Scott Janssen
211 articles
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NCAA’s Targeting Rule in the Crosshairs
Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt adamantly pleaded his case with officials in Notre Dame’s game against Pittsburgh as head coach Brian Kelly aided his defense with words…
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Notre Dame in Driver’s Seat
Notre Dame’s 38-34 victory over the Naval Academy is the perfect metaphor for the Fighting Irish’s 2013 campaign. Though victorious, what does the victory actually mean? Was the…
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Building a Case for Cam McDaniel
Notre Dame junior running back Cam McDaniel is a multifaceted man. The general public knows him as the guy from the “ridiculously photogenic” Internet meme whose serene disposition…
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Notre Dame Finds Leadership on Defense
Notre Dame’s defense has been an enigma since the moment Irish fans and critics watched rookie Temple quarterback Connor Reilly rack up nearly 300 total yards at Notre…
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One Quarterback Away
When Brian Kelly accepted the head coaching position at the University of Notre Dame on a frigid December day in 2009, the expectations were clear.
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Notre Dame Answers Critics, Saves Season
What may have started as a low, persistent murmur humming steadily in the background became a full-fledged cacophonous roar moments after Notre Dame fell in abysmal fashion to…
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Notre Dame at Critical Juncture
Tommy Rees trotted off the field after Oklahoma safety Zack Sanchez forced a punt by knocking down a pass intended for Notre Dame sophomore Chris Brown to a…
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Notre Dame’s Search for an Identity Continues
Notre Dame’s match against Michigan State was to be the litmus test to a 2013 season that has produced nothing but questions. Could Tommy Rees win in suspended…
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Blame Game Not the Answer for Notre Dame
Trailing 17-13 with nearly two minutes to go in the first half, Notre Dame held the ball at midfield after a 26-yard kickoff scamper by running back George…
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Notre Dame Offense Emerges, Michigan Defense Looms
Senior Notre Dame wide receiver and captain T.J. Jones made a sharp and sudden cut, executing a flawless curl route and shaking his defender with its fluidity. As…
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2013 Notre Dame Football Season Prediction
It’s finally here. No more careful study and commentary on player weight gains or rewinding the tiny glimpses of fall camp video footage for any potential glimmer of…
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Notre Dame’s Class of ’12 Rocky Start has led to Poise, Confidence
A college football recruiting class follows a fairly standard approach. Approximately 15-25 high school seniors sign their letter of intent and arrive on campus in June – though…
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Should Stephon Tuitt’s Added Weight be a Concern for Notre Dame?
In 2012, lost amidst headline-drawing stories involving former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o’s Heisman race, an undefeated regular season and a national championship appearance, is what propelled the…
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Notre Dame’s 2014 ACC Slate Brings Uniqueness, Opportunity
If the adage that there is no such thing as negative publicity stands true, Notre Dame and athletic director Jack Swarbrick have crafted a masterpiece. One full calendar…
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Now or Never ’13 – Ishaq Williams
We continue our series of posts on “Now or Never” players for 2013 that we kicked off earlier this month with posts a look at how George Atkinson…
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Notre Dame Football’s Off-Season of Discontent
Notre Dame’s 2012 football campaign will long be remembered by Irish fans. Unexpectedly posting an undefeated regular season for the first time in decades, the twelve regular season…
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Restocking the Trenches – A Look at Notre Dame’s DL Recruiting Part II
Last week Notre Dame’s recruiting Class of 2014 was examined by comparing Notre Dame’s current defensive line commitments to those of other programs composing the top ten recruiting…
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Restocking the Trenches – A Look At Notre Dame’s DL Recruiting Part I
Recruiting momentum for the Class of 2014 has been strong for Notre Dame, with head coach Brian Kelly and staff securing the verbal commitments of two 5-star high…
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Michael Floyd Using Rookie Season as Launching Point
Saturday, October 20th, 2007, was one of the darker moments in Notre Dame football history. The USC Trojans had run wild on the Fighting Irish, embarrassing Notre Dame…
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Notre Dame Football Against the ACC
On September 12, 2012, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick officially announced a deal had been struck between the Fighting Irish and the Atlantic Coast Conference, strengthening the…
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Can Notre Dame, Big Ten Catch the SEC?
There’s an elephant in the room within the college football landscape, and it extends far beyond the one residing in Tuscaloosa. The Southeastern Conference is the best conference…
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Why Not Tommy Rees?
The signing of Tommy Rees in 2010 brought little fanfare. Though no disrespect was intended, the fact remained there was little reason for Notre Dame fans to notice.
