It's game week!...Look who's coming to dinner!

The Temple Owls!

The Temple Owls?

Really?.. This is AWESOME!

Rarely does Notre Dame get the opportunity at some 

"pre season" games...or should I say "game"!

FINALLY, I get to see life through 

 eyes of the fans that surround me in this state!

I've never seen a team like this on our schedule in YEARS!

I mean it's hard to feel worried about the Owls!

Let's break down who we are playing for a moment. 

OVERALL 

Temple was a 4-7 team last year...all their losses 

were by ten points or more, with a few blowouts over 28 points!

They are picked to finish last in the AAC, which makes 

sense since they finished 1-7 in conference

play in the Big East!

Oh..and they got a new coach!

Offense

This is gonna be easy to break down!

They lost:

QB & backup

Top 2 Running Backs

4 Offensive Lineman

2 Wide receivers

So...scoring might be a bit tough!

Defense
...I'm having a hard time making this not 

sound horrible!

Scoring Defense last year...90th

Rushing defense last year...102nd

Pass defense last year...63rd

They can't sack the QB...they can't tackle for loss!

The D ends and linemen are all well below the 300 lb. mark!

This is is gonna be an ugly day for them!

Oh..and all these impressive stats..came playing a

strength of schedule ranked 64th in the country!

Now..that may seem like a decent strength 

of schedule for people that are "nuts"

but to big boy programs..it's embarrassing!

So...lets focus on what we will see!

This game is an

 OPEN CASTING CALL 

for talent!

By the beginning of the second half you should see 

Tommy drinking gator aid sitting on the bench 

watching Hendrix hand the ball off to anyone not 

named GAIII and Amir!

Be ready to see YOUNG talent!

This is a chalk board game...

Bryant!

Folston!

Cam!

Who's ready to take over a game?

Isaac!

Romeo!

Ishaq!

Who goes "BEAST" mode when they see the ball 

snapped?

Smith!

Councell!

Deeb!

Who's gonna be rushing passers this time NEXT year?

Butler!

Redfield!

Onwualu!

Who's ready to be the next BIG THING?

That's what Saturday is all about..and that's why it's the 

most exciting opener I've seen in years!

If you can make plays...KELLY WILL PLAY YOU!

It's preseason!

This season is all about "HATE".

 It's all about the 

talking heads just waiting to scream
"I TOLD YOU SO!"

They think last season was a F#cking winning 

pull on a slot machine for ND!

Hell, Sports Illustrated picked us to be this 

years "FLOP" team?

Like we were a blind pig finding an ear of corn?

One of my favorite things I hear is the back handed 

bull-sh#t of...
"College football is better when ND is good!"

Don't give me that...ESPN...Colin Cowherd...

XM radio..Pollack..

they LOVE it when we struggle!

They don't want us good!...

You wanna shut up the haters...you wanna stop hearing 

"You got lucky"

WIN!

Pound the ball down their freaking throats....crush their 

ball carriers in the back field....HAMMER their QB...and

set the tone for the rest of the season!

This is NOTRE DAME...we will ALWAYS 

be viewed in a different light!

We are the boxer that won a third round knockout, and 

the commentators are talking about how sore our 

fists will be!

PUT YOUR FOOT ON THEIR THROATS AND 

DON'T STOP PRESSING TILL YOU SEE MUD!!

We will get our respect....painfully if needed!

This is not a Charlie Weis football team...that era

is DEAD!

This is Notre Dame football of old!

This is ELITE talent, being developed by 

ELITE coaching, ready to complete with 

the ELITE!

You wanna throw stones?

Go ahead this is a 

brick house bitches!

So sit back, pick up a glass of the Irish Mothers Milk..

And enjoy watching the haters...EAT THEIR WORDS!

GO IRISH & GOD BLESS!

Who has 2 thumbs and thinks College Football is headed for DISASTER!

We live in a country that arguably has become fascinated 

with "instant gratification". 

Why work for something, I feel I already "deserve"?

Maybe it's cause I'm forty one years old...or maybe it's cause 

I grew up in a middle class household..but this 

"I deserve" generation really amazes me!

I hate to tell you this...but you DESERVE NOTHING in this 

world...you get what you EARN!

