Notre Dame Reaction: Blog One Foot Down hoping for offensive improvement

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 4-0 and shooting up the polls, but the staff over at Notre Dame blog One Foot Down are not totally happy with how the team looks. The Irish have been buoyed by a great defense, but aside from a big opening day win over Navy, the offense has struggled. In dissecting Notre Dame's 13-6 win over the Michigan Wolverines, the focus was on why the offense is struggling so much:

Losing the most prolific receiver in program history

Starting a redshirt freshman at quarterback

New position coaches and a "new" offensive coordinator

A star running back who was suspended for the first two games and can't seem to keep himself out of the coaches' doghouse

A killer defense that negates the need to put up a lot of points

Inconsistent offensive line play and bad run blocking in general

Head over to One Foot Down to see some very detailed breakdowns of Notre Dame's offensive line, why they are struggling, and how the problems can be fixed.

Jamoris Slaughter Injury: 6th Season Unlikely For Notre Dame Safety

Lost for the season with a torn Achilles in Saturday's monumental victory over Michigan State, Notre Dame safety Jamoris Slaughter does not appear headed for a sixth year of eligibility according to the South Bend Tribune.

Irish head coach Brian Kelly spoke about his injured safety on Tuesday at his weekly press conference, but did not sound confident that the program would explore a sixth year of eligibility for Slaughter. "It doesn't appear so," Kelly said. "We're still kind of vetting through all that."

A 6'1, 200-pound safety, Slaughter chose to redshirt as a true freshman and appeared to be entering his fifth and final year of eligibility this fall. While it's quite possible that the NCAA would rule in his favor if both he and the Irish decided to file paperwork for a sixth year, it's clear that Kelly isn't entirely thrilled about using up a roster spot on Slaughter just yet.

Head over to One Foot Down for more Notre Dame football coverage, and check out SB Nation's college football hub for more news and analysis from around the country.

Notre Dame Football Reaction: Irish Finally Get Big Win

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish got their best win in years on Saturday when they beat the Michigan State Spartans 20-3 in East Lansing, Mich. Over at Notre Dame blog One Foot Down, Eric Murtaugh knows how big this was for the Irish:

Notre Dame did it. They finally won the big game, at night, on the road, in prime time, as the underdog against a highly ranked top 10 opponent. That breaks a streak of 9 straight losses to teams in the AP top 10 and ends Michigan State's long home winning streak.

Murtaugh praised the Irish up and down the roster, focusing most of his praise on the defense, particularly the line:

From start to finish, this was the best performance by an Irish defensive line against a top team in many, many years.

Murtaugh was a little tougher on the offense, and would love if coach Brian Kelly could find a way to get the ball to Davonte Neal:

My only gripe would be to try to get Davonte' Neal the ball more. I believe he only has two touches this season and none in the past two. He's seeing the field a lot but he's so electric I'd hate to waste football games without him doing something on offense.

But a small complaint in an otherwise glowing review of the Notre Dame game. Murtaugh even allows himself to get a bit over-excited in his analysis:

This one just feels different because the offense went 1 for 14 on third down and we were okay with that because the defense was playing like the '66 title team.

Notre Dame will test its defense again when they host Denard Robinson and the Michigan Wolverines on Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

For more on Notre Dame football, check out One Foot Down.

Notre Dame QB Everett Golson Turns Into Effective Game Manager Vs. Michigan State

Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson didn't light up the Michigan State secondary on Saturday, but he didn't turn the ball over, either. The latter helped the Irish earn the 20-3 victory over the Spartans in East Lansing, Mich.

Golson made it two straight games without an interception, and he has earned the "game manager" title in the process. While completing 14/32 passes, as Golson did against Michigan State, isn't going to sustain many drives, no interceptions helps eliminate easy scoring opportunities for the oppositon.

Irish head coach Brian Kelly spoke with reporters about Golson, according to CSNChicago.com:

"He did some really good things, but we've got a long way to go," Kelly said of Golson. "He needs to continue to stay on task, Everett, and continue to develop each and every week. There are a lot of things. We are so far from where we need to be offensively. I think a lot of it is just in the stuff that we're doing right now. We don't need to extend the playbook any deeper."

