TrojanWire - Notre Dame

Friday Hot Links

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:20:36 -0800

Football

Vegas still favors Trojans to win BCS, while Bruins are hard to peg. [LA Times]
In addition to their "Face of the Program" series, ESPN also has a "Face of the Decade." USC was honored for the 2000s, though based on the way the other decades were done I'm surprised Pete Carroll wasn't chosen. At the same time, it seems as if they wanted to name Matt Leinart. [ESPN]
Here's a tribute video in honor of Pete Carroll's volunteer work. [Summa Children's Foundation]
Another Trojan/coach, Jack Del Rio, is up to some serious do-gooding for the kids. [Times-Union]

Hoops

More of Brian Scalabrine fooling around with the press corps. [TrojanWire]
Evan Smith is USC's first commit from the class of 2009. [WeAreSC]

Elsewhere

Did somebody say Song Girls? [Prep Ticket]
Questions are cropping up about OJ's car. No, not that one. The other one. [Gutty Little Bruins]
What were they thinking? NBC extended its contract with the Fighting Irish. [Notre Dame]
According to a court of law, Duke sucks. [Da Wiz]

Notre Dame, NBC extend deal through 2015

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:54:25 -0800

Notre Dame is renewing its television contract with NBC. The university and NBC announced Thursday they have agreed to a five-year deal that runs through the 2015 season. The current contract was scheduled to expire in 2010. This contract includes seven homes games per season. It allows for the first time an eighth off-site home game played at a neutral stadium. NBC has broadcast Irish football since 1991.

Bold words by Notre Dame assistant Parmalee

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:01:31 -0800

Notre Dame: Weis assistant guarantees big season for ND

June 5, 2008

CHESTERTON -- Region Notre Dame football fans got some good news, and a guarantee, about the upcoming season Wednesday night from an Irish assistant coach.

"I guarantee you (Irish fans) that you won't be disappointed this season. Mark it down, we're on a mission," Bernie Parmalee, tight ends coach, told members of the Notre Dame Club of Northwest Indiana in St. Patrick's church hall.

There's no way but up for the Irish after last fall's forgettable, regrettable 3-9 debacle.

ND set school records for worst start (0-5), most losses (9), sacks allowed (58) and 38-0 losses to both Michigan and USC -- the worst shutout margins in the history of the rivalries.

"It was hard on you but even harder on us, the staff and players," Parmalee said. "Sometimes you get spoiled. A young team, we went through the fire and hung together as a team. We played the most freshmen ever. Our young kids gained experience and had a great spring.

CFN posts its 2008 Bowl Game Predictions

Mon, 19 May 2008 09:30:07 -0800

There's something about the month of May in the college off-season that brings out the Nostradamus in all of us. Next up with the crystal ball: College Football News with their 2008 predictions for the bowl games and BCS games.

A few highlights....

Champs Sports Bowl ... Virginia vs. Illinois
Meineke Car Care Bowl ... Florida State vs. Pitt
Texas Bowl ... Colorado vs. Rutgers
PetroSun Independence Bowl ... Nebraska vs. Arkansas
Alamo Bowl ... Michigan State vs. Kansas
Pacific Life Holiday Bowl ... Texas vs. Oregon
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl ... Wake Forest vs. Alabama
Chick-fil-A Bowl ... Boston College vs. South Carolina
Outback Bowl ... Michigan vs. LSU
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl ... Miami vs. Notre Dame
Capital One Bowl ... Penn State vs. Auburn
AT&T Cotton Bowl ... Oklahoma vs. Tennessee

Rose Bowl presented by Citi ... Wisconsin vs. USC
CFN is basically rubber stamping the winner of USC - Ohio State into the National Championship game. From the outcome of this prediction, I guess CFN is throwing in with the Buckeyes. This one looks dead on to me, unless USC ends up in the championship game, then this one becomes tOSU against the Sun Devils.

Allstate Sugar Bowl ... Georgia vs. Virginia Tech
By putting the Bulldogs into the Sugar, CFN is calling the WLOCP the defacto SEC championship. Take that as you will, Georgia fans. Va Tech looks like the class of the ACC, but CFN pulls them into the Sugar as an at-large. If there's one conference that has proven itself to be way to whacked out to predict, it's the ACC. I think Georgia/Arkansas are safe SEC picks, but give me Clemson from the ACC side.

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl ... Missouri vs. West Virginia
The Fiesta gets its traditional first pick of the at-large teams and takes the 'Eers. I'm not sure that Missouri will be the Big XII champs. CFN is hedging, with Texas Tech as their second choice, but... I wouldn't count out the Sooners... ever. I think Oklahoma - West Virginia makes more sense.

FedEx Orange Bowl ... Clemson vs. Texas Tech
If there is one prediction that I think is off the mark, it's CFN's prognostication for the Orange. I would be willing to take the field here at any odds, because I don't see a Tigers - Red Raiders matchup in Miami. I think the Hokies are the most likely candidate here for the ACC, versus an at-large team. For my prediction, give me VaTech (ACC Champs) versus Arizona State (at-large) or maybe even Utah (at-large).

