ノートルダム・ジャパン・ボウル 2009 ブログ

７月２５日（土）を迎えて、、、、

今までいろいろありました。

経済情勢が悪くなったり、モンタナが来日不可能になったりと、、

ただ、皆様のご協力の元、本日ゲームデイを迎えることができました。

ありがとうという言葉だけでは、いい表せないほどいろんな人のいろんな
手助けがありました。

今はただ、ただこの日を迎えれることを嬉しく思います。

それでは、皆さん会場あるいはTVの前でお会いしましょう！

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL LEGENDS TO FACE JAPANESE NATIONAL TEAM IN TOKYO DOME ON SATURDAY JULY 25

FRIDAY, JULY 24 - TOKYO, JAPAN - Kickoff is less than 24 hours away for the University of Notre Dame football alumni who are preparing to take on the Japanese national team at the Tokyo Dome in the nation's capital on Saturday, July 25 at 4pm local time (3am US ET).

The Notre Dame Football Legends, led by head coach LOU HOLTZ, have spent the past nine days preparing to face Japan at training camps in South Bend, Indiana, and at Nihon University in Tokyo. On Friday afternoon the team inspected the field where they will face Japan at the Tokyo Dome.

"It will be great to get back out there on the football field wearing the gold helmet of Notre Dame again," said quarterback TONY RICE, who led the Fighting Irish to the 1988 college football national championship.

Rice and fellow quarterback GARY GODSEY have been battling injuries since arriving in Tokyo, opening the way for safety AMBROSE WOODEN to take reps under center and coach Holtz has suggested that his emergency quarterback may start the game against Japan.

There is also an element of the unknown, pitching a team of players drawn from multiple generations of Notre Dame football against a team that plays and practices together regularly.

"I am hoping it is like riding a bike and that the players who have played in big football games will remember how to play," said coach Holtz. "I worry most about our skill positions. We haven't played in a complete game and sometimes the mind is willing but the body isn't. But whatever happens, I have told the players to have fun and to represent themselves and the University of Notre Dame with pride."

Defensively the Legends have impressed on the practice field with depth at linebacker and defensive back to complement a defensive front that will dwarf its opponents. Japan boasts several offensive linemen taller than six feet, with YUJI TANIGUCHI and TAKANARI MURAKAMI the tallest at 6 feet 3, but none compare to the 6 feet 5 of defensive tackle DARNELL SMITH and CHRIS FROME. The Japanese hosts will give up several inches in height to the Notre Dame Football Legends offensive line, which features CASEY ROBIN at 6 feet 7 and GREG PAULY and BRIAN MATTES at 6 feet 6.

As the team returned from its stadium walkthrough at the Tokyo Dome, safety RON ISRAEL warned his teammates of the threat that Japan will pose, particularly at receiver and in the running game. Israel saw first hand the talent of Japan wideout NORIAKI KINOSHITA, when the pair played together with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe in 2005. "He's fast and he'll get by you if you can't jam him at the line of scrimmage," said Israel of the receiver who was on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad in 2008.

Coach Holtz acknowledged that he is aware of Japan's strengths, while talking to opposing head coach KIYOYUKI MORI. "Your quarterbacks throw the ball very well and your receivers run great routes," he said. "I stand in awe of your discipline, effort and intensity."

Notre Dame Practice News and Highlights

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22 - TOKYO, JAPAN - Wednesday proved to be a less-demanding day on the practice field at Nihon University as the Notre Dame Football Legends continued their preparations to face Team Japan in the Notre Dame Japan Bowl. Gone were the pads, hits and physical contact exerted on Tuesday, in favor of perfecting the game plan while eliminating mistakes and learning assignments.

"Ask yourself this," coach LOU HOLTZ challenged his players. "Are you willing to do what it takes to succeed, whether it be in football or in life? Then you have to score as many points as it takes to win this game and not turn the ball over."

The response from his alumni team was an encouraging two hours of executing plays as they showed a willingness to continue to put themselves through the rigors of daily practices. Some played through the pain of aching muscles and most continued to push themselves to the limit in readiness for the likely final game of their careers in the Tokyo Dome on Saturday, July 25 (kickoff 4pm local time, 3am US ET).

