By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer In this week's episode, we have recent Notre Dame commit Mark Zackery's coach Russ Mann on the show. We discuss how Mark will fit into the Notre Dame defense, what Marcus Freeman's recruiting pitch is like, and what kind of person the Irish are getting in Mark Zackery. Additionally, we look at other Notre Dame football and recruiting news. Finally, we discuss the Irish LAX team going back-to-back as they bring home the National Championship trophy. Please subscribe, rate, and review if you enjoy the show. Go Irish! Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Written by Peter Jay Mulroy ⏐ Writer ⏐ Instagram: @sportstodaywithpeterjay Photo by University of Notre Dame Athletics Playing for a spot in Monday’s national title game, the top-ranked University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team met No. 5-ranked Denver on Saturday in Philadelphia in the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championships Final Four.   The Irish, who knocked off Georgetown in last weekend’s quarterfinals in New York, were looking to return to the tournament finale for the second straight season. Last year, the white and gold earned the first championship in program history with a thrilling victory over ACC-rival Duke.   Slotting into Monday’s contest, however, would be no easy task. The Pioneers -- who boast the nation’s second-best scoring unit and a defensive group that has a combined 370 starts between all players -- arrived in Philly fresh off an impressive victory 10-8 victory over traditional lacrosse power Syracuse.   Looking to make a statement early, it was the 13-3 Pioneers who started the scoring in the opening 15 minutes.   Richie Connell’s 18th tally of the season put Denver -- 11-16 all-time against the defending national champs -- up 1-0 in front of a packed house at Lincoln Financial Field. But, as they have all season, the Irish had an answer. And once again, it was the Brothers Kavanagh leading the charge.   The electrifying Chris Kavanagh registered his 37th goal of the campaign to tie things at 1-1 with 10 minutes left in the opening frame. The junior was forced to go low just outside the crease, and the beautiful spot feed he received from Will Angrick put him in perfect position to even the score and get the Irish faithful on their feet.   Not to be outdone, the elder Kavanagh, Pat, would respond some three minutes later with a quick-fire goal, giving Notre Dame its first lead of the game at 2-1. The finest moment of the half, however, would come in the final minute of the first period.   With the Irish still ahead, the younger Kavanagh fed his older brother for an incredible behind-the-back goal -- one he scored while absorbing body blows and falling to the ground -- which gave ND a two-goal cushion.   Denver would fire back with consecutive goals in the second quarter to knot the score at 3-3 but responses by Jake Taylor (39th of season) and Jordan Faison (21st) at the 4:45 and 3:54 marks of the frame, respectively, provided Notre Dame -- the only team in America with both a Top 5 offense and defense -- with a 5-3 lead.   Though another score by Connell with eight seconds left in the half pulled Denver back to within one, the Irish ran into the break ahead, 5-4.   An essential piece to Notre Dame’s first-half success was the play of Will Lynch, who has grown into the nation’s best weapon in the faceoff department. The junior from New York won 10 of 11 opportunities in the first 30 minutes, a huge reason why the Irish were able to control tempo and grab the halftime lead.   A quick start for the Irish out of the break came via Pat Kavanagh, as his 30th of the campaign boosted the lead to 6-4. Later in the third with Notre Dame leading 6-5, Devon McLane -- the top-scoring midfielder this season in the ACC -- grabbed his 34th score of the year off a dynamite feed from Eric Dobson.   Less than two minutes later, fans were treated with an example of what makes this Irish 14-win Irish group so lethal.   After Liam Entenmann made his ninth stop on the day with eight and change remaining in the period, the Irish proceeded to run a perfect set. Working possession around the horn, the ball finally came back to Dobson, who followed up his assist from a moment ago with an 81-mile-an-hour bullet from the left side to give ND its largest lead of the game at 8-5.   The patience and communication on that possession was quintessential Notre Dame. It was also the type of momentum boost that capable of carrying a team down the stretch.   Later in the frame, the Irish went man-up following a Denver penalty but were unable to capitalize. Despite the inability to crack the nation’s top man-up defense, Notre Dame still found a way to put one between the pipes to stretch the lead.   