Did you know the average paramedic makes less than 

FIFTEEN dollars an hour industry wide?

Now..granted they are only rushing you to the hospital 

KEEPING you ALIVE till the Doctors can get to you...

So that seems unimportant?

Now once you hit the hospital...you meet this guy!

He's a trained professional trying to use all his skills

to save your life, and prevent permanent damage...

Now...at this stage in his career he's making north of 

Five Hundred grand a year...malpractice insurance is about 

a hundred and fifty grand...and you know what?

HE PAID FOR ALL OF HIS EDUCATION!

Average cost of medical school according to the AMA?...$300,000

Now...he graduates college, has HUGE student loans

 and has to do what? Residency...to PROVE his ability

 to land a good job!

During this residency he makes next to nothing...he has to pay 

for his own food...shelter...expenses...EVERYTHING!

Nobody covers any of this!

And for YEARS he pays back his loans for this 

opportunity!

And does work that is VITAL to society!

His brother decides to go another route...

He becomes a lawyer!

Average cost of law school in the United States?

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY GRAND!

Oh..and guess what...he has a residency also...it's called an 

internship!

Where he's lucky if he get's paid AT ALL!

So he pays all his expenses and student loans while making 

pennies!...In fact he works nights, bar tending to survive!

He can open his own practice and struggle for years 

paying his OWN EXPENSES and his student loans back!

And...if he survives he will have a practice helping people 

that need legal representation...An opportunity to help society!

They drive home listening to the radio every night and a song 

comes on called "HOME" by..

American Idol Winner Phillip Phillips

Phillip Phillips got his start by going to a football stadium 

full of people...and being one of over 200,000 people 

to audition and get a chance UNPAID to

show the world what he could do!

His first single went Platinum...he shared the revenue with

American Idol...

They paid his room...board during the contest!

He had no way to earn income...so who knows what happened

to his...car payment?...Rent?...etc..

They gave him transportation...and a stage!

A stage, and an opportunity!

This is my point....College football is not about the 

opportunity anymore....it's not about the EDUCATION!

It's not about the CHANCE to better yourself and prepare 

for the world around you!

It's become this...

It's become ME...ME....ME!

The school is getting rich cause I'm soooo GOOD!

Are they getting rich?

The Big 10 Conference?

Profitable?... Maybe?

BIG 10 PROFIT AND LOSS

Click on Me!

Hate to tell you...but if your University is bringing 

in $142 million in Revenue, and expenses are hitting 

$125 Million...that's not a great PnL statement...

But heck...even if they did make the "billions" on jersey 

sales the idiots think.. SO WHAT!... 

And you know what?...Guess where the blame should 

be assigned?

1. The Fans: 

Why?...cause you have to ask yourself,

is this all about winning games?

Is this all about Saturdays?

Does the way this team goes about its 

daily business match my ethics and morals

as a human being?

Fan=Short for FANatic!

Do you care if your team is doing it right?

Or are you part of the problem yelling...
"EVERYBODY DOES IT!!!" 

2. The School:

Are you willing to sacrifice what your school 

was built upon and the character of the institution 

as a whole...to win games?

Graduation rate?...Players with REAL majors and degrees!

Don't be like a crack dealer enabling a drugee!

Don't let your former players career choices be limited 

to local radio stations or selling cars!

Winning games the right way is 

not as easy!...

You can claim you're "elite" but how many 

National Championships do you have compared to 

the schools that graduate their players? 

Has it been worth it?

3. The Coach:

Notice that the school is more to blame than the coach?

If your school has a shady past...CLEAN IT UP!

If you've had issues with players...don't hire coaches with 

low moral standards that will bend the rules and lie to win!

DON'T LOOK THE OTHER WAY when problems arise,

and for God's sake...don't recruit kids on the premise of..

“I know all these schools athletically can offer me the same thing."

When it comes to academics?

"There is no way you can fail. Even if you’re giving minimal

 effort there is no way you can fail.”

(ACTUAL QUOTE FROM 247 SPORTS FROM A RECRUIT!)

They lay down no consequence for bad behavior!

They don't emphasize education and accountability!

They stress the 1% chance of the NFL rather than 

the 99% chance of LIFE!

