Don't poke that bear!....

Bret Bielema@BretBielema

Have tried to get Notre Dame 

on in the past schedules, 

now Michigan is 

taking a break in 2018 & 2019. 

Will see what we can do 

for Wisco!

Really?...So now that you have made some noise 

in the Big 10 you think you should what?...

Schedule some losses in your out of conference games?

Andre Ware Former Heisman Trophy Winner

had this to say about the Wisconsin coach's

 idiotic offer...

"If I were Brett Bielema...I'd be careful poking that bear,

Notre Dame is one good QB away from being a 

VERY good team." 

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR....
You might just get it!

This year has the makings of being a very interesting year for 

Coach Brian Kelly...a fork in the road so to speak!

You HAVE to show progress....but you don't HAVE to 

be perfect about it!....

Let's face it...this schedule is BRUTAL...but not 

unmanageable!....just tough! 

We are in a unique position to play spoiler NUMEROUS times 

this season....there are 

Michigan

Oklahoma

USC

All three are trying to get back to the

 crystal ball game!

All three have to beat Notre Dame to do it!..

"If you want to win a National Championship...you have

to beat Notre Dame!"

Beno Cook

Like it or not....the ENTIRE season will be on the shoulders

 of whoever is named starting QB!...

But the talent is there....the talent in the backfield

to take pressure off him is there...

The talent in the receiving and tight end core

is there....the talent on the line...is there!

Now...what can you do with the QB?

The D is not a concern....It's gonna keep us in

 EVERY game....but...

If we get into a punching match...we need to 

know that we can exchange blows!...

TD for TD!

Now...on to a new segment here on the Damefan Blog!

In the past months I've been getting a lot of emails....some fun...

Some haters from the M Go Blog idiots....some from people telling 

me who they think will do this...or that...or BREAKOUT!

But lately I've been getting A LOT of emails from the 
IRISH MOB...our current batch of recruits!

They pass on stories about camps....about coaches calling them...

About each other...We are very lucky to have this class...

So....I thought I'd pass on some tidbits about what is going on in the 

recruiting world.....there will be NO NAMES attached...

Don't email and ask me...I will not put their names out there

per their parents requests!...

So welcome to: Anonymous & Unfiltered!

1. What message did the coaches at ND seem to all share among each other, 

common theme so to speak?

-The main message told to me was that this is a life commitment. I have no

choice but to be successful, 100% graduation rate is a convincing statistic.  

Then it's all about winning a championship!

2. What schools recruiter jumped out to you as being maybe the "dirtiest" as far

as saying ANYTHING to get you to listen?

-Probably Ohio State simply because they say whatever it takes, they 

have a great speech but they'll say it to anyone that they want.

I guess they don't think about us meeting and comparing notes. 

3. How tight is this class...what do you feel this class does

that makes it different than others?

-This class has blown up, and is real close but personally I think

this is how it should be, a bunch of great dudes that are 

athletically gifted coming together to do something special!

4. Do people contacting you on Facebook and Twitter seem odd

to you?

-No, not at all, I appreciate the support, the guy's that make a 

big deal out of people contacting us are the creepy ones.  What do 

they think is happening, we are all grown men?  I love the 

fan base I've started to grow and I'm happy to be 

in the Irish family.

5. Who do you feel we have the best possible chance of landing next?

-I think Demetrius Cooper could be a kid that will jump on a 

huge offer like ND but also I think Anzalone "hopefully" will 

be next.  

6. Who reaches out of all the recruits the most? Who seems to 

be leading the way?

-Probably Malik, he's a guy that is always checking in 

on everyone...but we all talk and stay in touch!

So...Stay strong Irish Nation!

Realize that the machine is being built!...

And by seasons end...you will be able to look at the fan's 

of all the teams we beat and say...

But as we close!....I would like to rehash and old favorite

here on the blog!....

The Douche Bag Award!

Brought to you by:

The award goes to....wait for it!...

LES MILES!

This idiot takes shots at Gunner Keil because why?

