You've been named the sitting chair of a bizarro CFP committee that is out to determine a top four of Brian Kelly's best Notre Dame teams. Taking into account their strength of record, eye test, and style of play which years would make the semifinals. Mine are as follows, with the points that separated each team from the one immediately below them:

1) 2020 - Owns the best win and is the most balanced team on the list
2) 2012 - Only team to reach a #1 ranking, beat the most ranked opponents at the time of the game
3) 2018 - The only weakness was an inexperienced (as opposed to the other squads) quarterback and OL, strong defensive playmakers
4) 2015 - Arguably the best offense of Brian Kelly's tenure, three top 10 picks on the OL, two close losses on the road
--
5) 2019 - Fantastic defense, inconsistent offense without as many offensive threats, blown out by Michigan
6) 2017 - Played the best stretch of games against ranked teams of BK's tenure but lost 3 games including the blowout at Miami

Discuss.

I know it's early but in their first few games both are proving to be scoring machines. Wesley is averaging 32 points a game while Konieczny is averaging 35 points, including one 40 plus game. Has anyone seen them play?

Paying student-athletes, the one-time transfer rule and confederating sports are among the talking points the Fighting Irish AD addresses with candor.
https://notredame.rivals.com/news/notre-dame-s-jack-swarbrick-speaks-frankly-about-prime-ncaa-topics

I haven't seen anyone bring this up, sorry if I missed it. We discuss many coaches potential departures
But the OL seems to be doing very well, I would think there may be a desire to keep Quinn around as his linemen seem to be playing well, and recruiting is working for him too.
Thanks

Apologize in advance if this is posted already but, do we have an idea of who the early enrollees will be come this January?

So the replica jerseys that were available from the different fan sites selling merchandise were #12. Does Ian Book get any proceeds from the sale of his #12? Was curious if the NCAA decision had actually been implemented or if it was still in litigation?
Thanks

BlueandGold.com's Mike Singer gives his thoughts on two Notre Dame commitments in the 2021 recruiting class who are being overlooked and forgotten about.

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NOTRE DAME, Indiana -- University of Notre Dame graduate student quarterback Ian Book and senior offensive lineman Robert Hainsey have been chosen as finalists for the 2020 Senior CLASS Award. The two-time team captains join a group of 10 total finalists from across the FBS, and Notre Dame is the only institution with multiple finalists.

The award honors achievements and excellence in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The winner will be selected by a combination of votes from Division I head coaches, media members and fans. Fans can visit http://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/ to participate.

Ian Book
Ian Book has led the Irish to a perfect 10-0 record in 2020, becoming the all-time winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history. He boasts a 30-3 (.909) record as a starter, and Book is one of just two FBS quarterbacks with a win rate above .900. He has completed 181 passes for 2,382 yards and 15 touchdowns, with just two interceptions, in 2020, and has rushed for 465 yards and eight touchdowns on the season.

Book, a rare two-time team captain, capped the longest streak of passing attempts without an interception in program history at 266 (beginning mid-Game One vs. Duke and ending mid-Game 10 vs. Syracuse), which was the longest-active streak in the FBS. With eight rushing TDs in 2020, he ranks third among all Power 5 quarterbacks in season rushing touchdowns.

The graduate student has garnered a number of national accolades this season. He has been named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien Award, and a finalist for the Pop Warner College Football Award. Book was named Manning Award Quarterback of the Week vs. Syracuse, and has been named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 list four times, as well as being selected to the Top 10 for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Book also earned ACC Quarterback of the week following the Pitt game and Manning Award Star of the week following the Boston College game.

Robert Hainsey
Senior Robert Hainsey owns 32-career starts as part of an offensive line that has produced the second-ranked rushing attack in the ACC (235.0 yards/game).

Playing for an offense that ranks third in the ACC in total offense (474.4 yards/game), Hainsey and the Irish boast the best third-down conversion rate in the ACC at 51.8 percent, which ranks 10th in the FBS. Notre Dame boasts the second-highest first down total in the ACC (249), which ranks seventh among all FBS teams.

The Irish lead the conference (and rank sixth nationally) in time of possession, averaging 34:09 per game, more than two minutes ahead of the next ACC mark. The Irish have won the time of possession battle in nine of 10 games this season, and have controlled the ball for at least 36 minutes in three games.

Notre Dame is one of just six Power 5 teams to post three or more performances of at least 36:15 or more possession time this season.

Notre Dame’s starting offensive line boasts 153-career starts between the five veterans (Eichenberg, Banks, Patterson, Kraemer, Hainsey), the fourth-most in the FBS.

Hainsey is a rare two-time team captain, and was selected as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. He was named ACC co-Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance vs. South Florida, and was selected to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Top 250.

Ok, this might be a little long and confusing but makes sense in my head.

A

an average dl with a hole (maybe 1 DT is weak link) with an all American DE pass rusher

OR

B

Above average dL with no deficiencies but no studs

ND finished 2nd in his recruitment. He's really good. ND needs cb's next year

NOTRE DAME, Indiana -- Notre Dame graduate student quarterback Ian Book has been named a finalist for the 2020 Pop Warner National College Football Award. The team captain is one of six finalists from across the FBS.

Book has led the Irish to a perfect 10-0 record in 2020, becoming the all-time winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history. He boasts a 30-3 (.909) record as a starter, and Book is one of just two FBS quarterbacks with a win rate above .900. He has completed 181 passes for 2,382 yards and 15 touchdowns, with just two interceptions, in 2020, and has rushed for 465 yards and eight touchdowns on the season.

