News / notre dame

Today Notre Dame football with the help of Under Armour revealed their throwback "1988 uniforms" for Senior Day which will be worn November 12th versus Boston College.

To send off our seniors, we’re going back to ’88... and adding some modern flare. 💥

More: https://t.co/7dL9FKEQIk#GoIrish ☘️ #CFB150 pic.twitter.com/TPZFfLerYV

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 13, 2019

Tradition never graduates.

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of college football with an '88 throwback: https://t.co/7dL9FKnfQM#GoIrish ☘️ #CFB150 pic.twitter.com/aurS7nPno7

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 13, 2019

You can't go wrong with the traditional Notre Dame BLUE and GOLD for an "alternate" jersey.  I like the mesh look of the jerseys with the white and gold numbers.  The mesh look brings back memories of Chris Zorich and Michael Stonebreaker terrorizing backfields in the late 80's. 

The black Under Armour shoes look awesome to go along with the GOLD pants.  Thank you for getting the gold right on the pants Under Armour.  It's key to have the shine of the Golden Dome match the pants in my opinion.  The helmets are the same gold as the Dome so now we got a complete uniform that matches.

In conclusion I love these alternate '88 throwback jerseys.  It's a traditional look with modern technology.  The patch commemorating 150 years of college football looks sharp and not out of place.

It's Captain Book now! #BookIt Shirt https://t.co/aaChPyclxA

— SportsCrack Apparel (@sportscrack) August 11, 2019

If Notre Dame wants to make these the permanent uniforms and not just the Senior Day edition I don't think you would get much blow back from Notre Dame alumni and fans.  Just a hint.

If interested you can purchase the #12 1988 Throwback style Notre Dame jersey here.

#12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Under Armour College Football 150th Anniversary Replica Jersey - Navy https://t.co/nqZdAUybKs

— SportsCrack Apparel (@sportscrack) August 13, 2019

And to be honest I'm glad they didn't bring out green jerseys for Boston College.  I still have recurring nightmares from 2002 with Ryan Grant and Pat Dillingham fumbling away an undefeated season in those bright green uniforms.

How about this alternate shirt for Senior Day vs BC?
BACKUP COLLEGE SHIRT https://t.co/GrEzujmkwd

— SportsCrack Apparel (@sportscrack) August 13, 2019

Just three days ago Notre Dame safety Derrik Allen announced he would be leaving Notre Dame immediately while seeking a transfer.  The redshirt freshman today announced he would be going back to his home state with the Georgia Tech winning his transfer services.

#TogetherWeSwarm🐝🐝 pic.twitter.com/T77yzFsskb

— Derrik Allen (@DsmoothAllen) August 12, 2019

Allen, the former 4-star recruit who was rated one of the best prospects in the 2018 Notre Dame class, will have to sit out a season despite red shirting last year.

Allen decided to part ways with Notre Dame one week into fall camp because he wasn't in the 2-deep at a stacked safety position.  At the time Allen was seen as the 5th option behind starters Alohi Gilman and Jalen Elliott.  Last week saw freshman sensation Kyle Hamilton make an immediate impact at the safety position in practice to vault Allen on the depth chart.  To see a fellow Georgia peach product in Hamilton immediately jump you on the depth chart had to be jarring for Allen.

My honest assessment of Allen coming out of high school was that he would probably outgrow the safety position.  Allen's frame (6'1 and 205 lbs) looked like it would fill out to a linebacker in the near future.  During Allen's redshirt season he gained the "freshman 15" to put him around 220 which in today's game is too big for safety.  I'd be surprised if he sticks at safety in college.

While Notre Dame loses a player who could have easily made the 2-deep next season with the impending graduations of Gilman and Elliott Georgia Tech picks up another big time recruit.  First year GT head coach Geoff Collins has been looking into locking down the "404" area code in Atlanta which is where Allen is from (Marietta's Lassiter High School).  Allen will get his chance to play vs the Blue and Gold in 2020 when Notre Dame travels to Atlanta to play Tech in the Mercedez Benz Stadium.  Allen will also get a chance to play in Notre Dame Stadium when Tech travels to South Bend the following season.