Golson has completed 58 percent of his passes for 611 yards and three touchdowns, compared to just one interception. His 7.5 yards per attempt is not spectacular, but certainly average, and average is all Notre Dame needs from Golson right now.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

AP Top 25 Rankings: Notre Dame Jumps Up To No. 11

The new AP Top 25 college football rankings have been released with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish skyrocketing up the list.

After a convincing win on the road against Michigan State, Notre Dame has moved to No. 11 in the AP rankings, up nine spots from last week. The No. 11 ranking is the highest ranking Notre Dame has received in the Brian Kelly era. Michigan State dropped from No. 10 to No. 21.

Alabama still holds the top spot after crushing the Arkansas Razorbacks, 52-0, Saturday. They received 58 of 60 first place votes with the other two votes going to the LSU Tigers.

USC fell from No. 2 to No. 13 after losing to Stanford. Stanford represents the biggest rankings mover, jumping 12 spots from No. 21 to No. 9.

The complete AP Top 25 college football rankings are as follows.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

Jamoris Slaughter Injury: Senior Safety Out For Season With Achilles Injury

University of Notre Dame strong safety Jamoris Slaughter is out for the remainder of the season after injuring his Achilles Saturday in the Fighting Irish's victory over the Michigan State Spartans, according to Irish Illustrated.

Slaughter left Saturday's game on the first play of the second half. He had to be helped off the field and put no weight on his injured Achilles. He was later seen on crutches and wearing a protective boot. Slaughter was replaced on defense by sophomore safety, Matthias Farley.

Slaughter, a senior, figured to play an important role in 2012 for the touted Fighting Irish defense. In his four year career at Notre Dame, Slaughter had amassed 98 total tackles, one forced fumble and two interceptions in 39 games. He had eight tackles already in three games this season, including two in the first half of Saturday's game.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

Notre Dame Vs. Michigan State 2012: A Win For Manti Te'o

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o experienced a tragic week off the field. His grandmother and girlfriend both died within 24 hours of each other, then a few days later he somehow found the strength to go lead the Notre Dame defense in a 20-3 win over Michigan State. Notre Dame blog One Foot Down tried to put into words what watching Te'o on the field meant:

We go to school, we go to work. We have good days and bad, good weeks and bad. Life sometimes goes our way, sometimes it doesn't. But usually, usually we get through the week just fine and ready to enjoy some Notre Dame football on Saturday. And we tune in tonight and we see Manti Te'o. A young man who had a worse week than most of us could imagine. And we see him play through immeasurable sadness. And we see him not just play, but lead--truly lead--his team into battle. And we know that the souls of his grandmother and girlfriend were with him. My thoughts and prayers go out to Te'o's and his girlfriend's families. My respect and gratitude go out to Te'o: warrior poet philosopher king.

Te'o finished with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery in the game.

For more information on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, check out One Foot Down

Notre Dame Vs. Michigan State: Irish Defense Dominates In 20-3 Win

Thanks to the Notre Dame defense, the Irish didn't need much out of the offense in a 20-3 win over No. 10 Michigan State Saturday.

The defense, led by linebacker Manti Te'o who had 12 tackles and a fumble recovery, shut down the Michigan State passing game, holding Andrew Maxwell to 23-for-45 passing for 187 yards. He was sacked 4 times and faced constant pressure all game long.

On offense, redshirt freshman quarterback Everett Golson made a couple of big plays — a 36-yard touchdown pass to John Goodman in the first quarter and a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter — and didn't turn the ball over. The running game, led by Cierre Woods, who returned from a two-game suspension to pick up 56 yards on 10 carries, did just enough to help the Irish pick up some key first downs late and keep the MSU offense off the field.

Notre Dame came into the game ranked No. 20 and will likely move up significantly in the polls as a result.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on Michigan State, visit The Only Colors.

Notre Dame LB Manti Te'o Deals With Multiple Tragedies

Over the last two weeks Irish LB Manti Te'o has been showing the kind of ability pundits see as they peg him to be a first round draft pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Tonight, however, is not a time to be thinking of the on-field success of Notre Dame's leading tackler.