Offensive play of the day... wide receiver BOBBY BROWN made an extra effort to reel in a pass to the corner of the end zone from emergency quarterback AMBROSE WOODEN and kept his toes inbounds by a matter of inches as he dived and landed out of bounds, but with a touchdown to his credit.

Defensive play of the day... defensive back TIM KENNEY rose high above two receivers to pick off Wooden and hold onto the ball as he landed to claim a spectacular interception.

Farewell after 80 years of experience... On Wednesday, defensive coordinator GARY DARNELL and assistant head coach and defensive backs coach BILL LEWIS prepared what they anticipate will be the final script of their long respective coaching careers. The pair composed the script for Saturday's game following practice for what is likely the last time, bringing the curtain down on a combined 80 years of coaching.

Darnell boasts 36 years coaching, including a spell as defensive coordinator of the Fighting Irish in 1990 and 1991, while Lewis, who was a Notre Dame assistant coach from 2005 to 2007 and is currently on the university's development staff, has coached for 44 years.

Barely missing a beat... The Notre Dame Football Legends were too preoccupied with practice to notice the much-anticipated total eclipse of the sun at around 11.13am. They will have to wait another century or more for another such opportunity.

Passing on knowledge... the Notre Dame Football Legends coaches will conduct a coaching clinic for local Japanese players and coaches eager to learn more to help further develop the game in Japan. The clinic, for players from the X-League and local college teams, will be held from 2.30pm to 4pm at Nihon University following Thursday's practice.

Meeting the media... In the region of 50 media are expected to attend the official Notre Dame Japan Bowl press conference at Nihon University at 1.15pm when head coach LOU HOLTZ, receivers coach TIM BROWN and quarterback TONY RICE will be available to answer questions regarding the game.

For more information on the Notre Dame Japan Bowl 2009 and the Notre Dame Football Legends, visit www.NDJapanBowl.com.

Joe Restic to Suit up...

MONOGRAM CLUB PRESIDENT JOE RESTIC SUITS UP FOR THE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL LEGENDS IN JAPAN

TUESDAY, JULY 21 - TOKYO, JAPAN - Notre Dame Monogram Club President JOE RESTIC will return to the football field as a member of the Notre Dame Football Legends in Japan this weekend.

The former Notre Dame football Academic All-American was scheduled to travel to Tokyo as a member of the official party for the Notre Dame Japan Bowl, but will now play a more integral role in the unique game on Saturday, July 25. Restic will suit up again as a cornerback and punter under legendary head coach LOU HOLTZ when the football alumni team takes on the Japanese senior national team at the Tokyo Dome. The event is endorsed and supported by the Notre Dame Monogram Club.

"I've really enjoyed being back out there on the football field again," said Restic who is also taking snaps at quarterback during practice. "I've also learned that football is a game to be played by young guys, but it will be fun to spend a week in Japan on the team and also making connections for the Monogram Club.

"I had heard so much about coach Holtz and to be around him and see how he motivates players and brings out the best in them has been impressive. I would have liked to have played for him."

Restic, the son of legendary Harvard football coach Joe Restic, Sr. ('70-'93), came to Notre Dame in the fall of 1975 from Milford, Mass., and was a four-year letterwinner as a punter and free safety. His 209 career punts rank second in Notre Dame history while he still holds the Irish record for punting average in a single game (51.6 yards), after booting five kicks for 258 yards vs. Air Force in '75.

Restic was a starting safety while helping Notre Dame to win the 1977 national championship during his junior season and went on to graduate in '79 with a pre-professional science degree. He received his doctorate in dental medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in '85 and received certification from the orthodontic residency program at Oregon Health Sciences University in '88.

Now an orthodontist with his own practice in Wilsonville, Ore., Restic has served in three previous roles with the Monogram Club, first during the customary three-year term as a member of the board of directors before returning to the board as secretary and then as Vice President.

While playing three seasons in the United States Football League ('83-'85), Restic also pursued his career in dentistry and orthodontics. His professional football career actually was related to his shift to the west coast, as he played in the USFL with the Breakers franchise that was based in Boston before moving to New Orleans and then Portland. Restic was attracted to the Oregon area and resumed his medical studies in that part of the country when the USFL folded in '85.

