OC Domer

Loyal Son of Notre Dame Bob McBride Passes

2011-10-07T15:07:00.000-07:00

Bob McBride, legendary Notre Dame player and coach, and an American war hero, passed away Wednesday at the age of 89. Fittingly, he spent his final days in the shadow of Our Lady's statue atop the Golden Dome. Bob's official obituary is here. Some press reportage of his passing is here. Bob McBride played and coached (superbly) for the Fighting Irish, and he fought and nearly died for our

Defense Keying Irish Rebound

2011-09-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to interject with some quick thoughts to get the blog caught up on the season so far. Things have been busy at OC Domer HQ, as the OC Son has started his senior year of high school and is smack in the middle of the college applications process with all the essays to write, letters of recommendation to procure, meetings with clueless guidance counselors to attend, etc... In fact we

That is Gonna Leave a Mark

2011-09-16T16:33:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late getting in here with reaction to the Michigan game. But today is the first day I have been able to walk upright since taking that kick to the groin last Saturday, and I'm still feeling a little queasy. There is obviously plenty of blame to go around for the loss, but for some reason I have been fixated on figuring out whether it was more the fault of the offense or the defense

I'd Feel Better About A Four-Leaf Clover

2011-09-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

As announced last June, Notre Dame will be honoring the first night game to be played in the Big House by wearing "throw-back" uniforms: Paying homage to the rich football tradition of Notre Dame football, the Irish "Under the Lights" adidas uniform includes a white jersey with Kelly green lettering and two Kelly green shoulder stripes, old gold-colored pants, white socks with green stripes

Wasn't That Special?

2011-09-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

I worked feverishly last Saturday morning to complete my "2011 Irish Could Be Special" post before kickoff, so that I would have the right to bask in the glow of my own genius once the season was officially underway and had begun to unfold exactly as I had foretold. Because that's why bloggers blog. Well, the Irish performance wasn't exactly "special" in the way I had expected. Saturday

2011 Irish Could Be Special

2011-09-03T12:22:00.000-07:00

With kickoff for the new season less than 3 hours away, it's time to get myself on the record with my expectations for the 2011 Fighting Irish. Bottom line: BCS Bowl or Bust. The 2010 edition of the Notre Dame football team compiled an 8-5 record that could have been (and arguably should have been) 11-2. There is no way to argue the losses to Stanford and Navy. Stanford was a very good team

Zen and the Art of Irish Blogging

2011-08-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

Forgive me Father, for I have not blogged. It has been 261 days since my last post. With so much happening in and around the Fighting Irish program, how in the world can any self-respecting blogger go silent for 8 months and 19 days? I have been asking myself the same question, off and on, for months. The answer, I believe, is inner peace. Not inner peace about the world, or America, or

Irish Blogger Gathering: The Fall of Troy

2010-11-23T13:22:00.000-08:00

Living in Southern California as I do, Subway Domer is kind enough to let me be the host for this week's edition of the Irish Blogger Gathering. It's an exciting week here at OC Domer Headquarters. As I type this our daughter is on a plane flying home for Thanksgiving (and the ND v. USC game). She is bringing her roommate with her, and we are going to be seeing a lot of her OC and Notre Dame

Here Come the Black Knights of the Hudson

2010-11-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

As luck would have it, the OC Family was in New York last weekend, and there was a big part of me that really wanted to hang around for a few days so that we could see this week's historic match-up between the Fighting Irish and the Black Knights in Yankee Stadium. Earlier in the week I posted to my Facebook page a link to a short article that gives a terrific overview of just how HUGE the games

My Cousin Vinny (IBG)

2010-11-11T23:07:00.000-08:00

The Irish are playing the Utes this week. Every time I say (or even think) "Ute" my mind flashes to that hilarious scene in the movie "My Cousin Vinny." Do you remember it?Anyway, the Utes are coming to town, looking to redeem themselves after being humiliated by TCU in their last game. The Irish, meanwhile, are looking to get back on track and salvage a bowl berth after suffering a string of

Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough

2010-10-27T22:31:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday night. This blog post should be about how disappointed I was by the Irish loss to Navy last Saturday.Instead, tonight I am a sickened, saddened, and angry Notre Dame parent.A Notre Dame student died needlessly and senselessly today, in an accident that never should have happened. Declan Sullivan, a junior at the University, was filming Notre Dame's football practice from atop a

OC Domer Trying to Catch Up. Brian Kelly Earns a B-.

2010-10-08T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is not how I planned to spend my 2010 football season. I am a lawyer by trade, which means that every now and again I have to strut my lawyerly stuff and earn my paycheck. For most of the past month I have been on the road and putting in long hours in preparation for a trial that will take place next week. I could tell you more, but I'd have to kill you.Seriously, it's not a big deal of a

Can I Change My Pick For Heisman? Michigan Reaction.

