NDFB Hoopla

After a few weeks off, NDFB is back and alot is happening! Spring football practices have kicked off, the Irish won a few National Titles and are in the hunt for two more!

• Congratulations to Notre Dame Fencing - 2011 National Champions!

• Congratulations to Head Coach Jeff Jackson and Irish Hockey team for making the Frozen Four! Notre Dame will face Minnesota Duluth on April 7th.

• Congratulations to Head Coach Muffet McGraw and the Women's Basketball team for making the NCAA Final Four. The Irish face two-time defending champions Connecticut on Sunday, April 3rd.

• Congratulations to Head Coach Mike Brey, who followed up his Big East Coach of the Year (his 3rd in the last five years) by winning National Coach of the Year for guiding the Irish to a 27-7 record and #2 seed in the NCAA tourney (his 6th appearance in eleven years).

• Congratulations to Irish senior guard Ben Hansbrough who was named Big East Player of the Year.
  

And on to football:

• Notre Dame recently announced the ticket prices and time schedule for the 2011 season. New to the schedule will be a departure from tradition with a night game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 22 against USC. See you there!
  

• Head Coach Brian Kelly recently leaked information that the September 10th night game against Michigan will be a throwback game. Notre Dame will don uniforms from the late 1950s, early 1960s including a green shamrock on gold helmets.

• Irish wide receiver Michael Floyd has a date this week with ORLH, the long arm of the law on Notre Dame's campus to determine his fate with the University and the football team.

• Former Irish defensive back Tom Zbikowski is back in the ring thanks in part to the current CBA in the NFL. Zbikowski has already won two recent fights and has another one schedule for April 9th in Atlantic City, NJ.

• Former Irish star Dave Duerson (1979-1982) died on February 17th and legendary Jim Seymour (1965-1969) died on March 29th. NDFB passes along its condolences.
  

Spring Preview: Running Back

While the debate at quarterback has been the battle to watch, the recent media focus has been on the tailback position - for all the wrong reasons. Early into spring practice, sophomore Cameron Roberson, the 2010 Offensive Scout Team POY, tore multiple ligaments in his knee. A timetable for his return has not been set.

With the loss of Roberson and multiple position switches, a depth chart looks something like this:

Cierre Wood - Rs. Jr.
Jonas Gray - Sr.
Cameron Roberson - Rs. So.
Cam McDaniel - Fr.

The original intent was to add Theo Riddick to the tailback position, but the depletion at wide receiver and Floyd situation has certainly changed things. Nonetheless, the loss of Armando Allen and Robert Hughes certainly leaves the starting position and playing time open for the taking. Cierre Wood impressed last season with his speed and shiftiness. Gray has yet to really make an impact on the field, but has the physical tools necessary to be the bruiser back.

This group will have the most question marks entering the season and at this point, the focus should be on keeping them healthy. After all, whoever stays healthy will most likely get the starting nod. The running backs corp is something that will continue to change and develop leading up to the start of the season.

Spring Preview: Quarterback

Seniors bid farewell, new recruits are signed up and ready to enroll, and 5th-year player decisions have been made - all that's left is to play some football! Notre Dame recently announced the spring practice schedule, leading up to the Blue-Gold Spring game on Saturday, April 16th. Therefore, Notre Dame from the Bleachers will run a spring preview at each position and to kick it off, what easily be the most talked about question of the spring - who will be the Irish starting quarterback heading into 2011?

Much has happened at the quarterback position so far this spring. Senior-to-be quarterback Nate Montana transferred again this time going to Montana. Then, redshirt sophomore Luke Massa announced a position switch to wide receiver. So, what started as a log jam of six, has dwindled down to a clear-cut four man rotation:

Dayne Crist - Rs. Sr.
Tommy Rees - So
Andrew Hendrix - Rs. So.
Everett Golson - Fr.

With Golson almost a lock to redshirt, it's a battle between the experience veteran (Crist), the winner (Rees), and the talent (Hendrix). Who will win out? Ultimately, it's Crist or Rees' job to lose. Both have the experience as starter and an understanding of the offensive system. Crist may have the edge on talent, but there is no denying Rees who is undefeated as a starter. However, this may all be determined by the health of Crist.

Regardless, Kelly has shown in the past an ability to win with multiple quarterbacks. One deciding factor could be which quarterback is able to fully embrace the Kelly spread offense. After all, Kelly has his first off season to fully implement his expansive playbook. Specifically, this involves the ability of the quarterback to run the ball. QB Dayne Crist had 4 of the team's 11 rushing touchdowns this past season. It's hard to tell how the added dimension of the quarterback option will enhance Notre Dame's running and passing game, but the quarterback who is most successful at it, will have the best chance to start.

