By: Joe Dickerson ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter: @_joedickerson_ Original Photo by: Scott Sommerdorf/The Salt Lake Tribune - Modified by The Irish Tribune It would be an understatement to say that Notre Dame's search for the next offensive coordinator has been eventful. On February 2nd, a plane from the University of Alabama landed on the tarmac in South Bend, IN. By the next day, Notre Dame alum Tommy Rees was the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Notre Dame's search eventually landed on one name, Andy Ludwig. His offenses at Utah helped guide the team to back-to-back PAC 12 championships and Rose Bowl berths. Last season, the Utes played USC twice, and Ludwig's offense put up 43 and 47 points in those contests. Andy Ludwig's resume seemed almost too good to be true, could Notre Dame upgrade at OC after Rees' departure? Last Friday when Ludwig attended the Irish hockey game alongside Head Coach Marcus Freeman it seemed that would be the case. Unfortunately, sources indicated on Monday night that Ludwig was staying at Utah. Many reports have stated that Ludwig wanted the job at Notre Dame, but the university was not willing to pay his buyout. Heather Dinich of ESPN spoke on the Paul Finebaum Show and said that the buyout cost was not what prevented Ludwig from becoming the next Irish play-caller. Dinich reported, "My sources at Notre Dame told me that they were willing to pay the buyout, but by the time it all got figured out, Ludwig got cold feet and apparently, he's got a great deal at Utah, and that's where that stood." Based on everything that has been swirling around the internet over the past few days this report seems to take some of the pressure off of the Notre Dame athletics department. Dinich went on to say, "I do sense a lot of public backlash, and there’s been a lot on my Twitter account in response to some of the things that have been reported and the way the search has gone... but at the same time, I know through reporting that Notre Dame has done its due diligence on this process." If it is true that Ludwig had the opportunity to come to the Irish but choose to stay in Salt Lake, there are two important questions to answer. First, why would Ludwig want to stay with the Utes? Second, why did Ludwig not want to come to Notre Dame? First, I would like to address why Ludwig would desire to stay at Utah. Ludwig is from Ogden, UT, which is just under 40 miles north of Salt Lake. He played wide receiver at Snow College in Utah before transferring to Portland State. Following his playing career Ludwig coached football from 1987 to 2012 at 10 different schools and they all had one thing in common, they were west of the Mississippi river. From 2014 to 2018, Ludwig coached at Wisconsin and Vanderbilt but eventually returned to his home state of Utah and his west coast roots. This wasn't Ludwig's first stint with the Utes, he served as the OC from 2005 to 2008 and was a part of the 2008 Utah team that went 13-0 en route to a Sugar Bowl victory over a Nick Saban-led Alabama and a #2 finish in the AP Poll. Since returning to Utah in 2019 the Utes have gone 34-14 overall and 26-6 in PAC 12 play. The Ute's star Quarterback Cam Rising is rehabbing a torn ACL, but, barring a setback in his recovery, he should be ready to suit up when Utah takes on the Florida Gators in the season opener. The PAC 12 has several contenders entering 2023 (USC, Washington, Oregon, Oregon State, etc.) but the Utes are right in the thick of it. Ludwig is going to return with the roster in place to win a 3rd straight PAC 12 title and possibly break through the barrier and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. You can't blame him for staying in a place where he is comfortable and presumably happy. Photo Credit: Fighting Irish Wire Now, why would Ludwig not want to come to Notre Dame? It is entirely possible that the Irish did nothing wrong and that Ludwig decided it was best to stay in a place he was happy. Or, it's entirely possible that Notre Dame botched the hiring process. I don't think we will ever truly know the answer to this question but at the very least Notre Dame must learn from the process. An extremely prominent Notre Dame booster commented on this situation earlier today. Tom Mendoza is a successful businessman, a Notre Dame alum, and the namesake of Notre Dame's business school (Mendoza College of Business). Mendoza tweeted, "Many have asked my thoughts. To be clear, I have not been involved & this (is) simply my opinion as a fan. In business, when a critical decision had resulted in a poor outcome, we first focused on the process. If it was flawed we fixed it. In this case, it was clearly flawed... The only thing that will change that is a great hire. After the Eagles' devastating loss, Jalen Hurts impressed all by saying “You either win or learn.” Knowing Marcus as I do I am sure he agrees. The only thing that matters now (and sure his focus) is what happens next." I could not possibly agree more with Mr. Mendoza's comments. Marcus Freeman is a lot of things but one thing I know for certain is that he is a leader of men. Good leaders learn from successes and mistakes. Maybe you are furious that Notre Dame failed to hire Andy Ludwig. Maybe you are pleased with the combination of Gerad Parker (promoted from TE's coach) and Gino Guidugli (Wisconsin Passing game coordinator and QB's coach) as reported by Scott Roussel of FootballScoop and Pete Thamel of ESPN respectively. Whatever your opinion is, you can know that Marcus Freeman will grow as a head coach from this experience. Freeman is young, charismatic, and incredibly adaptable. Those characteristics will pay dividends in his career. Let's just hope that happens sooner rather than later. GO IRISH Note: This article is a article that is testing out ads - If you had a negative ad experience, please contact us so we can make it right: Email: irishtribunecontact@gmail.com - Text: (269)-588-0514 - DM @theirishtribune (IG/Twitter)

By Liam Farrell｜Writer｜Twitter @LiamFarrell_IT During the cold months of January and February, I find myself reminiscing on old Notre Dame highlights throughout the last handful of years. I stumble upon many 2018 and 2017 regular season games, with the exception of Miami in '17; however, the 2015 Fighting Irish team is one that truly was my favorite team of all time. It may have been due to the Showtime show that documented the team every single week, or perhaps the fact that I attended the 41-31 shootout against USC on a freezing night in South Bend. In my opinion, I believe that the 2015 team was the closest shot the Irish had at competing at a national title, and I'll show you why. A Week One Thrashing Via Notre Dame Athletics There is no better way to start off the year than seeing the burnt orange on the other sideline. Notre Dame. Texas. Two schools with some of the most storied history in all of college football battling it out in week 1? Sign me up. This game was dominant through and through. Malik Zaire asserted his campaign to be QB1 by rattling off 313 passing yards and appearing to be best quarterback since Brady Quinn. Will Fuller displayed why he was the best deep ball wide receiver in the nation, and Brian VanGorder looked like he actually knew what he was doing. The latter half of that sentence will be seen as an extremely false conclusion as we move on in this article. The only aspect that dampened the week one beatdown was the fact that Tarean Folston suffered a season ending leg injury that left the running back room thin, and desperate for a star to arise. Week Two: A Divine Miracle Via Sports Illustrated After the Week One high, the second week scaries came into play. The Irish traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia, to take on the Cavaliers. I remember this game vividly due to the abnormal 12pm EST start time. Anyways, the early morning start appeared as though it didn't affect the Irish as Notre Dame marched down the field and scored on their first drive on a Fake FG attempt. The Irish also tried to go for two and were unsuccessful, which can be seen as foreshadowing in terms of going for two significantly too early in the game. The next two drives, the Irish drove the ball deep into the Hoos territory but had to settle for 3 each time. These consecutive series of bend but don't break efforts by the Virginia Defense swung the moment in favor of the home team. By scoring on back-to-back possessions going into half, Virginia lead 14-12. Things didn't go better by any stretch of the imagination in the third quarter when Malik Zaire suffered an ankle injury on a QB draw that would have him sit out for the rest of the season. With the projected star quarterback and star running back being sidelined due to injuries through 1 3/4 games, the Irish looked to some unsung heroes. CJ Prosise established himself as the workhorse for the depleted running back room and tallied 155 yards on 17 caries with a touchdown on his first ever start at running back. It should be noted that Prosise converted from wideout to running back during his time at Notre Dame. However, the biggest and most memorable moment of this game is when DeShone Kizer led Notre Dame down the field in 1:42 and found Will Fuller on a 39 yard pass to cement the Irish to win a 34-27 barnburner. Week Three: First Ranked Matchup Via Los Angeles Times Week Three had the Irish going against #14 Georgia Tech in their first ranked matchup of the year. This game was a blowout from the very beginning of the game, as Kizer and passing game were clicking on all cylinders, and CJ Prosise was running free behind the best offensive line in college football. The one thing that interested me while looking back at the stat sheet is that the Irish gave up 121 passing yards this game, along with two passing touchdowns. Georgia Tech was a triple option team in 2015, and this was tied for the most passing touchdowns they had in a game during the 2015 season. Brian VanGorder. The score of this one also looks significantly closer than it actually was. The Irish won 30-22, but Georgia Tech scored two garbage time touchdowns to make this lopsided affair a one score game by the end of things. Nonetheless, the Irish were 3-0 and were ranked #6 in the nation. Player Spotlight: Joe Schmidt Via Matt Cashore, USA Today Sports Instead of doing a week 4 breakdown against UMass, I wanted to spotlight a player who has possible gotten forgotten within the last eight years. There is no one better than former Walk-on Joe Schmidt. Schmidt, a California product, was second on the team in tackles to none other than Jaylon Smith. I always thought it was fitting