Photo Credit: Irish Tribune It was 2003 and Notre Dame was struggling through Tyrone Willingham’s second season at the helm. After a somewhat surprising 10-2 regular season in 2002 closed with an embarrassing Gator Bowl loss to NC State, Notre Dame entered the year ranked 20th. Being near the upper deck of the Top 25 isn’t exactly where Irish fans wanted to be; however, there was optimism heading into the season. That optimism was quickly dashed when a come from behind victory was needed in the opener against Washington State followed up by a terrible performance against Michigan in a 38-0 loss, one of the worst losses in the history of the series. As the Irish limped to a 2-5 record, a home game with Florida State loomed. Ever optimistic, this presented an opportunity for Notre Dame to turn around their fortunes and get on the right footing. It was not to be. Bobby Bowden and his boys got revenge from a year prior and whipped Notre Dame to the tune of 37-0 (it was 30-0 at halftime and he mercifully called off the dogs, forever cementing a place in my heart for his kindness). Notre Dame was now 2-6 and I wondered if it would ever end. Would Notre Dame simply become an Ivy League school? A university with great academics and a once proud football program, similar to Georgia Tech or Tulane? This would not happen of course. After struggling through another subpar coaching hire in Charlie Weis, Brian Kelly righted the ship and brought respectability where there had been very little over a 20 year period. Then, 2012 happened. It wasn’t so much that Notre Dame lost the National Championship to Alabama, it was how they lost. Physically dominated from start to finish, the Irish were down 28-0 at halftime, going on to lose 42-14. To make matters worse, Kelly was rumored to have flirted with the Philadelphia Eagles coaching job a week or so after the game was over. Was he going to leave now? Did he feel his work was done? Didn’t he want to be at Notre Dame? Once again, the pit in our stomachs returned. Just when we thought progress was being made, we got embarrassed on the national stage and now have to find another head coach. Crisis averted, Kelly stayed and continued to build on his success, rejuvenating a once proud program to “win the games they’re supposed to win,” while sometimes winning those they aren’t or at least coming close on multiple occasions. All of this background is necessary to understand how important the Marcus Freeman hire is. Without the angst and pain pre-Kelly or close calls and playoff blowouts of those Kelly years, Marcus Freeman wouldn’t have been hired, it wouldn’t have made sense. To be successful at Notre Dame, to really be successful, you have to revere the university and its football program with childlike wonderment. It has to be your passion, seeping into your soul, into your very essence. Sure, it’s nice to be the head coach at Minnesota, Penn State or UCLA. None of these are jobs a 36 year old, first time head coach would turn down. But they’re not Notre Dame. For the very reasons everyone either loves or hates the Irish, those are the reasons the job is so special. Marcus Freeman gets it, every true fan of Notre Dame football could see that, which is why he needed to be hired. He has embraced the university for everything it has to offer, whether that be an advantage or a perceived disadvantage. Where Kelly was more like Devine or even Davie in the way he needed to “shop down a different aisle” to find players to play at Notre Dame, Freeman sounds more like Ara or Holtz asking, “why not us?” Why indeed. There are 3 main areas where Marcus Freeman, the man and the football coach, will help elevate Notre Dame to compete at the highest level: Recruiting This is the lifeblood of any program. It’s true, there are many teams I can name that are able to win without a cadre of 4 and 5 star recruits on the roster. But, there’s a big difference between winning 9-10 games and getting blown out by the best teams on your schedule and winning 13-14 games, going undefeated and hoisting that National Championship trophy. Marcus Freeman boarded a plane directly after becoming the head football coach of Notre Dame to keep the players that had already verbally committed, and asked them to recommit to him. He didn’t sit back, relax and enjoy his success. What success? He hadn’t won a game yet! He knows how important it is to get the best players in the nation in order to compete at the highest level. He was even able to seal the deal with Billy Schrauth, a highly coveted 4 star Offensive Lineman, prying him away from his home state of Wisconsin. The man is a recruiting machine and he expects all of his underlings to follow suit, making this very clear in multiple press conferences and one off conversations since taking the job. The results so far have been spectacular, with Notre Dame holding the #3 and #1 class according to 247 Sports in ’23 & ’24. This includes a recent pickup of what could be the next game changing QB in Kenny Minchey. Once a Pitt commit, Freeman (along with Tommy Rees) were able to make the flip and finally have their 2023 class QB. Minchey, coupled with CJ Carr and 4 wide receiver commits in upcoming classes (all in the Top 300 per 24/7 Sports) will provide the skill position talent necessary to build upon an already solid offensive/defensive line framework. Likeability When’s the last time Notre Dame was cool? Seriously, has that ever happened? Well, since Marcus Freeman took the reins, Notre Dame is definitely perceived as being pretty cool. Freeman exudes confidence and approachability. His ability to connect with large audiences, whether it be live during a press conference or on a Zoom call, is unlike anything that’s been seen in a Notre Dame head coach. He’s a flag bearer for his generation, utilizing all the tools at his disposal to connect and build meaningful relationships through social media, online content or face to face visits with prospective players' parents. He’s a natural on camera, having an innate ability to be himself while shedding years if not decades of hatred for Notre Dame, he’s breathed new life into a once moribund albeit still popular college football brand. A family man, he brings his kids to practice and is quick to thank his wife for allowing him to follow his dream. Looking like a guy who can still take the field, he wakes up most mornings and goes for a run, stopping by his favorite place on campus to reflect on the words inscribed on the basilica “God, Country, Notre Dame.” He’s dragging the football program and, by extension, the entire university into the 21st century. This is why he was hired, Jack Swarbrick and the rest of the leadership appear to be merrily following along, no kicking or screaming required. Leadership Whether you’re leading a team of people at a Fortune 500 company or you’re leading a football team, there has to be a belief, a belief in the person who’s asking you to sacrifice and give it your all. A vision for the future, one in which it won’t always be easy, but the end result will be worth it. In order to do this, you need to have exceptional relationship skills, an ability to connect and the confidence to lead no matter how dark the storm clouds might hover over your head. Marcus Freeman is a great defensive coach, he’s proven this to be the case. Can he be a great head coach? There’s every reason to believe that he can. He doesn’t always know what he’s doing and he won’t always have the perfect answer, sometimes he’s even truthful to a fault, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a good leader. He’s the kind of guy who will take the broom and sweep the floor rather than asking someone else to do it for him. We know this simply in the way he carries himself, in how he speaks of his military upbringing and the admiration he has for his mother. All of this matters, it matters to the players, the fans and the wayward alumni who thinks he’s been left out to pasture by the university only to find himself invited to the Spring Game for an alumni event, fully back in the fold where he belongs. Charlie Weis brought more talent and Brian Kelly brought respectability when many fans thought the Irish would never rise above the likes of a mid-Tier Big 10 program. When Kelly bolted out the door for “greener pastures” at LSU, Marcus Freeman was waiting in the wings, ready to ascend the throne when asked. We’re patiently waiting to see his star continue to rise, lifting the spirits, hopes and win totals of Notre Dame along with him. It’s called the Freeman Factor and most Irish fans believe it will factor into a National Championship very soon.