Gunner would like a coach that can call plays that 

might?...just might make it past the 50 yard line 

in big games?....

Gunner has too much class to come out and respond the way 

it needs to be said so...

SUCK

IT!

MILES!

You uneducated idiot!... 

Enjoy talking to those CAJUN

fans that think books are the best place to hide your 

valuables because no one reads them!

GOD BLESS & GO IRISH!

****E-mail the blog at damefanblog@yahoo.com

****BE READY FOR THE NEXT 

CHOCOLATE NEWS!....

Gonna be epic!...

Meet the FROSH!

I WANT YOU FOR THE IRISH ARMY!

Like Uncle Sam calling re-enforcements 

Jaylon Smith is not quiet about his goals for ND!

This is a tweet following up a "sale" Jaylon 

was proposing of all the gear he recived from 

Michigan-Ohio $tate-Bama...etc...

How about i Just throw everything in the trash!!!

 Save all the troubless!!, 

No issues!! Yep ! Lets go Irish,

 2015 BCS National champions!

His next Goal?...Simple...

Surround himself with the best!...

Not hard to do when less than a week later...

4 Star ESPN Top 100 Defensive End

Iaasc Rochell 

Accepts the challenge, propelling 

Notre Dame's recruiting class into top 10 waters!

And from what I'm being told...this train is at
FULL ROLL and has no chance at stopping!

This is a very odd part of the year....LOTS of

pre...this..and pre...that!...

Last week we talked about how Lindy's was all over us

and a bit on Phil Steel....but let's talk today...

USA TODAY 

College Football Preview

Not Surprising that Cierre Wood, with over 

1100 yards last year....is the cover man!

There are some good tid bits here and there in this

magazine...Manti and Tyler are on EVERY 

All American Team and "pre" 1st round draft

boards that exist....we already know all of this..

I'll never get tired of seeing Matt Barkley 

being called the greatest "Trojan"...LOL

Great article about what USA Today 

calls the "Notre Dame Conference" and if push 

comes to shove..maybe we join a conference and who would 

make the most sense...

The profile of the season paints a best case 

of Notre Dame finishing up 10-2 and returning 

to the BCS...

Then it talks once again about the 

"PRIME TIME", 

The Saturday night games!

They highlight the MSU vs ND game

and the ND vs Miami game...

So welcome to being "relevant"

All this talk has gotten my creative juices flowing!...

So...barring a HUGE rash of injuries I just can't imagine

this being a season without the opportunity to make

some BIG TIME steps forward...

If everybody studies and stays outta trouble...and nobody

has "girlfriend" issues that they can't nut up and handle, 

we could be looking at a very impressive streak of 

statement wins and the finishing touches on a top 5 

recruiting class....

There is a lot to be excited about...

GOD BLESS...and GO IRISH!

It's a long...long....Summer!...Without ND!....

You know it's funny....This is about the time that we all 

start to think....maybe some of these guys know?...

Maybe these pre season magazines are not just all bullS#it!

Ten bucks for this one.... twelve bucks for that one....eight bucks 

here and there....it doesn't add up!....
No..you're right...IT NEVER ADDS UP!..LOL

Living where I do, I'm surrounded by idiots...Let's 

start with a little story...Today being  

Memorial Day 

(Thank you veterans!)

 I hit my local grocery store....bought some of the 

necessities....Burgers....cheese....chips....oh..and...

You're Welcome!...

Walked by the magazine isle and saw....Lindys...

so I thought...why not.... 

Now first off I walked to the register and while I was being 

rung out...the cashier saw the magazine and was like...
"DUDE....can you believe that Braxton Miller got the 

cover?".... Really?...

I said "Well...it's a regional thing...whoever that areas 

main fan base is....they get the cover...it's marketing." 

After a long uncomfortable pause....he said "What do you mean?...

This is the cover everywhere..." 

I said "No...it's not...only for Ohio." 

At which time I tore the cover off and handed it to him....LOL

First come first served:

Lindys College Football Preview

Lindy's is giving Notre Dame ALL SORTS OF LOVE 

this season...

