Blue-Gold preview

OK, so I've been a little slow on the uptake in blogging recently, due to a recent promotion at work. Soon, I will be traveling the country for my law firm, training other attorneys about various aspects of their jobs. I'm really excited about this new opportunity, and can't wait to start traveling. For the next month or two, though, blogging is going to be sporadic at best while I get my replacement (a NDLS classmate) up to speed and settle into my new responsibilities.

That said, I'm going to try to piece together where we stand headed into the Blue-Gold game today (which I should be attending, work permitting).

Offensive Line

It all begins and ends here. For years, offensive line play has been a weak link on our team, and it is the most important piece of the puzzle to have consistent offensive success. Latina, for all of his success prior to his stint at ND, just couldn't get the job done. It seems like all he taught the players to do was cut block.

With Frank Verducci stepping in, my hope is that we finally have the kind of guy that can get these guys motivated to win one-on-one matchups. They are talented enough to be a great unit, but need to take that next step this offseason.

I especially want to see improvement on running plays - even in a zone blocking scheme, you can attack the defense. I want to see a mean, nasty attitude coming off the line and taking the fight to the defense, rather than waiting for them to come to us.

Paul Duncan looks good going into his 5th year, and should provide the rock we need outside on pass protection. Sam Young should also be solid at the other tackle position, and I hope the coaching change can take his play to the next level.

Eric Olsen is the heart of this line, and brings the passion and nastiness we need on the line. Hopefully he steps up as a leader and lights a fire under his teammates.

Sam Young has been solid, but in his last year as a starter, it's time to start blowing people up. If he wants to impress NFL scouts, he needs to play to the level he was expected as the #1 overall recruit out of Florida his freshman year.

Tight Ends

I like our Tight End situation this year. We are returning our starter from last year (Kyle Rudolph), and he's going to be pushed by an upper classman who was also highly touted coming out of high school (Mike Ragone). Also, true freshman Joseph Fauria is making strides as well. We can finally run more two tight end sets, which opens the offense a little more.

Receivers

Of course, any discussion of our receiving corps starts with Golden Tate. I'm not sure what the numbers are on his track speed, but he has incredible football speed. Armando Allen is fast, and Golden ran him down from behind after getting a pancake block on the kick return against Hawai'i.

As a true freshman, Floyd destroyed the record books, and he has a lot of room to grow. He is the clear second option, and it doesn't seem like anyone is going to challenge him for that starting role.

Where this competition gets interesting starts at the third slot. Goodman, Parris, Walker, Kamara, and West are all battling to get on the field. That competition, by all accounts, has raised the bar for all of them. Robby Parris has been singled out by Coach Weis, and Walker and Goodman both have a chance. Kamara looked to be back to form, but then suffered a hamstring injury. West appears to have fallen down the depth chart, but he's capable of working his way back up.

Running Backs

Armando seems to be the clear #1 going into this season, which is an improvement from the running back by committee we've had the last couple of years. Of course, that doesn't meaan that the other backs won't see the field, but I think Armando has finally learned to translate his speed into effectiveness on the field.

Robert Hughes isn't resting on his laurels behind Armando, and since he's a completely different type of back, he could almost be considered a starter in the more pound-it tye of packages.

What's interesting to me is to see how the guys behind them factor in. Jonas Gray looked good in limited action last year, and Cierre Wood is a 5-star recruit coming in from high school.

Also, James Aldridge is healthy, and would be our starting fullback, if we started a game in that package. Weis would also play him as tailback in a pound-it type of package, against teams like Nevada and Michigan State.

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Clausen is the starter. Let's not go crazy about Dayne Crist yet. However, since we've burned Dayne's redshirt year, there's no reason that he can't push Jimmy. If he wins the battle, great! But, I don't think he will. What's nice is that for the first time since Weis has been here, we have two legitimate QB's that can start a game. In 2007, we had two starters, but neither of them were that great.

Also, we have Nate Montana as a 3rd option, who can try to develop his skills. He certainly has the bloodlines. Also, John Goodman is a good QB aswell, but is more likely to see the field as a QB.

Defensive Line

I'm not sure what to make of our defensive line yet. Ian Williams is a clear cut starter inside, and it looks like there is a battle for the other inside slot. Hafis Williams has the other slot right now, but Brandon Newman isn't going to just roll over. Tyler Stockton and Sean Cwynar are also in the mix.

I think we may end up with a 3-man rotation for the two slots, with Ian Williams eating up the most minutes.