Tailgate Like A Champion  Shirt: Buy Here!

Touchdown Jesus.
The Golden Dome.
The Leprechaun.

Notre Dame Traditions will debut this fall, focusing on the rich history of the @FightingIrish. pic.twitter.com/YWkEOJ7og1

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) August 1, 2019

Notre Dame football is so big it now needs to be covered by two networks: NBC and now the ACC Network.

The ACC Network starts in 3 weeks and will feature Notre Dame road game in Louisville and Duke. It will also feature original Notre Dame programs focusing on some of the traditions and history of the football program.  Not bad for an irrelevant independent football program.

Buy the official Tailgate Like A Champion Touchdown Jesus Shirt

Buy the official Just Book It Shirt

We’re going under the lights in Athens. ⁰

We’ve selected @NDFootball vs. @FootballUGA as our primetime game on September 21st. pic.twitter.com/bqutImz7iF

— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) July 23, 2019

CBS Network made it official today what we already basically knew.  The September 21st match up between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Georgia Bulldogs will be in prime time at 8 pm EST on CBS.

This will be the first ever trip for Notre Dame to Athens to play in Sanford Stadium.  It's obviously gonna be big ticket game with a potential match up of two top 5 teams at kickoff. 

In order to make this is a prime time game CBS had to decide not to air it's annual Alabama vs LSU game in early November at night and will instead be a traditional 3:30 kickoff.  This will be the first time since 2010 the game between the two SEC West rivals isn't under the lights.

One can only imagine how loud and ruckus the game day atmosphere in Athens is going to be for this college football powerhouse matchup by the time kickoff hits.  You have a team in Notre Dame coming off their first ever playoff appearance and undefeated regular season visiting "between the hedges" for the first time vs a Georgia team who were a couple of plays away from beating Alabama last season in the SEC Championship.  Both programs have veteran offensive lines to protect their quarterbacks in Ian Book and Jake Fromm whom both will be looking to make an early Heisman statement.

I'll go out on a limb and say this will be the most watched game of the 2019 college football season.  Hell it might be the most watched game in all of sports minus the NFL.  Anytime you got a powerhouse from the North going into the South to face another powerhouse for the first time ever you know all eyes will be on this game.

Domers vs Dawgs.  See you there!

ORDER THE OFFICIAL DOMERS VS DAWGS T-SHIRT HERE

LOTS of questions here at Media Day about the Alabama remarks about Clemson/Clemson not getting its credit. John Simpson says Notre Dame -not Bama- was the best team Clemson played.

— Grace Raynor (@gmraynor) July 17, 2019

I would say this shuts the door on all those people (media and UGA football players) who insisted Notre Dame didn't deserve a playoff spot last year despite being 12-0.

Clemson offensive guard John Simpson played against both Notre Dame and Alabama in the playoffs last year.  I'll take Simpson's words at the ACC Media Days over which was the best team Clemson played last season over the pollsters and media.

If you don't remember the final polls came out after the playoffs.  For some illogical reason Notre Dame didn't even finish in the top 4 despite losing only one game to the eventual champs who absolutely throttled Alabama 44-16.  If you don't remember that final National Championship game score we made a shirt for you to remind everybody.

But yet Notre Dame finished 5th despite making the playoffs and losing only one game.  They dropped from 3rd because Oklahoma who despite getting throttled by Alabama in the semifinals and finishing the season with two losses and Ohio State who beat a dog shit PAC 12 team in the Rose Bowl and got throttled themselves by fucking Iowa in the regular season both jumped ND.  It was horse shit then and it's still horse shit now.

