This is the best ND podcast hands down. Every time there’s a new episode I download and save it for the weekend so I can crack a few millers and listen to it in all its 2+ hour long glory. A couple of questions if that’s cool: 1) Which is more: Jeremiyah Love hurdles this season -or- ESPN Gameday appearances for Notre Dame in 2025? 2) Who do ya’ll main in MarioKart? Koopa is my go-to. Thanks for all you do! You guys rock!

This used to be my favorite ND podcast. Lately though, Brendan and Jude’s political bootlicking has grown too much and is too annoying to deal with. On older episodes it was a brief foray into these topics (like Brendan saying TikTok should be banned). Now it seems to envelop much more of every episode (Brendan seems fine now that the proposed ban was extended. I wonder why?). I miss the days of frozen pizza arguments, crazy conspiracy theories, and Clausen love. Josh, you still rule.

Just like aSuper Bowl LIX CHAMPION Ian Book this pod is five stars.

Culpa de todo a mis raíces me presenté con botas Y arruinó tu asunto de gala El último en enterarse El último en mostrar Yo fui el último que pensaste que verías allí Y vi la sorpresa Y el miedo en sus ojos Cuando tomé su copa de champagne Y brindé por ti Dijo: "Cariño, es posible que hayamos terminado, Pero nunca me oirás quejarme". Porque tengo amigos en lugares bajos Donde el whisky se ahoga Y las persecuciones de cerveza Mi tristeza lejos Y estaré bien No soy muy aficionado a las gracias sociales. Creo que me deslizaré hasta el oasis Oh, tengo amigos en lugares bajos

You guys are normally the best. Jude and Brendan were absolutely unhinged talked about the title game though. Please take a breath and watch the game. Losing is going to be part of the process and is going to make the ultimate win even better. I won’t stop listening, but I encourage a re-watch of the game. I was there, it was not nearly as bad as you made it sound. We got beat by a better team, but gutted it out and made a game of it. More swearing in 2025. Vamos!

Jude and Brendan, thank you for carrying the pod this week while Josh sat in silence and wallowed in his sorrows after being “talked over” while on mute. I am bummed Golden is leaving, but without his genius blitz on 4th and 12, we had a shot. I personally like Mickens as an inside hire, but most definitely want a search done before we settle on another first time coach at their position. Who would you guys be interested in having their name being floated for the position?

Great podcast but what the heck are you guys talking about regarding Marcus Freeman? He's not going anywhere. Where was Joshua to keep you guys in reality?

Fellas, In my 25 years of life this is the most fun I’ve had watching a Notre Dame team, and I can’t believe they’re finally doing the thing. I shed a tear when Jeter hit the kick to beat Penn State (and shared Jude’s skepticism of Mitch leading into the yoffs) This one meant a little bit more to me. My little brother who I’ve been lucky enough to share my love for ND with was diagnosed with Leukemia the night before game-day, and the Irish provided a much needed jolt of happiness for him as he starts chemo. You don’t have to be Catholic to love ND, but the religious community that comes with the fandom is one of the coolest and most unique things about the ND experience. I would humbly ask for all who are the praying kind to keep big Kev in yours over the next few months. Sorry for the lengthy review. Go Irish, and beat my in-state Buckeyes!

Dedicated apostle of the OFD/Earned 5 Star doctrine and multi time reviewer. I was fully off the Freeman train after NIU. I came on here to write a review stating that he was turning us into Nebraska post-Tom Osborne but the review never made it through due to some choice language. I am very glad to expose my own freezing cold take and watch him grow as a coach and explode all the narratives about Notre Dame football that I’ve had to endure during my 30 years of life. And while we’re in the business of exploding narratives, the Lads might as well come out with the Atomic Shamrocks on the helmets in the Natty cause when they win the title the college football world will literally have its collective mind blown. And speaking of blowing minds, how bum hurt do all the old heads have to be watching 4 straight games with NAMES on the jerseys? GASP! Anyways, OFD/E5S forever and go Irish!

As a lifelong Notre Dame fan I can’t help but be emotional right now. Due to family connections on my grandpa’s side I became a ND fan before I could walk or talk. He raised me on the religion of Notre Dame football. Before the Indiana game my grandfather passed away. I like to think that he and his lifelong friend Brian Boulac pulled the invisible string that tripped that Penn State DB. And then of course that he guided in Jeter’s game winning field goal. There is no better time to be a Notre Dame fan right now and as Ricky Bobby once said, “I don’t know what to do with my hands.” Go Irish, beat buckeyes!

