NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH vs.TEMPLE OWLS
Welcome to the 126th edition of Fighting Irish football and Coach Brian Kelly’s fourth season as Notre Dame opens its 2013 season versus the Temple Owls from Philadelphia.
This will be the very first meeting between the two schools in football.
Known more for famous alum Bill Cosby and its basketball team, expect Howls if ND does not win by more than 25 points in its tune-up for Mee-chee-gan next week.
It is expected to be very summer-like on Saturday and it is unusual to open the season in August. Hopefully, weather will not be a factor as it was for San Diego State in 2008 when temperatures neared 100 degrees, or 2011 when the Stadium was evacuated and the game delayed for thunderstorms—an ominous foreshadowing of South Florida’s stunning defeat of the Irish.
This is a “home and home” arrangements. The Irish will travel to the City of Brotherly Love to play Temple in 2015.
The Irish have eight consecutive Home wins, dating back to USC’s victory in 2011 (31-17).
Expect the streak to continue.
Our first challenge could be tailgating. As the University continues to build and landscape, prime parking spots are being lost. A whole row of spots at Joyce Lamp Post #3 was eliminated for a new sidewalk. We will do our best to secure our traditional spot.
Be assured that the tailgate inventories have been re-stocked and we will be ready to go.
The initial beer order has been delivered. We start with 44 cases (in tribute to ND’s most famous #44… “only a soph-o-more from DeMatha H.S. in Washington D.C….”)
And as in previous years, we were very pleased for the advice and Customer Service provided by Indiana Beer’s top executive Pat Flynn. He is a really Big Deal at the company, as he is around South Bend, and at Morris Park Country Club—where Pat was crowned the Club Champion on Sunday.
Mr. Big Deal…your 2013 Club Champion
Notre Dame Media Day was last Friday. Of course, Coach Kelly had his haircut on Thursday at Armando’s—as did I. As Warren Zevon predicted, our hair is perfect.
Disclosure: picture below is from the archives since I was unable to snap any current pictures. But Coach Kelly most certainly did get his haircut last Thursday.
Coach Kelly always looking good for the media
BK did say that the team has solid senior leadership, the younger players are impressive and that people may be very surprised how much Tommy Rees has improved. His starting QB is ready for this role and season. BK was very upbeat.
How upbeat?
How about “I am so excited” upbeat!
Coach Kelly entering Labar Practice field
I chose to verify myself with a first-hand scouting mission. While I cannot confirm Tommy’s improved speed or athleticism, he was definitely bigger and looked stronger.
I will add that young Mr. Rees was very pleasant and personable as he stopped after practice to sign some items for several senior citizens, children and folks in wheelchairs.
As BK exited practice, he also accommodated a number of autograph-seekers. Some were star-struck and skittish…but some looked like professional re-sellers to me.
I hung back and was disinterested in the worship or commerce. BK gave me a “head wave”. Our Armando’s kinship trumped all. (We may both have this picture in our offices.)
Nearly indistinguishable
Tommy Rees is our guy. If he does not win the Heisman, but he wins us games (isn’t he 18-4 as a starter?)…then we should be supportive, right? And while I do not know Tommy personally, I believe I would opt for this ND grad as a future son-in-law over Johnny Manziel.
(Too bad Heisman voting does not include “character points”)
But let’s get back on track to a truly All-American kid…
I offer you a Notre Dame senior who was a Chicagoland schoolboy star who matriculated to Our Lady du Lac, excelled in the classroom and continued to star in Interhall sports.
Today’s “Rudy” story is young Will Cronin. He is an ND Senior and the son of one of the most legendary Dillon Hall residents. Will’s Dad is “Bobby C”, ND and Dillon ‘82. He was universally liked and respected when he was just a Big Red guy. We like him the same now that he is on the ND Alumni Board—and cannot help anyone with Football Tickets or Parking Passes.
Perhaps a “Rudy II” movie is in the making (“Will to Win”…?)
Will Cronin played at Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, which is now known as IC Catholic Prep. He was a three-year starter, earned All-Area and quarterbacked the 2008 State Championship. He was also the Suburban Christian Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2009. But the biggest award was being named the “Wendy’s High School Heisman” winner for the state of Illinois.
