scores his fifth touchdown of the day against Notre Dame as he runs past Courtney Watson in the fourth quarter on December 6, 2003. Syracuse won 38-12. (Syracuse.com/Post-Standard 2003)

The 2014 game between 3-0 Notre Dame and 2-1 Syracuse was an 8 p.m. kickoff. The kickoff time for this year’s contest hasn’t been announced. But, if the teams are doing well, it could again be a primetime slot.

ESPN and ABC heavily promote their primetime game. Joe Giansante, then Syracuse’s chief communications officer, said in a September 2014 interview that the promotions during “Dancing With the Stars,” “Monday Night Football” and the like probably created between $10 million and $15 million in brand exposure for Syracuse.

“It’s attracting higher-level athletes for all our programs,” said Giansante. “It’s helping improve our academics, attracting a higher level of student.”

It’s also bringing a game closer to Syracuse’s and Notre Dame’s New York City alumni base. Even if I didn’t live nearby, I’d know there are far more Notre Dame alums within a 50-mile radius of East Rutherford than there are within 50 miles of Syracuse. That’s significant, because New York City alums have more discretionary income to spend on items such as, say, alumni donations that make them eligible for tickets through each university. And with 26,000+ more seats, there’s plenty of tickets to go around.

HIGHER CALIBER OPPONENT

Notre Dame-Syracuse, 2008 at Notre Dame Stadium.

If Syracuse wants to be considered a serious playoff contender, it will need tough opponents on its schedule. Those opponents – with their giant fanbases – will have more leverage than even Notre Dame. USC used that leverage to schedule a game at Metlife. Penn State did too. The Irish weren’t required to schedule Syracuse when they insisted in 2010 to playing the Orange in East Rutherford. Now that Notre Dame is affiliated with the ACC, they will play Syracuse in a rotation. The Orange will come to South Bend on Sept. 22, 2018. The Irish owe a trip back east sometime in 2022, according to the ACC.

Will they play at neutral site again? I’m not sure. But I know these things: If it makes financial sense for both schools, you bet. And if Dino Babers is very successful – or very unsuccessful – he won’t be coaching in The Salt City in six years’ time.

—
** Oh, coach. It’s the University of Notre Dame, not Notre Dame University. We’re kind of anal about that. And you’ll never be around to play the Irish nine times at home. That’s like 36 years.

The post Syracuse Coach: Let’s Play ND In Dome, Not N.J. appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Let’s kick the bye week’s ass! GET YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS!!

The post Notre Dame vs USC Highlights 2015: ND 41 – USC 31 appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

The junior running back has officially been ruled out due to a torn right ACL for the rest of the season following his Sunday MRI. The injury occurred during Notre Dame’s second offensive possession and the 2014 leading rusher never returned to the field.

While one of the many bright spots in Saturday’s dominant performance on both sides of the ball included the performances of red-shirt junior CJ Prosise and true freshman Josh Adams, the backfield is now officially a thinned area of the Irish depth chart with the loss of Folston adding in with Greg Bryant’s season-long suspension.

Prosise (98 yards on 20 carries) and Adams (49 yards on 5 carries) thrilled the home crowd with smart, explosive and sound runs against the Longhorns, but the injury to Folston begs the question: Can they continue to be productive for an entire season?

We saw last year that Prosise could switch between a running option and a slot receiver as a speedy, elusive, yet big body. It’s unknown whether Prosise was going to be used mainly in the run game before the injury but now it’s certainty. Luckily, for the Irish, the wide receiver position is about as deep and as talented as it has been in recent memory; the spot left open in the passing game will certainly be filled by a capable next man in.  That said, Prosise will now see far more consistent contact and wear as the season progresses. It’s imperative for Notre Dame’s playoff chances that he not only stays healthy, but that he stays fresh.

