IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Five Telling Stats From Notre Dame-Syracuse” – Blue and Gold Illustrated

File Photo of Word of Life Stone Mural Mosaic, Featuring Christ with Arms Upraised, On the Hesburgh Memorial Library at Notre Dame

7 points on special teams …. Notre Dame is now one of 20 teams in the country to have a kickoff return for a touchdown …. Notre Dame allowed Syracuse to convert just 20 percent of its third downs …. 5 touchdowns of 50-plus yards …. 4.5 yards per play allowed on first down in the second half …. 1

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Notre Dame-Syracuse 2016: What the Irish Learned” – und.com

Saint Joseph's Lake with Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the Distance

1. The Notre Dame defense made progress … 2. Back to work. … Kelly made good on his promise to play more people, as an amazing 27 players were credited with tackles …. forcing nine Syracuse punts — four times on three-and-out …. 3. What a wild start. … five consecutive touchdowns to open the contest — and Notre Dame’s

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK notredame.247sports: “Some thoughts on Notre Dame’s victory over Syracuse”

File Photo of Word of Life Stone Mural Mosaic, Featuring Christ with Arms Upraised, On the Hesburgh Memorial Library at Notre Dame

“The worst is behind Notre Dame … Notre Dame didn’t do everything it wanted defensively, but it was clearly improved. … The wide receiver position is going to be strong for years to come …. Kizer is pretty incredible, but not perfect …. Young guys played well …”  

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK uhnd: “Beyond the Boxscore: Notre Dame Struggling on 3rd Down”

File Photo of Football on Turf with Yardlines

“The Notre Dame offense did struggle on third down, which sounds strange considering that their first effort here resulted in a 67-yard touchdown pass. The problem was that after that, they managed to move the chains just two of the 11 remaining times. Plus, their one fourth down effort near the goal line failed. The worst effort in this category

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Kizer shines in Irish win” – notredame.247sports

Golden Dome in Bright Sunlight

…. Kizer, who has ascended to the top of most NFL draft analysts’ lists of the top draft-eligible quarterbacks next spring, went 23-for-35 and threw three touchdown passes in the win. His 465 passing yards was the third-highest single-game mark in program history —J oe Theismann holds the record of 524—and the 6-foot-5, 235-pound signal-caller rushed for another score too.

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Sunday Brunch: Kelly Demands a Little Fun—and Gets It” – und.com/John Heisler

File Photo of Football on Turf with Yardlines

As much as tackling and coverage and pass rush all played key roles, Irish coach Brian Kelly had maybe more interest in ensuring his players enjoyed themselves. … That’s what comes from a 50-33 triumph over Syracuse in East Rutherford, New Jersey. … inside the locker room, there was hooting … hollering … dancing. … shouting and laughing. If Kelly

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Why Notre Dame fans have no reason to panic; The Irish didn’t just beat Syracuse Saturday. They took a major step in the right direction in doing so” – Fox Sports

Saint Joseph's Lake with Golden Dome and Basilica of the Sacred Heart in the Distance

Fox Sports noted improvement and a greater sense of urgency in Notre Dame’s defense in the Irish victory over Syracuse. … It wasn’t a perfect performance … that’s OK. Saturday proved Notre Dame is still a work in progress, and there’s nothing wrong with that. … the Irish’s much maligned defense looked, well, better on Saturday. … after giving up

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Notre Dame’s re-energized defense holds off Syracuse” – South Bend Tribune

Football Next to Football Field

… Notre Dame defensive players, bullied on the field and bashed off it for the first four weeks of the season, single-mindedly pushed for new defensive coordinator Greg Hudson to sing the Fight Song in the jubilant postgame aftermath of Saturday’s 50-33 subduing of Syracuse …. ‘He brought an energy to the team, a new type of leadership,’ Notre Dame

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Notre Dame finds a fix in week of chaos” – South Bend Tribune ND Insider

Football on Turf Near Yard Marker

…. A firing. A defensive overhaul. A 1-3 record. A crisis of confidence and execution. … the Irish persevered. … As the top executive in the Notre Dame athletic department, athletic director Jack Swarbrick had a vested stake in the upheaval. Kelly said he came to Swarbrick with his decision to fire VanGorder …. ‘My message, publicly and privately, is

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK uhnd: “Post Game 6-Pack: Notre Dame Squeezes the Orange”

File Photo of Football on Turf with Yardlines

“Notre Dame got back on the win column Saturday with a 50-33 victory over the Orange from Syracuse. It wasn’t always pretty and the Irish were still sloppy in some areas, but after the loss to Duke, any win feels great. The Irish now sit at 2-3 and for at least a week, Rome isn’t burning.”