FedEx BCS National Championship ... Ohio State vs. Florida
The Buckeyes and Gators in the National Championship game... where have we seen that before? This one is just as likely to be USC-Florida, which would probably be the highest rated college football game ever. If Florida gets to the BCS title game and wins, I think you will have seen the last of #15 in orange and blue. Just sayin'.

Comment on CFN posts its 2008 Bowl Game Predictions...

Your RBR Word of the Day: Fustian

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:29:52 -0800

fustian \FUHS-chuhn\, noun:
1. A kind of coarse twilled cotton or cotton and linen stuff, including corduroy, velveteen, etc.
2. An inflated style of writing or speech; pompous or pretentious language.

adjective:
1. Made of fustian.
2. Pompous; ridiculously inflated; bombastic.

Jimmy Clausen's fustian announcement that he would play for Notre Dame didn't result in an equally impressive display on the field.

At least Six USC Games On ABC

Fri, 02 May 2008 15:06:57 -0800

Mark Sanchez, get ready for your close-up! At least 6 USC games in 2008 will be broadcast on ABC or ESPN.

USC’s September 13th home opener against Ohio State will be the nationally-televised game of the week, as will Oregon at USC on October 4, Cal at USC on November 4 and Notre Dame at USC on November 29, all broadcast at 5 PM. USC’s September 25th game at Oregon State will be the Thursday game of the week on ESPN and their season ender at UCLA will be broadcast nationally on ABC.

USC’s games against Arizona State, at Arizona, at Washington and at Stanford are all possible additions to the ABC schedule for regional broadcasts.

USC’s home opener at Virginia, curiously, is not on the ABC/ESPN schedule, and ABC will not be broadcasting any Pac Ten games the week of October 18th, when the Trojans travel to Washington State. (more…)

Seahawks’ top two picks glad to be on same side

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:26:59 -0800

A Hatfield and a McCoy came together at the Seattle Seahawks’ practice complex on Monday morning, and not a single stone was cast. USC senior Lawrence Jackson and Notre Dame senior John Carlson, who played against each other three times during the past four installments of the 82-year rivalry, met off the football field for the first time as fellow Seahawks draft picks. And wouldn’t you know it? The first two members of the Seahawks’ 2008 draft class actually enjoyed each other’s company.

'Great Sense of Urgency' at Notre Dame

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:59:06 -0800

He's back! After a rather quiet winter that saw Crewcut Charlie Weis bag yet another top-flight recruiting class, the big guy was back on the big stage, addressing the media throng that descended upon South Bend for his state of the Notre Dame address.

There is a "great sense of urgency" in South Bend, Crewcut said. A 3-9 season will do that.

Weis, the wily coach that he is, promised a new level of toughness around South Bend. That toughness will be reflected in each and every practice. The South Bend Tribune summed it up this way: "Running backs will be taken to the ground. Blocks will be carried out to the whistle. Tackling, not two-hand touch, will be the rule."

But Weis' biggest concern is Jimmy Clausen, the hotshot quarterback from California who played like a freshman — a high school freshman — last season.

"I think our biggest issue is that nothing happens to Jimmy," Crewcut said. "That's probably the thing that could ruin our practice the easiest if something would happen to him."

It was also revealed that Weis invited groups of players over to Casa Crewcut for dinner in the offseason. "The man can cook," safety David Bruton said.

Obviously.

Clausen's weight has ballooned from 194 to 212 and Weis said it was lean muscle gain. Michael Rothstein of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette got a good look at Clausen and wrote that "the California kid doesn't look to be much bigger than last season."

Rothstein later writes: "One of Jimmy Clausen's only red jersey counterparts — sophomore walk-on Nick Lezynski of Newton, Pa. — looks awful small for a quarterback. Well, he actually looks like a pee-wee player in his No. 12 Irish jersey. It could be because he's all of 5-foot-8, 157 pounds."

Apparently Lezynski missed dessert at the Weis' household.

Crewcut Gets an Earful From Ara

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:31:42 -0800

They just completed a Notre Dame alumni golf outing in North Naples, Fla., and Ara Parseghian shared with the world what he said to Crewcut Charlie Weis.

"Put big W's up. That's what I told him," Parseghian said. "Get those wins. Sometimes it's not always easy."

Parseghian, who had a sparkling 95-17 record as Fighting Irish coach, is clueless as to why Crewcut's team stumbled to an embarrassing 3-9 mark in 2007.

"It defies a logical explanation," said Parseghian, 84. "Apparently after winning 19 games and losing six in two years, the rebuilding process didn't quite measure up. The schedule is not quite as difficult this year, so I think they'll make a rebound."

