NFL team eyeball Notre Dame assistant coach. Kelly announces changes to coaching staff for 2012.

It was an eventful Friday at Notre Dames press conference. Head coach Brian Kelly announced his coaching changes to the media, but it was the news that had been swirling around South Bend all week about the NFL’s Green Bay Packers approach Kelly and Notre Dame about the availability of assistant coach Tony Alford, that grabbed most of the attention. The Packers have recently hired Tom Clements as their offensive co-ordinator.

Clements played for the Irish where he was the starting quarterback for the Notre Dame football team from 1972 to 1974 and led the team to a national championship in 1973. He also served on the Notre Dame coaching staff as quarterbacks coach under head coach Lou Holtz from 1992-1995.

In the press conference on Friday at the Gug, Alford had the following to say about the interest shown by the 2011 World Champions:

“I foresee myself as a college football coach. Today, right now, that’s what I foresee myself doing. And I don’t want that to sound like it’s cryptic, meaning maybe tomorrow, I am coaching at the University of Notre Dame. … I enjoy the guys I work with. I feel good where I’m at.”

Alford went on to say, “My heart tells me this is where I’m supposed to be,” he said. “Can I put my finger on why? No. But this is where I’m supposed to be right now.”

Friday also saw head coach Brian Kelly shuffle his coaching staff for 2012. Perhaps the most notable move was Chuck Martin moving from defense to serve as offensive coordinator and coach the quarterbacks. The aforementioned Alford will continue to coach the running backs but will also be involved with passing game by way of coaching the slot receivers. Alford will also hold the tittle of recruiting co-ordinator.

Special teams will be headed up by Scott Booker, but each assistant coach will have an area to direct on special teams.

New additions to the coaching staff include Harry Hiestand who was hired from Tennessee as offensive line coach and serve as running game coordinator, while Bob Elliott, who was hired from Iowa State, will coach the safeties.

2012 Notre Dame Football Coaching Staff


Brian Kelly – Head Coach
Bob Diaco – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Kerry Cooks – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks
Chuck Martin – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Tony Alford – Running Backs and Slot Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
Scott Booker – Tight Ends/Special Teams Coordinator
Mike Denbrock – Outside Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator
Bob Elliott – Safeties
Mike Elston – Defensive Line
Harry Hiestand – Offensive Line/Running Game Coordinator

Below is the full press conference:

Fighting Irish running back Jonas Gray invited to NFL Combine

Jonas Gray’s 79yd TD vs Pitt

Fighting Irish running back, Jonas Gray, has been invited to the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine. Graywill join fellow Fighting Irish players DB Robert Blanton, OL Taylor Dever, LB Darius Fleming, WR Michael Floyd and DB Harrison Smith, to showcase their talents to the NFL experts.

But it is Gray’s invitation alone that has so many Notre Dame fans relieved. Last season Jonas Gray had a breakthrough year in the Irish backfield along with fellow senior to be running back Cierre Wood. Both players combined for almost 1,900 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns between them.

Known as the “comedian” on the Fighting Irish team in 2011, Gray got his 2011 season off to an auspicious start against the University of South Florida. On the opening drive the Irish marched down the field and faced a 1st & Goal on the Bulls 3 yard line. Gray took the ball over left tackle and was stripped by the Bulls defense. The pigskin was recovered by USF’s Kayvon Webster who ran 96 yards down the sideline for the games opening drive.

After a sit down heart-to-heart talk with Brian Kelly, Gray went on to have one of the finest comeback seasons in recent Notre Dame history. Gray ended the season with 114 carries for 812, whopping 6.9 yards per carry, and ended the season with a team leading 12 touchdowns, tying him for ninth on the school’s all-time single-season list. The highlight of his season cam against a close win over Pittsburgh in which Gray scampered for a 79 yard TD run. He also scored 3 TD’s against the Navy Midshipmen.

Grays season would come to a dramatic end though. Playing against a very tough Boston College side, Gray took a dump off in the left flat from QB Tommy Rees for a 3 yard gain. He would leave the game with a season ending torn ACL in his knee.

The pain on his face and tears in his eyes on the sideline were evident for everyone to see that his injury had ended his breakout year and could possibly hamper his future expectations of turning pro in 2012. Thankfully, those expectations are still very much alive.

The selected Notre Dame players will have the opportunity to show off their raw talents to the professional scouts and coaches on February 22 – 28, 2012.

Notre Dame’s Justin Tuck lights up NFL playboy Tom Brady and New England to win his second Super Bowl ring

One of two sacks by Irish legend Tuck.

Eli Manning walked to the podium on Sunday night safe in the mind that his accomplishment had solidified his standing as an ELITE Quarterback in the National Football League. What seemed to have gotten lost in the mayhem of the final aftermath was that former Notre Dame player Justin Tuck played as important a role (worthy of MVP recognition) in Eli’s and the New York Giants 21-17 upset of the New England Patriots.

Born 29th March 1983, Justin Tuck played high school football in Alabama at Central Coosa County. He played Defensive End and Tight End in high school and recorded 492 tackles with 37 sacks, 26 forced fumbles, and 17 fumble recoveries.

Tuck signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Notre Dame in 2001 and redshirted his freshman season with the Fighting Irish. His first sack came in his Sophomore season against Michigan State.

Nicknamed “The Freak” by his teammates for his raw athleticism, Tuck holds several defensive records at Notre Dame. Topping the previous record mark of 22.5 sacks by Kory Minor, Tuck finished his Notre Dame career with 24.5 sacks. His career 43 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in a single season are also school records.

Tuck was signed in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, 74th overall, by the New York Giants. In his rookie season he manly played a backup role to Pro Bowl defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora on the New York Giants depth chart. His first sack came against the Dallas Cowboys.

Tuck would go onto become an vital cog of the New York Giants defensive line that upset the New England Patriots perfect season in 2007 and again on Sunday night, which saw the Fighting Irish legend hurry and harass NFL playboy Tom Brady. Tuck sacked Brady twice and forced an intentional grounding in the end zone on New England’s very first play from scrummage which resulted in a safety for New York.

In a Super Bowl so reminiscent of the 2007 game, Tuck took over the leadership role on this occasion, much like Michael Strahan did. With :57 seconds remaining in the game, Tuck rallied his defense on the sidelines.

“I think a lot of guys had their eyes lit up,” he said. “I said ‘This is what we’ve been working hard for all year, and we’ve got 57 seconds left to be world champs.”

Tuck has one more year on his five-year, $30 million contract signed in January 2008. Whenever his career is over with the Giants, he’s going to be missed by the organization. He’s planted himself firmly in the New York Giants’ & Notre Dame Fighting Irish storied annals.