2010-09-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

I actually have a lot of work to do today, but I wanted to very quickly throw out my thoughts on the tough loss to Michigan yesterday in a hard-fought, dramatic, and at times bizarre, football game.Denard Robinson is simply an astounding talent. He has been blessed with God-given ability, and he is making the most out of it in a system that is perfectly suited to maximize his potential. My

The Gipper

2010-09-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

I'm a Notre Dame alumnus, a huge Fighting Irish fan, and heck, I even write a Notre Dame football blog. I've seen Knute Rockne, All-American and Rudy. So I always figured I had a decent understanding of, and the proper amount of respect for, the history of Notre Dame football. But a recent coast-to-coast plane trip provided me the excuse to finally dig into The Gipper: George Gipp, Knute

Purdue Review and Muck Fichigan (IBG Week 2)

2010-09-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

Her Loyal Sons hosts the Irish Blogger Gathering for this week. I've been on the road for work this week, putting in some long hours in the office, and my blogging has predictably suffered. Who the heck schedules any sort of actual work between September 1st and the Super Bowl anyway? It's anti-American in my view.So I want to put down a few very quick thoughts on the Irish win over Purdue in

Burning Questions: IBG 2010, Week 1

2010-09-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Frank V. at UHND.com hosts this weeks Irish Blogger Gathering. If you are new to the IBG concept, it was the brainchild of Subway Domer, who thought it would be cool to virtually gather a group of Notre Dame football bloggers around the campfire each game week to get their reactions to a common set of questions or issues. Each week a new host gets to pose the questions, and his or her blog

Brian Kelly Takes the Field: 2010 Expectations & Prognostications

2010-08-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Notre Dame faithful have been waiting impatiently for the Brian Kelly edition of the Fighting Irish to take to the turf at Notre Dame Stadium, and now suddenly the first game of the 2010 season is bearing down on us like a runaway train and there doesn't seem to be enough time to brace for the inevitable collision. It's game week and there is much to do before kick-off on Saturday:Write my "

Good Luck Coach Kelly

2010-08-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

Six days from now a coin will be tossed into the Indiana sky, a football will be kicked down the middle of a perfectly manicured field inside Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish faithful on the wooden benches and on their comfy sofas across America will be holding their collective breath, and finally the answers will be revealed. The answers to our questions, certainly. But that isn't what Notre Dame

Dusting Off the Crystal Ball

2010-08-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

Happy August to all of you! It's been a little slow around here at OC Domer, but I've been busy with my day job and just couldn't bring myself to write yet another story about not-very-bright students getting arrested by not-very-bright Indiana law enforcement officials for underage drinking at an off-campus party. My thoughts on the situation haven't changed a bit since my last rant on the

What tho' the odds

2010-07-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

We're heading into the long July 4th holiday weekend, and I can just detect the distinct whiff of college football in the air. Basketball season is finally over, with the Lakers bringing home yet another championship (yawn!). Hockey is finally over with the ... heck I don't even know who won the freakin' Stanley Cup. Shouldn't basketball and hockey be done well before June? The baseball

Happy Hour

2010-06-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

My previous post on the personnel changes in the Office of Residence Life at Notre Dame generated a few comments. Some reminded me that the folks at "Res Life" are good Notre Dame people who are just trying to do their jobs enforcing the rules. That's fair enough, but while I am not questioning the good intentions of the recently departed, I do reserve the right to question the manner in which

Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead?

2010-06-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

The South Bend Tribune is reporting that Bill Kirk is no longer the University of Notre Dame's associate vice president for residence life. This report seems to be clearly related to other news:1. Mike Ragone will apparently be eligible to play for the Fighting Irish this season despite this incredibly bone-headed move to get arrested for possession of marijuana on May 8th, and2. Rev. Mark

Lack of Institutional Control

2010-06-10T17:44:00.000-07:00

The NCAA has finally spoken on the Reggie Bush & O.J. Mayo investigation. In sum, the committee was wholly unimpressed with the NCAA rules compliance efforts of the University of Southern California and actually dropped the "lack of institutional control" hammer on them.Here is the NCAA's release which summarizes their findings.Here is the full 67-page report.I have now read the entire report.

Irish Display Progress in Blue & Gold Game

2010-04-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well the 2010 Blue & Gold Game is in the books, and Coach Brian Kelly has to be pleased with what he saw. The stat sheet isn't out yet, but I wanted to quickly share my initial impressions of the game.Of course all eyes were on Dayne Crist and his surgically repaired knee, and Dayne looked very good physically while taking every snap for the Blue squad in the first (and most important) half.

Lou Two?