James Franklin is the Temu version of Mr. Clean. -Tim Flynn

Hey guys, Hopefully my second review from my phone went through, otherwise this is awkward. Stole my wife’s phone while she was sleeping to give you another boost. Love the pod, and will never be able to quit you. Let’s take this all the way! The guys remember the OSU loss last year, and Cutty Sarkeisien isn’t there yet to win a natty. GOD WILLING, this is our year. Hopefully there’s a perfect ending to the future award winning doc here come the Irish! Again love the pod! Come to enemy territory in socal for the next SC game so we can tailgate in 2026!! Love another so cal Irish fan not named Greg

Death, taxes, James Franklin losing against AP top 25 teams

Gentlemen: I have been listening to this always informative, always entertaining, always lengthy podcast for as long as it has been around. Can’t get enough. If I could give the three of you a sixth star I would. I too have been a victim of forgotten food in my car and the wonderful aroma it leaves. In my case it was 4-month old rancid pork chops. Joshua: the name of the movie you are looking for is Boxing Helena. An early 90’s era Sherilyn Fenn vehicle. Fully on board with black jerseys at some point, although I think we should break out mesh half-jerseys for the IU game. Keep up the good work. #GoIrish, #BeatIU, #JulianSands, #IndustrialWasteland.

The conference championship week and CFP selection show is a chance for me as an ND fan to take stock of how the different conferences feel about their place in the national college football landscape. It was stunning to listen to media members and conferences members discuss dropping the conference championship games or opting out of the conference championship games to improve a team’s playoff odds. I thought ND not being in a conference is what was holding them back from being a “relevant” and “legitimate” program. So which is it? It was also down-right disgusting to hear former players on certain shows downplaying the conference title games. Players are competitors; they want to beat any team, any place, any time. Journalists just don’t get that and it’s clear these player pundits are being given a company line to toe. Being independent like ND is makes it clear what the only thing that matters should be: win your games. Go out on the field and compete and win more than everyone else in the country and you’ll be in the postseason. If you lose more games than 12-15 other teams you don’t deserve to play for a national championship

There’s only one football team in Indiana, that’s it… that’s the review. LFG

85 days ago I had to console my 7 year old daughter in the stands against NIU. Saturday I was teaching her how to do the upside down fight on. That’s been the best part for me man. Just the bonding time I had with her the last 10 games. I know they weren’t against world beaters but it’s been one of the most enjoyable ND seasons I’ve had. Thanks for all you do guys. And keep up the great work. #independenceforever #RTDB #homeruninnpizza #20time5starreviewer

5 stars of course and I love listening to the show. Been listening for years. But you’re takes on Colorado and Coach Prime and his players are garbage. They were garbage last year when he first started and they’re even more garbage this year. For instance, on the recent show you said Travis Hunter wasn’t an elite player at either position. Yet consider the following excerpt of stats: Hunter has 82 catches for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. That’s more catches and touchdowns than Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan and more in all three categories than Missouri’s Luther Burden or Texas’ Isaiah Bond by far. These three other WRs are widely considered among the best in college and yet he outperforms them. Coach Sanders for all his hubris and the faults he may have is a genuinely good coach. He develops his players on and off the field. Just because he keeps receipts and says some wild things sometimes doesn’t mean he ain’t a good coach. Jesus Christ, yall need to stop hating him/them so much. None of your takes on CU or Sanders have aged well. But keep up the good work otherwise. Go Irish!

Made the trek to NYC over the weekend to watch our beloved Irish demolish the troops. Unfortunately, I and most missed the first quarter since being stuck in line to get for an hr and a half. Great work short-staffing the gates, Yankees… aside from that disaster it was as enjoyable as a blowout could be. The unis looked great, but my only gripe was that as a spectator in the stands, it was hard to read the shiny gold numbers in that gothic font. Looking forward to this weeks recap and preview. Keep up the great work and enjoy Thanksgiving! Go Irish. Beat SC. -Sean from Rochester

Lots of predictions/projections out there. Gonna leave mine based on what I think the final will look like. 1) Oregon (B10) 2) Alabama (SEC) 3) Miami (ACC) 4 Boise (MWC) 5 Texas (SEC 2nd place) 6) Ohio ST (B10 2nd place) 7) Colorado (B12) 8) ND 9) Georgia 10) Penn ST 11) Ole Miss 12) Indiana. Love the pod, stay professional.