And that's a recipe for what?...not caring one way or

the other about the player's life...only what the player 

can do for them!

4. The player:

Now...ready?... 

THIS IS WHO WE'VE CREATED!

It's the CULTURE of a program that creates most of 

it's own headaches!

They are only existing within the culture that:

A. Fans demand.

B. The School allows to exist.

C. The Coach promotes!

If your first day on a new job, EVERY employee, including 

the boss and VP told you 2 hour lunches were no big deal...

Most people would be gone for 2 hours!!! 

So can it be fixed?

Time will tell..but this is why I love Notre Dame Football!

I'm not saying we are perfect!

I'm not saying we've not had our issues here and there!

But at the end of the day...our coaches preach a 

40 year decision....

They graduate 99% of their players!

Players that have gone to class,

and EARNED a degree!

They give them a choice based upon what ND was built for...

A choice...you can take an easy road and have a 

average degree..or you can 

be a champion...ON or OFF the field!

Is it harder?...YES!!! 

There is no such thing as a basket weaving degree

at Notre Dame!

You can't take ONE class durning football season!

THIS IS COLLEGE!

UNTIL WE!!! WE the fans demand more and show our 

institutions, that the WAY you win, is just as important as the 

win itself...the wheels on the bus will continue to go round and round!

Notice Notre Dame and Stanford are not joining the 

"Lets pay the players discussions"

The Notre Dame players aren't out there complaining about, 

they are treated....Unfairly....

You play football...you will have no debt when you leave,

your degree of choice is EXACTLY that...YOUR CHOICE!

So...you wanna know what you deserve?

You already got it...an OPPORTUNITY!

You earned an OPPORTUNITY!

Now...what are you gonna do with it!

SHUT UP AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

Cause there are MILLIONS of kids dreaming of the 

opportunity you've been offered!

So next time you hear an idiot screaming...

"Hey..as long as we win I don't care!" 

Ask him this...."If that was your son....wouldn't you want 

him to receive the best OPPORTUNITY he could?" 

GOD BLESS & GO IRISH!

Okay..this one is more for me than you...Gotta get this out! GO IRISH!

Stephen Covey's book

 "7 Habits of Highly Effective People"

is one of my favorites...One of the principles 

in the book is EVERYDAY when you plan your 

"To Do" list...write down EVERYTHING...

It doesn't matter how menial...take the trash out, buy wine..etc..

The idea behind this is, the more you empty your brain of tasks 

you need to accomplish, the more you will focus on real issues 

that will make you more effective!

It works...the problem is 

I HAVEN'T DONE THIS FOR

 NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL!

And I'm going CRAZY!

So there is not a huge amount of info here...just me emptying 

the brain so I can focus and survive till Temple takes a beating!

Here we go:

You might wanna put the kids to bed before I start!

1.WE HAVE A Mutha-Fing 

HELL OF A COACH!

-We have had a hell-a-sish off season!

I'm not gonna re-hash what happened, but you can't show me 

another program in the COUNTRY that could go through

what we've gone through and continue to have such positive

expectations, and REALISTIC expectations for our upcoming 

season!

-The Natty

-The Eagles
-Manti

-Showing the door to a couple players!

-That idiot D-Tackle

-Golson

-the cologne

Good Lord...And we will still have a great year!

Coach Kelly...brush your shoulder off and enjoy your 

new contract whenever it's announced...

YOU EARNED IT!

2. GOLDEN ARMY!

Recruiting?....Yeah..that's going well!

Take yourself to Rivals and get educated on the way they rank

recruiting classes...Now before you do I'll tell you it's STUPID!

They rank the classes not on talent but numbers?

CLICK ME!

If a class has 20 spots and they have all 3 star players they will 

be ranked top 5!...???

If a class has 15 players and they are all 5 stars...maybe top 20?

So you have to look at this like your analyzing a stock!

Regardless of how many players...what is your

 "average skill level" per player?

Let's talk "average star rating per player" 

Right now ND's average star rating per player is 3.67

(Now they punish us cause regardless how good a kicker 

is he's 2 star?..) 

So out of the top 10 classes in the ENTIRE country 

our players are the highest rated talent-wise across the board!

