Release from UND.com:

Peter and Pam Trematerra of Singer Island, Florida, have made a gift to the University of Notre Dame to endow the Director of Football Performance position, which is currently held by Matt Balis. Balis’ new title will be the Trematerra Family Director of Football Performance.

The Trematerra Family Director of Football Performance is responsible for many aspects within the program, including strength and conditioning, nutrition and mental wellness. The Trematerra’s gift will help underwrite the salary of the position, provide stability and resources for the long term and create funds for use within the athletics department.

“This role is absolutely vital to the overall success of our program,” Dick Corbett Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman said. “We are thankful to the Trematerras for recognizing how important this position is and for generously providing their support to help us compete at the highest level.”

Balis recently completed his sixth season at Notre Dame. During his time on staff, the Fighting Irish have posted a 63-14 record and made two appearances in the College Football Playoff. Balis has trained and mentored numerous All-Americans and NFL draft picks while at Notre Dame

“It is an honor and a privilege to be the Trematerra Family Director of Football Performance at the University of Notre Dame,” Balis said. “I am very grateful to Peter and Pam for their support and for providing us with the necessary resources to win a national championship.”

The Trematerras are longtime supporters of Notre Dame, and their daughter, Lindsey, is a 2022 graduate of the Notre Dame Law School. Among their many associations with the University, the Trematerras are members of the Badin Guild and the Athletics Director’s Circle. Peter Trematerra is the owner-developer of Trematerra Custom Homes. The company was founded in 2013 and has completed projects near the Notre Dame campus.

“We are thrilled to recognize the incredible importance this position has within the Notre Dame Football program,” said the Trematerras. “It also highlights the tremendous impact Coach Balis has on the student-athletes he develops into better football players and individuals. We are incredibly excited about the future of the program, and we hope that endowing this position will help the team achieve excellence in the many years to come.”

Did you hear that sound? It's the game thread's walkout music!

Let's use this thread for all primary discussion of today's Blue-Gold Game. I hope you're watching along on Peacock at 2 p.m. EDT or listening to @Eric Hansen on the radio.

As usual, here are our game thread rules:

And some game thread rules:

1. Use this thread until the end of the game for ongoing game commentary. We'd like to keep the conversation in one place. If something from the game merits a separate conversation of substance, go ahead and start another thread for that topic. When in doubt, post in the game thread.

2. Criticism of decision-making by coaches and players will be allowed. But avoid making it personal. Don't be malicious. Remember, that person's mother could be reading your post. If you cross the line, you'll lose posting privileges for the day.

3. Don't be a doofus. Have some respect for your fellow subscribers.

Had the XFL on for a little bit yesterday while listening to Eric's commentary while streaming the BG Game and Coan looked pretty good.

Finished 25/31 302 and a TD with no pics. Granted a lot of screens and other high percentage passes but good to see the kid playing at the next level.


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Freshman wide receiver Jaden Greathouse made wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey sound prescient with his Blue-Gold Game performance.

No. 1 Notre Dame forced 13 turnovers and Liam Entenmann amassed a season-high 16 saves as the Irish smothered visiting North Carolina, 16-9, in men’s lacrosse on Saturday at Arlotta Stadium in the team’s final regular-season home game.

Eric Dobson was one of five players with multiple goals for the Irish (9-1, 3-1 ACC). His three goals gave him a hat trick in three straight games and for the sixth time this season. Chris Kavanagh, Jake Taylor, Colin Hagstrom and Griffin Westlin scored two goals apiece. Pat Kavanagh had a goal and three assists.

Fifteenth-ranked North Carolina falls to 7-6 overall and 1-4 in the ACC. The Irish visit No. 3 Virginia next Saturday.

Freshman second baseman Estevan Moreno hit three of Notre Dame’s six home runs as the host Irish overpowered one of the nation’s top offensive teams, No. 8 Virginia, 10-7 on Friday evening in the first of a three-game ACC baseball series at Eck Stadium.

The Cavaliers also are one of the nation’s best pitching teams, ranking fourth nationally with a 3.27 ERA coming in.

Moreno’s home runs were all solo shots, and they doubled his season/career total to six. Jack Penney hit his team-leading eighth, junior Brady Gumpf the second of his career and first this season, and sophomore DM Jefferson the first of his career.

DH Vinny Martinez went 3-for-4 and had an RBI for the Irish (21-15, 9-10 ACC).

ACC Coastal Division leader Virginia (32-7, 12-7) came in leading the nation in batting average (.342) and doubles per game (2.82), and ranked fifth in both on-base percentage (.411) and scoring (9.6).

Lefty Aidan Tyrell (7-1) was making his first start of the season after 10 mostly multiple-inning relief appearances. The Cavaliers put a four spot on him in the top of the fourth inning to take a 5-1 lead.

