Author: Mike Coffey

Roadmap for 2018

Posted on by Mike Coffey

Brian Kelly's eighth season certainly held the interest of fans.  From the highs of the season-opening win streak to the low of Miami and back up after Miles' Boykin's amazing catch, there was more than enough for the Fighting Irish faithful to digest.  And with the moves of the offseason, we're left wondering what to expect for 2018. Are you curious how Brandon Wimbush and Phil Jurkovec will battle for the starting QB spot?  Whether Boykin can build on his highlight-reel moment against LSU to become a force at wideout?  If Jeff Quinn and Clark Lea will make fans forget about Harry Hiestand and Mike Elko?

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Notes from the Geetar: Hath Spring Sprung?

Posted on by Mike Coffey

It's been a while since I pulled out the pick and strummed, so I figured I'd give Mike Royko a break for a bit and bring back a little old-school NDN. If it's April and it's Notre Dame, the Blue-Gold game is right around the corner.  Well, the event with that name is, anyway, because it's certainly different than it used to be. Notre Dame's spring program has morphed from a standard three weeks of practice and a standard scrimmage to a two-month staggered schedule concluding with players running plays on a field under a scoring system that changes every year.

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This. This thing. Right here

Posted on by Mike Coffey

The 85-scholarship limit the NCAA imposes sometimes leads to more than its fair share of brinksmanship.  Players chose to leave for whatever reason, recruits do or don't make their grades, spring football results in injuries, etc. etc.  No matter what happens, when the whistle blows this fall, you only can have 85 football players signed for scholarships. When you're currently at 89 players, as Notre Dame was earlier this week, that means four guys who had scholarships last year won't have them next year, and arrangements must needs be made.  Players with eligibility remaining won't be able to return.  Some are ready to move on, others may not be, but regardless of motivation, the number must be reached.

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Don’t Shoot the Messengers

Posted on by Mike Coffey

Yes yes, we're the meanies again.  Same as it ever was. Folks are now getting upset because people on our restricted football board, Rock's House, are discussing the possible connections between Notre Dame Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick and the scandal currently overwhelming the United States Gymnastics program and its tolerance of a serial sexual predator in their medical staff.  As the investigation continues and expands, Michigan State University, who employed Nassar, is finding itself a target of further investigation, and people are concerned Notre Dame, thanks to Jack Swarbrick's history with US Gymnastics, may get dragged into this maelstrom.

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Ian to Miles Means Victory for Irish

Posted on by Mike Coffey

With two minutes remaining in a soggy Citrus Bowl, LSU seemed to have things well in hand.  They had overcome multiple special teams gaffes to take a three-point lead on kicker Jack Gonsoulin's first made field goal of the game, Notre Dame's offense had looked better stopping itself than accomplishing much, and the defense needed just a stop to bring home a victory. Enter the unlikely battery of Book & Boykin.  Not an intellectual property law firm, but the architects of an incredible 55-yard touchdown pass that delivered a fruitstand shot to the Tiger faithful and got Notre Dame their 10th victory of the 2017-18 season by a score of 21-17.

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