Nevada!!!!

NEVADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

35-0.. what a start. I did not at all expect a shutout opener for Notre Dame. Not. At. All. Notre Dame has surprised me... as in a surprise like last years Syracuse game, which all of us know, was a monstrosity of a game. Notre Dame suprised me in so many different ways. I decided to put everything I noticed in list format to make it easier for readers. You're Welcome.

Key Stats:

Jimmy Clausen-15/18 315 yards 4 touchdowns. This was Jimmy's second-ranked best start, next to last years Hawaii game. Jimmy is on a roll. He seems to have finally found the swagger and confidence he had coming out of that stretch limo on the day he announced his commitment to Notre Dame. And, I love it. He looks like the best quarterback Notre Dame has ever had. But then again, this is Nevada, college football's 119th ranked passing defense last season. But still, 315 yards on 18 passes?

Michael Floyd- 189 yards, 3 touchdowns, 4 catches, 47.3 yard per catch average.. yes 47.3... Much of Jimmy's statiscal success should be granted to, the beast, Michael Floyd. He turned a short pass into a 70 yard touchdown, and an underthrown pass into an 88 yard touchdown. Conclusion, Michael Floyd is a manchild.

Notre Dame Rushing: 178 yards rushing, 4.3 yard rushing average. Notre Dame's rushing attack came as a pleasant suprise to many during the game. On third, even fourth and short, fans last season would groan because of the stagnant ground game. But to much avail, Notre Dame's line seems to be blocking a lot better, and average 4.3 yards per carry against a 6th ranked Nevada rushing defense (1 behind USCum). Last year Notre Dame had a 3.27 yard per carry average. Charlie Weis stressed the importance of having a great rushing game to compete in the BCS and proved it Saturday with an impressive 4.3 yard per carry average.

Worth to mention:

-The O-line looked very dominant against Nevada Saturday. Clausen was only hit twice and did not get sacked once versus against a Nevada defense which ranked 11th in the nation in sacks last year. Also, the O-line seemed to provide more gaping holes for Armando to scamper through and blocked well on screens (a favorite of Weis).

-Michael Floyd is a beast. And the best part, he's only a sophmore. He was throwing around Nevada corners all day long and Nevada just looked overmatched against him. I cannot wait to seem him progress throughout the season. Heisman Watch?

-Armando Allen hit the holes well Saturday and rushed for an impressive 4.8 yards per carry, but he still seems to lack that home-run, well, run of course. It looks like he's gonna take it to the house, but then there always seems to be that one tackle he could've broken. Nevada's rushing defense is good, but Notre Dame fans are still waiting for that long touchdown from Allen.

-Nevada rushed the ball tremendously against us. It seemed as though there were huge holes for the Wolfpack runners and if it wasn't for a few fumbles, interceptions, and a missed field goal, Nevada could have made the game more interesting.

-Nevada's wide receivers seemed to always be wide open. If it wasn't for there many drops, they might have made the game a lot closer.

-Overall on defense, we seemed to get pressure on Kaepernick, and maybe if it wasn't for his quick feet, we might have had a few more sacks, but there seemed to be a lot of running room and a lot of room to catch the ball. I think it was the Pistol that really got Notre Dame like it did to many teams last year. Notre Dame, in my opinion, got lucky with some fumbles and other mistakes, but really didn't deserve the shutout.

-Notre Dame looks like a team. Jimmy Clausen was running up and down the sideline pumping up and congratulating players like Quinn did in 06'. It looked great. He seemed happier and more relaxed than the Jimmy Clausen in previous years and as a leader, he has much improved and has taken the necessary steps to become Notre Dame's Golden Boy.

-Brian Smith looks like the heart of the Defense, which I absolutely love (see picture above) Two sacks on a tricky Kaepernick, enough said.

-Toryan Smith looks like a beast. I dont know if its Teo who's pushed Smith or if he just really is that good, but on that fourth and inches he looked scary good. I am so excited.

