Tag: College football countdown

2020 CFB season countdown: 62 days until Georgia football

Join us as we count down the days until Georgia kicks-off in Atlanta.

There are 62 days until Georgia kicks-off versus Virginia in Atlanta on Sept. 7.

Georgia football legend, #62, Charley Trippi is one of four Bulldogs to ever have their jersey number retired. He was named the MVP of the 1943 Rose Bowl and, after serving in WWII, returned to lead the Bulldogs to an 11-0 record in 1946, which included an SEC Championship. Trippi won the Maxwell Award for the nation’s most valuable player and was also runner-up that year for the Heisman Trophy.

After his time at Georgia, Trippi led the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals to the world championship as a rookie and has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Rose Bowl Hall of Fame, and State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

2020 CFB countdown: 63 days until Georgia Football

Join us as we count down the days until Georgia kicks-off in Atlanta!

There are 63 days until Georgia football kicks-off versus Virginia in Atlanta on Sept. 7.

Flash-back to Georgia versus Buffalo in 2012 – Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray finds receiver Tavarres King for a 63-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 23-6 in the second quarter.

Watch it here:

It was the No. 6 Bulldogs’ first game of the season, as well as the first time Georgia star running back Todd Gurley suited up between the hedges. Gurley shined and Georgia would go on to win against Buffalo 45-23.

Here’s the moment we knew TG3 was special….

66 days until Notre Dame football returns!

In 66 days Notre Dame returns to the football field. Count down the days with this look back at the ’66 champs now!

66 days from now we’ll be watching Notre Dame play Navy as both start their 2020 college football seasons.

At least we hope we’ll all be fortunate enough to be watching college football in nine and a half weeks.

As you’re aware we’ve been counting down the days until the season officially starts as yesterday we remembered one of the more memorable run of Josh Adams career.  Today we look back at another national championship squad.

(19)66:  Notre Dame’s 9-0-1 National Championship Team

Not long before the pandemic I was in a Marshall’s killing time as my wife shopped.  While strolling through the men’s section I stumbled into a shirt on final discount.

That shirt was made recently by Under Armour but commemorated the 1966 national championship squad by listing the score of every game on the back.  Looking at them all in a row makes it that much more impressive.

26-14 win vs. No. 8 Purdue
35-7 win at Northwestern
35-0 win vs. Army
32-0 win vs. North Carolina
38-0 win at No. 10 Oklahoma
31-7 win vs. Navy
40-0 win vs. Pitt
64-0 win vs. Duke
10-10 tie at No. 2 Michigan State
51-0 win at No. 10 USC

Just twice in 10 games they allowed double digit points in a season that saw a three blowout wins over top ten teams and the epic tie at Michigan State.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OvKgoKx7IA&w=560&h=315]

Notre Dame wound up getting crowned national champions despite finishing 9-0-1 while Alabama went 11-0 and wound up third.

66 days until we hopefully get Notre Dame football to return.  Let’s go!

Related – Way too early game-by-game predictions for Notre Dame football in 2020

75 days until Notre Dame football returns!

In 75 days Notre Dame football will again take the field. What better way to count down today than with a 75 yard touchdown against USC?

Congratulations, we’re a quarter of the way done since this countdown began 25 days ago in getting to the return of Notre Dame football.

75 days from now Notre Dame and Navy are set to play in Annapolis and although not everything will be right in the world by then, some normalcy will at least return.

Yesterday we celebrated Father’s Day and day 76 of the countdown by looking back at Allen Pinkett’s 76 yard touchdown run that helped upset No. 1 Pitt in 1982.

Today we look back just five years at one of the fastest players in Notre Dame’s recent history, making one of his more memorable plays in the blue and gold.

75: Yards on Will Fuller’s touchdown reception against USC in 2015

Outside of Fuller’s game-winning touchdown reception to save the day against Virginia in Week Two of 2015, perhaps his most remembered play at Notre Dame came early against USC that year.  Trailing 7-0 early, Fuller ran past everyone in the Trojan secondary and straight to the end zone after being found by DeShone Kizer.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQfFKoaun5w&w=560&h=315]

Notre Dame would win that contest 41-31 over their biggest rival and move to 6-1 on the season.

Fuller would finish the year with 62 receptions for 1258 yards and 14 touchdowns before being selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.

Related – Way too early game-by-game predictions for Notre Dame football in 2020

76 days until Notre Dame football returns!

We’re under 11 weeks until Notre Dame kicks off the 2020 college football season. Don’t miss this huge upset in today’s countdown memory!

