Look BACK to realize the FUTURE!

Sometimes realizing where you've been, is just

as important as where you're hoping to go!

This is the problem with the memory of a sports fan.

You can't "rationalize", you don't have the ability 

to see through the glasses smeared with your 

team's colors!...

Trust me..I was born in Ohio!

But take a moment and walk down memory lane 

with me....Now for all you looking for 

 "insiders" info,  this is the off season, 

UNTIL I reach the coaches clinic this will be mostly 

hype!... It will be my "opinion" with a bit 

of juice mixed in here or there!

I'll tell you what I'm hearing from spring practice...but 

not for a week or so...they just put pads on!

And...we've already lost one player for good...and 

another for the spring!

So relax...it's spring ball!

Stop and realize what has happend in a short amount of 

time since the arrival of Brian Kelly!

He's hit the ground running in his first three seasons

"1.21 Gigawatts style!"

Let's talk differences first!

DEVELOPMENT vs GRASPING AT STRAWS

Charlie could call some plays!

Charlie could recruit some "offensive" talent!

Charlie could think out of the box!

Charlie was not a head coach!

TRAVIS THOMAS

I loved the look of Travis Thomas!

He looked like he'd beat up Tarzan!

Then cry when he got hit by Jane!

This is my first topic of the night!

When Charlie announced in 06 that Travis 

was being moved from running back to linebacker?

I thought?...Desperation!

This blame needed to be spread around...some 

on Charlie, some on Ty!

But it happened!..and I was scared!

Why was I scared?...We lacked

DEVELOPMENT!

If a kid was a natural STUD..then great

but if we needed to develop him...uh oh!

Now...we have DEVELOPMENT!

In 2012 I'll be the first to tell you when I was right...and 

when I was wrong!

When I was right?

Matthias Farley!

I called it when this kid hit campus!

He comes from a GREAT family with GREAT

minds throughout!

And he had the hunger!...he had only played 

football for 4 years..and he was SMART!

Thank God for that BEARD!

But I was worried...We were gonna face great QB's!

We faced the best QB in the:

BIG 10

PAC 12

BIG 12

We were gonna give up yards!....right?

But at NO TIME did I think we'd have the secondary talent 

develop to the point of being one of the best units in the 

country!

KeiVarae Russel-Converted running back

Mathias Farley-Converted wide receiver

Bennett Jackson-Converted wide receiver

Now...when I hear about players being moved around?

I get excited to see what this staff can do with TALENT!

Troy Niklas-tight end

(My pick for BREAK OUT player of the 

year next year!) 

CJ Prosise now being looked at at wide receiver?

Why?...we have talent STACKED on top of talent at WR?

That's what excites me..what have they seen?

This staff looks for talent...not position!

On to upgrade number 2

TALENT

Other than Michigan being horrible in this game...our biggest highlight

was John Ryan's tackle of Charlie Weis!

Now...I'll never dog a player from ND for fear that 

the fans will cry and try and "Lynch" me!

But I can only name maybe 3 or 4 defensive players in the past 

seasons that Brian Kelly would have even OFFERED!

In fact...looking back we weren't fighting Alabama

for the Eddie Vanderdoes's of the world...we were 

barely fighting the Virginias!

Now...when a kid commits...My litmus test?

How many SEC offers does he have?

What Pac 12 Schools did we take him from?

There are not a better group of recruiters in the COUNTRY in 

my opinion than Brian Kelly and his staff!

Now...relax all you Saban supporters that troll this site...

or you UM fans...or Urban butt lovers!

Let's talk real for a moment!

It's a numbers game...what pool can you take talent from..

What talent can qualify...etc..

Let's just say this is ALL of the "elite D line" talent in the US!

The Blue section:

Bama

Ohio State

Auburn

Florida State

Schools where they, let's call it "bend the standards" a 

bit... The GPA needs to be a bit over "brain dead" to 

qualify and as long as you've got less than one felony?..

YOU'RE IN!

The Pink Section:

Michigan

Wisconsin

CAL

Washington

These schools you have to go to class...the GPA 

is a tad bit higher..but they will drop you if you're a 

problem.

Yellow Orange Green Sections:

This is everyone else...

The "hot" recruiter so to speak like  "Ol'Miss" last year

...or the schools like Texas that just OWNS the state!

Now..on to the 

RED SECTION:

This is the talent that is not only being 

chased by EVERYONE else in the ENTIRE 

country...but actually has the GPA and record 

to qualify to get into a Notre Dame or Stanford!

