http://www.yardbarker.com/content/team/248 Recent articles about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish en-us There were a lot of responses across the ND message boards these past two days about John Berkowitz's preview of the Notre Dame - Washington game on Oct. 25. Although John put a lot of time and effort into his piece, I'm going to put my spin on this hotly contested debate. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:27:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294494 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294494 Here's another rival blogger piece by John Berkowitz of the Washington Husky Sports Blog. Although we have differing views of this matchup, I do appreciate his views and insights into this game. Tomorrow I'll post my rebuttal to this piece on why and how the Irish will prevail over the Huskies. So without further adieu, here's John's preview of the Washington game seen through the eyes from a delusional Husky fan. Sorry John I had to put that in there. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:04:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293956 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293956 Although it has not been publicly announced, 2-sport stud Will Yeatman will be back for both the football and lacrosse seasons. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:05:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293270 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293270 The newly inducted College Football Hall of Famer talks about being enshired to the Hall, the current state of Notre Dame football, and a great Lou Holtz story. Definitely a great five minute clip! Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:50:04 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293181 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293181 I wonder if Bear Bryant is rolling in his grave over this? Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:14:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293130 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293130 Justin Tuck interviewed on ESPN. Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:42:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292965 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/292965 Whether you believe he's a legend in the making or a liar, Urban Meyer stokes passions on all sides. Legend advocates will cite his second-year National Championship and a sophomore Heisman Trophy winner. Liar advocates are lining up against Meyer as stories continue to build, just as bridges linking Meyer to other coaches continue to burn. Consider these recent stories from other sites and sources on Meyer's recruiting tactics. It's unlikely the following schools have Meyer on their Christmas card list. LSU: Florida was ready to take all-star corner Patrick Johnson with what they thought was a bogus test score, but he committed to LSU. How did Florida respond? "Florida flagged my scores," Johnson said. "They called the compliance office." "I'm not upset," Johnson said. "Florida made an issue about the ACT score. They're cowards. They had to go behind my back. But that's OK. We play them this year (on Oct. 11 at Florida)." FSU (posted on noledigest.com): "While Gator fans will sit and give excuses or spin the details of what is going on, there is no denying that it seems like the UF staff flat-out lies to these kids. "Here is a quote from Trent Pupello (a player they initially compared to Jeremy Shockey), who is looking to leave the program this year: 'Coach (Steve) Addazio (UF tight ends coach) told me to work on my speed,' Pupello said. 'He didn't say that my speed was slow or anything. He just said that everything (at this level) is faster. "'I need to work on speed and getting stronger, which is pretty much what we all need to work on. He said that they need me at tight end, that I'll have an early chance to play and that all of the tight ends will play on the special teams.'" Michigan site (on the recruitment of Daryl Stonum): The University of Florida stayed on the four star pass-catcher well all the way through. Things crescendoed recently after a conversation with Urban Meyer. According to Stonum, Meyer had a compelling reason why he should become a Gator. "He told me that he talked to Coach Carr and Coach Soup and that they told him that I would be a much better fit in the Florida offense than I would be in the one at Michigan," Stonum recalled. "I thought, wow, my coaches are selling me out? I confronted them about it. I asked Coach Carr and Coach Soup about it, and they said they never talked to that guy and that there was no way they ever said anything like that and that they think I should be a Wolverine. I believed them. Right then, I knew just how Florida rolled." Just Funny: You can't tell the story about Jevan Snead enough (recounted in the book Meat Market). The funniest thing I read in it concerned what Urban Meyer told Jevan Snead. Snead had watched the Outside the Lines special on Tebow, which showed Meyer and OC Dan Mullen in the stands. Problem was, Meyer had told Snead, committed at the time, that he was the only quarterback they were going after. When Snead asked Meyer about it, Meyer responded, "We are recruiting him for linebacker." I had heard that before, but got a big kick out of reading it in the book straight from Snead. More LSU from Fox 26 in Houston: "Hempstead's Terrance Toliver, one of the nation's top high school football recruits, says negative recruiting tactics by the University of Florida first had him confused and bewildered. But in an unusual move, two Hempstead High School employees went above and beyond the call of duty to help Toliver make the biggest decision of his life. "After a vigorous early recruiting rush, it came down to LSU and Florida for Toliver, considered by many the No. 1 high school recruit in Texas and the best wide receiver in the nation. He ended up signing a letter-of-intent with LSU on National Signing Day Wednesday, but not before Florida coaches took several shots at LSU, leaving Toliver unsure what to do next. "'Every time (Florida recruiters) came, they just said LSU doesn't qualify their players,' Toliver told FOX 26's Mark Berman Wednesday. 