Columns
-
Duranko’s Digest: Notre Dame Football Program-Semi-Annual Report
With seven games behind us it’s time for the Midyear Report. ASSETS/LIMITATIONS: THE UNITS We rank the units according to three categories: FINAL FOUR MAJOR BOWL BOWL This is primarily…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: What did we see in Tallahassee?
Jameis Winston led three excruciating, Heisman-quality drives of 70 yards or more to lead Florida State to a comeback 31-27 victory over the Fighting Irish, extending the Seminole win streak…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: What Did We See Against North Carolina?
Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish overcame potentially fatal offensive turnovers and the first signs of vulnerability from the hitherto impregnable defense to survive North Carolina 50 -43. Though the tilt was a textbook…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: What did we see against Stanford?
The FIGHTING IRISH validated their nickname in a tense 17-14 win over Stanford. Everett "Two Minute Drill" Golson floated a sweet 23 yard pass to the steadfast Ben Koyack to…
Read More » -
5 Things I Liked from Notre Dame v. Stanford
Wow, what a game. Notre Dame and Stanford’s heavy weight bout yesterday had a little bit of everything. Turnovers, horrible weather, last minute drives, 4th down conversions, and so on…
Read More » - ADVERTISMENT
-
Duranko’s Digest: What Did We See Against Syracuse?
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was a display of genius, it was a display of foolishness- for Everett Golson. (Apologies to Dickens)…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: What Did We See Against Purdue?
Rallying from the season’s first deficit, the Irish tightened the screws defensively and scored the Shamrock Classic’s games last 20 points to beat Purdue 30-14, moving to 3-0 before the…
Read More » -
5 Things I Didn’t Like from Notre Dame v. Purdue ’14
For the first time this season this column was unfortunately not hard to write. The last two weeks Notre Dame left very little for their not to like with a…
Read More » -
Notre Dame v. Purdue ’14 – 5 Things I Liked
It took a little more effort than anyone thought it would last night but Notre Dame improved to 3-0 last night following a 30-14 win over Purdue in the Shamrock…
Read More » -
5 Things I Didn’t Like from Notre Dame v. Michigan ’14
For the second week in a row this column is extremely difficult to write because the Fighting Irish didn’t give us a whole lot not to like in their shutout…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest – What Did We See Against Michigan?
31-0. You seek eloquence? This is eloquence: 31-0. Analysis? Analyze this: 31-0. You desire numbers? Try ZERO. Notre Dame ZEROED in on Michigan , won 31-ZERO, has ZERO losses, committed…
Read More » -
Notre Dame v. Michigan ’14 – 5 Things I Liked
It’s been much too long since Notre Dame put on a performance like the one that we all witnessed on Saturday. With Michigan in town for the last time, Notre…
Read More » -
5 Things I Didn’t Like from Notre Dame v. Rice
Sometimes this column is tough to write and the “5 Things I Liked” column is pretty easy. It happens when Notre Dame wins rather easily and looks pretty good in…
Read More » -
5 Things I Liked from Notre Dame vs. Rice
Another long and tumultuous off-season came to an end on Saturday with a blowout victory for the Fighting Irish. With Everett Golson back under center the Irish offense flourished enroute…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Diget: What did we see vs. Rice?
After a brief acclimatizing warmup with two 3-and-outs, the Irish offense exploded early and often, the refurbished Notre Dame defense held down the refurbished Rice offense, and the Irish nicely plucked,…
Read More » -
5 Things I Want To See From Notre Dame in 2014
We’re two days from kick-off of the 2014 and after another off-season filled with enough drama to script a day-time soap opera, it’s glorious to be able to start watching…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: Coaching Matters, Notre Dame’s 2014 Faculty
It is timely to examine the reconstituted coaching staff or "Football Faculty" as their primary function is to teach. Ah yes, we love our mantra "it's not the X's and…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: Kain Colter and the Unionization of Northwestern players
In large things and small, war games and the sports and games people play, in government, in society, there occur tipping points that mark the beginning of a change in…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: 6 Focus Areas for Notre Dame Spring Practice
Spring practice comes early this year, starting the first week in March. There are significant coaching changes on both sides of the ball. Mike Denbrock was named offensive coordinator. His span…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: Ranking Notre Dame’s 2014 Opponents
Please note that this post-signing day ranking rates the opponents as we expect them to finish 2014 overall. Not preseason rankings, but where they would rank on a “true value” ranking…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: 10 frosh likely to play for Notre Dame in 2014
Brian Kelly plays freshmen. Last year 10 frosh saw significant minutes and some were key contributors-on both sides of the ball. the 10 were Elmer, Folston, Fuller, Robinson, Onwualu, Rochell, Redfield,…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: Ranking Notre Dame’s Projected ’14 Defensive Starters
As we did last week with the offensive starters, today we rank Notre Dame’s projected defensive starters from top to bottom. Dog LB Jaylon Smith – The Golden child came…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: Ranking Notre Dame’s Projected ’14 Offensive Starters
Obviously, a prediction, not a guarantee. Change happens!! And, both healthy and after injuries, depth is more important in this era of football than ever before. QB Everett Golson – Strong,…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: Ranking Notre Dame’s 2014 Units – Winter Eval
We’ll take an early glimpse at the component units of the 2014 Irish. Obviously, such predictions are perilous: (1) injuries occur (2) departures occur (3) players develop, sprout and regress…
Read More » -
Duranko’s Digest: What did we see in the Pinstripe Bowl?
A rested, healed, motivated Fighting Irish Squad scored early, never trailed and beat Rutgers 29-16. The Irish offense controlled the Scarlet Knight defense, the ND defense manhandled the Rutgers offense, and…
Read More »