Nine Days

Single digits, everyone.  That's how close we are to the return of football.  There are many ways to demonstrate we are a mere nine (9) days away.  For example, there is Big Lou Nix III,

FREE HUGS!!!!

aka Irish Chocolate

aka Denard Robinson's personal nightmare

Happy Birthday, Denard!

He will be anchoring the center of the defense this year now that Manti Te'o is playing for the San Diego Chargers.  

Also on the list of great Notre Dame nines: Tony Rice, quarterback of our most recent title team and the man behind many highlight reel plays, including This one against #2 Southern Cal in 1988.  

And then, of course, there's St. Viator's own Tom Zbikowski.  

An excellent safety, punt returner, 

And boxer, who made his professional debut at none other than New York's Madison Square Garden.

Hopefully, Zbikowski's annihilation of his opponent will be a handy metaphor for what the 2013 team does to Temple.  Alas, we have to wait . . . NINE MORE DAYS?!?!

Hang tough, all.  We're almost there.