Not in the form of the
"Pre Season BS Rankings" but, 

read between the lines....then dumb it down for

the fans of non academic schools...and explain it in 

one syllable words....kinda way...

 Notre Dame is irrelevant?

I hear this all the time right after someone see's my 

t-shirt, but right before they ask me if I wanna "super size that combo".

Top 12 non-conference games of 2012 (page 26)

This is a section of what they consider to be the "BIG" games 

of the out of conference schedules of the season...

Now this is a head scratcher....If Notre Dame 

is not relevant...and cannot compete with the "elite" of 

college football...then WHY are almost HALF of the top 

twelve BIG out of conference games...VS ND?

Here are the top 12:

1. Bama vs UM

2. ND vs Oklahoma

3. UM vs ND

4. Boise vs MSU

5. UF vs FSU

6. SC vs Clemson

7. ND vs USC

8. BYU vs Utah

9. Auburn vs Clemson

10. Miami vs ND

11. Washington vs LSU

12. Navy vs ND

So for being irrelevant....seems like we are on the minds 

of A LOT of the big boys?....

And Lindys seems like they think...ND is pretty important
in 2012?...

Now moving on....Coach Brian Kelly!

Now....I can accept that Notre Dame has done a 

SH#T job hiring head coaches from the time 

Lou left up UNTIL they hired Brian Kelly...

This guy can coach..and if you don't believe me...just look at this:

This is page 23....

Titled:

Career Coaching Victories

This is a section updating now that Joe Pa has headed 

to the nursing home in the sky and Bowden is in the 

nursing home in Jacksonville....WHO is now

leading ALL coaches in FBS in most wins?

You can see.....COACH BRIAN KELLY no. 6 

Oh...and wait....Is that the highest winning percentage?....

YEAH IT IS....so RELAX morons!....This 

guy knows what he's doing...it just is gonna 

take time to fix this at a school that doesn't take kids
with 14 ACT scores and the diplomas are not in 

golf course management!...

Now on to:

PHIL STEELE

Now this guy...I actually like....

A few years ago I was in Vegas....and stopped to meet a 

client who's brother was a professional gambler.
He told me that his friends that ran the sports books 

in Vegas at most of the BIG casinos followed Phil 

because he was the best handicapper in the country....

Since I've followed him and enjoyed his stuff....

In my business...RULE 1: Follow the money...
(that doesn't mean to follow a guy with an O$U bumper sticker

in case he's handing out $100 handshakes!) 

If Vegas follows this guy...That's good enough for me!

Now...this magazine is not officially out yet....

But the Notre Dame page is up...and downloaded...

Phil's analysis is....PERFECT STORM happened to ND last year.

****These are his words not mine!

"1st. They had an amazing 508-254 yd edge vs USF but lost 23-20

due to 5 turnovers!"

"2nd. It was UM's first ever night home game and the Irish led 24-7

(410-141 yd, 22-5 FD) going into the 4Q. Robinson's 16 yrd td pass with :02

left game gave UM a MIRACLE comeback as ND lost 35-31. "

"3rd. They had the situational edge vs USC as they were off a bye, for a night home

game while catching USC in a Pac 12 sandwich with Stanford on deck.

USC led 17-10 but ND was poised to get back in it when Crist fumbled

a snap at the USC 1 and it was batted back and returned for a TD."


Those first 2 give aways where the only thing keeping ND from the BCS!

With all this being said....Phil Steele is calling for a 

minimum of 9 wins this year.

This season is what BIG BOY programs dream about!...

Big Games...in Big Venues....to make BIG STATEMENTS!

You want respect...EARN IT!....

You wanna dodge the big boy's and schedule cupcakes....

Welcome to being...

GOD BLESS AND GO IRISH!

100,000 views in 10 months!....GO IRISH!

Okay...it seems like only yesterday my talents were taken

to this blog after the fans around the world begged

for my help!

Soooooo the IRISH family has come out in support...and I want to say thanks!...

Let me start by telling a quick story on what got me thinking about this...