Look for a intense battle at QB that will easily evolve into fall practices and probably not be determined until the home opener on September 3rd against South Florida. This will be the most important off season battle as the team has and will live and die by the success of their quarterback.

NDFB Hoopla

NDFB Hoopla for lovers:

• ESPN announced their Top 25 Recruiters and Notre Dame's Chuck Martin made the list for his recruitment of Stephon Tuitt. No mention to Bob Diaco, who landed Ishaq Williams with the notorious 4:30 AM visit or Tony Alford who in 2010 landed Louis Nix when the Irish didn't even have a head coach.

• Irish junior quarterback Nate Montana announced that he was transferring from Notre Dame...again. Montana will be headed to Montana where he will have the opportunity to start right away since Montana is a DII school. NDFB had harsh words for Montana last time he transferred and this time is no different. Except, with his departure, Notre Dame is now under the allotted 85 scholarships meaning there is no room at the inn for Montana to return.

• Montana's departure also helped solve the quarterback debate. Luke Massa facilitated those efforts as with the recent revelation that Massa will be switching to wide receiver. Massa is a massive target at 6'-4", 215 pounds. After hearing this, the move of Bennett Jackson to DB makes a little more sense.
  

• SI recently posted their Big Board for the 2011 NFL Draft and making the cut at #50 is Irish tight-end Kyle Rudolph.

• SI also reported on the Top 10 coordinators impacting the 2011 football season. That list included Greg Mattison - former ND defensive coordinator under Davie, Kevin Rogers - former offensive coordinator under Davie, and former head coach Charlie Weis. It's amazing to me how all these former assistants under Bob Davie continue to emerge as top coaching prospects, yet Davie was a terrible coach and has not been officially offered a head coaching position since he was fired from Notre Dame. (Heck, even Ty got another coaching gig.) Was Davie really that bad?
  

Hello and Good-Bye

A weeks ago, Notre Dame's recruiting class of 2011 officially signed their name in ink committing themselves to playing football at ND. Always lost in the shuffle of bowl games and recruiting is the exodus of seniors. Therefore, as we say hello to the Class of 2011, we must say good-bye to the class of 2007.

JIMMY CLAUSEN - 5 star QB - Clausen arrived with as much fanfare as any recruit in Notre Dame history. By the second game of his career, Clausen was starting for the Irish. However, Clausen only led the Irish to a 16-21 record during his career. In only three years, Clausen broke numerous Notre Dame passing records en route to 8148 passing yards, 60 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. Clausen was selected by the Carolina Panthers with #48 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

ROBERT HUGHES - 4 star RB - Hughes arrived at Notre Dame as the bruiser tailback - the thunder to Allen's lightning. While Hughes had some dominating performances, he never quite reached the elite level. He finished his career with 1392 yards on 321 carries and 15 touchdowns. Yet, Hughes was far and away the fan favorite.

ARMANDO ALLEN - 4 star RB - Allen arrived at Notre Dame with the stereotype of the quick, speedy running back that Notre Dame never seemed to be able to recruit. Allen was suppose to be the prototypical tailback for the Weis system. However, it seemed as if every time Allen showed those flashes, he was suddenly hampered with injuries. Because of that, Allen finished his career with 2144 rushing yards on 469 carries, but only 8 touchdowns. Allen also had 129 receptions for 933 yards and 3 touchdowns.

DUVAL KAMARA - 4 star WR - Kamara entered as ND's tall athletic receiver and saw immediate playing time on a roster depleted at wide receiver. When all was said and done, Kamara's freshman season (357 yards - 4 TDs) turned out to be his best. He finished his career with 86 receptions for 893 yards at 9 touchdowns. Kamara did not travel with the team to the bowl game and reported dropped out of school.

GOLDEN TATE - 4 star WR - Tate entered Notre Dame with a name perfect for success. Used sparingly his first season, Tate broke through the ranks at wide receiver with his speed and game changing ability. So much so that Tate had back-to-back 1000 yard receiving seasons. Tate finished with 157 receptions for 2707 yards and 25 touchdowns plus 3 rushing touchdowns. Tate won the Biletnikoff Award following the 2009 season, prompting him to leave school early for the NFL, where he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2nd round.

