Quick look...over on the grassy knoll.... GO IRISH!

****This is me ranting a bit***

***I'm not real happy right now***

Enjoy the show!

Let's say you walk into a McDonalds 

next week, you meet the counter worker

and the two of you just don't hit it off!

After struggling to get your order, he kinda

gives you some lip and you return it with a 

not so favorable comment on why he's 

working at Micky Ds at forty years old!

Your "special" order Big Mac comes  

off the grill with an extra ingredient fresh 

from the mouth of your new friend...

Do you sue him?...The Ten dollar an hour

counter worker...or do you blame Ronald and 

his Golden Arches?

You sue the company!

Now...The company is run much like a team.

Each aspect of that team has a job to perform and 

when a person breaks down on their specific 

mission that day, the ENTIRE team fails!

But only McDonalds gets the lawsuit!

We've taken a kid and blamed him almost 

like a "patsy" for all the errors, regardless 

of if they are his fault or not!

Why?...He's the quarterback for
NOTRE DAME!

And that position comes with ALL the 

credit when things go good!

And ALL the blame when they don't!

Hell, there were idiots calling for a back up 

that hasn't had ONE COLLEGE pass 

attempt to be put in the game!

Of course...That was BEFORE the
O-Line woke up and gave Golson the time

to rattle off 28 unanswered points and 

get ND back from 34-3 to 34-31!

A "TEAM" is just that...pieces working 

together achieve a goal!

Like a car engine...If you turn the key on 

a V8, and 2 spark plugs are firing your 

gonna know about it RIGHT AWAY!

Why do you blame a QB for allowing a 

blind side shot to cause a fumble? 

"Oh..he should have "felt" the pressure!" 

Shut up!

Let me punch you in the back of the 

head, and then blame you for not

"feeling" it coming!

How about calling a 3 step drop slant?

Who's fault is it when the ENTIRE offense

knows you called a 3 step slant...That 99% of 

the time is gonna go to the EXACT 

same WR...And you don't block your man,

and keep him from jumping DIRECTLY 

into the pass... 

YOU KNEW HE
WAS TROWING IT!!!

What am I missing here?

Now look I'm not saying that NOTHING 

is Golson's fault, but making him the 

blame for EVERY issue is like 

blaming Obama for a local mayor

embezzling from the playground

fund...And I blame Obama for A LOT!

FSU was a horrific loss!

And don't get me wrong, I'm as mad at the 

inconsistency of refs as you are!

But this game STUNG TWICE as hard,

cause we lost to an inferior team!

We allowed a team, that if we play them ten 

more times, we win 9!

STOP!

DO YOUR JOB!

You eliminate these STUPID mistakes 

and I'll put ND up against any team in the 

country!

Hell, we played like complete trash for an ENTIRE 

half of the game, and still were in a position to win!

And not against a 500 team, or a team 

that won't even be bowl eligible!

Which takes me to the next topic that's on 

my angry mind!

WHAT TYPE OF CRACK IS THIS 
"SELECTION COMMITTEE" 

smoking? 

We lose to the current what No.3 and No. 6 

team in the country and we are 18th??

We beat Stanford...it's nothing!

But to Oregon is a statement win!

We are 18th in the country...But we are

the "signature" impressive W for 

ASU and FSU??? 

No. 9 beats no. 10 on the road and we 

drop 8 spots?

But no. 8 losses to no. 14 at home and 

drops 4 spots?

FSU gets jumped by a team that lost 

at home to an UNRANKED team

while FSU is still UNDEFEATED!

Strength of Schedule???

Which was supposed to be a HUGE factor 

in all of this has been tossed out the window!

It's the BCS with less members!

It's the "Schedule a 2 game season, and if you

can win one of the the two we will make you top 

ten!" 

This thing is a joke!

Got me feeling like I'm in a bad SNL skit!

I got no idea which way is up!

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

They are FORCING ND's hand to join a 

conference, and if you can't see the flaws in 

this current system after just three weeks...

YOU ARE BLIND!

So...I'm gonna end with this...Drink'em if 

ya got'em!

Smoke'em if you want'em!

Cause the last thing we have is a unbiased panel 

helping determine the National Championship race!

AND NO!!! I'm not breaking down a match up 

with a 3-6 Northwestern team that 

Michigan beat!

Give me a damn break!

