AD say's we are remaining an independent. On the cusp of playing for a national championship, it appears Notre Dame is more than happy to remain an independent in football and not join a conference going forward. Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua reaffirmed the school’s commitment to not join a conference and the additional financial incentives it provides the football program. “No secret, the expansion of the CFP from four to 12 teams has helped enormously, because as an independent, as with other schools, we get better opportunities, better percentages of getting in the playoff, and the more you knock on that national championship door, the better,” he told ESPN. “And we like the freedom, quite frankly, it gives us,” he added. In addition to the economic advantage of making the College Football Playoff as an independent, Bevacqua also noted how Notre Dame enjoys a more national footprint than other schools. “The fact we were able to play Navy at MetLife and had the Shamrock Series against Army at Yankee Stadium, that we can continue that great rivalry with USC, we really get to move around the map and keep that very national presence,” he said. Notre Dame advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game after defeating Penn State in the Orange Bowl semifinal round game. And in the process, it will cash a huge check, one that it won’t have to share with any other schools, another advantage of that independence. By advancing to the national title game, Notre Dame will earn $20 million, every cent of which the school gets to keep all for itself. Schools that are in a conference, which is to say all the others, have to share their playoff take with other members of their league. College football’s commentators can talk all they want about how the school “has to” join a conference to “keep up” with the times, but Notre Dame believes there are about 20 million arguments to the contrary. That’s in addition to the projected $12 million that Notre Dame should get from future College Football Playoff distributions, an amount equal to Big 12 members and only about $1 million less than ACC schools will get. Those pro-conference arguments stem from what seemed like a logistical problem that stood between Notre Dame and the national championship in the 12-team playoff era. MSN
I see that former ND OCoord, Tommy Rees, has been named the Browns OCoord. Good for him, not sure being the Browns OCoord though is a career building opportunity!!
One of the things I think is pretty common across the board, Irish fans are so pumped to be in the game with Ohio State. Also most know that it will be a great upset to win the game, but upsets do happen and we've played Ohio State pretty well in the last 2 games, both losses of course. But we are playing with house money. The other thing I note is that unlike 2012 when more than a few people didn't think we deserved to be in that game, we weren't in a conference, we didn't win a conference championship game, etc and we were crushed so while that doesn't mean we didn't deserve to be there, other teams have been crushed in the playoffs and it didn't invalidate their season. But this year we earned our way into the game by beating 3 top 10 teams. The Buckeyes and Georgia were the odds on favorites to win the Championship pre-season. Georgia was pre-season #1 and Ohio State was pre-season #2. The Irish were pre-season #7. Both Georgia and Ohio State have much more talent and depth and just about anybody in college football. But as Don pointed out you still have to go out and win the game on the field. Go Irish.
Also should the Irish upset the Buckeyes and win, Jordan Faison who won a Nat'l Championship with the Irish lacrosse team this past spring, would have 2 Nat'l Championships in 2 different sports. I'm sure there are others who have done this but the list has to be pretty short.
It's an in-house hire; they have been happy with his work. Tommy was ball boy for the Browns when he was 14 years old and that certainly worked out as a career building opportunity.
Right now the discussion on the OL is who should start at LT, Charles Jagusah or Tosh Baker. Jagusah was slotted there pre-season till he tore his pec and he's only been back with the team since the end of the season and all of that is working at RG behind Rocco Spindler. Rocco left the PSU game with an ankle injury but reportedly is tapped up and will give it a go. Some think that Jagusah did a great job when he subbed in for Rocco and maybe he should start there and Tosh Baker should start at LT. One thing for sure, next fall we should have a very good OL, Jagusah back, Knapp back, Wagner Back, Billy Schrauth back, Sam Pendleton back, Ashton Craig back, and some really good freshman including Will Black coming into the program.
I wish Tommy well with the Browns. I don't know if it's fair to say that Jalen Milroe regressed from 2023 when Tommy was his OCoord and QB Coach. But he must have something to have attracted Nicks attention. I see that he beat out Klint Kubiak who of course is Gary's son and who played at Strake Jesuit here in Houston. His brother Klay came back and was the HC at Strake (successful) before leaving for an NFL opportunity and is now the OCoord for San Francisco.
Rees was a surprise hire at Alabama but he did a good job while here. I don’t know if Milroe regressed but he certainly didn’t progress from 2023 season.
It was a pretty big shock to the ND fanbase that Nick who is widely admired on ND sites, as well he should be, hired him. I mean he was a whipping boy for Irish fans who didn't like the "Kelly" offense.
Yes, he was the whipping boy for the supremely knowledgeable and highly vocal Irish fans who certainly knew more than Saban and, I'm sure, know more than the Cleveland coaches. I don't understand why folks ignore them.
Great news for us older Irish fans. Terry Hanratty (1966-68), who led the University of Notre Dame to the 1966 National Championship as the starting quarterback and was a Consensus All-American in 1968 has been named to the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class, as announced by the National Football Foundation on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. The 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas on December 9, 2025. Hanratty becomes the 56th former Fighting Irish student-athlete or coach in the College Football Hall of Fame, which is by far the most for any college football program.
A lot of praise coming Marcus Freeman's way these days. This from Brian Urlacher whose son is a freshman on the Irish. "He's the face of college football right now. You watch a game and he's all they ever show...It's amazing how far he's come. His ascent to the top has been quick." Speaking about his Kennedy's, Urlacher gave huge praise to the Notre Dame head coach from a father's point of view. "He (Kennedy Urlacher) made the right decision, honestly...My son looks up to him (Marcus Freeman) so much." Urlacher then went on and discussed how Freeman's philosophy to challenge everything and not take the easy path was part of what sold his son on Notre Dame. "My son thinks the world of him" Urlacher eventually said of Freeman. Urlacher was asked about how he viewed Notre Dame football during his playing days with the Chicago Bears and then how he views the football program now. On Notre Dame football players he played with during his NFL career: "They're different. They're super smart. They speak different. It's like talking to a person from an Ivy League. They're just smart individuals." Urlacher later went on to discuss the uniqueness of Notre Dame players having non-athlete roommates and the bonds and professional connections that come with that after football careers are over. MSN
This kinda falls under the Haters gonna Hate category, but posted for your derision (He does say some nice things if you read between the snarkiness); Likeable Irish? Don’t let Ohio State football alum Marcus Freeman distract you from Notre Dame’s true identity — Jimmy Watkins
Getting back to Tommy Rees: Kevin Stefanski: New offensive coordinator Tommy Rees ‘has an incredible football mind’
Just read the Jimmy Watkins article. Stu, you hit the nail squarely on the head: "He does say some nice things if you read between the snarkiness". I think it's very well written with factual information he could have obtained only by doing his homework. It's a humorous backhanded way of complimenting ND while at the same time saying what most non-ND fans think re: the unjustified arrogance and excuses fostered by a vocal minority of ND so-called fans. I liked it. Thanks for posting.
Good one Stu, I liked it! Esp this part. Ohio State opened as a 9.5-point favorite over Notre Dame, but the spread has since dropped to eight, presumably because the Irish are winning the sympathy wallets. Shed a tear for the Irish’s slew of offensive line injuries. Shed another for cornerback Benjamin Morrison, defensive tackle Rylie Mills, defensive end Boubacar Traore and defensive end Jordan Botelho, all starters who will miss Monday’s matchup. And seriously, tip your caps to Freeman’s rag tag, run-focused, Tressel-esque football team for advancing to the title game in spite of these setbacks. But do not mistake one familiar coach, or the resilient culture he has fostered during one season, for a likeable football program.