Rakes Report: A Notre Dame Podcast

Jessica Smetana and Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama join to discuss what Jamie learned on his visit to campus over the weekend. A quarterback race with no obvious leader, reflecting on Riley Leonard, new faces at wide receiver, the defensive tackle situation and a vibe check on the new front office and coaching staff members. Then (53:30) a spoiler-filled discussion of the most recent season of The White Lotus. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Inside ND Sports' Eric Hansen joins to talk about the battle between Steve Angeli, C.J. Carr and Kenny Minchey as well as new additions to the coaching staff and front office. Then (32:00) a look at how Niele Ivey pulled her team out of the late-season slump, an appreciation of Sonia Citron and what it will take for the Fighting Irish to get to the Final Four. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana and Notre Dame, Our Blogger's Andrew Smith join to discuss Niele Ivey's squad dominating the Wolverines to advance to their fourth straight Sweet Sixteen. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Strap in for a deep dive on the upcoming NCAA Tournaments.   Segment 1: Jessica Smetana, Paul Coletti (The Irish Alert newsletter) and Alex Carson (The Green Nails Newsletter) discuss potential causes of Notre Dame’s late-season struggles and potential fixes that could lead to a deep tournament run.   Segment 2 (47:00): The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant talks about the Fighting Irish’s corner of the bracket, why she picked them to make the Final Four, why UConn is her title pick and other assorted tournament thoughts.   Segment 3 (1:21:00): Sam Werner of the Three-Point Jesus podcast on Micah Shrewsberry’s second season at the helm and what to watch for in the men’s bracket.   Segment 4 (1:51:00): Jess returns to talk about her experience at the Unrivaled final and give a brief hater’s guide to the women’s tournament. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Celebrating Mike Brey, Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton’s run to the ACC championship via the Duke and North Carolina games in Greensboro. Topics include Zach Auguste and Bonzie Colson vs Jahlil Okafor, ACC regional broadcasts, the excellence of Demetrius Jackson, sad Coach K, crafty Steve Vasturia, the 2015 NBA Draft, the Tar Heel crowd, patiently waiting for the 26-3 run to start, hugs, perfect basketball and what this team means. Guests: Mike Laskey (AMDG Podcast), Joe Schueller (18 Stripes), Sam Werner (Three-Point Jesus Podcast) Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to talk about the Notre Dame women's basketball team's troubling two-game losing streak, the state of the football offseason, the war on spring games and some of this fall's opponents. Then (25:00) a discussion of Sunday's Oscar ceremony with Priya Desai, starting with a Best Picture draft. (FYI: The explicit tag is earned on this one.) Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport  

Jessica Smetana joins for a potpourri edition discussing Chris Ash, Chad Bowden, Top 100 games, transfer portal entries, an Atlanta field report, Excitement Draft recap, "The Americans" and much more. Then (53:00) The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant joins to talk about how Niele Ivey has built a team that is one of the nation's top title contenders. The best backcourt, how new faces are fitting in, threats in the ACC and beyond plus some Paige Bueckers Narrative Watch and potential WNBA CBA repercussions.   Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins for initial thoughts on the College Football Playoff final, this past Fighting Irish season and what the future may hold.  Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to rank all 14 of Notre Dame's wins that have taken them to the cusp of a national championship, from the opener in College Station to the thriller in Miami Gardens. Remembering some games, some touchdowns, some announcers and a whole lot more from a special season. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to talk about being in the building for an epic College Football Playoff semifinal. Walking through everything from the tailgate scene to Mitch Jeter's kick and the aftermath, plus what this season has meant and a whole lot more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Sam Werner of the Three-Point Jesus podcast and Michael Bryan of 18 Stripes join to talk about the epic Orange Bowl victory as the Irish advance to the national title game. (This is the loopiest and least edited podcast in existence.) Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Diving in on the Fighting Irish/Nittany Lions College Football Playoff semifinal and also Remembering Some Games. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse the merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to discuss the Fighting Irish's win in the Sugar Bowl to advance to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Topics include but are not limited to: The tragedy in New Orleans and feelings going into the game, big plays in all three phases, Riley Leonard, the defense, Marcus Freeman and general postseason thoughts. Donate to the Center for the Homeless here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/754gdw-rakes-report-christmas-giving-2024 Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to discuss the Fighting Irish dominating the Hoosiers to open up the first-ever 12-team playoff.  Donate to the Center for the Homeless here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/754gdw-rakes-report-christmas-giving-2024 Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

To close out Christmas Giving, we're revisiting an episode many of you probably (and understandably) deleted right away. Jessica Smetana joins for the post-NIU discussion, in which we talked about Marcus Freeman, transfer quarterbacks, stadium atmosphere, coaching searches and a lot more.  Donate to the Center for the Homeless here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/754gdw-rakes-report-christmas-giving-2024 Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Inside ND Sports' Eric Hansen joins to talk about the hype around the Indiana/Notre Dame game, the evolution of Riley Leonard and Marcus Freeman, the greatness of Xavier Watts, Hoosier history and much more. Donate to the Center for the Homeless here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/754gdw-rakes-report-christmas-giving-2024 Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

NBC Sports College Football Insider Nicole Auerbach joins to review what the expanded playoff meant for the regular season, what changes we might see to the bracket going forward, Notre Dame's independence and much more. Donate to the Center for the Homeless here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/754gdw-rakes-report-christmas-giving-2024 Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Irish Sports Daily's Jamie Uyeyama joins to talk about how Marcus Freeman performed in his third season, the improving Irish offense, a big question about the Irish defense, how Notre Dame matches up with Indiana and how to define a successful season. Donate to the Center for the Homeless here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/754gdw-rakes-report-christmas-giving-2024 Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport  

Jessica Smetana joins to kick off our annual fundraising for the Center for the Homeless in South Bend. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/754gdw-rakes-report-christmas-giving-2024 Topics include assessing the playoff committee's work, SEC gaslighting, early look at the Hoosiers and much more. Sign up for the newsletter and/or browse merch here: https://linktr.ee/rakesreport

Jessica Smetana joins to discuss the Fighting Irish's very exciting and in no way nerve-racking win in Los Angeles to clinch a home playoff game.  Subscribe to the Rakes Report newsletter at rakesreport.substack.com.