GO IRISH 

& 

GOD BLESS!

JUST WIN!

Rattle the GUN!...Establish the RUN! GO IRISH!

There's a HUGE difference between

those who have 

ARRIVED 

and those who are still 

ARRIVING!

The Florida State game gave a few of us, and

also a few of the players I'd say, the sense that

Notre Dame had ARRIVED this season!

But at the end of the day...as young as this program is,

we are still ARRIVING!

This Notre Dame team is not a machine yet!

They are not ready to just show up and win!

They are still a work in progress, and the beautiful 

part of all this is...The Navy Game was 

PERFECT timing!

It was perfect in the sense that it "tempered" expectations 

and attitudes within a locker room.  To a team that was being 

told, "You just pushed around the National Champs"

by every sports reporter in the country!

We needed that "reality" check, that

moment of clarity so to speak, to bring us 

back to realizing that there are four 

more fights ahead of us!

The joy this brought to me, was I sat and 

watched a game that should have been 59 to 29!

But what would that have done? 

The "noise" got to our boys a bit!

The "noise" got to all of us!

Now..it's up to us to make our own NOISE!

For me this season is a time of reflection!

First thing I've learned is...DAMN do we have

one of the BEST coaches in the entire 

country!

Let's start with Spring Ball
Here's who is no longer able to
play due to injury!

DE-Springmann

DE-Hounshell 

LB-Grace

LB-Schmidt

S-Baratti

S-Collinsworth

Now heres who is not able to 

play, because ND follows the 

rules!

DE-Williams

CB-Russell

LB-Moore

S-Hardy

WR-Daniels

Now Here's who we graduated

LAST YEAR!

Starters: 

Jackson-Giants

Fox-Giants

Nix-Texans

Tuitt-Steelers

Shembo-Falcons

Martin-Dallas

Watt-Chargers

Niklas-Cardnials

Jones-Detroit 

So...that's 10 Starters to graduation!

And down 11 on our current roster? 

Hell..it's like we are on scholarship restrictions!

And we are 7-1!!!

So...take it easy!

Realize that this team is playing at a

VERY HIGH LEVEL!

In February I said that this class was the best 

class Kelly had signed since he arrived at ND!

I took a lot of flack off that comment!

I had message board idiots saying I was crazy!

That 5 losses this season was a minimum!

Well...Have you see the freshmen STUDS 

emerging on a weekly basis? 

Trumbetti

Tranquill

Martini

Luatua

Hill

Cage

And next on that list, ready to let the college 

football universe know his name? 

NYLES MORGAN

This week...it's gonna be about reaction!

This week is about speed!

This week is about what the FUTURE

of the IRISH will look like!

ARIZONA SUN DEVILS

Now for any of you that think the college football

God's never shine on Notre Dame.

I give you opportunity no. 1 to give the 

playoff committee something to think 

about!...

So what's the no.9 team in the country look like?

They are 7-1

The big thing that sticks out to me is the 

INCREDIBLE amount of luck that has 

helped ASU get to 7-1!

Who have they beat?

Weber State

Whoever that is? 

New Mexico

LOL...I know!

Colorado

Yeah..they still have a team!

USC

Okay...DING..DING!

1st INCREDIBLE bit of luck!

Washington

Well...it's gonna take awhile to make 

them look like they are playing on 

blue turf! 

Stanford

LEGIT WIN!

Utah

Utah had to miss TWO...TWO chip field 

goals to hand this game to ASU!

The Utah that lost to WSU!

Now...their loss? 

UCLA 

Who just completely WOODSHEDED 

them at HOME!

27-62

Now...they've played a good 

SOS-30th

On Defense they are...Decent!

Rush D they are 88th in the country!

Allowing about 180 yards per game!

Pass D they are 36th!

Allowing 205 yards per game!

So their D gives up on average 400 

yards per game!

So scoring shouldn't be an issue!

Offense?

They are 44th Rush offense!

Almost 200 yard per game!

They are 23rd in passing Offense!

Almost 300 yards per game!

  

That explains the high scoring games!

They score A LOT!

They allow A LOT of scoring! 

Rattle the GUN!

Establish the RUN!

Those of you that have followed my work for 

awhile will recognize this title from 2012!

This was the same title for the Oklahoma Blog!

Why?...This game has all the same type of 

feeling as that game!

Under-dogs on the road!