ALL THOSE OTHER KIDS..we can't take!

This kid is a 5 star STUD being told by EVERY other 

coach that the degree really doesn't matter....

This kid can go ANYWHERE he wants...he's got the talent

and the grades!...this kid is the 2% that ND has to choose from...

You might have 50 elite kids...10 can get into ND but you'll have fight 

every other coach to get' em!

Smaller pool to choose from...still KILLING IT on the recruiting!

Then you have to deal with the dirty coaches!

Google "Dirty Football Coach" and see 

who's pictures show up!

CLICK TO SEE THE RESULTS!

This is why I feel we have the best group of recruiters in the country!

The "Bay of Eagles Conflict" as I call it...the day's that Kelly was 

supposedly interviewing with the Philly Eagles...we had 

several players being just BOMBARDED by coaches saying 

whatever they needed to say to try and flip one of our boys!

One story I'd like to share with you in closing...

One Midwest program was really putting in the 

overtime trying to take one of our kids!

He told this kid everything...he threw story after story about

Kelly already taking the job....about Notre Dame this...

Notre Dame that...etc...

Now..I'm not gonna tell you who it was...but he 

told every lie in the book to this kid!

But one thing stood out to me the most...he said, and these were

the ACTUAL WORDS...

"Why do you want to go to Notre Dame?...Your gonna 

be in classes with 35 Valedictorians and you...with what 

a 3.2 GPA?... Do you really wanna work that hard?"

Why?...Why be the best?

Why?...Why have a degree that in case you get hurt 

can help you succeed in life?

Why?...Why worry about education?

And then we wonder why USA Today does stories like this.

Why?...cause at Notre Dame...They care now, while 

you're playing in your prime..and after the stadium 

lights are gone!

GOD BLESS & GO IRISH!

My Fellow IRISH-AMERICANS!....

Today is a great day!...as is everyday the Lord blesses

you with health and prosperity..and take pride in the coming

future dominance that is

THE NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH!

With the dead period soon approaching and tax season

in full swing the blog will be updated from...let's say 

time to time!

As Yoda would say..."Busy the Damefan gets!"

But I want to inform you of some of the upcoming reasons 

for information and excitement!

1. Coach Tony Alford

Coach Alford reached out to us during the season and 

we did some work for him, and I have to say....this 

guy needs a HUGE contract!

It takes about 1 minute to realize why he's one of the best recruiters 

in the country...he's personable, educated and a great football 

mind..but mostly he cares about these kids, not only now...

but when they leave ND and enter the real world!

We have some great conversations about the program and 

where it's headed and what they feel they can accomplish!

Look forward to sharing his insights over the summer as well as 

pictures of the work we did for him AFTER the ND pro day!

(don't wanna ruin the surprise!)

2. Notre Dame Coaching Clinic

This will be our 2nd year attending the Notre Dame 

coaching clinic and it's quickly become one of the highlights of

my summer!... Chalk talk with coaches...private practice viewing as 

well as full contact live scrimmage with the ones vs the ones!

This year I'm OVERLY geeked about this event due to the 

questions I'm hoping to see get answered with the following

areas of concern...

1. Running Back..Who,who & who?

2. Wide Receiver...TJ, Davaris &_____________

3. Center and O-line cohesiveness.

4. QB lineup..who's 2nd and 3rd on the depth chart?

I'm much more excited because their is no cancer or

LYNCH-GATE to deal with this year!

I was amazed how much I saw that doesn't seem to hit 

the spring game...

3. SPRING GAME

This has become just an excuse to get away and get 

stupid!...but you will pick up some info here and there

in passing and during the LEGENDARY 

Spring Game BBQ!

4. JUNE = Re-Enforcements Arrive!

This is when things get REALLY interesting...the eyeball test, 

so to speak begins...who's D1 ready..and who will be shelved 

into the Longo Restoration program for next season!

Non coached 7 on 7's will be run by team captains and 

the chemistry with the new players will begin...Who will 

emerge ready by fall...that's the big question!

This recruiting class is by FAR the best class we've signed

in the past 25 years!

Talent-Speed-Size-Intelligence

That's a deadly 4 pack my friend!

The great thing about this!...there is no "hype" or 

Kool Aid drinking here...this is what Notre Dame 

SHOULD be doing!...Competing on the field at the highest 

level...recruiting nationwide for the best of the best in high

school talent...and churning the program with high schoolers

entering and professionals leaving!

It's amazing to me how quickly Brian Kelly has made his

presence known and what his intentions are with 

Fighting Irish Football.

