For those Loyal Readers that are familiar with my work, y'all know that I have a true love of stats when it comes to my analysis of football. This passion embedded itself in my being because (1) I have a brain that God made for engineering purposes and (2) I grew up with a love for the game of baseball--the stat nerd's dream sport. Football is a rough sport to analyze through the magic of spreadsheets. With short seasons and smaller sample sizes than a sport like baseball, you truly have to ...
USC
Friday Roundup: The “Ultimate Duke Preview” Epsiode
So what do you do as a podcast when you need to preview a game against a terrible opponent after a terrible loss? Well, Shane and I decided to bring you you the most incredible, hard-hitting, most in-depth preview for Duke possible. If you thought that last sentence was truthful, you are going to be very disappointed. ...
The Irish Get Well With Nevada Win, But Spartans Loom
Last week I foretold the beginning of the end of the Brian Kelly era. Several people on Twitter and HLS strongly disagreed. Hey, it happens! The Irish got exactly what they needed on Saturday with a convincing win over Nevada. While I don’t think Nevada is a great team, any win on Saturday was welcome. I would also argue that Nevada is akin to a victory over a top MAC program as the Wolf Pack have been in a bowl game the last two seasons. It is also a much higher quality game than the FCS ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Sunday Services
I haven’t had to perform too many theological gymnastics in order to accept that we start this year’s Football March to Victory on a Sunday. Yes, it is The Lord’s Day. But you can go to Mass on Saturday evening and it still counts. The Lord is just happy to see you, and He appreciates that you stopped in for a visit. Besides, we don’t take the Bible literally. If we did, there would be a lot of eyes plucked out for looking at filthy images (like USC and Alabama playing with each other), and a ...
Here is Every Notre Dame Football Game on YouTube*
Here is a playlist of every Notre Dame football game available on YouTube, as of today. There's about 500 games here, dating all the way back to 1913. ...
Playoff in 2016? I’m Changing My Prediction
In an article last month, I suggested the Irish were a playoff team. I generally focused on three areas: the schedule, the offense, and the “breaks” finally breaking Notre Dame’s way in a given year. However, I also cautioned that nothing great ever happens in June and July…see Alize Jones. ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Bring It! (or not)
An errant flyer was slipped under my door recently. It was a series of lists from the Office of Housing, instructing incoming freshmen in “What to Bring to Campus.” I found this amusing, because the Office of Housing used to be Brother Paul the Hermit; and “What to Bring to Campus” was “Whatever You Can Fit into Four Saddle Bags or One Steamer Trunk.” So I found these lists…quaint: Personal Supplies - Shower Caddy: This better not mean a fellow who carries your soap into the scrub room ...
Scouting Report: USC
The Trojans open as 6.5 point favorites over the Irish for the Nov. 26 matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. SEASON OUTLOOK "The Trojans' entire schedule is a meat grinder," said FOX Sports' Bruce Feldman. "Eleven of their 12 opponents played in bowl games last season. The opener is against defending national champion Alabama in Texas. The closest of their three non-conference games to being seen as a breeze is against a Utah State team that has won 36 games the past four seasons ...
Notre Dame’s Easiest, Scariest & Toughest Games
The Easiest: Navy Yes, Navy! Before readers attempt to tar and feather me - or worse - I’m going with the Midshipman for a couple of reasons. But wait, what about the vaunted option attack and Ken Niumatalolo’s offense? Remember the years Notre Dame has struggled with it? Consider this: In the last five meetings with Navy, Notre Dame’s average margin of victory has been 22.6 points. This includes a decisive 41-24 victory last year against a Navy team that featured Heisman Trophy ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Hell-ucinations
Students at Indiana University saw a Dominican priest and thought he was a Ku Klux Klansman. This is not a joke. Oh, how I wish this really were a joke. They saw his Rosary and thought it was a whip. Since most students at Indiana University didn’t attend Catholic grade school or high school, how would they ever know that a Rosary can be used very effectively as a whip? A priest wearing the white habit of his order – an order that’s been around for roughly 800 years, represented in art, ...