MIKE RAGONE - 4 star TE - Ragone was a highly recruited TE with high hopes of continuing Notre Dame's recent tradition of NFL TEs (Fasano and Carlson). However, multiple injuries sidelined Ragone for two straight seasons, while an off-the-field arrest further complicated things. Ragone currently has 10 receptions for 99 yards and zero touchdowns in his career, but will return for a 5th year of eligibility. It's hard not to root for Ragone after all he has been through at Notre Dame.

TAYLOR DEVER - 4 star OT - Dever quietly entered Notre Dame and has quietly bid his time at Notre Dame, before finally earning a starting spot at right tackle this past season. Dever will return for a 5th year and is expected to anchor an experienced offensive line.

ANDREW NUSS - 3 star OT - Nuss entered Notre Dame with the hope of providing depth at offensive line. Early in his career, Nuss shifted potions on a few occasions between offensive and defensive line, before finding his niche at offensive guard. Nuss will return for a fifth season and is expected to be the sixth o-lineman and can play guard or tackle.

MATT ROMINE - 4 star OG - Romine entered as the most highly recruited lineman for the Irish, picking the Irish over Oklahoma. However, things just never seemed to click. Romine barely saw action until this past season where he started a few games due to injuries. Romine was declined a option to return for a 5th season.

EMEKA NWANKWO - 4 star DT - Nwankwo was a big body at a position of need for the Irish, but never really panned out. Nwankwo was not accepted for a fifth year at Notre Dame.

IAN WILLIAMS - 3 star DT - Williams enrolled not highly ranked at defensive tackle. However, Williams quickly made an impression, working his way into the defensive rotation, ultimately earning Freshman All-American honors. Williams was a force in the middle for the Irish his whole career, but struggles as a team and a defensive unit kept Williams from earning the praise he deserved - 162 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions. Look for Williams to get drafted in the mid to late rounds in this years NFL Draft.

KERRY NEAL - 4 star DE - Neal was the first commitment to this recruiting class and never wavered. Neal saw significant action on defense as a freshman, but the plethora of defensive scheme changes and coaching changes saw Neal switch back and forth between DE and LB almost every season. Therefore, it was tough for Neal to get into rhythm at one position. Neal started every game as a senior finishing with 112 tackles, 7 sacks, and 1 interception.

BRIAN SMITH - 3 star LB - Smith was a late recruiting switch to Notre Dame in which the Irish clearly benefited. Smith starred early in his career with his sophomore season arguably his best. For that season, he was named a Captain for the 2009 season, but he quickly fell out of the rotation at linebacker and lost his starting spot going into the 2010 season. Nonetheless, Smith was one of the most productive players in this class finishing with 200 tackles, 6 sacks, and 4 interceptions.

AARON NAGEL - 3 star LB - After freshman year, Nagel transferred to Northwestern.

STEVE PASKORZ - 3 star LB - Paskorz enrolled as a linebacker, but finished at fullback. Paskorz played in 13 games in his Notre Dame career, but never recorded any statistics.

GARY GRAY - 4 star CB - Gray arrived at Notre Dame as a highly-ranked lock down cornerback. Gray did not play at all freshman year, and was used sparingly as a back-up in 2009, prompting Gray to rethink his commitment to Notre Dame. Ultimately Gray stuck with ND and has flourished ever since. Gray lived up to the lock-down hype this past season and will lead the Irish defense in 2011 when he returns for a 5th-season. Gray currently has 109 tackles and 4 interceptions in his career.

HARRISON SMITH - 4 star S - Harrison Smith entered Notre Dame as an athlete and immediately redshirted for down the road success. During the next two seasons, Smith bounced back and forth between linebacker and safety. Once finally rooted at safety, Smith has settled in and produced, racking up 219 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 7 interceptions. Smith will return for a fifth season in 2011 and was named defensive captain.

BRANDON WALKER - 3 star K - Walker entered an open competition at kicker and was given a fair opportunity his freshman season. However, Walker only connected on 6 of 12 attempts, and 22 of 23 extra points. Sophomore season, Walker finished 20 of 24 on field goals and a perfect 39 of 39 on extra points. However, the following season saw the enrollment of Nick Tausch and rise of David Ruffer and Walker quickly fell out of the rotation.