Sono onorato e grato che tu mi abbia invitato al matrimonio di tua figlia... il giorno del matrimonio di tua figlia. E spero che il loro primo figlio sia un bambino maschile. Prometto la mia fedeltà infinita.

You guys have perfected the “sports bar hang” style of podcast and have great knowledge of the game. I am a diehard ND fan but learn constantly from you guys, also appreciate the convos about other ND sports… now onto the important stuff. After 37 years of heartbreakingly wonderful fandom, I will finally be seeing ND in person in Notre Dame Stadium, taking on Virginia! Bringing some friends who are also college football nerds for 3 days, Fri-Mon, staying in town. For the umpteenth time, I am asking you to share advice on must do’s for possibly a once in a lifetime visit (live out west). Only ask for the true highlights as I don’t want to crowd or overwhelm the trip. Also need tips for tailgates, places to eat, and where to watch NFL on Sunday. Our Lady of the Lake, bless us. Thanks in advance and GO IRISH! I don’t eat frozen pizza and have nothing left in the tank.

Love the show fellas! Keep up the great work. I have a few “finally” items to bring up. First, we FINALLY saw the Riley Lenard we thought we were getting this past Saturday against The Cardinal. If we can continue to see the improvements, the team stays healthy and we see this version of Riley Lenard, we’ll be in good shape. Second, I read Josh’s article on the rivalry trophies and couldn’t agree more. We FINALLY see some semblance of pettiness by drinking from the trophy. As college football heads towards being NFL lite (as you mentioned), I hope we don’t lose the pettiness we all love (i.e. the stupid Purdue drum from a couple of years ago). Stay petty my friends! Lastly, my wife was out of town a few weeks ago so I FINALLY got to try Homerun Inn pizza for the first time. Love, love, love it! Thanks for the recommendation! Keep up the great work you guys do! Go Irish!

Notre Dame football maybe a roller coaster but this pod is never a let down, great job guys keep it up. Eric Crouch put on a good performance Saturday, oops I meant to say Riley Leonard. Freeman is in a terrible position as I have no faith Leonard can beat a talented defense and Angeli did not look like a starting QB. I say we just make Love the QB and run the wildcat. But seriously given all the time, energy, and money that has gone into getting the last two transfer QBs, Leonard is basically Tyler Buchner with two years of starts under his belt but possibly worse. So we went through all that to end up where we started. My question is why haven’t we been able to pass the ball for the last 4 years but teams without a tenth of the talent find a way. Is it the WRs, the QBs, the OCs or all of the above?

This was the worst coached game, and it’s all due Riley Leonard’s lack of playmaking ability. I know you guys were not all high on him during the offseason. Is it time to move on from RL? He now has two games under his belt and thrown for just over 300 yards and 2 INTs…. How is this okay? Please tell me if I’m being crazy, I might have been drinking whiskey all day during this game so maybe I’m overrating. I don’t think so though. Love the pod, keep up the amazing earned five star ridiculousness!

Long time listener, first time reviewer. Love the Pod, you guys are awesome and keep it real. No other ND podcast out there that I can stand to listen too. Homefield is an elite 5 star apparel company! I don’t see MF getting fired. Heck, a 4-8 Brian Kelly didn’t get fired. Sure Brian Kelly went off and won a ton of games after 2016. But what are we doing? I like MF a lot. He is the complete anti-BK, he is handsome, likable, seems genuine and a coach people want to be around. But I think this is strike 3. Marshall Strike 1. Stanford Strike 2. NIU Strike 3. This offense seems scary bad. Does MF make a QB change to try and save his job? In the transfer portal era now MF is dealing with the optics of benching a transfer and what ramifications that has. O we won’t ever get a transfer QB again? Who cares, we have been catfished twice the last 2 years. Why not start a young guy and show belief in him. A guy that you have recruited and signed and developed. Thats has to show more to recruits than basically hiring a transfer QB. What sorry people dropped thousands/millions to bring in Riley Leonard. I like MF as a guy. I want this to work out. I want to be elite. I want to win a natty. Just seems so far away. Start Carr or Minchy. I can’t do another Drew Pyne 2.0 season with Angeli.