that the two linebackers on this 2015 team were simply polar opposites. Smith, a 5-star recruit who saw plenty of playing time his freshman year versus that of Schmidt, the scrappy walk-on who gritted his way to the starting job. Schmidt, in my opinion, also opened the door for more walk-ons to make an impact on big stages. In other words, Joe Schmidt walked so Chris Finke and Matt Salerno could run. Schmidt was also a captain of this 2015 team and was the glue that held the defense together. In the Showtime series, it was well documented that Schmidt was always the most prepared member of the defense and the main communicator of the bunch. Week Five: The Hurricane Heartbreak Via Bart Boatwright of Greenville News #6 Notre Dame traveled down South to face off against #12 Clemson. For me at least, this was the turning point of the Clemson football program. Clemson had success with Tahj Boyd and Deandre Hopkins; however, they weren't in the realm of national championship success. This was the first big matchup for Dabo Sweeney to prove that his program can compete with the best. The game was ugly. Clemson jumped out big 14-0 as the Irish defense couldn't finish a tackle to save their life. It also didn't help that Deshaun Watson could simply run through our front 7 with no problems at all. On the other side of the ball, the Irish offense just couldn't get things started at all. Carelessness with the ball also aided in the fact that the Irish could only muster 3 points in the first half. The second half wasn't much better as Clemson came out of half and drove the ball right down the Irish's throat. Then the next possession, Notre Dame coughed up the ball on the first play of their drive. The Irish were in the dumps, until the defense put the team on their back. Forcing Clemson to 4 second half punts, an interception, and a missed field goal, the ball was in the offense's court to make a comeback. Following a Watson pick, Kizer found CJ Prosise on a wheel route with 14:13 left in the 4th quarter to cut the lead to 21-9. The Irish chose to go for two here and were unsuccessful. This was a major turning point to look for later in the game. Clemson followed Notre Dame's touchdown drive with a field goal, and with the Irish riding the momentum of holding the Tigers to 3, the offense had a 4 play 64-yard touchdown drive. With a made PAT, the score stood 24-16, still a one point game, but with Kelly's decision to go for two early in the 4th, the Irish would need to capitalize a two point conversion to tie the game. However, after the Irish cut it to a one possession game, the Notre Dame defense forced a crucial three-and-out. Something that I have learned about being a Notre Dame fan all these years is that the false hope kills you. The false hope is what takes years off your life. And that is exactly what happened this fateful night in South Carolina. After Notre Dame had all the momentum going in their favor, Kizer threw an interception on the first play of the drive. The comeback seeming looked like it came to an end with Clemson possessing the ball at Notre Dame's 35, but that was not the case. Once again, the Irish defense forced Clemson to kick a field goal, and it just so happened that Greg Huegel, who was an 84% kicker in 2015, missed a crucial 45-yard field goal with 4:29 to go in the 4th. Here we go. Kizer had another opportunity to drive down the field, and he did just that. On 5 plays, Kizer maneuvered the Irish down to Clemson's 12-yard line. On the 6th play of the drive, Kizer found Chris Brown over the middle, and Brown fumbled the ball after an 8-yard gain. The dagger. With 2:09 left in the 4th, and Notre Dame already having their chance to tie the game up one final time, the Irish simply fell short. That was until... Notre Dame still had two timeouts to burn, so theoretically the Irish could get the ball with some chump change, that is if they fact the Tigers from getting a first down. After two gains of 2 on the first two downs, Notre Dame held Clemson and forced a punt with 1:05 left in the game. The punt was a duck that Will Fuller returned to Clemson's 35-yard line. Oh baby. With no timeouts, Kizer had to be perfect, and he was just that. Kizer found Torii Hunter Jr. with 7 seconds left on a pick play, wink wink Florida State 2014, that had the Irish within 2! 24-22. But because of Brian Kelly's choice to go for two with 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame needed to convert the two in order to send this classic into overtime. A planned Kizer QB draw was stuffed by Clemson at the 1-yard line, as the Irish fought all the way back from 21-3 in the second half, only to be left heartbroken in the pouring rain. Player Spotlight: Sheldon Day Via Matt Cashore, USA Today Sports The next player that I'll spotlight on this 2015 team is Sheldon Day. Sheldon Day was an animal during his senior year with the Irish. Day recorded 4 sacks and was a pest in the run game by clogging up the middle of the defense. Day also served as the role model and mentor to that of Jerry Tillery, whom he referred to as Terry Jillery. Day and Tillery's senior-freshman interactions were heartwarming on the Showtime series and displayed how much of a leader Day was on the younger players within his own position group. Day also had some success in the NFL as he was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and found playing time in San Francisco, Indianapolis, and Cleveland during his career. Week Seven: The Battle of the Jeweled Shillelagh Via Brian Spurlock, USA Today Sports Being a Notre Dame fan in the heart of Los Angeles, I am right in the middle of the storied Notre Dame-USC rivalry. I actually attended this game, and it was a miserably freezing affair, but the quality of this game more than made up for it. On the flight to Chicago, my dad and I got word that Clay Helton would take over as the Head Coach for the Trojans for the remainder of the 2015 season. Another occasion I'm sure most Notre Dame fans could celebrate as well. This USC team was star-studded, but was just young, and that was displayed with the success they had in the 2016 season. The biggest storyline above all else was the matchup on the outside. Will Fuller versus Adoree Jackson. My high school was in the same league as Adoree Jackson's Gardena Serra, so I had the privilege to see Adoree in person before. Jackson was a godlike creature throughout his time at Serra and was a two-way speed demon. With that being said, Will Fuller was just better. The first play from scrimmage Fuller dusted Jackson for a 75-yard bomb to open up the scoring for the Irish. After an SC field goal, it was Prosise's turn as CJ scampered in for a 25-yard touchdown run that had the Irish go up 14-10. Notre Dame then blocked USC's punt on the very next possession and returned it to go up 21-10. A couple good storylines on that play alone was that the player who blocked the punt was freshman Equanimeous St. Brown, who eventually blossomed as Notre Dame's WR 1 in 2017. Also, the player who returned the blocked punt was Amir Carlisle, who transferred from USC to Notre Dame. A Torii Hunter fumble at the one-yard line killed Notre Dame's momentum, and jumpstarted USC to eventually tie the Irish at 24 a piece at halftime. The Trojans then scored on their first drive in the second half to go up 31-24. The Irish provided a gritty 9 play, 90-yard drive to tie the scoring at 31. Eventually, Notre Dame stalled USC's high-powered offense and got the opportunity to take the lead. On 3rd and goal, Notre Dame looked to a forgotten playmaker, Corey Robinson, to put the team on his back. Robinson hauled in one of the best possession catches I have ever seen, to take back the lead from the Trojans. While USC tried to answer, it was none other than KeiVarae Russell, who was sidelined do to off the field issues, who picked off Cody Kessler. Russell also aided in a Max Redfield interception later in the game that cemented the fate of the Trojans. Notre Dame displayed they could face adversity as a team and were 6-1 rolling into another top 25 game against Temple on Halloween. Week Eight: The Halloween Scare Via Matt Cashore, USA Today Sports A game that gets overlooked in this season is the Irish's battle with a then undefeated Temple team who had captured the heart of the city of Philadelphia. This was the primetime game of the week, with College Gameday making an appearance to Lincoln Financial Field to see the outcome of this top 25 game. On a cold night, Deshone Kizer shined with his legs by accounting for 143 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. Kizer also displayed some inexperienced mistakes with two interceptions, with both being in the RedZone. However, when the game was on the line, Philadephia's own Will Fuller came up clutch once again, this time hauling in a go ahead 17-yard touchdown pass. The game ended with a KeiVarae Russell interception, as the Irish rolled into week 9 just outside the college football playoff picture, while sitting at #5 in the country. Player Spotlight: Chris Brown Via Notre Dame Athletics Chris Brown was almost as dependable of a player as any coach could ask for. The 6'1" Senior from Hanahan, South Carolina, was the clear second option behind Will Fuller in the Fighting Irish offense. Besides the blunder against Clemson in his home state that he will most likely never forget, Brown was a difference maker for Notre Dame for much of his career. In the undefeated season in 2012, a freshman Chris Brown made a huge play was Notre Dame traveled to Norman, Oklahoma, to take on the Sooners. Brown's speed and strong hands led to great success at the college level. Brown was also the senior leader of the wide receiver room that powered Notre Dame's offense to such a strong 2015 campaign. Week Eleven: Shamrock Series Setback Via Notre Dame Athletics After dominant performances against Pitt and Wake Forest in back-to-back weeks, the Irish were destined for their first ever playoff performance with two weeks left to go in the season. All that stood in their path was Boston College at Fenway Park and on the road against #9 Stanford. At 9-1, Notre Dame just had to dominate against the 3-7 Boston College Eagles, which ultimately didn't happen. A miserable 3 interception game from Deshone Kizer, paired with 3 fumbles, had the Irish desperately struggling to even muster up a victory. It wasn't until the aforementioned Chris Brown mossed a Boston College defender, in a similar way that Chris Finke mossed a Michigan safety in 2018, to have the Irish squeeze out a 19-16 win. This game killed Notre Dame's chances of making the 2015 College Football Playoff, for the Irish