-Theo Riddick did not look like a freshmen. He looks like he has great potential and he seems like he has great home-run ability returning kicks. And as a running back, he looked tremendous. And plus, that jump was sick. He is definately a suprise of the 09 recruiting class, and to be honest I thought Cierre would see more time.

-Manti Teo looks like a beast. On his first tackle he showed off some tremendous speed tracking down Colin. And in the fourth quarter, some of those hits were just unbelievable. The crowd went nuts everytime he hit someone. He looks absolutely huge as a freshmen and I cannot wait to see him on the field more often.

-Although ND looked great and National Championship worthy, there are still so many questions that will be answered next week. Can Notre Dame kill a non-Wac team?? Seriously what is wrong with the WAC? Notre Dame has their number.. Can Jimmy Clausen keep the streak going. I hope so, he looks amazing. Can we play better defense against a good Michigan offense? Can we pass as well against a better pass defense? I am so excited for next week and this upcoming year. I cannot wait. GO ND!

The Real Deal

I can't seem to grasp why freshmen phenom Manti Teo sticks out so much. Between the new visor, practice jersey, the golden dome, or his large 6 foot 2 244 lb stature, its hard to tell what actually sets him apart from other freshmen. To me, it's a combination of fearlessness and swagger that makes his helmet seem more golden than all the others. Manti doesn't have the freshmen nerve, the face that shows fear and nervousness, a deer in the headlights look, that all the others have. He tackles any opposition and any goal that lays in front of him (pun intended) without any timidness. Apart from all this, Teo entered practice at an astonishing 244 pounds, tied for second with Toryan Smith for the largest linebacker. He is already physically ready to start, a feat which hardly any player conquers their first year, ie Jimmy Clausen. He stands toe to toe with starting WILL linebacker Brian Smith on the depth chart, and will likely end up with a starting spot by the end of practice. Not only his he physically ready to play, but it seems as though he has already grasped the feel of the college game. "Zeke, you went the wrong way bro" says Teo. Not only is this a sign of leadership, but a sign of nerve, something we as Irish fans should be ecstatic for. I strongly believe the Teo will not only start, but he will also contribute significantly to the 2009 campaign. Manti Teo is The Real Deal.

Opponent Preview: Nevada

Opponent Preview: NEVADA!

This game has more importance in it then many Irish fans may believe... This isn't just any "cupcake" team, and even if it was, just look at what happened with San Diego State last year.. Whatever the case, this game should not be taken lightly.

The Nevada Wolf Pack went 7-6 in 2008, identical to Notre Dame's record, but went defeated against ranked teams, also identical to the Irish. Also like the Irish, Nevada did not really have a significant win which defined their season, but instead many significant losses.

So what sets apart Notre Dame from Nevada? Well, Nevada has one of the best running defenses in college football; ranked at #6 in the nation, one behind USC. But negating that stellar run defense is Nevada's pass defense, which is the worst in college football, which may foreshadow a great day for Jimmy and company come September 5th.

Nick Montana verbally commits to Washington

Nick Montana commits to Washington

Nick Montana, son of former Notre Dame legend, Joe Montana verbally committed to Washington today, further diminishing the list of quarterback recruits the Irish were hoping to obtain.

I'm not going to lie, this one is a killer... Not only did he halt the family tradition at Notre Dame, but he went to, but he went to a former USC coach team.. At 6-2 177, he isn't the most physically-gifted quarterback among this year's recruits, and could definitely use some work in the weight room. Though, scouts say he has many intangibles, much like his father had. Intangibles which, like every Irish fan knows, could help him become a legend at Washington.

At Washington, Nick not only has a great opportunity to become a great player, but also has a tremendous opportunity to become a legendary college quarterback. Steve Sarkisian, head coach of the Washington Huskies, is a great quarterback coach: having coached USC great's Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Mark Sanchez, and Nick apparently wishes to join that list. Nick has a great chance at Washington to become the foundation of a faltering program. This is exactly what the Huskies needed to do to get back on the right track, and Nick is a great fit for their style of play.

