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Posted by BrianBoru at 3/30/2009 12:58 AM EDT

If your bracket is still intact, maybe you ought to start playing the lottery.

Undoubtedly, the most surprising upset of the NCAA Tournament occurred today as the gritty Michigan State Spartans thoroughly baffled the University of Louisville Cardinals.

Posted by BrianBoru at 3/25/2009 4:07 PM EDT

With the Fighting Irish kicking off spring practice this week, here is what I am watching:

1. Will Jimmy Clausen be able to build off his sterling performance in the Hawaii Bowl?

Posted by BrianBoru at 3/19/2009 3:19 PM EDT

Close your eyes and try to forget for a moment that it was the NIT. Pretend Notre Dame just defeated Duke in the NCAA Tournament. Are you excited yet? Well, you're not alone. Upon channel surfing to ESPN2 for the game, I quickly took note of the listless South Bend crowd seemingly waiting for football season.

Watching the Irish eke out a victory against the scrappy Lobos of New Mexico was alternatively satisfying and troubling. It was nice seeing the seniors play with passion and intensity while refusing to allow their season to end. But where was this passion earlier this season?

Posted by BrianBoru at 3/18/2009 12:42 PM EDT

Notre Dame began its quest in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) with a 70-64 victory over the Blazers of Alabama-Birmingham. I must confess that I did not watch the game; consider it a mute protest by choosing to do other things on a beautiful St. Patrick's Day.

Entering the 08-09 season, I, like many others, expected the Irish to compete for the Big East title. After all, they did begin the season ranked in the Top 10, returning all but one starter (Rob Kurz) from a team that finished 24-7 and 14-4 in Big East action last season.

Posted by BrianBoru at 3/15/2009 2:48 PM EDT

The 2009 football season will be pivotal in the coaching career of Notre Dame Head Coach Charlie Weis. Four years into his regime in South Bend, Weis has made very few decisions which would provide hope for the future.

Electing to eschew the ground game in 2008, Weis opted instead to focus his offensive identity almost exclusively around the talents of enigmatic sophomore Jimmy Clausen. After enjoying a relatively small measure of early success, racing out to a 4-1 record behind the gun-slinging Clausen, Notre Dame faltered down the stretch losing five of its next seven games. Recognizing Weis’ penchant for aerial display, teams began dropping an extra man into coverage in order to stop the predictable Irish offense. Trouble followed.