ANALYSIS

The class was headlined by Jimmy Clausen, and while the team did not fair well under his guidance, Jimmy was one of the best talents ever to play at Notre Dame. Clausen's main target Golden Tate is easily the biggest surprise or diamond in the rough from this class and much of that can be attributed to Clausen. The biggest assets from this class were Ian Williams, Brian Smith, Harrison Smith, and Gary Gray. The biggest disappointment based on rankings was Matt Romine. And while Robert Hughes, Armando Allen, and Kerry Neal posted solid careers, they failed to consistently amaze and reach the elite level. Lastly, Mike Ragone and Taylor Dever have one more opportunity to leave their mark on the Irish program. All in all, while the class of 2007 endured the worst season in Notre Dame history, they individually and as a unit have undoubtedly laid the foundation for future success.


-DH

NDFB Hoopla

On the heels of National Signing Day, the latest and greatest Notre Dame headlines:

• Irish senior defensive tackle Ian Williams participated in the 2011 Senior Bowl for the North squad, where he impressed with five tackles and one sack.

• Notre Dame welcomed its recruiting class of 2011. Notre Dame signed 23 players from 14 states. Find the official presser at und.com. NDFB gives special recognition to defensive lineman Brad Carrico who was the first in his class to commit to Brian Kelly almost a year ago. Not to mention, Carrico enrolled early at Notre Dame - you have to love and admire his passion for ND.
  

• In the team standings, Notre Dame finished #1 per MaxPreps, #7 per 247sports, #8 per Scout, #9 per Rivals, #9 per ESPN, and #11 per Sporting News.
  

• Signing Day surprises went good and bad for the Irish. The Irish lost a commitment from defensive back Bennett Okotcha to Oklahoma, but gained a commitment from defensive end/tight end Troy Niklas, who picked the Irish over USC.
  

• Speaking of recruiting switches, Notre Dame landed five players that were at one point or another committed to another school: Stephon Tuitt (Georgia Tech), Chase Hounshell (Florida), Aaron Lynch (Florida State), Nick Martin (Kentucky), Everett Golson (North Carolina). Notre Dame saw four prior verbal commitments sign with other schools: Bennett Okotcha (Oklahoma), Jordan Prestwood (Florida State), Justice Hayes (Michigan), and Clay Burton (Florida).
  

• As the Irish usher in a new crop of talent, the door closes on the recruiting class of 2007. ESPN re-evaluated the class of 2007, creating an All-American team based on college success. Notre Dame had two players on that list: WR Golden Tate and LB Brian Smith.
  

• Head Coach Brian Kelly recently announced that WR Bennett Jackson would be switching positions to defensive back. That gives the Irish seven DBs on scholarship: starters Gary Gray and Robert Blanton, sophomores Lo Wood and Jackson, and freshman Eilar Hardy, Jalen Brown, and Josh Atkinson.
  

• In a rare moment of weakness, Notre Dame canceled classes on Wednesday due to weather for the first time in over a decade. For the full report, see this Observer article.
  

NDFB Hoopla

Headlines for January 28th:

• Former Irish quarterback Brady Quinn is back on campus to complete a finance internship in the Notre Dame Investment Office. Quinn graduated from ND with a degree in finance and is currently available while the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement is sorted out.

• Rumors were correct as the Carolina Panthers quarterback Jimmy Clausen is enrolled at Notre Dame completing his final 15 credit hours for his degree in Sociology.

• Former Irish and current Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate is rumored to be enrolled at Tennessee to complete his degree.
  

• Head Coach Brian Kelly announced the team captains for the 2011 year: senior wide receiver Michael Floyd and 5th-year senior safety Harrison Smith.

• Notre Dame recently announced that six seniors will be returning for a 5th year. They are safety Harrison Smith, kicker David Ruffer, tight-end Mike Ragone, cornerback Gary Gray, offensive lineman Andrew Nuss, and right tackle Taylor Dever.

• Another four players applied for a 5th-year of eligibility, but were declined due to scholarship availability. They are tackle Matt Romine, kicker Brandon Walker, fullback Steve Paskorz, and defensive lineman Emeka Nwankwo.

• Irish back-up center Dan Wenger has appealed to the NCAA for a sixth-year of eligibility.

• National Signing Day is Wednesday! Notre Dame is currently ranked the #8 class by Rivals, #5 by Scout, #8 by Yahoo!, #10 by ESPN, and #1 by MaxPreps (CBS Sports).
  