It's good to see Clemson players doing the classy thing and give Notre Dame the props and respect they deserve.  Look I get it a lot of people hate Notre Dame.  You either love them or hate them.  There really is no Switzerland in between when it comes to Notre Dame football.  But you gotta respect how Notre Dame will schedule anybody, anywhere and go 12-0 while traveling all around the country and making their players actually go to class unlike most other programs.

View this post on Instagram

Why look who made the national coverage of Lindy’s College Football preview magazine...none other than @alohi_g aka “Admiral Crunch”!!!! ☘️🏈 #goirish☘️ #notredamefootball

A post shared by SportsCrack LLC (@sportscrack) on May 14, 2019 at 9:54am PDT

Notre Dame senior safety Alohi Gilman has earned a spot as one of the covers of this year's Lindy's Sports College Football Preview Magazines. The Naval Academy transfer was such a huge hit for the Notre Dame defense last season in helping lead the Fighting Irish to their first CFB playoff berth ever in 2018 it was impossible to ignore the Hawaiian product for the cover.

Gilman aka "Admiral Crunch" was recently named the 27th best college football  player returning in 2019 by Athlon Sports.  If Notre Dame is to get back to the playoffs it is expected of Gilman (#1 ranked safety) to be a defensive captain not only on the field but off it.  Last season Gilman earned Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week honors after his performance vs Syracuse (2 INTs) and finished the season with 76 total tackles after making 12 starts.

You can order your own Lindy's Sports 2019 College Football preview magazine here.

Also if you want to wear one of our original "Admiral Crunch" t-shirts be sure to visit our SportsCrack.com store page.

The Fighting Irish will be looking to get back to the playoffs in 2019, but will have to replace several key players off of last year's 12-1 team. With spring practice half way through I take a look at 5 players who are primed to breakout into their own.

Here are five breakout candidates for Notre Dame football as the Fighting Irish continue to work through spring practice in preparation for the 2019 season.

5. WR Braden Lenzy

The old adage is speed kills and that's exactly what Lenzy could help bring the Fighting Irish WR core this spring.  Lenzy is a rising sophomore who came to Notre Dame to also run track but his focus this spring has been all football.

I’ve decided to focus all my time on football in preparation for spring time... I will always love track, but I feel this is best for my short term and long term goals athletically! #GoIrish ☘️

— Braden Lenzy (@blspeedy21) January 19, 2019

Lenzy came into Notre Dame last season as a 4-star WR and the No. 10 athlete in the nation.  He did not get any playing time his freshman season as he arrived at Notre Dame weighing 160 lbs soaking wet.  With Miles Boykin, Chase Claypool and Chris Finke all entrenched as starters with experience at wide out last season it looked like it was going to be more of the same going into the playoffs and into 2019 with all of them having a year of eligibility left. 

But then the Cotton Bowl 30-3 massacre vs Clemson happened and it became painfully obvious that Notre Dame was missing elite play making skill players who can stretch the field that teams like Clemson have in abundance.  Shortly after the season Boykin decided to declare for the NFL Draft and thus we have an open WR spot for Lenzy to grab this spring.

Lenzy has the speed to stretch the field and the Matt Balis training table is already paying off as reports are Lenzy has bulked up to 180 lbs without losing any of his fast twitch, explosive playmaking skills.  Early reports out of spring camp indicate Lenzy will be competing with rising junior Michael Young for a starting X WR position opposite Claypool and Finke. 

If Lenzy can grasp the playbook I think he can make a huge jump going into his sophomore season much like Will Fuller did in 2014 and Golden Tate in 2008 who both broke out with huge seasons.  I know his QB Ian Book would love to use a weapon of Lenzy's skills and speed to make things easier on him as would all Fighting Irish fans.

4. TE Cole Kmet

Tight End U hasn't exactly been tight end u these last few seasons with production dipping pretty much every season since Tyler Eifert was a first round pick in 2013.  Kmet is going to get a huge opportunity here to turn the tide and make the TE a feared weapon again for the Fighting Irish.