2010-04-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

"The Shirt" has been unveiled, and the 2010 edition of the Blue & Gold Game is upon us. As we wait for the public premiere of the latest version of the Fighting Irish, I wanted to share my thoughts on what has essentially been the prologue of the Brian Kelly Era. I was hoping to make this post much more in-depth, but time constraints (it's already really late on Friday night) dictate that it be

The Observer - Brian Kelly to build on community

2010-04-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

Interesting article in the Observer today about Coach Brian Kelly's recent meeting with student leaders. He said a lot of good things, such as:“The kind of guys that I am recruiting here now are going to be hardworking and they better recognize the value of the Notre Dame education,” he said. “Not all of them will be on the same elite level as the students in this room, but they are going to

South Bend Spring: Football's in the Air

2010-04-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

A terrific article by John Walters that covers a lot of spring football topics (predictable), but also some topics on the evolution of Notre Dame in general. A taste:Kelly has come to Notre Dame as an outsider and discovered, as has this 1980s era alumnus, that the school and its players are not representative of the Fighting Irish he grew up cheering for. [...] Kelly put up a print of the

Madness!

2010-03-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

March Madness begins (for real) tomorrow, so time is running out if you haven't filled out your brackets yet. As if anyone in the world could possibly care, I've finally filled mine out and you can see it (if you want), HERE. (After the games begin on Thursday).Highlights of my picks in this year's Tourney:Notre Dame beats Old Dominion, but loses to a Baylor Bears team that makes a nice run all

Broncos Trade for Quarterback Brady Quinn | INDenverTimes.com

2010-03-14T14:52:00.001-07:00

Broncos Trade for Quarterback Brady Quinn | INDenverTimes.comPosted using ShareThis

Former Patriots receiver Givens emphasizes education - Marshfield, MA - Marshfield Mariner

2010-03-11T12:18:00.001-08:00

Former Patriots receiver Givens emphasizes education - Marshfield, MA - Marshfield MarinerPosted using ShareThis

Our own Greek tragedy

2010-03-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

Via Instapundit I found this BRILLIANT piece by Mark Steyn, published in the Washington Times, which looks at the fiscal crisis that is about to tear the European Union apart (or at least see the Greek social welfare state collapse), and explains in impressively understandable terms how the Greece/EU tragedy is but foreshadowing of the tragedies awaiting California and the rest of America if we

Consent of the governed - and the lack thereof | Washington Examiner

2010-03-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in politics (or just current events), Instapundit is a daily "must visit" blog. Today the Instapundit, Glenn Reyondols of the University of Tennessee law school has a column in the Washington Examiner asking the question: Does our current government really derive its powers from the consent of the governed? And if it doesn't, can the present government's exercise of power

NFL Restricted Free-Agent Tender Levels

2010-03-04T13:41:00.000-08:00

If you're a fan of the NFL, as I am, you've been hearing a lot the past few days about "tenders" that NFL teams have been making to their restricted free agents. You'll hear that the Denver Broncos have made a "first round tender" to Brandon Marshall, and that the Chargers have made a "first and third round tender" to running back Darren Sproles. You may have been wondering exactly what these

Detroit teachers unions opposing the very reforms that have vastly improved New Orleans public schools after Katrina

2010-03-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

As if it needed to be documented any more thoroughly, organized labor is killing America. Teachers unions are engaged in a ongoing conspiracy to deny a quality education to America's children. Kids in the poorest, most crime-ridden neighborhoods in the nation, who could benefit the most from a good education, are hit the hardest. Even President Obama is working with teachers' unions to shut

Purdue Pete Too Fearsome: Seeking A Kinder, Gentler Image

2010-03-02T15:34:00.001-08:00

I saw this story linked over at thewizofodds.com and just had to post it here. It seems that the Boilermakers' unofficial mascot, Purdue Pete, just causes way too many young kids to cry with his freakishly over-sized head and intense stare, so he's getting a makeover to soften his image and make him more approachable. I will NOT make any jokes about the Boilermakers being plenty soft already!

Obama & Dems in ‘05: 51 Vote ‘Nuclear Option’ Is ‘Arrogant’ Power Grab Against the Founders’ Intent

2010-02-24T18:25:00.000-08:00

This brilliant video compilation shows how the Democrats in 2005, including Senators Obama and Biden, passionately believed that using gimmicky procedural maneuvers to ram a partisan Bill through the U.S. Senate was a threat to our Republic. But I guess it's okay for them to consider it now, since they know what is best for us.Breitbart.tv » Obama & Dems in ‘05: 51 Vote ‘Nuclear Option’ Is ‘

Eric Holder stonewalls Congress on terror lawyers | Washington Examiner

2010-02-23T11:48:00.000-08:00

At least nine attorneys working at the U.S. Department of Justice worked as defense attorneys for terrorsit detainees before joining Team Obama/Holder, and an undisclosed number of those attorneys are now helping to set U.S. policy with respect to terrorist detainees. But the Obama administration has so far refused to disclose to Congress (1) who these attorneys are? (2) what the nature of their

Where will American Politicians Go For Better health Care?