To clarify #NotreDame LB Manti Te'o personal losses: Grandmother passed, then hours later, a close friend who was battling leukemia died.

— Brian Hamilton (@ChiTribHamilton) September 13, 2012

It's impossible to imagine what Te'o is going through. Losing a grandparent is difficult enough, especially for a young man under the immense pressure week in, week out that Manti is, but to compound this with losing a close friend is incomprehensible.

Currently there is no indication whether the 21-year-old senior will play in Saturday night's game against Michigan State, and it's too early to talk about the impact on the Irish if he's unable to play. All we can do is send our thoughts and wishes to Manti Te'o, and hope he gets through these tragedies as best he can.

For more information on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, check out One Foot Down

Notre Dame Vs. Michigan State: Irish Can Hold Le'Veon Bell Under 100 Yards, Says ND Blog One Foot Down

The No. 20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set to take on the No. 10 Michigan State Spartans on Saturday night, and most people think the key to an ND upset will be how well the front seven can limit Spartans running back Le'Veon Bell. In an interesting twist, Eric Murtaugh of Notre Dame blog One Foot Down ended his exhaustive preview of the matchup with predictions that the Irish can hold Bell under 100 yards rushing but that the Spartans will still prevail, 24-17. Here is a bit of what Murtaugh had to say:

I actually think the Irish will bottle Le'Veon Bell up and I'd be surprised if he gains over 100 yards (unless he's carrying the ball 30+ times) but their offense should do just enough to win teamed up with a nasty defense. Notre Dame should play well and compete, but there are too many indications pointing to a loss and I believed before the season that ND would split the Michigan games. An Irish win would be nothing short of momentous, especially given the recent history in these big games, but I don't see it happening this weekend.

There is much more to the preview than this short excerpt from the conclusion, so make sure to check out the complete article here.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on Michigan State, visit The Only Colors.

Notre Dame Football: Fighting Irish Secondary Faces Another Stiff Test From MSU

Twentieth-ranked Notre Dame looks to go 3-0 Saturday, but the Irish will have to upset No. 10 Michigan State to do so.

That's a tall order in East Lansing, even though both teams are 2-0 and have played at least one quality opponent. Notre Dame's defensive backfield will be tested by the Spartans, who will come with a balance offensive attack that is led by running back Le'Veon Bell but also feature a solid passing game.

Quarterback Andrew Maxwell, a junior who took over for departed NFL draft pick Kirk Cousins, has completed just over 60 percent of his passes for 523 yards and two touchdowns, but he has also thrown three interceptions. The Spartans will throw the ball downfield, though, as it helps set up the running game.

Maxwell has found good targets in wide receiver Bennie Fowler and tight end Dion Sims. Though Notre Dame has given up less than 200 yards a game through the air so far this season, it has not faced an offense this good with this kind of balance.

Game time is Saturday at 7 p.m. CT on ABC.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on Michigan State, visit The Only Colors.

Notre Dame Football: Irish Fans Are Pleased With Purdue Victory

Notre Dame is 2-0 to start the college football season after defeating Pudue, and they've moved up in the rankings to No. 20. There were struggles, but the folks over at One Foot Down seemed relatively happy with the team's performance:

In the end, it was nice to see the team gut out the win, especially with the injuries. Even with the poor line play and sacks the team still ended up +88 in total yard differential and had another positive turnover differential with zero interceptions. We'll see if the offense can address some of its issues when they travel to East Lansing this Saturday night---they'll need to in order to win.

Notre Dame will have to play well this weekend if they want to start the season 3-0, as they hit the road to face the No.10 team in the nation. The Spartans have started the season with victories against Boise State and Central Michigan. The game will be aired on ABC Saturday night at 7 p.m. CT.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on Michigan State, visit The Only Colors.