Stock Up/Stock Down Written by Nick Kremer, Editor for The Irish Tribune Nine games into his coaching tenure at Notre Dame, and Marcus Freeman has his first victory over a top 5 opponent. The Irish dominated undefeated and number 4 Clemson under the lights in Notre Dame Stadium Saturday night 35-14. Photo from 247 Sports Stock Up 📈 ☘️ Special Teams Brian Mason’s impact on the Notre Dame football team did not take long. Just nine games into his coaching career at Notre Dame, and he has the Irish Special Teams playing at an elite level. Once again, the Notre Dame Special Teams came up with a huge play that completely changed the game. Jordan Botehlo came right up the middle, got a hand on it, and Prince Kollie was able to take the blocked punt to the end-zone. That makes 6 blocked punts in 9 games, and puts the Irish at number 1 in the nation for blocked punts. Special Teams Player(s) of the Game - Jordan Botelho/Prince Kollie ☘️ Defense Al Golden and the Notre Dame defense put on a show Saturday night. Notre Dame forced two interceptions, both by Freshman Benjamin Morrison, who had a phenomenal game. Morrison had the two interceptions, one for a touchdown, and added 7 total tackles. Morrison is a future All-American if he keeps playing this way. The front seven played extremely well in this game. Play after play their physicality over-matched Clemson. The Tigers struggled to get a consistent ground game going, rushing for 90 yards on 25 attempts. JD Bertrand had an outstanding game, leading the Irish defense with 9 solo tackles, 1 sack, and 2 tackles for loss. The Notre Dame defense was able to dominate the Tiger’s offense with great stunts and blitzes called by Golden. This led to Clemson struggling to find any rhythm offensively on Saturday night. DJ Uiagalelei went 27/39 for 191 yards passing in the game and the Irish had 4 sacks and 7 tackles for loss in the game. Overall, Al Golden and his game plan was extremely impressive, and a huge reason the Irish won this game over the #4 Clemson Tigers. Defensive Player of the Game - Benjamin Morrison Photo from Ben Morrison Instagram @bennmorrisonn ☘️ Running Game Coming into this game, Clemson had the #7 ranked rush defense in the country. That did not slow down Tommy Rees and this rush attack. The Irish offense carried the ball 47 times for 263 yards against this stout defense. Diggs had 17 carries for 114 yards (6.7 YPC) and Estime had 18 carries for 104 yards (5.8 YPC) and a touchdown. Tommy Rees has been the focus of a lot of criticism throughout this year, but you have to give credit where credit is due. Tommy Rees put together, and executed a phenomenal game plan. He was a step ahead of Clemson’s defense all night, all while being limited to a barely functional pass attack. Tommy Rees had his unit prepared and firing on all cylinders in this one, and it paid off in a huge way. Harry Heistand has the Offensive Line playing elite football. The legend that is Harry Hiestand is very much real, and it shows with the production up front; This unit is excellent. Joe Alt, Jarrett Patterson, and Blake Fisher are all going to be making big-time money in the NFL. Zeke Correll and Josh Lugg have elevated their game in an enormous way since the start of the season. The Clemson defense knew what was coming, and they could not stop it; that is 100% due to the Oline play. The Offensive Line was physical, assignment sound, and dominant in this game. Give Hiestand a huge raise, Notre Dame. Offensive Player(s) of the Game - The Offensive Line ☘️ Atmosphere Over the years I have heard and witnessed all the complaints about the atmosphere at Notre Dame stadium: It’s not loud enough, we need a better home-field advantage, we aren’t crazy enough, etc. Those days are over after this game. The atmosphere at Notre Dame stadium was absolutely electric Saturday night. There were multiple moments in the game that Clemson was impacted by the thunderous atmosphere. The green pom-poms for the crowd were a great touch, and if the Irish fan-base could somehow find a way to wear one color (green), then we could see the atmosphere take another step forward. In talking with people that were at the game, and hearing it on tv, the crowd was the loudest it has been in a long time. Stock Down 📉 ☘️ Pass Game Notre Dame dominated Clemson for the entire game in every category except one, the passing game. Drew Pyne played well, for what he was asked to do, and led the Irish to an emotional victory. Drew Pyne went 9/17 for 85 yards and 1 touchdown. Tommy Rees and the Irish offense have embraced this identity, and it should lead to a strong finish to the season, but the passing game has to improve in a big way for this team to take the next step. Photo from Elizabeth Michelle Gaines ☘️ Overall, this was a win that can propel Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame football team to monumental heights. This game showed everyone that Freeman is capable of taking this team to the next level. We did not get many victories over a top 5 team under the previous head coach, or even the past 4 coaches. This is one that we, as fans, should truly cherish and embrace. However, something tells me that this is just a glimpse of the great things to come for this new era of Notre Dame football; The Freeman Era.

