Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526111
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 7, 2024 5 FAN FORUM A TESTAMENT TO THE SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME I am writing to commend head coach Marcus Freeman, the Notre Dame play- ers in attendance and the Notre Dame Clubs of New Jersey for organizing and hosting an incredible event on Satur- day, July 20 in New Jersey. The event not only showcased the talent and dedica- tion of the Notre Dame football team, but also fostered a sense of community and camaraderie among the hundreds of alums and friends in attendance. Fre e m a n 's l ea d e rs h i p a n d co m - mitment to excellence were evident throughout the event. His passion for the game and his ability to inspire both his players and the fans were truly re- markable. Under his guidance, the Notre Dame football program continues to thrive and make a positive impact on and off the field. I would also like to express my appre- ciation to the Notre Dame players who attended the event. Their presence and interaction with the fans demonstrated their genuine love for the university and their willingness to connect with the community. It was inspiring to see them engage with fans of all ages, take pic- tures, sign autographs and talk about the quickly approaching season. Furthermore, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Notre Dame Clubs of New Jersey for their efforts in orga- nizing such a memorable event. The dedication and hard work of the club members were evident in every aspect of the event, from the coordination of logistics to the warm and welcoming atmosphere. It is through the dedica- tion of such clubs that the Notre Dame community continues to thrive and strengthen its bonds. The event itself was a testament to the spirit of Notre Dame and its com- mitment to excellence, community and tradition. It provided an opportunity for fans and supporters to come together and celebrate the values that Notre Dame represents. The energy and en- thusiasm in the air were palpable, leav- ing a lasting impression on all who were in attendance. In conclusion, I would like to once again express my admiration and ap- preciation for Freeman, the Notre Dame players and the Notre Dame Clubs of New Jersey for organizing and hosting such an incredible event. Their com- mitment to excellence, community en- gagement and the Notre Dame spirit is truly commendable. I am grateful to have been a part of this unforgettable experience. Go Irish! Sean Kennedy Proud Subway Alum Medford, N.J. FOR LOU Like many of your subscribers I'm "aging out," i.e. approaching 80 years. I'm down to one game per year (I'm only 75 miles from campus). But I'll hang on through your publication. Keep up the good work. In honor of Lou S!! David McMorrow Kalamazoo, Mich. BE HEARD! Send your letters to: sdowney@comanpub.com or mail to: Blue & Gold Illustrated, P. O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702 It did not take former football coach Urban Meyer, who last coached in the college ranks at Ohio State, more than 15 minutes to criticize the Notre Dame football program on the debut episode of "The Triple Option" podcast with Big Noon kickoff host Rob Stone and analyst Mark Ingram II. Stone began the first episode by running through the top 10 teams in the preseason Associated Press poll. When he landed on the Fighting Irish, who opened the season at No. 7 Texas A&M, Stone teed Meyer up to comment on Notre Dame starting transfer quarterbacks three times within the last four years. "But how, at Notre Dame, do you keep going to Wake Forest and Duke to get your quarterback?" Meyer said. "Those are fine players — nothing against Sam Hartman, the transfer last year. He had a good season. Riley Leonard this year from Duke — once again, a good player. But you're Notre Dame?" Here is a sampling of what Fighting Irish fans had to say about Meyer's comments on our message board at BlueandGold.com: Rockne1988: Won't be popular, but he wasn't wrong. NDTarheel7: Well, yes and no. Freeman is paying for the sins of the prior coaching staff but after this year and hopefully for the next six years at least, ND will have its own stable of homegrown QBs to play and develop. He should know this (he really should and maybe does) and should speak more to how well Free- man has played the hand he was dealt and how bright the future looks for the ND QB room. Unless he just wants to dig at ND, he missed an opportunity to shed light on the reality of the current status of ND's QBs. Maloy49: He's not wrong. Look at our QBs in the last 5 years. Our QB talent level hasn't been as high as the rest of the team in terms of general talent. For ND to win a Natty in this era, we have to recruit the team talent very well and have an even better QB. We've failed at the QB part. I like to think that with guys like Minchey and specifically Carr, we may have turned the corner. I also want to believe that Leonard is a step up from Coan and Hartman. tommy1380: People may not like the messenger but the message is the truth. We've had to go get a starting QB from another school for 3 of the last 4 seasons. And the year we didn't the position was a mess. It's been 15 years since ND has had high-end QB play. At some point you've got to be able to recruit and develop a high-end QB if you want to take a step forward as a program. The future is bright with Marcus Freeman in charge of the Notre Dame football program. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER JOIN THE CONVERSATION AT BLUEANDGOLD.COM! New subscribers: Use Promo Code GoIrish2024 To SAVE 25% off your first year! FROM THE WEBSITE .com .com