Olivia Markezvich wins a Nat'l Championship! Her dad was an AA in Track at ND, her identical twin also runs at Washington, but will run for the Irish next year while pursuing a graduate degree.
Nice. She's following in the tradition of Molly Seidel who was a great long distance runner for ND and won bronze in the Olympic Marathon.
I just read an article from some guy who analyzed the Irish 2023 schedule and picked all the games. He has them going 9-3 and losing all three of their big games including Ohio State at home, USC at home and Clemson away. That's our story year after year until we give them a reason to think otherwise.
Of little significance here but worth mentioning (IMO ), the university is dropping the intramural tackle football program. I played and my son played his freshman year before he made the football team as a walk-on. His team won the championship 7-0, which was played in the stadium. He wasn't the QB but threw the TD pass which won the game. When I played in the 60s, we wore the old cross-striped helmets.
Apparently the participation has been declining in recent years and the participation in 7x7 Flag football has been increasing.
Maddy makes the USA Basketball U24 3x3 team. If they make the finals, it's in Mongolia! Is that a reward or a punishment?
I played football with her Uncles Bill & Tom back in the day at Carroll High in Dayton. The Westbeld family has accounted for 7 All America designations over the years according to Bill. I think Tyler Eifert is her cousin and I played football and basketball with his predecessors in grade school. I know that family well and there are lots of them and they are all big.
I don't know of any serious minded people in Columbus that are counting on an easy time in South Bend. Under the lights, first year QB...I'll take a 1 point W right now and be happy. Good news is that this won't be our first road trip as the young QB will already have travelled to Bloomington in the season opener. Bad news is that the Hoosiers in Bloomington is not the same as South Bend and the Irish wearing green jerseys.
Micha Shrewberry continues to do all the right things, he talked about the players in an article and it was very good, he's continuing to work hard and successfully at recruiting and building the team. Recently picked up a good young player from Seton Hall in the Portal, the Mr. Basketball from Indiana is Irish. Of course he hasn't coached a single game so we don't really know whether or not he's going to be successful to the level that ND fans desire. But it won't be for lack of trying.
VERY nice TE pick up for the Irish 2025 class. 4* Nate Roberts. I like this kid! Oh, by the way from Oklahoma.
Recruiting has been solid, and top recruit CJ Carr had a very good Elite 11 to boot. Right now the 2024 class sits at #4 behind Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State. We don't have any 5 star players and probably won't get any. Alabama only has 7 recruits to the Irish 19 but they have 3 5 star recruits and likely to add another 3 or 4 before it's all said and done. I think Freeman is building a good roster one that will compete for the new 12 team playoff, but will need for these players to really develop into elite college players.
That must be some damn good beer ! Notre Dame has most expensive game day experience, per report (on3.com)
Hell the only ones who can buy beer are the ones who escaped from the book store with something left in their wallets.
We are all old enough to remember standing in line outside the old bookstore and when you get in you had a limited selection of merchandise. Did you want a Navy or a Grey Sweat shirt? I love the new bookstore, it's nice and while it can be crowded at the checkout. But it's a good experience, IMHO
The only advice I can offer for the Irish football weekend experience is that if you are staying overnight in Shipshewanna, bring earplugs because the Amish will keep you up all night with their horse drawn carriages Click-clack, click-clack.
Looks like the Irish picked up a good 4 star safety Brauntae Johnson. He's from Sid's old neighborhood Ft. Wayne. Is Tim on vacation?