Written by Nick Kremer, Editor for The Irish Tribune Notre Dame will take on #4 Clemson Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium. While the Irish will be fighting to win on the field, they will also be trying to win recruiting battles off the field. Notre Dame is set to host some of the nation’s most talented high school football players this weekend. Photo from On3.com ☘️ 2023 Class The elite 2023 recruiting class will be well represented this weekend, as many of the committed players will be in town for official and unofficial visits. On defense, all three Safety commits, Adon Shuler , Peyton Bowen , and Ben Minnich will be in town. CB Christian Gray , LB Jaiden Ausberry , DE Brenan Vernon , DL Boubacar Traore , LB Preston Zinter and LB Drayk Bowen will all be on campus. On the offensive side of the ball, it all starts up front. OL Joe Otting, Sam Pendleton , Sullivan Absher , and Charles Jagusah will be visiting. TE Cooper Flanagan , WR Braylon James , and WR Jaden Greathouse finish the offensive commits that will be visiting. The uncommitted ‘23 prospects are ATH Khalil Barnes, WR Kaleb Smith and QB Roch Cholowsky . Cholowsky is also being recruited by the Notre Dame baseball team, but he is interested in playing football as well. Khalil Barnes , a WR/DB out of Georgia, has been getting more attention lately because of his strong senior year. I would not be surprised to see Barnes leave South Bend as a commit. WR Kaleb Smith is currently committed to Texas Tech, but has been building a relationship with Chansi Stuckey since his time at Baylor. As long as everything goes well during this visit, expect WR Kaleb Smith to commit this weekend. ☘️ 2024 Class QB CJ Carr , WR Cam Williams , TE Jack Larsen , DE Brandon Davis-Swain , and DL Owen Wafle are the committed players that will be visiting on Saturday. Notre Dame will have a lot of uncommitted targets on campus for this matchup. An important target that is making the trip is RB Aneyas Williams from Missouri. The Irish staff is very high on this prospect and will be looking to make a big impression. Eli Bowen , younger brother of ND commit Peyton Bowen , will be joining his brother on campus. Karson Hobbs out of Cincinnati Moeller is currently committed to South Carolina. Hobbs will be making a return trip to Notre Dame after recently receiving an offer when he was on campus for the Cal game. DE Bryce Young, the son of Notre Dame legend Bryant Young, will be on campus again this weekend. Young is another prospect that is on commit watch this weekend. Adding to the legacy list, 2025 WR Jerome Bettis Jr. will be on campus. This is not his first time on campus by any means, but he is excited to take in the game as a recruit. Here are some additional visitors that will be on campus: S Kaj Sanders, CB Braydon Lee, DE TJ Lindsey, and 2026 QB Dia Bell. With the 2023 class almost complete, this weekend is about getting the current committed players around each other, and reminding them of why they picked Notre Dame in the first place. In addition, this will be a big opportunity for the Irish coaches to build up some momentum with top 2024 prospects. ☘️

Stock Up/Stock Down Written By Nick Kremer, Editor for The Irish Tribune Notre Dame traveled to Baltimore to take on Navy following their big win over Clemson. The Irish seemed to continue their momentum from the previous week as they dominated Navy in the first half. The second half was an entire different story, as the Irish barely escaped with a 35-32 win. Photo Credit - Chicago Tribune Stock Up 📈 ☘️ 1st Half Offense In the first half, Drew Pyne was on pace to have a career day as the Notre Dame starting QB. Pyne was 14/16 for 234 yards with 4 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown. Pyne looked confident and was making some impressive throws that he had not made earlier in the season. The running game was solid in the first half, but nothing like we have come to expect from this unit. To be fair, Navy came into the game with the number 7 rushing defense in the country. Estime finished the game with 8 carries for 49 yards (6.1 YPC), and Logan Diggs finished with 13 carries for 31 yards (2.4 YPC). One of the biggest surprises of the day was the emergence of Braden Lenzy. Lenzy had one of the most impressive catches of the year as he hauled in a 38 yard touchdown. Lenzy caught the ball behind the defenders back in the endzone, basically having to hug the defender to get his hands on the ball. Lenzy finished the day with 5 receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown. Jayden Thomas also had an impressive day with 3 receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. ☘️ Big Plays Clarence Lewis made the play of the game on defense. Navy was driving in the 2nd quarter, and had all the momentum to tie up the game. Navy called a half-back pass that would have gone for a TD, but Clarence Lewis came across the field to make a phenomenal interception. This led to a quick Notre Dame score and a 14 point swing. Brian Mason continues to work his magic as the Special Teams coach for the Irish. Somehow, Notre Dame was able to block another punt in this game. How Brian Mason is accomplishing this on a weekly basis is nothing short of incredible, and is an enormous advantage. It is safe to say that we would not have won some of our games without our Special Teams play. Photo Credit - ND Insider Stock Down 📉 ☘️ 2nd Half Collapse The Notre Dame offense, after an incredible first half performance, completely collapsed in the 2nd half of this football game. The Irish had 6 offensive drives in the second half that produced an abysmal 2 yards of offense. At some point, we have to be concerned about the fact that our offense is being out-played in the 3rd quarter of games. Are the opposing defensive coaches making the perfect adjustments? Is Tommy Rees and the offensive staff making the proper adjustments? Something is not clicking when this team comes out of the locker room at the half. Tommy Rees shows phenomenal football knowledge. He shows the ability to put together a good game plan that can win football games. Rees and the offense showcase good route combinations, formations with varying motions, and a mix of unexpected play calls. However, does Rees respond well after the defense makes adjustments? The answer to that is unclear for this season, but it was not good in this game. In the second half, Navy continuously brought the same pressures from the perimeter, mainly from the back side. Blitz after blitz, Rees continued to call drop-back pass plays with a quarterback that has struggled throwing the ball all season. You can argue that Pyne should have gotten rid of the ball quicker, or hit a check down, but what part of his game this season has shown that he can do that efficiently? It was evident that Navy would be bringing pressure and running cover 0. Rees could have, and should have, done more to help his young QB in that situation. He could have called a running-back screen, or a wide-receiver screen/bubble to help slow the rush. Even a quick slant/out/drag to get the ball out of Pyne’s hands would have helped. On the flip side, Pyne needs to stop holding on to the ball for so long, and the entire team needs to execute better for four quarters. Photo Credit - Indy Star ☘️ Overall, the Irish were able to escape the game with a win, which is always a good thing. However, this game showed us that this team still has a lot to improve on going forward, and a positive finish is crucial for Freeman's coaching debut.