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Notre Dame Bounces Back” – Blue and Gold Illustrated

Golden Dome in Bright Sunlight

Blue and Gold Illustrated reports on Notre Dame’s defensive improvement against Syracuse, following a change in defensive coordinators. … though the 50-33 #NotreDame win over Syracuse … featured plenty of room for improvement on defense, it was a step in the right direction. Syracuse’s high-powered offense started fast …. But some halftime adjustments proved crucial, and the Irish limited the

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Notre Dame trying to simplify its defense” – Chicago Tribune

File Photo of Word of Life Stone Mural Mosaic, Featuring Christ with Arms Upraised, On the Hesburgh Memorial Library at Notre Dame

… Brian Kelly somewhat simplif[ied] Notre Dame’s defense since he dismissed defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder … [he also played] a lot of freshmen. … Troy Pride Jr. became the 13th freshman to play for Notre Dame this season, a high for Kelly since he joined the Irish in 2010. Pride was one of four freshmen in Notre Dame’s secondary at

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK und.com: “Brian Kelly Sunday Teleconference Transcript”

“… We’ve just got to get back out there. We’ve got a lot of things to work on from this weekend. Obviously we’ve got to get the points down. It’s too many points we left this weekend. From my standpoint, we’ve got to be a little bit more effective in our four-minute offense and running the football.”

» Read more

IRISH VIDEO: Inside Notre Dame Football – Syracuse Recap, Looking Ahead to North Carolina State

"We're # 1" Moses Sculpture at Notre Dame

Brian Kelly and Jack Nolan recap the Irish victory over Syracuse and look ahead to Notre Dame’s upcoming game at North Carolina State.   A Make-A-Wish Foundation wish is fulfilled; and there are some closer looks at some Notre Dame players.

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Equanimeous St. Brown pads Notre Dame receiving numbers” – South Bend Tribune NDInsider

Golden Dome in Bright Sunlight

St. Brown padded his team-leading totals with four more catches, 182 more yards and two long touchdowns in a 50-33 squashing of Syracuse Saturday at MetLife Stadium. … with 25 for 541 and six scores on the season, the owner of one career catch coming into this season is ahead of [Will] Fuller’s All-America pace of last season. … The

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Kizer covers for shaky D as Notre Dame beats Syracuse 50-33” – AP/Chicago Daily Herald

File Photo of Word of Life Stone Mural Mosaic, Featuring Christ with Arms Upraised, On the Hesburgh Memorial Library at Notre Dame

Notre Dame will count this as progress after a week of upheaval and adjustments for a beleaguered defense. … Notre Dame tightened up its tackling and held Syracuse to seven points in the second half, and DeShone Kizer made up for most of the Irish’s ills with one of the best passing games in school history. … a career-best 471

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK Blue and Gold Illustrated: “Notre Dame Beats Syracuse”

"We're # 1" Moses Sculpture at Notre Dame

“… Notre Dame had its first win since Sept. 10 against Nevada. … Kizer finished … with a career-high 456 yards on 23 of 35 passing for three TDs and one interception. He also ran for a touchdown. Both teams were inefficient on third down — Notre Dame was 3-for-13 and Syracuse was 3-for-14. Notre Dame ran 78 plays for

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK und.com/AP: “Giant Step Forward In The Meadowlands; Notre Dame offense explodes, defense improves in 50-33 victory over Syracuse”

File Photo of Football on Turf with Yardlines

The University of Notre Dame football team (2-3) blew by Syracuse (2-3) with 657 yards of offense in a 50-33 victory in front of 62,794 spectators at MetLife Stadium 62,794 in East Rutherford, N.J. … Junior DeShone Kizer completed 23 of 35 passes for 471 yards and three touchdowns to key the Irish offense, while the defense steadied the ship

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK: Notre Dame vs. Syracuse live box score – ESPN

