Brian Kelly

Navy starting QB Kriss Proctor will not play against Notre Dame this Saturday.  Proctor injured his elbow during the 2nd quarter of Navy's loss to East Carolina last Saturday. Navy radio play-by-play announcer Bob Socci broke the news tonight on WSBT Radio AM960's Weekday Sportsbeat . Shortly after, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo confirmed the news. "Kriss has literally left his body on the field for this team," Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said on the university's website.

Sophomore QB Andrew Hendrix made the most triumphant debut for a Notre Dame QB since Ron Powlus' four-touchdown arrival in 1994. Before we go anointing Hendrix with two Heismans…let's not forget he's NOT the starter, and barring something unforeseen, he WON'T be at any point this season. But he absolutely should be a part of Notre Dame's game plan for the final six games. Hendrix has, what Tommy Rees doesn't: Speed. And speed kills in college football.  He was averaging 7 yards per carry BEFORE that 78 yard run raised the average to ridiculous!

He's a polite kid.   “Yes sir. " "No sir.” Gunnery Sergeant Hartman would be proud.  But Brian Kelly knows a different soldier. “If you met him off the field, he hasn't stopped talking", says Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly.   Robert Blanton dowplays the notion that he's a talker.  "No sir I don't talk that much. " That's the biggest change in Robert Blanton since he arrived on campus four years ago.  The guy who had a reputation for jawing both on & off the field…has left his on field talking, to his pads.   “I think I'm a leader" Blanton said.  "I try to  go out there and make plays.  Try to lead by example.  That's what every leader does.

Notre Dame fans have been waiting to see Aaron Lynch in action on a fall Saturday for a long time. The high school all american set the bar high, when he dominated the Blue Gold game as an INCOMING freshman. This past weekend, Lynch proved to be every bit as good as advertised. "He's an extremely genetically gifted young man, and he's got a desire to want to get to the quarterback", said Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.  "I think we all know he's extremely gifted.

SOUTH BEND -- It was the same Notre Dame as the first two weeks. Except this time, it was different. "I couldn't take it any longer," Irish coach Brian Kelly quipped, regarding all his team's faux pas. More fumbles on kick returns. But a kick-return touchdown. More turnovers by Irish quarterback Tommy Rees. But Notre Dame forced two as well. More shanked punts from Ben Turk. But he also landed one inside the MSU one yard-line.

On a team where turnovers are the biggest culprit, putting the ball in the hands of a sophomore quarterback on every play can be dangerous.  But that's the path Notre Dame is on.  Tommy Rees looked really good at times, during his first start of the year Saturday.  He also committed three costly turnovers.    "Obviously I forced some balls here and there", Rees said of his performance in Notre Dame's 35-31 loss...

According to Brian Kelly , “We're not good enough.” That's right. Good teams don't beat themselves. Notre Dame has done it twice in two weeks. I'm still having a hard time grasping how things fell apart so quickly for Notre Dame down the stretch in Ann Arbor. For three quarters, Notre Dame made Michigan look more like a MAC team, than the winningest program in college football. So how did it all go wrong? The better question, may be why? For all of Notre Dame's positives two games into the season (and they are plentiful)

After taking 48 hours to get over the utter disbelief in what I saw...and to dry out...I've come to the conclusion that Notre Dame's loss to South Florida on Saturday isn't necessarily as bad as it seems. I still can't believe how poorly the Irish played on Saturday. But that's just it.  They played BAD, but they're not a bad team. Compare this squad to the one four years ago, when it was obvious after one week that Notre Dame might not win a game before Halloween (they started 1-9)

Drop. Contain. Seal the corner. Full-speed rush. Every call's different. Every snap's a challenge. Roll the dice. Darius Fleming understands the risk. He acknowledges the reward. Every Saturday, the stakes are high. Moving targets add a whole new dimension to the test Fleming and his Notre Dame football teammates will encounter Saturday against South Florida. Fleming, a 6-foot-2, 255-pound senior, is a significant reason why the Irish defense should be effective this season.

SOUTH BEND -- Theo Riddick is listed as a wide receiver on Notre Dame's roster. But that's just where it begins. He'll also be the team's punt returner, and one of the kickoff returners too.      He's also taking reps in practice at his old position, running back, just in case the Irish - who are thin on depth there - need him to fill in. But no matter where Riddick lines up this season, Notre Dame's plan to use him is clear....