Notre Dame played its best game of football all season, blowing out Boston College 44-0. Logan Diggs began the game with a 51-yard run, but little did Irish fans know that this would set the tone for the rest of the game. The Eagles simply did not have an answer for Notre Dame’s running backs on Saturday as Diggs, Estime, and Tyree all scored touchdowns on Saturday behind the strong play of the offensive line. On the other side of the ball, Benjamin Morrison set the tone with three interceptions on the day. This was one of the more impressive Senior Days at Notre Dame in recent memory and it was the right way to finish their careers as a member of the Irish. Coach Freeman added this at his press conference on Monday… “It was great to play a complete game on all three phases and for your offense to score 44 points and defense to give up zero points. On special teams, we didn't block a punt and I gave coach Mason a hard time, but we did win the battle of field position and that's our number one goal. Zero turnovers from our guys in that type of weather are huge. To get four takeaways on defense obviously had a big impact on the game.” Players of the Game Logan Diggs 122 rushing yards, 1 TD; 28 receiving yards Audric Estime 71 rushing yards, 2 TD Offensive Line 156 receiving yards, 281 rushing yards, 0 sacks allowed Benjamin Morrison 1 tackle, 3 interceptions Coach Freeman had this to say about his talented freshman cornerback… ”We got a saying around here called ‘one play, one life.’ As a corner, you have to have that mentality. Within a game, ‘one play, one life,’ and whether you give up a big play or you make a big play, you got to move on to the next one. Some guys can't do that, especially at an early age where Ben Morrison showed the ability to do that. Last game he had two interceptions and they got a bomb on him and his ability to respond and say, ‘okay, next play,’ and get an interception on the overthrown ball late in the game. Again, it just shows his ability to refocus, resiliency, and the ability to just move on after something bad happens and get ready to do his job on the next play. I think that what you see is a reflection of how Ben Morrison's playing." Xavier Watts 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss Isaiah Foskey 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery Bright Spots Choosing Gratitude There are a lot of things Irish fans should be thankful for this season. Coach Freeman said this on Monday about what he was thankful for at Notre Dame… “We don't have enough time to go over the many things I'm thankful for, but I love these kids and I love these players. That's what makes being the head coach at Notre Dame special. These young people are a lot of fun to coach. They're eager to be coached, eager to be led, and every day presents a new challenge. I'm so thankful to be their head coach and it's a lot of fun. I'm glad we're able to get some of those rewards that they worked so hard for these wins. They work tirelessly to have that feeling on Saturday after a game. It's a lot of fun and I'm thankful to be able to coach them. This coaching staff has been tremendous. The growth we've done in a year, not even a year as a coaching staff. We're a position group. We really divide our football program into different position groups, but our coaching staff has a position group and we meet every day and those aren't always fun meetings, but it's a real meeting. It's real authentic relationships and that's what I want. That's what I want our players to want and our coaches to want. Real authentic relationships. Everybody in this room that has been in a real authentic relationship knows it's not always peaches and cream. It's not always bubbly and it's not always difficult moments. It's ups and downs, but it's authenticity. I'm thankful for this coaching staff, I'm thankful for these players, and obviously the administration at the university that I'm at." Areas of Concern Injuries Concerning injuries, Coach Freeman gave an update… “Cam Hart will probably be questionable for this one (USC). He had a shoulder injury that he had previously, but he has a shoulder injury. Isaiah Foskey is probable. Mitch Evans, I would say is probable with the ankle sprain. Probable for Jayson Ademilola, probable for Brandon Joseph, but still questionable for Tobias Merriweather. Still trying to see his recovery from the concussion.” However, there was some encouraging news to come out about Tyler Buchner’s availability for a bowl game… “ That's still to be determined. Right now our doctors are not 100% sure. That will be based on how he progresses over these next couple of weeks. He's practicing more, but obviously, there's no contact with him. We'll see. If it's what's best for him and he can be full go and be able to be healthy and protect himself and prepare for a bowl game, then shoot, there will be no hesitation to give him that opportunity. But that's still to be determined." Final Take Last Saturday’s win over Boston College was an incredible victory for Notre Dame, but the Irish must get ready for another test against USC. In light of the injuries and USC’s high-powered offense, there are a lot of questions for the Irish football team that must be answered. Let us hope that Coach Freeman pushes all of the right buttons this week and has this team prepared to take down the Trojans. Freeman had this to say about the upcoming game… “It's obviously a great rivalry. A great football program with, great history, and tradition and it'll be a great challenge for our team. As I told them, ‘it's a focus on preparation, stay in the present, focus on preparation.’ Saturday will get here before we know it, but we have to continue to prepare, prepare, prepare. I don't know any other way. It isn't to come up with trick plays. It isn't trying to confuse them. It's prepare and continue to get better at the things we do really, really well and continue to try to fix the things that we need to improve. We're looking forward to the great challenge and great opportunity ahead of us.” Coach Freeman added this about quarterback Drew Pyne… “He's ready to go. He's excited. He's a competitor. He is one of the most competitive kids we have. He wants the ball in his hands and he wants a chance to execute. We all have to make decisions that help him execute and he has to help himself execute, but I know he's excited for this challenge.” Go Irish! 📷 credit: @ndfootball on Instagram Follow “God Country Irish” on Instagram Follow “God Country Irish” on Twitter Contact God Country Irish

Written by Nick Kremer, Editor for The Irish Tribune Photo Credit - www.tennessean.com ☘️ The roller-coaster that has been Notre Dame’s quarterback recruiting for the 2023 class has officially come to an end. Kenny Minchey, the touted quarterback from the same high school as Golden Tate, Pope John Paul II, decommitted from Pittsburgh on November 14. Minchey wasted no time in setting up his official visit to Notre Dame for Senior Day against Boston College. The Minchey family has been life-long Notre Dame fans. When Notre Dame initially reached out, Kenny struggled because he had already committed to Pat Narduzzi and Pittsburgh. Some time passed, and Minchey decided to follow his heart. He made his visit to Notre Dame for the Boston College game and pledged his commitment to the Irish not long after his trip to South Bend. The 2023 Notre Dame recruiting class is regarded as one of the best in the country, consistently ranking within the top 5 across the various recruiting services. The one thing that has been missing has been the elite player at the quarterback position. The Irish have now added that player to this excellent class. Credit has to be given to Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees for this recruitment. 5 ⭐ QB Dante Moore was silently committed to the Irish in the Spring. In mid-summer, the Irish and Moore parted ways due to NIL. This left the Notre Dame coaching staff in a tough spot, as they had not been recruiting any other quarterbacks because of Moore. In recruiting, building relationships is everything, and trying to build a relationship from mid-summer to December is tough, when many other programs have been building that relationship for more than a year. For Marcus Freeman, Tommy Rees, and the rest of the staff to rebound from Moore and secure a commitment from Kenny Minchey is impressive. Minchey is not just a take to have a body for the class. This kid can flat out play. Photo Credit - Hendersonville Standard ☘️ Film Breakdown Minchey is 6-foot-2 205 lbs 4 ⭐ QB and the composite 15th ranked QB in the class. (247 Sports) When you turn on Kenny Minchey’s film, you will see a lot of good things. The first thing that stands out to me is his accuracy. Time and time again he shows the ability to fit the ball into tight windows, and has great touch on his deep throws. Minchey shows advanced pocket presence and consistently keeps his eyes down field, even when under pressure. He shows a good understanding of reading defenses, throwing receivers open, and making good decisions with the ball. My favorite thing about Minchey is how he handles off-schedule situations. Minchey, who is more of a pocket-passer than a scrambler, shows enough athleticism to escape bad situations and extend plays to make something happen. Minchey has a quick release and throws from different arm angles, all while showing enough arm strength to make all the necessary throws at the next level. Overall, this is a huge pickup for Notre Dame, and a great way to cap off an already elite class. Notre Dame has been missing a game-changer at quarterback, and that may be what is holding this team back from taking the next step. Don’t be surprised if Kenny Minchey is the game-changer that we have been waiting for in South Bend. ☘️