Alize Mack left for the NFL draft this spring opening up the starting tight end spot.  While Alize was extremely talented he wasn't exactly reliable both on and off the field.  Kmet who stands at 6'6 with great reach is also a star lefty relief pitcher for the baseball team up until two weeks ago when he decided to shut it down and focus solely on football.  Like Lenzy deciding to skip track I think this could be huge for Kmet's development this spring and getting more repetitions with Book is never a bad thing.

Kmet, a rising junior, entered Notre Dame as a 4-star prospect and the #3 tight end in the nation.  He came into ND with fellow TE classmate Brock Wright who actually was the higher rated prospect at the time.  In his first two seasons at ND Kmet has only 17 catches for 176 yards and the next time he catches a TD will be the first of his collegiate career. 

Now is the time for Kmet to shine (whom offensive coordinator Chip Long calls one of those DUDES meaning he's a beast) and take that next step up as he is currently running on the first team ahead of Wright and restore the luster of Tight End U to it's rightful place in Notre Dame. 

3. RB Jafar Armstrong

Ok technically Armstrong did start last season in the opener vs Michigan and had a breakout game with two TD but hear me out here.  Armstrong was splitting carries with Tony Jones Jr before Dexter Williams returned from a 4-game suspension to take hold of the majority of the carries.

This season Armstrong, the converted 4-star WR out of high school, is expected to be the bellcow for the Fighting Irish backfield.  Armstrong possesses home run speed and since he played wide out he can also catch the ball out of the backfield.  If you remember Dexter for as good as he was running the ball had some of the worst stone hands thus preventing him from reaching his full potential. 

Armstrong can and should be the starting RB all season.  His game reminds me a lot of CJ Prosise who if you remember also converted from another position after his freshman season and then had a HUGE junior season for the 2015 squad.  I think Armstrong can be that exact back for Notre Dame this season and it all starts this spring. 

Armstrong is going to have every opportunity to start and he needs to take advantage of it by developing his game this spring and I think new RB coach Lance Taylor will help him do just that.

Purchase the Irish Mafia Shirt Here!

2. DT Jayson Ademilola

If he can continue to develop and stay healthy it wouldn't shock me to see him start over one of either MTA or Hinish in the season opener vs Louisville.  He's that good.

1. LB Jordan Genmark Heath

Genmark Heath aka the Swedish Black Guy is another guy that needs to have a huge spring to get a jump on the stacked linebacker competition which needs to replace starters Drue Tranquill and Te'von Coney.  

In other words no easy task replacing two guys who combined for over 200 tackles for the LEA-Gion of Doom Defense.

Genmark Heath, a rising junior, is a converted safety prospect who played linebacker for the first time last season.  He actually started for the injured Tranquill in the Northwestern game and more than held his own. He's accounted for 16 tackles each of his freshman and sophomore seasons so he has experience playing.  

Right now he's basically running on the 2nd team behind senior Asmar Bilal at the BUCK linebacker position.  Bilal is the only returning starting linebacker but I think Genmark Heath has the size, length, athleticism, and speed that DC Clark Lea loves to have at the BUCK position.  It wouldn't shock me with a great spring to see Genmark Heath take over the starting position.

Purchase the Tailgate Like A Champion Touchdown Jesus Shirt Here!

So proud you Chris! @chris_tyree4 Chris won States this weekend in the 55m dash. His time of 6.30 is currently the #1 time in the US!! Chris also placed 2nd in the LJ at states. Stay humble and keep grinding!! @milesplit @RivalsFriedman @SWiltfong247 @HamiltonESPN pic.twitter.com/bLUfWwRrvd

— Richard Tyree (@RichardTyree) February 25, 2019

The nation's top  2020 high school runningback, Chris Tyree out of Virginia, competed in his state's 55 meter dash this past weekend.  As you can see in his dad's clip on his Twitter page Tyree is smoking fast.  Elite fast.  Tyree not only smoked the competition but he ran a nation's best 6.3.  To put it in perspective that equates to running a 4.189 in the 40 yard dash.  Deion Sanders ran a 4.21 at the 1989 NFL Combine.  Does that mean Primetime wears Chris Tyree's pajamas?