A game that will show the country that

Notre Dame is emerging!

We will RATTLE the GUN with 

pressure!

We will establish the RUN with 

FOLSTON!

Kelly is a good QB...He understands 

Graham's system and operates it to a T!

But...You can shake him!

You can rattle him!

The X FACTOR in this game?

VANGORDER

He's gonna confuse...and rattle Kelly ALL NIGHT!

The first three games of the season:

Kelly=Sacked 3 times!

Kelly injuries his ankle!

Last 2 games?

Kelly=Sacked 11 times!

He's gonna bring the noise to Kelly!

He's gonna show him things that he's never seen before!

This defense is now YOUTH...on top of YOUTH

on top of SPEED..on top of AGGRESSION!

We've seen teams attempt to pressure Golson....

                                              Ask Syracuse how that worked out for them!

This game is about what team is gonna be standing when 

the smoke clears...Cause make no mistake...

Arizona State is no. 9 right now cause they've 

gotten VERY LUCKY!

Notre Dame is NOT number 2 because of this!

That flag remains in the pocket of that idiot!

The IRISH are no. 2 in the country and 

Golson is your front runner for Heisman!

GO IRISH 

and

 GOD BLESS! 

Winning in the court of public opinion... GO IRISH!

Being right in the public eye...doesn't always translate to 

being right when it matters..

Good examples: 

Bill Clinton

OJ Simpson

Any Catholic Priest

Now...When I list those names, they sound 

like a joke, that has "Walked into a bar" in

it somewhere!

But the point of that is...Legacy..Don't let the 

court of public opinion determine your legacy!

Bill Clinton...Balance budget, great economy

and I'm not a dem!...But will he be remembered

for that...or the cigar? 

OJ Simpson, pretty sure we don't immediately 

think Heisman winner? 

And...Not every Priest is bad guy!

The "Court of Public Opinion" is what 

Notre Dame is fighting against...

Now the court can hurt ya...or 

help ya!

"Those pious Notre Dame fans!"

"Those Catholics!"

Or

We dropped 2 spots in the AP?

Why...The "court of public opinion" showed

Notre Dame out played FSU and got 

caught behind enemy lines and with

a flag, our game was stolen!

(that and the stats!) 

Good example...Ohio State played
Penn State last week...They went on the road

played an unranked team, and without the same 

type of assistance would have lost....But 

they did..in the "Court of Public Opinion" they

did lose!

Hence dropping in the AP with a victory..

And being 16th to the committee..

So now..it's our job to recognize the court  

we are playing in...The court that has:

A: ex head coach Notre Dame fired 

B:   A former ND broadcaster that 

was fired and is now our 

oldest and biggest rival's AD

C.   A former ND defensive Cord

My point here is, we are NOT going to 

get the benefit of the doubt...We are not going 

to win the "coin toss" vs other teams close to 

us, and we are for sure, as an independent, not going 

to be viewed in a positive light!

It's the
SEleCtion

Committee 

Hence the "biggest difference between the 

AP and the committee rankings?" 

NOTRE DAME 

AP :6th 

Committee: 10th

We have to realize that the only way to get what 

we want...is to DOMINATE on the field!

To REMOVE all doubt that Notre Dame 

DESERVES it's spot among the top teams!

We need to just focus on what we do, and 

who's in front of us....Then...DESTROY THEM!

We need to establish ourselves within the 

"Court of Public Opinion", that we 

cannot be left out of this mix...And you know 

how to do that?...Simple!

Just WIN!

That's all we need to do...it's not "If this team 

does this" or "If they beat them"

Just WIN!

Don't think they aren't' seeing FSU putting 

damn near 600 yards on the "No.1 Defense"

in the country in their house, when they

 barely went over 

300 on Notre Dame's D at FSU!

Just WIN!

They are paying attention....but lose one game,

over look one team....Not show up one night!

And it's all for nothing!

Just....WIN!

So...Who's next?

NAVY

The always respected...sometimes hated, 

for the game, at least...

Mid Shipmen!

This is a bit of a surprise to me...I sorta expected Navy to 

be better than they are...Now with that being said it's not 

the normal Navy team...They are, well just not that good!

They are 4-4 

They've not really played any "BIG BOY" defenses!

They beat Temple by 7?

But who hasn't?

They beat Texas...wait for it..STATE!

yeah...exactly!