slipped to the number 6 spot, and landed behind both #4 Michigan State and #5 Iowa who were playing in the Big Ten championship. This November night in Boston ruined the Irish from being playoff bound in 2015. Week Twelve: Finale on the Farm Via Sports Illustrated This was probably the game that killed me most as a young Notre Dame fan. Knowing the fact that the College Football Playoff was now out of reach, the matchup against #9 Stanford was somewhat of a Super Bowl game in my eyes. In a complete back and forth affair, this game displayed the bright future for the Fighting Irish ball club. Freshman running back Josh Adams was coming into his own as a rusher breaking a multitude of long runs that we would eventually see in the 2017 season. Kizer demonstrated that he could be a leader down the stretch in tight situations and put the team on his back if need be. This game also displayed why Brian VanGorder needed to be fired. After Kizer drove the Irish all the way down the field in a methodical, 6-minute bone crushing drive to take a 36-35 lead. VanGorder's soft zone defense got gashed as the Cardinal moved the ball 45 yards in 30 seconds to kill the hearts of millions of Fighting Irish fans across the nation. A true sour taste to end a year full of so much excitement and opportunity. The Wrap Up Via Geoff Burke, USA Today Sports In a year full of so much promise, Notre Dame was able to adapt. When a team loses their starting quarterback and running back through 1 1/2 games of the season, it could've been easy to fold. However, this 2015 Notre Dame team did the opposite. They silenced all the critics around them and simply played great ball. When looking at it from 2023, the Irish were a coaching blunder and 2-point conversion away from being in the playoff. If that were the case, it would be the first time the Irish had a difference making quarterback lead them in a playoff game, but that is not here nor there. The 2015 Irish team had so many young-ins step up and take the next step, which makes you have to think that the 2016 team was finally the team to make it over the hump... right? Note: This article is a article that is testing out ads - If you had a negative ad experience, please contact us so we can make it right: Email: irishtribunecontact@gmail.com - Text: (269)-588-0514 - DM @theirishtribune (IG/Twitter)

By: Michael Blough | Writer | Twitter: @MichaelBlough12 Photo Credit: ESPN/ABC7 What some people thought might never happen, has happened. Last Friday Tommy Rees agreed to become the next offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide. This, of course, became a hotbed for ridiculous takes on either side of the fence (whether you like or dislike him) and guess what! Nothing was solved! If you disliked him during his time here at Notre Dame, you probably still dislike him, and vice versa. I won't get into playing the blame game here in this article (if you are interested, just go on twitter), but we will look forward to the opportunity at hand, which is for Marcus Freeman to make this staff entirely his own and to set the precedent for what an Irish offense will look like in the future. In this article I asked some staffers here at The Irish Tribune to send me their favorite picks for the OC position (some of these were sent before or after the release of new information regarding the interest of some parties). So, lets get into it! My Pick: Photo Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images In an effort to be different, I will choose someone not named Brian Johnson! When the position first was rumored to be open, a name I was seeing quite often was Josh Gattis. Clearly his stint at Miami, which by the way lasted less than a year, did not go well. But, I am still high on him as a play-caller. Gattis is by all accounts a very smart guy that has been a lot of places with most of his stints being in the Big 10. Gattis was the OC from 2019-2021 at Michigan, and also spent a few years prior as the Passing Game Coordinator/WR Coach at Penn State. Given the style of football that the Irish would like to play, I think Gattis would be a heck of a candidate! He runs a pro-style offense, which I think the Irish have all the pieces needed to run this effectively both now and in the future! Looking at his past, he often has been a wide receivers coach as well, which are duties currently handled by Chansi Stuckey. In my "perfect world" plan, this would leave the QB coach position open for someone like Brandon Streeter (previously at Clemson) who has developed some really good talent and is also relentless on the recruiting trail. Mike Stacey: Writer Tommy Rees is gone, and although I was hoping he would return this year, I think him leaving presents Notre Dame with a great opportunity. In recent years Notre Dame has lacked in quarterback recruiting and development, and although the recruiting has recently picked up, (Minchey, Carr, Hartman) we have yet to see the quarterback development come with it. I am less interested in having an X’s and O’s wizard at offensive coordinator and more interested in having a QB whisperer who can be a DOG on the recruiting trail. For these reasons, my ideal choice for OC would be Joe Brady. Joe was the Passing Game Coordinator & Receivers Coach for LSU in 2019. That team, lead by Joe Burrow, was arguably the greatest offense in college football history. After 2019 he had an unsuccessful stint with the Carolina Panthers as their Offensive Coordinator, but he has since been the quarterback coach with the Buffalo Bills and superstar QB Josh Allen. In my opinion, the experience that he has with big time quarterbacks and offenses makes up for his lackluster stint as a play caller on a bad NFL team. He is young, energetic, and knows what it takes to be part of a winning program. At the college level you don’t need to be the next boy genius to be successful. You need to be able to get top talent and develop that talent. Simplify the game plan and let the talent play loose, free, and without their brains getting in the way of their feet. I think Joe Brady can do that. Photo Credit: AP Photo/John Bazemore Nick Kremer: Editor Marcus Freeman, just one year into his time at Notre Dame, is tasked with making the biggest hire of his head coaching career in picking his next Offensive Coordinator. Names like Andy Ludwig, Sean Lewis, Brian Johnson, and Jason Candle would all be great hires for the offense, but, if I get my pick, I am going with Joe Moorhead. Moorhead is currently the head coach at Akron. Akron had a rough year in 2022, but their passing attack was extremely impressive. Akron finished at 18th in the country in passing offense. Additionally, Moorhead's offense during his time as head coach at Mississippi State was very good against a difficult SEC schedule. His spread offense focuses on using multiple formations and tempo when needed. Moorhead coaches quarterbacks and is known to be a very good recruiter. The choice is a no-brainer in picking Joe Moorhead as the next Offensive Coordinator at Notre Dame. Luciano Antonini: Founder of the Irish Tribune You can’t find much of a better OC prospect than Eagles Brian Johnson. He has 4+ years of experience as a OC in college (Utah, Houston, Florida), 10+ years experience as QB coach in college (Above teams + Miss. St) and 2+ years experience as NFL QB coach for potential Super Bowl winning team. He’s also developed and recruited some great guys like Dak Prescott, Anthony Richardson, Kyle Pitts, and other notable QB’s/players. He has also been a coach of a team that appeared in 3 NY6 bowls (And won 2 of them by a lot): Florida (SEC school). The only other realistic target is Joe Brady, otherwise it doesn’t get much better than Brian Johnson. He’s got my pick! Photo Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Liam Farrell: Writer When Tommy decided to leave, the first person that popped up in my mind was Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury had success at the college level, especially in the area of developing quarterbacks into superstars with Mahomes and Manziel both excelling in college. However, Kingsbury is somewhere in the middle of Thailand right now and after being an NFL head coach, the role of an offensive coordinator at the college level might not be the most appealing. This then moved my thought process elsewhere, and with the rumors of Brian Johnson swirling for the last couple days, I was convinced this could be the perfect hire. Johnson, if interested in returning to the collegian level, has all the qualifications and the track record to be an excellent hire. Notre Dame will not only be competing with other colleges, but it is reported that Johnson is sought after by multiple NFL teams as well. In a perfect world, the prestige and talent on this year’s Notre Dame roster could entice any candidate to lead the offense in the 2023 season and beyond. The most important factor that I would take in selecting the offensive coordinator is the willingness to recruit. Although, with Marcus Freeman’s determination on the recruiting trail, I trust Freeman and co. will hire the best man for the job. Liam Gaudet: Editor It's no secret that the track record of production for quarterbacks under Brian Johnson is phenomenal. He has now orchestrated two of the best offenses, one being the Pitts-Trask connection at Florida which managed to best the elite defenses in the SEC that season scoring 44 against the Georgia Bulldogs as well as 46 against the Crimson Tide in the conference championship. Granted, he's always had the talent at his disposal and the potential in South Bend remains largely untapped. All this without mentioning the incredible job he has done with Jalen Hurts and the Eagles this season, leading them to the Superbowl with eye-popping numbers and efficiency at the quarterback position. Johnson has a myriad of experience coordinating pass-heavy offenses, which should aid the Irish as they have been severely inconsistent through the air. His ability to weaponize the tight end position, and experience with mobile quarterbacks seems to be the perfect fit for what the Irish offensive identity has been for the better part of a decade now, and the transition from Rees to Johnson would appear to be seamless. Under a Freeman regime that has put emphasis on recruiting elite talent, Johnson would certainly have the weapons to do exactly what he wants. This seems like an opportunity that Freeman would have a hard time passing up, and rightfully so. With Sam Hartman at the helm next season, and a steady flow of elite quarterback talent to follow, there are no bounds to what an offense led by Johnson could achieve.