Photo Credit: NDinsider Thirty years ago, on senior day, Notre Dame played in one of the most memorable games of their storied history. It was highlighted by a late touchdown pass from Rick Mirer to Jerome Bettis with 25 seconds remaining to make the score 16-15. Trailing by a point to Penn State, who was ranked # 8 at the time, then head coach Lou Holtz decided to go for the win and the 2 point conversion instead of kicking the extra point for the tie. In very dramatic fashion Mirer found Reggie Brooks who made a miraculous diving catch in the corner of the end zone that sealed the victory for the Irish in what has become known in Notre Dame lore as the Snow Bowl. It was also snowing on Saturday as the Irish defeated Boston College 44-0 in the final home game of the 2022 season. Though the results of both senior days were similar, Notre Dame earning the wins, the elements were a little harsher for the Snow Bowl II. Visibility was severely limited due to a second half snow storm, and the only thing colder than the temperature is my ex when I have to pass her in the hallway at work. The game was over soon after the opening kickoff as Boston College’s Emmett Morehead was picked on his third play from scrimmage by the freshman phenom Benjamin Morrison. Morrison, who has the maturity of a 10 year NFL vet, is quickly becoming a fan favorite. He would end the game with 3 interceptions, a feat not accomplished since 2010 when Harrison Smith did it in Notre Dame’s victory over Miami in the Sun Bowl. If Irish fans need help remembering who led them at quarterback that day, they need look no further than their own offensive coordinator, Tommy Rees. Oh, and it snowed that day also. Speaking of offense, the Irish were led on Saturday by a dominating offensive line. Dominating might not actually be a strong enough word to describe them as they were opening up holes so large, Irish fans suspected all of time and matter was about to be sucked through to a different dimension. It seems puzzling now to think this offensive line was not even nominated for the Joe Moore award this year. Reaping the benefits of Jarrett Patterson and company’s domination were the “Trinity on the Turf” Diggs, Estimae, and Tyree who combined between the three of them for 281 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. Defensively the Irish surrendered 173 total yards, including only 56 rushing. A stark contrast to the 255 rushing yards Notre Dame gave up to Navy the week prior. JD Bertrand, 5 tackles, returned to the field after missing last week’s game due to a groin injury. Jack Kiser also had a solid game with 3 tackles and a sack. The Irish defense would finish the frigid day creating 5 turnovers on their way to pitching the shutout. History was made right before half as senior Isiah Foskey’s sack of Morehead would earn him the all-time sack leading record at Notre Dame with 25, surpassing the old record of 24.5 held by Justin Tuck. History was also made, once again, by the, already a legend, Michael Mayer as he would go on to surpass the 2,000 receiving yards mark for his career. The only thing Irish fans might be a little upset about, other than having to endure another week of Jack Collinsworth and Jason Garrett calling games, was although the kicking game was perfect going 3 for 3 in field goals by Blake Grupe for the day, there was no punt blocked by Brian Mason’s heralded group. A feat many Irish fans of come to expect. Boston College appeared sluggish from the start. The only life they showed was from a certain former Notre Dame quarterback who chose to look rather petty on social media before kickoff. BC looked about as interested in Saturday’s game as I look whenever my neighbor starts talking about his garden. A man should not be able to talk that much about fertilizer in one lifetime. Although both Snow Bowls resulted in victories, there was something oddly familiar about Saturday’s game that Irish fans haven’t seen since… well, maybe the last Snow Bowl 30 years ago. It was something seemingly insignificant, and the play wouldn’t result in any yards gained, but in the 4th quarter with Notre Dame already up 44-0, Drew Pyne threw a pass to little used TE Davis Sherwood in the end zone. Pyne would overthrow Sherwood on the play, but the Irish were actually trying to score again, already with an insurmountable lead. This was a change in the philosophy of old where Notre Dame just wanted to play conservatively and run out the clock with a lead. This play, while ultimately unsuccessful, was a kill shot from a team that hasn’t flexed its muscles or pounded its chest in a very long time. Was this an attempt not to blow a second half lead like the Irish have done so frequently this season? Was this part of the new culture Marcus Freeman is creating to let his players know they are turning the page on the Notre Dame ways of the past? Or was Freeman sending a message to the college football world that the Irish are working their way back to being the toughest kids on the block? Freeman and his coaches looked prepared and back in sync after last week’s second half collapse against Navy. They will need to be as they head to Los Angeles on Saturday to take on 7th ranked USC in the season finale. Early weather forecasts are predicting a high of 75 degrees. No need for the Irish to pack the heavy snow coats they wore today, but they will most certainly need to bring their newly discovered killer mindset. Thirty years ago Holtz’s teams had it, maybe Freeman and his team found it against Boston College on Saturday. Photo Credit: WSBT

The #18 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3) will host the Boston College Eagles (3-7) on Saturday, as Notre Dame looks to keep their winning streak alive. The Irish are coming into this game after putting together one of the best halves of football we have seen this year but also ending with one of the worst halves of football against Navy. The Eagles, as well as it is a senior day at Notre Dame, present an incredible opportunity for this football team on Saturday. Hopefully, they will come away with a win and give these seniors many memories for years to come. Coach Freeman had this to say on Monday about facing Boston College… “I've seen the Moorhead guy at quarterback. From what I hear, just talking to some of the defensive coaches and even some of the offensive coaches, there are some similarities between Phil Jurkovec and Moorhead. I don't think defensively you'll change depending on who's going to be at quarterback, but the Moorhead kid does a really good job of extending plays with his legs, and the ability to not get rattled. It's a good offense and he's a good player. As far as Zay Flowers, if not the best, he’s one of the best we have seen all year. He brings an element of speed that I don't know if we've seen in a while, in terms of being able to be a deep threat and run by defenders. He's quick, but I think the speed that he brings to Boston College's offense is going to be a huge challenge for us to match up with so we're gonna have to have some different plans, change-ups coverage-wise for him. He's a good player." Game Details Date: Saturday, November 19 Time: 2:30 PM ET Where to Watch: NBC/Peacock Series History Notre Dame Leads Overall 17-9 2020- Notre Dame 45-31 2019- Notre Dame 40-7 2017- Notre Dame 49-20 2015- Notre Dame 19-16 2012- Notre Dame 21-6 2011- Notre Dame 16-14 2010- Notre Dame 31-13 2009- Notre Dame 20-16 2008- Boston College 17-0 2007- Boston College 27-14 2004- Boston College 24-23 2003- Boston College 27-25 2002- Boston College 14-7 2001- Boston College 21-17 2000- Notre Dame 28-16 Breaking Down Boston College The Eagles are led by Jeff Hafley, who enters his third season at Boston College but owns a 15-18 overall record. Hafley came to Boston College after being a premier defensive coordinator at Ohio State. Things have not gone as planned for Hafley as his team ranks near the bottom in every ACC category. Despite all of this, Boston College will be ready to play Notre Dame on Saturday, and the Irish should not underestimate them. This is an Eagles team that has NFL talent on it and has a history of producing NFL talent as well: Matt Ryan, AJ Dillon, Justin Simmons, Zach Allen, Harold Landry, Matt Hasselbeck, Marc Colombo, Luke Kuechly, BJ Raji, Chris Lindstrom, Anthony Castonzo, and Doug Flutie. Make no mistake, there will be more to enter the NFL off of this current Boston College team, so the Irish must be ready for the challenge ahead on Saturday. Stacking Up Notre Dame vs Boston College Offensive Players to Know Phil Jurkovec/Emmett Morehead— QB #5/#14 2022 Stats: 1711 passing yards, 11 TD; 1 rushing TD 2022 Stats: 885 passing yards, 8 TD Zay Flowers— WR #4 2022 Stats: 921 receiving yards, 10 TD; 36 rushing yards Joseph Griffin Jr.