That second part will be largely in the hands of the young Adams. Josh Adams only got five carries Saturday, but it should be a pretty safe bet that his touches will increase as the season moves on. Head Coach Brian Kelly has often praised the freshman’s maturity and intelligence, citing his ability to pick up the playbook not only in regards to running plays but also in the pass game with routes and protection schemes. It’s this maturity that will allow Kelly to trust in the young player to give Prosise more spells on the sidelines in order to keep his legs fresh.

As Adams feels more confident and stable on the field as a runner, Kelly may also look to speed up the progression of fellow rookie Dexter Williams. Williams is the speedy, “exciting” back for the Irish, but, unlike Adams, Kelly has spoken of Williams’s need to develop schematically. He should get more looks in earlier parts of the game just to aid in the rest of the two top running backs, but likely will not be getting many meaningful playing time until he can prove he is trustworthy within the playbook and not just athletically.

All things said, Notre Dame fans saw plenty against Texas to keep them optimistic for now. It was about as dominating a performance from all eleven positions on the offense as they’ve seen, and the running backs were just as much a part of that as anyone. As long as Prosise and Adams continue to develop and perform, Irish eyes should continue smiling .

The post Tarean Folston Tears ACL, Out For Season appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Welcome Loyal Sons and Daughters to the 2015 Season of Notre Dame Football (videos) with ya boi, @SupermanTDJesus! After a long summer hiatus including a 3-month stint in Ireland, I’m back with the NDFB video content you’ve all been desperately awaiting all offseason!

This year, we’re kicking things off with a nice little special feature. In collaboration with the big man @HLS_NDtex himself, we have put together a video dedicated to the 2015 starting Quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team, Malik Zaire!

All other variables aside, the 2015 Season for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rests squarely in the hands of Zaire. The man who’s twitter handle is “@LuckyLefty8” is due to prove just how much luck has to do with it, and attempt to take the CFB world by storm as the starting QB for the 2015 Irish squad. With perhaps some luck, and a great deal of collective faith, this may be a truly special season for Boys in Blue and Gold. We as fans must always prepare for what the season ahead holds in store, be it good, or absolutely horrendous oh dear God why must you forsake us so?! *Ahem* sorry, force of habit.

If nothing else, however, there is one thing we absolutely all must do in 2015:

#BelieveInZaire

The post #BelieveInZaire appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

All images via Under Armour’s official Twitter account (“@UAFootball”)

Today was the day! If you asked, “What day!?” Just hop on twitter and scroll through your timeline and I’m sure you’ll figure it out soon enough. Today was the day that *drum roll, glitter cannons* Notre Dame unveiled this year’s Shamrock Series uniforms! Like anything involving Notre Dame and fashion, I was all over it.

I love guessing what the uniforms will look like from year to year and I’ll admit I had some pretty grandiose off the wall ideas for this year’s uniforms. Black and metallic gold! Glow in the dark! LIGHT UP CLEATS! (Would that even be legal? Yeah, probably not). Turns out however, they aren’t quite as alternative as I was imagining (deep breaths, gold seaters!)

The overall design can best be described as well, green. I guess the head to toe green look is pretty darn fitting seeing as the Irish will take on Boston College in this year’s Shamrock Series game at Fenway Park. Get it? Fenway Park? Green monster? Green uniforms!? Oh, Under Armour you’re clever.

While green is definitely the overwhelming majority of this look, stripes are a close second. There are stripes on the shoulders, stripes above the knees, stripes down the sides of the pants, stripes down the middle of the helmet, and stripes on the gloves. Oh, wait! I found more; Stripes in the bottom corners of the numbers. In the words of Oprah…You get a stripe! And you get a stripe! EVERYONE GETS A STRIPE! But wait, there’s more!

