Scheduling for Success

Once again we’ve reached the part of the season that is consumed by boasting. Who has the best conference—mine or yours? We’re all biased even though we try to be objective about non-conference scheduling. Complicating the process is that fewer top teams are playing each other, more teams are taking advantage of the 12th game to increase the number of home games and…

When trying to get a high school football recruit to come to Notre Dame, one of the biggest draws is the added exposure that player will receive, not only from the fans across the nation, but professional scouts as well. Storied history? Check. Historical significance? Check. Facilities that are second to none? Check. A schedule that covers the entire nation (as well as other countries)?…

We’ve just received word that Clashmore Mike’s very own Anthony Pilcher will once again be featured on the Joe O. & Rock Show tomorrow night (December 12th) on 670 The Score. This will be the second time Pilcher has provided Notre Dame-centric analysis on Chicago’s 670 The Score and this time around he figures to weigh in on the coaching change and recent hiring of Brian…

As the FBS season winds down amidst high-profile coaching searches at Notre Dame and others, I have noted the pain with which Irish players are parting with their coaches. Yet TV and equipment contracts, lucrative benefits from conference membership, large fan bases with seven or even eight home games keep big-time college football immune from dissolving their football programs.

The End of a College Football Program

We got…

Since the press conference held by Notre Dame’s Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick last Monday announcing the departure of Charlie Weis, the entire Notre Dame fan base has been on the edge of their seat, constantly checking the internet and ESPN, to see if any head way has been made in the search for the next head coach of the football program. Meanwhile, Swarbrick is working…

The Notre Dame football team secured a commitment last night from Louis Nix, defensive tackle from Raines High School in Jacksonville, Florida. Nix had previously committed to Miami and was also considering the Florida Gators. Nix is rated among the top seven defensive tackles—a position of need for the Irish—by various recruiting services.

Louis camped at Notre Dame this summer, made an official visit to Notre…

Notre Dame dropped their fourth-straight game Saturday and completed a second-half season slide for the second consecutive season. The Irish finish the regular season at 6-6, the six wins about at the expectation level of the most pessimistic fans.

For the 33 Irish seniors, it was a bitter way to end a season ripe with high expectations. For head coach Charlie Weis it was a final…

Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis’ failure was evident long ago. His lack of experience with the college game and as a head coach made him unable to anticipate future problems and incapable of implementing changes to correct them.

His list of shortcomings is long and condemning, but painfully reiterating what the on-field product clearly shows adds no value other than venting frustration at the most readily…

If the ESP determined the National Championship Game participants, it would be all but a done deal. Unless Texas loses to Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship, they will face the winner of the SEC Championship game which pits Alabama and Florida for the second consecutive year.

TCU and Boise State have had great runs, but they are too far away in point differentials to make up the ground…

Before Charlie Weis was officially announced as the new head coach at Notre Dame, he was preceded with praise from his colleagues and the press touting him as an offensive genius—a guru of X’s and O’s that, if anything else, could get the Irish offense firing on all cylinders. Six years later, Charlie Weis has more or less lived up to those expectations, save one…