Archive for the ‘Opponent News’ Category

The guys over at Black Shoe Diaries posted a pretty good recap of each Notre Dame - Penn State game up to and including last year’s 41-17 win by the Irish. Part of their post has an explanation as to why Penn State fans generally hate Notre Dame more so than the other way around:

* Notre Dame fans consider USC and even Michigan as bigger rivals than Penn State.
* North Eastern Pennsylvania has a high population of Catholics. Growing up in high school I was fortunate to attend just about every single football game and we played a lot of teams from NE PA. I can tell you first hand that probably two out of every three high schools in NE PA have adopted the Notre Dame fight song as their own. Notre Dame is huge up there. They are just as big as Penn State if not bigger. This mix of fan bases living in close proximity gives the feel of a natural in-state rivalry.
* Penn State has a history of being snubbed by the media. Four times Joe Paterno has led an undefeated team that was not awarded the National Championship (’68, ‘69, ‘73, and ‘94). Notre Dame is unquestionably a media darling so it’s only natural Penn State’s hatred of the media would be directed toward the one the writers adore.

While I think most Notre Dame fans will get some amusement out of that last statement - at least based on recent history, overall its a pretty good read even if it may be written some white tinted glasses.

For comparison, here is a similar article I wrote last summer in preparation for last year’s contest and a blog post from Mac on the series from last year as as well.

While doing unrelated research today, I came across this stat regarding NFL MVPs. It’s a stat I have never heard mentioned on any ND message board, any ND publication or broadcast. Since the Associated Press started to announce the NFL’s most valuable players back in 1957, one school has stood atop the NCAA as having delivered the most number of players to be selected as the NFL’s MVP. You guessed it, Notre Dame.

The Irish have sent four players on to become NFL MVPs (Paul Hournung, Alan Page, Joe Theismann, Joe Montana). LSU and Alabama come in second with three, though it has been reported that Alabama claims seven.

This at the very least adds to a little of the intrigue to the Brady Quinn vs. Jamarcus Russell NFL career battle. Charlie Weis has said that in three years, Quinn will be one of the top three QBs in the league, while pundits like Todd McShay seemingly salivate daily over Russell, who rose as the media favorite after his most impressive day as a collegiate quarterback came against a lowly Notre Dame defense.

Last week Florida poached Justin Trattou from Notre Dame’s commitment list.  This week it looks like USC may be trying to visit Mike Ragone according to LA Daily Neews writer Scott Wolf:

USC coach Pete Carroll is scheduled to visit with Marvin Austin, the No. 1-ranked defensive tackle in the country, today. But we also hear Carroll might visit tight end Mike Ragone, who committed to Notre Dame almost nine months ago.

The Trojans do not have a tight end commitment this year and according to their prospect list on Scout.com, they only have  Eric Brooks (#57 tight end), Trey Henderson (#64 tight end), and Mikhail Marinovich (Not Ranked) left on the board.

Last week’s defection by Trattou certainly surprised me, but I could at least understand it because of his concerns over how he would be used in the 3-4.  Ragone switching, however, would completely shock me because of how well tight ends have  performed in Charlie Weis’s offense.  That success has led to Notre Dame landing the #2 ranked tight end last year in Konrad Reuland and the #2 ranked tight end this year in Ragone.

Lost in the shuffle over the weekend was the news that Georgia Tech’s Patrick Nix will be leaving Tech to be the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami.

From ESPN.com:

“Nix has been offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech for the last three seasons, taking over playcalling responsibilities from Chan Gailey this year.

“I am honored to be the new offensive coordinator,” Nix said Friday night in a statement released by the school. “It’s a great opportunity to coach at one of the top college football programs in the country.” 

The loss of Nix as the OC for the Yellow Jackets means they will travel to South Bend to open the season with a new quarterback, new #1 wide receiver, and new offensive coordinator which bodes well for the Irish who will be breaking in three new defensive line starters and two new defensive backs along with new defensive coordinator Corwin Brown.

