Tag: go irish

Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator Search: Irish get deKleined

Could an ultimate decision be coming soon?

When I went to bed last night it seemed the idea of Kansas State offensive coordinator Collin Klein becoming Notre Dame’s next offensive coordinator was picking up steam. Then shortly after getting going on Friday morning it was reported by Heather Dinich of ESPN that Klein will not be getting the open job with the Irish.

Dinich reported on Twitter that “K-State OC Collin Klein is no longer a candidate for the ND OC position. He did have conversations and interview, according to sources.”

Late Thursday, we went into detail about the things Klein did particularly well in his one year calling plays at Kansas State.

Combine Dinich’s report on Klein with Thursday night’s story at Football Scoop and it would appear the search is down to two candidates, both of which call the Pac-12 home. Andy Ludwig of Utah brings over 30 years of coaching experience while Sean Lewis of Colorado is an on-the-rise offensive mind in the collegiate ranks.

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Notre Dame blocks yet another punt: Twitter reacts to insane Irish special teams

It was already insane. This is light years beyond that at this point.

It’s remarkable how quickly Notre Dame has gone from being a place where the special teams philosophy appeared to be “just don’t screw up” to a place where opponent’s punts are must-watch television.  That’s the case for the Irish under special teams coordinator Brian Mason however on Saturday they blocked yet another opponent’s punt.

This was their seventh blocked punt of the season which extends the school record.  It was also their fifth-straight game blocking a punt.  Honestly, watching Notre Dame go after a punt is like it was as a Bears fan when Devin Hester was getting ready to return a kick.  You can’t turn away because there is a significant chance, not just a possibility, that something special is about to happen.

Here’s how the college football world reacted to the latest blocked punt by the Irish on Twitter today.

An injury update on prized Notre Dame freshman

Think he plays again this year?

Notre Dame’s top recruit of the 2021 recruiting class Blake Fisher entered his first collegiate season in the rarest of air, becoming just the second true-freshman to start on the Fighting Irish offensive line in the opener.

Unfortunately, Fisher injured his knee in the first half of that opener at Florida State and hasn’t played since.  Brian Kelly has spoke on the injury a couple of times already this year, but after Fisher put out an interesting tweet (next page) earlier this week, Kelly was again asked about Fisher’s health during Thursday’s media availability.

“Blake is ahead of schedule, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s gonna put him on the field this year. But he is doing really well, healing extremely well. You don’t know really how people will respond to surgery and how their tissue heals and how all those things come together. He’s one of those guys that things have come together really quickly for him. Moving around already, but doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gonna put him on the field any quicker. But he is ahead of our rehabilitation schedule in the training room.” -Brian Kelly

It’s nice to think about Fisher possibly being able to return this year but based off everything Kelly has said this entire season, including on Thursday, makes it hard to fathom actually happening.

Next:  See Fisher’s Tweet…

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Brian Kelly becomes Notre Dame’s winningest coach of all-time

Plenty of work to do but quite the accomplishment nonetheless!

It’s been a compelling 12 seasons with Brian Kelly heading Notre Dame football but the bar has clearly been raised.  Saturday’s 41-13 win over Wisconsin gave Kelly his 106th career victory with the Fighting Irish as he passed Knute Rockne for the most wins in program history.

Kelly stated earlier in the week that the record will mean less unless he’s able to one day deliver a national championship, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s still a remarkable feat, especially when you consider how much he changed his ways after the disaster of the 2016 season (4-8 record).

Kelly discussed it briefly during his on the field postgame interview on Fox stating that “it’s about the journey” before being showered with Gatorade.

Related:

Notre Dame dominates fourth quarter vs. Wisconsin:  5 Instant Takeaways

Notre Dame’s all-time winningest football coaches

Notre Dame football adds yet another ‘21 commitment

It had been five days since anyone gave Notre Dame their commitment so local talent Jojo Johnson changed that on Tuesday.

It had been a while since Notre Dame last received a commitment to their 2021 recruiting class seeing as it’s been a whole five days.

That might not seem very long but considering the heater Notre Dame has been on in recruiting, it feels like a long time.  

The Irish received four commitments last week as their class ranking jumped into the top 10 nationally according to most outlets.

Tuesday saw them add yet another commitment, this one coming from a young man they only offered an official scholarship to days ago.

JoJo Johnson was offered by Notre Dame on Sunday and on Tuesday, the Merrillville, Indiana senior made his decision to play for Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish official.

RELATED:  Meet Notre Dame’s entire 2021 recruiting class

Johnson becomes the 22nd commitment to Notre Dame’s class and will start his career in South Bend in the defensive backfield.