First Blogger.com is excellent!...no cost!...
Links you to advertising sources,

Even if your no sell out like the DAMEFAN!

But the great thing is, it allows you to track your traffic...where...how many...and whom!

But this takes me to my story!...About a week ago I was in
Costa Rica on a work/vacation type of trip...

You see the only thing I know better than College Football is 

Financial Planning!....so I was at a trip provided by a 

firm that does work for me when I walked up to the bar 

and was approached by 2 other brokers...

The Malia boys from Florida!....

They simply said...
"We're on to you!...We know who you are!"

"Your Damefan!"
As I laughed we became fast friends and 

exchanged some Irish football talk and then returned to our 

day to day  jobs after several whiskys and other cocktails!...

The IRISH family is truly WORLDWIDE...

My blog has been read by people in the following countries:

United States -Canada

India-Australia

Sweden-Bermuda

Czech Republic-Iraq

Belize-France

Ireland-Italy..
OVER 100,000 views in 10 months!

So THANKS!

Now on to the IRISH!...

Let's talk UNDER THE RADAR players!

Let's talk Defense!....let's talk re-loading!

Josh Atkinson

Thanks to the NFL most of our D secondary went in the draft...

So the shelves are ready to be re-stocked!....that's where 

Josh Atkinson comes in!....
We all know what his brother can do... 
But watching Josh cover the best tight end in the country during 

the spring game coming off his Big East Track
Championship Title...was a joy!....

This kid hasn't even scraped the surface of what he is able to accomplish!..
I heard a coach years ago say..."You can't fix speed with experience...
but you can make up for a lack of experience with speed!"
Josh is full of speed!....Nasty SEC type speed!...

JUSTIN FERGUSON
6 '2 220 lbs...ESPN Top 150 recruit...
Notre Dame beat out Alabama and EVERY 
Florida school for his skills!...He's big..fast and has
excellent body control!...
By seasons end he and Davaris should make excellent bookends!

Ben Councell 
Expect this kid at 6'5 245 lbs to have people wonder
who was dumb enough to EVER transfer from this D?
Fast...aggressive...and long wing span...
he's got speed rusher written all over him!...

Elijah Schumate
This kid is game ready DAY 1!....
At 6'1 and 215lbs 
If we have Bennett or Josh go down to injury this 
kid allows us to bump Slaughter up to corner and 
still have that BIG HITTER in the secondary!...

Be ready my brothers and sisters!...
The haters and bandwagon bit#hes will come out full 
force in the near future!...


The bottom line is this....Notre Dame could pu$$y up their schedule 
by putting some cupcakes here and there...but 
at the end of the day what does that accomplish?
NOTHING... but creating an 
over hyped...over ranked team that gets their 
a$$ handed to them by the SEC...just look at the last 
couple National Championship games involving the BIG 10!


This is Notre Dame...This is not a cake walk...this 
is not easy... We have endured the bad choices of the 
administration for over 20 YEARS!...


But now...

We have a HEAD coach!....
Better get your wins Coach...cause the 
powers that be at ND...have a very short 
attention span!...


GOD BLESS...and GO IRISH!..


*****NEEDED: A COMPUTER EXPERT FOR THE BLOG!
E-mail me at. Jerald@jkennedyfinancial.com

Spring Game excitement....TEMPERED BY REALITY!

You know the weekend started pretty normal....
Trip to the liquor store....

BBQ essentials for Friday night...

Excited?...yeah...but playing a kinda wait and see approach!

We were still morning the loss of another causality of war...

RIP...or should I say...USF?...LOL

So we were tempered in our approach...we saw some 

friends...bought some memorabilia....
Got "THE" shirt...which is the best in DECADES!...

But mostly...we sat and talked REALISTIC expectations....

Then this happend...

Now first things first....

I've seen 2 full practices and the spring game via the Coaches Clinic..

 That's me in the practice video next to my buddy 

Pete Sampson Irish Illustrated,

and my little asian buddy Matt and Ryan!...

So let me break down for you what I saw....