A Pioneer turnover in the midfield turned into another brother-to-brother moment for the Kavanagh’s, with Pat feeding Chris for his 39th of the season. The goal helped CK collect another hat trick, but more importantly, gave America’s top team a four-goal cushion at 9-5, which is where the game stood heading into the final 15 minutes of action.   That final quarter could be described in two words: All. Irish.   Leading 9-6, the Irish fired off three straight goals in a sixty-second span to increase the advantage to an insurmountable six-goal advantage.   Back-to-back scores from McLane placed ND ahead 11-6 with 9:30 remaining in the contest. And when Nick Harris picked up his third of the season seven second later, Notre Dame was in cruise control with a 12-6 edge.   Pat Kavanagh would cap his stellar performance by picking up his third-straight hat trick at the 2:56 mark of the fourth quarter, and when it was all said and done, the Irish improved to 15-1 on the season and advanced to play for the program’s second straight national title.   Entenmann ended his day by turning aside 12 of the 18 shots that came his way, while Lynch took care of business once again, earning 18 of 23 faceoffs for the Irish.   What’s Next for the Irish?   Notre Dame will play for the 2024 Division I Men’s Lacrosse National Championship on Memorial Day (Monday, May 27) against the winner of the No. 6 Virginia v. No. 7 Maryland game.   The title bout will begin at 1 p.m. ET from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with ESPN anchoring television coverage. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer Notre Dame added a lot of speed and athleticism to its class of 2025 commit list today when Indianapolis, IN (Ben Davis High School) four-star cornerback Mark Zackery IV   announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish and head coach Marcus Freeman. Mike Mickens and the entire defensive staff   made the 5-11, 160-pounder a top priority since offering him in May of 2023. Notre Dame beat out some of the best programs in college football to land Zackery’s commitment. Ohio State, Alabama, USC, Tennessee, Michigan, Florida, Oregon, and many other teams were after the Ben Davis star, but in the end he decided that Notre Dame was the place for him.  Zackery is a consensus four-star prospect across all of the major recruiting services and is considered a top 100 prospect by 247 Sports and On3.  Zackery shows a variety of strengths when you turn on his film. The first thing that stands out is the elite athleticism and speed (check out his basketball highlights). Zackery shows good foot quickness, fluid hips, and quick change of direction. He shows good tackling ability and willingness to get involved in the run game, but will benefit from a college strength program. He is also a difference maker on the offensive side of the ball as a pass catcher. Zackery has played a lot of football throughout his high school career against good competition, so his fundamentals and football instincts are top tier for a player his age. He plays the ball well in the air and has advanced play recognition. Zackery has the traits and abilities to be an elite player for Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame in the future. Zackery joins a talented group of defensive-backs including Dallas Golden, Cree Thomas, Ivan Taylor, and Ethan Long. Be on the lookout for my interview with Mark's Head Coach, Russ Mann, as we take a deeper dive into Mark's impressive journey. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer This week we take a look at Notre Dame's most recent commitment from Gordy Sulfsted out of St. Xavier High School and discuss how he fits into the class. We preview the big commitment day for Mark Zackery and how he can impact the future of the Irish football team. Finally, we take a look at two big Official Visit weekends in June and who could commit to the Irish to finish off the 2025 class. Finally, we preview the big Final Four matchup this weekend for Notre Dame Lacrosse as they are set to take on Denver. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review! Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Written by Mike Stacey ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @MikeStaceyIT IG: @mikestaceyit Photo by The Irish Tribune After covering the post spring offensive depth chart, it's time to take a look at how I believe the defensive depth chart will shake out in August. Although the Defense is expected to be the more polished unit for the Irish going into 2024, there are still some questions about who may end up starting at certain positions. Similar to the quarterback situation, some of the more intriguing position battles might end up being for the second spot on the depth chart as opposed to the starting role. I expect this unit to be VERY good this season, and potentially one of the best in recent memory given the amount of returning production. Outside of the defensive line and cornerback position groups, a lot of new faces will be seeing the field, and we are about to see what Marcus Freeman's recruiting and development are really made of. Defensive Line The Defensive line is going to be the difference maker for the defense this season. I know that isn't exactly a hot take, but as good as the interior line is the ends still have some questions marks. The Irish need to get more pressure on the QB from the end positions than they did last season, and with their top pass rusher heading to the NFL, (Jean-Baptiste), upperclassmen like Jordan Botelho and incoming transfer RJ Oben really need to step their game up. Botelho has shown he is capable of being disruptive and getting to the quarterback, but the consistency has not been there. Oben is coming off of a 5-sack season last year with Duke, but that is a number we would like to see an increase in this upcoming year considering the surrounding production. On the interior, however, the Irish are spoiled with talent. Getting to the quarterback should not be an issue with this unit. One area of concern is the run game, as the Irish do lack some size on the interior. However, with the depth they have outside of their 2 deep, (Donovan Hinish, Devan Houston, Sean Sevillano) I think they will be ready for that challenge. Please note that the eligibility of each player is displayed next to their name. Edge: RJ Oben, SR Joshua Burnham, SO Bryce Young, FR or Aiden Gobaira, SO Defensive Tackle: Rylie Mills, SR Jason Onye, JR Brenan Vernon, FR Armel Mukam, FR or Cole Mullins, FR Nose Tackle: Howard Cross III, SR Donovan Hinish, SO Sean Sevillano, FR or Devan Houstan, FR Vyper: Jordan Botelho, SR Boubacar Traore, FR Junior Tuihalamaka, JR Loghan Thomas, FR Linebacker Another position that has some question marks, but with a ton of young upside. Sure, the Irish are replacing veteran/leadership presence and terrific production in JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau, but a lot of the rising talent replacing them are more physically gifted thanks to outstanding recruiting. Players like Drayk Bowen, KVA, Jaylen Sneed, Jaiden Ausberry and Preston Zinter bring some incredible length, speed, and strength to a position where that is needed if you want to call yourself elite. That is exactly what Notre Dame is expecting to be this fall. Expect some mistakes early as these new guys learn their positions and scheme, but if Coach Golden can get them playing free and assignment correct, look out. Middle Linebacker: Drayk Bowen, SO Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, FR Bodie Kahoun, FR Will Linebacker: Jack Kiser, SR Preston Zinter, FR Kahanu Kia, FR Rover: Jaylen Sneed, SO Jaiden Ausberry, FR Teddy Rezac, FR Secondary Get your popcorn ready, because this unit may put on an absolute show this season. Xavier Watts, Ben Morrison, Jaden Mickey, Christian Gray? Those are all NFL players on one roster. Depth at Safety is a bit of an issue and one I wouldn't be surprised to see addressed in the near future. Also, I am curious who will ultimately back up Jordan Clark at the slot, but outside of that, this unit is a Defensive Coordinator's dream come true. It should be a no fly zone in South Bend this season, forcing teams to be more one dimensional. For those that try to push the issue in the passing game, it can be feasting season for this secondary. Boundary Corner: Benjamin Morrison, JR Chance Tucker, JR Leonard Moore, FR Field Corner: Christian Gray, SO Jaden Mickey, JR Karson Hobbs, FR Nickel: Jordan Clark Field Safety: Xavier Watts, SR Ben Minich, FR Brauntae Johnson, FR Kennedy Urlacher, FR Boundary Safety: Adon Shuler, FR Rod Heard, SR Luke Talich, SO Although it may be early, there's still plenty to be excited about when it comes to this roster. Whatever the depth chart looks like come August, this is easily one of the most talented Notre Dame defenses we have seen in some time. With Al Golden's pedigree, there's no telling the heights this defense will be able to reach in year three under Marcus Freeman. Please let us know how you think the depth chart will shake out in the comment section! Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Jhett Garrett ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter/X: @ JhettGarrett Photo by Lehigh University Athletics The Notre Dame Men’s basketball team has officially capped off its transfer portal additions for 2024, closing it out with Lehigh graduate transfer Burke Chebuhar this past Thursday. Chebuhar, a 6’8” forward from Marietta, Georgia started in 22 of 32 games for Lehigh, averaging 7.5 points per game, on 46.2% shooting, while also bringing in five rebounds per game. After not seeing much playing time in his first two seasons at Lehigh following his transfer from Bowdoin College (D3) in Brunswick, Maine, Chebuhar averaged just under 23 minutes per game during his senior season. “This past year I had more of an opportunity with some of the senior players graduating,” Chebuhar said. “I put a lot of time in learning from those guys.” In nine games from January 27th to February 24th, Chebuhar averaged 14 points per game, on 64% shooting, and 7.1 rebounds. In the first round of the Patriot League Championship, Chebuhar put up 22 points on 8-11 shooting, seven rebounds, and six assists. “Each year was a year of growth for me…I had confidence, but I also had some great teammates that trusted me.” When touring Notre Dame on May 10th, Chebuhar highlighted the culture that is engrained in the campus. “The campus is beautiful you guys know that,” Chebuhar said. “The community and culture feel are there with academics and sports. Notre Dame is Notre Dame. The name speaks for itself.” In just his second season in South Bend, Micah Shrewsberry has been on a great run in bringing in impact players. His recruiting pitch has been simple: Buy in. “You could just tell that everyone has really bought into what they’re trying to do,” Chebuhar said when asked about what he valued in his time with Shrewsberry. “Everyone has the same goals.” It is an offense that is regarded as one of the more appealing in the ACC, especially after the progression during the latter part of Shrewsberry’s first season. An experienced player, Chebuhar is looking forward to the flexibility that is the Notre Dame offense. “I’m excited to play his style of offense where it’s reading the game and having a lot of skilled players on the floor,” he said. However, joining this young, developing team comes with a role that Chebuhar is excited to take on: Leadership. This past season, Matt Zona was the main leader in the locker room and shared his experiences with the rest of the team. With Zona graduating this past season, it will be important for someone to step up and take on that role. “I’m definitely somebody who tries to lead by example,” Chebuhar said. “I carry a little bit more experience…I plan to help bring a different perspective.” One of those players that Chebuhar is looking forward to playing with is reigning ACC Freshman Player of the Year, Markus Burton. “I’m stoked…I haven’t met him yet so I’m looking forward to meeting him.” Chebuhar said. “Really excited to meet him, get to know him, and get to work.” Chebuhar is a perfect player for the Shrewsberry system, and a player like Burton is only going to uplift everyone around him. He also touched on Burton’s ability to get downhill and kick out to shooters, something that Chebuhar was effective in at Lehigh. With the roster officially set, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are looking to continue to improve during the 2024-25 season. Burke Chebuhar is what the Irish have needed not only on the floor but also in the locker room. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Cade Harper | Writer | Twitter : @ CadeHarperIT Photo by Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame's regular season series finale came to a close in a way most were hoping it would be the other way around. The Irish were swept as they traveled to Louisville before the weekend with losing a double header on Thursday, followed by their season finale on Friday also resulting in a loss. Notre Dame needed Miami to win over Pitt in order for them to receive a bid into the ACC Tournament and have a shot at a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, Pitt would go on to secure the final spot in the ACC Tournament and Notre Dame's season has officially ended. In the doubleheader on Thursday, Game 1 was another defensive game that the offense couldn't supply enough runs to keep up with Louisville. The Irish infield defense shined again despite a losing effort, but they extended their double play season total to 46 which is nine more than any other team in the ACC. David Glancy did his part this weekend as well with two home runs on Thursday, one across both games. The Irish would lose game one 5-3, and game two 5-1. On the season finale Friday, the bullpen could never seem to get out of an inning. An offensive explosion from Louisville plowed them to a win to complete the sweep in a 14-6 ballgame. Notre Dame's offense did look better Friday, but not good enough to keep up with the Cardinal's bats. Penney and Baumgardt recorded two hits each along with a Moreno homer. The 2024 season wasn't something to be proud of but there is a lot to look forward to with this young team. Notre