Here are tonight's Lucky Charms...

*** In my Lucky Charms post Dec. 10, I wrote that Notre Dame fans need to get familiar with Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith safety Sherrod Covil. He was hoping to get on campus for a self-guided tour in December but couldn't make it and is now planning to get up to South Bend in January. During an interview with Rivals.com over the weekend, Covil mentioned Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Penn State as the schools he's talking the most with.

*** Covil wants to take some visits after the dead period lifts, and the schools mentioned in the last sentence are the schools he wants to get to. I feel that Notre Dame holds the lead at the moment but North Carolina is definitely a school to watch as well. Here's what Covil had to say about Notre Dame: "I love their defense, and I've been in contact with their coaches a lot. They hit me up before their games every Saturday. I like that about them."


*** Here's a name to cross off the 2022 board... I'm told that Caledonia (Minn.) High wide receiver Elijah King is focusing on college basketball and not pursing football. He has offers for both schools but basketball is clearly his bigger priority, and the dead period hasn't helped him take a closer look at Notre Dame and others on the football front. The Irish offered back in the spring, but the Irish weren't in much contact this fall anyways.

*** I put in a FutureCast pick not too long ago for Notre Dame to land Las Vegas Bishop Gorman class of 202 offensive tackle Jake Taylor. Nothing very new at this point, but Taylor is still looking at a time to get up to South Bend in the near future for a self-guided visit. He has been in consistent contact with Irish offensive line coach Jeff Quinn too. Taylor made it to Oklahoma a few weeks back and had a great time in Norman, but Taylor screams "Notre Dame type kid" to me.

Mine is rather stupid... I will watch the game on ESPN Gamecast and watch the little field until we score or lead...It seems to work - unless we are toast form the get-go - then I just watch the score on any ticker I can find.

To be eligible for this award, one must be a senior and excel in the "four C's:" Classroom, community, character and competition.

Here is a background on the award and this year's chosen ones: http://www.seniorclassaward.com/new...s_2020-21_senior_class_award_for_fbs_footbal/

Just thinking out loud here...

Even if an offensive line is great, most defenses can take away the run if they want. We know that puts a lot of pressure on the secondary. ND has enough talent at WR to beat a good/decent team that sells out against the run, but not enough talent at WR and QB to beat a very good/elite team that does that. Should we be resigned to the fact that no matter how good NDs Oline recruiting is, without talent upgrades at WR and QB, we won't be able to beat the very good/elite teams?

This has been an exciting year for ND football -- undefeated season, one of four teams in the playoffs, victory over the top-rated (at the time) team in the country. What could be better?

In reading the message board regularly, there is this enormous cloud hanging over the ND fanbase. It's "one more of those games that don't end well." Or start well. Or middle well.

Nine years ago, an undefeated ND team played Alabama as 9-10 point underdogs. Since that time, the ND program has upgraded coaching, its strength and conditioning, player development, depth in critical areas, etc. The result is now, Notre Dame is perceived to be 19-20 points worse than Alabama. They have gotten better and have lost ground.

We lament the fact that ND keeps losing decisively in big games. Do you think ND is the only team? How much better has Oklahoma been? Yes, you get the one hit wonders like LSU and Florida St., but once their exceptional QB leaves, so does their good fortune. A few others make it once, and move back to oblivion. The vast majority never make it at all.

Because of geography, I've gotten to watch a Buffalo Bills franchise, that for 25 years was mired somewhere between futility and mediocrity, rise to legitimate Super Bowl contention, and not be 19-20 point underdogs if they get there, or anywhere along the way. Strong management makes a huge difference. But, the bigger point that it's possible in the NFL, and not just to do it once, but to be able to sustain it.

Watching college football move toward its annual coronation is increasingly becoming like Groundhog Day, the movie. There's virtually no chance for a Cinderella story, or a program rising from the ashes like the Buffalo Bills. Notre Dame has had three undefeated regular seasons in the past nine years, yet if they were to win an NC, it would literally shock the world. And this won't change. I won't go into the reasons because we talk about it all the time on this board, though some insist on dismissing it and laying the blame at the feet of the administration or the coach. Well, yes, those could improve, but if you think that change at that level will signal the onset of transformational change for Notre Dame, it won't. The point spread differential may move back to 9-10.