Will lived two year in Alumni (sucks) Hall and played QB for them for 3 years. When USA Network’s “The Moment” hosted by Kurt Warner produced an episode about a guy who always wanted to coach football, they came to ND and asked the ND Interhall program to select two All-star teams for the show. The coach headed one team, and Will played QB for the other. Will’s team dominated, and he lit it up in front of Coach Kelly, Jack Swarbrick, and others.
Flash forward to Kiel’s transfer, Golson’s departure, and the ND team was down to 3 scholarship and one walk-on QB’s. Coach Kelly needed strong QB for practice and the Scout team. The Football Office e-mailed Will and a few others asking for high school highlight video, current video doing QB drills, and they selected three finalists for Coaches Brian Kelly and Chuck Martin to review. They chose Will to join the team, and he has been with them since the beginning of August.
How do you like that story?!
So Will Cronin is a Senior walk-on invitee to the team. He will work hard, contribute, and he will then graduate onto a great job and career. Abe knows executive talent…and this kid is a winner.
Abe & Will following practice
Abe, former Assistant Coach of Dillon Hall InterHall Champions, offering coaching tips
With respect to BK and what he is re-building at ND, I am always honored to speak to the greatest living ND coach. Ara may be 90-years old (birthday was May 21), but he is as sharp as can be. His memories and stories are colorful and rich. His opinions of the current game and team are fresh.
THREE LEGENDS…of varying degrees
The “Three A’s”
Armando, Ara, Abe
America’s Great Living College Coach
(definitely needed a haircut for GameDay)
Bonus question for Notre Dame trivia junkies… What is Ara Parseghian’s middle name?
(Raoul)
Did you hear the one about the German, the Aremenian and the Italian?
Abe, Coach Parseghian and Carlos Calabrese, Sr.
Coincidentally, I circled back to Armando’s later that day to exchange some tickets. Another fine former coach was also there visiting his pal Armando.
Bob Chmiel was a highly regarded coach for Bo Schembechler at Michigan. He was stolen away by Lou Holtz for ND. Of course, Bo and Lou were dummies and Bob Davie was brilliant enough to fire Coach Chmiel.
Coach offered two stories.
When he was on the Michigan staff, Ara Parseghian was doing color for ABC Sports. Toward the end of a walk-thru practice on Friday inside The Big House, Bo spotted Ara on the sidelines. He instructed Chmiel to ask Ara to join the team and coaches at mid-field.
Gathered, Bo then boomed:
“Gentlemen…we have had U.S. Presidents here. We have had captains of industry, barons of Wall Street,Hollywood celebrities and famous athletes. But NO ONE address the Michigan team except me…just me–and the greatest college coach in history. I would be honored if Coach Parseghian would say a few words.”
Second story, Coach Chmiel reflected upon his days as a high school coach at Fenwick in suburban Chicagowhere he coached families like the Rooney’s and Romano’s. He recalled Victor (Rocky) Romano as a ferocious hitter and Tim Rooney as a prototype receiver with great blocking abilities and even better hands. He was proud that Tim played college ball at Northwestern, is a prominent Chicago attorney, and his now giving back as a well-established and respected volunteer coach at Fenwick.
“They call me Coach”
With perfectly coifed hair, next stop was a lunch meeting at the newly built (way more than a renovation) Morris Inn. The University put together a slick video showing the new space. Here is my walking tour:
The newly renovated Morris Inn has been expanded from 92 guest rooms to 150 rooms of different configurations. There are several Salon Parlors for different-sized functions and a large 300-person ballroom. The formal Sorin Restaurant resembles the old one. A significantly larger Bar Lounge is now Roher’s (and yes—after 44 years…Murf is still bartending!) There is a really great outdoor patio area with tables, chairs, couches and a firepit.
Rooms on a regular non-football weekend would start be $169/night. That same room would be $499 on a football weekend according to the Front Desk Manager.
New entrance with valet parking staff
Salon corridor
Reception area
Rohr’s Irish Sports Bar and Restaurant
Registration Desk (and smiling Staff)
One of several private dining rooms
Outdoor patio area
Room corridor (Redrum)
Walking to their lunch in the Sorin Dining Room were former ND Presidents Fathers Ted Hesburgh and Monk Malloy. We exchanged brief handshakes. It was remarkable to me that on the same day, I was in the company of the greatest living ND football coach and President. I am not sure how they felt.