Notre Dame is going to have a lot of new faces to start next year and will have a lot of questions to answer on both sides of the ball.  Having a team coming in with a new OC and QB definitely beats the hell out of having to play a team with an established QB in a familiar offense - even if Tech fans are glad to see someone else under center besides Reggie Ball.

The only down side for the Irish and Brown will be a relative lack of film to study in preparation.  Last year when Nix took over the play calling from Gailey the Irish weren’t exactly sure what to expect and this year will be much the same for Notre Dame in terms or preparation.

[tags]Notre Dame Football, Georgia Tech, Patrick Nix, Corwin Brown[/tags]

Offensive coordinator Mike Haywood’s name has been popping up as a possible replacement for Glen Mason who was fired at Minnesota’s historic collapse against Texas Tech this bowl season.

From today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune…

6. Michael Haywood, Notre Dame offensive coordinator

A former Gophers graduate assistant, he has risen through the ranks and has worked under some high-profile coaches (Nick Saban, Mack Brown and Charlie Weis).

Notre Dame fans should get used to seeing Haywood’s name pop up in coaching searches because he is a very well respected young coach with a lot of promise. Haywood has coached under some great coaches and has moved up the ladder fairly quickly.

With Notre Dame being Haywood’s alma mater, I think we’ll see Haywood for a few more seasons, but that won’t stop his name from popping up in searches at schools like Minnesota.

Also mentioned in the article was USC Recruiting Coordinator Lane Kiffin.

1 Lane Kiffin, USC

Kiffin is an intriguing candidate. He graduated from Bloomington Jefferson and said earlier this week that he would love to raise his family here. He has coached in college football’s premier program the past six years and knows what it takes to perform under pressure.

Kiffin also is USC’s recruiting coordinator and is considered one of college football’s top recruiters. That surely is appealing to Minnesota officials who have talked openly about the need to energize recruiting efforts and hold on to the best in-state talent.

Kiffin’s age — 31 — might concern some people, but it should not be a paralyzing factor. He has watched and helped Carroll build USC into a powerhouse. He has the blueprint and energy to jump-start the Gophers program.

Notre Dame has had a nice recruiting connection in Minnesota the last few years with players like Rashon Powers-Neal, John Carlson, Matt Carufel, and Trevor Laws which would make Kiffin in Minnesota a little worrisome for Notre Dame fans due to Kiffin’s recruiting prowess.

Pete Carroll’s name comes up in NFL coaching rumors on a yearly basis it seems with Arizona and Miami being two openings his name has come up for. Recently Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga flew to Costa Rica to meet and talk with Carroll while Carroll was vacationing. Here’s some interesting quotes from the ESPN.com report…

“This was the one instance I’ve come in contact with that has all the elements I have talked about,” Carroll said at a news conference on campus. “[Huizenga] has structured a program where the head coach has the entire say, from top to bottom.

“It’s a one-voice program. I don’t think there are any other situations like that in the NFL.”

Carroll did, however, say he had every intention on remaining at Southern Cal.

“I’m thrilled to be here,” he said. “As I’ve been the whole time, I haven’t wavered. I know that being curious about it has helped me appreciate what we have here.

“I absolutely expect to be here.”

One thing Carroll didn’t say according to the report was that he was not interested in the Miami job or that he was removing his name from consideration for the position.

Carroll said had no idea as to the progress of the Dolphins’ coaching search and didn’t know if or when he would speak with Huizenga again.

“I’ve got to tell you that I’m always chasing a challenge,” Carroll said. “I’m teased by all challenges.”

He loves chasing challenges huh? Wonder if he considers a move back to the NFL which every analyst around has said would be a bad move a challenge? Every talking head keeps repeating over and over that Carroll couldn’t cut it in the NFL and that he has a perfect fit at USC.

I would be shocked if Carroll left USC. He’s got a perfect situation where he can become a legend if he continues on the path he is on with the Trojans. On the other hand, should Huizenga offer Carroll a ridiculous amount of money to coach the Dolphins (such as the $8 million a year thats been floating around message boards), all bets are off.