2010-02-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

A prominent Canadian politician has caused some controversy by eschewing Canada's nationalized health care system and instead flying to Miami for a minor heart surgery. He says "It's my health, it's my choice." That's a pretty pithy slogan. Maybe it will catch on here in the U.S. Two questions: Will Obamacare be better or worse than Canada's system? And, where will our politicians go to get

Government's Only 'Broken' When Left Isn't Getting Its Way

2010-02-21T20:08:00.000-08:00

George Will absolutely nails it.:"[W]ith metronomic regularity, we go through these moments in Washington where we complain about the government being broken. These moments have one thing in common: The Left is having trouble enacting its agenda. No one when George W. Bush had trouble reforming Social Security said, 'Oh, that's terrible - the government's broken.'" Read more: http://

Heismanpundit sees Notre Dame's Hendrix as future Heisman contender

2010-02-18T15:30:00.000-08:00

Heismanpundit, the most respected blog in the blogosphere when it comes to handicapping the annual Heisman horse race, sees Notre Dame's incoming freshman quarterback Andrew Hendrix as one of the players from the recruiting class of 2010 who has the best chance of competing for future Heismans. Future Heisman Contenders From the Class of 2010.

Central Falls Rhode Island Fires Every High School Teacher

2010-02-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

How can public education be improved? Fire the entrenched unionized teachers who decide they would rather be part of the problem than part of the solution. Central Falls Rhode Island Fires Every High School Teacher

Krugman: Bush's Deficit Bad, Obama's Deficit Good

2010-02-12T19:27:00.000-08:00

It's sort of like shooting fish in a barrel, but the hypocrisy of the left simply cannot be ignored. Krugman: Bush's Deficit Bad, Obama's Deficit Good

Thoughts on Coach Kelly

2010-01-27T15:03:00.000-08:00

My Dad reminded me a few weeks ago that I hadn't yet chimed in with my opinion on Brian Kelly being hired as the new head football coach at Notre Dame. He was right, as he often is, but at the time I didn't really have anything intelligent to add to the conversation beyond "Yippee!" I wasn't surprised by the hire, as loyal OC Domer readers will recall that I confidently posted here on November

Crimson Tide Wins OC Domer 2009-2010 Tournament of Champions!

2010-01-18T13:48:00.000-08:00

Here are the results of the 2009-2010 OC Domer Tournament of Champions. The Tournament of Champions is an eight team playoff featuring the top 8 teams chosen from a pool of eligibles consisting of the champions of each NCAA FBS conference plus the highest ranked Independent. While it is not a requirement, in most years the field will be comprised of the champions from each of the six BCS

3rd Annual OC Domer Player of the Year Award

2010-01-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

The ballots are in. Actually, they've been in for a while, collecting dust as I've been too busy/distracted to count them. But the results have finally been tabulated. It's time to announce recipient of the 2009 "OC Domer Player of the Year Award." The OC Domer Player of the Year Award is intended to recognize the Notre Dame football player or players who played the best when it mattered the

Michael Floyd Drinking, Fighting and Bloody in Minnesota

2010-01-12T18:21:00.000-08:00

This is not what we're looking for when we say "Fighting Irish." Notre Dame star receiver Michael Floyd, recipient of the OC Domer Player of the Year Award in 2008, is going to have some 'splaining to do to new Irish football coach Brian Kelly. According to StarTribune.com:Gophers football player Shady Salamon and Notre Dame's Michael Floyd were cited for underage consumption of alcohol on Jan.

Welcome Back, Nate!

2010-01-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

It's been busy at home and at work despite it being the "holiday" season, so my blogging has suffered recently. But I wanted to bring to you one interesting tidbit that I haven't seen reported elsewhere. Reliable sources are telling me that Nate Montana, lately of the Pasadena City College, will be returning to Notre Dame for the Spring semester (which starts next Tuesday) and he will be

Merry Christmas to All

2009-12-24T11:48:00.000-08:00

It is Christmas Eve and events here at OC Domer HQ are about to start spinning beyond my control as last-minute Christmas errands are run, final presents wrapped, mass at what we think will be our new Church is attended, Christmas Eve dinner is served, etc...We are all excited to have our daughter home from the University for Christmas break. She is already so thoroughly enthralled by Notre Dame

The Pope seems to have gotten over the whole Obama controversy

2009-12-16T13:26:00.001-08:00

Despite all the uproar over President Obama being invited to give the Commencement Address at Notre Dame last Spring (he's pro-abortion!), it seems that Pope Benedict nonetheless respects the important role the University plays within the Church. From the South Bend Tribune:Notre Dame associate professor receives papal appointment Tribune Staff ReportSOUTH BEND — John C. Cavadini, an associate

Kelly Being Fitted For New "ND" Wardrobe

2009-12-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

This post from ChicagoBreakingSports.com leaves little doubt that Brian Kelly will be Notre Dame's new football coach. It makes clear that Kelly has already met with representatives of Notre Dame and that he will be taking the job. The article notes that Coach Kelly has not wanted to make it public because he didn't want to distract his Cincinnati players before the game against Pittsburgh, and