I write this, which nobody likes to read or hear, because it's actually, in a perverse way, a suggestion for finding a silver lining. Instead of channeling your inner Eeyore, which many are doing on a daily basis here, accept the fact that the playing field has tilted so far that ND gets a chance to do what over 100 other teams won't this year, and some, never. They can shock the world. If they lose, as expected, even by a large margin, then it's really nothing more than the story playing out as scripted by the system.

I've been alive for four NC's, and consider myself lucky in that regard, and sad for those who haven't experienced even one. At the same time, I've never experienced something absolutely transcendent like the shock-the-world moment we would get with an ND victory over Alabama, let alone the Impossible Dream of an NC.

Sorry, once again, for the length that runs contrary to the message board rules of engagement. But, I wanted to provide an antidote to the malaise that pervades so much of posting these days. Yes, it is very likely that ND will lose by 19-20 points, and what's worse, it's unlikely to change much in future years because the system of college football is putting ND on the wrong side of history. Nonetheless, they have opportunity. They have a shot at providing a magical, transcendent moment that so rarely happens in life, and in this year, of all years, opportunity is a ray of sunshine to be savored. What's the worse that can happen? Exactly what's expected. And the best? It would be truly sublime. I'll take that deal anytime.

Washington cut former Ohio State quarterback and first round draft pick Dwayne Haskins.

Would he be an example of the type of recruit that Notre Dame would not find down their recruiting shopping 'aisle' that Kelly is always talking about?

This is not just for Nd, but your personal preference for whatever offense you would run...

Best wr in the country or the best rb in the country?

A look at how both teams are different than the last meeting, and the big question that comes with understanding that.

If Kelly and Rees decide more of a down the field attack will be needed to compete with Alabama, do we think there could be a package for Johnson, etc.? @Lou Somogyi @Patrick Engel @MikeSinger

I just think it's obvious that we need to let it all hang out against the Tide. Use every weapon. Regardless if its just a few plays to cause some explosion.

Here are tonight's Lucky Charms...

*** Memphis (Tenn.) Christian Brothers class of 2022 running back Dallan Hayden's contact with Notre Dame this fall and winter has been very good. I've been reporting for quite some time now that this recruitment is shaping up to be a Notre Dame-Ohio State battle. His father played at Tennessee, but I don't get the vibe that the Volunteers will land Hayden. The four-star prospect will make a top schools list this week, and Notre Dame is all but guaranteed to make the cut. This isn't expected to be a situation where Hayden cuts it down to 15 schools. Look for Hayden to make his top school group about four or five programs. Hayden hasn't visited South Bend yet but is working on setting a date for a self-guided tour.

*** I outlined in my column Sunday the status of Notre Dame 2022 offensive line recruiting, noting that don't be surprised if more offers go out. Charlestown (Ind.) High's Kiyaunta Goodwin is one of those prospects. An in-state prospect in the surrounding area of Louisville, Ky., Goodwin is ranked as the country's No. 69 overall recruit and holds 54 scholarship offers. Notre Dame is not one of his offers, and I can't really imagine why they're not at this point other than academic reasons. I'm told that Goodwin has legitimate interest in the Irish, so we'll see where it goes from here. Offensive line coach Jeff Quinn has been in contact with Goodwin as of late, and I expect the offer to go out in the near future.

*** Notre Dame signed two Florida-based players in the 2021 class, but Philip Riley and Caleb Johnson hail from Washington and Indiana, respectively. You have to go back to the 2018 class for the last time Notre Dame landed a prospect born in the Sunshine State. Notre Dame isn't involved with many recruits from Florida in the 2022 class, but receivers coach Del Alexander is eyeing Tampa Bay (Fla.) Tech four-star receiver Gregory Gaines. The Irish would have some ground to make up here. Unless Gaines just loves Notre Dame, I would personally focus attention elsewhere.