— WR #2 2022 Stats: 234 receiving yards, 5 TD Defensive Players to Know Vinny Depalma— LB #42 2022 Stats: 71 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble Kam Arnold— LB #5 2022 Stats: 62 tackles, 1 pass defended, .5 sack, 2 interceptions Donovan Ezeiruaku— DE #6 2022 Stats: 50 tackles, 1 pass defended, 6 sacks, 3 forced fumbles 📷 credit: @bcfootball on Instagram Keys to Victory 1. Attack the Offensive Line Boston College has one of the worst offensive lines in college football this year. The Irish defensive line must attack that line and make either Jurkovec or Morehead uncomfortable all day. This is the type of game that Foskey, Mills, Ademilola, Cross, and others must have a dominant performance. 2. Notre Dame Must Establish the Run Game Estime, Diggs, and Tyree were used effectively during the first half of football against Navy last week, but that ended in the second half. Notre Dame must re-establish their identity in the running game this week in order to be effective against the Eagles. This game presents an incredible opportunity for the offensive line to exert its will on this lackluster defense. 3. Embrace the Weather As the weather looks to be cold and nasty for Saturday’s game, Notre Dame must prepare to take advantage of it. At his Thursday press conference, Marcus Freeman had this to say… “You embrace it. The first thing I told them Tuesday was we’re practicing outside and prepare your mind for it. We’re going outside. It’s just understanding we're going to practice outside and we’re going to play outside. Dress warm and go play. If you dress appropriately, it won’t be an issue. If you try to be a tough guy, there is no such thing as cold tough guys and you better be a warm tough guy. Make sure you dress appropriately, go practice and go play.” Final Take On paper, this is a game that Notre Dame should dominate, but there are a few challenges that stand in the way. For whatever reason, the Irish tend to play down to their opponent, but that must change this week. Another challenge the Irish must overcome is that it is senior day on Saturday. This team must find ways to overcome the emotions of playing your last game in South Bend and use that energy to send the seniors off with a dominating performance. Coach Freeman added this on Thursday… “I think I addressed it on Monday in terms of this group has truly laid the foundation of where I see this football program going forward. It hasn’t been a smooth road. It’s been a bumpy one that has had some ups and downs. What they’ve done is preserved and helped us really understand how to get through those tough times. I think the culture of your program is truly defined through some of the toughest times. What this group has done is really taking this team and propelling us forward. Without the leadership, they’ve provided, without the work ethic and the example they set, we wouldn’t have been able to truly improve through those ups and downs. Your leaders are coming in here every day trying to improve and trying to get better. There’s no other option for those young guys. The greatest example they see is our leaders and our seniors.” Go Irish! 📷 credit: Irish Tribune Follow “God Country Irish” on Instagram Follow “God Country Irish” on Twitter Contact God Country Irish

Behind an incredibly efficient first half of football, Notre Dame defeated the Navy Midshipmen 35-32 last Saturday. During the first half, Notre Dame’s offense looked to be the best Irish fans have seen all season. Drew Pyne threw four touchdown passes to Jayden Thomas, Braden Lenzy, Audric Estime, and Chris Tyree. Despite the incredible first half, this Irish team looked completely different in the second half, after a Drew Pyne interception and four punts. The offense could not get anything going, but the defense held on for the victory. Coach Freeman had this to say at his press conference on Monday… “Anytime you win, there are reasons to celebrate. I'm extremely proud of the team and the coaching staff for a hard-fought win and for finding a way to win. We knew going into that game, it wasn't going to be easy, but we found a way to get it done. That's what matters. It's a tale of two halves. The ability to learn from a win is something that as a coach, you love to be able to do. It was really good to be able to address some of those situations in the game that happened yesterday in the meeting and in practice and continue to enjoy a victory Sunday.” Players of the Game Braden Lenzy 67 receiving yards, 1 TD Coach Freeman had this to say about Lenzy on Monday… “Resilient. A guy that didn't complain, continued to come to work and continued to work his tail off. For Braden, the ability to just continue to work tirelessly throughout the season, and then all of a sudden you have a game where you're called upon and the ball comes your way and you're able to make some huge catches and one of the most impressive catches I've seen. It's a great reminder for guys, to continue to work, don't complain, your time is coming if you do the right things, and when the opportunity presents itself, you're ready to go, and you'll make those plays. It's a great example of what we want our guys to understand. Sometimes you don't control the opportunities that come your way. You control how prepared you are and how hard you work. Braden Lenzy, on Saturday, was a great example of that.” Jayden Thomas 80 receiving yards, 1 TD Xavier Watts 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss Prince Kollie 7 tackles, .5 sack, .5 tackle for loss Coach Freeman said this on Monday… “It’s really difficult on your first time facing the triple option. You can't simulate it in practice. It's really hard. Prince has played some meaningful action at linebacker, but Junior, this was his first meaningful time at linebacker. Were they exactly where you need them to be? No. But I think they showed that they can help us. They played good and there's always room for improvement. But those other two guys who stepped in and they did a good job.” Jon Sot 4 punts for 162 yards, 40.5 avg Special Teams Coordinator Brian Mason Concerning Brian Mason, Coach Freeman said this… “The more time you spend around Brian Mason, the more you'll appreciate his personality. I think if you spend just a little amount of time with him, you might have a perception one way or the other of whom you think he is. He is extremely intelligent, extremely hardworking, he's a great motivator. The beauty of a coach is that coaches are evaluated on how they get their players to play and execute what they want. Brian Mason could be the smartest guy in the room, but if his players aren't playing at a high level then it's a waste. What he's doing is he's using his talents, his individual gifts, and he's able to get this unit, not just one point block unit, which is getting the most notoriety right now, but all four special teams units including the field goal and field goal block unit, he's getting them to really perform at a high level. He's unique, I don't want to say quirky, he'll get mad at me, but he's a unique individual, he's awesome, I love spending time with him and I love to see the growth he's continuing to have as a football coach.” 