Quick Hits, Pearl Harbor Edition

2009-12-07T22:33:00.000-08:00

Things have been busy at OC Domer HQ and I just haven't been able to write all the posts I have wanted to write lately. So here are my thoughts on recent developments in condensed Readers Digest format:1. Coaching Search. Well, what do you know? Brian Kelly will be meeting with Jack Swarbrick on Tuesday to discuss ... well, you know. All as foretold by OC Domer.2. Pete Carroll's Girlfriend

Golden Tate #2 on my Heisman Ballot

2009-12-07T22:13:00.000-08:00

I received an e-mail from Shotgun Spratling at Blueworkhorse.com inviting me to cast my ballot for this year's Sports Blog Heisman Trophy. Voters are not limited to just the five players invited to New York for the presentation of that other Heisman trophy. Here is the full text of my e-mailed "ballot" as submitted:Dear Shotgun,Here is the OC Domer Heisman Ballot.1. Toby Gerhart. He is most

Every Breath You Take

2009-12-07T21:39:00.000-08:00

If you ever had any doubt that the Democrat party wants to control absolutely EVERY aspect of your life, a determination today by President Obama's Environmental Protection Agency should make things crystal clear for you. According to your Federal government, carbon dioxide is now considered a "danger to public health." And this danger must be regulated in the ongoing war against (imaginary)

Narrowing the List

2009-12-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

I recently wrote about the "Long List" of potential successors to Coach Weis at Notre Dame. My stated criteria in assembling the Long List of more than 21 names were:Track record as a successful head coach at the Division I college level or the NFL. (Assistants need not apply).Ability to recruit. Ideally a proven recruiter, but may have to make judgment call on the recruiting potential of NFL

Weis Out: The Official Announcement

2009-11-30T12:06:00.000-08:00

From Notre Dame Website:Nov. 30, 2009 NOTRE DAME, Ind. - University of Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis will not be retained, University director of athletics Jack Swarbrick announced today. "We have great expectations for our football program, and we have not been able to meet those expectations," Swarbrick

Bob Stoops Rumors: We've Seen Them Before

2009-11-29T12:22:00.000-08:00

The "hot" name right now to replace Coach Charlie Weis right now is Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. But I don't buy the rumors, and I actually suspect that Stoops himself is using the Notre Dame rumors as leverage to get a better contract out of Oklahoma University or other potential employers. We've seen this act before.Back in December of 2004 the University of Florida had a head coaching vacancy

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

I'll have more of my thoughts on Coach Weis and the Fighting Irish as the weekend rolls around, but today I just want to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving. Here at OC Domer HQ we're thankful to have the whole family together for a few days as the OC Domer Daughter is back home from Notre Dame for the first time since we moved her into her dorm in August. Happy to report that she looks great

Heard it through the grapevine: Brian Kelly

2009-11-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

Charlie Weis may not know who Notre Dame's football coach is going to be next season, but it seems that many others "in the know" at the University understand that it will be Brian Kelly, currently head coach at the University of Cincinnati. If my contacts at Notre Dame are to be believed (and I do believe them), it's all but a done deal at this point, with no announcements coming until the end

Update On Michigan Cheating Allegations

2009-11-17T16:43:00.000-08:00

Back in September the news broke about University of Michigan football players alleging that their own program was routinely violating NCAA rules by practicing and engaging in other football-related activities for hours well in excess of the daily and weekly limits set by NCAA rules.Many poo-pooed the allegations, basically saying that if the Michigan players wanted to be a big-time football

The Long List

2009-11-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

Starting with the Notre Dame loss to Navy, and accelerating with the loss to Pittsburgh this Saturday, there has been a flurry of articles, discussions, blog posts, and speculation about who is on Jack Swarbrick's "short list" of potential candidates to replace Charlie Weis as head football coach at Notre Dame. Yes, it's unseemly to engage in such speculation when Coach Weis is still the head

It wasn't as close as the score indicated

2009-11-14T23:01:00.000-08:00

The Fighting Irish extended to ten their streak of consecutive losses to ranked opponents, falling to the Pittsburgh Panthers 27-22 despite a furious 4th quarter rally that was prematurely terminated by a bogus instant replay reversal which turned an incomplete Clausen pass under pressure into a game-deciding lost fumble. We'll never know if the Irish would have overcome the 4th-and-16 they

IBG: Get Your Headlines Here!

2009-11-13T12:22:00.000-08:00

The Subway Domer is hosting this week's Irish Blogger Gathering. Head over there to read all the IBG contributors' responses once you're done here.Subway is being cute this week (I can't stand cute) and, since the Irish have been very much in the headlines since last Saturday's scuttling at the hands of Navy, he's asking us to come up with a headline for each of our IBG answers. I feel like I

Three Envelopes

2009-11-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

When Notre Dame Head Football Coach Charlie Weis showed up for his first day on his new job under the Golden Dome, there was a short letter waiting for him in the middle of his desk. It was from Charlie's predecessor, Ty Willingham. The letter read as follows:Dear Coach Weis,Congratulations on being named as Notre Dame's football coach. It is truly an honor and a privilege to represent this

You Are What Your Record Says You Are, Charlie.