By: Murray O'Connell and Nick Kremer | Twitter: @MurrayOConnell | @NickKremerIT Photo Courtesy of Stefan Revenboer LocalToday Senior Day, 2012. Manti Te’o runs out of the tunnel toward his parents one last time. The fans are cheering, some even wipe away tears. It was a touching moment not just for Te'o and his family, but for all those fans that fell in love with him over his 4 years at Notre Dame. For those not old enough to remember, Te’o was a beast. No, check that, he was the beast that ate other beasts. Yet, you couldn’t help but fall in love with such a classy, humble kid. That, plus the fact he gave up millions of dollars to return to Notre Dame for his senior season made that moment even more special. But that was then, and this is now. College football has changed. College football is changing. What was once the norm is now thought of as foreign. What was once seen as crazy, is now becoming possible. Gone are the days of Manti Te’o returning for his senior season, now for better or worse, it has become all about marketing the brand, that brand being of course, the individual player. There is money to be made, this time legally. There is the potential for significant money to be made, by auditioning for another league. There are only so many chances these players get to build a name for themselves, so when the opportunity arises, they need to take it. Tyler Buchner has already proven what an asset he can be, returning after what was supposed to be a season ending injury, only to strap his team onto his back and lead them to a Gator Bowl victory over a formidable opponent. Buchner’s stock is hot, which is why this is the best time for him to leave Notre Dame and find a new school to thrive at. Buchner should leave Notre Dame: In terms of academics and setting himself up in the real world with a degree from a university that will open many doors for him in the future, of course Tyler Buchner should stay at Notre Dame. But if we are talking on the field only, Buchner needs to read the writing on the wall and find a place where he can build his brand, and potentially take his game to another level. Let me throw some names out there: Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Russell Wilson. Here are a few more, Bo Nix, Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr. What do all of these quarterbacks have in common? All have transferred from their original colleges and universities, to play for another. Quarterbacks with a lot of potential, leave to turn that potential into a legacy and hopefully a larger eventual paycheck. Is Buchner an elite quarterback like all those mentioned earlier? Who knows, certainly to date, not even Buchner knows. But he won’t find out playing backup to Sam Hartman. As great as those cut-a-way shots were from NBC showing Buchner in the booth with Rees all last season, do Irish fans think the new offensive coordinator will fall in love with Buchner with Hartman in the same locker room? Buchner has earned a shot at being the starter, but he’s got as much of a chance of that happening as Marcus Freeman skipping chest and back day at the gym. This job is Hartman’s, barring any injuries. So for the sake of building his brand, Buchner needs to move on. Lets say Buchner stays this season. Of course the coaches are going to say all the right things to make it sound like there is a legitimate quarterback competition, but we all know how this is going to end. Hartman will be the starter and the new OC will have some special packages he will throw Buchner in throughout the year. Is Buchner going to impress any NFL scouts playing what, maybe 6 or 7 snaps per game, the majority of which he’s keeping the ball to run with? Maybe he gets in anytime they are in a goal line formation and gets to pad his stats with 2 yard touchdown runs. Is that the kind of stuff he wants to get on tape to impress potential NFL suitors? Not even the Cleveland Browns are that stupid to be impressed by a quarterback that just likes to run all the time… are they? If I’m Tyler Buchner, and what I wouldn’t give to have his hair, I couldn’t help but feel a little chip on my shoulder. His freshman year, Notre Dame decided to bring in a transfer quarterback, Jack Coan, and give the job to him over Buchner. His sophomore year Buchner was seen as the best quarterback in the room, was named the starter, but got injured and in comes Drew Pyne. His next season, after already spending two years in the program, what does Notre Dame do? Bring in an elite transfer quarterback to “challenge” Buchner for the starting job. He just finished proving he was good enough to start for the Irish just a few months ago, but that wasn't enough for the Notre Dame coaches. Notre Dame is showing Buchner what they think of him, they like him when they have to, but if given the opportunity, they will go for somebody they feel is better. I admire and respect Buchner for getting his body and mind back in shape after having to miss an entire season due to injury. He has shown some flashes of brilliance, and also shown he has more work he needs to do. He won’t get an opportunity to show off, or an opportunity to grow at Notre Dame as long as Sam Hartman is around. Also keep in mind who is in line behind Hartman, Minchey and Carr. Buchner needs to do what is best for his brand and his future, and that means transferring somewhere where he will get a chance to be QB1. As much as the fans might not like the direction the game is headed, these are the new rules, and they show no signs of changing. Gone are the days of Te’os running out of the tunnel one last time on Senior Day, it's now become about the brand, and players need to manage their own. Buchner should stay: In today's college football world, patience in a program is almost unheard of when it comes to players that want to play immediately. If Buchner feels that he may not receive the chance to start at Notre Dame in the near future, it could be tempting to look for that opportunity elsewhere. Additionally, if Buchner is unhappy with his role on the team or the coaching staff, a change of scenery could be attractive. However, it is important to consider the long-term benefits of staying at Notre Dame and competing for the starting role. With another year of learning under Sam Hartman and the offensive staff, Buchner will have a better understanding of the game and will be better prepared to lead the team. The experience he gains and the relationships he builds will be invaluable in the long run. Finally, the chance to win a National Championship and earn a Notre Dame degree cannot be underestimated. For Tyler Buchner, the case for staying at Notre Dame couldn't be stronger. Here are five compelling reasons why he should stay put: 1. Sam Hartman: Buchner has the unique opportunity to spend a year learning from quarterback Sam Hartman, who is widely regarded as one of the top college quarterbacks in the country. With Hartman's guidance, Buchner can continue to improve his skills and prepare himself for the role of starting quarterback in 2024. This additional year of learning and development will only make him a better player. By staying at Notre Dame, he'll be able to make the most of this opportunity and emerge as the top quarterback for the Irish in 2024. 2. Playbook: Buchner is comfortable with the playbook and system at Notre Dame. The last thing he needs is to go to a new school and learn a completely new system. Additionally, most programs already have their QB room set for next season, which would limit his options. Buchner knows he'll have a great opportunity to compete for the starting spot in 2024 if he stays at Notre Dame. Even with Tommy Rees leaving, he will have a chance to be involved in the install from day one from the new offensive coordinator. By staying in a familiar system, he'll be able to play with confidence and make the most of his opportunities on the field. 3. Strong supporting cast: The Irish have a talented offensive line, a strong running game, and a lot of talent at the wide receiver position. Buchner knows he'll have an elite supporting cast around him, which will give him the best chance to succeed. This supporting cast will make his job easier and help him put up big numbers on the field. Furthermore, he'll have the chance to play with some of the best players in college football, which will only make him a better player. 4. National Championship: Notre Dame is close to competing in the playoffs and Buchner has a chance to help the Irish compete for a National Championship. By staying at Notre Dame, he'll have the chance to play in some of the biggest games of his life and make a name for himself. He'll be remembered as a key player in one of the most successful seasons in Notre Dame history. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he simply can't pass up. 5. Notre Dame: Last but not least, Buchner has the opportunity to earn a degree from the University of Notre Dame, which is widely regarded as one of the top universities in the country. A degree from Notre Dame carries a lot of weight and will open doors for him in the future. Furthermore, he's a high academic kid and education is important to him. By staying at Notre Dame, he'll be able to continue to pursue his education and make the most of this opportunity. In the end, the decision to transfer or stay at Notre Dame will come down to what Buchner values most. While the opportunity to start immediately may be tempting, the long-term benefits of staying at Notre Dame and continuing to develop as a quarterback should not be overlooked. *Photos courtesy of Michael Conroy AP, Hey there! We are currently testing out advertisements. Please rate your Ad experience today Please contact irishtribunecontact@gmail.com or DM us on social media if you had a negative Ad viewing experience today.