Back in South Bend, the embarrassment continued. Sophomore tight end Will Yeatman pleaded guilty to misdemeanor operating a vehicle while intoxicated and reckless driving. Yeatman, who was unavailable for comment, was arrested Jan. 28 after he drove his car on a sidewalk on the Notre Dame campus.

Yeatman will have to install an ignition interlock system for at least 180 days. He is not allowed to drive any car without the system and will be in violation of the agreement if he has a blood alcohol reading more than 0.02 percent or tries to start or drive a car with a higher reading than 0.04 percent.

Looking into Notre Dame’s future

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:01:28 -0800

Apparently, Notre Dame really wants to keep their schedule as easy as possible for the next decade.* Looks like USC and Michigan till 2018, a few Catholic school battles with BC, and eight or nine guaranteed wins (Just like this past season, right?), which puts them in the middle of the BCS money grab.

Speaking of 2018, it looks like the SC/ND contract doesn’t run past that year—unlike their contract with Stanford, which has Stanford on the docket for 2019 and 2020.

* Apparently the first blog to break this story was NDNation.

Charlie Weis Blew Off ND Alums “In Mid-Sentence”

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:50:16 -0800

Teddy Greenstein of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE reports that Charlie Weis is backtracking on his previous coaching approach now that the Irish program is in ashes.

Among other things, Weis plans to “meet with various alumni groups he has cheesed off with his arrogance. … he’ll use the extra time to make nice with Notre Dame’s grumbling alums. I’ve seen Weis walk away from conversations with people in mid-sentence. Harder to do that when you’re the first Irish coach since Hugh Devore to lose to Navy.”

Weis’ new attitude adjust isn’t just limited to those annoying alums though (we’d actually give anything to see him blow off a ND blowhard in mid-sentence). (more…)

Digging Into Those Rankings

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:23:09 -0800

Although USC recruiting class is currently only 17 players, the Trojans' recruits score an average of 3.88 stars on Rivals.com, which trails only Notre Dame’s average score of 3.95.

Trojan DePo: Where Have all the USC Recruits Gone?

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:50:36 -0800

'Twas the day before national signing day. I was checking the Rivals' college football team recruiting rankings for the 2008 season and something down right scary happened: I couldn't find USC. I looked from #1 to #2. No USC. My eyes must have been playing tricks on me. I checked #1 again...no, that definitely said Florida. It wasn't at #3 either. I shamefully looked all the way down to #5. No Trojans.

What the hell? The 11-2, Pete Carroll coached, Pac-10/Rose Bowl champs couldn't be found in the top five? But the Fighting Irish somehow managed to steal the Trojan's place at #2? Notre Dame? Since when is going 3-9 a good thing? Did these four and five-star Irish recruits not have televisions this past year? Am I stuck in some sort of disgusting Twilight Zone episode? USC had finished with one of the top three recruiting class for the past five years in a row. Three of those years USC was #1. Where was USC now? Not even on my computer screen! I had to scroll down!

SCROLL DOWN?! OH, THE HUMANITY!!!

De'Von Flournoy ('09) Commits to USC

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:55:50 -0800

From WeAreSC.com:

Birmingham head coach Ed Croson has been Flournoy’s coach for the past two seasons and was one of the first to learn of the commitment.

“He (Flournoy) called my son last night and told him he committed (Croson’s son also plays football for Birmingham). Flournoy was fired up about it.”

The Trojans beat out several schools, including a hard push from Notre Dame, for Flournoy’s services and Croson believes this is a commitment that will stick all the way through the recruiting process.

“USC is a school that he’s wanted to go to from the get go,” Croson said. “The coaches have known about him since his sophomore year and in the back of his mind, he was always hoping they’d offer. When they did, he jumped on it.

“I think he’ll stick with his commitment. His entire family really likes ‘SC and everyone has a ton of respect for the job they are doing. They want to be a part of it.”

At first there was talk that De'Von backed off his commitment, but according to Rivals and WeAreSC, he has reaffirmed his commitment to SC and doesn't look shaky about his decision. If you read the rest of the story above, you'll find out that De'Von has only been playing football for 2 years, but has immense talent and potential. According to a LA Daily News story, Birmingham fans are already saying that "Flournoy could be the best player ever to come from the school".

De'Von is listed at 6'1 180 with a 4.47 40-yard time and will come into SC as a receiver prospect. After watching this YouTube clip, you can see why people are so high on De'Von despite his lack of experience. Looks like Barkley's commitment is already paying dividends.

ESPN Anchorwoman: F--- Notre Dame

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:25:11 -0800

ESPN anchorwoman, Dana Jacobson, reportedly intoxicated off Belvedere Vodka, was speaking at a celebrity roast in Atlantic City, New Jersey...

when she unleashed a profane tirade, saying, "Fuck Notre Dame," "Fuck Touchdown Jesus" and finally "Fuck Jesus."

ESPN anchorwoman: 'F--- Jesus' [WorldNetDaily]