Wednesday, December 12, 2012

ND's Resurgence: Coincidence or Destiny?


ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Tom Hohmeier sent this to me -- YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP!  This ran on Notre Dame Magazine's site -- authored by Ted Mandel '86.

This leaves the whole Lincoln – Kennedy coincidence thing in the dust

Did you know?...
  • In 1987, ND beat Michigan State at home, scoring 31 points.
  • In 2011, ND beat Michigan State at home, scoring 31 points.

  • In 1987, ND finished the season with 8 wins.
  • In 2011, ND finished the season with 8 wins.

  • In 1987, ND lost their bowl game, a game they led early on.
  • In 2011, ND lost their bowl game, a game they led early on.

  • In 1987, ND lost their all-time leading receiver, Tim Brown, to graduation.
  • In 2011, ND lost their all-time leading receiver, Michael Floyd, to graduation.  

  • In 1988, the ND QB was Tony Rice, who was from South Carolina . He started his 3rd career game against Michigan State in East Lansing . ND beat Michigan State by a score of 20-3. The star of the game was Notre Dame's defense, which held the Spartans to 89 yards rushing for the game. Defensive captain Michael Stonebreaker intercepted a pass in the 4th quarter to seal the win.
  • In 2012, the ND QB is Everett Golson, who is from South Carolina . He started his 3rd career game against Michigan State in East Lansing . ND beat Michigan State by a score of 20-3. The star of the game was Notre Dame's defense, which held the Spartans to 78 yards rushing for the game. Defensive captain Manti Te'o intercepted a pass in the 4th quarter to seal the win.

  • In 1988, Lou Holtz suspended his starting running back for the last game of the season, the farthest road game of the year.
  • In 2012, Brian Kelly suspended his starting running back for the first game of the season, the farthest road game of the year.

  • In 1988, Notre Dame defeated their highest ranked road opponent (USC) by 17 points (27-10).
  • In 2012, Notre Dame defeated their highest ranked road opponent ( Oklahoma ) by 17 points (30-13).

  • Only two coaches in the history of Notre Dame have recorded 12-0 records — Lou Holtz in 1988 and Brian Kelly in 2012.

  • In 1988, Lou Holtz was in his third season.
  • In 2012, Brian Kelly is in his third season.

  • In 1988, Lou Holtz won his second Coach of the Year award.
  • In 2012, Brian Kelly won his second Coach of the Year award.

  • Notre Dame won the 1988 National Championship game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona .
  • Notre Dame will play the 2012 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida .

  • There are exactly 5 letters in the city names and 7 letters in the state names of those two locations.

  • In 1988, Miami was the defending national champion, winner of two national titles in the past five years.
  • In 2012, Alabama is the defending national champion, winner of two national titles in the past five years.

  • Miami was 37-5 in the 42 games played before meeting Notre Dame.
  • Alabama is 37-5 in the 42 games played before meeting Notre Dame.

  • In 1988, Jimmy Johnson’s winning percentage at Miami was .843 (43-8) before playing Notre Dame. After losing to Notre Dame, it was .827.
  • In 2012, Nick Saban’s winning percentage at Alabama is .837 (67-13) before playing Notre Dame. If Notre Dame wins, his winning percentage will be .827.

  • Brian Kelly and Lou Holtz were born 24 years apart.
  • Their first seasons at Notre Dame were exactly 24 years apart.

  • It's been exactly 24 years since Notre Dame won their last National Championship.

Just saying….

LINK:  NOTRE DAME MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Notre Dame's Ticket Demand Dwarfs Bama's


Notre Dame had more than 100,000 requests for its 17,000 ticket allotment to the BCS National Championship game -- as compared to Alabama's 42,000 requests for its 17,000.

What's interesting is this -- the 42,000 ticket requests is 25,000 more than Bama realized when they played Texas in the 2010 BCS National Championship game -- their first title game in seventeen years.

The power of Notre Dame...

Here's the story:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FANS DOMINATE

Ticket Lottery Winners Announced Today...

And, I wasn't one of them...

I'll be rooting on the IRISH from South Bend!

If you haven't given up hope of going -- you might want to consider a "second mortgage."

This Monday, the average ticket price for the BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP on StubHub was $1,912 -- which makes it possibly the most expensive college football ticket of all-time.

LINK:  TICKET PRICES SKYROCKETING!

One Last Time "Under the Lights" in Ann Arbor


The University of Michigan announced today that their game next fall against #1 ranked Notre Dame will be played at night.  It appears this will be the last game Notre Dame plays at Michigan for awhile...

LINK:  MICHIGAN TO HOST IRISH AT NIGHT

ESPN's Tide Nation Talks Notre Dame...

ESPN's Alabama football blog -- TIDE NATION -- published their analysis of our Fighting Irish.  You'll enjoy the read.

LINK:  TIDE NATION ON THE IRISH