Johnson is rated as a three-star prospect by both 247Sports and Rivals and chose Notre Dame over offers from 17 other programs including Cincinnati, Purdue, Iowa, Michigan State and several MAC schools.

Johnson originally committed to Cincinnati on May 1 but reopened his recruitment by de-committing in mid-October.

Johnson is listed at 5-11, 180 pounds and becomes the fifth defensive back to join the 2021 recruiting class.

No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Notre Dame: Staff Predictions

Notre Dame hasn’t knocked off a No. 1 in 27 years. Will that streak come to an end Saturday when the Irish welcome Clemson? Our picks…

No. 1 Clemson hits the road this weekend for just its second trip to Notre Dame Stadium as it takes on the fourth-ranked Fighting Irish.

There will be no Trevor Lawrence for the Tigers. The best player in college football tested positive for COVID-19 late last week and was ruled out by Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney last Saturday.

More than Lawrence will be sidelined for Clemson, though. Three of its regular defensive starters have been ruled out due to injury.

Can Notre Dame do what it hasn’t done since 1993: Beat the top-ranked team in the nation?

Here’s how the Fighting Irish Wire staff sees Saturday’s showdown in South Bend going down, starting with Geoffrey Clark.

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Notre Dame running back steps away from football

Jahmir Smith started the 2019 season with a bang for Notre Dame but today it was announced he’s stepping away from playing football.

Notre Dame running back Jahmir Smith has decided to step away from playing football according to head coach Brian Kelly.

“He has decided he’s not going to play football anymore” Kelly said during his media availability on Friday.

Smith saw action against Duke this year as he carried the ball five times for 15 yards but hasn’t touched the ball in the three games since.

Smith’s biggest impact for the Irish came in the 2019 opener at Louisville when the back ran for a pair of touchdowns in the 35-17 victory.

Smith finishes his Notre Dame career with 53 carries for 223 yards and those two touchdowns.  He caught an additional three passes for 26 yards between 2018 and 2019.

Smith came to Notre Dame in the 2018 recruiting class from Sanford, North Carolina – Lee County.

No. 4 Notre Dame 12, Louisville 7: 5 Instant Takeaways

It wasn’t the prettiest of performances but it was good enough to get Notre Dame to 4-0 for the first time since 2018.

And we know why the casinos in Vegas keep getting bigger and bigger it was widely thought that Notre Dame and Louisville would light up the scoreboard on Saturday, only to play to the tune of just 19 total points all afternoon.

It again won’t win any awards for being anything close to pretty for Notre Dame but the win does move the Fighting Irish to 4-0 on the season ahead of their first two road games of the year the next two weeks.

With that it’s time for our five instant takeaways from Saturday’s victory.

5.  Wide receivers leaving much too be desired

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Notre Dame and Kentucky to Renew Hardwood Rivalry

Notre Dame will have one of college basketball’s biggest names on it’s out of conference schedule the next three seasons.

Notre Dame and Kentucky have met in basketball 62 times over the years, the most recently being a thriller that sent the Wildcats to the Final Four in the 2015 Midwest Regional Final.

Now Notre Dame and Kentucky will meet again on the hardwood as a three game series between the teams has officially been announced with action starting this year at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

Notre Dame will travel to Kentucky on December 12 of this year while a neutral site game will be played in 2021 and the Wildcats will play in South Bend on December 10, 2022.

“It is great to renew a series between two of the ‘blue bloods’ of college basketball,” Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Brey said. 

“If our recent battles with Kentucky are any indication, these games should be appointment viewing for college basketball fans.” 

Kentucky was won 43 of the 62 all-time meetings with Notre Dame.

Watch/Listen: Notre Dame Victory March on an Accordion

I didn’t know I needed the Notre Dame Victory March on accordion until I saw and heard it. Now I need it again and again and again, please

Some things you don’t know you need until you get them and realize you can’t go another day without them.  Power windows in a car, the more expensive  toilet paper and the generation that first experienced the remote control for their televisions are great examples.

You didn’t think you needed it but the second you got it you never wanted to give it up.  In a weird way that’s how I’m feeling tonight after seeing a congratulatory video that was sent to the latest Notre Dame football commitment, Pat Coogan.

Coogan announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Wednesday and Chicago’s south side celebrated like anyone who has spent any time there would expect the south side to celebrate.  The following is courtesy of Coogan’s neighbor:

I didn’t know I needed the “Notre Dame Victory March” on the accordion but I’m damn certain I will be going back to hear it performed this way again.

And again, and again, and again.

Well done, Mr. Kennedy.  Now please advise your daughter on “your vs. you’re”.