CelticImport

With wins on recent electric night games vs Stanford and Michigan -- and USC last year, does Notre Dame finally have a real home field advantage? Too many tickets have been resold to visitors, including the Georgia game, but has that trend reversed? Is there a new optimism in the stadium? Has the old guard of sit-on-hands older fans been gently pushed aside for a younger, more raucous fan base? Have this year's Green Outs, and stadium renovations (new sound and video boards) created a true home field advantage?

Good questions. Book isn't the athlete Wimbush is, but he sure does all the little things right. It's fun to watch a Notre Dame QB pick apart opponents and slowly, steadily put up 40 points a game. Seriously, with Book at the helm and with this defense, how many points does ND have to score each game to get a win? If Book leads the Irish to only 7 points a quarter and 28 per game, how many teams left on the schedule can keep pace?

Perspective. Prayers for Dexter and his mom.

Won't need any more signature wins to get in - IF win all 12. Though feels way too early to even go there. Plenty of good comp still on the schedule - even tho teams not living up to preseason rankings. String some 20-point wins together like last year - and win out like 2012 and ND is in signature winds or not.

Well played, sir.

Cory, great fodder for comparison. Thanks for posting. Interesting stats supporting the argument that this is a special defense. 5-0 with wins over Michigan & Stanford; a tougher schedule in 2018 than 2012 at this point but easier this year given all the home games? (2012 Navy in Dublin, Purdue, Sparty (E Lansing), Michigan, and Miami in Chicago)

Yep. Ouch.

We take it for granted, but just why is a school founded by a Frenchman, Father Edward Sorin, a brother of the French Congregation of Holy Cross - called the Fighting Irish? "Exactly where and how Notre Dame's athletic nickname, "Fighting Irish," came to origination never has been perfectly explained..." "The Notre Dame Scholastic, in a 1929 edition, printed its own version of the story: "The term 'Fighting Irish' has been applied to Notre Dame teams for years. It first attached itself years ago when the school, comparatively unknown, sent its athletic teams away to play in another city ...At that time the title 'Fighting Irish' held no glory or prestige ... "The years passed swiftly and the school began to take a place in the sports world ...'Fighting Irish' took on a new meaning. The unknown of a few years past has boldly taken a place among the leaders. The unkind appellation became symbolic of the struggle for supremacy of the field. ...The team, while given in irony, has become our heritage. ...So truly does it represent us that we unwilling to part with it ..." Notre Dame competed under the nickname "Catholics" during the 1800s and became more widely known as the "Ramblers" during the early 1920s in the days of the Four Horsemen.." http://www.und.com/trads/nd-m-fb-name.html Or did Notre Dame become the Fighting Irish because they fought the Ku Klux Klan? In "May 17, 1924, hundreds of Notre Dame students gathered at the train station in South Bend, Ind. They were waiting to greet a train, but the mood was anything but festive. For on the train were members of the Ku Klux Klan, heading for a mass Klan rally in South Bend. Their decision to hold the gathering in South Bend was no accident, for Indiana’s Klansmen looked upon Notre Dame as a symbol of rising Catholic power in America..." "Needless to say, Notre Dame students and faculty were keenly aware of the Klan’s animosity. So when the Klan’s newspaper, The Fiery Cross, announced that a week-long “Klavern” would take place in South Bend beginning on May 17, passions were aroused and plans quietly made for the Klan to be met with an appropriate greeting. When the first Klansmen stepped off their train on the 17th, a crowd of angry students descended upon them, beating them and shredding their robes and regalia before forcibly putting them back on the train. South Bend police arrived soon thereafter and allowed the successive trainloads of Klansmen to detrain..." "Nonetheless, clashes between Notre Dame students and Klansmen occurred throughout the weekend near the convention hall housing the Klan’s rally. The students’ fury reached a fever pitch on May 19, when rumors (false it turned out) flew about that Klansmen had killed a Notre Dame student. Thousands of students massed downtown intent on tearing the Klavern to shreds. Only the arrival of college president Fr. Matthew Walsh and a spring downpour managed to cool the crowd and no further violence occurred. The next day, football coach Knute Rockne spoke at a campus rally and implored the students to obey the college president and refrain from further violence. A few days later the Klavern broke up and South Bend returned to normal." https://www.irishecho.com/2011/02/78-years-ago-notre-dame-battles-the-kkk-3/ Notre Dame students battled with the Ku Klux Klan in 1924. "University president Rev. Matthew Walsh, C.S.C., officially adopted 'Fighting Irish' as the Notre Dame nickname in 1927." (Three years later) http://www.und.com/trads/nd-m-fb-name.html

+1 Pot is just one of the young man's issues. I hope he gets his act together.

I'm old enough to remember when ESPN covered sports. Now they're just trying to be another cool kid SJW. 'Fighting Irish' is 'offensive' and the name has to go?! Them's fightin' words! God forbid one snowflake is offended or their tender feelings are hurt... "During a debate Tuesday over the Cleveland Indian’s recent decision to drop their “Chief Wahoo” logo, ESPN “First Take” host Max Kellerman argued the Notre Dame Fighting Irish mascot is offensive as well." Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2018/01/espn-host-notre-dame-fighting-irish-mascot-offensive/#UgaPL8tLjY1mI65B.99 Original story at: http://freebeacon.com/culture/espn-host-notre-dames-fighting-irish-mascot-offensive-needs-change/

Not a real fun game to watch - except for Book in the 2-minute drills. Some strong defensive play, but offense didn't get it done for most of the day. Didn't take advantage of LSU special teams hiccups. Much like the last LSU bowl game - just enough to win it late.

Sweatpants? Shoulda just grabbed himself some crab legs.

Merry Christmas to all the sons and daughters of Our Lady. "God bless us, every one!" And in future posts, good will to all men.

Agree with all and especially with bold. Playoff committee has shown conference championship win, or even participation isn't mandatory. But any bets the rules change after this season?

Holmes, I think you're onto something here. In 2016, Ohio State doesn't win conference championship game - and gets into the playoffs. Rationale: "The best team should go to the playoffs, not just the conference championship winner." In 2017, Ohio State wins the conference championship game - and doesn't make the playoffs. Rationale: "The conference champion game winner should go to the playoffs." In 2017, Alabama isn't the SEC championship game winner - so they get into the playoffs. Precedent set in 2016 with Ohio State. Playoff committee couldn't yet again give Ohio State a break, so they gave it to Alabama this time.

+1 Awesome!

LOL. Nicely played, sir.

ND 34 - 17 Miami

Maybe some midterms. My son who's a sophomore didn't have any exams this week but does next week.

But what about when Wimbush knocked a USC defensive back on his *** after a run to the sideline. Attitude!

God rest his soul. Prayers for his family. Notre Dame lost a giant today.

My son is a current Stedsman and loving it. Dunno bout nerds; seems hall leadership are all liberal arts majors. These Stedsmen work hard play hard. Great central location. Terrific rector FRalph.

Congrats Brian. You will still be DD video VP I hope?

Brian buddy so happy for you. You aren't just the DD video guru extraordinaire You are an amazing inspiration!

Sad but true. Totally unacceptable. Lo how the mighty are fallen.