What's it gonna be?

8-4

Not what I expect....

Things could have been worse...true!...

Things could have been better...true!...

We gave away a few games...

We showed up and played really good halves in certain games...

 But at the end of the day...I didn't see a game we "couldn't" have won!

It's been a while since I could say that!...

IMPROVEMENT

check...Ton's of it!

First 1000 yard Rusher since 06'...and an ACL away 

from having 2!

Our offense can score on whoever you put in front of us and

our defense can compete with any team we play!

We averaged over 30 points a game on offense!

While holding our opponents to under 20...

Our Defense can win games for us!...

When have you heard that in the past 10 years?

Brian Kelly needs time!

We answered a lot of questions this season...and created 

a lot of questions!

Question 1 QB?

That is a big one!... In my "humble",( don't laugh at that) 

opinion we are an elite QB away from being one of the most 

dangerous teams in the country on offense...

But we cannot be a one trick pony!

ANDREW HENDRIX
Runs hard...passes like a bullet...and seems to 

have a WAY better grasp of the offense than some 

would have thought!

He moved the ball well against Stanford and gave the line time 

to slow down the rush enough to get the receivers into space!

He adds an element that the other team must respect...

If you drop 8 he'll gouge ya for 10 yards with his feet...if you blitz, 

he'll roll outta the pocket and accurately throw down field!...

This is what College Football has become!...

If you are a pro style QB....better hope you survive to hit 

the pros!

EVERETT GOLSON

WARNING: before you watch this realize 

you might not sleep tonight!

For what Golson lacks in size he makes up for in SPEED..

He's hard to get ahold of and very slippery in the open field..

His arm is amazing...but he's not seen college action other than 

scout team practice!...but he's special!...

and 6'1...

This is without talking recruiting...Unless you're signed

and on campus you're up for grabs!...

Question 2 DBs?

This was supposed to be one of our UNGODLY strengths this 

season...Didn't turn out that way at times...

RJ had a solid season and will get drafted....Gary 

Gray is another story...he had great moments and he had 

games like the UM game...hard to watch!..

He'll have his shot in the legue...

Harrison Smith...Come on...he's in!

Who's next?

Bennett Jackson is gonna be special!

Might be our best open field tackler on the team!

We have Motta-Slaughter to anchor the safety!

Now...who's gonna step up?

Lo Wood-Jalen Brown-Josh Atkinson-

We got depth...but little experience!

I'm not too concerned about the D line or the O line!

GOD it feels good to say that!

Looks like a murders row!

And you wanna talk rotation...
ISHAQ...

Rabassa...Springman...Councel...

Niklas...Houndshell...etc...

FRESH MEAN LEGS!

And on the O line next season...the debut of 

THE MARTIN BROTHERS!

So we got some questions....

We got some answers.... 

We just need more discipline...

Less mistakes....

More commitment...

More ANGRY play....

and no more of this...

Last thing we want is for you to pull an URBAN and have

 a heart attack!

Because remember....At the end of the day this is 

NOTRE DAME and we are the mecca!...

We are the standard, and the goal of all that is good

 and right in college football...

We were here before, and will be here after...

 You can try and tear us down, but we 

will always rise up from the ashes!

Why....

WE ARE 

NOTRE DAME
BITCH!

GOD BLESS and GO IRISH!

See ya when the bowl is announced!

Just waiting on our moment!.... The odds are on our side!...

Appreciation

It's something we all feel good when we receive, but all too often is seldom and far in between the criticism and negativity of the every day world!

With this being Thanksgiving Week...I thought I'd hand out a few thanks!

Michael Floyd

You brought your talents to THE University of Notre Dame and at a time when the light of the program was flickering but not burning hot...and for that I thank you!

It's been a pleasure watching you and seeing what you've become...

It's one of those situations where I can look at it and say.

Did we need Michael Floyd?

Or did Michael Floyd need what Notre Dame would make him,

and I'm not talking about a better wide receiver...but a man...

Coach Brian Kelly

I'm not gonna list all the good things he's done...

For the simple fact of...if you can't see them then your too 

stupid to read the list I'd create!

Urban Meyer

My thanks is first and foremost for not coming to the

 University of Notre Dame...

Not because you're not a good coach...but for realizing that your health will not allow you 

to be the coach you used to be,

and not taking us down that road.

I can't think of a better program, if there is any truth 

to all these rumors, to take a job at...

My only hope is that the unrealistic expectations of a decent program

 thinking they are big 

boys doesn't take the final shred of health you have

 left and leave your family without you!

Now...on to the topic at hand!