Notre Dame Football: Tyler Eifert Getting Props For Performance Against Purdue

Notre Dame relied on a last-minute field goal to best the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, with quarterback Tommy Rees leading the offense on a two-minute drive amid boos after starter Everett Golson went down with a hand injury following a costly fumble. That fumble ultimately led to Purdue tying the game, which set up the game-winning field goal drive, as it happened.

Among the things that One Foot Down, SB Nation's blog for the Fighting Irish, pointed out as particularly noteworthy was the play of tight end Tyler Eifert.

Tyler Eifert. Eifert averaged a Playstation-esque 24.5 yards per reception en route to notching 98 receiving yards. Even though 8 Irish players caught passes today, it just seemed like the Irish couldn't get consistent production from anyone not named Tyler Eifert.

Having a stat like 24.5 yard per reception is indeed "Playstation-esque," and it was a big part of why the Fighting Irish walked away with a win. They actually joke about Eifert doing absolutely everything for Notre Dame earlier in the piece. Of course, there were plenty of other players to contribute to help make the win happen, but without Eifert, it would have all come apart, likely with a couple extra stalled drives and missed opportunities.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

The Closer: Notre Dame Vs. Purdue Recap

Z.W. Martin recaps the Notre Dame vs. Purdue contest resulting in a 20-17 victory for the Irish.

Notre Dame Recruiting: 4-Star Linebacker Doug Randolph Commits To Irish

Four-star linebacker recruit and Richmond, Va. native Doug Randolph committed to the University of Notre Dame Friday. He announced his commitment via Twitter.

committed to NOTRE DAME #NDNATION #IRISHMOB13 !!!!!

— Doug Randolph (@DcR_VII) September 7, 2012

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Randolph adds to an already impressive 2013 recruiting class for Notre Dame, a class which includes five-star linebacker Jaylon Smith and four-star linebacker Alex Anzalone. Randolph is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 119 player nationally and the No. 12 linebacker.

Randolph had originally committed to Standford but de-committed earlier in the week before choosing Notre Dame on Friday.

Randolph's high school, Woodberry Forest High School, is something of a Notre Dame pipeline as of late. His former high school teammate, C.J. Prosise, is a safety for the Fighting Irish and Greer Martini has given his verbal commitment to the Notre Dame class of 2014.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

Notre Dame Football Injuries: Tyler Eifert, Kapron Lewis-Moore Among Injured Irish Players

Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert was the top Irish receiving target before leaving Saturday's game versus Purdue with a concussion.

Eifert, an All-American last season, had four receptions for 98 yards and was the favorite of quarterback Everett Golson for much of the day before leaving the game.

Eifert wasn't the only casualty. Defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore, safety Jamoris Slaughter, kicker Nick Tausch, receiver DaVaris Daniels, linebacker Ishaq Williams and defensive lineman Sheldon Day were also injured Saturday. Those players' statuses are uncertain at the moment, but, according to Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune, head coach Brian Kelly is not too concerned..

"We don't have anything that would require surgery," Kelly said. "Probably things that we'll have to manage. The expectation would be that most of these guys are going to clear in a very short period of time."

Notre Dame's next contest is Sept. 15 at Michigan State.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Boilermakers, visit SB Nation's Hammer & Rails.

Notre Dame Football: Boos Don't Faze Tommy Rees

With just over two minutes remaining and the score tied, 17-17, quarterback Tommy Rees entered the game for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and put together the game-winning drive to defeat the Purdue Boilermakers. However, the Irish faithful were none too happy to see the junior quarterback take the field.

When Rees, not starting quarterback Everett Golson, led the offense onto the field and subsequently threw an incompletion, he was showered with boos. His teammates were surprised at the reaction, but not concerned about how Rees would handle the situation, reports Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune.

"That doesn't really get under Tommy's skin," said tackle Zack Martin, one of two players available for interviews Saturday. "He's been through some hard times. People have certain opinions about him. The great thing about him is he doesn't let it bother him. He went out there and did his thing."

Rees lost his starting job after being suspended one game by head coach Brian Kelly following the quarterback's offseason arrest. During his game-winning drive, Rees was only 3-for-8 for 35 yards but picked up key third-down conversions and set his Irish up perfectly for the game-winning field goal.