📷 credit: @ndfootball on Instagram Bright Spots Senior Day is Coming Coach Freeman said this on Monday about the upcoming Senior Day at Notre Dame… “What I will tell those seniors is they built the foundation of what I believe is the future of the Notre Dame football program under me. That's different from previous head coaches. Notre Dame football has been successful for a really long time, but the leadership has changed and you have to rebuild that foundation to fit the new leader. That's what I'll credit this group for, really building the foundation for what I believe is going to be an extremely bright future for Notre Dame football. I'll be forever in debt to them. This will be a special group forever, forever to me, because they had blind faith. They didn't choose me to be their head coach and they came to Notre Dame for other reasons. Well, you know what, I was named head coach, no matter if they chose me or not, and they committed to the vision I had for this football program. They work tirelessly. They really built the bond. They implemented the culture that I put on the walls. I can put whatever you want on the walls. I can say this is what I want our program to do, but until it's implemented and until it's carried out by the players and the leaders throughout the football players and the team, that is just words on the wall. This group of seniors has really done that. They've taken those words off the wall and said this is what our program is going to be built around. They have truly built the foundation of what this program is." Areas of Concern The Second Half Collapse Concerning the second half collapse… “It wasn't as much running a different play as much as really executing. Drew's got to get the ball out of his hands. But then we got to help him get the ball out of his hands. We got to eliminate some options and just say, hey, man, if you get all out pressure, throw the ball here, don't go one to two, just go to one. That can help him too. So there were a couple of different things that we kind of addressed as a staff yesterday. Where was the lack of execution? It really wasn't the play-calling. That was no different in the second half than in the first half. We were just able to hit them. We were able to protect better. We were able to get the ball out of our hands. We were able to make sure that our guys knew exactly where they were supposed to be. The lack of execution, you got to look at yourself as the head coach and why if the play calls were similar, what they were doing in terms of bringing all out the pressure was similar in the second half, why didn't we execute the way we did in the first half. We knew Navy wasn't going to lay down." Final Take In light of Saturday’s game against Boston College also being Senior day, the Irish need to be ready to execute for an entire game. This appears to have been a problem for most of the year and Irish fans hope that Marcus Freeman can change that in future years. Let us hope some of the injured players will be back and Drew Pyne can play more consistently for four quarters. In light of it being Senior day, coach Freeman said this in preparation for the week ahead… “As we look forward to Saturday, it starts off with it being Senior Day here. We have 25 guys that will be recognized for their last game in Notre Dame Stadium. That's where a lot of the motivation and focus will be in terms of making sure we finish this home regular season off the right way for these seniors. We're playing a really good BC team that is coming off a huge win. They do some really good things on film. We'll have to prepare and look forward to another battle here on Saturday afternoon." Go Irish! 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Photo Credit: und.edu This weekend South Bend welcomed the first snowfall of the year and with it a host of victories on the playing field. While yes, some of the teams’ performances were not as immaculate as the freshly fallen snow (particularly the second half of the Notre Dame-Navy game), Irish nation should be in high spirits heading toward the holiday season. Photo credit: und.com The women’s basketball team is off to a 2-0 start in the regular season and 3-0 including an exhibition match. Most recently the Irish defeated California 90-79 in the Citi Shamrock Classic. This team has come out of the gates firing on all cylinders. The offense is looking strong, and the defense is even better. The Irish held their first two opponents, Truman State (exhibition) and Northern Illinois, to less than 50 points. This bodes well for the team to gain more confidence before getting into ACC regular season play. The Irish’s next game will be this Wednesday, Nov 16th at 9:00 pm versus Northwestern on the Big Ten Network. The Irish will return home on Sunday, Nov 20th to face Ball State at 4:00 pm on the ACC Network. Do not miss out on the action! The men’s basketball team has not started the season out as dominant as fans would prefer after a solid showing in last year’s March Madness tournament, but the team does sit at 2-0. The Irish opened the season with two home games against Radford and Youngstown St. The offense is looking to find an identity after losing standout freshman, Blake Wesley, to the NBA in the first round of last year’s draft. Thru the first two games, Nate Laszewski has stepped up to the role of enforcer on the court. Posting 42 points and 22 rebounds in the first matchups of the season. While both games were close heading into the final minutes, the Irish were able to show their defensive resolve and a spark on offense to hold out for the wins. Look for this team to continue to build its chemistry and cohesion as the season progresses. The Irish continue their home stand to start the season against Southern Indiana on Wednesday night, Nov 16th at 8:00 pm on the ACC Network and again on Nov 18th against Lipscomb at 7:00 pm. Photo Credit: und.com Fans of the Irish hockey team had a week of mixed results. The Irish played two games against bitter rival Michigan this past week. Splitting the series is not the worst result for the Irish but players and fans alike were looking for a sweep of the Wolverines since both games were at the Irish stronghold of Compton Family Ice Arena where they have posted a record of 5-1-1 this season. The first game of the two was a major disappointment with the Irish falling 5-1. The Irish would rebound with a stronger defensive showing and beat the loathed Wolverines 3-2 in OT. The team returns to action Friday, Nov 18th, and Saturday, Nov 19th traveling to the home of a formidable Big Ten foe, Ohio State. Notre Dame's volleyball team has not quite had the luck of the Irish with them the past month as their losing streak slid to seven. However, this past match-up versus Florida State was promising, going down 3-2. The team will look to build on that against a beatable NC State this Saturday. Turning toward one of the Fighting Irish's most dominant performances this past weekend, we look toward the women’s soccer team. While my prediction for the Irish was a 3-0 victory the team put such a solid performance together, they had reached that score line by the end of the first half. In the opening 45 minutes of play, the Irish dominated Omaha on both ends of the field. Notre Dame out-shot the Mavericks 16-1 in the first half and walked into the locker room with a well-deserved lead. The Irish took the gas off just a little in the second half but were still able to add two more goals late to cap off an impressive victory. Santa Clara comes into town Friday night for the second round of the tournament. After a 1-0 victory over California, Santa Clara will be looking to play an upset card against the number one-seeded Irish. Expect this game to be closer than last weekend. Since we'll be playing at home the same weekend as Senior Day for the football team expect Alumni Stadium to be loud and rowdy with Irish fans. My prediction is a 2-1 victory for the Irish! If you’ve made plans to see the football Irish play Saturday versus Boston College, consider heading on campus Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm and the game will be on ESPN+. Photo Credit: und.com The soccer team was not the only Irish team to put in a solid first half. But unlike the soccer team, ND’s football team could not maintain the same energy and performance into the second half against Navy. While the Irish were in the end, able to hold onto and claim a 35-32 victory this team once again left Irish fans puzzled. All props to the Navy Midshipmen for making a tremendous comeback but this Irish team is too talented and too physical to gain less than 10 yards the entirety of the second half. The Irish will need to force the ground game against the Eagles of Boston College this coming Saturday. Kickoff is this Saturday at 2:30 pm on NBC for the final home game of the season and for many of our favorite Notre Dame players. The past three years we've been treated to the tremendous Micheal Mayer, Isaiah Foskey, and several other standouts. While we still have a few more games to watch in awe and wonder, let us in this holiday season also be grateful for all they have done for Notre Dame. Make sure to check back this week for further analysis and breakdown of the games against Navy and Boston College. Go Irish!

