Armando Allen News

Athletic director Jack Swarbrick said he reached out to a number of people during the search for Notre Dame's next football coach.

It came literally in the first few days of Jack Swarbrick moving into the Joyce Center, perhaps before he had even located the coffee maker.

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.

As the Charlie Weis era draws to an end, it's worth exploring some reasons why the brash talking Jersey boy who served as offensive coordinator for three Super Bowls for the New England Patriots, won't return for a sixth season.

PALO ALTO, Calif. a ' Same old story: Almost enough offense. Not enough defense.

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.

What to watch from Notre Dame in its regular-season finale at Stanford on Saturday: 1. The pluck of the Irish: Notre Dame has bounced back from disappointing losses this year to at least be competitive the following week.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis won't stay on the West Coast to recruit as planned after the Fighting Irish play at Stanford.

For the second straight season following its final home game, Notre Dame's senior class walked off the field in defeat.

The closest thing to booing at the final football pep rally of the season was some scattered groaning when Notre Dame fifth-year senior Scott Smith tried his hand briefly at standup comedy.

Andre Dixon scored on a four-yard touchdown run in the second overtime, as the Connecticut Huskies finally pulled out a close game and beat Notre Dame, 33-30 at Notre Dame Stadium.

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

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Naturally, as Notre Dame and Connecticut never have met before on the football field, that imminent game was worth a conversation when Armando Allen and Jasper "Jazz" Howard crossed paths at an offseason party near their Miami-area homes.

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 at Pittsburgh When : 7 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Field TV : Channel 7; Radio: WLS 890-AM Series: Notre Dame leads 44-19-1. Coaches : Charlie Weis ; Dave Wannstedt Players to watch: Notre Dame junior QB Jimmy Clausen set career bests for completions , attempts and yards last week against Navy, which makes one wonder if those numbers inspired ...

Coming off a bye week, the Black Knights found themselves in a 7-7 halftime tie against Air Force on Saturday.

Non-conference rivals will collide on Saturday under the lights, as the red-hot Pittsburgh Panthers host the disappointing Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Numerous times on Tuesday during his weekly press conference, Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis was asked about his future, which has come into question after last week's loss to Navy.