They beat Virginia Military?

Who I didn't know existed? 

And...a 3 loss horrible San Jose State!

Who happens to have the 119th ranked

rush D!!! 

They give up almost 30 points a game!

They are 75th in Rush D!

They are 74th in pass D!

So their defense is very balanced

 at being bad!

Still no. 1 in rushing over 352 yards per game

But that due to touching 3 teams 

for huge yards....

Ohio State

San Jose

Western Kentucky 

Oh..and by the way their pass Offense?

123rd in the country!

So this is our 

FIRST GAME OF THE YEAR!

This is our first week, to make our 

first entry, into the ledgers of:

So all Kelly has to do the rest of the season 

is take this one game at a time!

Make one STATEMENT at a time!

UNLEASH HELL and let the chips fall 

where they may...and when the smoke clears

and the nay sayers are done bitching...

JUST WIN, and sit back and laugh!

Cause there are no "moral" victories, FSU showed 

us that....but the "COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION" 

showed us that IMMORAL victories don't hurt

the victims quite as bad!

MAKE YOUR LEGACY!

AND FIGHT LIKE HELL!

GO IRISH 

& 

GOD BLESS!

Pro-active vs Re-active...GO IRISH!

One of my favorite saying in financial planning is...

"Past performance is not indicative of future results." 

Yet our entire life we've been taught that..."Those

who choose to forget history are doomed to repeat it!" 

So what've I seen the past week...an IRISH team 

that loves the "noise"...Loves the role they've played

so many times, not only just this season...but all the way 

back to the beginning of another season, a season where

 we couldn't  possibly beat an Oklahoma team at home..

What I loved about that game was Kelly's ability 

to be "pro-active" in going after another team!

The IRISH this season are not "counter punchers",

they set the tone for the fight!

They want to punch you in the mouth!

They want to get you on your heels...Now that

hasn't happened in every game..but the premise 

is still the same, GO AFTER THEM!

Now there are a lot of people that have already 

chalked this game up to FSU!

That the "noise" will not affect the Seminoles.

That we are just not evenly matched to compete!

And you know what...They are right!

Florida State does't match the IRISH!

FSU                                     ND

Rush Offense

95th                                     67th

Pass Offense

13th                                     34th

Total Yards Per Game

462                                       444

Points scored per game

39                                        34

Now...FSU has played more, they've 

had to go to OT...and yet only 18 more

yards per game? 

So offensively we are pretty evenly matched?

So what about our defense?

FSU                                        ND

        Rush Defense     

54th                                        19th

 Pass Defense

40th                                        67th

Total Yards given

up per game

359                                         348

Points allowed  

21                                          17

Now...I'm even more confused?

Who's Florida State beaten?

Clemson

Wait...Clemson can't be good they 

were taken to the wire with North Carolina?

wink...wink!

NC State

Well NC State did hang 525 YARDS on FSU!

Then got shut out by Clemson?

Okie State

Who have they beaten?

Iowa State and Kansas?

  Well looks like we will have to compare

 common opponents. 

Who has FSU and ND both played?

Syracuse

FSU                                        ND

3rd down 

6-10                                       9-14 

Rush

165                                       161

Pass

294                                      362

Total points

allowed 

 20                                       15

So...We rushed for more yards?

We were more efficient on 3rd down?

We passed for more yards?

We held them to less points?

Oh..and we played their starting QB not

their 2nd string freshmen!

And we turned the ball over 5 TIMES!!

Cuse also threw 3 PICKS vs FSU!

So there it is...We turn the ball over too much!

ND has 11 turnovers on the year!

WAIT!

FSU has 12 turnovers on the year!

What seems wrong about this?

Why in the hell are WE the ones worried?

This will be the best D that FSU has faced 

all year!

"With the most complex blitz package in 

college football." -Trevor Matich

This game is ours to win!

And the difference...We are peaking in the

 important areas!

Or D line is becoming the strength of this defense!

Our corners are realizing their ability to play

"pro-active" and go after the ball!

Our LBs are seeing the plays develop, not just

reacting to developing plays!

VanGorder is going to BRING the 

house vs FSU!

I hope they've studied HOURS of tape of

our defense...Cause from what I'm hearing

they will have watched NOTHING they 

will see come Saturday!

Blitz...yes...wait no!

Zone...yep...no wait.. man!