The "almost" certain 

HEISMAN Trophy Winner 

ANDREW LUCK and the 

The number 4 Stanford Cardinal!

This is one of "those" games...an opportunity to make a statement...

To silence critics...and to show the direction of the program!

So what's it gonna be?

We play this game right after the MSU game...no problem...

Now with our injuries....Flip a coin!

We are due!...I watch a lot of college football....and at the end 

of the day the one thing that amazes me is the "moment" games...

There is a saying...It's better to be lucky than good!

Well it's been AWHILE since the "luck" of the Irish has

graced the Irish with it's presence!

The "luck" plays that determine the victor!... 

This season there has been a ton!

Missed field goals!...
Turnovers at crucial moments....

The DENARD nerf football bomb that cost us a game!...

Braxton Miller's prayer pass vs Wisconsin!

The 5 turnovers that allowed Wake Forrest to beat FSU!

Oklahoma not realizing that Texas Tech was gonna come 

to play that night...

The PURE LUCK MOMENTS!...

They happen EVERY SEASON...

But I just can't remember when they've happend to us!

For us, every victory is earned....Every loss deserved!

WE ARE DUE FOR ONE OF THESE!...

Will it be this week?...or the bowl?

Stay tuned!...but we are due fellas!

Notre Dame get's your best shot!....there is no such thing as 

playing the University of Notre Dame and not 

being PUMPED up for the game!...

Playing Notre Dame is what Grandfathers tell grandchildren about...

It's what old men talk about at McDonalds at 6am over and over again

to all their retired friends....We are the MEMORY!

So...Do I think Stanford will not be "emotionally" ready!...

Are you F-ing crazy?

This is hide your children....put the dog out....

THROW EVERYTHING AT THEM kinda game!

When I first started doing financial work years ago a mentor told me that the 

stock market was like throwing spagetti against the wall...

You just have to hope some sticks!...

This is the best way I can explain our game plan for Saturday vs the number 

4 team in the country!...

Look, the blueprint on how to stop our Offense is out!...

If you can apply pressure with 3...and drop 8...

We are not gonna score a hole lotta points...and most 

likely Rees is gonna mistake one of your defenders for one of 

our receivers and throw a PICK!...

So what are we gonna do?

Are we gonna....

Or talk about what "coulda" been?...

I know the odds are not with us....Vegas thinks they should spot us a TD!...

But at some point....at some time...

We deserve our moment!

We've put in the time to earn...our LUCK!..

And we are willing to meet Karma half way by throwing EVERYTHING

at the Stanford Cardinal!...

So what's it gonna be?

Let's make'em believers!

GOD BLESS AND GO IRISH!

It's about to come CRASHING DOWN!.... Get your shades ready... The Future is bright!

STABILITY

 :not easily moved or disturbed

:Not subject to sudden or extreme change or fluctuation

:Having no known mode of decay; indefinitely long-lived.

: a house built on stable ground; a stable platform 

has no reason to be rebuilt.

This is what every program strives for...and in the current landscape

 of college football is very hard to accomplish.

This is what Brian Kelly is doing slowly but surely 

at The University of Notre Dame.

In the past weeks we've talked about what Coach Kelly has done to 

bring stability to the team...

Offense....CHECK

Defense....CHECK

Special Teams....CHECK

Recruiting...CHECK

If you haven't seen improvement in these areas....then you

like to bitch more than watch!

Now those are the easy things to see....but what's not easy 

is perception...

The court of public opinion!...

Years ago if you saw this...you thought Football Greatness...

Now you think...Murder?

OJ Simpson...Bill Clinton..and Jim Tressel walk into a bar...

Sounds like a good joke doesn't it?

But this is what can happen in todays society....QUICKLY!

Your reputation is only as good as your last news article!

We have not been news for years!...

When nobody was looking our articles have gone away...

We hired the wrong guys, for the wrong reasons, and got

all the wrong results...

Bob....Played D...

Ty...Golfed...

Charlie....well, Charlie really liked Charlie!

Coach Kelly understands this "brand" is not what it used to be...

You can't say..."We are ND" and have kid's ready to come!...

The team is day and night better than at anytime in 20 years...

But now...we gotta modernize!...

We gotta customize!...

And personalize!..

Then when the blue hairs aren't paying attention!...

Bring the SWAGG!

The definition of INSANITY

Doing the same thing everyday but expecting different results,

sound familiar?

This coach is not only trying to fix the team....

Get performance...

Win games...

Hey...anybody can cheat....You have to be "special" 

to do it the "legit" way!

Now the Coach's next battle...

 Take us and put us in the minds of the youth of America that weren't alive to 

remember the dominance!...