2009-11-08T18:22:00.000-08:00

After the Fighting Irish suffered their humiliating loss to Syracuse last November, I wrote that I was done defending Charlie Weis. My conclusion to that post was:If it was my call, I'd give him another year, provided he could present a serious plan for addressing the team's glaring deficiencies (i.e., at the very least getting a new offensive line coach). After all, as ugly as it is, this team

IBG: "You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas"

2009-10-31T10:27:00.000-07:00

I must say as to what I have seen of Texas, it is the garden spot of the world. The best land & best prospects for health I ever saw is here, and I do believe it is a fortune to any man to come here. There is a world of country to settle. (David Crockett, in a letter to his children, 9 January 1836)This week's Irish Blogger Gathering is being hosted by the estimable Whiskey over at One Foot Down

IBG: Nasty, Brutish and Short Edition

2009-10-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

The Irish Blogger Gathering is hosted by the Brawling Hibernian. Once you're done here you can head over there to read all the other IBG entries for BC week. Last week's loss to USC left me pretty wiped out, and so I'm way late with my IBG post for the week. Because I am so late with it, the post will be nasty, brutish and short. Really the primary purpose of writing it is to check it off my

USC Post Script

2009-10-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

A week ago, on the eve of their much-anticipated game against USC, I posted here an open letter to the Notre Dame football team. In that post I urged the Fighting Irish to -Play hard. Run like your hair is on fire. Hit like a freight train. If you get hit hard, hit back twice as hard. Finish your blocks. Take care of the football. Don't commit a dumb penalty. Play every play with the urgency of

Dear Fighting Irish

2009-10-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

An Open Letter to the Notre Dame Football TeamDear Fighting Irish,Tomorrow's a big day. It's a big day for you, and a big day for tens of thousands of Notre Dame alumni and for the millions of subway alumni who embrace Our Lady's University and all she stands for. There has been an intensity and a buzz on campus all week that is felt all the way out here in Southern California. Your fans and

Irish Blogger Gathering: The Quest for a Signature Win

2009-10-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the USC-week edition of the Irish Blogger Gathering, hosted right here at OC Domer in a nod to the fact that I have to live my life surrounded by Trojan alumni & fans. Having grown up in California, and living in So Cal for the past 16 years, the USC game annually is the "Big One" at OC Domer HQ. Win this game, and you get a full year of smack-talk satisfaction out of it. Lose this

Husky Quick Hits

2009-10-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

I am honored to be the host of the Irish Blogger Gathering this week, and I'll have that post up in just a little bit. But first I want to drop in just a few comments on the overtime win against the Washington Huskies last week.Wow. Another amazing, heart-attack inducing victory for the Irish. That's three white-knucklers in a row, after an equally gut-wrenching loss against Michigan in week 2.

Jake and the Dawgs Visit Rock's House (Plus the IBG)

2009-10-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

This post will serve as your combination platter U-Dub preview and Irish Blogger Gathering entry for the week. First my pre-game thoughts as yet another "Greatest Dual Threat Quarterback Ever" leads the Washington Huskies into Notre Dame Stadium.This game is all about Notre Dame. The Irish smoked a Jake Locker-less Huskies squad in Seattle last year, 33-7. And the game was not nearly as close

Irish Learning How to Win

2009-09-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

So how excited can you really be about a last minute win over the Purdue Boilermakers? Normally, I'd be writing a post full of disappointment about how the team under-performed and played down to the level of the competition.But today I am actually very impressed with the guts and determination of the Fighting Irish. Lacking #1 wideout Michael Floyd, #1 running back Armando Allen, and working

IBG: Life After Michael Floyd

2009-09-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

Wow. It's been way too long since my last post, I'm embarrassed to say. Part of the problem was a business trip to Pittsburgh last week that threw me off my normal rhythm. But part of the problem has been a certain degree of befuddlement about the Irish that left me unsure of where I stand on this team. I wrote a quick post right after the loss to Michigan which pretty well captured my

Keeping Up With Tom Thornton (And Lending Him a Hand)

2009-09-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

In May of 2007 I wrote about a Notre Dame student-athlete who had popped up in the news and who was a perfect example of why, even after a frustrating loss to Michigan on the football field, I am so proud to be a Domer. To briefly re-cap:Who the heck is Tom Thornton? Tom Thornton is (was) a student-athlete at the University of Notre Dame. Student. Athlete. Not an athlete masquerading as a

It's the little things that kill you

2009-09-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

An awful, awful loss today for the Fighting Irish. Despite an offense that was very productive, and a defense that was largely in control, Notre Dame used a combination of penalties, turnovers, poor special teams play, poor tackling, and poor coaching to snatch defeat from jaws of victory.Keys to the game:1. Referees were awful. Overturn of the Armando Allen touchdown was horrendous.