At defensive end, we have a lot of options. Ethan Johnson and Kapron Lewis-Moore are the listed starters right now, but I'm guessing that several players will rotate in and out depending on the situation. Richardson, Nwankwo, Ryan, Wade, and Neal will all get considerable minutes. This competition could make this a strength on our team.

Linebackers

Brian Smith appears to be stepping into the leadership role for the linebackers. He is a freak of an athlete, and will be the rock of this defense at the weakside linebacker. Darius Fleming's athleticism has him starting at the strong side, but I'm curious to see how the competition plays out. Incoming freshman Manti Te'o will light a fire under these guys over the summer.

Inside, Toryan Smith has stepped up his game, and appears to be the hard hitter we need against pound it teams, to take the pressure off of the tackles. He won't be used in passing situations, however, as he is a bit of a liability in coverage.

Scott Smith could get some time at linebacker as well, which would be kind of awesome, with the 3 Smiths.

Defensive Backs

I am really excited about this group.

At corner, we have 4 players that I think would start fo nealy every other Division I school battling it out for two spots. McNeil and Blanton are currently listed as the starters, but I think Darrin Walls will win back his spot once he shakes all the rust off. And Jamoris Slaughter will see plenty of the field as well.

At safety, I think things are a little more settled. I don't see how you can keep Harrison Smith off the field, as he's a playmaker. And Kyle McCarthy seems to hav separated himself as a clear #1.

That doesn't mean we lack depth, however. Sergio Brown has proven he can play at a high level, and Dan McCarthy is just itching to get on the field with his brother.

*****

I dub this defense the No-Names. If we were in a nickel defense, we could have on the field at one time: Richardson, Johnson, McNeil, McCarthy, McCarthy, Williams, Williams, Smith, Smith, Smith, and Smith. That's ridiculous.

Irish Blogger Gathering: A New Beginning

So, I've been on hiatus for a while, for good reason. Things at work have been crazy, I went on vacation, and there may be a lot of changes in store for me in the near future (promotion, anyone?). But, I couldn't shirk my duties as a member of the Irish Blogger Gathering, so here are my answers to Subway's questions:

1. Take your temperature. A) What sort of things are you looking for the team to work upon to help the 2009 season? Group improvements, players improvements, new fertilizer... whatever. As general a question as you will find. B) Same question, but instead of just the 2009 season- the future of the program as a whole.

A) There are a few things that I'm looking for this year. Fist, I'd like to see Jimmy Clausen start acting like a leader and a Notre Dame man. He came in with a punk-ass attitude, and I'd like to see him take a hint from his predecessor, and start leading by example. First in the weight room in the morning, last out of film review at night, keeping his nose clean and being confident, not cocky. Also, I want to see the major jumps in production that you usually get between sophomore and junior years. If that happens for even a small majority of that class, this offense will be SICK.

B) This is a more interesting question. My expectations for this year are insanely high. I keep hinking about all of the factors involved, and I can't help but see this as being the beginning of a long run for the Irish back in the elite. A big part of this long-term hope comes from one man - Bryant Young. Not because he has the potential to be a great coach and leader (which I think he will), but more because of what it says about the long-term health of our program. Weis has taken the view that he will be here a while, and is grooming Bryant Young as a coach. He hired a veteran statesman on the D-line, so that Young could grow and eventually replace him. This kind of long-term continuity, growth, and planning could pay major dividends for the University. It's doing things the right way.


2. It remains to be seen if I will be traveling to the spring game. My wife may have objections to yet another birthday of hers being used for a game that essentially doesn't count. (I know, I know- she just doesn't get it.) Don't you think it's about time that the spring game was televised? You know ESPN is dying to get inside that stadium for a live broadcast. I don't think it would interfere with the NBC contract, and if it does- why aren't they televising this?

As an annual attendee to the Spring Game, I could honestly care less about whether it's televised, personally. However, I do see the benefit of the exposure this early, especially as it informs the voters in the preseason polls. Of course, ESPN would be the beast we'd have to sell out to, as spring games are not network TV material. But assuming we could get assurances of front page coverage, I think it would be a great tool in recruiting and shaping preseason perception.

3. What position battle will be decided this spring? Which one will have to wait for summer/fall?

I think the only position battle that will be decided this spring is the QB. Weis will give Crist the chance to legitimately show what he can do against Jimmy, but I think JC's mechanics solidify him as the starter moving forward.