By: Patrick Byrne | Writer | Twitter: @PatrickByrneIT Photo Courtesy: Associated Press I was recently having a conversation with my brother, an equally die hard Notre Dame fan, on whether Notre Dame could be considered one of the elite teams in college football. Mind you, this has nothing to do with the brand itself, there can be no doubt that Notre Dame continues to be an elite (if not THE elite) brand in the sport. You need only look to the chatter of conference realignment, ticket prices of away games in other stadiums, etc. The brand cannot be questioned, but I'm talking about the team itself. What makes a college football team elite and what doesn't? To me, there are 3 components to whether a team can be considered elite: Brand Wins/Losses National Championships Let's take a look at each one as they relate to Notre Dame so we can make a determination on whether the Irish are considered an elite team by the rest of college football fans. Brand You either love them or hate them, that's always been the calling card for Notre Dame. This remains true today. i will say the hatred has subsided a bit due to the fact the Irish haven't done anything "relevant" over the past 25+ years, but it's still alive and well, I have enough mental scarring to prove it. As mentioned above, the Notre Dame brand is unlike any other in college football. All Irish fans will tell you this, which may explain the hatred part. What other team could partially join a conference, help lay the groundwork for playoff expansion and be the poster child for independence while all other teams are scrambling for conference positioning? Notre Dame provided the foundation for other teams to follow regarding TV coverage while remaining steadfast to their beliefs that student athletes should actually be educated at the school they attend. Again, what other school would have this much pull, power or ability? There isn't one, which brings us back to the love them or hate them discussion. If you're a Notre Dame fan, you revel in all of the things I've just mentioned. If you're not, you hate them for it. There is no in-between. Final Answer: Elite (Continue Reading) Wins/Losses If you had asked me this question 30 years ago, I would've waffled considering the 90's and early 2000's produced 5 seasons of 10 or more wins with 9 consecutive bowl losses sprinkled in for good measure (thank you Jimmy Clausen, we'll always have the Hawaii Bowl). Take a look at how far the Irish have come in the last 30 years: ND Football Overall Record: - 1992 - 2002: 79-38-2/66% win percentage/2 losing seasons - 2003 - 2011: 62-50/55% win percentage/2 losing seasons - 2012 - 2022: 106-35/75% win percentage/1 losing season Now, what does this tell us? It tells me we should all still be thanking Brian Kelly for restoring the program and ensuring we didn't go the way of Nebraska or Miami. I realize that's hard to swallow, but he is the reason we're even having the conversation of whether Notre Dame is elite or not. Looking at the numbers, it's hard to define Notre Dame as an elite program based on wins and losses. Sure, they've joined the conversation over the past 10-12 years and for that we're all grateful, but the reality is, they haven't been able to win a playoff game let alone win a national championship. This view also reminds me of how dismal the seasons were from 1994 - 2009. Let's look at some of the "highlights" or low lights: - 1994: Fiesta Bowl loss to FSU (after finishing the season 6-4-1) - 2000: Demolished 41-9 in Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon State - 2003: Gator Bowl loss to NC State (28-3) - 2006: Crushed in Sugar Bowl by LSU, 41-14 - 9 seasons with 5 or more losses - Highest end of season ranking: 9 (2005) - Top ten finishes: 1 Photo Courtesy: One Foot Down Wow, that was not a fun trip down memory lane. I'm not trying to depress you out there Mr or Mrs Irish fan, I'm simply attempting to explain how far down we were and how far we've come. Compare what I have above to the years 2010 - 2022: - 2012: National Championship loss to Alabama, 42-12 - 2018: Playoff loss to Clemson, 30-3 - 2020: Playoff loss to Alabama, 31-14 - Highest end of season ranking: 4 (2012) - Top ten finishes: 4 I realize the national championship and playoff losses still sting; however, the positives far outweigh the negatives during this time frame, especially considering all 3 losses were to the eventual national champion. The coaches and administration have done a great job getting Notre Dame back on solid football over the past 12+ years, but without a playoff or New Years Six bowl win in their pocket, it's hard to make an argument that Notre Dame is an elite team. Final Answer: Not Elite National Championships In order to be considered elite in any sport, you have to win it all. Unfortunately, Notre Dame hasn't been able to win that elusive national championship and the odds are stacked against them in the future given the current NIL rules and ability for already great teams to reload via the transfer portal. It doesn't mean Notre Dame can't win it all, it's simply harder now then ever before. Consider the teams that have won a national championship since 2000: - Alabama (6) - Georgia (2) - Clemson (2) - Ohio State (2) - Florida (2) - USC (1 outright, 1 shared) - LSU (2 outright, 1 shared) - Texas (1) - FSU (1) - Auburn (1) - Oklahoma (1) - Miami (1) (Continue Reading) You of course cannot question Alabama as the best team of the past 20+ years, they're perhaps the best dynasty in the history of the sport. Georgia is closing in on them while Clemson has fallen off a bit over the past few years. There's of course a reason Brian Kelly left for LSU given their ability to win the title while Southern Cal had their success in the early 2000s. It's always amazing to me that Ohio State has "only" won 2 national championships given their ability to recruit and the amount of money and resources they spend on their program, while Oklahoma won theirs in Bob Stoops' second year. So, where does this leave Notre Dame? Out of luck unfortunately in this conversation. Even Miami, Texas, Auburn and FSU, none of which i would consider elite at the moment, have national championships. We already knew the answer to this question before I started. Notre Dame cannot be considered one of the elite teams in college football without a national championship under their belt. Even if they had 1, given their success over the past 10+ years, I could make an argument for their inclusion. Without it, I'd have to say no. Final Answer: Not Elite There we have it. In 2 of the categories, Notre Dame is not an elite team in college football? Depressed? Don't be. We're in the same category as most other fans in the sport. The difference is, the brand is alive and well and the Irish have found their winning ways over the past 10-12 years. Enjoy it, because as we've established looking back at the mid 90s and early 2000s, it could be a whole lot worse. Yes, a loss to Marshall last year stung, but not nearly as much as a 3-9 year or getting blown out by Oregon State in the Insight.Com Bowl. Rest assured Irish fan, Marcus Freeman has your back, he has the energy, enthusiasm and relationship skills to bring that elusive national championship home to South Bend. Then, and only then, can Notre Dame join the ranks of the elite for more than simply the pretty logo on their jerseys. (End of Reading)

By: Murray O'Connell | Writer | Twitter: @MurrayOConnell | Profile: @MurrayOConnell Photo courtesy of Ronald Martinez/ Getty Images There are certain images I’ve stored in my mind from the 2012 season. 2012 of course being the last season Notre Dame played their final game of the season with a national championship on the line. Of course we know how that story ends, but before that there was the Navy game in Dublin, Ireland when Stephon Tuitt rumbled for a 77 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. There was the triple overtime victory over Pitt when the Everett Golson led Irish would rally from 14 points behind to win the game and keep their national championship hopes alive. And of course, there was the goal line stand against Stanford in the rain. An iconic moment from an iconic team. However, what is sometimes a little too easily forgotten about that 2012 season is who led the Irish under center. There was the young, talented with a lot of potential, Everett Golson who showed flashes of how special a player he could have been. But also taking snaps that year, in a relief role, was Tommy Rees. Rees probably didn’t receive the credit he was due for that special 2012 season. However, if Irish fans are being honest with themselves, they have to admit, there is no way they make it to Miami that year to play for a championship if it wasn’t for Rees’ calm, steady, heroics. What Mariano Rivera was to the New York Yankees, Rees was for the Irish that year. Rees deserves credit for all he did that season, and perhaps more importantly, what he didn’t do that season. Rees was the veteran, he was already a team leader. He could have easily pouted about having his starting job taken away from him in favor of the younger, flashier Golson. However, he didn’t. He put the needs of the team ahead of his own, and that attitude might have been the final piece of the puzzle that got the Irish within reach of their 12th national championship. Rees, as a player, has my respect. He was never going to win a Heisman, or run for more than 3 yards a play, but Irish fans would not have been witness to such an exciting season if not for him. Rees, as a coach, well here’s where the frustrations for many begin. It can be argued that Rees failed to deliver in the quarterback development process. It can be argued that Rees failed to adapt to in-game situations until it was too late. It can be argued that until recently Rees did not recruit as well as he needed to. Rees was at the controls when Ian Book was starting for the Irish. Book would go on to set many individual records, and should be commended for such. However, did Irish fans see any progress in Book’s game from one year to the next, or were we all witnessing a good kid punching above his weight? Jack Coan was brought in because there was not a quarterback on the roster ready to take over. Phil Jurkovec was supposed to get the job but, unhappy with the coaching staff, he ended up leaving. Coan, despite some herculean efforts, was not right for the offense Rees was calling. It took several weeks before Rees would adjust his play calling to better fit what Coan had to offer. Why did it take so long to adapt? As great a kid as Coan was, why was he even brought in to begin with if he didn’t fit Rees’ scheme? How much of this is on Rees and how much of this was on Brian Kelly? Was Rees just following the orders of his boss? This season was a frustrating one as once again Rees had to readjust his play calling to fit a quarterback that wasn’t supposed to be a starter. Irish fans can still remember the frustrations and head scratching losses to Marshall and Stanford and the near loss to Navy when at times the offense looked as energetic as an old dog taking a nap. Irish fans shouldn’t fault Rees for leaving. Sure, it would have been nice for him to stay and finish his f%#?ing job. It would have been exciting to see what he could have done with Hartman, and eventually Minchey and Carr. However, Rees has been intricately involved with Notre Dame since 2010. Surely we can understand Rees having an itch to see why the grass might be a little greener a little further south. As much as Notre Dame fans despise Alabama, the opportunity to work with arguably the best coach ever to butcher an Aflak commercial doesn’t happen every day. As much as it upsets our stomachs to publicly admit, Saban is a legend and for Rees to be able to learn from such a coach is certainly understandable. If I had the opportunity to work with the best in the business, it would be next to impossible to say no, and I believe most of us out there would follow suit. With Rees leaving, Freeman will have an opportunity to prove if he really is as smart as Notre Dame fans want him to be. Will his next hire be the one to lead Notre Dame to where it hasn't been to in a very long time, or will this be, similar to Kelly, the Brian Van Gorder blemish on his coaching resume? Irish fans will find out soon enough. It didn’t end the way Notre Dame fans imagined it would, Freeman and Rees covered in confetti, hoisting up the National Championship trophy while giving each other bro hugs and smoking a couple of La Flor Dominicana Mysterios. But perhaps it might end even sweeter, Freeman hoisting up a National Championship trophy, while both Saban and Rees watch from the visitor’s sidelines. Could Irish fans imagine anything better than that? Thanks for all you’ve done for Notre Dame Tommy, you helped get us further than we've been in a very long time and you deserve our respect for that, but now our f&%#?ing job is to keep you from doing yours.

