Tag: Notre Dame Stadium

Notre Dame’s most recent opponent now also cancels Saturday game

Just one day after Notre Dame postponed their game at Wake Forest this weekend, the most recent opponent of the Irish has now called off.

After playing at Notre Dame this past weekend South Florida has decided to postpone their weekend affair at Florida Atlantic.

Notre Dame’s football team is dealing with their own COVID-19 outbreak as the Irish and Wake Forest cancelled their game for this Saturday.

Now Notre Dame’s most recent opponent has also postponed their game as South Florida won’t take the field against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, a decision that was made as a joint agreement between the schools.

Here is the full release from South Florida:

The interesting part here is that it doesn’t involve any positive tests by South Florida players but instead it cites the contact tracing being based on the fact Notre Dame has had a recent outbreak.

Based on what we know it certainly feels like a matter of when and not if positive tests are going to come back for players on South Florida’s roster.

Here’s to hoping I’m wrong on that but it certainly feels like it’s headed that way.

Notre Dame Had ‘Physical Distance Camera’ at Duke Game

As we all know by now, only Notre Dame students, faculty, staff and family members can attend games this season.

As we all know by now, only Notre Dame students, faculty, staff and family members can attend games this season. Even so, physical distancing remains required, though people who room together are used to each other anyway, so it’s fine if they’re close together. During Saturday’s win over Duke, the game-day staff noticed quite a few people congregating closely. Whether or not groups who did also were roommates is unknown, but that didn’t stop a little piece of fun known as the “Physical Distance Camera”.

While it doesn’t seem much different from the “Bandwagon Camera” we’ve seen with Chicago Cubs and Golden State Warriors fans in recent years, it also highlights the issue of people refusing to stay apart during COVID-19 in spite of guidelines saying we should. The last thing Notre Dame wants is for its football games to turn into super-spreader events and to make its stadium completely empty. That wouldn’t be fair to those at the games who obey the guidelines now, would it?

Tale of the Tape: Starting Quarterbacks – Ian Book vs. Chase Brice

The starting quarterbacks for Saturday’s Notre Dame-Duke matchup couldn’t be more different.

The starting quarterbacks for Saturday’s Notre Dame-Duke matchup couldn’t be more different. For the Irish, you have a seasoned leader in Ian Book who’s ready to add one more chapter to his legacy in South Bend. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils will start Clemson transfer Chase Brice. After backing up Trevor Lawrence for two seasons, Brice will have the chance to write his own story in Durham:

It’s almost unfair to compare last year’s numbers for these two quarterbacks since one was their offense’s primary leader and the other wasn’t. However, that alone tells you the Irish will have the advantage in this area Saturday. Book should be calm and collected in familiar surroundings, and Brice is making his Duke debut on the road against a team many feel could make the College Football Playoff. Plus, even though Notre Dame Stadium only will be 20 percent full, simply kicking off a new beginning in one’s career inside such a historic venue has to be intimidating for anyone.

Notre Dame 7th in CFN’s New 1-76 Rankings

CFN is the latest outlet to release updated college football rankings ahead of 2020. See what they said about No, 7 Notre Dame here.

As outlets continue to rework their preseason polls ahead of the 2020 college football season getting going we’ve seen Notre Dame make the rise from the 9-12 range in many to as high as fifth in one poll last week.

College Football News has come out with their latest 1-76 rankings ahead of the 2020 kickoff and Notre Dame is again included in the top ten, but not quite as high as we’ve seen them in other places.

Here’s what Pete Fiutak of CFN had to quickly say about Notre Dame’s outlook for 2020 as he rated them No. 7 nationally.

7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Best Player: OT Liam Eichenberg, Sr.
Most Interesting Game: Clemson, Nov. 7
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 13
Realistic Season Goal: College Football Playoff
Currently Scheduled Opener: Duke, Sept. 12

Some very quick reaction to this:

Eichenberg is certainly in the team picture for best player and so much of the offenses success depends his and the rest of the offensive lines ability in the run game, not just in pass protection where they’ve been great.  I would have Kyle Hamilton atop this when factoring in the entire roster on just talent level alone, not age or year in school.

The Clemson game on November 7 is a no-brainer as it will be the biggest home game Notre Dame has had since the 2005 USC game.  Let’s not discuss the end.  Still hurts.

Pete ranked the Irish 13th at the end of last season?  I know if you’re not No. 1 then post-season rankings don’t really matter much but 13?  C’mon Pete!

Agree that College Football Playoff is a realistic goal that will take a lot to even get to which would include having to win the ACC Championship Game, even if the Irish were to beat Clemson on Nov. 7.  If Notre Dame is to get there though they can certainly win it because it will mean they will have likely beat Clemson, the preseason No. 1, on a neutral field.

13 days away, let’s go!

WATCH: Notre Dame Updates, Re-releases ‘Here Come the Irish’

A song that has become part of Notre Dame football’s game day festivities got an face-lift over the weekend. Check it out right here!

If you are a fan of Notre Dame football or just admire the University in any way you’ve heard the song “Here Come the Irish” that was performed by Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship after being written by Jim Tullio and John Scully.

The song has taken on a life of it’s own since being written in 1997 and many have put together slideshows and their own videos with it’s audio accompaniment on the internet.

Over the weekend the University of Notre Dame’s athletic department released a new video to go along with the song you hear just before kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium and it’s worth your five minutes today.  Watch the video in the tweet below.