It's Michigan

2009-09-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

As a Domer from California, I have always considered USC to be the true arch nemesis of the Fighting Irish. I always get really jacked up for the games against Michigan, and I think it's a great rivalry that produces excellent football games, but for me USC has always been "the enemy."For Notre Dame folks from the Midwest, however, it is Michigan. Irish fans from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio,

Notre Dame Opponent Poll after Week 1

2009-09-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

Frank V. over at UHND.com is going to be publishing a weekly poll this season ranking from 1 through 12 Notre Dame's 2009 football opponents, and he has honored me by asking me to participate as one of the voters in the poll. The results of the poll after week 1 can be found at this link. In the name of transparency, my ballot for this week's poll appears below, with limited comments.USC. (Any

Nevada Nit-Picks (Not!)

2009-09-09T21:58:00.000-07:00

Heck, we're just starting week #2 of the season, and I am already falling behind in my posts. It's all Charlie Weis' fault of course. Normally my Saturday and Sunday posting during the football season is fueled by pent-up frustration at the sub-par play of the Fighting Irish. This most recent weekend, the Irish went out and played a near-perfect 2009 season opener, leaving me as satisfied as a

Irish Blogger Gathering: Here Come the 2009 Fighting Irish!

2009-09-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

We're going to try to keep Subway Domer's love child alive for a second season. Yes, the Irish Blogger Gathering is back for 2009. The idea is for our intrepid group of Notre Dame football bloggers to respond each week during the season to a set of questions posed to the group. The blogger asking the questions rotates, and the host for Nevada week is the Domer Law Blog. You can head over

Michigan's Cheating Scandal Is Serious

2009-09-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

The big news in college football the past couple of days has been the report that Coach Rich Rodriguez and the University of Michigan football program have been systematically cheating by mandating that players participate in football activities for hours well in excess of the daily and weekly limits set by NCAA rules. It has been surprising to me that much of the early spin from the talking

Notre Dame Shaking Down the Thunder in 2009

2009-08-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

Put up or shut up. That seems to be the consensus among the Irish faithful and the college football cognoscenti regarding Notre Dame's 2009 football season. The Irish return almost the entire offense from a year ago, led by quarterback Jimmy Clausen, a junior heading into his third year as a starting QB who completed 61% of his passes for over 3,000 yards last year with a 25/17 TD/INT ratio.

Frosh-O

2009-08-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

I am not an emotional guy. Really. I like to think of myself as cool and detached, even in my relationships. The Original Mr. Macho Tough Guy Man's Man. No touchy-feely get in tune with your inner self meditation for me. Go ahead - smash my pinky finger between a metal dormitory bed frame and the metal head board - I can take it!But this is a tough post to write.My daughter is a freshman at

Taking Care of Business

2009-08-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

Coach Charlie Weis' season opening press conference was very interesting to me, particularly because it is clear that Coach Weis and I see the 2009 season in much the same way. The soundbite from the press conference that received the most attention, on the theme of expectations, was:There's a lot of things going into this year that I'd rather not say because I'd rather get it done on the field.

Board Games & Michael Vick

2009-08-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

Michael Vick is now a Philadelphia Eagle. I wrote a little about Vick a while back, but his signing yesterday caused me to give his situation a little more thought, as I was having trouble sorting out my feelings. If you have kids you can follow me on this one.When playing board games with your kids, sometimes you land on the "lose a turn" square, which is disappointing. You're forced to sit

OC Domer Fantasy Football Season III. Are You In?

2009-08-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

The OC Domer Fantasy Football League is ready to begin it's third season. Who will dethrone last year's champion, the Nevada Mustangs? I have several slots available in the league for anyone who would like to play, and my goal is to get enough players to run a ten team league (split into Blue & Gold divisions).The league is set up at ESPN.com. It is an auto-pick league, since there is no way I

Too Quiet

2009-08-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

It's been quiet here at OC Domer this Summer. My posting numbers have been down, and I've been scratching my head as to the reasons. After a little introspection, I've come up with a couple of factors. First, I've been busy/distracted. Work can really cut into a blogger's day, and a lot has been happening on the family front including the OC Domer Daughter heading off to Notre Dame in just 16

Montana Watch 2009

2009-07-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

In my haste to beat the rest of the blogosphere to the punch with the news of Nate Montana's imminent transfer to Pasadena City College I didn't include much in the way of analysis or commentary on the move. Here are my thoughts on the matter so far:I applaud Nate's desire to get on the field and compete. He didn't play a lot of football in high school, so he may just now be realizing that he

A Cost Savings is not a Budget Cut

2009-07-27T16:10:00.000-07:00

Included in Friday's lengthy post was an item about President Obama and his cabinet having missed the 90-day deadline for finding a whopping $100 million in budget cuts, as the President ordered at his first cabinet meeting in April. Well, in the name of fairness and completeness I want to note that the White House has finally released the list of so-called "budget cuts" submitted by the various

Nate Montana Transferring to ... Pasadena City College?!