This is the resurrection of greatness.... The return of the King!...

And Coach Kelly is at the helm stacking bodies!..

Let us not forget....

We haven't even seen the majority of the BIG BOYS Kelly recruited..

Ben Councell-Matt Hegarty-Davaris Daniels-Anthony Rabassa

The list continues...and continues!...

Next step...BOSTON COLLEGE!

After that?...There is no after that!...

Take care of business this weekend...then worry about the next!...

This is where we are....Coach Kelly knows where 

we want to be....and the players are hearing the call!

GOD BLESS AND GO IRISH!...

Running on fumes!... SKELETON CREW!....

Okay...let's be honest!....
Notre Dame would be getting better EVERY game, if we were not a jigsaw puzzel missing some pieces!

We are a Skeleton Crew brother!

Cave-out for year

Kapron-out for year

Filer-out for year

Riddick-hurt

Manti-injured

(remember the Program...Are you hurt or injured?)

Blanton-injured

We are bruised...and baned up!...but 

STILL FIGHTING!

Now let me first of all say...I think we beat Maryland....

I think we beat BC...

I think we can give Stanford a game!....

That game could be called- UPSET...or that game could be called

-Beat the red headed kid next door in the head!...

Injuries will determine that!...KEY INJURIES!...

It's oddly like last season...

With the exception of NO BLOW OUT LOSSES!...

So last year...beaten up...injured...KEY SENIORS not playing...

4 game winning streak to finish the season!

 One thing is for certain.

BRIAN KELLY CAN COACH!

He has done more with Notre Dame in a season and a half than EVERY COACH 

we've had since Lou Holtz!...

If you can't see that this team is better at EVERY ASPECT of the game...

Then you can't see!...

Offense....Hello 1000 yard rusher...

It's been years since we could be at the 5 min mark of the game, have the ball and say...

"Let's just pound the ball and run out the clock!"

Defense...Really?

When was the last time our defense even mattered?...Be real!...

Special Teams?...

How many years...now I'm talking YEARS, has it been since a team we played kicked away from one of our returners?...

We have a legit scoring machine taking back kickoffs!

Now recruiting?...

Anyone remember the 24 hour span of time?

Tuitt back from GT

Lynch back from FSU

Ishaq at 4am

Golson...from NC!...

I mean people!...RELAX this is what it is...the building of an empire!...

This place rose from nothing and became the center of the college football universe!

And when we weren't looking, someone forgot to tell us to polish the dome!...

We have fallen....been kicked...stomped at times....but we are 

rising from the ashes!... Moving forward...

But in a game of 

inches the rebuilding of an empire comes a brick at a time!...

But the architect has arrived!

Tomorrow vs Maryland could be a win or a loss...

You can't win 9 games till you win 8!

But regardless, the IRISH are moving forward!...

Don't be dumb enough to let your expectations keep you from enjoying the ride!

  

1 brick at a time!....This is the next step!...

GO IRISH 

And God be with the families of the victims of the Penn State tragedy!

Which one is it gonna be?....

At times!....I've seen a MONSTER!...at times I've seen a MESS!..

Which one is it gonna be this week?

When this team is ON...I'll put them against ANYONE!... When they are off...They'll blow 20 point leads to desperate hail mary passes!... 

Now...don't get me wrong..I don't wanna come off as inconsiderate...Thanks to Coach Kelly!

This is the first time in 20 years where I can honestly say that our Defense has had NO BAD GAMES!

Now...We've had bad quarters!...We pushed a currently ranked top 15 program all over the field for 3 quarters...did what we wanted at will...then...the TRANSFORMATION!...

1 bad quarter!...

Then we turned around a few games later...and did the complete opposite vs a team that just took the number 4 team in the country to 3 OT's...

We came out and allowed 17 points in the first 13 min...then held them to 10 for the last 47 min...

TRANSFORMATION!....1st quarter BAD...3 quarters AVERAGE!..

The nice part is our AVERAGE now is 10 times better than our GOOD has been for 20 years!

So can we find consistency?

Can we eliminate the stupid mistakes that at this point are preventing us from being an undefeated top 5 or 10 ranked team...

We've yet to lose a game that we didn't shoot ourselves in the foot!...

I can say honestly we haven't played a "better" team!

Yet...at our own hand...we've handed 3 away!....anymore?..

We will see!..

DOUCHE BAG ALERT!..

Brought to you by JAMESON IRISH WHISKY!...

*SPORTS REPORTERS*

Not big boy reporters!....but little home town...Irish this...Irish that...web site reporters!...

Coach Kelly and the entire TWITTERGATE is a NON STORY!...