Notre Dame's next contest comes Sept. 15 at the Michigan State Spartans. Everett Golson is still the starting quarterback, but despite the boos, Rees' performance Saturday has put him back in the conversation.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Boilermakers, visit SB Nation's Hammer & Rails.

Purdue Vs. Notre Dame 2012: FG With Seven Seconds Left Gives Fighting Irish A Victory

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish moved to 2-0 on the season with a last second victory over the Purdue Boilermakers, courtesy of a 27-yard field goal from Notre Dame kicker Kyle Brindza with seven seconds left in the game.

After the Boilermakers scored with three minutes left in the game to tie the score 17-17, the Irish responded with a 12-play, 55-yard drive resulting in Brindza's game-winning kick. Notre Dame had led 17-7 entering the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson followed up his strong season opener with completions on 21 of 31 attempts, for 289 yards and a touchdown, but he was pulled in favor of backup Tommy Rees on the final drive. Rees was three of eight on that drive for 34 yards, resulting in the Brindza kick.

Notre Dame will take on Michigan State next Saturday in primetime, with an 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff from Spartan Stadium.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Boilermakers, visit SB Nation's Hammer & Rails.

Purdue Vs. Notre Dame 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More

The No. 22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, fresh off their convincing win across the pond in Ireland, come home to face the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday.

Notre Dame entered the top 25 this week following their 50-10 rout over Navy in Dublin last Saturday. The Irish were paced by a rushing attack that chewed up 293 yards. Senior Theo Riddick led the team with 107 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns, and sophomore back George Atkinson III piled up 99 yards on nine carries, also scoring two touchdowns on the Midshipmen.

Last Saturday, the Boilermakers enjoyed a season-opening 48-6 romp at home over Eastern Kentucky. Senior quarterback Robert Marve roasted the Colonels, going 30-for-38 through the air for 295 yards and three touchdowns.

Last season, the Fighting Irish easily handled Purdue at home, 38-10, on Oct. 1.

The current line, according to OddsShark, has Notre Dame favored by 14 points. Kickoff at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, and the game will be televised on NBC.

For more on the Fighting Irish, head over to One Foot Down, and for Boilermakers coverage, visit Hammer and Rails.

Notre Dame Football: Dublin Diary + Purdue Review

Notre Dame Vs. Purdue: Everett Golson's Nerves Are Calmed At Home

Back on American soil, Notre Dame will host its home-opener against Purdue on Saturday.

The Fighting Irish are coming off an impressive win over Navy in Ireland, while the Boilermakers rolled over Eastern Kentucky in their opener. Purdue has won the Shillelagh Trophy in South Bend just once since 1975, and that came in 2004.

Everett Golson will be making his game debut in front of the home faithful, but the quarterback said that will help the nerves, compared to the opener in Ireland, according to CSN Chicago.

"Playing in Dublin, I guess my nerves were a little bit low because you didn't really know anybody in Dublin, or at least I didn't. Playing in front of 81,000 fans that you actually know, the nerves are still going to be there but I'm just going to stay calm and stay the course."

The game is scheduled for 2:30 CT on NBC.

Notre Dame Football: Running Back Amir Carlisle May Take Redshirt For 2012

Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Amir Carlisle is on the mend from a broken ankle, but the USC transfer player may be too far behind with his knowledge of the offensive system to make any contributions this season. Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune asked head coach Brian Kelly about Carlisle recently, and Kelly noted that he is considering a redshirt designation for Carlisle this year:

"The rules are you've got to do it within the first six games, so you've gotta make that decision," Kelly said. "We're counting on playing him, but we leave all those options open for a number of guys."

Carlisle transferred from USC to be closer to his family. His father, Duane Carlisle used to work in the NFL as a part of the San Francisco 49ers organization and recently took a job at Purdue. The Fighting Irish take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Boilermakers, visit SB Nation's Hammer & Rails.

