Sugar Bowl Final Thoughts:
What it looked like when Notre Dame pulled back to curtain on a victorious locker room
Should we start tracking TFL margin?
How Mike Denbrock called the game the Irish needed, even if it wasn't exactly the game he wanted.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/603...
Marcus Freeman spent this season building belief. Not by talking about it. But by calling it.
How Notre Dame's head coach wired the Irish to (potentially) win on Wednesday night.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/602...
🚨🎙️The Independent🎙️🚨
Our Sugar Bowl preview will record at 8:30 p.m. eastern on Monday from New Orleans. And you can join @Matt_Fortuna and myself on the show.
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Worth noting from Notre Dame's Saturday morning practice. Rocco Spindler was back taking reps at right guard with the 1st-team offensive line. The senior missed the second half of the Indiana game with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by red-shirt freshman Sam Pendleton.
Xavier Watts has officially been named a consensus All-American, making him Notre Dame's first two-time consensus All-American since Aaron Taylor in 1992-93.
With Notre Dame's big moment finally here, where do the Irish need to win on Friday night to take the first step in a potential College Football Playoff run?
Three keys, one prediction.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/600...
🚨🎙️The Independent🎙️🚨
RETURN OF THE TUNA: The pod welcomes back Matt Fortuna as Tim Murray joins to preview Notre Dame-Indiana, talk Marcus Freeman's extension and recap Pete Bevacqua's bold push for a title.
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Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0Dlx...
Pete Bevacqua says both he and coach Marcus Freeman are "maniacally obsessed" with winning a national championship. Notes he wanted to get the extension done before the CFP. Adds Notre Dame is committed to maintaining its investment in assistant coach pay.
Pete Bevacqua said his expectations for the atmosphere for Notre Dame vs. Indiana are similar to the atmosphere for Notre Dame vs. Florida State in 1993, which he attended the fall after his graduation.
Pete Bevacqua asked about Marcus Freeman's contract extension, specifically if there's language pertaining to Ohio State or the NFL.
"There are no carve outs"
Pete Bevacqua said the House Settlement is on Notre Dame's mind "constantly" Asked if ND will participate fully and how much will go to football.
"We will absolutely meet the cap."
Believes the cap will be $20.5 million.
"A large portion of that will be dedicated to football."
Kicker Mitch Jeter hit 4-of-6 field goals, with both misses beyond 40 yards. One hit the upright. Also difficult to get a great read on his status, although Notre Dame insists he’s fine to kick versus Indiana.
Watched some of Jeremiyah Love, who took reps behind Jadarian Price (usually that’s the other way around). Hard to get a read on how healthy he is (or isn’t) in light work.
Media got a glimpse of Notre Dame practice on Monday.
Of note, Charles Jagusah returned and took some light reps at left guard.
CJ Carr remains limited. Didn’t participate in throwing beyond short toss in warmups. When the other three QBs threw outs and posts, Carr stood aside.
Every football season has an arc. But few of those arcs rise, fall and rise quite like Notre Dame's did. How Marcus Freeman put the pieces back together after the season's worst lost, a rebuilding job headed for the College Football Playoff.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/599...
Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame have agreed to a new six-year contract that will make Freeman among the highest paid coaches in college football yet to win a national title.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/599...
Marcus Freeman says "this is as close as he's been to where he was before he got hurt." on Mitch Jeter. Confident the Irish kicker is on the mend after a difficult November. Jeter has struggled since the hip/groin injury suffered against Stanford.
Marcus Freeman lists Howard Cross, Jeremiyah Love and Devyn Ford as "available" for Indiana.
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is a Broyles Award finalist alongside ASU OC Marcus Arroyo, Tennessee DC Tim Banks, Indiana DC Bryant Haines and Texas DC Pete Kwiatkowski.
Marcus Freeman was named one of nine finalists for Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year.
Other finalists:
Shane Beamer
Curt Cignetti
Spencer Danielson
Kenny Dillingham
Dan Lanning
Rhett Lashlee
Jeff Monken
Kirby Smart
I think 1990.
The first NBC game every was actually against ... Indiana
Notre Dame will open the College Football Playoff at home against Indiana, with the winner to face Georgia in the quarterfinals (likely the Sugar Bowl).
Calling my shot.
Indiana at Notre Dame on Dec. 21.
Winner faces Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
There’s no way the CFP committee can take Alabama over SMU after tonight. Come on, people.
They would drop from the 6 seed to the 7 seed
They always do something like that. Believe last year’s MVP was Sam Hartman.
Penn State giving a solid account of itself. Texas lost in overtime. That’s feels like enough where Notre Dame will be the No. 7 seed on Sunday … which probably means Indiana heading up US 31?
The winners of The Echoes from Notre Dame’s season-ending awards banquet.
Boise State is in.
What does that mean for Notre Dame’s first round outlook?
Glad you asked.
Here’s a choose-your-own-adventure approach to figuring out who the Irish will host in the College Football Playoff based on championship weekend.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/597...
Still getting in the routine!