The Irish answered with Jefferson’s two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth, Moreno’s first homer of the game along with run-scoring hits from Carter Putz and Martinez in the fifth, and Moreno’s second bomb in the sixth to surge ahead 7-5.

Tyrell left after the sixth, having given up five runs on seven hits with a walk and eight strikeouts against a team with five of the ACC’s top nine hitters. He’s now tied for second in the ACC in pitching wins (7).

Three of those five Cavs hitting stars — Virginia’s 3-4-5 hitters — combined to go 0-for-13 with six strikeouts against Tyrell and Radek Birkholz, the latter of whom finished the final three innings.

The Cavs cut the Irish lead to 7-6 in the top of the eighth, but Gumpf hit his two-run homer and Moreno his third solo shot of the game in the bottom of the frame to give Birkholz some breathing room in the top of the ninth.

The two teams are set to meet at 3 p.m. EST on Saturday at Eck Stadium.

BOX SCORE

Following the Blue-Gold Game, visiting recruits from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes share their thoughts on the game and more with Inside ND Sports.

2025 TE target James Flanigan

“It was an awesome experience," Flanigan said. "[During] this visit I got to meet some other recruits and a lot of alumni, and they all had great things to say. Seeing the team in action in a semi game setting was also really exciting, I liked the explosive plays on the gold team's offense and how they moved the ball."

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Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman showed his promise in a easy 24-0 victory for Gold over Blue.

Quick postgame story. More to come.

I do not have a Lou Somogyi-like knowledge of ND football, nor can I relate old stories of the "good days" like OIdbender used to. Still, I've been around a long time - first game in person was 1972, but remember crying when USC won in 1964...Dad and Grandpa were crying too. So, having seen a lot of football history, the Styles-to-the-portal thing just made me snap.

QUICK history of the Canadian Football League, of which I am a Somogyi/Oldbender savant. American players started coming up to play in the CFL in the late 1930's and by the 50's, they were coming up in droves, and the CFL was outbidding the NFL for players (Johnny Bright from Drake, Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessels from Oklahoma). Lots of Domers made their way to Canada. and many stayed. Names like Bronko Nagurski, Angelo Mosca and Joe Theismann were stars in the CFL, and by-and-large stayed with the same teams as long as hey were here...in fact the league passed a rule labeling American players as Canadian if they played for the same team in Canada for more than five years (only so many American players are allowed on a roster). Unfortunately for the CFL, the NFL became the monster it is, and we are no longer able to compete...so we sign players that fit our game and it's as, or more entertaining, than the NFL.

Here's where my warning comes in: So many players wanted to be able to get out of contracts quickly and easily in case an NFL opp came along that more and more, CFL players are signing one-year contracts with no option year...and staying with one team for a year at a time, and then signing with someone else next year...NOW, you DO need a scorecard to recognize your own team because free agency is so endemic to the business. THIS is what is happening with college football now. There is no stability to rosters and inevitably, all the best players will end up with the schools that are nothing more than AAA-franchises for the NFL. What has happened up here is that people are losing interest in the league, a league that is older than the NFL by 20 years. Fans no longer have a cheering interest for the best players because, this year they play for you, next year against you. My Hamilton Tiger-Cats lost over a dozen players from last year, signing an equal number in free agency, and most of them are signed for one year...I bought season's tickets this year because the Grey Cup is in Hamilton, but this will be the last year...and my family has had them since 1944.

Styles will end up at tOSU or 'Bama or USC, where he can make the most money and I wouldn't bet against him transferring again as a grad student for an even bigger NIL package. Meantime, all of the discussion about who else is entering the portal just adds to this sense that players are not representing their school/the old alma mater, but simply looking for a place to earn the most money they can in the shortest amount of time they can...this is no longer the sport I grew up loving and following for 60 years...it's minor-pro, divorced of the educational component, and of little interest anymore.

As for Notre Dame fans, yes, the administration is shockingly lacking in ambition for Our Lady's university...geez, they'll be happy being a Top-25 American and Top-200 global institute of higher education...guess that's gonna have to do 'cause these guys will NEVER become minor-league franchises for the NFL.

Former Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush, Chief Athletic Officer for MOGL, discusses his NIL platform's new collaboration with NBC Sports, how MOGL is working to do what it believes NIL was intended for, where MOGL has seen success for athletes, what's next for MOGL, the appetite for NIL around Notre Dame, being on campus for Legacy Weekend, how special his 2018 start against Florida State was and more.

Then @Eric Hansen and I answer questions from Twitter and The Insider Lounge (24:24).

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Just bumping the feedback that they make the board worse to read. Any chance this can be reevaluated?

Have I missed any updates on where ND stands in Wingo’s recruitment? Are we still in the mix or are we fading?

I'll see you around noon.

Update: This.

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Notre Dame landed its first commitment of the 2025 recruiting class Friday evening.

2025 four-star defensive tackle Davion Dixon announced his verbal commitment to the Irish. He's currently visiting Notre Dame for the Blue-Gold Game Saturday.