We also had the highest rated across the board in 2013!

You notice Justin Brent?.... Who recognized this kids ability 

BEFORE the rest of the country got up to speed?

WE HAVE A STAFF WHO CAN 
SEE TALENT...before the other guys!

Jonathan Bonner?....Yeah..get excited!

3. HORSES!

Here's a tidbit for you!

A certain popular Chocolate named player told me...

"The O-Line is gonna really surprise people this year!"

"It's better NOW (spring this year) than at any point last year!"

We are gonna line up...pound the ball...and 

BEG people to load the box!

In the nineties, when the tech boom was hitting, there was 

a saying in the financial industry to describe investments..

"Throw enough spaghetti against the wall..

and some of it will stick!" 

Well guess what..from what I'm hearing from our guys...
I'd be surprised if MOST of it didn't stick!

There is A TON of swagger at the running back position!

The veterans want the rock..the freshman are telling them 

they won't have it long!

What I'm hearing from 7 on 7s is...PROGRESSION.

What I mean by that is...what was "robotic" in the spring is now 

"fluid" in the summer...The youth on the team...

CJ & Brown are now running routes that are smooth, 

rather than counting their steps to a 15 yard out...

Tommy is learning where they want the ball...what each 

receiver's "sweet spot" is....

-He's got soft hands...

-This kid can catch everything..just throw it in his direction!

-He's 6

6'7" throw it high and let him go get it!

-He's fast...look for the fade...

-He stops on a dime..look for the out!

-He's big and goes across the middle!

This is of GREAT importance...the relationship between 

a QB and his Receiving core is being CEMENTED daily!

"REES HAS THE HIGHEST FOOTBALL IQ

I'VE EVER COACHED"- Sorry can't tell you who said

it..but it was said!..LOL

While we are talking QBs...ANYONE else notice that

Golson leaving made him a WAY better QB in the 

eyes of the media?

Before the season it was...

"Golson is gonna have to work on a lot of things" 

He leaves....?

"Notre Dame lost their "star quarterback" 

It's too funny!...Wait till he comes back...

So what I'm trying to say, my beloved IRISH family, is 

enjoy the last few weeks of summer...and know we are 

in great hands and the future is bright!

Quick note....Lisa Kelly 

BOOK INFO!

Is a friend mine who has written a great book on 

"Where are they now?" of Irish Legends!

You know in this day and age of "instant" gratification

and five hundred dollar handshakes...and dirty recruiting...

Notre Dame realizes this is still "college" football...

Here's a book reminding us of the glory they experienced 

on the field...now continues in the boardroom!

So later today when you sit down and draw up next week's 

"to do list"...remember to cross off

"Wonder if Notre Dame will be ready for the season?"

Cause that's been taken care of!

GO IRISH AND GOD BLESS!

Only "SECONDARY" by position...not by talent!

You wanna know plumbing...ask a plumber.

You wanna know medicine...ask a doctor.

You wanna know how to break NCAA rules...ask a Buckeye!

You wanna know how our Defensive secondary will look 

this season....ask a NFL Safety!

No..this is not a 70's porn legend!..

No..it's not a guy about to find out if he's someone's 

Baby Daddy on Maury!

This masked man...is Minnesota Viking 

ROBERT "RJ" BLANTON

former IRISH great!

With all the love our Defense has been receiving, and 

we all know who LOUIS and STEPHON are...

We know what Shembo and Day can do!

We've know Fox and Carlo are solid!..

We are hopeful of what Grace will be!

SECONDARY?

Only by position name according 

to RJ!

We all know RJ knows what he's talking about..

WATCH ME!

RJ's career at ND was decorated with great moments..

It started early with a pick six vs Purdue...all the way to 

showing Mark Sanchez the slant is off the table..

To the Utah blocked punt, to SHOVE momentum 

into ND's favor...to sealing the Michigan State game 

with a HUGE interception on the goal line!

If RJ was on the field...you always knew FIREWORKS 

were not far away!..

Being a Finance Major he was always full of questions

whenever we were in the same place at the same time!

So guess what?

YOU OWE ME!

Tell me what you see when you look at our D 

secondary what jumps out to you?

-You know, they have a ton of talent, depth and speed.