The supreme warlord of the show clearly has acute bronchitis and should seek treatment for his condition. His voice is a combination of a gravelly yell and phlegm reminiscent of those 80’s Tom Carvel commercials. Jude and Brendan are indistinguishable from each other and exist solely in the same vocal range. One of the JudaLinden duo, has incredibly bad musical taste that is analogous to a salmon under the backseat of a car. This is not to say that I do not enjoy the podcast. I most certainly do and have been an avid listener for many years. The commentary and debates about ND Football are worth the listen. Sometimes they devolve in half-baked conspiracies but quickly come back to the topic at hand. This is a well deserved 5 star review albeit with one caveat: using your vast connections and reach; please looking into one more conspiracy for me and maybe amplify its existence. Did Bruce Feldman defecate while recording The Audible podcast for over 10 minutes? This has bothered me for years and the episode is quite the listen. The episode is from 10/4/2020. Enjoy!

Great podcast! You guys got me into the Notre Dame podcast scene and between listening to you guys and Irish Illustrated i am always up to date on Irish information. For opening weekend what should be my drink of choice when the Irish beat down the Aggies?

If you're searching for a podcast that delivers the kind of satisfaction I used to get from watching an academy grad trip over their own ego, look no further than Joshua, Jude and Brendan. This show is so packed with greatness, it’s like stumbling upon the best tacos in Austin when you’ve been settling for mediocre Tex-Mex your whole life. As a transplant from northeast Indiana, where cornfields and questionable weather were the highlights, I’ve learned to appreciate the finer things—like the perfect taco or, more importantly, a perfect podcast. And let me tell you, this podcast is the filet mignon of the audio world. As a prior enlisted Navy sailor, nothing made me happier than eviscerating Navy every year like it was my personal Super Bowl. Then Weiss came along and ruined the fun. But thankfully, Earned 5-Star swooped in to fill that void with sharp wit, deep dives, and more entertainment than I ever thought I’d find in a podcast. It’s the kind of show that makes you laugh, think, and maybe even question your life choices—like why you ever doubted Austin had the best tacos let alone BBQ. Five stars? I’d give it six if I could, just to stick it to those academy grads one last time.

F, Marry, k*ll Jack Coan, Sam Hartman and Riley Leonard Keep up the great work fellas

I’ve been listening to this podcast for close to 2 years now I think. The best part of this podcast is that often it doesn’t feel like a podcast. You tune in expecting to hear about Notre Dame recruiting or something, but instead the Supreme Defender (or whatever he calls himself) is going on a 38 minute rant about the audacity of Meijer Supermarkets. The podcast always feels original, never scripted, and the takes are authentic. The long episode times are another big plus. The only knock I have on them is they can sometimes take extended breaks from posting new episodes. Maybe they’re just content rising up the Apple rankings while sitting at home eating cheeseburgers. Great show, Go Irish

Hi guys Per your request I am dropping a new review (my last one was four year ago when my son was a sophomore and now he’s a graduate). We both are still here listening and laughing with you guys. As a ND swim alumna, I would be remiss to not call to your attention the monumental accomplishment of one Chris Giuliano who took the US Olympic swimming trials by storm. Not only is he the first ND men’s swimmer to represent the US at the Olympics, he did something no US swimmer since the great Matt Biondi did in 1988. Chris qualified for all three of the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events. This also places him on our 4 x 100 free and 4 x 200 free relays and possibly a medley relay. To get there he improved his 200 free from the 28th seed to finish second overall and drop a staggering 3.5 seconds off his time. I highly recommend you watch the replay of this race just to listen to the great Rowdy Gaines make the call and yell “GO IRISH! GO IRISH!” At the end. (I would rank Rowdy as the most enjoyable and enthusiastic announcer of any sport). If you don’t follow swimming I don’t know how to explain how huge this is for Chris and the ND swimming program. He was a relatively unheralded recruit out of high school so if this is not an earned five star I don’t know what one is. Keep up the great work and I hope you all follow Chris on his quest to become an Olympic champion. Go Irish!!

What’s Up? Another review from me? How Bizarre! I was Walking in Memphis this week listening to the latest episode when I realized I had such a Crush on you three. Who do I like best? I am Torn. I was wearing Black Velvet while listening; that fabric is Gonna Make You Sweat! I was so entertained by this week’s topics. I truly love your podcast. But What is Love, really? Bottom line - I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) your podcast’s biggest fan because, quite simply, Nothing Compares 2 U. In all future episodes, I’ll Be There for You. (In all seriousness, great work, guys. And now, it’s Closing Time for this review.)