Not only does this uniform have a lot of stripes, it’s actually like some sort of stripe inception if you look closely. Many of the stripes, the ones on the back of the helmet for example, are divided or slashed further into 11 separate stripes. 11? What’s significant about 11? (Please tell me you know this…) 11 is the number of national championships boasted by the Irish. Now, don’t get me wrong! That’s a pretty cool nod to Notre Dame’s achievements and I’m usually super into that hidden gem sort of stuff. I just think this uniform chose to drive that point home a little too much. If it were just represented in the stripes on the back of the helmet or the stripes at the shoulders, I would have been totally on board. That’s really a minor complaint, however. Overall I like this look. (I did have a thing for the green Power Ranger as a child, though so perhaps I’m a bit biased)

The helmet, which is a gold base featuring a metallic gold leprechaun face, is absolutely on point. Be sure to take a closer look at the facemask, too. I missed it the first time, but after some staring and head tilting it hit me; they’re not navy, they’re not green…they’re both! The dual colored split facemask isn’t something I love or hate, but it is something I will give props to UA for incorporating. That’s bold my friend.
What’s also bold is that we have some logo mixing. The base layers feature shamrocks on the arms, the center of the jersey has a script “Irish”, and the pants feature a full body leprechaun. Throw in the profile of the leprechaun on the helmet and well, gang’s all here! I like that, though. This uniform does have a lot going on, but I feel like you have to do a lot of looking to find it. In other words, it doesn’t all hit you over the head and clash all at once. At least, I don’t think so.

Basically, we have a green uniform, a really green uniform, accented with some navy and gold stripes and enhanced with a nod to Irish tradition and history. I think this uniform will do a good job of pleasing almost everyone (I mean, we’ve come a looonnnggg way since 2012) and, although not as cool as the all white uniform (cue swooning) I’m really digging the monochromatic look.

I’d give them a solid 8/10. I would have given out another point or two if the stripes had been used more conservatively. Sometimes less is indeed more…except when it comes to championships. Here’s hoping they will have to cut another slash into those stripes next year! What are your overall thoughts? What does your dream alternate uniform look like? Chime in below!

The post Shamrock Series Uniform Review appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

Waiting for this year’s event to start, but first…let me take a selfie

I actually posted about this same event last year (feel free to check it out here: http://www.herloyalsons.com/kelly-cares-football-101-review/), describing my attendance as “obligatory”, so much so that I had been to the event 4 of the last 5 years. This year was no different. I requested off at work, was denied, and still made the necessary arrangements in order to make it to “Football 101” for what was my 5th year (I’m basically an old-timer/fifth year sneior at this point in time… no really, I was answering questions of rookie attendees and everything). The event only runs from about 5:30-10:00, and yet I have found it totally worth the 4 hour drive from Cincinnati to be there year after year. I’ve talked to fellow participants who have traveled further. Why?

Well, It’s several things really, some more superficial than others. For one, it’s a great excuse to get up to campus during a pretty non-busy time of year. It’s also a great excuse for a girls’ night out. I heard several attendees explaining that they came with a group of friends or that their husbands had bought their ticket as a sort of get-out-of-babysitting-free-card with an added support-a-good-cause and hello-Notre-Dame-Football-duh! bonus built in. Which brings me to the biggest reasons I attend: the cause and the team.

Embroidery on this year’s jersey. It’s all in the details!

Clearly, I love Notre Dame football. I watch it, I make YouTube videos about it, I tweet it, I blog it, I. Love. It. It’s been a defining part of who I am for as long as I can remember. That being said, “Football 101” allows me another unique way to show my support and get my offseason football fix with a bit more of a hands on approach.

From the moment you walk into the event you are made to feel like a part of the team. Each year participants receive a custom Kelly Cares Foundation jersey that you can wear throughout the night (I opted out this year because it was 90+ degrees an the jersey was navy blue…I now have added respect for the Notre Dame football players who wear both navy blue jerseys and pads regardless of the weather conditions). Throughout the evening you have opportunities to participate in on-field drills and off-field meetings in the Gug, all of which totally make you feel all kinds of official, and all of which have current Notre Dame players stationed and ready to participate with you. (Participation in the various drills is up to you, but the guys can be very encouraging and persuasive! Probably how I ended up running the agility course twice…)  I have to give a shout out the organizers and planners of the event for the variety. You’d think after 5 years of going to the same event I may be a bit bored or disillusioned, but each year presents a good balance of old favorites (like the crowd pleasing fashion show to end the night) and new opportunities (like a lesson on how to properly throw a football from Malik Zaire.