By: Michael Blough | Writer | Twitter: @MichaelBlough12 At 11:21 A.M., the news broke that Tommy Rees would be taking a flight to the University of Alabama to interview with Nick Saban for the offensive coordinator position. In this situation I am positive that you can take all of Tommy's "homer' rhetoric about the University of Notre Dame and throw it out the window. When Nick Saban calls, you answer (or fly down to Tuscaloosa to interview). It is not that Tommy hasn't been a hot prospect for quite some time now, but none of the prior encounters (think LSU last year) felt quite this deep. If anyone out there was looking for a prediction (Irish fans look away), I think he will take this job IF Saban offers it to him. To add to that, I think Saban will offer him the position as it has been widely reported now that Rees is Saban's "top target". Photo Credit: ESPN Optimism While all hope hasn't quite left the door yet, it certainly feels that it is few and far between. If Rees was to stay, that would be a HUGE win for the Irish. To me, the Irish have to find a way to keep him. Whether that is more money, a statue, or any other attainable resource, Jack Swarbrick and all other staffers should be doing everything in their power to make this work. If he does stay, I think it does two main things for Notre Dame. First, I think it provides a resounding sense of belief in the program after year one of the Marcus Freeman era. If Rees was not interested in sticking around any longer under this regime, trust me, I think he'd be gone in a heartbeat. Secondly, I think it would have a huge impact on recruiting for the 2024 class (and beyond). I'll talk about what will happen if he leaves shortly, but the facts of the matter are that Cam Williams, CJ Carr, and other outstanding prospects would be on high alert if their main recruiter was suddenly the OC at Alabama. If you are interested in some of the things that Tommy has said in the past about wanting to stay at Notre Dame, look no further than about 14 months ago when he provided this gem of a video after announcing he was staying at Notre Dame. Sayings like "this is where my heart is" and "this is where I want to win a national championship" are certainly reassuring, but I think this is a completely different ballgame when you involve Nick Saban and the winningest program over the last decade. The Downside If Rees leaves, you can bet your bottom dollar that this will send Notre Dame Football into a frenzy for the next few weeks. On top of looking for a new OC, I think this will have massive impact on the upcoming year and the recruiting for the 2024 class. First, I'd just like to point out that this is possibly the worst timing for this to happen. The Irish feel like they just got their Quarterback (Sam Hartman), they return three running-backs, most of their receiving core (and added some recruits and transfers in the 2023 class), and will return both of their starting offensive tackles. If there was ever a year to be jacked up about the talent on the offensive side of the ball, it was the 2023 season. Now, Tommy leaving wouldn't destroy all of that hope, but it certainly throws a wrench in the plans. As far as finding a new OC goes, I think the Irish surely could find someone capable of the job, but some of the highest regarded OC's are already off the market. Narrowing down who we would be looking for is another article for another time, but I think this decision will mostly shake up the recruiting. There's no doubt that the 2024 class already has some great offensive talent signed (CJ Carr and Cam Williams mentioned previously). Now, if you know anything about CJ Carr, you know that he has been very important in the Irish's recruiting efforts, often taking extra visits to come down to South Bend with other highly regarded prospects. While he seems like he's a surefire Notre Dame attendee, I think his relationship with Rees might be even more prevalent. Losing a commitment from the likes of him or Cam Williams can turn the 2024 class upside-down.

By: Mike Stacey ⏐ Writer ⏐ Twitter: @MikeStaceyIT Photo Credit: 247 Sports I had the opportunity to talk with Notre Dame class of '23 Tight End, Cooper Flanagan out of De La Salle High School in Concord, California. Cooper was rated a 4 star tight end, and number 11 overall at his position in the country according to 247 sports. Cooper is only 17 years old, but already carries himself like an adult, both physically and mentally. He is 6'5, 228 lbs and will be looking to improve his frame as he enters Notre Dame this upcoming year. Cooper has all of the qualities which would lead you to believe he can be the next great tight end out of Notre Dame. Much like his fellow classmates, not only is Cooper extremely talented, but he has a good head on his shoulders. After speaking with him, it is clear that he has the vision and character traits that Marcus Freeman is looking for. He is in fact, a Notre Dame man. Check out our interview below! On what the recruiting process was like: Cooper: "It started late in my Sophomore year. I was talking to my coach about it and told him that Notre Dame was definitely a top, if not the top school for me. I think he put in a word for me and that's when I got in touch with Notre Dame. Ever since then I kind of knew I wanted to go to Notre Dame so it was a done deal when I got the offer. But before Notre Dame was in the picture, Michigan was up there, Washington and obviously Alabama just because it's Alabama, but I kind of always knew Notre Dame was the school for me." (Cooper grew up a Notre Dame fan. His grandparents are big fans and he has a few relatives that went there) On some of his main factors in picking a school: Cooper: "Obviously education was a big part of that. I mean if football doesn't work out, even though the NFL is the plan, you still have the Notre Dame education. The way Notre Dame uses it's tight ends, Michael Mayer is a great example of that, the best tight end in college football. Just the history and the people at Notre Dame, the culture there, is a big thing for me. I feel like that is where I fit in coming from a private Catholic high school, I think I will fit in perfect." To build on what was said above, why he ultimately chose Notre Dame: Cooper: "Yeah what I already said and the coaches there are awesome. I love coach Parker, I think the other commits are great. The school is beautiful, I mean Notre Dame is Notre Dame, it's the best of both worlds. It's the highest play of football you can get with the education that you also get." On what his favorite thing about Notre Dame is: Cooper: "It's kind of two things. I think the fact that it's the best of both worlds. It's the highest play of football you can get with the education you also get. I think that's the number one thing." On when he knew he was choosing Notre Dame: Cooper: "The day I got the offer, I didn't really think it was going to happen. It was kind of out of nowhere. After I got it, me and my parents sat down and talked about it. I told them I thought this is the place, I couldn't see how I could not pick them." On what schools recruited him after his commitment and if he ever had second thoughts: Cooper: "No. Alabama wanted me to come out and visit. LSU was talking to me for a while, they were the two main schools that were coming at me. Oregon came in late, but I was set on Notre Dame." On where he sees himself fitting in with the offense: Cooper: "I think, and this is something that coach Parker tells me, he believes I'm a true Tight End. I can make plays in the run game and pass game so I am just looking to be versatile. On what his goals are for this upcoming season: Cooper: "I mean, obviously my goal is to start if not play. I know it's definitely going to be hard, but that's the mindset you need to have going in. I just want to learn and get better. I want to do the best I can to make an opportunity to get out there." On what his hobbies are outside of football: Cooper: "I'm kind of a homebody, but I like basketball, playing pick up games. I'm a big golf and poker guy, too." On who is favorite NFL team is/Favorite Player: Cooper: "I'm a Ravens fan, but I follow players more than teams. I'm a Mark Andrews fan right now. I like all the tight ends like Kelce and Kittle, but I think Andrews is my favorite right now." On what NFL player he compares himself to/wants to play like: Cooper: "I aspire to be like Gronk, he's the most dominant Tight End to ever play." On his favorite place on campus: Cooper: "I am going to have to go with the stadium. It's the coolest spot." Any last word's for the fans? Cooper: "Go Irish!" I hope you all enjoyed the interview! If you want to get to know Cooper more give him a follow on Twitter @CooperXFlanagan or on Instagram @cooper_flanagan. And as the man said himself, GO IRISH!

By: Michael Blough | Writer | Twitter: @MichaelBlough12 Photo Credit: On3.com/Chad Weaver It is often in sports that we hear the words "make or break year" uttered to describe a team, coach, or player. It is used when someone must prove themselves worthy of their position or they will be rescinded of their job. Whether the person we discuss today is worthy of this situation or not is negligible, because the situation was created for him. In this article I will make a point to why Tommy Rees should not be on the "hot seat", but also make note of why fans/media have some good points when coming after Tommy Rees. Now, before we get started, lets break some things down really quick. This article is going to focus on Tommy Rees, the offensive coordinator and play-caller, not the QB coach (and begin in 2020, when he was officially promoted to OC). Necessary? Yes. Cherry-picking? Maybe, I'll let you be the judge of that. Quick Facts PPG By Year: 2020: 33.4, 2021: 35.2, 2022: 31.8 Passing YPG By Year: 2020: 237.4, 2021: 282.5, 2022: 207.1 Rushing YPG By Year: 2020: 211.1, 2021: 143.8. 2022: 188.9 Total YPG By Year: 2020: 448.5, 2021: 426.2, 2022: 396.0 (All stats from espn.com) The Narrative Unfortunately for Tommy, the narrative will almost always be that "Brian Kelly really liked him, and he was lucky to be on the staff." While this narrative is somewhat true, it is not the reason Tommy has kept his job. Rees has a deeper understanding of football and play-calling than most of us realize, and even before his short stint as an offensive assistant with the San Diego Chargers, he was ready for this position. Rees knows exactly what it's like to be on the field playing in South Bend. The simple facts of the matter are that Tommy has kept this offense afloat (mostly with less talent than he would've liked). Tommy has kept this offense in the 30 points per game range regardless of the circumstances. Now, people will point to specific play-calls that they didn't like, but you simply cannot judge an OC by a play-call here, and a play-call there. An OC (or other coaches) has to be judged from a holistic standpoint, including recruiting, development, game planning, and situational play-calling. Early Season Struggles Since 2020, you can really only say the QB situation has been in a good place for one year, and that was Ian Book in 2020. In 2021, the staff really wanted to make Tyler Buchner the face of the offense, but it was quite clear he was not ready. So, the staff took a graduate transfer in Jack Coan. Coan started the year in shaky fashion, and the offense was simply not good enough in the first few games as it barely escaped from games against Purdue and Toledo. In 2022, Tyler Buchner would be "the guy", but only for a short time as he was injured, and Drew Pyne finished the season off. The shortcomings of the offense in the early parts of the season caught up to them, as they could only muster 10 points in a loss against Ohio State (all in the first half), 21 points in a loss against Marshall (14 in the 4th quarter), and 24 (10 in the 4th quarter) in an escaping win against a bad Cal team. The Irish offense simply cannot reciprocate this in the early parts of the 2023 season. We learned our lesson last year, even lesser opponents can come into Notre Dame Stadium and beat us. Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated The Case For Rees As a former player and coach, I really like Rees. I think his play-calling is second to none, his ability to use/disguise players in the offense is amazing, and the way he isn't afraid to lean into the teams obvious strengths is something that some OC's are afraid to do. Where we have seen struggles in the past, namely development and recruiting, seem to be taking a turn. If you would have asked me in week 3 of this year, I would have said there is a developmental issue between Rees and Buchner. Tyler simply didn't look ready to run the offense, and the rest of the team reflected that as well. But after the bowl game performance, I am ready to say that Buchner could have a fair shot at being the starter. However, with the news of Sam Hartman transferring to Notre Dame, Buchner might have to take a backseat to him. As far as recruiting goes, I think Rees has improved as well. Getting Hartman here as a transfer was admirable. Also, stealing Kenny Minchey (4 star QB) from Pitt in the later recruiting cycle was great as well. Not to mention, one of the most important (if not the most important) players in the 2024 class, CJ Carr was mainly recruited by Rees. Carr's impact on the 2024 class continues to grow as he is an integral part in talking with other perspective signees and has been on campus to join others on visits numerous times. So, while the jury may be out on Rees as of now, I think he now possesses the pieces needed to run the offense how he wants and to be more proficient in developing younger QB's in the system. Photo Credit: 247Sports Projections: Looking ahead to 2023, I really love this offense. Returning all 3 core running backs will be integral for this offense. There's no secret that Notre Dame will look to establish the run every game. To help with that the Irish will return both tackles, Joe Alt and Blake Fisher, who were great this year and posses the potential to be even better next year. As for the Wide Receiver room, Jayden Thomas, Lorenzo Styles, Deon Colzie and Tobias Merriweather, and maybe even Kaleb Smith will be the headliners. Furthermore, look for Braylon James and Jaden Greathouse (both incoming freshman) to get some looks throughout the year as well. Lastly, Sam Hartman is the quarterback the Irish have needed. He possesses all the talent to take advantage of a stacked offense that will feature a strong running game backed by what looks to be a solid passing game. I think by the end of the year, Hartman will be a Heisman finalist so long as the Irish win the games they are supposed to. To sum it all up, I think this offense could post 40 points a game (or more). And even if they don't, my guess is that it will be because of style of play, not a lack of proficiency or talent. For the first time in a long time, it finally feels like the pieces are there. We aren't "waiting" for someone to develop or "needing" a certain guy to have a break-out year. If the staff can simply take advantage of the talent that currently sits in front of them, this will be a year for the history books on offense.