2009-07-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Hot off the presses, the South Bend Tribune is reporting that Nate Montana, son of former Irish great Joe Montana, is leaving the University to play football at Pasadena City College, with the intent of possibly re-enrolling at Notre Dame in the Spring to compete for the starting Notre Dame job.Two thoughts:1. Wow.2. Do NCAA rules even allow that?

Fine, thanks. How's your summer going?

2009-07-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

I know I've been remiss in not being more active on the blog, but I have two problems. First, the things that have really been getting me fired up are all political, and I don't want to subject all of you to a steady diet of Obama criticism with no football posts to keep things on an even keel. So I have held my tongue, so to speak. Second, it is July and nothing much is happening on the

Got Tickets?

2009-07-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

The results of Notre Dame's annual football ticket lottery are expected this week, and I'm sure many of you have your fingers crossed, hoping to beat the odds and score a pair of seats for the USC game on October 17. Good luck with that. But what will you do if Lady Luck doesn't smile on you and you get shut out (again) this year? The answer, of course, is:NotreDameTickets.com has joined

Should the Pope be fired?

2009-07-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

It was heresy when the University of Notre Dame invited pro-abortion President Barack Obama to speak at its 2009 commencement a few weeks ago. To bestow such an honor on a (non-Catholic) public figure was an insult to pious Catholics everywhere and was an act of blatant disobedience to Church teaching. The controversy spawned a movement seeking the ouster of Father John Jenkins as University

We hold these Truths to be self-evident

2009-07-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

OC Domer is getting ready to get out and enjoy the long Independence Day weekend, but before I go I wanted to remind everyone what it is we're celebrating as we enjoy baseball, lacrosse, afternoon naps, barbecue, boats, beaches, and babes in bikinis.We're celebrating the decision of the first brave Americans to declare themselves free human beings, independent of tyrannical, non-responsive, and

Irish Training Camp Dates Set

2009-07-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

Notre Dame has announced key dates for football training camp. The sourcing of the article is not clear, but here is what the Chicago Tribune is reporting:Friday, Aug. 7: No practice -- it's the final day of summer school -- but Weis and his assistant coaches meet with the media for the first time. No players talk, due to exams and such. Saturday, Aug. 8: First practice at 1:30 p.m. CT, selected

Football Returns to Center Stage - Soon

2009-06-28T10:26:00.000-07:00

It's been an emotional and hectic few weeks here at OC Domer HQ. Our daughter graduated from high school a little over a week ago, and there has been a lot of hoopla surrounding that event. "Night of the Stars" awards night, "Senior Reflections" night, the graduation ceremony itself followed by "Grad Night" at a secure, undisclosed location. Visits from both of my parents and my two brothers

Donation Boycott Not Pinching Notre Dame Too Badly

2009-06-23T13:10:00.001-07:00

Amidst all the angst over the University's invitation to have President Obama speak at Commencement, there arose a groundswell of popular sentiment against making any donations to Notre Dame until and unless Our Lady's University forsook her evil ways and began adhering more devoutly to the policies and proscriptions of the Catholic Church. The "boycott", which received a lot of gratuitous

A Supreme Joke

2009-06-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

It is now an oft-repeated maxim that elections have consequences. And so we arrive at the point where our newly elected President is entitled (indeed, obligated) to nominate someone to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court of the United States of America. It is a momentous occasion and a sobering responsibility. Supreme Court Justices have life tenure and their un-appealable decisions become the

Clemson is better than your school - Just ask 'em!

2009-06-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

I don't think I am alone in feeling that Clemson University football fans have long had an unrealistically high opinion of the stature of their program. The typical Clemson fan considers the Tigers to be an "elite" program on par with the likes of an Alabama, or Florida, or Notre Dame, and you'll often hear them droning on and on about the proud history of Clemson football. But when you do a

Happy Memorial Day! Please Remember to Honor our Veterans.

2009-05-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day weekend from the entire staff here at OC Domer! (Um, that would be me.) I hope everyone has a terrific holiday with family and friends, and that everyone reports back here on Tuesday safe & sound (if exhausted and a little sunburned).But please remember that Memorial Day belongs to our military veterans, and try to find some time to honor them this weekend, whether it's Old

Irish v. Army in the new Yankee Stadium? Very cool.

2009-05-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

The New York Times is reporting that Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick has been in very preliminary in discussions with the Yankees about playing some Fighting Irish football in the new Yankee Stadium, and considers Army an obvious opponent given the historical context.Very, very cool. I have no idea how the new Yankee Stadium would work as a college football venue as far as views and