I’m disappointed that the augmented reality walkthrough room of the new facility wasn’t discussed more. It sounds like the holodeck from Star Trek and has so many possibilities. So, I ask this, if you could use the room for whatever you’d like and visit any moment in time: What ND-related event would you witness? What non-ND related historical event?

“At least you have a daddy”

“How do you write women so well?” “I think of a man, and I tale away reason and accountability”

2, 3+ hours per show, no thanks.

Only downfall about this podcast is that it isn't out daily. Apparently families and lives outside a podcast are important. Always a good listen and appreciate the time you guys put in.

It’s alright

Hi guys! First of all, I hope Jude’s surgery went smoothly and that he is recovering well. Secondly, during the last pod I heard a call for people to flay Brendan, so here is my opinion on his worst-ever take on this show. Apologies for the length of this review. [Deep breath, begin playful rant] As a 40-year-old who enjoys both Harry Potter and the Middle-earth saga (amongst other series because reading is fun), I have to ask Brendan “¿por qué no los dos?!” (the Spanish was thrown in there specially for Josh). Brendan explained that he doesn’t like HP because it is for children and that he, as a then-13-year-old that supposedly read exclusively adult literature (weird flex, but OK) and who didn’t want to check out a book with an 11-year-old protagonist, only read LotR instead. However, the fact is that both series are juvenile fiction and so this argument that one is supposedly more adult than the other made absolutely no sense. If anything, the compulsion to act that way was in itself childish. I daresay the compulsion to continue acting that way now, as an adult, is even more so. Yeah, maybe JK Rowling didn’t invent her own language like JRR Tolkien did, but both series have very rich world-building, extensive lore, layered storytelling and characters that mature with the reader, which is what made both of them so phenomenal. Everyone I know who read the books and/or watched the movies for one series also did the same for the other, so I’m not sure where Brendan got the impression that there were sides drawn up over this. JKR uses a lot of the same clue/Easter egg-hiding techniques that AC Doyle does in his literature - is Sherlock Holmes only for children now? Is CS Lewis OK because he and JRRT were friends? Am I allowed to enjoy Rick Riordan’s work, or do I have to read Hesiod to my children in the original Greek? Where does it end, Brendan? Where does it end? Apologies to any listeners who only recently subscribed and have no idea what the frick (sorry for the language, Class of ‘Seventy-whatever) I was going on about - this was a topic that came up last June. I’m sure Brendan has other, more recent, bad takes out there, like how a record-setting fan-favourite has to risk his draft position and what few years he has as an NFL running back over a meaningless mid-tier bowl game because Brian lives rent-free in our (and I assume also Bearcats fans') heads for some reason. Who am I to decide? But the Harry Potter one was definitely egregious. [end playful rant] In all seriousness, I do appreciate all of you guys’ takes; even when I don’t fully agree with them, they are almost always pretty insightful and good food for thought. And I appreciate so much more about this extremely professional show - whether it is Josh explaining (correctly) why Michigan’s bigotry is solely responsible for all that is currently going wrong with college football, Brendan boosting my confidence heading into a game when he breaks down just how much the other team is hot trash, Jude casually dropping Les Mis references, or just the random tangents you all travel down, it is a fun listen. And as a dad myself (I have a 1-year-old whom I'll sometimes let listen to parts of the show with me and a 3-year-old whom I definitely do not), I especially relish the dad stories. OK, the real real reason you are the best is that you acknowledge how awesome our fencing team is. I know it, you know it, we all know it, but it’s just so darn nice to hear out loud every now and then - thanks for that! Go Irish! P.S. Can we have another option in addition to Apple Podcasts for leaving ratings and reviews, say Google Podcasts or something on that tier of visibility? It is nigh impossible if you do not use an iPhone, even if you have a Mac computer. I've tried several times (which is why my review references things from June) through the MacOS version of the Podcasts application - the submissions just immediately vanish. I finally broke down and borrowed someone's iPhone, but I'm guessing you're missing out on a lot of people who just give up. Ratings and reviews do not influence the Apple Podcast charts nor search algorithms, so if you're doing this solely for feedback and listener interaction, you're losing half your audience. Again, ¿por qué no los dos?