Notre Dame Vs. Purdue: Irish Remain Undecided On Backup Quarterback

When the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team hosts the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, nobody will quite know whether Tommy Rees or Andrew Hendrix is the primary backup quarterback behind Everett Golson. When asked point blank by reporters about who will be the No. 2 QB, head coach Brian Kelly dodged the question and left some doubt as to the order of the depth chart: "No we don't [have a clear No. 2]. Both those guys are ready, you know, to play." He did go on to break down a bit of Tommy Rees' game, however (quotes via the Chicago Tribune):

"I just think he continues to get btter in ball positioning and ball placement and putting it away from defenders," Kelly said. "He still has room to work on a couple things mechanically. He's got a low arm slot and sometimes the ball comes out in an area I don't want it. So we're working mechanics, because he's got the mental end of it down."

Hopefully the Irish won't have to reveal their plan for the No. 2 QB on Saturday. That would be the ideal outcome, barring a blowout situation.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Boilermakers, visit SB Nation's Hammer & Rails.

Notre Dame Football: Fighting Irish Kindly Ask Fans To Start Cheering

Are you excited about Notre Dame Fighting Irish football? No, seriously...are you? Because ND Broadcast Relations director John Heisler recently felt the need to ask Notre Dame fans to cheer on the Irish at home games. Notre Dame fans aren't known for fanatical outbursts, but it has reached the point where people are being formally asked to "[c]heer on the Irish and help improve the home field atmosphere."

The Irish have gone 17-16 in home games since 2007 -- including losses at home to Navy, Air Force, Tulsa and UConn -- and just in case that hasn't happened due to an eroding base of talent and poor head coaching choices, ND wants to make sure fans have their heads in the game:

If you're paying attention this weekend and in the weeks to come, you are likely to come across the phrase "Take A StaND." It's a subtle, yet pointed, way of encouraging fans at all Irish events to become more participatory.

The Fighting Irish take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT, so the first test for the home fans will come soon.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

Notre Dame QB Everett Golson Knows He Needs To Keep Getting Better

Many of the Notre Dame faithful believe in Fighting Irish sophomore quarterback Everett Golson after his solid 12-for-18, 144-yard, 1-touchdown/1-interception performance last Saturday in Dublin, Ireland, in a game the Irish dominated, 50-10, over Navy.

While fans might think Golson is the man to settle the position and coach Brian Kelly reaffirmed his decision to continue with Golson in comments this week, Golson sees his standing as a week-to-week situation.

"My job is not certain right now," Golson was quoted as saying in the Chicago Tribune. "I still have my foot on the gas pedal."

Meaning he has to keep moving forward and faster in his development in order to keep the high-profile job, in his opinion. Golson cited a number of things he has to work on, including mechanics, footwork and being more decisive with his reads.

The 22nd-ranked Irish (1-0) face Purdue (1-0) in South Bend this week. The Boilermakers figure to be a stronger opponent than Navy was last weekend.

For more on Notre Dame, head over to One Foot Down and continue to check out SBN Chicago.

Notre Dame Football: DE Stephon Tuitt Looks To Build Off Breakout Opener

Notre Dame Fighting Irish sophomore defensive end Stephon Tuitt made his mark with a 77-yard return for a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the team's 50-10 victory over Navy in Dublin, Ireland, and now he is looking to build on that early success. The former five-star recruit has impressed head coach Brian Kelly with his mission to dominate (quotes via CSN-Chicago):

"The only word I remember him using was dominate; dominate in the classroom, which he did in the summer, over 3.5 (GPA)," coach Brian Kelly said. "He's been on this mission of, whatever it is, and it's not just football, it's everything in his life, it's film study -- last night, he's in there film studying, taking notes, and I think he's just a very, very driven young man right now. The fire is lit with him to dominate and be the best at everything he does."

Kelly also mentioned that the 300-pound lineman ran with cornerbacks during drills in fall camp, which is a nod to Tuitt's freakish combination of size and speed that allowed him to cover wide receivers at times in practice. If Tuitt can continue to produce big plays, the Notre Dame defense could be primed for a big year.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

College Football Rankings: Notre Dame At No. 21 In SB Nation's BlogPoll

Coming off a solid season opener, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are ranked No. 21 in SB Nation's Week 2 BlogPoll entering this week's game. The Irish are 1-0 this year after their 50-10 blowout victory over Navy in Dublin, Ireland last week.

