Fighting Irish Wired

Fighting Irish Wired

By Nick ShepkowskiSports
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Fighting Irish Wired episodes

  • Justin Tuck Interview, Notre Dame and New York Giants Great

    Former Notre Dame great Justin Tuck joins Nick Shepkowski to discuss Fighting Irish football halfway through the 2023 season.

    Why did he choose Notre Dame when he grew up in the heart of SEC Country?

    What are his thoughts on Marcus Freeman a year-and-a-half into his tenure?

    And should he have won at least one Super Bowl MVP instead of Eli Manning?

    That and plenty more with one of Notre Dame's all-time best pass rushers.

    13 min
  • S1 - E4: Real-life 'Rudy' Ruettiger Interview

    Need a bit of inspiration?  What better way than to hear from the man who one of the all-time greatest sports movies was made about?  Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger joins Nick Shepkowski in this episode of Fighting Irish Wired and gives you a bit of inspiration and motivation before sharing some of his stories from his time at Notre Dame.

    The conversation starts with Rudy discussing the movie but also the mentality it took to get him to accomplish his dream, a mentality anyone can apply to their lives.  Hear 'Rudy' discuss:

    • Creating a positive mindset and self-love
    • Developing relationships, specifically with everyday people
    • Living with no regrets
    • The unpleasant but very first thing you need to do each and every morning
    • Then hear Nick ask Rudy about some stories from his time at Notre Dame as well as his thoughts on a few Notre Dame/football related items including:

      • His legendary high school football coach, Joliet Catholic's Gordie Gillespie
      • What made Tom Brady so great for so long
      • The actual events that led to Rudy dressing (no, it wasn't Joe Montana being hurt)
      • The greatness that was Ross Browner
      • How Ara Parseghian used to take pressure off the team each game-week
      • How Rudy introduced himself to Ara in real-life (better than the movie portrays)
      • Rudy reacts to the comments Joe Montana made about 'Rudy' in recent years
      • Brian Kelly's exit from Notre Dame
      • And finally, hear Rudy discuss a made-up part of the movie that would have been handled differently in real-life than it was in the movie...had it been true, at least!

        If you'd like to see Rudy in-person on February 23 at Elmhurst University, be sure to visit the Elmhurst University webpage.   

        33 min
      • S1 - E3: Defending Tommy Rees

        Nick Shepkowski and Jeff Feyerer break down why Notre Dame's offense has more than just a chance to be really special in 2023.  The addition of Sam Hartman coupled with an elite offensive line and great backfield should make for a very happy Tommy Rees this fall.  Nick and Jeff discuss the highs and lows of Rees as offensive coordinator and why he's got to be one of the most excited assistant coaches in all of college football headed into next year.

        30 min
      • S1 - E2: Sam Hartman Excitement

        Notre Dame has landed perhaps the biggest name in the transfer portal this off-season.  What does the addition of Sam Hartman mean for Notre Dame in 2023?  What does his skill-set help improve most on the Irish?  And what does it mean for Tyler Buchner and the rest of a steadily improving quarterback room in the months and years to come?

        Nick Shepkowski and Jeff Feyerer can't help but get excited, OK really excited, about what's in store for Notre Dame's offense in 2023.

        24 min
      • S1 - E1: Gator Bowl Recap

        It was a thrilling Gator Bowl victory for Notre Dame over South Carolina.  The debut episode of the Fighting Irish Wired podcast breaks down the game and all of the crazy happenings in it.

        What does it mean for Tyler Buchner long-term?

        Tommy Rees called a perfect game.  Until he didn't.  But then he made up for that.

        2023 offensive excitement.

        Defensive concerns ahead but a great rebound effort as the game went on.

        And a whole lot else in regards to Notre Dame football so check it out!

        20 min
      • Ep. 14 - 6.18.2020: Talking Texas Longhorns with Patrick Conn of Longhorns Wire

        The eyes of Texas are upon us on the Thursday night of this recording.

        Texas enters year four under Tom Herman with some big-time expectations, just like they normally are for the Longhorns.  In this episode you'll hear Nick Shepkowski's interview with Patrick Conn of Longhorns Wire as they cover:

        Coronavirus wiping out the Texas locker room

        What went wrong for the Longhorns in 2019 and how does that get fixed in 2020?

        Joseph Ossai's coming out party last year and how sky-high his potential is for this year and what the defense has to do in order to fix their issues from a year ago.

        What else is there to get excited about with the Texas offense in 2020 besides Sam Ehlinger and can one superb offensive tackle be enough to help out a talented backfield?

        We also find out Texas's biggest issue on offense before discussing the pressure that's on Tom Herman in 2020 and how close these Longhorns might be to catching Oklahoma and before we say goodbye, I had to ask a Big 12 man like Patrick about whatever the hell is going on in Stillwater, Oklahoma right now.

        Take a listen, subscribe if you haven't already and be sure to share with your college football and Texas Longhorn fan friends!

        21 min
      • Ep. 13 - 6.4.20: Remembering Johnny Majors, Talking Tennessee with Dan Harralson of Vols Wire
        Johnny Majors was a legend in the world of college football, specifically at the University of Tennessee where he starred as a tailback before eventually returning as the Vols head coach and leading them to three SEC Championships.  Dan Harralson runs the VolsWire and was kind enough to join me to remember Majors and talk a bit about how close Jeremy Pruitt and this Vols squad are to turning the corner and becoming a big-time player on the national stage again.
        Dan shares memories of Majors before we get into a conversation about the Vols turnaround from 1-4 to 8-5 last season.  What changed and can Tennessee challenge for an SEC East title as early as this fall?  Dan discusses exactly that and he and Nick share some of their favorite memories from the old Notre Dame/Tennessee series that both agree needs to be picked back up again.
        As always - thanks for listening, stay safe and if you don't mind - subscribe, rate and share with any Tennessee or college football fans in your life.
        26 min
      • Ep. 11 - 5.29.20: Harbaugh Speaks Silliness Again, Miami/Ohio St TBT & Transfer News at ND, UGA, USC
        Episode 11 is live on this Friday. Enjoy it as you head into your weekend. Jim Harbaugh says something really stupid, does he actually believe his own non-sense? ESPN’s TBT featured a classic last night - was it a good or bad PI call on Miami in 2002? And Georgia and Notre Dame each land prized transfers. Hear how the recruiting gameplan appears to be changing in South Bend.
        14 min
      • Ep. 10 - 5.28.2020: Dead Period Extended, Iowa St Plan & Big Ten Icon Disappears

        Good morning and happy Thursday! 

        Episode ten is up and we discuss the dead period for recruiting being extended - will it cross over to fall now?

        Iowa State has released their ticket plan for football in 2020 - will that be the norm in college football? 

        And a Big Ten icon has disappeared - we share what is gone. 

        All of that on this episode of the College Football Morning Announcements!


        If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe, rate and please share with any college football fan in your life.  Thanks!

        9 min

      About Fighting Irish Wired

      From the publisher's feed

      Notre Dame football broken down and discussed in-depth by Nick Shepkowski, managing editor of USA TODAY Sports College Wires, Fighting Irish Wire. Game previews, reviews, opinions, and breakdown of everything Notre Dame football. Be sure to check out the podcast as no corner of the Notre Dame football world will go unexplored.