There has not been a better time in 30 years to be a fan than 

right now and the years to come!

Winter conditioning is in full swing...position groups are forming

with film study and soon spring practice!

So rumble young man rumble!

Brian Kelly in my opinion will have the IRISH seat at the 

playoff table warm and occupied season in and season out!

That's my agenda for the summer...so relax.. unwind...

pour yourself a nice cold one and watch the kids jump around 

in the pool...but realize during all of this...there's a 

MONSTER being built in South Bend Indiana!

GO IRISH & GOD BLESS!

Recruiting...it's quite a show!

One thing I'll never understand...wasting talent on 

useless projects!

Recruiting is like going to a car show. 

Ole' Miss made quite a splash in the recruiting world,

they got really cool doors...turbo charger...fancy wheels..

Really surprised everyone!

But at the end of the day...it's still a Honda Civic!

It's still Ole' Miss!

There are tons of different types of recruiters!

There are the builders!

These are the guys that look underneath the car...not at the paint!

They see the frame is solid...the engine block has no cracks, 

and the body seems like it's in workable condition!

So they fill needs, when playmakers 

graduate...they RE-populate!

Manti leaves?

Number 1 OLB in the county Jaylon Smith &

ESPN top 150 Doug Randolph arrive!

Kapron leaves?

Number 1 DT Eddie Vanderdoes &

ESPN top 150 Issac Rochell arrive!

Cierre & Riddick leave?

Number 2 Running Back Greg Bryant 

and Number 6th Athlete Tarean Folston arrive!

Tyler Eifert leaves?

Number 5 Tight End Mike Heuerman &

top 15 Durham Smythe arrive!

Braxton Cave & Mike Golic leave?

Top 5 OT Hunter Bivin & 

Top 10 Colin McGovern arrive!

Zeke Motta leaves!

5 star number 2 in the country

Max Redfield  & top 10 Cole Luke

arrive!

John Goodman & Roby Toma leave!

ESPN top 150 WR Tori Hunter &

Top 20 Will Fuller & Onwualu

  arrive!

This is what a builder does...he builds!

Oh..by the way, this list isn't even the 

tip of the iceberg of talent that will be 

migrating to South Bend!

And... regardless of stars and hype...they

have to beat out the players in front of 

them that were just in the

    NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 

last year!

The other type of recruiter is

THE POACHER!

This guy is dangerous!

He usually coaches at programs with...wel,l let's just

say.."Low Ethical Standards"!

Programs that have had a long history of NCAA 

violations...cars...cash...etc.

BEWARE..he is real...it's not an "Urban" legend or 

some sort of fairy tale...he'll take kids down the wrong

"Lane" in life and tell them pretty much whatever they 

need to hear!

If there is a kid he feels is better..suddenly the kid that 

already committed to the program and was last years 

"big thing" is now a "problem" child...or has a 

"career ending" injury? 

Or is "encouraged" to transfer!

This guy will prey upon programs...if a coach interviews?

This is the first call a recruit gets!

If a program has a late season meltdown?

This is the first call a recruit gets!

He's the carp of the recruiting world...a bottom feeder

willing to tell a kid whatever he needs to, to get the 

signature!

"You're a Linebacker?...I think your the next 

Percy Harvin!"

"You're an offensive tackle?...I think your the next

Percy Harvin!"

But take joy in knowing this guy usually will win 

early with the other coaches players, the other teams

will figure out his game and after 

a 7-5 or 6-6 season he'll create a 

reason to leave or retire...

He doesn't really fill needs as much as 

just poach programs of kids that are

young and scared and looking for 

someone to tell them the world will be..

That's just the nature of the beast of college recruiting!

But as of right now NOTHING can stop me from smiling 

ear to ear about the job Coach Kelly and his staff accomplished

putting together one of the best recruiting classes in 

the past 25 years!

The beauty of this class?

We landed a top 3 class of players...that can qualify to

attend school at...

THE UNIVERSITY OF
NOTRE DAME!

Which in the grand scheme of things...makes this class 

number 1 in my eyes!

Read-Write-Compete!

IN THAT ORDER!

So raise a glass like I will tonight and sit back 

and relax and know that the contract is 

in the works to lock up this coach and his 

staff!

Upgrades to the facilities and stadium are already 

in the blue print stage..

And the new breed of IRISH are already falling 

into place!

THE GOLDEN ARMY 14

Might just set the bar to a whole new level!

GO IRISH AND GOD BLESS!

He's got Phillips in the corner!...He's giving him the business!