Off to practice later, it was very hot with temperatures in the 90’s. The ND Sports Medicine Department was ready with over-sized stainless steel cold ice tubs for the players. They dove in with zest following the nearly 2-hour practice.
ND Sports Medicine Department prepared for heat alert
I am not quite sure how the warm-ups music is selected, but there was heavy dose of gansta rap blaring. There was no Elton John or John Denver on the playlist. But I imagine the Bon Jovi hits catalog will be featured at some point. It is also likely that Daddy Jon will stop by a practice to watch his walk-on son Jesse Bongiovi—who happens to live in Dillon Hall. It is reported that Bon Jovi will be in attendance Saturday.
There are a few other father-son well-known or celebrity angles this season.
DaVaris Daniels’ dad, Phillip, played in the NFL from 1996-2010. Austin Collinsworth is the son of former All-Pro Bengals safety and current NBC broadcaster Cris Collinsworth. Josh and George Atkinson’s father, George had a 10-year NFL career mostly with the Raiders. Freshman Tori Hunter Jr’s father plays RF for the Detroit Tigers. And who could miss David Robinson when he is on campus—father of freshman wide receiver Corey?
David is a Hall of Fame center with two NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs. Local word says that the Robinsons purchased a home near campus to enjoy the ND experience.
Speaking of CB Josh Atkinson, he asked the Coaches to stay after practice for a QB to throw him some extra balls. I watched Will Cronin immediately volunteer. They stayed maybe 15-20 minutes after everyone else was off the field.
Similarities: both play for ND; both have famous fathers
As reported above, our ND/Dillon pal Bobby Cronin’s chest is extra-pumped-up as his son Will was personally invited by the ND coaching staff to join the team as a QB. This is quite an accomplishment and recognition for a Senior. Notably, as an Illinois schoolboy star, there are observers who rated Will’s talent back then as better than H.S. rival Tommy Rees. It is ironic that the Chicago suburban H.S. competitors are now both ND QB teammates four years later.
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Speaking of lineage and DNA, what is particular about Nick and Zack Martin, who are brothers starting on the Offensive Line as the center and the All-American candidate at left guard?
- both starred at Chatard H.S. in Indianapolis
- Chatard is the alma mater of wife Maureen
- our nephew Kevin O’Brien was the starting kicker on the 2006 and 2007 Indiana State Championship teams and was a Co-Captain with Zack Martin
But better ND trivia…
Zack ad Nick Martin are the first set of brothers to start at Offensive line for ND since our Dillon Hall pals Dave and Tim (Tiny) started together as center and guard in 1978.
Our #56 as a Playboy All-American
(and #66 looking a bit cozy with Dave)
In this classic photo, Dave Huffman is out-of-uniform and on the bottom layer of the infamous Dillon Hall Mount. Featured are fellow NFL’er Ernie Hughes, future NBA players Bruce Flowers and Bill Laimbeer, and a wide cast of characters who went on to their own versions of success and fame in the 35 years that have followed. How many Dillon Dirtballs can you name from circa 1975?
As the players trotted from the Gug to LaBar Practice Field, last through the gates was Coach Kelly. He was upbeat to smile and wave to visitors. The iron gates closed behind him. The music blared. Another practice was underway in preparation for the Temple Owls.
Speaking of music, America’s oldest college marching band was practicing in the early evening in the back Joyce Lot 18 area. No one can belt out the Fight Song like the University of Notre Dame Marching Band…the Band of the Fighting Irish!
A Senior Band official asked that the program not be publicly broadcast until Game Day. But for those who may be interested, here is one of the confidential formations:
The bases are covered for tailgate supplies, a fresh haircut, scouting the team, evaluating the band… so let’s get going!
Alumni, visitors and fans are beginning to arrive on campus. There is great anticipation for another fine football season. The Tailgating gives us our camaraderie. The games give us excitement and fun. Following Notre Dame is about pride and loyalty.
GO IRISH !
Abe