Written by Patrick Byrne I'm a college football guy. I'll watch any game, any time. Notre Dame is of course my favorite team to watch, but I can get pretty excited about a late night San Diego State vs. Nevada match up in Reno as well. The NFL is not particularly a close second to me; however, I do watch as much as possible so I can keep track of how Notre Dame players are doing in the league. I heard recently that Notre Dame can't control how their players will perform in the NFL. True, but if you start with better players and develop them properly, the chances of them not only making it, but doing well will obviously increase. It's also important to show that you have players at all positions within the NFL, because this helps you attract more talent at those positions in future. Do you honestly think Tom Brady hasn't helped Michigan attract talent at the quarterback position? Now, the big question is: Can Notre Dame help you get to the NFL? The answer is of course - but the bigger question is which type of player is Notre Dame churning out year after year that's not only making it to the NFL, but thriving as one of the best players in the league? Let's do a deeper dive into that very question. Before we begin, I won't be listing every single player for each position group, just those who have significantly contributed to their team this past season. For instance, Romeo Okwara and Matthias Farley wouldn't be considered "major" contributors (just check out their stats) so I've opted to exclude them. I'm splitting the players I have listed into two categories: Top Tier - Kids wear a jersey of that player to the game, household name, etc. Additional Starters/Contributors - Not a star but a good to potentially great player Among knowledgeable football fans, Notre Dame is known as either O-Line U or Tight End U, both of which would make sense given the number of players in these positions at the NFL level who have graduated from the school. A quick view of the top-tier talent proves that Notre Dame is developing players at a pretty consistent rate. Photo Courtesy: Associated Press O-Line Top Tier Ronnie Stanley Zack Martin Quenton Nelson Additional Starters/Contributors Aaron Banks Liam Eichenberg Mike McGlinchey Sam Mustipher Robert Hainsey Alex Bars Tight End Top Tier Cole Kmet Additional Starters/Contributors Kyle Rudolph Durham Smythe Tommy Tremble Brock Wright I can make an argument that Ronnie Stanley and Zack Martin are already in the Hall of Fame based on the careers they've had. Quenton Nelson is harder to figure out as his production slipped quite a bit this year, but he was also injured so it will be interesting to see how he comes back from that. The other guys listed are either consistent starters, have started or have at least played in their careers up to this point. Cole Kmet had a productive third year in the league (544 yards/7 TDs) so it's safe to assume he's the next great Notre Dame tight end (until Michael Mayer is drafted, then all bets are off). Rudolph was very productive, but is on his way out while the others had "nice seasons" but not star quality to this point. Having 9 offensive lineman and 5 active tight ends (with a 6th on the way) is pretty impressive, and speaks to the culture the Irish have built. More than once, Marcus Freeman has said he wants Notre Dame to be an offensive and defensive line driven program. We've established there is a healthy stable of offensive lineman playing in the NFL that once wore the gold helmet, but what about defensive lineman? How are we doing on this side of the ball? Let's take a look: D-Line Top Tier None D-Line Starters/Contributors Kurt Hinish Khalid Kareem Isaac Rochell Jerry Tillery All of these guys have played with at least one other member of this position group (Tillery) being a former starter before getting traded; however, none of them have established themselves as a force within the league (think Aaron Donald). It appears most will be solid contributors on their teams, but it's doubtful any of them will have the same type of impact the offensive lineman or tight ends will have. Strides in recruiting have definitely been made and the defensive line is absolutely better than it was pre-Brian Kelly, but the talent acquired has only been good enough to win at a non-new years six bowl/playoff game level. More work needs to be done to get Notre Dame over the hump if Freeman's vision of dominating both lines of scrimmage is to come to fruition. Okay, you may ask, how many wide receivers are making an impact? What about running backs? Let's take a look: Photo Courtesy: Associated Press Wide Receivers Top Tier None Wide Receivers Starters/Contributors Chase Claypool Ben Skowronek Equanimeous St. Brown Running Backs Top Tier None Running Backs Starters/Contributors Kyren Williams Wide receiver recruiting has been a major sore spot for Irish fans over the years. There have been flashes with both Golden Tate and Michael Floyd having success in the league, but there haven't been any other receivers who have made a major impact up to this point. Claypool had a pretty productive couple of seasons, and was then traded from the Steelers to a brutal Bears team, so we'll have to wait and see if he can build on that success. Skowronek was a surprise for the Rams this year, but I think that was more out of necessity and injuries. I expect he'll pan out to be a "good receiver" in the future. St. Brown also had a respectable season with the Bears, but I don't foresee him breaking out to be a superstar in future. All in all it's a nice group of receivers, but outside of maybe Claypool, none of them are game changers. As for the running backs, Williams was hurt for a majority of the year so it's hard to get a pulse on how good he may be. The kid has always had heart and he doesn't go down easy. My guess is he has a Ryan Grant like career, which would be pretty darn good. What about the rest of the defense? How does Notre Dame fare here? Safety/Linebacker/Corner Top Tier Harrison Smith Safety/Linebacker/Corner Starters/Contributors Kyle Hamilton Alohi Gilman Julian Love Nick McCloud Jaylon Smith Drue Tranquill There are definitely bright spots in this group, especially at safety with Harrison Smith (a sure fire hall of famer), Kyle Hamilton having a nice rookie year, and Alohi Gilman being a solid contributor on a Chargers playoff team. Julian Love and Nick McCloud both start (or have started) in the Giants secondary while Jaylon Smith and Drue Tranquill also started for their teams and contributed heavily throughout the year. All things considered, I'd say this is a pretty impressive group and would be the second most successful among former Irish players, to both the offensive line and tight end groups. Even though I had a disclaimer at the beginning of this article that I'd only include contributors to their team this past season, the QB position is one that must be mentioned. The quarterback with the most wins in Notre Dame history sits on the bench for the Eagles as a 3rd string QB, while Gardner Minshew (the guy in front of him), a former East Carolina and Washington State QB, has seen game action this year. I'm definitely not an Ian Book hater, I appreciate him as a college quarterback and especially all he did at Notre Dame; however, I don't see him starting or doing much of anything in the NFL. As someone who grew up watching the tail end of Joe Theismann's career and the heyday of the Montana era, this is both telling and quite depressing. Here's hoping he can pull a Steve Beuerlein and have a nice 3-4 year run somewhere. Photo Courtesy: Associated Press To sum it up, in looking at who's excelling within the NFL, there are 4 areas where Notre Dame has to improve their talent in order to not only make a run at the playoffs, but actually win a game and attempt to advance: Defensive Line Running Back Quarterback Wide Receiver None of these should come as a shock to you, and I'm definitely not saying anything someone else hasn't regurgitated in the past. I do think it helps to see the position groups that are actually making a contribution in the NFL and where the disparity lies. If I look at the list of players in the league and who's actually making waves, I tend to think Notre Dame looks more like Iowa than it does Georgia or Alabama, which makes a lot of sense and explains the blowouts that have taken place in the past. Having said that, the gaps are closing in certain areas and are much brighter in others than fans may think. O Line and Tight End U are alive and well, we simply need to add skill players while producing more game changers along the defensive line. In other words, the most highly sought after position groups that are most likely to get poached with huge NIL deals. Easy, right?