Bennet, Russell & Farley are tested, they played well last 

year, and showed everyone that we could stop the pass.

Those three are not coming off the field!

What are you thoughts on the empty safety position?

 -Schumate is an assassin he's a big kid,

looks like he's been in college for four years! Watching him last year

he makes plays and hits like a ton of bricks.  You can also tell how 

much faith the coaches have in him...he played in several different positions

 last season...he's versatile. 

-Redfield...Wow! For his size he changes position great!

Could play day one..he and Schumate will have a battle on their hands.

He's played a lot of offense so ball skills will give him an advantage

and the fact that he will HIT YOUR ASS!

I'm excited to see this play out!

What about the young corners?

-First off...let's talk existing corners. Bennett Jackson is 

my dude. Great ball skills, his footwork since they switched 

him from offense has come so far!

Being an ex receiver he just naturally goes after the ball.

I think with one more season, he will be one of the top CBs 

taken in the next NFL draft!

-Keivarae Russell...It's amazing to watch this kid play.

No way when you watch him do you think he hasn't played this 

position for years.  He reached out to me a few times last season 

looking for advice...I told him that he needed to get into the mind

state of a defensive back.  You have to think that you are 

the BEST player on the field...that nobody can hang with you!

He's got moxy and confidence...he's special!

He's gonna have a bright future..he'll be in the league!

Okay..the new guys?

-Devin Butler..the thing that jumped out to me when I watched 

film on Butler was his discipline.

I saw a few times where they were in cover 3, the offense runs

2 verticals and the job of the corner is to midpoint himself...

The midpoint gives you the ability to make a play on either 

receiver...most young corners get burnt by this and play

towards one or the other..cause they 

aren't' disciplined...Butler has this naturally!

It's something you can't teach!

He needs to work on going after the ball and finishing 

the play..but man I can't wait to see him after some coaching!

-Cole Luke...Cole is my under the radar guy.  I think he has the 

best feet of any incoming freshman.  He's fluid and has 

good hips and a great nose for the ball!

If someone goes down...Luke will get his time!

He's underrated!

Are you pulling for anyone or do you have a prediction?

-Lo Wood is my guy, I feel for Lo getting injured and 

opening the door to this young talent will make it hard 

for him to re-gain his spot...but he's a battler!

-Redfield will be a walking ESPN highlight.

He is just to dynamic to not make an impact...

It would be hard De-thrown Farley..he's smart fast and 

just an over all good player!

-Prediction?...by seasons end..people will be talking 

about the secondary of the IRISH like they are talking 

about the D-line of the IRISH now!

So now your in Minnesota or how I like to call it

"little Notre Dame" how is it?

-The weather is a bit crazy..but the city is tight!

Real nice...it's cool to have Rudolf and Harrison here...

Then you got Carlson and Sullivan..it's a hub for ND 

players!..LOL

Okay...Girls?...

-Uh..yeah..I feel a no comment might protect the 

hearts of the ladies in the Minnesota area! 

And last but not least...You have a degree in 

finance from the UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME!

Who is the greatest financial mind of our time?

-LOL...I know what you want me to say...

Okay..It's JERRY KENNEDY!

 Thank you!

So there you have it brothers and sisters from 

the mouth of the south as we used to call him

he's says we are ready for primetime!

  

Now...to address the IDIOTS in the MEDIA!

There are two worlds in College Football.

1. Notre Dame's World

2. Everyone else!

This leads me to my pet peeve of the week!

I watched the Idiots on ESPN last week...now believe me

they are not on like a Subway Domer level or an 11 Warriors 

type of stupidity...but not far off!

They were reporting on the TOP TEN PROGRAMS for the 

next five years...what programs were 

"trending" in the upward direction!

Now...Rod Gilmore

Rod's Twitter tell him your thoughts!

Rod's stupidity on ESPN ( his school was 10th on 

the list and ND was 6th) was pretty noticeable.

Little bit butt hurt I'd say from his OT loss!

Now his rational was because Brian Kelly interviewed with the Eagles.

Oh..and Bob Diaco was a hot up and coming D-cord.

These were bad things?

Now these two things in his "idiotic" opinion were 

why we should not be on the EXPERT'S list.

