If you are a Notre Dame fan you are probably just as dazed as I am with the 2009 season. Disappointment doesn't begin to describe the embarrassingly bad season, a season that cost Charlie Weis his job. Time to turn the page. The heat and glare of the Notre Dame coaching job falls squarely on the Irish Catholic shoulders of Brian Kelly. Is Kelly the guy to lead the Irish back to glory? What he did at Cincinnati (34-6) is nothing short of miraculous. Finally Notre Dame went the proven coach route when looking for a new head coach. The previous three coaching disasters, Bob Davie, Tyrone Willingham and Weis will be forgotten if Kelly turns out to the be right man at the right time. Kelly steps into a situation where there is more talent than what he had at Cincinnati. Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate leaving early for the NFL doesn't help but the cupboard isn't bare. I truly believe Brian Kelly will get the job done and in short order.
As for Charlie Weis, I appreciate his efforts. His work ethic was off the charts, especially when compared to his predecessor. His offenses were exciting and he recruited like crazy. However, he just didn't get it done. Charlie, in retrospect, is an offensive coordinator, not a college head coach. I wish him well.
2010 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE
September 4 vs Purdue (NBC, TBA)
September 11 vs Michigan (NBC, TBA)
September 18 @ Michigan State (TBA)
September 25 vs Stanford (NBC, TBA)
October 2 @ Boston College (TBA)
October 9 vs Pittsburgh (NBC, TBA)
October 16 vs Western Michigan (Huh?) (NBC, TBA)
October 23 @ Navy (*at Meadowlands)
October 30 vs Tulsa (What?) (NBC, TBA)
November 13 vs Utah (NBA, TBA)
November 20 @ Army (*at YankeeStadium, TBA))
November 27 @ Southern Cal (ABC, TBA)
Brian Kelly, above, the man to lead the Irish back to prominence.
Read Eric Hansen in the South Bend Tribune for the best coverage of Notre Dame Football. www.southbendtribune.com
Art McDermott has DVD copies of most Notre Dame games from 1971-current. For information on available games on DVD just write to Art at dhbs769@hotmail.com or give him a call at 978-454-1428.
www.hannahandfriends.org
One of BR's broadcasting highlights, calling the 1995 Notre Dame-Army game at Giants Stadium in The Meadowlands. For a sound clip, clich here: 003118201.mp3
The Irish need this guy to get healthy in a hurry from his knee injury.
QB Dayne Crist.
2009 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE (all times eastern)
Sept. 5 NEVADA (W 35-0...Nice way to open the season. Floyd 3 td catches! More work to be done.)
Sept. 12 at Michigan (L 38-34...Ugh. Defense was awful. Horrible officiating too. Bad.)
Sept 19 MICHIGAN STATE (W 33-30... O great, D not so great. Floyd broken collarbone. Damn.)
Sept. 26 at Purdue (W 24-21...Another nailbiter. Clausen to Rudolph wins it. Clutch.)
Oct. 3 WASHINGTON (W 37-30 OT...Is there a cardiologist in the house? Tate/Clausen...awesome!!!)
Oct. 10 Open Date
Oct. 17 USC (L 34-27. D horrible. O line bad. Almost pulled it out. Tired of losing to these idiots)
Oct. 24 BOSTON COLLEGE (W 20-16...Should have been a wider margin, but I'll take it. JC 2 td throws.)
Oct. 31 vs. Washington State (W 40-14...Clausen 2 td passes, Tate 2 td's....Coogs are horrible)
Nov. 7 NAVY (L 23-21. Awful. No D, turnovers, bad coaching, no emotion...who's the next head coach?)
Nov. 14 at Pittsburgh (L 27-22. Bad tackling...again. Late rally falls short. Charlie is toast)
Nov. 21 CONNECTICUT (L 33-30 OT...Another humiliating loss. This season is a nightmare.)
Nov. 28 at Stanford (L 45-38...Defense? What defense. Nice last game by Clausen and Tate.)
2008 NOTRE DAME SCHEDULE/RESULTS
September 6 vs SAN DIEGO STATE (W 21-13...Unimpressive but a W)
September 13 vs MICHIGAN (W 35-17...Encouraging, always nice to beat UM)
September 20 @ MICHIGAN STATE (L 23-7.Step backwards but some positives)
September 27 vs PURDUE (W 38-21. Nice. Clausen 3 TD's...great O 2nd H)
October 4 vs STANFORD (W 28-21...Clausen 3 TD's, D forces 4 turnovers)
October 11 @ NORTH CAROLINA (L 29-24...One that got away. Turnovers kill.)
October 18 OPEN
October 25 @ WASHINGTON (W 33-7. ND played ok but Ty's team is a total disaster.)
November 1 vs PITTSBURGH (L 36-33 4OT...Need killer instinct. Gave it away)
November 8 @ BOSTON COLLEGE (L 17-0...Absolute horror show. Ugh.)
November 15 @ NAVY (Balt.) (W 27-21...Better but let Navy make it close.)
November 22 vs SYRACUSE (L 24-23...Disgraceful and totally unacceptable.)
November 29 @ SOUTHERN CAL (L 38-3...USC opened up another can. Charlie on the hot seat)
December 24 Hawaii Bowl vs Hawaii (W 49-21! Domination. That is ND football. One game bowl win streak.)
2007 ND RESULTS
September 1 vs Georgia Tech (L 33-3...ugh...awful, just awful)
September 8 @ Penn State (L 31-10....Not good)
September 15 @ Michigan (L 38-0...Dee-zaster)
September 22 vs Michigan State (L 31-14....some positives)
September 29 @ Purdue (L 33-19...good second half)
October 6 @ UCLA (W 20-6...FINALLY! D was great! Keep it up Irish!)
October 13 vs Boston College (L 27-14...Irish own worst enemy)
October 20 vs Southern Cal (L 38-0...A butt whipping. Nauseating)
November 3 vs Navy (L 46-44 in 3 OT...I have no words. Ugh.)
November 10 vs Air Force (L 41-24...At least AF & Navy are on our side)
November 17 vs Duke (W 28-7.....I'LL TAKE IT!!!!!!!!)
November 24 @ Stanford (W 21-14...nice way to end a lousy season)
2006 RESULTS
Sept 2 W 14-10 @ Georgia Tech (Not pretty but a win is a win)
Sept 9 W 41-17 Penn State (Complete domination)
Sept 16 L 47-21 vs Michigan (Total disaster and meltdown)
Sept 23 W 40-37 @ Michigan State (Incredible comeback)
Sept 30 W 35-21 vs Purdue (D shaky. O improving)
Oct 7 W 31-10 vs Stanford (Efficient, BQ 3 TD passes)
Oct 21 W 20-17vs UCLA (Phew! Too close)
Oct 28 W 38-14 @ Navy (Dominant effort. Nice.)
Nov 4 W 45-26 vs North Carolina (Quinn 4 TD tosses)
Nov 11 W 39-17 @ Air Force (Quinn 4 TD passes)
Nov 18 W 41-9 vs Army (Efficient win. Last H game for Seniors.)
Nov 25 L 44-24 @ Southern Cal (Lost to a better team. Need Speed...and lots of it.)
Jan 3, 2007 Sugar Bowl Louisiana State (L 41-14...dreadful)
< Jimmy Clausen.
> The Four Horsemen....Harry Stuhldreher, Jim Crowley,
Don Miller and Elmer. Layden.
< Joe Montana. Pretty decent QB.
(Below) The Greatest Coach Ever.....KNUTE ROCKNE
< Former Irish Quarterback Brady Quinn
< Touchdown Jesus 
(Above) The Golden Dome
Rockne Leahy Parseghian Devine Holtz
I have only attended 7 Notre Dame football games, so far. The first one was in 1982 at Pitt Stadium. I bought a ticket for $40 and sat midway up in the stands along the 10-yard line. It was very cold and crisp and when I saw the Irish come out of the tunnel my knees were shaking. Notre Dame defeated then #1 Pittsburgh and Dan Marino and it is one of my greatest sports memories.
I was actually in the Army broadcast booth in 1995, and broadcast some of the game. Notre Dame held on to beat the feisty Cadets, thanks to Ivory Covington's tackle on Ron Leshinski as the Army tight end tried to score on a two-point conversion with a minute to play.
I finally saw the Irish play in Notre Dame Stadium, a win over Army on November 18th, 2006. Best game day experience ever. Thanks to all the wonderful, friendly and welcoming people that I met. Notre Dame Games Attended By BR.
Nov 6, 1982 ND 31 Pitt 16 @ Pitt Stadium Att: 60,162
Aug 31, 1989 ND 36 Virginia 13 @ Giants Stadium Att: 77,323
Oct 14, 1995 ND 28 Army 27 @ Giants Stadium Att: 74,218
Nov 25, 2000 ND 38 USC 21 @ Los Angeles Coliseum Att: 81,342
Oct 19, 2002 ND 21 Air Force 14 @ Falcon Stadium Att: 56,409
Nov 11, 2006 ND 39 Air Force 17 @ Falcon Stadium Att: 49, 367
Nov 18, 2006 ND 41 Army 9 @ Notre Dame Stadium Att: 80, 975
GO IRISH!
I visited the College Football Hall of Fame on my visit to South Bend, Indiana. Excellent museum that captures the greatness of college football. Loved every minute of my visit there. However, the prices in the gift shop are beyond outrageous.
The College Football Hall of Fame website is... www.collegefootball.org