Notre Dame In Tokyo

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL LEGENDS TOKYO
NOTES & QUOTES - SATURDAY, JULY 21

TUESDAY, JULY 21 - TOKYO, JAPAN - The players and coaches of the Notre Dame Football Legends returned to the practice field on Tuesday - but this time 6,400 miles from the more familiar surroundings of the University of Notre Dame campus.

The Legends left Chicago O'Hare airport on Sunday morning and due to the combination of a 13-hour flight, crossing the International Date Line and 13-hour time difference from the US east coast, arrived at Tokyo Narita Monday afternoon.

Following five practices at LaBar Field last week, the team relocated to Nihon University in Tokyo where a rainy Tuesday failed to dampen their enthusiasm as they continued preparations for the Notre Dame Japan Bowl. The 58-man roster led by head coach LOU HOLTZ will take on the Japanese senior national team in the Tokyo Dome on Saturday, July 25 at 4pm local time (3am US ET).

"It has been 20 years since I wore the gold helmet of Notre Dame, so it feels good to be wearing it again," said quarterback TONY RICE from Nihon University. "I love to compete at everything I do, so to be here to play football in Japan is a fantastic experience."

The practice marked the final time the team will hit the fields in pads and have full contact until Saturday's game against Japan. The Legends linebacker corps, led by former Fighting Irish captains MICHAEL GOOLSBY and BRANDON HOYTE looked impressive.

"I'm playing one of the greatest games ever and am representing Notre Dame and am on the other side of the world, which really is a blessing," said Hoyte. "We're excited to play in the game and have a lot of respect for the Japanese team.

Injury report... In the space of three plays, running back RAY ZELLARS and quarterback GARY GODSEY went down with muscle strains. Earlier, full back COLE LAUX needed stitches in a cut to his chin. The rushing trio is expected to recover in time to play against Japan.

In the spotlight... There was plenty of media interest in the Notre Dame Football Legends at the team's first practice on Japanese soil. Coach LOU HOLTZ, quarterback TONY RICE and running back RAY ZELLARS were interviewed by TV broadcasters NHK and NTV, while reporters were also present from the Japan Times and talked to coach CHRIS ZORICH, linebacker BRANDON HOYTE and defensive back JOE RESTIC.

A Japanese guest... watching practice from the sidelines was TAKAYUKI SUNAGA, the offensive coordinator of the Japanese junior national team program. Japan's junior team, aged 19 and under, took the Bronze Medal at the IFAF (International Federation of American Football) Junior World Championship of American Football in Canton, Ohio on July 4, beating Mexico 42-27. Sunaga has the distinction of being the first-ever non-American quarterback to take a snap in NFL Europe when he lined up for the Scottish Claymores against the Berlin Thunder in 2000.

Solar eclipse... if there is a wayward pass or a dropped catch when the Notre Dame Football Legends practice at Nihon University on Wednesday, the guilty parties will have a valid excuse. While the team is on the practice field Japan will experience a Total Solar Eclipse. The anticipated 6-minute 39-second eclipse will be the longest and last such occurrence in the 21st century. The best viewing and 100 percent eclipse will occur in Yakushima, the Tokara Islands and Amami Oshimao the southwest, while Tokyo will experience a 70 percent eclipse at 11.13am.

Welcome to Japan... Notre Dame graduate JAMES MOYNIHAN ('73), formerly an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Japan, briefed the team at a welcome reception on Monday evening, advising them on which cultural places of interest to visit and how best to enjoy their stay. BILL MORAN of the Notre Dame Club of Japan also welcomed the group. Japanese event organizer SHINZO YAMADA outlined details of the week ahead and his army of volunteers and the hotel staff have already made the Notre Dame visitors feel very welcome.

Putting on the Ritz... the five-star Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tokyo Midtown is home to the team and is a beautiful setting for the 100-strong traveling party. Having rested after a long flight, the group ate breakfast on the first morning in the hotel's 45th floor restaurant, which offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city.

The recovery process... the team was given a presentation before the first practice at Nihon University by one of the event sponsors DR. YOSHIO SUZUKI, whose WGHPro (Wheat Gluten Hydrolysate) supplement is available to the players to aid their recovery from the physical demands of practice. WGHPro assists the digestion, the immune system and mitigates the inflammation of muscles. The team will have access to WGHPro throughout the week of the Notre Dame Japan Bowl.