Hi guys! First of all, I hope Jude’s surgery went smoothly and that he is recovering well. Secondly, during the last pod I heard a call for people to flay Brendan, so here is my opinion on his worst-ever take on this show. Apologies for the length of this review. [Deep breath, begin playful rant] As a 40-year-old who enjoys both Harry Potter and the Middle-earth saga (amongst other series because reading is fun), I have to ask Brendan “¿por qué no los dos?!” (the Spanish was thrown in there specially for Josh). Brendan explained that he doesn’t like HP because it is for children and that he, as a then-13-year-old that supposedly read exclusively adult literature (weird flex, but OK) and who didn’t want to check out a book with an 11-year-old protagonist, only read LotR instead. However, the fact is that both series are juvenile fiction and so this argument that one is supposedly more adult than the other made absolutely no sense. If anything, the compulsion to act that way was in itself childish. I daresay the compulsion to continue acting that way now, as an adult, is even more so. Yeah, maybe JK Rowling didn’t invent her own language like JRR Tolkien did, but both series have very rich world-building, extensive lore, layered storytelling and characters that mature with the reader, which is what made both of them so phenomenal. Everyone I know who read the books and/or watched the movies for one series also did the same for the other, so I’m not sure where Brendan got the impression that there were sides drawn up over this. JKR uses a lot of the same clue/Easter egg-hiding techniques that AC Doyle does in his literature - is Sherlock Holmes only for children now? Is CS Lewis OK because he and JRRT were friends? Am I allowed to enjoy Rick Riordan’s work, or do I have to read Hesiod to my children in the original Greek? Where does it end, Brendan? Where does it end? Apologies to any listeners who only recently subscribed and have no idea what the frick (sorry for the language, Class of ‘Seventy-whatever) I was going on about - this was a topic that came up last June. I’m sure Brendan has other, more recent, bad takes out there, like how a record-setting fan-favourite has to risk his draft position and what few years he has as an NFL running back over a meaningless mid-tier bowl game because Brian lives rent-free in our (and I assume also Bearcats fans') heads for some reason. Who am I to decide? But the Harry Potter one was definitely egregious. [end playful rant] In all seriousness, I do appreciate all of you guys’ takes; even when I don’t fully agree with them, they are almost always pretty insightful and good food for thought. And I appreciate so much more about this extremely professional show - whether it is Josh explaining (correctly) why Michigan’s bigotry is solely responsible for all that is currently going wrong with college football, Brendan boosting my confidence heading into a game when he breaks down just how much the other team is hot trash, Jude casually dropping Les Mis references, or just the random tangents you all travel down, it is a fun listen. And as a dad myself (I have a 1-year-old whom I'll sometimes let listen to parts of the show with me and a 3-year-old whom I definitely do not), I especially relish the dad stories. OK, the real real reason you are the best is that you acknowledge how awesome our fencing team is. I know it, you know it, we all know it, but it’s just so darn nice to hear out loud every now and then - thanks for that! Go Irish!

Jude is damned right I’d love a home playoff game. Hockey sweater over a Carhartt hoodie? The best. And we won’t be drinking beer Jude, we gonna be drinking bourbon spiked cider warmed. It will bring a new meaning to toasty. People that are afraid of football weather need to grow up. BC last year was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. Keep up the great work, Go Irish. PS Over the River and Through the Woods is the GOAT Thanksgiving song. ( not like there is a large selection lol)

