Chicago Colleges Blog | ESPN Chicago Apr 18, 2014
New spring, new spots for some on Irish D
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — This week marked the first unofficial "off" week for John Turner. The redshirt sophomore's workload essentially doubled this spring, with the former safety learning a new position as a linebacker, a chore that would have been complicated enough had Notre Dame's defense not been undergoing a massive face-lift under new coordinator Brian VanGorder. "After practice I usually go watch film with [outside linebackers] coach [Bob] Elliott, so I really haven't had any time off this spring," Turner said.
Chicago Colleges Blog | ESPN Chicago Apr 17, 2014
Starting O-line on ND camp agenda
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Few would blame Matt Hegarty had he hung his head entering this spring. The redshirt junior has had a roller-coaster ride at Notre Dame, from seeing the perfect regular season of 2012 cut short due to a series of mini-strokes to being thrust into role of starting center for the Fighting Irish's final two games last season. That the former guard was a more than capable fill-in in the middle is a testament to his versatility. That he stayed there with the first team for most of this spring is a testament to his attitude.
Chris Hine / Chicago Tribune Apr 16, 2014 Notre Dame hoops adds G Farrell to Class of 2014
Matt Farrell, a guard from Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., signed his letter of intent with Notre Dame and will enroll at the school next fall.
Chris Hine / Chicago Tribune Apr 14, 2014 Notre Dame's Brey: No interest in Cal job
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Ever since the Final Four, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey has heard constant chatter connecting his name to the opening coaching vacancy at Cal, where Mike Montgomery retired after six seasons.
Chris Hine / Chicago Tribune Apr 14, 2014 Notre Dame's Dan Fox opening eyes with NFL teams
Interest in linebacker has picked up after impressive 40 time at pro day When he was in third grade, former Notre Dame inside linebacker Dan Fox wrote a note to himself, laying out his goals for the future. His mom recently dug up the note and showed it to him.
Chris Hine / Chicago Tribune Apr 14, 2014 Jaylon Smith adjusting to new role for Notre Dame
If there’s one thing that’s clear about Notre Dame’s defense in 2014, it is that as long as sophomore Jaylon Smith is upright, he will be on the field for almost every defensive snap.
Chicago Colleges Blog | ESPN Chicago Apr 12, 2014
Zaire's emergence a good step for ND
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Brian Kelly moved swiftly up to the post-game podium, joking with the assembled media members that everyone better hurry up so they could get back to watching The Masters. Kelly played the famed course at Augusta National last month as part of a foursome with Tom Brady, Josh McDaniels and Notre Dame alumnus Jimmy Dunne, who put the group together. Saturday's Blue-Gold spring game -- otherwise known as "Natural Grass: The Finale" -- could not have been further away from the Peach State.
Chris Hine / Chicago Tribune Apr 12, 2014 Notre Dame Stadium to get artificial turf
Notre Dame will install artificial turf in Notre Dame Stadium in time for the 2014 season, replacing its traditional natural grass surface, the school announced Saturday.
Chris Hine / Chicago Tribune Apr 12, 2014 Irish spring game: What to watch
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Last year's spring game represented the last time quarterback Everett Golson set foot on the field at Notre Dame Stadium.
Chris Hine / Chicago Tribune Apr 11, 2014 Notre Dame's Matthias Farley adjusting to cornerback
Former safety was surprised at first by switch but now says things are starting to click in new schemeSOUTH BEND, Ind. — After starting at safety for Notre Dame the last two seasons, Matthias Farley seemed fairly entrenched at the position.
Chicago Colleges Blog | ESPN Chicago Apr 11, 2014
Notre Dame mailblog
One more time before the spring game ... Derrick from Warsaw, Ill., writes: Matt, first off, thanks for doing such a great job covering the Irish! I always look forward to reading everything you write! My question is, with all the great options the Irish have at running back heading into the season, how do you see everything going at the running back position? Will one guy get the lion's share of the carries? Do they go with the hot hand? Or will each guy get a fairly equal share of touches?
Chicago Colleges Blog | ESPN Chicago Apr 11, 2014
All hands on deck, again, for punt returns
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Yes, Brian Kelly knows you've all been frustrated with Notre Dame's punt return game. Trust him, he's been every bit as frustrated as you have, and a Fighting Irish spring that opened on a minus-1-degree day back on March 3 has not given him ample opportunity to properly evaluate the unit. Getting outside for five recent practices has presented some clarity, but the fair-catch-only rule for Saturday's Blue-Gold game won't offer many surprises to the public.
Chicago Colleges Blog | ESPN Chicago Apr 10, 2014
Irish lunch links
Bravo, Dickie V. Brian Kelly sees the advantage of a spring game for Notre Dame, JJ Stankevitz writes on CSNChicago.com. The learning curve is steep for Irish quarterbacks, Chris Hine writes in the Chicago Tribune. The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette's Tony Krausz offers his observations from Wednesday's practice. Here's a photo gallery of practice from BlueandGold.com's Tom Loy. Elijah Shumate is fighting for a starting spot, Douglas Farmer writes on IrishIllustrated.
Chris Hine / Chicago Tribune Apr 9, 2014 Learning curve steep for Notre Dame quarterbacks
Coach Brian Kelly says Everett Golson and Malik Zaire have lot to learn as new defensive schemes are tough to solve SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Final grades aren't due on Notre Dame's campus for a while, but Irish coach Brian Kelly doled out some progress reports for quarterbacks Everett Golson and Malik Zaire after most of spring practice.
Chicago Colleges Blog | ESPN Chicago Apr 9, 2014
Kelly sees value in potential UGA series
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A series with Georgia would only be natural for Brian Kelly as he has seen Notre Dame win several important recruiting battles in the Peach State and knows the exposure in the region would only benefit his program. "Well I know that there's been some talk. I’ve heard some rumblings about it," the Notre Dame coach said Wednesday of a potential home-and-home with the Bulldogs, which was reported on Tuesday. "All I know is that my talks with [athletic director] Jack [Swarbrick] is we’re looking for matchups down the road that geographically make sense to us.