So now your head coach being GOOD and people wanting 

to hire him= NEGATIVE?

So now your D-cord being a hot name, and up and 

coming talent= NEGATIVE?

Now Sumlin at A&M interviewed for the Eagles job also?

But that's okay?

Now A&M graduating over 50% of their starters last year?

But that's okay?

Their train wreck of a so called Heisman hating the city 

he plays in and can't wait to leave?

But that's okay?

ROD GILMORE

I'd make you the Jameson Irish Whisky 

DOUCHEBAG of the week...

But it would be a waste of whisky!

GOD BLESS and GO IRISH!

Diamonds don't just grow on trees...they come from PRESSURE!

So..how was your Memorial Weekend?

About 2 weeks ago I called a friend named Pete at a 

Irish web site and asked.."Hey have you heard anything about 

Golson having issues?"

It was about that day till now...I've not slept real well since!

I reached out to a friend close to his family...Nothing!

I chalked it up to just rumors...rumors about a young
QB destined for greatness this season....

That's when all Hell broke loose in the past few weeks!

Now...if you read my last blog I'm not here to mince words!

THIS SH@T HAS SUCKED!

This has been HORRIBLE..

I'm feeling crazy !

Now this is not a "spin" conversation!

This is not a "puppies and rainbows" type of article!

This is real...

It's happend!...He's gone...Will he be back?...Time will tell!

DO YOU KNOW HOW LUCKY WE ARE THAT

THIS WON'T KILL OUR SEASON!

Do you realize that if this happend to the majority of

college football programs they would be DEVASTATED!

Not set back...not "We will see.." but SCREWED!

What if this happend to...

Clemson

Tajh Boyd goes down!

Cole Stoudt with his 60 snaps as a jr. steps in!

Texas A&M 

See what happens if Johnny Football leaves!

Matt Joeckel steps up?...he's thrown 11 career passes!

Oregon

Marcus Mariota blows out his knee...

3 star true Freshman Jeff Lockie get's to step up!

We have 3 VERY viable options at Quarterback!

Tommy Rees...Tommy is the Honda Accord!

He's not fancy....he's not fast..but he's CONSISTANT!

He get's you from point A to point B!

The bottom line is we are BLESSED to have a 

senior with over 600 snaps under his belt!

With a career 61% completion ratio!

That has played at Michigan at night!

Won at USC at night!

Beat Stanford in OVERTIME!

This kid is un rattled by the FLASHBULBS!

He's seen it all!

We have 

Andrew Hendrix!

I met him at the Touchdown Club of Columbus the year

before Tressel was fired for the cheating scandal!

I watched as Tressel damn near tear up telling Andrew how 

sad he was he didn't attend O$U..and remember we landed him over

the "Heart Attack" waiting to happen coaching the Gators!...

At the Notre Dame Coaching Clinic I was told that this has been 

his best year as far as development since they arrived!

That the "light had gone on" for Hendrix!

That if Golson went down...Hendrix could step in!

ZAIRE!

This kid was the number 1 QB in the state of Ohio...

We took him right out of Urban's back yard...

I talked to Zaire's buddies in camp...they said he get's up 

EVERY day at 4:30 just to watch film...

A coach told me that Zaire is the most mentally gifted 

freshman he's ever coached!

Zaire is the future...maybe this year...maybe not!...
Maybe after Golson returns?

Maybe Golson opened a window of opportunity he 

shouldn't have?

This is our schedule!

Temple=Temple

Game one is a open scrimmage!

An opportunity to just throw some spagetti against

the wall and see what sticks!

Michigan

Beatable

Ree's has 430 yards and 70% comp ratio 

He's beat them before and seen their place!

MSU

NEW QB

Oklahoma

NEW QB

Arizona State

Better have some answers by then!

USC

NEW QB

Air Force=Air Force

Navy=Navy

Pitt

NEW QB

BYU

NEW QB

Stanford

Better be ready!

So realize the glass is not broken...it's not jagged 

at the top, and it's not gonna cut your lip!

The glass is...

HALF FULL

So throw some ice in it...relax and splash some 

Jameson on the other half and let Kelly do his job!

GO IRISH and GOD BLESS!