Tag: Al Golden

Notre Dame Football: Key Irish Assistant Inks Four Year Extension

A huge part of Notre Dame’s coaching staff is staying put!

A very key part of Notre Dame’s coaching staff is staying put as defensive coordinator Al Golden has inked a four year extension with the Fighting Irish.

The move was first reported by John Brice of Football Scoop.

Under Golden’s watch the last two years Notre Dame has produced one of the best defenses nationally.  The Irish defense is coming off a year where they allowed the seventh-fewest points in all of FBS football.

Although the move doesn’t guarantee Golden stays at Notre Dame for all four years, it certainly makes it harder for someone to come in and successfully poach him away.

My key takeaway from this extension coincides with the signing of Mike Denbrock earlier this off-season:

If you’re going to play big-time college football then you have to spend like a big-time college football program.  Notre Dame did that when getting Denbrock and certainly did that when extending Golden.

As much fun as it is to root for a mom and pop shop to succeed, winning big with that mentality in major college football simply doesn’t happen these days.

Notre Dame Athletics the Last Time the Detroit Lions Won A Playoff Game

Where were you in January of 1992?

One of the longest streaks in professional sports ended Sunday night as the Detroit Lions beat the Los Angeles Rams in what was their first playoff win since January 5, 1992.

The Lions now head to the divisional round where they’ll take on either the Philadelphia Eagles or Tampa Bay Buccaneers next weekend.

But just how long is 32 years in terms of sports?

Let’s take a look at a few of the things that were going on at Notre Dame at that time and where some key figures in the Fighting Irish athletic program were back then.

Buckle up and get in your time machine because here we go…

Notre Dame assistant a possibility for Syracuse head coach opening?

A Notre Dame assistant coach is rumored to be in the running for the Syracuse opening. Here is what he said about that possibility Monday.

The college football coaching carousel is starting to really get moving.  Although the regular season didn’t see many coaches lose jobs early on, the firings have become more regular in recent days.

One job that will be open in a matter of days is the Syracuse football head coach job.  Dino Babers has held that post since 2016 and has finished with a winning record just twice during his run.

The 5-6 Orange will be moving on from him following their regular season finale against Wake Forest on Saturday.  Could the opening be one that pulls a prominent Notre Dame assistant coach away from South Bend?

Defensive coordinator Al Golden has had success on the east coast, specifically at Temple, where he put life into what had been a dead program.  Success there led him to getting the Miami job starting in 2011.  Could Golden be headed back to the ACC?

He was asked about it Monday by Tyler Horka of Blue-Gold Illustrated.  Here is what Golden said:

If you’re looking for a hard no, that response certainly doesn’t give it.

I have no idea if Golden is going to get offered the job, if he’s seriously interested in it, or what is going to happen.

What I do know is that when you have success as a unit then services are wanted by other programs.  I do appreciate Golden not coming out in full denial and then leaving a few weeks down the road, although I wouldn’t be surprised if he did ultimately go.

Notre Dame lands commitment from 2025 Illinois defender recruit

Like this get for the Irish?

Elmhurst, Illinois is starting to become a hotbed for 2025 Notre Dame defensive commits. Earlier this year, the Irish received a commitment from defense end recruit [autotag]Joseph Reiff[/autotag] from York. Now, IC Catholic Prep in the same town has a commit for the same recruiting class in edge rusher [autotag]Dom Hulak[/autotag], who announced his decision Friday.

Like Reiff, Hulak was recruited by [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag] and [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag]. They beat out offers from many other schools, all of which were either in or near the Midwest. They included Louisville, Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa.

According to 247Sports, Hulak is ranked eighth on the list of 2025 Illinois recruits. Reiff is right behind him at ninth.

Hulak is the eighth commit in Notre Dame’s 2025 class, which ranks third on 247Sports behind Georgia and Alabama. The Irish are the highest-ranked program on the list without a five-star recruit. Fortunately, it’s early enough that that still can change.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Former Notre Dame quarterback believes Irish aren’t following a football 101 rule

Is Malik correct?

It hasn’t been an easy week for [autotag]Notre Dame football[/autotag], as it continues to stew over Ohio State slipping away with a win this past Saturday.

An unwritten rule in football is you have 24 hours following a game to celebrate or lament, and former Irish quarterback [autotag]Malik Zaire[/autotag] believes Notre Dame isn’t following this rule.

He cites a quote from defensive coordinator [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag], when he was asked about the Buckeyes converting a third-and-19 and the defense he called. Zaire said “it’s a heavy loss when we still talking about it Wednesday of next week. Doesn’t sound like the 24hr rule is in effect.”