Quarterback Malik Zaire, like all the players, was more than happy to pose for a picture.

As much as I love Notre Dame football, I love helping people even more (Cheesy, but true. I am a nurse afterall!). There is always a moment during the event that I sort of pause, look around, and realize just how awesome of a thing I’m actually a part of. 600 women acknowledging the importance of breast cancer awareness as choosing to come together in support of the mission of Paqui Kelly and the Kelly Cares Foundation. You realize that your attendance is making a difference. I’ve been able to stop and appreciate this fact for five straight years and I already can’t wait until the 2016 installment of Football 101. If you haven’t been, I highly encourage you change that next summer and if you are one of the women who go year after year, I hope to see you next year!

To learn more about the Kelly Cares Foundation including its mission and the various events it hosts throughout the year, be sure to visit their website: http://kellycaresfoundation.org

The post Football 101: Tales from a Fifth-Year Senior appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

McCarthy, the man who makes Mo Rocca blush with witty quips and puns during his late-game safety advisories has ended a 55 year run in the press box. The former Indiana State Trooper also served as a traffic cop, helping to alleviate congestion from the post-game exoduses away from Notre Dame Stadium. His purpose was to inform and remind fans to drive safely and sober, but he became far more than just a warning.

I remember growing up as a child sitting in section four and hearing his lines. The one that won me over must have been in the late ’90s. I don’t remember the season but I remember the line: “Be careful zipping up the highways…you just might get caught.”

For a boy in his mid teens this was absolutely the greatest thing I had ever heard. It was around the same time every kid in middle and high school was quoting “Franks and Beans!” in respect to the very famous There’s Something About Mary scene. The idea that a police officer delivering traffic safety tips over the PA system of Notre Dame Stadium drilled the all too absurd and corny line into memory. It still makes me giggle.

What I’ll remember the most, though, is the utmost reverence for the moment between the third and fourth quarters. For anyone who has been to a game in Notre Dame stadium over the last five and a half decades, you know exactly what I mean. No matter what the score, no matter how much tension is running through the stands, there’s a split second and the loud speaker activates:

“May I have your attention, please.”

Then the crowd goes quieter than a fan in the gold seats.

Officer Tim McCarthy addresses the stadium during a game.

With a brief explanation about the illegality and danger of drunk driving, McCarthy ends on a high note: “Remember: The automobile replaced the horse…but the driver should stay on the wagon!” (This is reportedly the very first line delivered by McCarthy during the opening game of the 1961 season)

The crowd erupts in groans, laughter, and applause.

This tradition is so entwined in my life (and you can ask the lovely future Mrs. Whisky to verify) that every time I fly into Orlando International Airport and an announcement comes on, a different man says “May I have your attention, please?” I raise my arms into the sky and make a breathy “Ahhhhh!” noise replicating the excitement of the stadium at the sound of McCarthy’s voice.

I’ll never be able to hear that phrase and not think of my days in section 4 or my fantastic four years in the student section. Officer McCarthy’s announcements are as much a part of Notre Dame football tradition as slapping the “Play Like a Champion Today” sign and lighting a candle at the Grotto. It’s getting a sandwich at the Knights of Columbus and watching the band step off.

To all of you who never got a chance to watch a game from inside the stadium walls, I’m sorry that you’ve missed out on this tradition. It truly was special and unique to Fighting Irish culture. To those of you who were lucky enough to catch a game, join me in thanking Officer Tim McCarthy for giving us his message, his humor, and most importantly his time.

Remember, Tim, now that you’re fully retired, regular naps can prevent old age…especially if you take them while driving.

We’ll miss you.

The post Officer Tim McCarthy: A Notre Dame Football Legend Retires appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.