Dame defended their home diamond this season finishing on a positive record at The Eck, 16-8, despite not playing their first home series nearly twenty games into the season. On the road, they would finish under .500 at 11-17. Of course, the biggest one that everyone points out is the conference record which the Irish would finish at 9-21. Out of conference was as expected as the Irish almost went undefeated finishing 18-4. Against Top 25 teams, Notre Dame was 2-16. Against RPI teams that were ranked 26-50, the Irish still finished under .500 at 1-3. Most of those teams being ACC opponents, of course, but still it's eye catching how disappointing the early season was. RPI Teams 51-200, they played to the expectation at an astounding 24-6. The stat leaders for the season are names we have heard all season long. T.J. Williams led the Irish in batting average (.320) & stolen bases (12). Glancy led with 12 home runs, Jack Radel led with 4 wins from the mound and Bennett Flynn led with 53 SO's; All very impressive numbers. Ultimately, the year did not turn out like we had hoped, but it was only Stifler's second season and again, there is much to be excited about heading into the future. Coach Stifler and staff have brought in some impressive recruits, and another year of development can only bring improvement for Irish baseball. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Peter Jay Mulroy ⏐ Writer ⏐ Instagram: @sportstodaywithpeterjay Photo by University of Notre Dame Athletics Fresh off a second-round victory over the University of Albany, one in which they trailed at the half, No. 1 Notre Dame traveled to Hempstead, New York, on Saturday afternoon for a date with No. 8 Georgetown in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Division I men’s lacrosse championship.   The Irish (13-1 overall) used a strong second half to drive past the Great Danes last weekend in South Bend, providing the nation’s top-ranked squad with an opportunity to exact revenge on the only team to have beaten them this season. The Hoyas handed ND an 11-10 overtime loss back on Feb. 25 in South Bend. Since that moment, however, the Irish have gone a perfect 11-0, including wins over Virginia and Duke to win the ACC championship, and the aforementioned triumph over UAlbany.   Last weekend, the Irish fought back from a slow start to upend the Great Danes. But this time around, the white and gold came ready to roll.   Devon McLane’s 32nd goal of the season, which came 53 seconds into the contest, was the first of three straight scores, a clear indication that Notre Dame wasn’t going to give Georgetown any opportunity to capture any early momentum. Follow-up tallies by Reilly Gray (12th of season) and Chris Kavanagh (32nd) had the Irish up 3-0 midway through the opening frame on what was a picturesque day on Long Island.   In the second frame, the Irish -- who lead the all-time series with their foes from Washington, D.C., 10-9 -- began pouring it on with an offensive onslaught those in South Bend have thoroughly enjoyed watching this season.   Chris Kavanagh’s second marker of the first half provided the defending national champions with another three-goal cushion, and when ensuing goals from Eric Dobson (15th) and Pat Kavanagh (26th) rifled past Hoyas netminder Anderson Moore in the final 80 seconds of play in the opening half, Notre Dame found itself ahead 7-2 heading into the locker room.   Two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Goalie of the Year Liam Entenmann wasn’t tested all that much across the first 30 minutes of action, but as he’s done throughout his career, the New York native supplied his Irish squad with rock solid play between the pipes.   It was more of the same for Notre Dame in the second half, as they kept the Hoyas offense -- one that entered as a Top 15 unit in points per game -- off balance for much of the 60-minute contest.   Two additional goals from Chris Kavanagh -- which gave him a whopping five on the day to go along with three assists -- plus markers by McLane, Will Lynch (4th), Pat Kavanagh (28th), Jordan Faison (20th) and the first of the season by Marco Napolitano, were more than enough to help send the now 14-1 Irish into championship weekend for the seventh time in program history, which includes last season’s national title-winning campaign. What’s Next for the Irish?   Notre Dame will head to Philadelphia for the Final Four of the 2024 Division I Men’s Lacrosse Championship on Saturday, May 25. The Irish will play the winner of the No. 4 Syracuse and No. 5 Denver quarterfinal.   The remaining semifinal contests feature matchups between No. 3 Johns Hopkins and No. 6 Virginia, and No. 2 Duke and No. 7 Maryland. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