With that win, Notre Dame nearly finds itself in the top 20 of SB Nation's primary college football poll. The Irish will need to pile up some more impressive victories to climb up the rankings, though, and that could start this week by defeating the Purdue Boilermakers.

After playing Purdue on Saturday, Notre Dame will go through an absolutely brutal stretch of games. Over a six-week span, the Irish will face Michigan State, Michigan, Miami (Fla.), Stanford, BYU and Oklahoma. Four of those teams are ranked, while the other two are coming off solid season-opening victories over BCS conference opponents.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

Notre Dame Football: Allen Pinkett Suspended For 'Bad Citizens' Comment

Notre Dame radio color man Allen Pinkett won't be in the booth for a Fighting Irish game until Sept. 22 against Michigan. The former two-time All-American was suspended three games by the Notre Dame IMG Radio Network after making some questionable comments last Wednesday regarding the suspension of four Irish players in a radio interview:

"That's how Ohio State used to win all the time. They would have two or three guys that were criminals and that just adds to the chemistry of the team," Pinkett told WSCR-AM 670 last week. "I think Notre Dame is growing because maybe they have some guys that are doing something worthy of a suspension, which creates edge on the football team. You can't have a football team full of choirboys."

Pinkett apologized for his remarks on Tuesday, offering a "sincere and heartfelt apology to all those affected by my inappropriate comments." Notre Dame's Sept. 1 game against Navy was Pinkett's first game off; Jeff Jeffers filled in. It was not announced who will partner with Don Criqui the next two weeks.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

Purdue Vs. Notre Dame: Boilermakers Pick Caleb TerBush As Starting QB

Despite throwing for 295 yards and three touchdowns against Eastern Kentucky in Purdue's opener, Robert Marve will not start at quarterback for the Purdue Boilermakers when they play at Notre Dame on Saturday. Caleb TerBush, who started all 13 games for Purdue last season but was suspended for the opener, will start for Purdue. Purdue coach Danny Hope named TerBush the starter last night, but has re-iterated that Marve will likely still play:

On radio show Monday night, Danny Hope names Caleb TerBush #Purdue starter Saturday vs. Notre Dame. TerBush was suspended for opener.

— GoldandBlack.com (@GoldandBlackcom) September 3, 2012

TerBush threw for 1,905 yards and 13 touchdowns in splitting time with Marve last season, but threw a critical interception on the first play against Notre Dame in the 38-10 Fighting Irish win. Marve started the 2010 game in South Bend and threw for 220 yards and two interceptions, but ran for a touchdown, in Purdue's 23-12 loss.

Purdue blog Hammer & Rails has written extensively about the quarterback controversy:

I don't think it is hyperbole in saying that Saturday is now the biggest game of Danny Hope's tenure at Purdue. Many fans are upset at this announcement. Many fans are upset with the QB juggling in general. Fans are still upset that the team came out against Notre Dame last season and rolled over in prime time at home against the Fighting Irish. Hope has now pushed his chips into the Caleb TerBush and QB rotation pot. If it works and Purdue pulls off an upset or even loses a close game he'll be proven right. If Purdue comes out and gets rolled yet again by a marquee opponent the fans may turn on him for good.

For more Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago. For more on the Boilermakers, visit SB Nation's Hammer & Rails.

College Football Rankings: Notre Dame At No. 22 In AP Poll

In advance of their home opener against the Purdue Boilermakers, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish cracked the AP Top 25 college football poll for the first time this season. The Irish are the lone debutante this week, taking the place left by Boise State, which was No. 24 before losing at Michigan State on Friday. Notre Dame sits at No. 22 this week, eight points ahead of Louisville for No. 23.

Several future Irish opponents sit above Notre Dame. First is No. 2 USC, whom the Irish will face to finish the season in Los Angeles. No. 5 Oklahoma is also still highly rated in advance of Notre Dame's trip to Norman. No. 11 Michigan State, another Notre Dame road game, is also there.

