The College Football Playoff is Getting a Halftime Show - Let’s Make it Red Panda

The NCAA and ESPN are teaming up to bring a Super Bowl-esque halftime show to the College Football Playoff title game this season, as they’ve announced that an “A-list musician” will be booked to perform at a concert at Centennial Olympic Park during halftime of the championship game, which is being held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Now, of course, I know what you all are thinking. The obvious best choice for this halftime show would be an extended Red Panda performance in which she flips at least 10 bowls onto her head at once.

“But it says ‘musician,’ Pat! You moron, they clearly have already ruled her out.”

Potentially, you guys, but let’s keep in mind that no one makes more beautiful halftime show ‘music’ than Red Panda, whose unicycle-riding antics have captivated millions with a harmonious display of beauty.

I say we start a movement, now.

Let’s get it trending on Twitter with a very catchy and simple hashtag (#HireRedPandaForTheCFPHalftimeShowYouIdiots). Let’s send numerous tweets and letters and make countless, nonstop phone calls to ESPN. Let’s get a petition going with the government if we have to - as long as we make as much noise as possible.

Red Panda NEEDS to perform at the CFP championship halftime show. It’s just too perfect.

Let’s make it happen, folks.

Troy Pride Jr. Is Kinda, Sorta Good at Running

When he committed to play for Notre Dame, Troy Pride Jr.’s pledge was considered a huge win. A rangy, athletic corner who was previously committed to play for Bud Foster at Virginia Tech? Yeah, Irish fans could work with that.

But while Pride is certainly somewhat well-known to ND fans nationwide because he’s a young corner with a lot of potential, it was at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championship this past weekend where Pride first burst onto the scene as an elite NCAA competitor.

Pride runs track for the Irish in the spring, and had enjoyed a fantastic freshman season in 2017, qualifying for the ACC finals in the 100m. On Sunday evening, Pride proceeded to go above and beyond the amazing feat of simply qualifying for that as a football player, setting a personal record in the finals by running a 10.47 and placing 6th overall.

In the ACC. As a true freshman who also continued to work out with the football team all spring, never missing a workout.

Pride was forced into action last season along with fellow freshmen corners Julian Love and Donte Vaughn, and he definitely showed his inexperience on that young, haphazard defense under interim defensive coordinator Greg Hudson.

But a corner with his size and raw athleticism, along with elite straight-line speed, isn’t going to get beaten very often. Watch for Pride to make strides over the next season or two, as he looks like the kind of athlete who, under the right coaching (hopefully Mike Elko, if he can continue the success he had at Wake Forest), could be a fantastic starting cornerback for the Irish.

The Biggest Sidekick in the History of Sidekicks

Bleacher Report published a ranking of the “Best Sidekicks to College Football Superstars” for this coming season, and Notre Dame 5th-year senior LT Mike McGlinchey was named #3 overall, and I find it hilarious.

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The article claims LG Quenton Nelson is the superstar player that McGlinchey is a sidekick for, and although I do agree that Nelson is a better offensive lineman, the idea that the 6’8”, 312-pound McGlinchey could be a sidekick to anyone is absolutely hilarious. Not only does he not look the part, but McGlinchey is also a potential All-American and likely 2018 first round NFL Draft pick in his own right.

It’s an interesting topic for a ranking list, but I’ve gotta say it’s preposterous to consider McGlinchey anyone’s “sidekick.” I just choose to think of him and Nelson as a couple steamrollers lining up next to each other, ready to be unleashed (if the offense finally calls for it).

In Case You Missed It or Forgot, Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse is Pretty Good at Sports

Finally, if you didn’t see over the weekend, the 4th-ranked Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team took down Marquette 15-9 to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament.

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The Irish’s Brendan Gleason and Brendan Collins (is everyone on the team named Brendan?!?) combined to score 9 goals, giving the 9-5 Irish their 8th-straight berth into the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.

Gleason’s 5 goals set a Notre Dame tournament record, and the sophomore has now scored at least a hat trick in his last 3 games.

The Irish will play #5 Denver in the quarterfinals, a game between two schools who met in the Frozen Four for hockey a little over a month ago. The Pioneers won that contest 6-1, so let’s hope that our Fighting Brendans have revenge on their minds (especially because Denver beat them in lacrosse back in March in an intense 11-10 finish). The two teams play this Saturday at Hofstra University for a spot in the Final Four.