2010 Season Awards

Notre Dame held its annual football sports banquet to celebrate its 2010 season. It was a departure from the norm, holding an assembly only at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, rather than a full meal with guest speakers. Here's a recap of the award winners:

MVP - Michael Floyd

Nick Pietrosante Award for Most Inspirational Player - Robert Hughes

Guardian of the Year Award - Zach Martin

Lineman of the Year Award - Ian Williams

Rockne Student-Athlete Award - David Ruffer

Next Man In Award - Tommy Rees

Special Teams Player of the Year - Bennett Jackson

Offensive Newcomer of the Year - Tyler Eifert

Defensive Newcomer of the Year - Prince Shembo

Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year - Cameron Roberson

Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year - Kendall Moore


Notwithstanding the scout team awards, seven of the nine award winners will be back next year, which is a great sign for the Irish program. The biggest and most important is obviously Michael Floyd, the MVP. Surprisingly, Manti T'eo took home zero awards, but was easily the defensive MVP this season.

NDFB Hoopla

This weeks highlights:

• The University of Michigan recently announced the hiring of former Irish assistant coach Greg Mattison. Mattison was the defensive coordinator under head coach Bob Davie, and the defensive line coach under Tyrone Willingham. Mattison was not retained by Weis and would up at Florida and the Baltimore Ravens.

• Recruit poaching is in full swing with only two weeks remaining until signing day. The Irish recently received a re-commitment from 5-star DE Stephon Tuitt who committed to two schools in one day. Here's to hoping he stays with the IRISH!
  

• The deadline has passed for early entrants for the 2011 NFL Draft. Irish TE Kyle Rudolph was one of 56 applicants - the highest ever. Rudolph remains the top target at the tight-end position and will battle among other notables and former Irish players Konrad Reuland and Will Yeatman.

• Irish 5-star RB target Savon Huggins is taking his official visit to Rutgers this weekend. Huggins is set to announce his decision next Friday.

• Irish TE recruit Troy Niklas has a scheduled visit to Notre Dame for next weekend. He is considering USC and Stanford as well.

• Irish OL recruit and former Michigan commitment Jake Fisher has reopened his recruitment to ND, Florida, Oregon and Michigan State. Fisher has official visits scheduled at all schools except Notre Dame.

Well done, good sir

Before....

...and After..

Analysis of Early Enrollment

The 2011 Irish recruiting class got off to a strong start with the arrival of its early enrollees to campus as the spring semester starts today. Enrolling are Brad Carrico (DE), Kyle Brindza (K), Everett Golson (QB), Ishaq Williams (LB), and Aaron Lynch (DE). These are the 17th thru 21st players to enroll early since 2006, when the rule was first instituted by then head coach Charlie Weis.

Five years later, we are finally able to evaluate this monumental decision to keep Notre Dame on the competitive track for attracting talented recruits. The break down of early enrollees to date:

2006: George West (WR), James Aldridge (RB), and Chris Stewart (OG).

2007: Armando Allen (RB), Jimmy Clausen (QB), Gary Gray (CB)

2008: Trevor Robinson (OG), Sean Cwynar (DT)

2009: E.J Banks (DB), Tyler Stockton (DT), Zeke Motta (S)

2010: Chris Badger (S), Spencer Boyd (DB), Tai-ler Jones (WR), Tommy Rees (QB), Lo Wood (DB)


Notre Dame has certainly achieved the goal of using early enrollment to attract high-caliber recruits such as Jimmy Clausen. Clausen utilized the opportunity to learn the Weis offense so that he could start as a true freshman, as well as leave for the NFL after only three seasons. Tommy Rees capitalized as well, using spring practice to ascend to #2 on the depth chart, and eventual starter once Dayne Crist went down with injury.

Of all the players listed above, eleven of the sixteen players have started at least a game for the IRISH, most of them starting earlier in their ND careers. Two - E.J. Banks and Spencer Boyd - are no longer with the team. One - Chris Badger - is currently on his Mormon mission and will return to the IRISH in 2012.

While many recruits enroll for athletic purposes, some also take full advantage of the extra semester of education. Look no farther than 5th-year senior guard Chris Stewart. Stewart enrolled at Notre Dame as a solid mass of body. Stewart spent his first few seasons bouncing back and forth between positions, while trying to get his body and weight under control. Stewart finally found his niche at offensive guard, as well as on the fast track to Notre Dame Law School. Stewart is the perfect example of taking full advantage of the reasoning behind early enrollment, both athletically and academically.

NDFB welcomes the new crop of recruits to Notre Dame. Their potential impact could be the best of any of the classes we have seen, and like many before, it could be felt immediately. Regardless, the change by Notre Dame just five years ago to allow early enrollment has benefited the program in a positive way, and should only continue to prosper.


