Tag: notre dame michigan

Notre Dame Player Preview: Jafar Armstrong – Running Back

Notre Dame has many questions at running back and their best answer is coming off a rough year. What you need to know about Jafar Armstrong.

We get a day closer to Notre Dame football returning and although we’re anything but certain as to what exact day that will be, we’re still excited for the idea of it.

Before the ball is kicked though we need to keep informing you on those that will suit up in blue and gold this fall (or next spring).

This edition of the player previews features a running back who made a big splash in the 2018 season opener, has battled injuries a bit since, but is among the most experienced players in the 2020 Notre Dame backfield.

We’re talking about running back Jafar Armstrong.

Stats and Information…

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Desmond Howard shows bitterness over Notre Dame’s independence

At least Desmond Howard knows his opinion on Notre Dame shouldn’t count for anything.

I put about as much stock in whatever it is Desmond Howard has to say about Notre Dame as I did whenever Mark May would discuss them years ago on ESPN.

I don’t have proof of this but I’m fairly certain the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner has never actually said a kind thing about Notre Dame.

That was again the case Friday morning when Howard was a part of an ESPN panel that discussed what happens with college football’s season if out of conference games are canceled across the board.

Of course Notre Dame got brought up and of course Howard had thoughts.

“I might not be the best guy to ask this question to because I’ve always felt that Notre Dame was always given this special pass and they just enjoy this independence, and that they never had to join a conference”

“So now if this ends up being a situation that we do have a season and under the guidelines that people are talking now where it’s just people will play within their conference, and they’re left out in the cold because of decisions that they made, not to ever join the conference when they had the opportunity to join the ACC, then I think that’s their problem. It’s just coming back to bite them in the butt. So I don’t have a problem with a team or school that thought they are beyond joining the conference, and now because teams are playing within their conference that they get left out in the cold.” – Desmond Howard on ESPN – July 10, 2020

Just a kind reminder to Mr. Howard that Notre Dame tried to join a conference for years and years but it was your beloved University of Michigan that kept that from happening.  Then Notre Dame became a money making machine in the world of college football and Michigan and the Big Ten suddenly wanted them in.

I’m not going to lie, I get a lot of enjoyment when Notre Dame’s independence angers the masses like it has, does and will continue to do for years and years to come.

An Upset of Michigan this week on Notre Dame’s Watch Party

Saturday night Notre Dame will feature Darius Walker’s coming out party that left a top ten Michigan team shocked after a stunning upset

This Saturday night will offer a chance to relive an unlikely incredible moment during an otherwise frustrating season.  This week’s edition of the “Notre Dame Watch Party” features the 2004 home opener, a win over top-ten Michigan.

After a season opening loss at BYU a week earlier, Notre Dame welcomed Michigan to Notre Dame Stadium to kickoff their home season.  Michigan was ranked eighth in the nation, the Big Ten favorite that fall and had national championship dreams.

Led by Justin Tuck and Cory Mays on defense, Notre Dame kept Michigan out of the end zone and to just nine first half points.  The Irish offense was non-existent though, putting up a goose egg themselves.

Brady Quinn found Matt Shelton for a 46 yard touchdown in the early moments of the third quarter and an interception and then blocked punt helped set up a couple more Notre Dame scores.

Freshman running back Darius Walker, who didn’t get on the field the week previous, ran for a game-high 115 yards and two touchdowns en-route to a 28-20 win for the Irish.

In what wound up being an incredibly frustrating season that saw Notre Dame again upset a top-ten team in November when they knocked off No. 9 Tennessee, the Irish went just 6-5 in the regular season and saw head coach Tyrone Willingham fired before their bowl game.

2004 was tough as a fan, I don’t think any single game left me more upset than the blowing of a 20-7 halftime lead against Boston College right after Notre Dame had worked their way back into the top 25.  Instead of being 6-2, the Irish fell to 5-3 and the wheels seemingly came off besides for that win to come over Tennessee.

If you’re looking for something to do Saturday night the replay of the 2004 win over Michigan will bring back a memories of a thrilling afternoon in an otherwise incredibly maddening year.

95 Days Until Notre Dame Football (We Hope)

Notre Dame is scheduled to start their 2020 season in 95 days against Navy. Get your daily does of ND football here to count it down!

95 days from now Notre Dame is scheduled to take on Navy in college football’s Week Zero.  Will that happen?  We don’t actually know but we haven’t been told otherwise so we will continue to countdown the days until then.

If you’ve been following so far you’ve seen a few records and learned more about the players that set said records.

On Memorial Day we shared Deke Cooper’s Notre Dame record with you while sharing his biggest tackle with the Fighting Irish.

For 95 we go to a specific moment, one that purely electric from a player still catching touchdowns with regularity in the NFL.

95:  The total yards Kyle Rudolph trotted during his 2010 go-ahead touchdown reception against Michigan.  

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI_I70F0XjI&w=560&h=315]

That 2010 game might not have ended how Notre Dame players or fans would have wanted but a big-time throw, big time catch and one heck of a run afterwards meant for a memorable moment.

Rudolph finished his Notre Dame career with 90 receptions for 1032 yards and eight touchdowns, at least one of which we’ll revisit again on this countdown.

95 days to go.

Go Irish.

Notre Dame – Way Too Early Game by Game Predictions for 2020

Notre Dame: Brian Kelly Pays Elite Running Back a Visit

Edwards, a 5-11, 190 pound running back is listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and appears to have recently become more interested in Notre Dame.

The silent period for recruiting has reached its conclusion and now the tracking of which prospects college coaches are out visiting can commence.

It is a bit weird seeing where adult men are headed to try and wow 16 or 17 year olds?

You won’t get any argument from me on that however it’s clearly the lifeblood of any successful program.

So where is Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly as of Friday morning?

Look no further than West Bloomfield High School in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

West Bloomfield is home to class of 2021 running back Donovan Edwards. Edwards, a 5-11, 190 pound running back is listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and appears to have recently become more interested in Notre Dame.

Here’s what he told 247Sports after a recent visit to campus:

“I didn’t really look at Notre Dame too much, but after I got back there, I really feel like family up there. Khalid Kareem took care of me when I was up there. He’s a cool dude.”

Edwards would be a massive get for whoever eventually lands his letter of intent as he’s ranked the second best running back in 247’s composite rankings for 2021.

Brian Kelly and Notre Dame appear to be trying to come from behind against Michigan and Ohio State who 247 lists as his most likely landing spots.

Will Kelly end up anywhere else today? Word on the street is yes and if so, we’ll update you when something is matter-of-fact.