Chris Tyree is the 6A 55m dash STATE CHAMPION! He is also currently ranked US #1 !!! pic.twitter.com/wEEMETHVz0

— Thomas Dale TF/XC (@TDKnightsTFXC) February 23, 2019

All joking aside Tyree has Olympic elite track speed that every college football program would love to have on their team.  Tyree has the speed you only see come around once in a while.  Bo Jackson had it.  Rocket Ismail had it and obviously Deion had it.  The question remains which college football team will be strutting out Tyree as a true freshman in 2020?

Right now Tyree has more than 31 D1 offers and that will only go up after this past weekend.  So far Tyree has visited Penn State and Happy Valley 5 times and they are seen as the early favorites for his commitment.  Coming in second with visits is the in-state Virginia Tech Hokies with 3.  Tyree recently visited Oklahoma in early February.  In December Tyree visited Notre Dame and is scheduled to return for an official to South Bend on June 21-23 with the whole family.  Michigan got a visit last month.  Alabama is getting a visit next month and FSU is pushing hard for Tyree's services.

Listed at 5'10 and 185 lbs Tyree isn't an every down back.  He's seen as an all-purpose back who can split out and catch the ball when not lining up in the backfield.  He's too small right now to be an every down back and will clearly need to bulk up in a college football weight program to take the beating on fall Saturdays.  With that being said Tyree is an elite RB who can change the fortunes of any football program.

If you watched the college football playoffs you could see the difference an elite freshman playmaker can have on a program.  Clemson used freshmen QB Trevor Lawrence and WR Justyn Ross (both 5-Stars) to shred both Notre Dame and Alabama defenses in route to a perfect 15-0 record and a National Championship.  Without those two true freshmen Clemson would probably be home shaking their heads about what could have been like the year before when they got smoked by Alabama in the playoffs.  Getting Tyree could be on the same level as getting a Ross out of Alabama was for Clemson.

The only team in the playoffs without those true game day play makers was Notre Dame.  Right now the Fighting Irish don't have an elite talent at RB on their roster.  Don't get me wrong they have some good backs in Jafar Armstrong and Tony Jones Jr but neither of those guys are "5-star can change a game with the ball in their hands" type of players.  Or as some would call them home run backs.  Which is why new ND RB coach Lance Taylor's #1 priority is to get Chris Tyree to sign his letter of intent for the Fighting Irish.  If Notre Dame wants to compete with the big boys in Alabama and Clemson they need to have a play maker with Tyree's speed on the field.  Taylor's recruiting prowess was a deciding factor for his hire because the man he replaced, Autry Denson, simply wasn't getting the recruiting job done by ND standards.

With about 10 months to go till signing day Tyree's recruitment is still wide open.  Penn State is the presumptive favorite but anyone from Alabama to Notre Dame to Oklahoma to Michigan to Virginia Tech could woo the top RB prospect in the nation.  Getting somebody with Tyree's speed could make the difference between not only a playoff appearance but actually winning the whole thing.  Just ask Dabo.

It's been a few years since they played but the heated college football rivalry that is Notre Dame vs Michigan is back in 2018 and has a new SportsCrack shirt: CATHOLICS VS KHAKIS!

The rivalry should only get more intense as Jim Harbaugh will enter his first time at Rock's House in the maize, blue and khakis as a head coach.  What better way to celebrate what should be a magical season for the Blue and Gold and kick off the season than with the official "Catholics versus Khakis" t-shirt.

A portion of all sales from the Catholics Vs Khakis shirts will go to the American Cancer Society.