Blitz three?...no wait FIVE!

Drop eight...no...wait?

"What the hell is going on"...in my opinion

is the thought, that will be going over and over

through Winston's head...

This is our stage!

This is our moment to show the world!

This is our game to win!

Notre Dame will rise up and will

give FSU all they can handle!

And when the smoke clears...The big message to 

Jimbo and Florida State University?

I hope it was worth it....cause the last coach 

that lied to keep players eligible...Didn't end well!

GO IRISH 

& 

GOD BLESS!

Your who now?...Cause I knew who you were last week... GO IRISH!

We've all got that one story about a girl or guy that was...

Well..Bi-Polar or just plain old nuts!

One second she was talking about how happy she was

then next...BAM!...Here comes the head-case!!

As football fans we are very similar to this, struggle one 

week and the sky if falling, dominate the next and 

bring on the crystal trophy!

This season, across the landscape of college football

most teams are....Bi-Polar!

We don't know who's good and who's not,

from one week till the next...But the one

guarantee?

Whoever we beat, was over rated!

You have to step back and take a look at the situation

from the outside to really determine

how things are going!

2014

So far so good...

We've beat who we should, and how we should!

We've had that "Shut your mouth" hater game

with our victory over Stanford!

Golson has proven he's not only got

a short memory when he makes errors,

but also he's go ice in his veins!

The O line is finally starting to come together!

FINALLY...but baby steps!

The wide outs are showing their HUGE variety 

of talent, and skill sets, that it is very hard 

to control for opposing defenses...

And...when you finally start looking...I mean 

really looking, there are signs of the nation taking

notice of the IRISH!

1. Vegas: ND was a 14pt fav to beat Syracuse 

on a neutral site!

This week Florida State is a 20 pt 

favorite at cuse!

So the IRISH are only 6pts less favorite than 

the reigning National Champs?

2. ESPN: The talking heads are showing their 

doubt, is becoming respect!

3. The team: This team is starting to BELIEVE they 

can make noise.... They see they can bang with 

ANYONE who lines up across from them!

They know they can score whenever and 

against whoever! 

This young talented team gets all guns 

blazing in the same direction?

LOOK OUT!

Oh...and all of this with 5 suspended players

3 of which were preseason HUGE parts of 

this team...and don't hold your breath on 

seeing any of them play for ND again..

Makes me sad!...

So what has the Frozen 5 taught us?

When the smoke clears...The nation will have to 

take notice that Notre Dame doing it the right way!

Show me ONE school that would kick out their

starting QB, that took them to the natty, for grades?

Show me ONE school that would suspend 5 

players for academics??

Show me ONE school that has played in the 

National Championship with a 99% graduation rate!

All the things that drive you NUTS about ND,

are all the things that make you love ND!

Ethics

Kids are getting caught with coke and 

not sitting one game at other programs!

NOTE DAME IS SETTING THE EXAMPLE!

You can do this the right way and still win!

NOW TAKE NOTICE BIT#HES!

XM-Radio-ESPN-FOX Sports

All have complimented ND on the handling 

of student issues and applauded the ETHICS of 

doing it right! 

Don't think parents of recruits are paying attention!

So.....stay calm...On to the next victim!

The 2-3 Tar-heels of North Carolina

Okay...I know this is not Stanford...but embrace the

ability to take another step forward in EVERY

aspect of our game!

Embrace the ability to get this O line more 

experience and time together!

Embrace the game and enjoy the show!

North Carolina:

Unranked and for good reason!

Not a strong team!

They can score!

They average 36 pts per game scoring..

Problem is they average allowing 36 pts per game!

Expect Riggs to cover the slot and the D

to get after the QB regularly!

They have two wins vs...Well, AIR!

Liberty 56-29

Before you go..."They scored 56!" 

Ask your self "How did Liberty score 29?" 

San Diego State 31-27 

Now their D is the BIG ISSUE!

They are 121st in the country in pass Defense!

Allowing over 320 yards per game!

They are 92nd in rush D!

Allowing almost 200 yards per game!

This game is all about our run game!

It's about getting prepared and ironing out 

the kinks and doing work!

We need to put this away fast and then get the 

loose ends worked out cause we all know 

what's next!

Sit back and watch the chips fall where they may my

IRISH family....The next few weeks are gonna

be very interesting!

GO IRISH & GOD BLESS!