COACH HARRY HIESTAND

Might be the best hire by a head coach in 20 years!

This guy is paying dividends IMMEDIATELY!

The O Line last year struggled to perform in the big games..

and pass protection broke down way to often and caused 

some needless interceptions.... Not only do the players

love this guy...but we have already wrapped up 

our O-line recruiting for 2012 RIGHT NOW with 

whats sure to be a top 5 O-Line class by seasons end...

The O-Line for ND is gonna DICTATE the tempo

of the game for 2012... 

Thank GOD we upgraded this coaching position!

We've always had "BIG" and we've always 

had "NASTY" but we've struggled in the 

past four or five seasons to have both..

"BIG & NASTY"

That's what I saw in the practices and spring game!

Ground game:

Cierre is a premier BCS running back...he's hit the gym

and just is what he is...a workhorse..1000 yard rusher..

Theo Riddick...he's my wild card...what can he accomplish

and what he's capable of is a mystery...

He can leave you picking up the change outta your pockets

with one move...he can catch the ball...and 

is very dangerous in open field...

George Atkinson III...LORD 

You tell me?....But one thing is for sure...it's hard 

to determine where and when lighting strikes....

but a good bet is to be SOMEWHERE else...

He is DANGEROUS on the outside!...

Just ask the special teams coaches for USC and MSU!

Having a SOLID O-Line

and a group of elite running backs will, 

ease the transition of what I'm sure will 

be a new starting QB for 2012...

At this point...I break down our QB race as....

1. Everette Golson

2. Andrew Hendrix

3. Tommy Rees

4. Gunner Kiel

Each have different strengths and weaknesses!..

Golson- Makes ALL the throws and has touch

as well as the ability to scramble but more importantly

during the scramble he keeps his eyes down field and 

alert and almost ALWAYS makes something 

outta nothing... 

BUT:

He seems to be struggling reading the defenses and getting the 

mental aspect of the game under control.
That can be mended by fall thorough film study and coaching!

Hendrix- Andrew has me a bit confused at this point...

Brilliant one play...struggles the next...

But the upside is TREMENDOUS!

He's got a rocket for an arm...He can throw it on a rope

for 50 yards with a flick of his wrist...

He runs like a freight train...and is not afraid to 

lower his pad level...

BUT:

His arm?...It's STRONG...but that seems to affect the short 

route and touch passes!....He's like a convict who's been 

locked away for years at home with his wife 

for the first night...IT'S GONNA BE ROUGH!

He seems to struggle to make the "touch" passes..

This can be mended by fall through 7 on 7 drills and practice!

Before I go into Tommy...Gunner is work in progress...

If we have to play a true freshman?....We got PROBLEMS!..

I have NO DOUBT that Gunner Keil will be the future of ND!...

But not yet...

Tommy Rees is like a new puppy dog....He was fun..

he did some great stuff....

BUT:

When he did good...

We never remembered!

When he did bad...

We never forgot!...

I want to first of all say....

TOMMY REES DID 

NOT COST US A SINGLE GAME LAST YEAR!

Get it outta your head!...Was he a Heisman 

contender...NO!

But was he HORRIBLE...no!

He was what he was...over his head!...

Tommy could win us 10 games!...I have no doubt...

Hell he almost did last year!....but what Tommy in my 

opinion can't do....go into Norman and beat OU!...or USC!..

The 2012 Class is coming together....

We have the talent and for the first time in DECADES

we are shelving talent... because we are just 

LOADED at certain positions!...

We just need to wait and develop and prepare!...

Cause I don't know about you?....

But when I look at this schedule it seems

very manageable to me...

Only 2 games really worry me if we don't 

shoot ourselves!

One in Oct...one in Nov!....

By then?....who knows!...

Next Week...the D!....I'm not really that 

concerned with our D!...just our late game play 

calling on D!....
You know what I'm talking about!...

But in closing...
Louis Nix

Stephon Tuitt

KLM

Gonna be rough on opposing QBs!...

GO IRISH and GOD BLESS!...