By: Nick Kremer⏐Editor⏐Twitter: @NickKremerIT ⏐Profile: @NickKremer In this week's episode, Nick Kremer and Pete Mulroy discuss all the recent news about Notre Dame Athletics. The guys take a look at the announcement of College Gameday heading to College Station for the prime time match up of Notre Dame vs Texas A&M. They also discuss football recruiting as Mark Zackery is set to make his commitment and official visits are being set for June. Finally, Nick and Pete discuss the newest additions to the men's basketball team and take a look at the LAX team and their run through the tournament. Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review if you enjoy the show! Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify First and Gold Twitter The Irish Tribune: Shows

Written by Liam Gaudet ⏐ Senior Editor ⏐ Twitter/X: @LiamGaudetIT Photo Via EA Sports Like a lot of young fans, my love for college football was compounded by EA Sports' yearly installation of their NCAA Football series. Many hours of my childhood were spent parked in front of my PlayStation 3, as I attempted to recreate the feeling I got watching college football every Saturday in the Fall vicariously through my own virtual roster. Whether it was through Road to Glory, Dynasty, or simply a casual game, this particular gaming franchise was (and still is) one of my favorite past times. Devastatingly, it would be announced in 2013 that the series would be discontinued after the release of NCAA Football 14 , citing issues surrounding name, image and likeness. For eleven long years, fans of the franchise never seemed to waiver, as the final installment of the game amassed a cult following. Dedicated fans would spend countless hours updating rosters and player ratings every year to keep the game feeling modern despite some of it's technical limitations. The following and commitment this 11 year-old game was able to accrue exponentially over time speaks volumes for the love and tradition of college football that is shared across the nation. Eventually, a team of modders would band together and form CFB Revamped , a collective which created a downloadable modification for the game, allowing users to update textures throughout the game including uniforms, scoreboards, etc. It was evident that the passion never died - and for those who never gave up hope; their patience was about to pay off. In September of 2019, California became the first state to pass a law allowing college athletes to make money off of their name, image, and likeness. This move proved to be a crucial one, as it would snowball nationwide which led to speculation of the game's possible resurrection. Finally, in February of 2021, EA Sports would announce the return of the series via social media. It's been a little over three years since that announcement, and what was initially presumed to be a 2023 release was delayed by lawsuits, mainly by the Brandr Group, an NIL agency who had claimed to be representing a select group of programs and players. Eventually, the lawsuit was dropped and the anticipation began to heighten once more. Players were set to receive $600 each, as well as a copy of the game should they choose to opt in. We got our first taste of what to expect in February, when EA released a teaser trailer featuring the historic Rose Bowl, as well as a few in-game assets. The full reveal was scheduled tentatively in May, and today, we got our first real in-game look at a licensed college football video game for the first time in over a decade. For Notre Dame fans, seeing that trailer is exciting for a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, Notre Dame's player models were seen rocking the Blue and Gold with a bit of a new twist. It had been noticed that Notre Dame's standard "ND" white shoulder patch was now gold, and the white Under Armour Logo near the left collar of the jersey was now gold and centred between the numbers. It's important to remember that all of the uniform information that EA used was sent by the schools featured in the game. Could this possibly mean that Notre Dame plans to make some adjustments to their uniforms come next Fall? Time will certainly tell. Outside of the possible new threads, we also got a revamped look at the stairway featuring the ever-iconic Play Like A Champion Today sign, as players funnelled their way onto the field. As for the gameplay, it's tough to tell at this stage how polished of a product we can expect, and how different it might be compared to Madden. What we do know, is that classic game modes like Dynasty and Road to Glory are coming back, alongside EA's micro-transaction money printer in Ultimate Team. Dynasty and Road to Glory will now have more intricate dynamics, with player GPA and the transfer portal among some of the features mentioned. EA's new CampusIQ gameplay features are proclaimed to be " powered by a wide range of player ratings that fluctuate throughout a game ", which might mimic the "hot" and "cold" player buffs that were featured in earlier renditions of the series. Of course, since the former installment of the game took place during the BCS era, this will be the first game to feature the College Football Playoff, which will come with it's own game mode as well. EA has also introduced a Wear and Tear system, which places emphasis on the substitution of players to ensure they are well rested for crucial moments. Although the jury may still be out on whether or not EA will do right by one of its most beloved franchises, it is truly without a doubt a massive win for the college football fans who have been waiting patiently for an update. The full game is set to release on July 19th, or July 16th if preordered. Will you be playing? Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Liam Farrell｜Senior Staff Writer｜Twitter/X: @LiamFarrell_IT Photo by: The Irish Tribune According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the average American makes $59,384 a year.   According to Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, a good quarterback in the transfer portal costs between $1 million and $2 million.   The allegiance between the transfer portal and NIL deals has put college sports in a new, difficult situation. While college athletes are finally getting compensated for their on-field achievements, there are no regulatory practices to keep colleges from backing up the Brink’s trucks.   While Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman has acknowledged the NIL game by getting two premier transfer portal quarterbacks in back-to-back cycles along with retooling the wide receiver and secondary rooms, the demands of the transfer portal are still not being met.   This past offseason, the Fighting Irish lost 18 total transfers, while only bringing in eight players. While four of the eight players may be at skill positions, the Irish are simply not utilizing the portal to the best of their abilities.   In recent years, southern schools with deep pockets such as Ole Miss, Louisville, and Florida State, are backed by wealthy donors and have capitalized off the new format and completely retooled their teams via the transfer portal.   Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss’s head football coach, has crowned himself the ‘Portal King’, bringing in 18 transfers that will have an immediate impact on the preseason top ten ranked Rebels.   Florida State’s Mike Norvell brought in 12 impact transfers last year that led the Seminoles to their first undefeated regular season since 2014.   Even though Notre Dame’s donors can match that of the SEC and ACC schools mentioned above, their rigorous academic requirements do not. Notre Dame’s denial to accept undergraduate students is something that will need to be modified under the new rule of athletic director Pete Bevacqua.   While maintaining Notre Dame’s prestigious academic standard is mandatory, the inability to go after a lofty recruit in the transfer portal because they will be going into their sophomore or junior year must be re-evaluated.   The current Notre Dame NIL initiative, 4 For Forever, a play on the Fighting Irish’s 4-for-40 recruiting slogan, is an effective system that must continue developing. An example of the success behind 4 For Forever is the recently struck deal between Jordan Faison and Gatorade. Faison, who has shined both on the football and lacrosse field for the Fighting Irish this year, posted his sponsorship with Gatorade this past month. Via Jordan Faison's Instagram Account   Additionally, in recent memory, Notre Dame did a great job advertising Sam Hartman, by inking him deals with companies such as Google, Under Armor, Beats by Dre, and Rocket Mortgage. The prominence of the Fighting Irish football program is undeniable, which could be a game changer in the new NIL world of college athletics.   The weight that comes with the University of Notre Dame can be extended to different sports, as well.     On the hardwood, Niele Ivey got the commitment of two top transfer portal players in Marquette’s Liza Karlen and Pitt’s Liuta King to compliment an already stacked roster that features Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles, and Sonia Citron.   If Notre Dame athletics could find a way to ease their transfer policies, along with tapping into their top-tier name brand; the Fighting Irish will be in the championship hunt every year across the entirety of college athletics. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