The rest of the positions I think will be open well into the summer. There are only a few places I see as locked down - Tate and Floyd at receiver, Young on the O line, Williams on the D line, and Brian Smith as inside LB. The rest of the spots have too many talented players competing for me to hazard a guess.

4. If you could change anything about the way spring practice/ Blue-Gold Game is done- what would it be?

I'd like to see them get away from the strange scoring rules and actually get out there and play a game. 1st on 1st and 2nd on 2nd, with the rest of the team split evenly for subs. Play it out, and let us see how it goes. This goes for silly rules protectng the QB as well. Obviusly, we want to avoid injuries, but at least let the defenders wrap up the QB.
I like Subway's idea of bringing in another team to scrimmage against, as well.

5. Name your 5 favorite players and change their jersey number. Tell us why...

Jimmy Clausen - #7 to #10. As I said before, I'd like to see Jimmy try to emulate Brady, and be a true leader, rather than just a talented QB.
Ian Williams - #95 to # 50. I'd like to see this, complete with cut off jersey and attitude, to emulate Zorro. We need some nasty inside on defense.
Eric Olsen - #51 to #00. Just because.
Golden Tate - #23 to #25. This kid is the new rocket. Did you see him run down Armando Allen on the kick return, AFTER a pancake block? Raw speed.

6. Last year two sophomore's won the MVP awards for the Blue-Gold Game (Harrison Smith and Robert Hughes). Predict who this years MVP's will be using the same criteria. (Same class- 1 OFF. & 1 DEF.).

I'm going to predict a return to form, when you knew who the best players were, and expected them to be the MVP every time. Therefore, I'm going to pick:
Jimmy Clausen, QB (could be Tate, but he'll miss a lot for baseball)
Darrin Walls, CB (could also be B. Smith or I. Williams)

Staff carousel

As promised, the changes to the Notre Dame football program this offseason are beginning to take shape.

Haywood is gone to take the head coaching job at Miami (OH). As yet his position (offensive coordinator/RB coach) is vacant.

Jappy Oliver is out as the defensive line coach. The official word is that he resigned. However, much like the next coach on the list, it is clear that he was asked to do so in no uncertain terms. As yet, no replacement has been named, but it has been reported that Ohio State Co-Defensive Coordinator / LB Coach Luke Fickell was offered a position on the defensive staff at Notre Dame. Fickell played for one year under Jon Tenuta when he was at OSU. He is an OSU alum, and seems to be in position to at least be conidered for the OSU job if Cheaty McSweatervest ever leaves. However, ND pulled a major coup by bringing in Tenuta last year, and they have it within their means to do it again. No word yet on whether he will accept.

Fickell is an interesting hire, if successful. As the linebackers coach for the last 7 years, he has developed/coached All-American linebackers Matt Wilhelm ('02), A.J. Hawk ('04, '05) and James Laurinaitis ('06, '07, '08). That's got to be appealing to the likes of Manti Te'o and Jelani Jenkins, our top two remaining targets in this year's class. It remains to be seen, however, whether Fickell would take over the linebacking corps from Tenuta, or be moved into Jappy's job on the D-line. Either way, it would be a major coup if ND could get him to sign on the dotted line.

Finally, John Latina is out as offensive line coach, replaced by longtime coach Frank Verducci, who has spent the last two years as an offensive assistant at the Cleveland Browns. Verducci has over 27 years of coaching experience, including 19 in college. He is known as a good recruiter, and has the bulk of his experience on the offensive line. While there is nothing in Verducci's resume that screams success, he did essentially take a step down from the NFL to come to Notre Dame. At the very least, he is a known quantity as far as teaching blocking fundamentals.

I expect that this ends the firings for the staff, as the fans got their sacrificial lamb (Latina), and the greatest deficiency on Weis' team (D-line) was addressed as well.

The only really interesting thing remaining from these changes is to see what Weis does in regards to replacing Haywood. Does he retain play-calling duties and hire what will essentially be another glorified running backs coach, or does he go out and make the big splash to bring in someone he knows he can turn the offensive reins over to?

It will be interesting to follow in the coming weeks, and I expect that everything will be settled down by signing day in February.

And the winner is...

The University of Utah Utes. (13-0, 8-0 MWC)

There is no rational argument I have heard from anyone that makes a legitimate argument as to why the Utah Utes should not be the number one team in the country.

They are the only undefeated team in all of Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, and just beat the snot out of an Alabama team that was #1 going into the SEC Championship.

Florida, the team favored to win the BCS Championship game, only beat Alabama by 11. Utah beat 'em by 14.