Book, a rare two-time team captain, capped the longest streak of passing attempts without an interception in program history at 266 (beginning mid-Game One vs. Duke and ending mid-Game 10 vs. Syracuse), which was the longest-active streak in the FBS. With eight rushing TDs in 2020, he ranks third among all Power 5 quarterbacks in season rushing touchdowns.

The graduate student has garnered a number of national accolades this season. He has been named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien Award. Book was named Manning Award Quarterback of the Week vs. Syracuse, and has been named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 list four times, as well as being selected to the Top 10 for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Book also earned ACC Quarterback of the week following the Pitt game and Manning Award Star of the week following the Boston College game.

The passing game problems not all Book. The main issue is the why are we not building off the running game by passing on first downs. Why are we not throwing the ball to the perimeter bubble a screens, slants, outs, and arrow routes? Those throws will help Book and the wrs get a comfort zone. Where are the bootlegs that get Book on the perimeter? Why are we not running more crossing routes off the play action? These are the things that will fix the passing game.

This video and especially EJ Holland describe 5 top recruits who may flip - get some pop corn and watch

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Just released on Draftkings.

A preview of tomorrow:

Watch thru till the end, you'll enjoy it!

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Last time his team sucked he had back issues.

In the shadows of many greats during the run to the 1977 national title, "Kritter" remains the school's fourth all-time leader in tackles and overcame some dark days in the 1980s before passing away this month from cancer.
https://notredame.rivals.com/news/remembering-notre-dame-s-steve-heimkreiter

He is in the portal. Is there any interest from ND? He was a 4* safety recruit in 2018, commited to FSU, and now wants out.

Just posted a video with my thoughts on this commitment with his sophomore tape included.

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- Notre Dame safeties coach Terry Joseph has been in contact recently with Florida State graduate transfer safety Jaiden Woodbey. The 6-1, 225-pounder was a freshman All-American in 2018, played in four games before suffering a season-ending injury in 2019 and played in eight games this season before deciding to opt out of the rest of the season and enter the transfer portal. Woodbey will leave Florida State with his bachelors and should have three years of eligibility remaining.

- The Irish staff doesn't typically dive too deep into the regular transfer market as those players are typically very difficult to get into Notre Dame, but the graduate transfer market is much better for them as we've seen in recent years. Woodbey entered the transfer portal Dec. 2 so this is still pretty new, and the Irish's contact with him is in its early stages. Washington is among the other schools in pursuit of Woodbey.

- I was working late last night and I got a notification on my phone that Notre Dame CB target Ceyair Wright went live on his Instagram page. So I pulled it up and watched for a minute, and he threw on a Notre Dame hat and said that it's the only hat he owns. Whether or not this is something, I don't know. But it can't be bad that he picked up a nifty Notre Dame hat likely from the bookstore while he was on campus this past weekend.

- Oxnard (Calif.) Pacifica defensive end Devin Aupiu flipped from UCLA to Notre Dame yesterday. He had made up his mind several days ago that he wanted to commit to the Irish but didn't get his application in until Sunday. Once he got the thumbs up from Notre Dame that he'd be good to go academically, he went ahead and announced his commitment. I've seen a couple of comments on here that Aupiu is a good replacement for David Abiara. But that's not actually the case. Will Schweitzer was virtually the replacement for Abiara, while this fourth defensive line spot was a best-available take. Gilliam stuck with OU and the staff then went after Aupiu.

- Rivals.com's Adam Gorney posted an update this morning on four-star running back Byron Cardwell, who the Irish will target hard if it does not sign two backs next Wednesday. Here are the notable quotes from Cardwell:

“There were some big-time offers to come late,” Cardwell said. “I’ve been talking to both schools (Notre Dame and Oregon) for a while so to get those offers even though it’s late it was still kind of a finality feeling.

“I’m still talking with both schools, both are very good programs. With Notre Dame just the history they’ve had, the running backs they’ve had and the coaching. With Oregon, the success they’ve had and with the fans and how everything is, I like those things about both schools.”

“It’s kind of hard to say who sticks out and who doesn’t because each school has something different to offer and something I value so it’s kind of hard to say,” Cardwell said. “I’d say they’re all frontrunners.”

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/chargers-isaac-rochell-nominated-nfls-234742863.html

I always loved this guy, and glad he grew into a Notre Dame Man who represents the University so well. Notre Dame has done very well with Georgia Kids like Rochell, Walker, Hamilton, Tremble, and Tuitt.

ND by the numbers (out of 127 D 1 teams)



Defense



Total defense #13

Scoring D #13

Tackles for loss #11

Sacks #32

Rush D #7

Pass efficiency D #18

3rd down D #2

Forced turnovers #21



Offense



Total offense #20

Scoring O #19

3rd down O #10

Rush O #13

Pass efficiency #35

I loved that 94 yard TD run by Chris Tyree yesterday. I wonder if Clemson fans even knew he existed before yesterday. He carried the ball 2 times for -4 yards against Clemson the first meeting.
I would love to see him make some plays against Clemson but I know Kyren Williams is a needed for blocking and running and pass catching.

*** My question for the board is ---How can the Irish coaching staff ( Tom Rees and company) get Chris Tyree involved in the game to highlite his explosiveness?
My idea is to use him on a screen play when Clemson blitzes.
How would you utilize him against Clemson? Or do you think Kyren needs to be in there the whole time?

*** Clemson fans and the talking heads all talk about the talent they were missing but we have alot of talented players we didn't really use much in the first meeting.

Go Irish !

after all of their crying sounds like the SEC is jumping on board and cancelling Bama and Florida games this weekend .... press conference tonight