This was completely blown outta proportion so that some little podunk writer trying to make a name for himself could push a story that had NO SUBSTANCE!

The team is not upset...MANTI is not upset....

But KELLY is HONEST!...there are a lot of 5th years....

That are not gonna be accepted!

Kelly doesn't waste scholarship money!...You come to play....

or don't plan to stay!

CLUB ND MED IS CLOSED!

Try this...Go through our current roster and put the players in two groups...

"Yeah...Kelly would have recruited that guy!"

OR

"Hell no!...Kelly would have NEVER offered him!"

Face it..the new CEO is all about performance ratio!

The problem is NOTRE DAME IS NEWS!

We finish the game with 2 time outs vs USC....
DID THE IRISH GIVE UP?

Yet..O$U finished vs Miami with 2...NO NEWS

MSU finished vs us with 1...NO NEWS

Oklahoma finished with 1 vs Texas Tech...NO NEWS..

It is what it is!... Notre Dame sneezes!..

MEDIA WANTS TO KNOW WHY!

Now...Mid season SURPRISE!...

GEORGE ATKINSON III

This kid is a game changer in the finest respect!...

I'd be amazed if he doesn't take one back again before seasons end...and the best part...he seems to show up when the lights are the brightest!...

Last freshman to return 2 kickoffs in his first season...ROCKET!

So now on to  WAKE FOREST!...

The games they've won...were more about the other team than about Wake!..

Are they good enough to win?...sure!...
Will they...Most likely not!

It all depends on what MONSTER shows up Saturday!...

The one that crushes spartans...or the one that allows little furry animals to take their lunch when they aren't looking?

The bottom line is, there is still a sign outside the 

Notre Dame Football Complex..

The only change since the start of the season?

the word..

DANGER!

GO IRISH AND GOD BLESS!

***Recruiting is going well....We need to land a real "Gunner" 

"Your Frustrated?" Try walking in B. Smith's shoes in 07!... Navy Week!

You can't question passion....When you say name

BRIAN SMITH

For 4 seasons, and arguably some of the roughest stretch of road that Notre Dame had ever experienced, Brian Smith was one consistant bright image of determination!

It was that never quit....never back down...no team can intimidate us...attitude that 

made him a fan favorite, and his image forever in the halls of Notre Dame History...

But it wasn't always easy...and even the strong have doubts...and regrets..

-When that call came with the ND offer...what was your reaction?

You know...it was crazy! I was in class and the counselor came down and got me and said that ND has requested transcripts...  Thing was I went and called my dad and he said "Yeah, they called and offered this morning...I didn't want you too amped up for class!"  He thought I'd be trippin all day... At first I was like...Hey!...They didn't want me before...But then I realized the opportunity not only for football but for life... 

-Everybody could kinda see 07 coming...Ty had done nothing on the recruiting trail..(other than hit some nice golf courses!) What is the most painful memory of 07?

It had to be that Michigan game... We lost like 33-0  We got baptized by fire that day... I was running around like a mad man...just trying to make a play.. It was like we couldn't do anything right!... 

Until then we didn't realize how young as a team we were... But that low was matched by it's complete opposite in the UCLA game...when our class got it's first win!.... That season was tough!...

-What do you feel the defense lacked durning the Weis years?

It was like a disconnect within the defense...We just never seemed like we were on the same page...I'd call adjustments and half the team would react...then we'd get gouged for 30 yard run... No contain!.. too many generals!...

-Last week's USC game had a different feel than last years....Why?

Last year nobody gave us a chance...Nobody believed in us..We just felt like we needed to go to SC and lay an ass whooping on them to make a point!.. That was an AWESOME feeling for our seniors...Just to know where we started....and were we ended!... 

-Some comments from a Mr. Gilippo?...any response?

LOL...You know all I got to say is Robert Hughes was looking for a bitch when he got to SC...and when he left he found a bitch!  He wasn't talking all that trash with Rob's cleat taste in his mouth!

-Coach Kelly....Your thoughts?

He's a good coach!... Some people don't know how to take him...he's set in his ways that's for sure.  But it's because he knows how to win.  He knows what it takes to build a team...to condition a team...and to win championships...He's not gonna change that now just cause he's at ND!... 

It only took him addressing us 1 time for all of us to buy in!... 

-Do you think ND will ever regain it's dominance of college football...and what needs to happen?