We’re under 11 weeks until Notre Dame football returns as the Irish are scheduled to play at Navy the first weekend of September, despite the exact day of that weekend not yet being decided.

We’ve been counting down the days until Notre Dame football returns with yesterday giving a tip of the cap to the 1977 national championship squad.

Today’s Fathers Day edition of the countdown features a look back at a magical run that helped Notre Dame upset No. 1 in 1982.

76: Yards of Allen Pinkett’s touchdown run in the 1982 upset of No. 1 Pitt.

Despite being 5-1-1 on the year, Notre Dame was unranked when they visited No. 1 Pitt on November 6, 1982.  Pitt was loaded with talent as eventual Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Marino and Jimbo Covert were playing for the Panthers at the time.

Leading 17-16 at the time, Notre Dame had just forced a Pitt turnover as it appeared the Panthers were about to take the lead.  After an incomplete pass on first down, the ball was handed to Pinkett and he took it 76 yards to stretch the Notre Dame lead to eight.

Don’t take my word for it though, listen to the man that made the run describe it.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upZgcUUB5QU&w=560&h=315]

Notre Dame went on to win 31-16 after Pinkett capped the scoring with just under five minutes to play.

Notre Dame improved to 6-1-1 with the upset and soared from unranked to 13th in the nation, but lost three straight to close the year to Penn State, Air Force and USC to finish 6-4-1, unranked and without a bowl appearance.

79 Days until Notre Dame Football Returns!

We’re just over 11 weeks until Notre Dame football returns. Don’t miss today’s memory as we count down the days to Irish football!

Just over 11 weeks from now we’ll have Notre Dame and Navy returning to the football field to start their 2020 college football seasons.  Until then we’ll be counting the days by sharing memories of players, coaches and games that helped shape Notre Dame’s football legacy.

Yesterday we happened to find an 80 yard touchdown reception from Tommy Rees to TJ Jones that gave the Irish a second half lead in a game they wouldn’t hold onto against Pitt.

Today, by chance I swear and not on purpose, another Notre Dame vs. Pitt memory gets remembered.

79: Yards of Jonas Gray’s touchdown run at Pitt in 2011

2011 saw a frustrating start for Notre Dame as they gave away their first two games against South Florida and at Michigan.  After finally getting in the win column against Michigan State in Week Three they traveled to Pitt to try and get to .500 against the Panthers.

Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, Jonas Gray, who wasn’t necessarilyknown for his wheels, outran the entire Pitt defense for a go-ahead score.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58GhK358UUQ&w=560&h=315]

Gray would finish with just two more touches as he totaled 84 rushing yards on the day.  Notre Dame would get a late score on a pass from Tommy Rees to Tyler Eiftert that put them ahead 15-12, the eventual final score, getting them to 2-2 on the season.

Related – Way too early game-by-game predictions for Notre Dame football in 2020

83 days until Notre Dame football returns

Notre Dame football returns in 83 days. Continue the countdown with a pair of fantastic receivers today!

We’re under 12 weeks until Notre Dame football is slated to return with their first trip to Annapolis.  Another day down, still seemingly forever to go.

Yesterday we counted down by looking back at a memory from the last time Notre Dame’s football team stepped on the field.

Today we look back at two of the better wide receivers that have ever worn blue and gold.

83:  A tip of the cap to Jeff Samardzija and Chase Claypool

It’s a short list of receivers who have ever attended Notre Dame that were as good as Jeff Samardzija was in his four years.  His 27 touchdown receptions are the third-most in program history, as are his 2593 yards.  What’s absurd is that every touchdown and almost every yard came in only two seasons before fast-tempo offenses were really a thing.  Looking back, Samardzija was probably the best player on a fantastic offense between ’05 and ’06.

Chase Claypool was similar to Samardzija in that he wasn’t a star from the start but once he got going he was an absolute stud.  He finished his Notre Dame career with 19 touchdown receptions, 13 of which came in his senior year, with both ranking in Notre Dame’s all-time top ten.  Claypool became a Pittsburgh Steeler in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft.

Neither will be in the discussion of “best player ever” or probably even “best receiver ever” at Notre Dame, but both are sky-high on my list for favorites.

83 days.  Let’s go!

Related:  Way too early game-by-game predictions for 2020 Notre Dame football

86 days until Notre Dame football returns!

In 86 days Notre Dame football is set to return to action! Don’t miss the countdown today as it features a great play from a recent ND #86.