"Tony Springman" earned 5-star. Buckle up, because this Is a long one. Shoutout from Kentucky... when all of us subway alums from the Bluegrass State first saw Tony flying around like a wild man with those wavy red locks wafting in the breeze, it was as if we were seeing one of our very own plucked from the Walmart parking lot and given free reign to wreak havoc on the football field for one of the most prestigious and hallowed football programs in the land. No surprise he's a river rat (albeit the Saint Mary’s River)just like all the best of us Eastern Kentucky boys... Unfortunately, the only tangible contribution my area of the Commonwealth (Northeast Kentucky) has ever given our beloved Irish is Gerad Parker. Don't get me out of the way here: we are all extremely proud of him... we love him to pieces and we know he's going to learn from this season and grow as a coach and go on to do great things. But right now... he just ain't the one, as the kids say. As for you boys... Love you guys. But fellas... The Sam Hartman hype was atrocious across the board. There's a reason this guy isn't in the NFL and once we got past the first stretch of powderpuff games, we have seen why. Our Irish have some big problems, guys. We can mince down each game and justify losses till the cows come home, but the reality of the situation is that the 'brand' of Notre Dame is far outpacing the product of winning football games. When my Pappaw was growing up an Italian immigrant from the 1920's through the 40's in Eastern Kentucky-where many in the more rural areas were literally raised to believed Catholic priests had green skin and horns-Notre Dame football being a dominant force was a source of immense pride for him. He passed it down to his children who passed it down to me and my brother and our cousins, and we're passing it down to the generations after us. My entire adult life I have battled against haters who talk about how Notre Dame is little more than an insignificant remnant of a bygone era of college football. And I still battle against them... But I'm finding it almost impossible to keep up the fight when I watch us fall short of excellence year in and year out. The sell out crowds keep coming. The prices for swag at the bookstore keep rising. The basilica and grotto are crawling with people every home game Saturday, with even more jockeying for a photo op in front of Touchdown Jesus. Every year the marketing department gets better and better at selling a narrative. All the while, that beautiful 8-foot #1 sign sits dark, waiting for a lacrosse, soccer, or women's basketball team to give someone a reason to turn it on. The undergrad transfer situation is untenable. The coordinator/assistant coach situation is untenable. The NIL situation is untenable. If Notre Dame is going to refuse to adapt—or evolve-on pace with the changing college football landscape, then I would rather they just seek admittance to the Ivy Leagues and let it be. And why isn't there a solid commitment in either direction? Because all the right people are making piles of money within the status quo. Does anyone in administration ever bother to ask if fidelity to "academic standards" is truly the most Christed approach to student-athletes? How many potential recruits' lives-and those of their familles-would be forever changed for the better if they were to be given the opportunity to meet the challenge at such a special institution like Notre Dame, as opposed to becoming a cog in the machine of less scrupulous actors in college sports who will cast them aside as soon as they need more room for scholarship players on the roster? Why isn't it a stated mission of the most prominent Catholic university in the country to help young athletes learn how to navigate their future in the intensely competitive, unforgiving, and tumultuous landscape of high level American sports, regardless of their high school GPA or their SAT scores? These are existential questions that ought to be answered. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us. Have mercy on us. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. None of which have anything to do with favoring only those most fortunate among us who have been blessed with worldly privileges... like being born in a wealthy school district or having parents that can afford private school. Long live the Earned 5-Star Podcast.... Keep it real, fellas.

Not going to give a 5 star ranking when I see someone from the site criticize someone who just passed. Have some respect.

Grab a towel, because we’re about to pound this bleeding kitty. -Tim Flynn on his brother in law’s phone.

GRAB A TOWEL CAUSE WERE GONNA BANG OUT THIS BLEEDING KITTY

Grab a towel because we’re about to bang out this bleeding kitty. -Tim Flynn on his brothers phone.

I never had anything against Jude. I am with him when it comes to cold cheese pizza. But now, I just hope he gets the help he needs. Jude deserves zero stars for his outrageous Michigan ranking. Even without the cheating, they don’t deserve to be ranked number one when they’ll get through September and October without playing anybody good. But when you throw in the cheating, ranking them number one should be grounds for excommunication. I won’t punish Josh and Brendan for Jude’s ridiculousness.

I (Jeremiyah) LOVE this pod. Five stars and here’s why: - Brendan’s gentle “te he” after Josh’s double down on the crabs joke - had me laughing out loud during my gray, mundane drive all over the northern half of Ohio on Friday (Cleveland weather has returned) - another crack of a can of what I can only assume is either a peach red bull (before bed) OR a buschhhhhh - I will follow, not fade this week. Therefore, my Draft Kings bank is in your hot hands. - Jude needs to wear a Michigan hoodie for a week if they don’t make the post season. Ranking them #2 is essentially treason. Also, told my wife about Jude did at the game, apparently she would expect nothing less from a Walmart Wolverine apologist. (Glad little guy is safe). - the editing towards the end where you go from Josh making a movie reference immediately to Greg offering his top 20 didn’t almost make me run my car off of 71 North going 85mph…or did it? Go Irish and love thee, ND. Keep up the good work boys. (Jude, air tag that boy).

I went to both the OSU and USC games and I was scared it was gonna be the same feeling leaving the stadium so happy it turned out the way it did I took a picture with whom I thought was Chris Tyree on the field but come to find out from instagram it was Antonio Carter they were both wearing #4 and the roster says AC is #9 still a great picture. I think the pod is great but I think you guys should set up a voicemail for people to call in I think that’s a better idea than the reviews.