Football Next to Football Field

Notre Dame Passing C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT DeShone Kizer 4/4 170 42.5 2 0 TEAM 4/4 170 42.5 2 0 Syracuse Passing C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT Eric Dungey 7/9 127 14.1 1 0 TEAM 7/9 127 14.1 1 0 Notre Dame Rushing CAR YDS AVG TD LONG Josh Adams 6 28 4.7 0 11 TEAM 6 28 4.7

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK und.com: Notre Dame Football radio affiliates

File Photo of Word of Life Stone Mural Mosaic, Featuring Christ with Arms Upraised, On the Hesburgh Memorial Library at Notre Dame

Albany NY WJIV 101.9 FM Albuquerque NM KIVA 1600 AM Allentown PA WPEN 97.5 FM Atlanta GA WCFO 1160 AM Atlanta GA WMLB 1690 AM Baltimore MD WSPZ 570 AM Baltimore MD WTEM 980 AM Bernardston MA WJIV-tr 105.5 FM Boston MA WBZ 98.5 FM

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Notre Dame-Syracuse 2016: Yet Another Challenge for Irish Defense” – und.com/John Heisler

File Photo of Football on Turf with Yardlines

… the fast-paced Orange offense ranks seventh nationally (and leads the Atlantic Coast Conference) in averaging 371.8 passing yards per game (and also averages 496.5 yards in total offense per week). … [the] new Irish defensive coordinator is Greg Hudson. … Bank on plenty of eyeballs being affixed to the action at MetLife when the Irish defense takes the field.

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK und.com: “Notre Dame Football Game Week – Notre Dame vs. Syracuse”

Met Life Stadium File Photo

All-Time: Notre Dame leads 4-3 … Under Brian Kelly: Notre Dame leads 1-0 … Last Five Games: Syracuse leads 3-2 … At Neutral Sites: Tied 1-1 … In East Rutherford, N.J.: Notre Dame leads 1-0 … First Meeting: ND 20, Syracuse 0 at SU in 1914 … Last Meeting: #8 ND 31, Syracuse 15 in East Rutherford, N.J., in 2014

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Irish247 Staff Predictions: Syracuse Game” – Irish247

Football on Turf Near Yard Marker

ND travels to Syracuse (2-2) for a noon kickoff where Dino Babers and his fast-paced offense are waiting. … Notre Dame comes in [a] 10.5 points favorite … Syracuse runs an average of 86 plays per game, has the best passing offense Notre Dame has faced and boasts one of the nation’s best wide receivers. Syracuse shouldn’t have troubling scoring

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Notre Dame vs. Syracuse: Game Preview, Prediction and Players to Watch” – Bleacher Report

Met Life Stadium File Photo

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will attempt to salvage a disappointing 2016 campaign when they challenge the Syracuse Orange in a neutral-site tilt …at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Syracuse’s (2-2) uptempo offense poses a legitimate threat to a team that just fired its defensive coordinator. Earning a victory would jump-start Dino Babers’ rebuild at the school. Click

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Game Preview: Syracuse” – Blue and Gold Illustrated

Football Next to Football Field

This season, Syracuse is running plays at the fastest clip in FBS, averaging 93 plays a game through three weeks, which is predicated on better conditioned players. … Sophomore quarterback Eric Dungey — a 6-foot-3, 207-pound native of Lake Oswego, Ore. — leads the speed-based attack. His top target has been … [r]edshirt-senior Amba Etta-Tawo, a graduate transfer from Maryland

» Read more

IRISH NEWSLINK und.com: “Brian Kelly Syracuse Preview Press Conference Transcript”

File Photo of Football on Turf with Yardlines

Obviously, we’ve had a very busy few hours, few days, and looking forward to getting back out on the practice field. For coaches, that’s the best place for us to get to work on our football team, and it will give us an opportunity to, you know, to begin to put our football team in the best position that we

» Read more

IRISH NEWSWATCH: “Irish, Syracuse To Kick at Noon ET Network (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2) designation will be finalized following games of Sept. 24”

Met Life Stadium File Photo

UND.com reports: The NotreDame-Syracuse football game to be played Oct. 1 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will kick off at Noon ET. The game will air on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. The specific network designation will be finalized following the games of Sept. 24.  

» Read more