*** In the 2021 class, Notre Dame's message to Chicago Marist offensive lineman Pat Coogan was that his time to receive an offer from the Irish will come as they took a patient approach to his process. Well, it looks like they're doing the same with Coogan's teammate, class of 2022 offensive lineman Deuce McGuire. Here's what McGuire had to say on offensive coordinator Tommy Rees' pitch to him has been over the past few months.

“He said to stay patient and that my time will come," said McGuire. "They want to come see me in person, but with the dead period, they can’t do that yet. So they want me to stay patient.”

If Notre Dame offers McGuire, I would put in a FutureCast pick in right away.

About to acquire Blake Snell.

Down 21 0 to Ok State after 1st quarter

watched the Ga/Ala game from earlier in the season and definitely feel a lot better about our chances Friday. Ga was up by 4 with 4 min to go in the 3rd q at Alabama. With the tide pinned down at their 10 Waddle ( not playing Friday) takes one to the house for a 90 yd strike. things went downhill form there for ga with Bennet throwing 2 picks ( 3 for the game). My takeaway was with a respectable QB Ga could have easily won that game and the difference in athletes was negligible. I think Book is better then Stetson Bennet and can create problems with his feet. If the o line is as good as advertised they should be able to exceed Ga’s 145 yds on the ground for 4.8 ypc. We should be able to score this is not a vintage Ala. D. Can we slow them down? Waddle being out helps ( he totaled 161 on 6 grabs vs ga.) and losing Dickerson is a plus. I think we can slow them down enough, Ga certainly was until the Waddle score. I’m going with the upset 47-40 ND

The Irish defensive coordinator and newly named Vanderbilt head coach will be available from about 15 minutes, starting around 10:30 a.m.

Our boy Landon Slaggert didn't play a ton -- no shots on goal, managed to get a minus-1 on the night. Thought he might get an energy shift when we crapped the bed in the second period. IIHF doesn't keep time on ice stats.

Overall, a lousy effort from the US. No energy, poor decision-making, lots of guys trying to make pretty plays, power play stunk, we were terrible on faceoffs, and Spencer Knight was garbage.

Am always skeptical of our chances when we're loaded up on BC, BU and Michigan guys. For whatever reason, those guys don't seem to do the little things that lead to wins.

Back at it tonight against Austria. Must win along with the game against the Czechs on Tuesday. Then it's a coin flip against the Swedes on New Year's Eve.

Notre Dame moment coming... ball control and our scrappy defense will fight to the finish. Losing this past weekend was the best thing that could’ve happened.

Nick Saban will attempt to achieve a unique feat versus the Fighting Irish program while also trying to ward off overconfidence from his 20-point favored Crimson Tide squad.
https://notredame.rivals.com/news/notre-dame-alabama-nick-s-knack-rat-poison-

Wrong Brian. You have a lot to prove. Just Embrace it. Admit you have been embarrassed and out hit in these defining games. And that you do not deserve any respect until you play better and tougher.

Brian Kelly is a top 5-10 coach. But his business like approach is not gonna work when your a tier below in talent

Story: https://notredame.rivals.com/news/i...s-listed-on-mel-kiper-s-latest-2021-big-board

DeVonta Smith is an awesome talent. He's going to be tough to stop. I have a feeling that we may have DeVonta Smith clone with Lorenzo Styles. When recruited by Alabama, Smith was the 42nd rated kid in the country with a 6.0 Rivals ranking. He was 6-1, 170 lbs. Styles in August was Rivals' 41st ranked player although he lost some ground and is now rated 51st, though still a 6.0 Rivals ranking. He too is listed at 6-1 170 lbs. Although Styles dropped some since August he had a great senior year. His high school coach has said he's the most talented kid he coached in 33 years. He's explosive. Think we have something to look forward to.

One more post before listing on Stubhub. Section 344. Have three or four.

OSU +1
Colorado +8.5

Max units in the fighting Gundys

Lea wanted to leave no doubt where his mind is at today.