I've heard the argument made that the Utes wouldn't be undefeated if they played Florida's schedule, but I don't buy it. Some people have talked about launching USC into the title picture, but they lost to an Oregon State team that the Utes beat. They beat TCU, BYU, and Alabama.

Oh, and lest you try to punish them for a weak schedule, remember that when they scheduled the Michigan opener, the Wolverines were a power.

Don't punish Utah for Michigan's demise.

They played the toughest schedule they could put together, and won every single game, including their BCS bowl. And the Utes are no flash in the pan, either. They've won 8 straightbowl games, including their first ever appeareance in the BCS, a 35-7 smackdown of the Pittsburgh Panthers.

Oh, and they went undefeated that season as well, but were left out of the national title picture.

If Utah is not voted the AP national title, it will simply serve as further proof that the current system is broken.

The Pac-10 isn't offering the Utes membership, so they can play a legitimate BCS schedule. They are scheduling the best that they can in their non-conference. And the Mountain West isn't exactly a pushover. Just ask Alabama, Michigan, Stanford, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, and Tennessee if they think the MWC is a joke (all of these teams lost to a MWC opponent this season).

All these Utes did was suit up and beat every opponent they faced. Again. This was the second time in the career of these seniors that they've achieved that particular feat. And they did so under two different head coaches.

None of the power teams - not LSU, USC, Ohio State, Florida, or Oklahoma - have even come close to achieving such an accomplishment.

If that isn't worthy of a national title, I don't know what is.

New Year's Resolutions

With the completion of the 2008 campaign, it's time for this program to turn their sights ahead to the new year, and focus our energies on a successful 2009.

With that in mind, here are some New Year's resolutions for the coaching staff, the players, and us, the fans.

Coaching Resolutions

1. Run the damn ball.

Under Weis, I am resigned to this being a pass-first offense, and if we are as effective through the air as we were against Hawaii, I have no problem with that approach.

That said, a strong running game is necessary to create a threat that opens up the passing game. Keeping the safeties near the line of scrimmage opens more opportunities for Tate, Floyd and Rudolph down the field.

Also, we need to have confidence in our ability to pick up first downs on the ground in 3rd and 4th and short.

With Haywood moving on to Miami (OH), we will need to find a new running backs coach, and this presents an opportunity to find a top-notch running backs coach that can really fire up our deep stable of backs.

2. Shut up the critics.

I've been very critical of Weis this year, as I felt that the team we saw against Hawaii should have been the team we saw all season long (or at least down the stretch, as the young players developed).

Weis has been given a vote of confidence for at least one more season on the Notre Dame sidelines, having survived an onslaught of criticism from all fronts.

Now is the time for him to bring back the swagger of his first season at the helm, where the Irish excited the fanbase and media.

Winning heals everything, and I hope that the coaching staff has found their groove and can translate this bowl win into the swageer that the Irish should have every time they take the field.

3. Have some fun.

I know that coaching at Notre Dame is a high-stress position, and that the constant barrage of criticisms can wear down a coach. You never get enough credit when you win, and take too much blame when you lose.

But Weis is a Notre Dame guy, and I know he takes great pride in the performance of our football team. While Weis may never be the buddy-buddy kind of coach that the Poodle over at U$C is, his players clearly perform better when they are loose and having fun.

So, I'd like to see the coaching staff have a positive and fun attitude throughout the offseason and into next year. The young talent on this team is like a group of sled dogs, just tearing at the reins. Keeping them in check and focused on business I think is smart for the development of discipline.

But now that they've shown what they can do, it's time to loosen the reins and let them run.

Player Resolutions

1. Play with swagger.

I felt several times over the past couple of seasons that the players were playing like they were just waiting for the bottom to drop out. Again.

In Hawaii, they came out and seemed ready to show everyone what they can do.

They need to build on that foundation and come out each and every game with the confidence that they know they can win the game.

In 2005, the Irish came out against USC and punched them in the mouth, refusing to back down. Everyone had faith in Brady's leadership and trusted their teammates, and were robbed of a truly great season by the infamous Bush Push.

The last two years, the players didn't seem sure if they could win when they walked out on the field.

With the show they put on for Christmas Eve, and nearly everyone coming back, I want to see them take the attitude that they can dominate anyone who steps on the field against them.

2. Work your ass off

Championship teams aren't built in recruiting or during training camp. They are built every single day in the offseason when the players come together and push each other to become more than they could ever be alone.