You can't fight sinners with saints!... I do feel ND will regain it's spot atop the BCS... But you have to start by looking at the big boy programs!... A kid that talks a little trash...that might come off as a "thug" doesn't mean he doesn't belong at ND!... Gotta get the playmakers!... I'll take a 3 star with a HUGE CHIP on his shoulder over a 5 start that thinks ND owes him!  The SEC is full of a bunch of ROUGH NECKS!...(2 star and 3 stars at Bama all over the place)  They play hard and with attitude!... ND needs that attitude!... They got some of those guy's now...but don't discourage that NASTINESS!...

-What progress jumps out to you since Kelly arrived?

First thing....Physical!... ND looks the part now!...I was at the Michigan game and I was like...DAMN! Those freshman are huge!.. They just look physically ready...cut up and strong!... They just need the belief now!...  It's like the team now realizes...Hey..If we make a mistake...Let's address it and fix it!... Make adjustments!... 

-Best ND game moment for you?

LOL...That's hard to say!...but one still stands out to me... Early in my career I had a play that it just seemed like things went in slow motion!...  The funny thing is I did the exact opposite of what I was assigned to do!..(laughing)  I looked back at Zibby and I was like...WHAT?.. He said shoot the b gap!... and before I knew it I was in the endzone!... It was when I realized to stop thinking and start reacting!

That felt amazing!

-If you could be in the locker room for this Saturday's game vs Navy...what would you say to the team?

You know who you are....You know what you can do...We have been our own worst enemy!.. 

That stops TODAY!... Believe in your coaches!....Believe in one another...Eliminate the mistakes!...

But more than anything....BRING THE NASTY!... You can respect Navy and who they are....

But not for these 4 quarters...Kick their ass!...

Some weeks I do a review of the upcoming game...

What they do right...what they do wrong... but this week is what it is...

A cross roads!... A question that can only be answered on the field and by the team..

Who are we?... Where do we go from here?...
And when we arrive....what will we look like?

That could be Saturday, the next week...next season?

But for tonight I want to thank a group that helped pave the way for Notre Dame...

Paved with tears and blood...and cheers and disappointment...

Here is to the class of 2010

The road wasn't always smooth!...But you battled every mile!

We had some great kids in that class...some that would be seniors right now...

But they were thrown into action and learned to be leaders!...

GO IRISH...BEAT NAVY!...

GOD BLESS!

Well....That Sucked!.... Short and Sweet!...Listen!

This describes my feelings about the USC game!...

But with that being said...or should I say shown...Let's talk a minute!

This game had it all...the hype...the rival team...the music...the new helmets....

There was only one thing missing!...THE IRISH!

I'm sorry...take it or leave it, the DAMEFAN is the spin doctor!...

I'll put myself against anyone....I'll spin it and make ya feel better!...

BUT NOT THIS TIME!

That was a complete bag of 

And we stepped right in it!...

The horrible thing...with the exception of Matt Barkley and Woods...

USC is not that good!

I mean if we can drop a complete smoking pile on the field like that...and still be 

in a position to tie the game down 17-10 in the third...

Then fumble on the 1/2 yard line let'em take that back...then be in a positon once again in the 4th down 17-24 and having the ball ready to tie AGIAN!... 

Then USC is nothing special!...

Hey...even a dork can score on a train full of hookers!

We need a wake up call!

The stadium was ROCKING!... The new helmets are INCREDIBLE!

The music was NASTY!

The atmosphere was there....but the IRISH!

And at the end of the day...with all that happend....

We could have still won!

That means it's not the coach!....

It's not the prep....the scheme....etc...We laid an EGG!

It happens....turnovers....missed tackels...etc... 

But it has to STOP!

BIG PIPE HITTIN MONSTERS DON'T 

WANT TO PLAY FOR 7-5 TEAMS!

Why do you think some programs go from average to elite...

Then 10 years later get busted for putting money in kid's hands?

I'm sorry...I don't have all the answers...but I will say this!..

We are heading in the right direction!....

Coach Kelly is a great coach!

It's coming!...but we have to stop losing...to start winning!

He needs time!....He's coached 1 1/2 seasons!...

He's beat two top 15 teams....

Ran Miami off the field in the Bowl!

Crushed the DOMINANT Big 10 Champs!...

Developed 2 soon to be 1000 yard rushers!..

Brought NASTY Defensive recruits we haven't had in 20 years back to 

Notre Dame!...

We need to take a step back from that ledge!...

Relax...sip that whisky...and give the man a chance!...

We don't pay players...and our kids can read and write!...

That means it doesn't happen overnight!...BUT IT WILL HAPPEN!

Navy...That's all that matters right now!

1 game at time!...1 yard...1 pass...1 tackle!...

I wouldn't want to be in practice with Coach Kelly this week!

Quick shout out to Lane Kiffen....

I still think your a:

GO IRISH!...