-DH

NDFB Hoopla

Hoopla for January 14th:

• The strong finish of a 4-game win streak by the IRISH did not go unnoticed. The IRISH received votes in both the AP and USA Today final season polls. This is a great slingshot into next season!
  

• ESPN released their mock preseason poll for 2011, and ranked the IRISH at #14. For more, information click here.

• SI's Andy Staples released his mock preseason poll for 2011 ranking the IRISH at #24. As support, Staples cited Notre Dame's ability, or lack their of, to meet lofty preseason expectations. Coincidentally, I tend to agree.
  

• Welcome back Michael Floyd!! Floyd already owns the record for career TD receptions with 28! Check out this youtube video highlighting all 28 TD receptions.

• Spring semester classes start Tuesday for Notre Dame, which means early enrollees are locked into their commitments. The Irish currently have defensive end Brad Carrico, quarterback Everett Golson, and kicker Kyle Brindza signed up. The Irish hope to add Ishaq Williams and Aaron Lynch to that list.

• Linebacker Recruit Ishaq Williams committed to Notre Dame today!

• ESPN announced their 2010 All-Bowl team with IRISH senior Harrison Smith getting the nod at safety for his seven tackle, three INT performance against Miami in the Sun Bowl. Congrats Harrison!

He's Baaaaaack!

"On the one hand, there was Notre Dame. This place has been an incredible home to me and the relationships I built here are ones I know I'll have for the rest of my life. On the other hand, there was the NFL. It has always been a lifelong goal to play football at the highest level and that is something I look forward to doing at some point. However, I'm pleased to say I will be returning to the University of Notre Dame for my senior season in 2011. I'm returning to Notre Dame for three reasons: to earn my degree, return Notre Dame to the top and improve myself as a player. First, I promised my mom I would graduate from Notre Dame and I am 40 credit hours shy of attaining that goal. I chose to attend Notre Dame in part because I knew it was a 40-year decision and not a four-year decision. Graduating from Notre Dame will help me for the rest of my life. Second, I want to get Notre Dame back to a BCS game. I believe we are very close to returning the Irish to where we belong and I want to be part of something great. Lastly, I want to show everyone in the country that I'm the best wide receiver in college football in 2011. There are many things I need to improve, but I feel with the coaching I have at Notre Dame, I can become the best at my position in this game."

- #3 Michael Floyd, returning to Notre Dame to shatter every Irish receiving record

Hackacademy Awards

With the end of the 2010 football seasons, it's time for a recap of the weekly Hackacademy Award winners in the three categories: HEISMAN BABY, ROCK SOLID, and GET HIM OUTTA THERE.

HEISMAN BABY

And the winner is...Michael Floyd. Floyd received a Heisman Baby vote a record seven times! The runner up with four votes was quarterback Dayne Crist. These two were the only Irish players to receive multiple votes. Also receiving nominations were TJ Jones, Kyle Rudolph, Theo Riddick, Manti T'eo, and the IRISH D.


ROCK SOLID

And the winner is...Cierre Wood. Wood received a Rock Solid vote a record five times. The runner up with four votes was stud linebacker Manti T'eo. Those players receiving multiple votes were Kyle Rudolph (2), Darrin Walls (2), Gary Gray (2), Armando Allen (3), IRISH D (2), Harrison Smith (3), Tommy Rees (2) and Brian Smith (2). Also receiving nominations were Carlo Calabrese, Darius Fleming, David Ruffer, Duval Kamara, Tyler Eifert, and Robert Hughes.


GET HIM OUTTA THERE

And the winners are...Theo Riddick and Dayne Crist. Each player received three votes for their terrible on field performances. The runner ups were Tommy Rees, IRISH D, and Harrison Smith all with two votes. Also receiving nominations were Brian Smith, Michael Floyd, Nate Montana, Zeke Motta, Wilcat Offense, Cierre Wood, Jamoris Slaughter, Mike Ragone, John Goodman, and Nick Tausch.


You might question, what do these awards even mean. Well, due to my highly devised, computer generated mathematical equations (it works much like the BCS), I can't exactly tell you. What I can tell is that the top Heisman Baby vote getter is obviously the best player on the team and thus your undeniable MVP. The top Rock Solid achievers are obviously your best players and your most talented - those that consistently performed to the level of expectation or exceeded it. Lastly, the top Get Him Outta There award winners are those guys that simply did not meet expectations at all. It should come as no surprise that most of these guys played sparingly through-out the season.