Should Carroll leave I don’t know how I’d feel about it. Part of me would be happy that Carroll was gone considering the beatings he has laid on the Irish the last five years. Another part of me, though, wants Carroll to stay at USC a while longer so that Weis and the Irish can eventually get some payback.

Notre Dame fans have nightmares about Dwayne Jarrett’s last two performances against the Irish, but according to ESPN, those nightmares won’t be compounded next year.  Jarrett, like Georgia Tech’s Calvin Johnson will be heading to the NFL an forgoing his senior year at USC.

Southern California wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett has selected an agent and will announce that he is entering the NFL draft at a 2 p.m. news conference at the school’s Heritage Hall on Wednesday, two sources close to the situation said Tuesday night.

The junior, a two-time All-American, had 70 catches for 1,015 yards and led the Trojans with 12 touchdowns this season.

The 6-foot-5, 210 pound receiver with a track record of acrobatic catches, is considered a first-round prospect.

Jarrett put on a show in the Rose Bowl last week with his performance and his antics.  One on play Jarrett taunted a defender on his way to the end zone and on another he handed the ball to a Michigan defensive back that he had just beaten.  Neither plays drew penalties for Jarrett unlike they did for Jeff Samardzija a few days later in the Sugar Bowl when he flipped the ball back toward a LSU defender on Notre Dame’s opening drive.

I’m not justifying Samardzija’s actions by stating he was penalized, rather I hate seeing any wide receiver do that kind of stuff after the play.  Give me a Marvin Harrison who just makes plays and goes about his business in a professional manner over a Chad Johnson or a Terrell Owens any day, but I digress….

Unfortunately for the Notre Dame defense next year, USC is stock piled with young, talented wide receivers ready to take Jarrett’s place.  Still, not seeing Jarrett repeatably run free through the Notre Dame secondary again will be nice.

When Notre Dame faces Georgia Tech in the first game of their 2007 schedule, the Yellow Jackets will be without star wide receiver Calvin Johnson who declared for the NFL Draft on Monday.

“It’s one of those situations where he’s got to maximize the moment,” Calvin Johnson Sr. said. “These opportunities don’t come along very often. He made the right decision for himself. He didn’t feel a lot of pressure from us.”

Almost from the day he stepped on campus, the younger Johnson was expected to last only three seasons with the Yellow Jackets. It was immediately clear that he was a rare combination of size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), athleticism and hand-eye coordination.

He runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and has a 45-inch vertical leap — a combination that makes him difficult to defend, even with a scheme keyed to stop him.

“I think the sky’s the limit,” Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said. “He has all the tangible factors to be a great, great player. He has all the intangible factors to be a great, great player.” (ESPN)

Not having to cover Johnson is huge for the Irish. Johnson is the kind of receiver that can simply take over a game. With Notre Dame breaking in a new quarterback and two new starters in the defensive backfield in that season opener, not having to worry about game-planning around Calvin Johnson is a huge plus for the defensive coaching staff.

Michigan juniors Mike Hart and Chad Henne have both announced they will return to Mike for their senior years instead of opting for the NFL Draft this spring.

Star Michigan running back Mike Hart won’t jump to the NFL, instead joining quarterback Chad Henne in trying to help the Wolverines win a Bowl Championship Series title.

“It just makes it that much easier for me to come back, for me to make my decision,” Hart, a junior, told reporters. “Having Chad back made me want to come back. We came in [to Michigan] together and we want to leave together. (ESPN)

Hart and Henne both had big roles in Michigan’s thumping of Notre Dame this year in South Bend so their return to Michigan definitely gives the Wolverines an edge in offensive experience for next September’s showdown.  Both players have started for the last three years for Michigan while Notre Dame will be starting a new quarterback next year with their first road game in Ann Arbor.

Hart will also be one of the early favorites for the Heisman Trophy next year after finishing fifth this year.