Rivals ranks Dixon as the No. 10 defensive tackle in the 2025 class. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound defender attends Miami (Fla.) Belen Jesuit Prep. As a sophomore, he recorded 70 tackles and 10.5 sacks.

Dixon chose Notre Dame over offers including Florida, Florida State, Nebraska, Penn State and others.

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Here it is. Thoughts?



The Shirt should always be green, in my opinion.

You can buy it at the link below. Just don't fall for buying the 2021 version.

Thanks to all who submitted questions for me and @Eric Hansen on our latest podcast. These are the questions we answered with timestamps.

24:29 | @MikeDevoy1: Styles move to the portal was kind of a surprise. Does this place more urgency on recruiting a safety, i.e. reducing the depth at CB makes it harder to move a backup CB to safety?

28:59 | Marie Biafore - @biafore_marie: Can each of you predict one player on offense, and one player on defense who is most likely to surprise everyone this weekend?

31:40 | @CharlesWWolfe: Keeping in mind spring games are just a snapshot, can you fill in the blank? “If I see ____ in the Blue-Gold Game, I will feel a little better about the fall.” (Please answer for offense and defense)

34:30 | Nathan Reynolds - @Enforcers2117: Are you surprised that only Caleb Johnson has/had entered the transfer portal.. do you think more will and when? And if so, what are they waiting for?

36:47 | @DStuart742 (TIL): What's the latest with Olivia Miles? You said she recently had surgery but not her timetable to return for the beginning of the season might be delayed. Why are they keeping this hush, hush? Any word on a big transfer?

42:40 | Rico Benes - @mikeeb95: What was your favorite year of The Shirt?

Notre Dame announced Friday the addition of Mike Farrelly as an assistant men's basketball coach under head coach Micah Shrewsberry.

Farrelly was on Shrewsberry's staff at Penn State the past two seasons.

“My family and I are thrilled to come to South Bend and become part of the Notre Dame community," Farrelly said in a statement released by the university. "Working for Coach Shrewsberry for the last two years has been unbelievably rewarding and I am really excited to help him continue to build on the great tradition of Notre Dame basketball. Notre Dame is a special place and I can’t wait to get started."

Before joining Shrewsberry at Penn State, Farrelly coached at Hofstra for eight seasons including a stretch as the acting head coach during the 2020-21 season. Farrelly also coached at Niagara and Mount Saint Mary's. He played for Phil Martelli at St. Joseph's and graduated in 2003.

“Mike was a big part of the success that we were able to have at Penn State,” Shrewsberry said in a released statement. “Mike’s energy and drive are unmatched. One of Mike’s greatest strengths lies in his ability to build relationships and connect both with his current players and recruits. I know Mike will be a great leader and great addition to our program. We are happy to welcome Mike, Gina, MJ, and Ryan Farrelly to the Notre Dame family.”

Sounds like Lorenzo is in the portal.😐

Friday
2024 LB target Chris Cole (3*)

Friday-Saturday
2024 S target Davis Andrews (3*)
2024 S target Justin Denson (3*)
2024 WR target Micah Gilbert (4*)
2024 DL target TJ Lindsey (4*)
2024 S target Oliver Miles III (unrated)
2024 DE target Bryce Young (4*)
2025 DT target Davion Dixon (4*)
2025 DE target Gus Ritchey (4*)
2025 LB target Anthony Sacca (4*)

Saturday
2024 OL target Grant Brix (4*)
2024 WR target Isiah Canion (unrated)
2024 LB target Bodie Kahoun (4*)
2024 OL target Styles Prescod (3*)
2024 LB target Kyngstonn Viliamu Asa (4*)
2024 DE target Mylachi Williams (4*)
2025 WR target Jerome Bettis Jr. (unrated)
2025 DE target Brandon Caesar (unrated)
2025 TE target James Flanigan (unrated)
2025 OL target Avery Gach (4*)
2025 CB target Dallas Golden (unrated)
2025 WR target Taz Williams Jr. (4*)

Guys that have been removed: 2024 LB target Brian Huff, 2024 DE target Benedict Umeh, 2025 LB target Kelvion Riggins and 2025 LB target Abduall Sanders.

We're working on confirming more names of recruits planning to attend Saturday's Blue-Gold Game. We'll include names we haven't reported previously in this thread. As always, you can find our updated and confirmed list in the running visitors list thread.

Targets

2024 S Justin Denson

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2024 OL Styles Prescod

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2024 DL TJ Lindsey

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2025 DE Gus Ritchey

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Commits

2024 RB Aneyas Williams

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2024 WR Cam Williams

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Prospects

2026 CB Demari Clemons

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2026 LB Colsen Gatten

Good luck putting a ceiling on Tobias Merriweather. After a freshman season derailed by serious concussion symptoms, he's back stretching defenses and becoming a more complete wide receiver.