Written by Murray O'Connell There is an old episode of Seinfeld where Jerry's date stood in one place under a certain light and she looked stunningly beautiful. Then in the very next shot, she would step outside the light, and would look more hideous than, well… Notre Dame’s second half performance against Navy. Jerry of course would struggle with the relationship not knowing which woman would show up for their dates, while Kramer would suggest something ridiculous, and hilarity would ensue. Although Seinfeld has long since left the airwaves, Notre Dame fans can relate to Jerry’s predicament. What team Irish fans see this season depends on what light they are standing in. Are they the beauty queens from the North Carolina, BYU and Clemson games? Or are they the grotesque, hideous, eyesores of the Marshall, Stanford, and the second half of the Navy game where an offense that put up 348 total yards against the number 4 team in the country just a week prior, was only able to gain a rather pathetic 12 yards of total offense in the second half? The fact that this team doesn’t know 10 games into the season how to consistently be who they want to be is troubling. In fact, the only thing more troubling to Notre Dame fans is the thought of NBC bringing back Jack Collingsworth and Jason Garrett to call home games again next season. With the playoffs now unrecognizable in the rear view mirror, the least Irish fans could hope for this season was a little consistency. How can the Irish, so far, beat all but one of the ranked teams they faced this season, while struggling against a Navy team that lost to the Delaware Blue Hens, with all due respect to whatever a Blue Hen is? Irish fans do need to concede, as frustrating as it might be, that even though all the hype back in August was suggesting there would be another playoff run this season, this is in fact a team led by a first year head coach, Marcus Freeman. He is going to have a learning curve, he is going to make mistakes, he is going to need time to figure things out, much to the chagrin of Irish fans' blood pressure levels. When comparing all the coaches that have won national championships for Notre Dame, and Brian Kelly, only two, Dan Devine (8-2 Arizona State) and Frank Leahy (9-2 Boston College) finished their first seasons as head coaches with winning records. Assuming Notre Dame beats Boston College, which is probably not a smart thing to assume considering their history, Freeman should finish with at least an 8-4, possibly 9-3 record, depending on how their final game against USC goes. That should be a mark in the plus column for Freeman. A closer look at all the national championship winning coaches at Notre Dame, and Brian Kelly, four ended their first years at Notre Dame with winning records, Leahy (8-0) Ara Parseghian (9-1) Devine (8-3) and Kelly (8-5.) Despite some frustrating losses, this is again another positive mark for Freeman. The good news for Irish fans is all the national championship winning coaches, and Brian Kelly, finished their second seasons at Notre Dame, improving upon their first year records, except for Devine and Leahy. Don’t feel too badly for those coaches though, they would go on to eventually win 3 national championships between them. What do all these statistics mean? Well, I don’t know, I’m horrible at math. However, these numbers do suggest that perhaps things aren’t as bad as Irish fans think, and Freeman is actually doing fairly well as a first year head coach. Yes, the losses to inferior teams sting, but bigger picture, Freeman is doing a lot better in the win/loss column than many other first year coaches have done at Notre Dame. But does any of that excuse the schizophrenic nature in which Notre Dame has played week after week this season? Hardly, these are things Irish fans don't see from the teams that are consistently battling for playoff spots year after year. To get to where Notre Dame wants to get to, issues like playing down to their opponents level will need to be fixed to ensure this does not happen again next season. Most Notre Dame fans won’t have the fingernails to withstand another season like this one, where the Irish beat up on the tough kids that get caught vaping in the school bathroom, but the kids that won't shut up about cryptocurrency get away with punching the Irish right in their nose. At the end of this particular Seinfeld episode, Jerry doesn’t learn a lesson, which was kind of the point of the entire series. It was a show about nothing after all. However, for Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman, there is a lesson that needs to be learned from this incredible yet frustrating season. Despite some hard earned highs, Freeman still has a great deal of work he needs to do with his program, including challenging his offensive coordinator to get better and find ways to adapt when the original plan isn't working. Challenging his defensive coordinator to more consistently shut teams down ending the possibility of any more second half collapses. This defense looks as strong as the ‘85 Chicago Bears one week, then appears weaker than the freshman admittance standards at USC the next. Freeman must also find a way to keep his special teams coordinator around for another year, despite the offers he will most certainly get to move on once the season concludes. And most importantly to Marcus Freeman, he will need to challenge Marcus Freeman by asking if he has what it takes to make these difficult moves in order to ultimately lead his program to where so many more experienced coaches have failed to reach. Irish fans will all find out in the next 2-4 years if Freeman had it in him, so many Notre Dame fans hope he does. Otherwise the only must see TV Irish fans will be enjoying next season will be old episodes of Seinfeld . Photo by NBC Sports

By: Mike Stacey⏐Writer⏐Twitter: @MikeStaceyIT Credit: Twitter @cterek77 I had the opportunity to talk with Notre Dame commit Chris Terek out of Glenbard West High School in Illinois. Chris was the last O-lineman to commit to Notre Dame after being previously committed to Wisconsin. Once the Irish showed interest and Chris got on campus, he knew Notre Dame was the place for him, like so many others from the 23 class. Chris is another exemplary Notre Dame Offensive Lineman. He's big, athletic, and has a great character. Another guy who just gets what it means to be a Notre Dame Man. Check out our conversation below! On what his recruiting process was like: Chris: " My recruiting was a little different from other peoples. I didn't have any offers until after my junior year and then the coaches started coming in and they would work me out and after every workout I would usually get an offer. " On what his main factors were in looking at schools: Chris : "Obviously academics was a big one and then from a football standpoint, I wanted to go somewhere that develops offensive lineman. My top schools were Wisconsin, Iowa, and Notre Dame. It was really just about where I felt I fit in the best." On why he chose Notre Dame: Chris: " So I was committed to Wisconsin for months. That originally was the school I planned to play at. Once Coach Chryst got fired and Notre Dame started talking to me I decided I was only going to talk to Wisconsin and Notre Dame. I felt good with Notre Dame after my first visit, but it was hard for me to flip. I am not the kind of guy to decommit and go somewhere else. But after I got down there the first time and got a feel for everything, the culture that Coach Freeman is building is just insane. I just felt that I wanted to be a part of that program and everything coach Freeman is bringing to Notre Dame." On when he knew he was going to choose Notre Dame: Chris: "The first time I went down there was for an unofficial for the Stanford game. They lost and it was probably their worst game of the season. I was there for the team meeting the following day. He addressed the team and stayed positive throughout the whole speech. It just really showed how much faith he has in his players and how he really believes in this program being turned around and how that one loss didn't affect their whole season. Seeing how coach Freeman was responding to the loss and the energy. Everyone knew there were much bigger things coming and they can do better. It just felt like everyone was still focused, not freaking out and just working on doing better next week." On where he sees himself fitting into the offense: Chris: "They see me as a right guard." On what his goals are for the upcoming season: Chris: "I want to get stronger in the weight room for sure, change my body. I really want to work on my technique and keep fine tuning everything and working every day." On what his relationship is like with the rest of his class: Chris: "We talk all the time, we're in a big group chat. The O-lineman are tight too we talk personally and just can't wait to get there and get to work with each other. It's exciting." On what some of his hobbies are outside of football: Chris: " Wrestling is a big one for me, I've wrestled all my life. I like fishing and being outdoors. I'm from Texas, so, I moved a couple years ago." On who is the funniest guy from the 23 class: Chris: "Jagusah can crack some jokes, he's a funny dude for sure." On who is the tough/intimidating guy in the class: Chris: "I would say our whole O-line group. We got some good dudes coming in and we're going to have a nice O-line in a few years. We're all focused and ready to go to work." On who is the NFL player he compares himself to/aspires to be like: Chris: "I have to go Notre Dame with Zach Martin and Quenton Nelson. Quenton Nelson has been one of my favorites and then David Decastro, the Steelers guard, has always been my favorite player growing up. On who is favorite NFL team is: Chris: "I'm a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. We were close, didn't make it, but I'm happy with the season." On his favorite spot on Notre Dame's campus: Chris: "I mean the campus there is unbelievable. The area by the Dome is awesome, but it is great everywhere really." On his recent visit with Coach Freeman and Coach Stuckey: Chris: "It went really good. We had dinner and talked. They got to meet the family which was nice. My mom wasn't able to go with me to my visit, so she finally got to meet coach Freeman. It was cool. We got to talk and get to know each other better. He let me know that things are changing at Notre Dame and our class is going to be the start of that. He is finding guys that fit that Notre Dame mold. Notre Dame is a lot different than any other place I've visited. The people are different there, it's a different kind of energy, it's first class." I hope you all enjoyed the interview! If you are like me, the talk about this new energy in the program and on campus is both refreshing and wildly exciting. It seems that players like Chris Terek not only understand Coach Freeman's vision and passion for this program, they share it, and they're ready to get to work and make it happen! Irish Fans, give Chris a follow on Twitter and Instagram @cterek77! Thanks for reading and as always, Go Irish!