I'm reminded of the story of Knute Rockne and Gus Dorais, who during the offseason worked at Cedar Point in Ohio, and spent their free time practicing passing routes on the beach. The next season, all that practice resulted in the stunning upset of the Black Knights of Army.

I want to hear stories this offseason of these kids going above and beyond the required workout and organized team activities to develop the chemistry necessary to build a championship team. Live, breath, eat and sleep football.

3. Believe.

The Notre Dame football program has been pronounced dead many times in the past.

They were supposed to just fade into the woodwork when they didn't get into the Big Ten. Then they barnstormed the country and won anyway.

They were supposed to fold during World War II. Than Leahy came back from the war and destroyed everyone.

Kuharich was the death knell of Irish football. The Irish would never win again. Then Parsegian came in and made us all believe in miracles. He could even stop the rain.

Then the program couldn't compete in the modern era, when Faust dragged them into the mud. And Holtz taught the team how to believe.

Now, the carousel of Davie, O'Leary, Willingham and Weis has supposedly relegated Irish football to mediocrity, where Irish fans were supposed to be content with the occasional decent bowl game. As Kirk Herbstreit said, we've averaged only 7 wins a season for the past 15 years. Why do we expect any more than that?

Because we're Notre Dame, and it's what we do.

"There has been a surrender at Notre Dame, but it is a surrender to excellence on all fronts, and in this we hope to rise above ourselves with the help of God."
-Fr. Theodore Hesburgh

Now is the time for this team to ignore all of the people that want so desperately for Notre Dame to finally fade away, and come together as one. Believe in the magic of Notre Dame, that with hard work, discipline and integrity, we can take on all comers and emerge victorious.

Fan Resolutions

1. Wake up the echoes.

The time for cautious optimism is over. I have been one of the most critical of the Weis regime over the past few months, and I'm not even as bad as many of the Irish faithful. I have read so much pessimism on Irish message boards, and often the best I can find is cautious optimism.

It's time to throw caution to the wind and remember that We Are Notre Dame.

Army 1946. Oklahoma 1952. Michigan State 1966. Miami 1988. Penn State 1992. Florida State 1993. And yes, even USC 2005.

The magic is there, just waiting to be tapped. Each of those games I listed were not just magical moments, they were the culmination of an entire season of the Irish faithful collectively believing in the lads out there on the field.

And so, if we want next year to be something special, we can't sit idly by and wait for the evidence on the field. We need to go out there each week believing unequivocally that the Irish will win each game.

And then we can add USC 2009 to the list.

***

So there you have it, my New Year's Resolutions for 2009.

Notre Dame will be the national champions in 2009. You heard it here first.

And I will continue to believe as much until I am proven otherwise. Get on board.

Eo na toa! Eo na toa e!

(pronounced a-oh-nah-towah, a-oh-nah-towah-a).

It means: "This is battle. You must respond."

It is an ancient Hawaiian battle cry, and it is the theme I would use for the Irish this week as they take the field against the Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii.

The Irish have shown glimpses of promise this year, but have consistently stumbled down the stretch when faced with adversity. The've blown double digit leads in several of their losses, and have not shown that warrior spirit you want to see from a Notre Dame football team. Subway Domer suggested that we put the team on a blood regimen during the offseason, to give them that killer instinct. I like it.

This team needs to come out on Christmas Eve and play with passion and intensity.

Forget whether we belong in a bowl game after a 6-6 campaign. Forget that this is arguably the lowest bowl game the Irish have ever played in. Forget that we have very litle to play far, as even a win won't get us ranked. Forget the luaus and getting lei'd. None of that matters.

Eo na toa! Eo na toa e! This is battle. You must respond.

There is another ancient battle cry used in Ireland: Tiocfaidh ár lá.

It translates as "our day will come."

It has long been the battle cry of the Irish faithful. The students, alumni, and fans of this University are more passionate and loyal to their football team than any in history. And for too many long years, we have suffered through disappointing season after disappointing season. Disappointing coach after disappointing coach. Disappointing decade after disappointing decade. And through it all we believe our day will come.

This team came to this University, with all their accolades and recruiting rankings, to play for Coach Weis. They put their faith and trust in him to lead them to the promised land. I know they still believe our day will come.

The coaches that have assembled here understand the gravity of their situation. Nothing less than perfection is expected from them. And they have embraced the chalenge. They are working as hard as they can, believing in their heart that our day will come.