Stanford at No. 25 is the fourth ranked future opponent for Notre Dame. The biggest drop this week came from No. 19 Michigan, which fell 11 spots after losing to Alabama. BYU, who received 63 votes, could become the sixth ranked team Notre Dame is scheduled to face.

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Notre Dame Vs. Navy: Reaction To Emerald Isle Classic

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish pummeled the Navy Midshipmen 50-10 in the inaugural Emerald Isle Classic in Dublin, Ireland.

There is plenty of praise to go around, and this post by the folks over at the Notre Dame blog One Foot Down compiled it all, with the bulk of it going to the offensive and defensive lines.

"Notre Dame's offensive line and defensive front seven. The Irish fronts on both sides of the ball imposed their will and Notre Dame-Navy 2012 thusly played out as it should always play out--in a convincing, if inglorious, win."

But, as always, there were some things that disappointed, mainly the play of the secondary.

"Oh, boy. On the one hand, we held Navy to 10 points. On the other hand, our cornerbacks struggled in coverage against the Navy receivers. Thankfully the Irish corners have another quasi-tune-up game against Purdue..."

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Notre Dame Football: Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix To Compete For Back-Up Gig Against

Notre Dame Fighting Irish junior quarterback Tommy Rees will compete for the No. 2 job with Andrew Hendrix after being placed back on the depth chart this week, as Eric Hansen of the South Bend Tribune reports. Rees was suspended for the season opener against Navy following an offseason arrest.

Last season, Rees was the primary starter for the Fighting Irish, but he's lost that job following the arrest and subsequent suspension by head coach Brian Kelly. Sophomore Everett Golson has since taken over as the starter for Notre Dame, leading the Irish to a blowout 50-10 victory over Navy on Saturday in Dublin, Ireland.

Against Navy, both Golson and Hendrix saw playing time, so Kelly isn't necessarily committed to playing any single quarterback at the moment. Rees led the Irish to a 8-5 record last season, throwing for 2,871 yards and 20 touchdowns.

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Navy Vs. Notre Dame 2012: Final Score And Game Recap

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish truly lived up to their moniker today, as the Golden Domers defeated the Navy Midshipmen by a score of 50-10 in Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

Notre Dame scored early and often, jumping out to a 13-0 lead after the first quarter and a 27-3 lead at the half. Fighting Irish halfbacks Theo Riddick and George Atkinson III combined for 206 yards and four touchdowns on the ground while quarterback Everett Golson passed for 144 yards, a touchdown, and an interception on 12 completions and 18 attempts.

Navy's option attack struggled significantly against the Irish defense, gaining 293 total yards while committing four turnovers. Surprisingly, given the team's strengths, the Mids struggled to move the ball on the ground, earning only 101 total yards rushing on 38 total team carries. The lone bright spot on the offense was wideout Shawn Lynch, who caught four passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Upon their return from Ireland, Notre Dame will host the Purdue Boilermakers at home while Navy will have a bye week before travelling to Penn State.

For More Fighting Irish coverage, visit SB Nation's One Foot Down, College Football Hub, and SB Nation Chicago.

Navy Vs. Notre Dame 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Spread And More

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team kicks off the 2012 season at 9 a.m. CT Saturday against Navy -- in Dublin, Ireland. The game will be televised on CBS. This is the second time the teams have played each other in Dublin.

Notre Dame defeated Navy 56-14 last season. Despite the fact that the game is taking place in a foreign country, turnout of American fans is still expected to be high, according to the LA Times:

An estimated 35,000 fans of Notre Dame and Navy have traveled to Ireland for the game. And it's not just Dublin that is getting a boost in tourism.

"Dublin is full, there are people staying 50 miles away," said Tim Fenn, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation. "What has been great about this particular event has been the fact that it has taken the people out into the regions."

Notre Dame is favored to win by 14 points.

For more on Notre Dame, head over to One Foot Down and continue to check out SBN Chicago.

Notre Dame Football Preview: Fighting Irish Face Strong Schedule

Notre Dame was hurt by turnovers this year. Even if they improve in that department, they'll be tested by a tough schedule in 2012.