The impact of Nick's commitment are huge to Notre Dame, who badly need to recruit a quarterback, after missing out on one last year. Jimmy Clausen, who attended the same high school as Nick did, signed in 2007. Dayne Crist, Notre Dame's next quarterback, signed in 2008 and was redshirted, which allows him to have 2 years of eligibility if Clausen chooses to play his senior year. A quarterback for this year's recruiting class is absolutely top priority for the Irish. If they do not obtain a quarterback this year, they will have to start an inexperienced freshman, and it will be 2007 all over again.. That is why Nick's verbal is crucial to Irish future success.

List of Quarterback's offered by the Irish that are left:

-Andrew Hendrix: almost committed to Notre Dame during unofficial visit, which is great news.
-Pete Thomas
-Luke Massa
-Kyle Smith

Armando Allen

Armando Allen

Armando Allen is easily top amongst my favorite Irish players, definitely my favorite offensive player. He reminds me of former Irish running back, Darius Walker. His body frame is much like Walker's (5-10 190lbs vs. 5-11 200lbs), and they both led the team in all purpose running during their freshmen and sophomore years respectfully. As a player, Armando shares the versatility that Walker did at Notre Dame. Armando can do it all: he can return it to the house, he can run it to the house, and he can snag a grab in the house. What makes all of this possible is Allen's blazing speed. He ran a 4.30 in high school, which is much faster than Walker's 4.45 forty time. With all of his versatility and speed, it seems that Armando has underperformed despite leading the Irish in all purpose yards in 2008.

I believe that the leading cause of Armando's running woes and the Irish overall rushing woes have been the offensive line. It all begins in the trenches, and that is why I believe the addition of Frank Verducci as offensive line coach will exceedingly improve the offensive line, which in turn will improve the running game. The offensive line the past two years haven't developed large enough holes for Irish running backs, but especially Armando Allen to showcase their speed. When the line did open up holes, they closed rapidly, which, combined with Armando Allen's lack of confidence and experience, was a recipe for negative yardage. Along with under confidence and a just awful line, Allen also suffered a leg injury during his senior year in high school. Although his injuries had no affect on his running abilities entering his freshmen year, they definitely left him second guessing on whether or not to hit a hastily-closing hole.

In 2009, I predict Allen will rush for over 1000 yards and yet again lead the Irish for all purpose yards. He will overcome his fear of being injured again, which I believe hindered his confidence in the past. He displayed more confidence in the 80th annual Blue Gold game than he has ever shown, which gives me reason to believe Allen will become Notre Dame's next 1000 runner, answering any fan's question about the Irish rushing attack.

English Essay

In my Junior year English class, we had to write an essay about first experiences. I chose to write about the Irish. Please feel free to comment and critique my essay, but keep in mind I only had 30 minutes to write it. Thanks! GO IRISH!

The dull roar of the crowds overwhelms my thoughts about this game. The excessively long grass to slow the speedy USC players, the pale green jerseys to honor the former greats, the “Bush Push,” the shamrock green crowd, Touchdown Jesus, everything now seems a blur to me; too quick for me to remember or recall. But nevertheless, this game left an everlasting footprint in my mind, soul, and heart. Despite one of the toughest loses I have ever endured. Despite countless hours of gnawing at my shirt, causing what it seemed to be an enormous glob of sweat, but in fact was merely nervous drool as a consequence of rooting for the “underdogs.” The “Fighting Irish”: I still don’t know why I picked who I did. I could’ve gone with the safe bet; the USC Trojans were picked by almost every analyst. But, I think it is just in my nature to pick the underdog. Just like USC, the Irish stayed faithful to their nickname. The “Fighting Irish” did fight, they fought until the last seconds of the game, and like the Irish, USC held to their name. Quite controversially, might I add, the USC Trojans snuck by the Irish gate in a Trojan horse, but only one man got by. The loss showed me so many things of which I had never realized. The Irish gave me something priceless, something nothing else could have given me: Passion. The chants, the awes, the boos, the cheers, every Irish fan showed a passion unlike any other fanatic. The Irish fans were truly fanatics, and fulfilled every definition of the word. Passion, honor, excellence, academics, all are a part of the Notre Dame tradition, which transpired into me on that Saturday in October. I am lucky, proud, and truly honored to have experienced this magical and memorable event in my life and I now am proud to bleed blue and gold.

