The short and forgettable era of Gerry Faust

Gerry Faust coached the Fighting Irish for four years. He was Dan Devine’s replacement, and expectations were high given that he had an incredibly impressive record coaching the Moeller High School football team. In 19 seasons with Moeller, Faust garnered a staggering 174 wins, with only 17 losses, and 2 ties. 

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Another reason Notre Dame fans were excited was that Faust would have nine of his former players from Moeller in the Fighting Irish. Many of the Notre Dame faithful thought that their chemistry in high school would translate onto the college level. But things in South Bend didn’t go as planned.

Faust never really met the expectations of Notre Dame fans. His success was both limited and mediocre. In his first year as coach, Faust managed to lead the Irish to a dismal 5-6 record. The following season would see only a slight change, with Notre Dame finishing at 6-4-1. His third and fourth years though were better as his team finished with a 7-5 record for both years. In 1983, he would lead Notre Dame to the Liberty Bowl, and the Aloha Bowl the following year. 

After a crushing defeat at the hands of Miami (58-7), Faust retired and moved to Akron where he became head coach. 

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Tom Colton here, a student at the University of Notre Dame. It almost goes without saying that I’m a huge fan of Fighting Irish football. More Notre Dame football reads here.

A Look At The Insane Success Of Pro And College Football

Since we’ve been discussing a lot the Fighting Irish and Notre Dame football in general, let’s broaden our scope and take a look at American football. It’s no secret that American football has been the most popular sport in the country for quite some time now. Here are three jaw-dropping facts on America’s favorite sport.

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• A survey of 2,000 American adults showed that 35% preferred watching pro football over any other sport, while at little under 12% chose college football. That’s almost half of the sample group.

• Pro football’s biggest spectacle, the Super Bowl has averaged over 110 million viewers for the past eight years. That’s more than any other show on network TV.

• More than 50 million rabid followers attend college football games, while 210 million watch the games at home. NCAA bowl games attract 120 million viewers across the nation.

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With those numbers, it’s easy to assume that football is a great part of American pop culture, what with films and TV shows being based on it. Many Americans are in it for the thrill and the brutality mixed in with sportsmanship, physical talent, and amazing, innovative strategies. Football is a game of men at their peak trying to penetrate and defend with coaches marshaling all of them in a spectacle for the ages.

Hello, I’m Tom Colton, and I’m currently a student at the University of Notre Dame. I absolutely love the Fighting Irish and college football in general. For more on the stuff I love, follow me on Twitter.

Players That Should Have An Immediate Impact On Notre Dame Football In 2018

With the departure of several key players, Notre Dame football recruitment went into overdrive this offseason. Hereunder are top freshman prospects who may find themselves getting quality playing time in 2108. 

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Houston Griffith 

Griffith is the 64th-ranked player to enter the 2018 class. His talent alone should make him a shoo-in for getting playing time, especially if he can move to safety from cornerback. Safety has been a weak aspect of the Irish’s game lately, and his development should help fill in the void. 

Jack Lamb 

With the news of the departure of linebackers Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini, Lamb should have an open spot to land a starting role and show his wares. Drue Tranquill and Coney will most likely start at the Rover and Mike positions and with Lamb finding himself a likely Buck. 

Jayson Ademilola 

Though Notre Dame’s defensive line seems to be getting crowded, Ademilola might be a good player to add to the depth of the interior. Especially given coach Kelly’s history of giving past freshmen players like Kurt Hinsh and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa such defensive spots. 

Derrik Allen 

Allen could factor into the safety position immediately, bolstering Notre Dame’s poor back end play. If Griffith is Notre Dame’s highest-ranked recruit, Derrik Allen, the 70th overall prospect, is the school’s most important.

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Hi and thanks for dropping by. My name is Tom Colton, a University of Notre Dame student. I’m a big fan of Fighting Irish football. For more on Notre Dame sports, visit this blog.

Under The Banner Of Heartley Anderson

After Knute Rockney passed away, Notre Dame tapped Heartley “Hunk” Anderson who came from a coaching stint in Saint Louis with a record of 16 wins, nine losses, and two ties. He was also once a Notre Dame player under the guidance of Rockne, and an assistant coach.

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Under Anderson, the Fighting Irish took home six wins, two losses, and a draw in 1931. Their first win came against Indiana with a lopsided 25-0 result. They tied with Northwestern in their second game. Notre Dame’s third game showcased their power as they steamrolled over a helpless Drake squad, 63-0. They defeated Pittsburgh next and kept Carnegie, Mellon, Pennsylvania, and Navy scoreless. Their second loss that year though was a tough one against USC, with a score of 16-14. And they ended the season on a low note losing to Army, 12-0.

The following year, Anderson’s Fighting Irish destroyed their first three opponents with an average margin of over 50 points. They lost to Pittsburgh, 12-0, but won their next four games. What followed was as rough a time as any, with Notre Dame losing four games in a row, without scoring a single point. They closed out the season winning three in a row, including a revenge win against bitter rivals, Army.

Heartley Anderson resigned after the 1933 season and accepted a head coach post at NC State.

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Hello, I’mTom Colton, and I’m studying at the University of Notre Dame. I follow the Fighting Irish whenever I can. For more on my favorite football team, follow me on Twitter.