So, transforming those votes into real awards, here are my picks:

2010 MVP Offense - Michael Floyd
2010 MVP Defense - Manti T'eo
2010 "Freshman" of the Year - Cierre Wood
2010 Most Improved - Harrison Smith
2010 Comeback Player of the Year - Darrin Walls

And some more fun ones:

2010 Mr. Reliable - David Ruffer
2010 Mr. NFL - Kyle Rudolph
2010 Spirit of Notre Dame Award - Chris Stewart
2010 "We Love You" Fan-Favorite Award - Robert Hughes

-DH

NDFB Hoopla

Welcome to the first NDFB Hoopla of the new year!

• By George, it's O'Leary! The recent hiring and firing of former Irish coordinator Mike Haywood at Pittsburgh reminds me of the great days - five to be exact - that Notre Dame had George O'Leary at the helm.

• In a shocking twist, Florida hired former Irish head coach Charlie Weis to be offensive coordinator for the revamped Florida pro-style offensive attack. Part of the reason for Weis attending Florida is so that Charlie Jr. can coach again - this time as a student assistant.

• Frank Verducci, the former Notre Dame offensive line coach under Weis, has been reunited with Weis at Florida in the same position.

• Jack Swarbrick reportedly listened to the same sales pitch recently scooped up by Florida. Weis approached Swarbrick after the 2009 season with the pitch of signing Will Muschamp to be defensive coordinator at Notre Dame for 2010 season with Weis manning the offensive coordinator position for the same season.

• Senior wide out Duval Kamara did not travel with the team to El Paso, and is not enrolled for his final semester at Notre Dame. While circumstances surrounding his departure are unknown, NDFB wishes him the best.

• The South Bend Tribune is reporting former Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen is enrolled for the 2010 spring semester. Although it appears he will be returning, Stanford QB Andrew Luck was widely rumored to be selected by the Carolina Panthers with the #1 overall pick. Perhaps Jimmy is preparing for life beyond football already?

• Junior TE Kyle Rudolph has officially declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Rudolph is expected to be the first tight end taken in the draft.

• Check out the Army All-American game tomorrow on NBC at 2 PM where blue-chip recruit Ishaq Williams will make his college selection known. The linebacker from Brooklyn, NY is choosing between ND, Syracuse, and Penn State.

• Irish sophomore guard Alex Bullard announced he is transferring to his home state Tennessee Volunteers. It's hard to fault Bullard who wants to be closer to home after losing his father this past season. NDFB wishes Bullard the best in his life and football career and will miss him in an Irish uniform.
  

Keys to the Game

Leading up to the Sun Bowl contest, I identified my keys to the game for the offense and defense. Following a 33-17 pounding by the Irish, let's revisit these points. The key to defensive success was to win three crucial individual match-ups.

Kapron Lewis-Moore/Ethan Johnson vs. Seantrel Henderson/Brandon Linder

Prediction: The IRISH D line needs to get pressure on the quarterback. If they can contain Harris/Morris from big gains on the ground, and force some bad throws (Harris has 12 INTs on the season), the D will put the Irish in great position to win the game.

Result: While the IRISH D accounted for only one sack, their backfield pressure overwhelmed the Hurricane quarterbacks. Jacory Harris finished with zero yards rushing, while throwing three INTs. Harris was benched in favor of Stephen Morris who ran for a net of six yards, and also three a pick. Those turnovers put the IRISH offense in great position, which capitalized by putting points on the board and creating the 27-0 first half lead.

Manti T'eo/Brian Smith vs. Damien Berry/Lamar Miller

Prediction: Miami's strength on offense is its run game. Therefore, it will be up to the Irish inside linebackers to put the squash on the two-headed rushing attack of the Hurricanes.

Result: Damien Berry rushed for 34 yards, while Lamar Miller tallied only 13 yards. As a team, Miami only gained 103 yards on the ground. For the IRISH, T'eo finished with only six tackles, but sat out the 2nd half due to injury (note: T'eo could have returned, but it wasn't necessary). Brian Smith finished with four tackles.

Harrison Smith vs. Leonard Hankerson

Prediction: It will be up to Smith to stop Hankerson's ability to stretch the field down the middle, as well as provide support to the corners on the outside islands.

Result: Harrison Smith finished with three INTs, all in the first half, to go along with seven tackles. He led the defense in shutting down the Hurricanes offense. While Hankerson finished with six receptions for 71 yards and a TD, all but one catch came in the 4th quarter during prevent mop-up duty.


