Robert Hughes News

On Friday, Brian Kelly was officially named head coach at Notre Dame. This came as no surprise to anybody as it has been speculated since the loss to Navy that Brian Kelly would be the guy to take over at Notre Dame.

This time, Notre Dame got its man. This time, there will be no empty passenger seat on the flight back from Salt Lake.

JCA, Providence lose finals Two local powers end season in disappointment The Hilltoppers lost their bid for a 14th state 5A title after the Montini Broncos got ahead of them on a two-point conversion play.

Like a middle-aged man looking back on his error-filled youth, Notre Dame football fans can only lament what could have, or better yet, should have been.

How disappointing has this 2009 season been for Fighting Irish fans? How many would have believed Notre Dame would be limping across the country to play Stanford in the season finale with a 6-5 record? A When the 2009 schedule was first released, many pointed to this game against Stanford as a tough test to end the season.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis tried Tuesday to keep the focus on Saturday's game at Stanford but became terse when pressed about an incident outside a South Bend bar involving quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

Connecticut made Notre Dame pay for not getting into the end zone from the Huskies' 2-yard line to open the second half.

Notre Dame practiced indoors Tuesday as it was overcast in South Bend with intermediate bouts of rain.

With Notre Dame's season in ruins, many people want to pin the blame on defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta.A They say there's nothing wrong with an offense that puts up 30 points a gamea 'an offense that has only lost the total yards battle twice this season .A They say it's the defense that's been responsible for the demise in 2009.

I'll always be a fan of Notre Dame Football. I love the idea of a team of student athletes playing competitively against the best team money can buy out on the West Coast.

Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen throws a touchdown pass against Washington State.

Question: What do you get when you combine the nation's top pass rush and its seventh-leading rusher? Answer: You get Pittsburgh.

I wrote a feature article for today's paper about Navy cornerbacks Blake Carter and Kevin Edwards, both of whom had big games against Notre Dame.

Notre Dame's 23-21 home loss to Navy Saturday was such a disaster that the National Guard may have to be called in to help clean up the mess.

Navy's victory celebration wasn't as emotional and raucous as the last time it beat Notre Dame here.

TV/radio: 1:30 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5, WLS-AM 890. Records: Notre Dame 6-2; Navy 6-3. Last meeting: Notre Dame won 27-21 on Nov.

Charlie Weis and Jack Swarbrick are brilliant men. For Coach Weis and AD Swarbrick to push a 7-4-1 schedule model, successfully execute an off-site home game in San Antonio, and solidify a New York City game amidst the already hallowed confines of Yankee Stadium is ingenious.

Navy's football team has done a remarkable job of not losing consecutive games over the last seven years.

Coming off its most productive offensive performance in four seasons, Notre Dame now welcomes back one of its most important weapons.

John Goodman remembers the Alamodome, all right. It's the last stadium in which he caught a touchdown pass.