Is this your reaction lately when people see your 

Notre Dame gear?

What the Hell is going on?

Life is funny sometimes when you're at the top,

people only want to tear you down...

When you're down, they talk about how good it 

is for everyone when you're up!

This has been an interesting few weeks, but

my mom always told me these things happen 

in threes!

1. BCS National Championship Game:

You know I thought the refs really affected the complexion

 of the game on our first drive...nope Ronaiah Tuiasosopo 

has done more damage than Yeldon and Lacy could have

done in five games!

2. Brian Kelly interviewing with the Eagles:

This is a part of business that most people don't understand,

but that's because they've never been in a position of power 

where they could play two companies off each other.

3. TEO-GATE

This one is gonna take a while to get over....Look, 

the only thing I find more fascinating than the mind of a 

"fan" is the mind of someone "religious".   My kids will live

what I feel will be a very charmed life in comparison to how I was raised

 With that being said...at no point will I teach them 

to trust until that trust is broken!

This is a very unfortunate thing that happened to a very 

caring, and let's say "naive" kid.

But this is the point where the DAMEFAN tells all of 

you to take a moment and....

Chill the F out!

Have you forgotten what the hell happened this season!

What is going on with recruiting?

How much talent we are returning?

How much talent we are sitting on?

Coaches are getting more money!

Facilities are getting upgrades!

Stadium is getting work!

RELAX!

Trust me...here is 9 minutes...NINE MINUTES

that will tell you it can ALWAYS be worse!

And what's funny is I live in a town where these fans 

are NOT too embarrassed to talk trash...talk about a HOAX!

There are hundreds of thousands getting hoaxed by this 

daily here!

Notre Dame is exactly that, but it's more like this

 NOTRE
DAME

Whatever we do...it will get blown outta proportion!

We had a kid de-commit because Kelly interviewed...

That's the story that ESPN had...

BUT

They didn't tell you...

He then committed to a program where the head coach was 

interviewing with the Bears the SAME WEEK!

It's Notre Dame!...you're never gonna get an 

honest story from the press...cause nobody 

likes stories about good things!

We are the only program in the country where 

the word ALLEGED means GUILTY!

Over the next three weeks I'm going to break 

down our games in the order of difficulty and 

tell you why we might get another shot at 

Saban next year!

Top 3 toughest games for ND next season?

Stanford-Oklahoma-Michigan State

Let's start with: 

Stanford:

Goodbye both Tight Ends,

Ertz and Toilolo are both leaving what is a young

quarterback and what had become a safety blanket 

 through the season.  They combined for 95 

catches last year and 10 TDs.  This, combined with the 

loss of Stepfan Taylor (Stanford's ALL time leading rusher)

could make the Stanford offense a bit sluggish next year!

BUT...that D with Murphy, Skov and Gardner returning will 

be tough!

Oklahoma:

Landry Jones...see ya!

They also had 3 premier underclassman leave in 

Kenny Stills... their leading receiver is gone!

Tony Jefferson... their leading tackler is gone!

Tom Wort... their best LB is gone!

With all the losses on the offense and defense 

this game is not against the Oklahoma of old!

Michigan State:

Bright Spot?...2nd year QB!

Not so bright?...2nd year QB!

MSU was 108 in total offense last season and 

that was with Bell who averaged 138 yards per game!

Also TE Sims is history as well, as is MSU's best 

defensive player in Gholston!

But this week is about wrapping up what 

is sure to be a top 5 recruiting class 

and putting some more talent in place

to make the IRISH MOB exactly 

that!

My pick?...the kid I want to be the icing at the 

top of this IRISH Chocolate cake! (Sorry Lou!)

EDDIE VANDERDOES

This kid is a MONSTER!

At 6'3 315 lbs, he's a house and fits right into 

place when Lou get's picked in the first round 

after next season!

Anyone who watched the Army All American game knows 

this was the best D lineman there!

And from what I'm hearing...we are in very good shape 

with him!

USC has become a dumpster fire with people jumping ship 

like they just hit an iceberg!

So next time you feeling like this:

Realize that we have MANY more things to 

be excited about, than we do to be upset about!

So stop...pour yourself one of these:

Pop this into the DVD

And realize...We're in pretty good hands!

GOD BLESS & GO IRISH!

Licking our wounds & trying to get that taste outta our mouth!

WOW!...was I wayyyyyy off on my 

assessment of that match up!

First of all, let's start with giving Bama props!