'About (how) their academics are not all that. It kind of had me confused.'" "Eventually a bewildered Toliver asked his football coach Rick Sargent and Hempstead instructional coordinator Tina Johnson to go to Baton Rouge to find out the truth about LSU. The two went last weekend. 'They went and checked (LSU's) academics out and their facilities,' Toliver said. 'They just came back and told me whatever Florida was saying about the academics wasn't true.'" Notre Dame Blog: When Meyer recruited Justin Trattou he did so by the cover of night. Not that it's illegal, but he told Trattou not to tell anyone he was talking with Florida. Keep in mind that Trattou was committed to Notre Dame at the time. Amongst other things, Coach Meyer talked to Trattou about how the 3-4 defense was not a good fit for him and his football future (read: NFL, which is garbage—the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers all use the 3-4). Former Gators assistant coach Greg Mattison's favorite topics about Notre Dame (with several recruits), despite his previous love for the school, included how the weather sucked and the social life suffered. Case in point No. 2: Omar Hunter, same deal as before. Omar was snookered into lying to everyone from Notre Dame coaches and players to likely even his parents, especially his father, who wanted him at Notre Dame due to the academics. Hunter said that he was not talking to other schools, when in fact he was—Florida included—while being a Notre Dame commitment. In the end, Hunter was a fraud himself, but he was not the one who was truly taken for a ride. Coach Mattison recruited Hunter. He had an ax to grind with Notre Dame after leaving South Bend on not so good terms, and he definitely took it to another level with Hunter. Mattison, you see, had an assistant coaching job lined up with the Baltimore Ravens long before this past National Signing Day came around. So when Hunter switched his commitment to UF after initially deciding to attend Notre Dame, Mattison and Meyer did what came naturally. They lied to Hunter about the entire situation, telling Hunter that Mattison was not leaving Gainesville. Just by complete and total coincidence, Mattison ended up taking a job with the Ravens right after National Signing Day. Shocking! And oh yes, Notre Dame assistant coach Bill Lewis, who recently retired as a football coach, told Hunter what was about to happen. Hunter did not listen and signed with the Gators. Urban continues to build the best talent base not located in Southern California. Success certainly breeds enemies, but so does recruiting. Urban Legend or Urban Liar? Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:09:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291802 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291802 I know, I know - a shameless plug! I just wanted to let everyone know that we, at Domer Sports Report now have a store. We are now in the affiliate program over at Amazon.com. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:17:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291766 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291766 With all the buzz surrounding Jack Swarbrick's appointment to the Athletic Director of Notre Dame, the media has quieted a bit after the announcement of Darrin Walls missing the upcoming football season. Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:07:52 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291759 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291759 For the 10th time out of the 12 Athletic Directors, Notre Dame will once again be turning to their graduates to run the ship. Jack Swarbrick, an Indianapolis lawyer for Barker & Daniels, will be introduced today at a press conference on the 12th Floor of the Hesburgh Library. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:43:42 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291124 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291124 Jack Swarbrick will be introduced as Notre Dame's new AD today. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 10:03:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291112 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291112 Every once in awhile you hear someone talk about the coaching fraternity. Now we have actual proof that there is indeed one in the college football ranks. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:24:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291090 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291090 Surprise, surprise! After most people compiled a list of well-known, popular names of Notre Dame athletic director candidates, apparently, the University of Notre Dame will name someone that no one had on their list. In an announcement that could come as early as Wednesday, Notre Dame will name Indianapolis attorney, Jack Swarbrick, as the next athletic director. Swarbrick will replace departed, and now, Duke athletic director, Kevin White. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:51:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290704 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290704 Look at these dorks of College Football! Pretty scary if you ask me. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:49:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290632 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290632 Fantasy options aren't abundant with the Independents, but fantasy owners can find a few players for their 2008 roster. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:50:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290178 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/290178