Jimmy Clausen #7

So really, who is this mysterious Jimmy character? Masked behind the image of an arrogant Californian kid, I dont think anyone has seen the real Jimmy behind the mask. The only thing we do know is that he has yet to live up to his hype... The famed Jimmy Clausen arrived in South Bend at the College Hall of Fame to commit to Notre Dame. His arrogance was highlighted not only by the limo that he arrived in, but also by his ridiculous hair style... Guaranteeing four national championships, Clausen called attention to Notre Dame, and after a 3-9 record, Clausen was criticized more than Charlie Weis. He was the #1 football recruit coming out of high school in 2006 and has since disappeared behind the scrutiny thrown at him by the media, fans, and foes alike.

As a freshmen, Clausen was thrown to the dogs three games into his Irish career. Looking like a baby among adults, Clausen was sacked a record 58 times.. His 2007 year was summarized by a flaky line followed by a horde of opponents chasing after the freshman... Not the sort of year expected as the #1 recruit.. and 2008 wasn't much different.

After scraping by San Diego State, a so called "cupcake" team, to start off the 2008 National Championship campaign, Notre Dame looked anything but Championship bound. The rest of the 2008 season did nothing but darken Jimmy's identity. After throwing for 383 yards against #22 ranked North Carolina in a heart-wrenching loss, Jimmy then threw for only 202 yards and 1 pick against a winless Washington... WASHINGTON? Jimmy only continued to beffudle me.. after overthrowing a wide open Michael Floyd in the end zone, which would have sealed an overtime victory against a formidable opponent (Pittsburgh), Clausen threw four picks and was shut out by Boston College... To make matter worse, needing a win against a God-awful Syracuse to bolster the already disintegrating fan loyalty, Clausen and company instead choked in front of Manti Teo, a highly sought after recruit and the rest of the Irish faithful.. like a slap to the face of God himself, Jimmy only continued Irish woes by throwing for 40, yes 40!!!!!! yards versus #5 USC. As if 40 yards wasn't bad enough, it was against hated USC scum... oh what I would do for a win against USC.... but nevertheless, the Irish went 6-6, even though they were predicted to win double digit games at the beginning of the year... headed into the Hawaii Bowl, no one knew what to expect..

The Irish could either A. continue the Irish tradition of losing bowl games, or B. Win the game on Christmas eve, and give every Irish fan the greatest Christmas present of all.. a bowl win! Clausen chose B. What a smart cookie. Clausen displayed brilliance on that Christmas eve, brilliance that even the Grinch couldn't help but notice. Clausen threw for an astounding 400 yards with 5 touchdowns. Clausen was flawless.. literally. The only incompletions he had were the receiver's fault, not his. I don't think I have ever seen such a display of talent out of a Notre Dame quarterback. It was almost as though the Gods had shown Jimmy the light, and blessed him with half God- half Tim Tebow like abilities. Now this was Jimmy's true identity. This blonde-haired, arrogant Cali boy, with a smile stretching from South Bend to Hawaii, was the true Jimmy Clausen. I couldn't blame him though, I too was smiling. But then I realized, this was Hawaii, the same Hawaii which had the 79th ranked passing defense in 2008. So was it Clausen's gun that stomped on Hawaii's Christmas cheer that day? or was it just an awful Hawaii team? I don't know, and I really don't think anyone knows. No one will truly know who Jimmy Clausen is until the next season unfolds. Will he be the next Golden Boy, a shining star in the center of college football highlights? Or will he be Mr. Hyde, tossing picks left and right, leading the Irish into their certain deaths? Although my patience is running dear, I will have to hold my opinion on Clausen until September 5, 2009. After then, let the judging begin..