Written by Chris Studer Photo Credit: UND.com This Saturday the Fighting Irish Football team is not the only Irish team taking the field. The other football team will be squaring off as well. And no, Notre Dame does not have a junior varsity football team that is playing in some alternate sports universe, we’re talking about European football (futbol)! Notre Dame’s women’s soccer team will be facing off against the Omaha Mavericks in the NCAA Tournament’s first round. After falling short of hoisting the ACC tournament trophy the Irish look ahead to the NCAA Tournament to claim some hardware for the team. The team comes into the tournament with a target on its back after earning the #1 seed. This Irish team has numerous personal achievements and honors bestowed upon several of its members. The Irish has several players picked for All ACC honors; with Eva Gaetino, Korbin Albert, and Olivia Wingate all being selected for the First Team; Maddie Mercado and Mackenzie Wood were picked for the Third Team; and Leah Klenke was selected for the Freshman Team of the Year. And finally, Nate Norman was selected as the ACC Coach of the Year in only his fifth year at the helm. This team is stacked with talent from the backline all the way up to the strikers. This is a team that could take the Irish back to the quarter finals (which they have not reached since 2012) and even further. Coming off two ties in the ACC Tournament and falling in the second penalty kick shootout the Irish will be looking for a statement win against the Mavericks. Photo Credit: UND.com This will be no small feat, however. While the Mavericks record (7-8-6) does not jump out at you as quite the powerhouse, the team will be coming into the game with high emotions and a string of positive results. The Mavericks played last weekend in the Summit League Women's Soccer Championship, defeating a quality Oral Roberts team on penalty kicks to claim the title. Playing as an underdog always helps, just ask the Irish football team about their game last weekend. But if we know anything about the Irish is that they will come ready to play and will not be resting on their laurels. This is a team that has scored 22 goals in the last 9 games while only conceding 6. Look for the Irish to get on the board early, stifle the Mavericks attack and add a couple insurance goals in the second half. Go IRISH! Prediction: Irish 3- Mavericks 0 When: Saturday, Nov. 12 | 2 p.m. ET Where: South Bend, IN | Alumni Stadium Watch: ESPN+

Written by Liam Gaudet, Senior Editor Photo by ON3 I couldn’t be happier to look like a complete idiot this week after I criticized Notre Dame and its staff for its inability to develop a killer instinct. Although we are far from where we want this program to be, it feels like leaps and bounds were made last Saturday after a display of utter dominance for four quarters against the nation's fourth ranked team. You could even argue that Notre Dame could have made this game even uglier, but nevertheless, this was the showing that we have all been patiently waiting for, and have come to expect under this new regime. There are definitely some factors about this game that would be terrific to see moving forward, so let's get into it. What can be said about an offensive line that ran the ball for over 260 yards against one of the best run defenses in the country? For a while, I was worried we were never going to be able to figure out how to move the ball, let alone dominate a defensive line studded with 5-star talent. Credit to the boys up front, as well as Harry Hiestand for bringing prominence and strength back into the running game. We haven’t seen a rushing performance like this since North Carolina, and I can’t get enough of it. When a team knows exactly what you’re going to do and can’t stop it, there’s absolutely no way you don’t win. Blake Fisher and Joe Alt are bonafide superstars and will continue to be at the forefront of what Notre Dame can do on the ground for a few more seasons. The interior can’t be ignored either, as Zeke Correll and Jarret Patterson have turned around slow starts to the season and are looking more and more like the leaders of this group we expected them to be initially. Defensively, Benjamin Morrison should be a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award at the end of the season barring a monumental falloff. The secondary has been the biggest crutch for this team since the departure of Julian Love, and man does it feel incredible to have some ballhawks back there again. I was initially skeptical of the change that put Morrison ahead of Lewis on the depth chart a few weeks ago, but I guess that’s why I’m not a coach. After being picked on consistently in prior games, Morrison made two game-defining interceptions in the second half, the latter of which he returned for a touchdown. Incredibly, Morrison is only a freshman, and has the spatial awareness and body control of an NFL veteran. What an incredible night for that young man, who will no doubt have teams thinking twice before targeting his side of the field. Al Golden seemed to have the perfect game plan to expose a Tiger’s offense that was in massive flux due to quarterback struggles, and was able to mix up the pressures to confuse D.J. Uiagalelei, whose most recent trip to South Bend was a far cry from the young gunslinger we saw back in 2020. Uiagalelei was sacked four times. Courtesy of J.D. Bertrand, Howard Cross, Tariq Bracy and of course, Isaiah Foskey. Golden kept the heat coming all night long, which kept the Tigers in third and long situations where they were unable to convert. It looks like Golden has been one of the most consistent offseason hires this season, and I’m excited to see him develop this dynamic system even further. Brian Mason has me ready to run through a brick wall after reviving an Irish special teams unit that was poisoned by fair catch enthusiast and Kelly lapdog Brian Polian. Mason has led an Irish unit to six punt blocks this season, which leads the country. What an incredible hire by Marcus Freeman, and with the amount of points that Mason has accounted for, he’s essentially co-offensive coordinator. I think an underappreciated performance in this game was that of Drew Pyne. As sad as it may sound, he did not do anything to hurt the team this week, and that’s all that I could have asked from him. Coming into this game, I expected Drew Pyne would need to have the game of his life in order for us to have a fighting chance against a defensive juggernaut. Instead, Pyne went a modest 9/17 with 85 yards and a touchdown pass to Michael Mayer (who now holds the record for career receiving touchdowns at Notre Dame). It's not his counting stats, but his reliability that impressed me this week. He also did well when called upon to run, as he scampered into the endzone on a read option, as well as improvised a few times to make forward progress. All in all, this was a performance for the ages for the Irish, who have finally earned their signature win. This is what we’ve all been waiting for, so let's elevate, not stagnate. The Irish are trending in all the right directions to end the season, and are poised to turn around what initially felt like a disaster. It’s time to ride this momentum into Navy!