Fan can still be angry, but the team needs to move on. There is another task this week, No. 16 [autotag]Duke[/autotag]. The Irish don’t have much margin for error, so they can’t be distracted about what happened this past Saturday. The focus has to shift to the Blue Devils, even if they don’t want to.

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Notre Dame football: Between Irish and longtime rival for top 2024 target?

Notre Dame and Michigan going at it again…just not on the field.

Notre Dame and Michigan may not play on the field often anymore but that doesn’t mean they’re not competing on the regular – especially for talented recruits.  According to one recruiting expert in the know, the biggest remaining target for Notre Dame in the 2024 class currently seems to have things between the Irish and Wolverines.

Of course we’re talking about five-star defensive tackle [autotag]Justin Scott[/autotag] of Chicago.  The St. Ignatius standout has long been connected to Notre Dame and is viewed by many, ourselves included, as the top remaining priority for the Irish in 2024.

“My latest intel suggests this is really a battle between Notre Dame and Michigan right now as the two schools that are at the top,” said Tom Loy of 247Sports, “obviously everyone else is in play: Miami, Georgia, Ohio State.”

“Right now my latest intel suggests the Wolverines and Fighting Irish are battling it out.”

Loy made those comments while talking with Allen Trieu of 247Sports following the official commitment of Brauntae Johnson over the weekend.

Michigan defensive line coach [autotag]Mike Elston[/autotag] has an incredible track record, something Notre Dame fans are plenty aware of.  It’ll be up to [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag], [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag], and [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] to overcome that and land the backyard five-star.

Loy went on to share that its believed that Scott will be on campus for Notre Dame’s showdown with Ohio State this September – as if you needed more reason to add to that game’s hugeness.

Landing Scott would go a long way in Notre Dame putting the finishing touches on a 2024 class that currently ranks fifth nationally but is behind Michigan.

See some of the best photos from Notre Dame and Michigan’s epic battles over the years below. 

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Notre Dame offers 2025 Ohioan with a recognizable name

Does Notre Dame know something?

We all remember the Bo Knows campaign for Bo Jackson, the two-sport superstar and now [autotag]Notre Dame[/autotag] has offered a 2025 Ohioan with the same name.

The Cleveland [autotag]Bo Jackson[/autotag] isn’t related to the Bo Knows star but is a very solid prospect in his own right who plays baseball as well. He is ranked as the 7th best athlete and 135th overall prospect by the 247Sports composite.

At 6-foot, 1-inch and 190 pounds, Jackson could end up on either side of the ball, running back or safety. He’s a track star also, as his speed stands out on which ever playing field he is on.

With Jackson tagging head coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag], run game coordinator [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag] and defensive coordinator [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag], he is truly being recruited for either side of the ball.

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Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

Three-star recruit Teddy Rezac commits to Notre Dame

The Irish are getting a well-rounded athlete.

Notre Dame always is looking for the next [autotag]Manti Te’o[/autotag] or [autotag]Jaylon Smith[/autotag]. But sometimes, you just need a linebacker who isn’t expected to be a star but otherwise can make many worthwhile contributions. That’s what the Irish hoping to get in three-star recruit [autotag]Teddy Rezac[/autotag], who is listed as an athlete from Omaha, Nebraska. Considering he was recruiting by [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag], there’s no doubt which side of the ball he’ll play on, which officially will be for the Irish after he made the announcement:

Rezac’s commitment is the 15th for the Irish’s 2024 recruiting class. Two Irish Illustrated insiders correctly predicted earlier this week that he would join that class. Those predictions came only a couple of days after the Irish offered him. Nebraska made a late offer to join the ranks of programs like Boston College and all three service academies, but once the Irish officially threw their hat in the ring, it seems all bets were off.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame defensive line target Bryce Young ready to commit

This would be an Irish legacy.

Notre Dame legacies are one of the greatest sources of pride for the university. The football team might be about to land a big one in Bryce Young, the son of Irish legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer [autotag]Bryant Young[/autotag]. Like his father before him, the younger Young is a defensive lineman, and he will announce his college decision Saturday. While USC, Michigan and Tennessee are finalists, many project him to pick to the Irish.

The similarities between Young and fellow Irish target Micah Gilbert don’t stop with who’s seeking their services. Both are four-star 2024 recruits, and both are teammates at Charlotte Christian in North Carolina. Additionally, Gilbert also is projected to pick the Irish when he makes his own decision next week.

Here’s hoping [autotag]Al Golden[/autotag] and [autotag]Al Washington[/autotag] did enough convincing to bring Young to the Irish. We don’t think our own John Kennedy would take him picking the Trojans very well. So for his sake and everyone else’s, we need common sense to prevail.

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Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89