The IRISH defense won all three of these match-ups, leading to the 27-3 halftime score, and the eventual 33-17 victory. While the defensive certainly did their part, the offense certainly surprised many IRISH fans as well, especially after that six play, fifty-four opening drive touchdown.

ESTABLISH THE RUN GAME

Prediction: The men in trenches will need make room for the Wood and Hughes in order to get the offense flowing.

Result: Notre Dame finished with 196 yards on the ground with one rushing touchdown. Cierre Wood and Robert Hughes both rushed for 81 yards, and Theo Riddick finished with 32 yards.

CONTROL THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE

Prediction: The Irish will need to stretch the field to keep the Miami defenders at bay and out of the backfield and off quarterback Tommy Rees.

Result: Notre Dame did not yield a single sack against a talented Miami defense. In addition, the line protected Rees enough for him to throw 201 yards and 2 TDs. Michael Floyd and Tyler Eifert were the beneficiaries, accounting for 66% of the completions and 70% of the yards.

EXECUTE ON 3RD DOWN

Prediction: The IRISH offense will need to sustain drives through execution on 3rd down.

Result: Notre Dame finished 9 for 20 on 3rd down conversions. However, Rees converted a 3rd and 15 on the opening drive which led to a touchdown. In addition, Irish punter Ben Turk was only called on four times.


The IRISH offense set the tone with its opening drive touchdown, getting the ground game rolling, providing Rees with some confidence, and getting the ball to the best player on the field - Michael Floyd. Not to mention, once the Irish capitalized off the turnovers, they found themselves up 27-0 and cruising to victory.


-DH

Sweet Success

Notre Dame put together a dominating performance en route to a 33-17 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the 77th annual Sun Bowl. It is Notre Dame's 2nd straight bowl victory after decades of defeat, and its first under head coach Brian Kelly.

The IRISH jumped all over the Hurricanes early, scoring touchdowns on three of its first four possessions, including the opening drive. Tommy Rees found Michael Floyd for a 3-yard score and hooked up again for a 34-yard score, before a 34-yard scamper by Cierre Wood. David Ruffer tacked on field goals of 40 and 50 yards to put the Irish up 27-0 before the Hurricanes got on the scoreboard with a late 2nd quarter field goal.

The IRISH first half route was fueled by defense who tallied four interceptions, three by senior safety Harrison Smith and one by junior corner back Robert Blanton. Miami starting quarterback Jacory Harris went 4 of 7 for 37 yards and three INTs before being pulled in favor of back-up Stephen Morris, who went 22 of 33 for 282 yards, 2 TDS and an INT. Morris accumulated most of his stats late in the fourth quarter during mop-up duty on second and third teamers with the game far out of reach. Although, one would not have known that with the way Morris was constantly trash-talking and head bobbing.

For the Irish, Tommy Rees finished 15 of 29 for 201 yards and two TDs. While the stats do not jump off the paper, Rees was error free in leading the Irish to its fourth consecutive victory and a perfect record with true freshman Rees as starting QB.

Michael Floyd was most often the beneficiary of Tommy Rees' passes, as they hooked up for two touchdowns, with Floyd dropping two additional touchdowns. Nonetheless, Floyd finished off what will most likely be his Notre Dame career with six receptions for 109 yards and two TDs. That gave Floyd 28 TD receptions on his career, breaking the mark of 27 set by Jeff Smardijza.

On the ground, the balanced IRISH rushing attack racked up 196 yards. Cierre Wood had 12 carries for 81 yards and a TD while Robert Hughes had 27 carries for 81 yards. Theo Riddick totaled 32 yards on eight carries in the Wildcat formation that effectively challenged the Miami defense.

And now for the season finale:


HEISMAN BABY

MICHAEL FLOYD - 6 rec. for 109 yards - 2 TDs


ROCK SOLID

TOMMY REES - 15 of 29 for 201 yards - 2 TDs

CIERRE WOOD - 12 carries for 81 yards - TD

HARRISON SMITH - 3 INTs


GET HIM OUTTA THERE

NICK TAUSCH - 1/1 FG, but his kick-off attempt was about 25 yards shorter than Ruffer's average.


WAIT, WHAT

DAVID RUFFER - 3/4 FG, 3/3 XP - Ruffer snapped his consecutive field goal streak 20 when he missed a 36-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter. On the previous kick-off prior to the attempt, Ruffer came up limping, but stayed in the game. After his miss, Ruffer was replaced by Nick Tausch on kick-offs and field goal attempts.


-DH