I said at the beginning of the season that I thought this season would be the year that the Irish turn the corner and become the team that Coach Weis has been trying to mould them into over the past four years. He has his pieces in place, and this is now a veteran team, loaded with depth and experience. It's a healthy team that is bringing back the best freshman wide receiver in Notre Dame history from injury. We are healthy, and there is no more time for excuses. There are no distractions for Weis to hang his hat on. Swarbrick made it clear that Weis is coming back next season. There is no specter of doubt hanging around his future, no scandal to distract the team. This team can focus on the game.

So, with the vote of confidence by Swarbrick and Jenkins, it is time to put aside our differences and come together as one. We must change our battle cry.

No longer shall it be "Tiocfaidh ár lá." Our day has come.

On gameday we shall adopt the battle cry of our enemy, and use it to destroy them.

Eo na toa! Eo na toa e! This is battle. You must respond.

Irish Blogger Gathering: Merry Christmas Edition

With the Irish heading out to lovely Hawaii for their bowl game this year, I've been tasked with hosting the bowl game edition of the Gathering. In keeping with our destination, this Gathering is Hawaii themed.

For those of you too lazy to google the Hawaiian phrases to figure out what they mean, I'm including the translations in the answers.

Hele mei hoohiwahiwa. There has been some controversy about the Irish accepting a Christmas Eve bowl bid, as we are a Catholic institution, and many feel that the bowl game will get in the way of celebrating Christmas. Give me your thoughts.

Come celebrate!
I like the Christmas Eve game. Christmas Eve is not a holy day of obligation, and the timing of the game will let everyone attend Midnight Mass right after (barring overtime...) Christmas Eve has always been a time of family celebration, and Notre Dame has always been an integral part of my family.

Light a fire, grab some egg nog, hang the stockings by the chimney with care, and then turn on the game. Idyllic.

`Onipa`a. The Notre Dame administration has decided to stand by their man and bring Coach Weis back as head coach next year. What specific changes (a) do you think ought to be made in the offseason? (b) do you think will be made in the offseason?

Remain steadfast.
(a) Hire a proven college offensive coordinator that is given free reign to run the offense and have an open competition at quarterback.
(b) Latina will be the sacrificial lamb, and we'll hire some decent but not great O-line coach (read: another Latina) to replace him. Haywood will be gone, but will either be replaced by another neutered OC that will be given limited control of the offense, or Weis won't even bother hiring a coordinator to replace him. More of the same.

Pupukahi i holomua. What are your expectations for next season?

Unite to move forward.
My expectations for next season are, at minimum, a BCS berth that is at least a very close game if not an outright win. An offense that scores a lot of points. An opportunistic defense that is strong against the pass. A win over USC. Failure at any one of these should result in a quick termination of Weis' contract at season's end.

O ka makapo wale no ka mea hapapa i ka pouli. Also, if we start looking for a new coach next year, who do you think we (a) can get, and (b) would be the best possible hire? (i.e., is all of this Urban Meyer talk hot air or substance?)

Only the blind gropes in the darkness.
My feeling is that Notre Dame could get any coach they truly wanted, if they would sell out to get them. However, I think Notre Dame looks first and foremost for a person that is going to be a good representative of the University. In fact, my sense of every hiring decision ever made by Notre Dame has two steps: (1) put together a list of every coach in the country that would be a good and ethical face for the university (2) pick the one that is the most likely to be successful in the opinion of the university president. My hope is that Swarbrick's hire represents a fundamental change in that philosophy.
(a) Honestly, I don't know. probably another good to middling coach with lots of upside. A guy like Brian Kelly or Mark Dantonio.
(b) I don't like Urban Meyer. I have serious questions about his character and integrity, going back to stories I've heard from when he was an assistant here. But, he has a desire to eventually end up at Notre Dame, a history with the University, a proven track record, is named after a pope, and could bring instant credibility to a long-suffering program. So he would be the best pick on paper.

But I still want Bob Stoops.

`A`ohe lokomaika`i i nele i ke pâna`i. 'Tis the season, so tell me: What is the best gift you are giving someone this holiday season?

No kind deed has ever lacked its reward.
A DVD of White Christmas, a CD of Frank Sinatra's Christmas favorites, a bottle of red wine, a sprig of real mistletoe, and a handwritten letter.

Mahalo nui loa na ho'olaule'a me la kaua. What are your predictions for the game? Will the Irish be celebrating on the long plane ride home, or will this be another long offseason of listening to the chatter about our decades-long bowl losing streak?

Thank you for celebrating with us!
After breaking down the matchups, I think the Irish give their fans what we've been asking Santa for for over a decade. A bowl win. Party at the Te'o house after the game!