LET’S GO!

No Single-Game Tickets Available for Notre Dame in 2020

If you were hoping to buy single-game tickets for 2020 Notre Dame games through the university, you’re out of luck.

If you were hoping to buy single-game tickets for 2020 Notre Dame games through the university, you’re out of luck. According to an email viewed by BlueandGold.com, Notre Dame’s Rivals site, the usual lottery system that distributes tickets and parking passes for single games will not be available this coming season, assuming there is one. In what should be a surprise to no one, this is an effort to keep attendance down at Notre Dame Stadium in the current environment.

The email includes the following:

“Over the past few months, we have worked diligently on a seating plan that would incorporate proper physical distancing measures to ensure Notre Dame Stadium is as safe as possible this fall. We are in the final stages of that planning process, which will greatly reduce our capacity.”

In addition, Notre Dame’s ticket allotment for road games will be reduced and might not be able to be bought. Meanwhile, lottery eligibility for next season remains under evaluation. There should be an update about that next month.

We all want to gather in South Bend on Saturdays this fall, but this is for the best. Even thinking about going to a game this season is a terrible idea, and it’s why the NCAA might just decide not to take the chance and cancel the season. However, if it doesn’t go down that route, Notre Dame rightfully has taken opportunities away from people who otherwise wouldn’t have thought twice about taking a chance.

How will not having a packed Notre Dame Stadium effect games?

Will it hurt or help the Irish this season without full crowds in Notre Dame Stadium?

At this current moment, it is hard to imagine the possibility of any collegiate football game having a packed house. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many states limiting large group gatherings which means having 80,000 Fighting Irish friends on a Saturday in South Bend very unlikely.

With that in mind, 247Sports took a look at which teams are helped and hurt by not having full crowds in stadiums this coming season. Chris Hummer named Clemson as a school that it helps, as if the Tigers needed any extra help anyways. The key games Hummer points out for the Dabo Swinney led team are at Florida State and then when they would visit South Bend.

A team that returns stars like quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne and linebacker Jamie Skalski will be a tough game for anyone, but not having a raucous Irish crowd definitely won’t help the cause. The college game relies much more on home field advantage than the NFL, it would be fantastic to see the fans making a difference by potentially rattling the Tigers. Unfortunately, that doesn’t look like it will be the case this fall and the Irish will have to battle Clemson without the help of a packed Notre Dame Stadium.

Confidence Picks to Notre Dame’s 2020 Football Schedule

Ever done an office confidence pool for football games? I fill out one from 12-1 and pick a winner for all Notre Dame’s games in 2020.

Notre Dame is likely to be a pre-season top ten team when they kick-off the 2020 football season on August 29 against annual rival Navy.  The game is currently scheduled to be played in Dublin but a change of plans could be announced sooner rather than later in regards to that.

Of the 12 games scheduled some are potential “game of the week” material where ESPN’s College Gameday could very likely show up.  Others are essentially fillers to complete the 12 game slate.

Which are the absolute easiest match-ups and which should scare Notre Dame fans the most?

Here are my confidence picks for Notre Dame games in 2020.  Feel free to play along by commenting either here, by mentioning us on Twitter or on our Facebook page.

12 Points:

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Notre Dame to Reopen Campus for Fall Semester

Huge news out Monday as the University of Notre Dame has announced they’ll reopen campus for fall semester, starting in August.

A huge step for college football to be played as schedule for Notre Dame in 2020 was taken Monday as the university announced it will welcome students back to campus for fall semester starting the week of August 10.

There will be plenty more about this development in short time but let’s first take a look at the University of Notre Dame’s full statement:

NOTRE DAME, INDIANA –

The University of Notre Dame will welcome students back to campus for the 2020-21 fall semester the week of Aug. 10, two weeks earlier than originally scheduled, and will forgo fall break in October and end the semester before Thanksgiving, the University’s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., announced in letters to the campus community.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Notre Dame sent students home in mid-March to complete the 2019-20 spring semester via remote learning. The University also canceled academic and other summer programming through July 6. In his letters, Father Jenkins extended that cancellation through the remainder of the summer, with the exception of a small number of students whose summer work is preparatory for the fall semester.

MORE…

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Is Lost Graduation Weekend Precursor to Football Season for Locals?

Typically at this time of year, thousands of families flock to South Bend to watch their loved ones graduate from Notre Dame.

Typically at this time of year, thousands of families flock to South Bend to watch their loved ones graduate from Notre Dame. But like at every academic institution, 2020 commencement was a virtual affair. And it wasn’t only the graduates who were robbed of something. Hotels, restaurants and other businesses in and around South Bend didn’t see the money they usually would.

The South Bend Tribune published a story that mentions the local revenue taken in during graduation weekend is the equivalent to what comes in during a home football weekend. With Notre Dame officials expecting games to be played this fall but with limited attendance and tailgating, a further, more sustained blow to the community is expected. The estimated 7,700 local hospitality workers already are facing significant losses thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak. Nothing close to the normal sellout crowds that fill Notre Dame Stadium will make it all the more devastating.

If you live in the South Bend area, please do whatever you possibly can to support the local businesses that have been severely hampered the past two months and surely will be for the foreseeable future. With unemployment higher than during the Great Depression, this is the time to help people keep their jobs. We don’t want this to community to be a shell of what it’s been when this pandemic is over.