That is a well oiled machine and other than getting caught

off guard along the way by Johnny Football....pretty much

did what they wanted, when they wanted for the past 

4 seasons...

Let's put some things into perspective.

What Bama has done winning 3 outta the past 4 

is not impressive...it's LEGENDARY!

Let's look at how it stacks up...

In the past 40 years this is how many 

National Championships have been won

by other programs!

Michigan 1

LSU 2 

(one was Saban's)

Ohio State 1

Texas 1

Notre Dame 3

Oregon 0

It's hard to win ONE!

BAMA HAS 3 in 4 YEARS!

That's more than Michigan-Ohio State-Oregon

 COMBINED!

We arrived on Saturday..hit the pool, had some drinks

 and then hit up South Beach!

South Beach is what happens when Project Runway 

and the Real Housewives had intercourse...and had

25,000 kids!

CRAZY!

It was great meeting everyone...and thanks to 

all the folks that bought drinks, and shared the same

optimism that I had until....about the time the 

refs put it in our ASS on our first drive!

Now...don't get me wrong...at no point am I making ANY 

excuses for this game....Our boys played hard...many played great,

some played like they hadn't all year!...(that was not a positive!)

But...I would have LOVED to see how certain members of 

our defense would have reacted if Bama scored on us...and 

BAM...we scored on Bama...

Eifert's first down...SCREWED

Fumble on the punt...SCREWED

Would it have mattered?....I'm not saying we would have 

won...but would we have been down that bad at half?...

I'd say no!...

Louis Nix...absolute BEAST...loves ND, hates to lose!

Stephon Tuitt...LEGEND waiting to happen..college and NFL!

And that brings me to the offense....WOW!

Most of you watched this game and saw no 

positives...me?..I saw the FUTURE!

I saw a quarterback that the National Champions 

could not get to..and could not control or contain!

60% completion ratio...270 yards 1 TD and 1 Rushing TD

THEY COULD NOT TOUCH HIM!

Oh...did I forget..this is his FIRST year starting!!!

Give me those numbers before the game...I'd say "Great...we win!"

Daniels-Jones-Niklas...etc..

This offense will be IMPOSSIBLE to stop next season!

Were there bright points...yeah...Did the end result suck..yeah!

But can you see us back in that game next year?...YEAH!

This program's arrow is pointing UP like no other!

Next season you will finally see the "Kelly Offense" 

So we got home....depressed...sad...and BAM!

SWIFT KICK TO THE NUTS!

Brian Kelly interviewing with the EAGLES?

Now...if you didn't see this coming..you're an idiot!

If you handled it like Kelly did...your still kinda an idiot!

This whole process was handled wrong...and right all at the 

same time...did it have to happen?...YEAH

Could it have been handled differently?...YEAH!

End game?...THE SAME!

This all began with Charlie Weis...and ended with 

a new contract for our REAL coach!

Charlie came in and won a few games...then parlayed 

that into NFL teams trying to take him...and BEFORE 

Jack Swarbrick was there...convinced the powers that be,

that it was better for the program to give him a HUGE long 

term deal....Smart?...NOPE!

Now..once bitten and twice shy Notre Dame has a 

REAL head coach...but there is only one problem!...They 

aren't paying him!

CLICK ME!!!

Okay..what do:

Kirk Ferentz-Iowa

Mike Gundy-Oklahoma State

Gary Patterson-TCU

Brett Bielema-Arkansas

Brady Hoke-Michigan

Gary Pinkel-Missouri

Paul Johnson-Georgia Tech

James Franklin-Vanderbilt

Gary Anderson-Wisconsin

All have in common?

They all make more money than 

Brain Kelly!

All with less success coaching....and 

have not sniffed the National Championship!

In fact..the BIG slap in the face...is 

BUTCH JONES!

Kelly has mentored Jones for years!

He has followed Kelly from Central Michigan

to Cincinnati and now to his own 

big gig at Tennessee!

Making more than Brain Kelly!

With higher paid assistant coaches.. more trainers

and more support!

This is what all the drama was about!

If you want to compete at ND, with the big boys you 

need... CONSISTENCY!

You can't have programs trying to hire away your 

staff...you can't have programs with better 

facilities and nutritional and strength programs!

You can't have LESSER coaches making 

more money, with better suport, at smaller, 

less important programs!

This wasn't about Brian Kelly wanting a NFL gig!

This was about Brain Kelly wanting Notre Dame 

BACK!

We are at the door step to being a player 

EVERY year at the National Championship 

table!

So....sit back relax...and let the man work!

GO IRISH and GOD BLESS!