Written by Peter Jay Mulroy ⏐ Writer ⏐ Instagram: @sportstodaywithpeterjay Photo by University of Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame began its quest for a second straight national championship Saturday in South Bend with a match-up against the University of Albany in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Division I Lacrosse Championship.   Fresh off an ACC title, in which they looked like the clearcut No. 1 team in the nation with convincing wins over Virginia and Duke, respectively, the Irish (12-1 overall) jumped out to an early lead on the Great Danes (10-7 overall), though the visitors made things difficult defensively.   Devon McLane popped home his 28th goal of the season to give Notre Dame -- 3-0 all-time against UAlbany -- the early advantage, but a quick answer from Ben Wimmer allowed the Great Danes to knot the score at one apiece midway into the frame. A strong defensive battle would develop over the next several minutes, with Liam Entenmann protecting the white and gold in net by corralling four saves across the first 15 minutes of action as both offenses looked to find their rhythm.   But when Jake Taylor sent his 36th score of the season between the pipes off a clean feed from Reilly Gray, ND was back in front, a welcome sight for those in attendance at Arlotta Stadium. The Irish -- who defeated Albany in the 2015 NCAA Tournament -- extended the 2-1 lead they held at the end of the first quarter with consecutive tallies from Reilly Gray (11th of season) and a second by McLane, as the offense was back in its usual cohesive form.   Trailing by three goals eight minutes into the second, Albany -- who took down Sacred Heart on Wednesday in the Opening Round of the NCAA Tournament -- would fight back to knot the score at four apiece, a run that began largely due to a huge Notre Dame penalty.   Irish midfielder Carter Parlette was called for targeting at the 7:41 mark of the second quarter, and after the Great Danes were able to clear the zone 90 seconds later, Amos Whitcomb threw in his 13th goal of the year to make the score 4-3.   Whitcomb’s man-up goal would help continue UAlbany’s surge of momentum, as Ryan Doherty’s 35th marker of the year less than one minute later evened the score at 4-4, while silencing the Irish faithful in the process.   Then, with seven seconds remaining in the half, Doherty punched home another to give the Great Danes a 5-4 lead heading into the break. The Irish thought they’d tied the score at the buzzer, but Chris Kavanagh’s rocket shot, which found the back of the net, was taken off the board as it did not leave his stick in time.   Despite the difficulties the first 30 minutes of play presented, the Irish rebounded in a big way to open the second half.   The third quarter had been a period of struggles for the Great Danes, as the America East champs were outscored 62-47 in the frame during the regular season. Notre Dame exploited that deficiency in a major way coming out of the locker room, registering four straight goals on four shot attempts to open the second half.   Two goals in 47 seconds -- the first by Chris Kavanagh (his 31st of the season) and the next by Max Busenkell (10th), put the defending national champions back in front, 6-5. Not to be outdone, the stellar Devon McLane completed the hat trick with his third of the game at the 9:33 mark of the period. And when Chris Kavanagh registered another goal with 6:57 remaining in the third, it was clear the Irish -- now ahead 8-5 -- had finally found their swagger.   Thanks to outscoring their opponent 5-1 in the third, top-ranked Notre Dame went into the final 15 minutes of action with the all-important 9-6 lead.   The Irish kept bringing the offense in the fourth quarter as well, with McLane picking up his fourth of the game to match his season-high, while Eric Dobson continued to pile up the assists. It was Dobson who fed McLane for ND’s 11th goal of the contest, with his third of a whopping five helpers on the day aiding in the Irish extending their lead to 11-6 with under 12 minutes remaining.   Additional fourth-quarter goals by Jordan Faison (19th of season), and the third each by both Taylor and Pat Kavanagh, provided Notre Dame with complete control of the game and allowing them to take precious time off the clock over the course of the final few minutes.   When it was all said and done, Notre Dame advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the twelfth time in the past 14 seasons thanks to a 14-9 victory over a pesky UAlbany squad.   What’s Next for the Irish?   Notre Dame will do battle with the No. 8-seeded Georgetown Hoyas on Saturday, May 18 at Hofstra University’s James Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, NY. Georgetown handed Notre Dame its only loss of the season when it took down the Irish, 11-10 in overtime, on Feb. 25 in South Bend. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun