I've been meaning to give NDLNA a plug for weeks now, always thinking "Oh, I'll just throw something quick up in the morning" before forgetting.  While we all know that the online gathering point for all things Irish is NDNation and the various message boards hosted there, sometimes you have to weed through a lot of, well, junk to get to the good stuff.  NDLNA is your simple link aggregator, but solely dedicated to Notre Dame news.  Whether it's linking to one of the many great ND blogs, a NDNation post or something in the mainstream media, if it's out there and relevant, somebody will probably put it on the site.

If you're not yet aware of it, head on over, register and contribute to the Irish community.

~ SBN's own Black Shoe Diaries puts up a very comprehensive history of the Notre Dame/Penn State rivalry that you probably want to check out.  We're going to address the Penn State issue next week, but to have some idea of what we're dealing with, we must look at comments like this one:

The ridiculous "God is on our Side" ignorance/arrogance of Notre Dame fans in general has been insufferable through the years and, yes, that 1973 bowl game is where it really got started (Thank you MIke for your fine summary).  The game and the score were close, as I recall, but the media fawning over Notre Dame was just too much.

So to add to the list, Notre Dame arrogance should rank right up there.  They are like the Yankees.  You either love them or hate them.  As fo rme, I hope neither the Yankees nor the Irish ever win another game.  Even if it would catapault us to number one, I just couldm't bring myself to cheer for Notre Dame.  (Hey, I also tried routing for Miami in '94 against Nebraska but in the end I just couldn't do it.)

Number two would be the fact that Notre Dame should be in the Big Ten but refuse to join.  They are afraid of us.  That's right.  You heard me.  AFRAID of us!!!  Their NBC television deal is a pitiful excuse.  I propose that all Big Ten teams boycott playing them until they join!  They would have to fill the rest of their schedule with more military academy games.  Maybe the Citadel and VMI?

Number three would be the television deal.  Who do they think they are anyway?  Has there even been one good Notre Dame game on NBC since signing this deal?  Perhaps that squeaker against Nebraska, but other than that, I can't think of any.  How does such a mediocre, over-rated school get such a television deal?  I'd love to see those TV ratings..
Number four would be the sheer cheesiness of "Touchdown Jesus."  FYI -- He's throwing up his hands in disgust.

Number five would be "Rudy, Rudy!"  Okay, okay, I'll concede that "Something for Joey" ranks higher on the puke-o-meter, so let's call that one a draw.
Oh, I could go on, but this is getting long.  No team in the Big Ten evokes more out of me than Notre Dame nor will they ever.  Notre Dame is, in the words of Seinfeld's Neuman, a "vile and useless pustule."

Sigh.  

~ This is very much dated, but you should really check out this clip of a radio show believing one of EDSBS's ridiculous stories.  You'd think somebody at the station would fact check a grown man calling out a little girl in a press conference, but I suppose there really isn't a red flag there...

~ The NCAA Football series is by far my favorite football video game.  I can't even plan Madden at this point, with all the bells, whistles and lack of option.  There's a lot of videos floating around in anticipation of Tuesday's release, but this one of an alternate ending to the 2005 Rose Bowl coupled with Pete's reaction has to be my favorite.

~ OCDomer, a great Notre Dame site that has sprung up over the last six months or so, takes a position by a Domer most Irish haters might have a hard time wrapping their mind around: He argues Notre Dame wasn't one of the best 25 teams of the last decade.  With all of the great blogs popping up for every team, especially the Irish, this next season is going to be a fun one to follow.

~ Finally, both the ever-awesome Sunday Morning Quarterback and Her Loyal Sons have previews up for Georgia Tech here and here.  Words from the wise Matt Hinton I fear true: "Notre Dame is so young and subsequently so ripe for being blitzed into oblivion in the opener."  Not going to be an easy first couple of months, folks.  Trial by fire for all the kids.
That's a depressing way to end, isn't it? Well then, let's close out with this. Happy Friday, boys and girls.