In 86 days we’ll gladly all welcome Notre Dame football back when they take on the Navy Midshipmen in Annapolis.  In the meantime, we have rosters to break down, opponents to preview and position battles to discuss.

For now though we’ve got to look at where the number 86 ends up being relevant in Notre Dame football history.  This is for a player, sure, but I really wanted to re-watch a spectacular play this certain player made a few short years ago.

86: Alize Mack’s number at Notre Dame

Alize Mack is nowhere near the best tight end that has ever come from Notre Dame, nor is he the best player to wear 86.  He was however a starter on the first Notre Dame team to qualify for the College Football Playoff.

En route to that 2018 CFP appearance, Mack had a fantastic night to close his home-career at Notre Dame as he pulled down three receptions for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  That night also featured Mack’s most impressive catch at Notre Dame.

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86 days.  Let’s go!

Related:  Way too early game-by-game predictions for 2020 Notre Dame football

88 Days Until Notre Dame Football Returns

In 88 days we get Notre Dame football back. In the meantime, relive the last national championship team at Notre Dame!

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In 88 days we’ll gladly all welcome Notre Dame football back when they take on the Navy Midshipmen in Annapolis.  In the meantime, we have rosters to break down, opponents to preview and position battles to discuss.

In the meantime why not take a moment to remember the last national championship football team at Notre Dame?

(19) 88: Notre Dame’s last football national championship

After Reggie Ho’s heroics helped Notre Dame to a win over Michigan in the opener the Irish rolled with wins over Michigan State, Purdue and Stanford to move to 4-0.

A win at Pitt in early October moved Notre Dame to 5-0 before the greatest Notre Dame football game many have ever seen, a 31-30 thriller over powerhouse and No. 1 Miami on October 15.

Wins over Air Force, Navy, Rice and Penn State followed before a battle with the top two ranked teams in nation when No. 1 Notre Dame traveled to No. 2 USC for the regular season finale before a 27-10 win despite being significantly out-gained by the Trojans.

The Irish then knocked quarterback Major Harris out of the game early in the Fiesta Bowl as Notre Dame won that contest 34-21, earning their first national championship since 1977 and their last claimed title on record.

Got an hour?  Check out the highlight video recapping that magical 1988 season below.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A5sT_YARUk&w=560&h=315]

88…scratch that, 95 (ish) Days Until Notre Dame Football Returns

Notre Dame football returns in 95 days. Or 96. We’re not fully sure but we do know the countdown went up, not down today. ’95 Notre Dame.

Happy Wednesday, folks.

A few days have passed by without updating the countdown but just to catch you up, we’re 88 days…scratch that…

94 or 95 days away from Notre Dame football returning.

Yeah I know, we started the countdown almost two weeks ago as we reached the 100 day mark and then the announcement came that Week Zero will instead be Week One and that Notre Dame and Navy will instead meetup on Labor Day weekend in Annapolis.

So with that in mind we go back to the future in a way and end up at 95 days.  If you missed 95 the first time around it was dedicated to Kyle Rudolph’s go-ahead touchdown against Michigan in 2010.

This time with 95 we will honor the 1995 Notre Dame team that went 9-3 after a stunning, season-opening loss to Northwestern, who would end up winning the Big Ten championship.

It started with the shocking defeat to a Northwestern squad who hadn’t won more than four games in a single season in 24 years previous.  As awful as things appeared to be headed Notre Dame bounced back with wins over Purdue and Vanderbilt before destroying No. 13 Texas, 55-27.

The season again hit a snag when Eddie George ran wild en-route to the Heisman Trophy as No. 7 Ohio State beat up the Irish 45-26.  Notre Dame would go on to win their final six regular season games which included a 38-10 win over No. 5 and eventual Rose Bowl Champion, USC.

Ron Powuls broke his arm against Navy in the second to final game of the year and No. 6 Notre Dame entered the Orange Bowl an 11 point underdog against No. 8 Florida State as leading rusher Randy Kinder was suspended for the game.  It was the third straight season Notre Dame and Florida State met with the teams splitting the first two games.

Despite that, backup quarterback Tom Krug used Derrick Mayes to his advantage and had the Irish leading 26-14 with just 11 minutes to play.  Danny Kanell led the Florida State comeback however as Andre Cooper snagged three scores for the Seminoles in their eventual 31-26 win.

Notre Dame finished the year 9-3 and ranked 11th in the final AP Poll in what was one heck of a roller coaster ride of a season.