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Transitioning Away from the Big Ten the Right Choice for ND
One of the more frustrating and difficult concepts in life is hindsight. Every one of us stumbles across a defining moment where a decision must be made to…
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Transfer Requests Must Possess “Compelling Reasons”
The football campaign of 2012 was epic in nature for the University of Notre Dame, and one Irish fans had been waiting patiently for since the days of…
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Who You Callin’ Chicken?
Summer is the time of year that gives school officials headaches. With many student-athletes remaining on campus, and with a sudden burst of free time, trouble and bad…
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How ND’s Defensive Line Compares to the Elite
Defense wins championships. If you’re a Notre Dame fan, the weight of such a statement truly strikes home, with the Fighting Irish defense mostly carrying the offense during…
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Who Had the Best OL Class in 2013? You’ll Never Guess.
When I was little and learning about the game of football, which is a passion in my family, my father taught me football’s golden rule: line play wins…
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Notre Dame and Alabama NFL Draft Comparisons
If you’re a Notre Dame fan, there are certain numbers you hope to never see again.
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Notre Dame Fans, The Tide Has Turned
Notre Dame starting quarterback Everett Golson stood in the pocket, ball in hand, and examined his options.
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A Special Day for Notre Dame and the Special Olympics
If asked what makes the University of Notre Dame special, an answer could lead down several different paths.
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Brian Kelly’s Notre Dame Recruiting Pipelines
When I first joined a friend’s online dynasty in the popular video game NCAA ’13 as Arizona State, even as a rookie my first priority was abundantly clear
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2013 Opponent Recruiting Recap: BYU Cougars
Brigham Young University and Notre Dame have more in common than most would expect at a cursory glance.
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2013 Opponent Recruiting Recap: Navy Midshipmen
Notre Dame’s 2012 opener in Dublin, Ireland, was one of the highlights of the season.
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2013 Opponent Recruiting Recap: USC Trojans
The 2012 football season began with extreme anticipation and expectations for the USC Trojans.
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2013 Opponent Recruiting Recap: Oklahoma Sooners
When Notre Dame and Oklahoma suit up on the same field, America takes notice.
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2013 Opponent Recruiting Recap: Purdue Boilermakers
When Kyle Brindza’s 27-yard boot connected with the netting at Notre Dame Stadium in the waning seconds to give Notre Dame the final say in a 20-17 matchup,…
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2013 Opponent Recruiting Recap: Temple Owls
You hover your remote control around ESPNU and silently curse when you discover no college football games from the previous year will be replayed for the day.
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Elijah Hood, 5-Star Prospect to Visit Notre Dame
Notre Dame landed its best recruiting class since the arrival of Internet recruiting just two short weeks ago, signing Rivals 5-star prospects Jaylon Smith, Max Redfield, Greg Bryant…
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Why Recruiting Rankings Matter
National Signing Day 2013 was a massive success for the University of Notre Dame. It went so well that the faxes churning out one-by-one throughout the day seemed…
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How Important is a 5th Star?
The great programs win with line play, a lesson Notre Dame fans learned rather painfully in the BCS National Championship game last month when Alabama gashed its way…
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Does Weather Affect Notre Dame Recruiting?
Living in Michigan, weather is always a topic of conversation, mainly due to its incredibly unpredictable nature in the Mitten (which is what Michiganders nickname our State). For…
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Major Recruiting Weekend Looms for Notre Dame
The memories of 2012’s National Signing Day, where recruits officially sign the dotted line to their school of choice, are ones Notre Dame fans would like to forget.…
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Back to Business for Notre Dame, Brian Kelly
The drama surrounding Brian Kelly’s future is over and settled. The disappointment and bitter taste from the BCS National Championship game has begun to fade, allowing for the…
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Danger Ahead for Notre Dame?
There was little to be excited about after the lights were turned out in Miami this past Monday. Not only did Notre Dame fall short of its first…
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It’s Time
“Next year” and “weeks away” no longer accurately describe January 7th, the date Notre Dame will finally take on Alabama for the BCS National Championship
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Not Unbeatable
An important but rarely spoken factor involving sports is belief. We’ve all heard the clichés – everybody puts their pants on one leg at a time. And while…
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The Best of the 2012 Bowl Season
College bowl season is upon us and for the first time in 23 years Notre Dame will be playing in the national title game. The bad news? That…
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The Best is Yet to Come
An undefeated season and national title appearance offers Notre Dame fans an almost overwhelming amount of side stories and places to turn one’s attention. Six full weeks of…
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Unfamiliar No More
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly hugged an assistant coach and Irish players stormed the field in celebration over ND’s 22-13 victory against USC, cementing a spot in…
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Destiny or Coincidence?
Growing up in an Irish Catholic family and attending Catholic schools, superstition is all too familiar. I heard every legend and lore there is to hear, from a…