Two-time Notre Dame defensive coordinator Rick Minter joins the podcast to discuss how Marcus Freeman approaches defense, the differences between a three-man and four-man front, the benefits of using multiple looks, how to make the transition from Clark Lea easier, his experience with safeties coach Chris O'Leary and more.

Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen make predictions for Notre Dame's early enrollees in Place Your Bets (33:32) before answering questions from Twitter (40:59).

Two-time Notre Dame defensive coordinator Rick Minter joins the podcast to discuss how Marcus Freeman approaches defense, the differences between a three-man and four-man front, the benefits of using multiple looks, how to make the transition from Clark Lea easier, his experience with safeties coach Chris O'Leary and more.
Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen make predictions for Notre Dame's early enrollees in Place Your Bets (33:32) before answering questions from Twitter (40:59).

NDInsider.com's "Pod of Gold" podcast is powered by The South Bend Tribune and recorded at the studios of WNDU-TV, South Bend Indiana's NBC affiliate. Notre Dame football beat writers Mike Berardino, Tom Noie and Austin Hough talk Irish sports, pop culture and the latest athletic news swirling around the Golden Dome with special guests. 

NDInsider.com's "Pod of Gold" podcast is powered by The South Bend Tribune and recorded at the studios of WNDU-TV, South Bend Indiana's NBC affiliate. Notre Dame football beat writers Mike Berardino, Tom Noie and Austin Hough talk Irish sports, pop culture and the latest athletic news swirling around the Golden Dome with special guests.

Pod of Gold: Notre Dame Football

Notre Dame Insider's Tyler James and Eric Hansen offer their takes on Notre Dame football, discuss the latest news and bring on guests with expert knowledge.

Two-time Notre Dame defensive coordinator Rick Minter joins the podcast to discuss how Marcus Freeman approaches defense, the differences between a three-man and four-man front, the benefits of using multiple looks, how to make the transition from Clark Lea easier, his experience with safeties coach Chris O'Leary and more.   Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen make predictions for Notre Dame's early enrollees in Place Your Bets (33:32) before answering questions from Twitter (40:59).

Rick Minter on how Notre Dame's defense may evolve under Marcus Freeman

This week's Pod of Gold takes us back to rainy Chapel Hill, N.C., and Notre Dame's 37-26 victory over North Carolina that was close, but not as close as the final score might suggest. What did we like from that one? Dislike? What does it say about the Irish - really, the running game - moving forward. We also spend very little time previewing Stanford - for obvious reasons.

Notre Dame opened as a 37.5-point favorite in what was once a competitive contest.

We talk with guest Luke Stoddard, who created The Rooting Guide (therootingguide.com), which helps college football fans from coast to coast navigate their rooting interests as another College Football Playoff field rounds into view.

This week's Pod closes with hot takes and predictions as the Notre Dame season nears the halfway point.

This week's Pod of Gold takes us back to rainy Chapel Hill, N.C., and Notre Dame's 37-26 victory over North Carolina that was close, but not as close as the final score might suggest. What did we like from that one? Dislike? What does it say about the Irish - really, the running game - moving forward. We also spend very little time previewing Stanford - for obvious reasons.
Notre Dame opened as a 37.5-point favorite in what was once a competitive contest.
We talk with guest Luke Stoddard, who created The Rooting Guide (therootingguide.com), which helps college football fans from coast to coast navigate their rooting interests as another College Football Playoff field rounds into view.
This week's Pod closes with hot takes and predictions as the Notre Dame season nears the halfway point.

Pod of Gold 10/6: Reviewing North Carolina, previewing Stanford (sort of)

Another weekend of college football, another easy-does-it win for No. 3 Notre Dame, which moved to 4-0 with a business-like trip to West Lafayette and a 49-10 victory over Purdue. The South Bed Tribune trio of Mike Berardino, Tom Noie and Austin Hough review Purdue, preview what challenges North Carolina might offer with head coach Bill Belichick before spending 30 good minutes with former Notre Dame cornerback Troy Pride, Jr.

What does this Notre Dame team have to be national championship-caliber that those Irish teams Pride played on could have used to have success? Pride's answer may surprise you.

We close the show with three hot takes (think a big day on tap for Leonard Moore) and predictions.

Another weekend of college football, another easy-does-it win for No. 3 Notre Dame, which moved to 4-0 with a business-like trip to West Lafayette and a 49-10 victory over Purdue. The South Bed Tribune trio of Mike Berardino, Tom Noie and Austin Hough review Purdue, preview what challenges North Carolina might offer with head coach Bill Belichick before spending 30 good minutes with former Notre Dame cornerback Troy Pride, Jr.
What does this Notre Dame team have to be national championship-caliber that those Irish teams Pride played on could have used to have success? Pride's answer may surprise you.
We close the show with three hot takes (think a big day on tap for Leonard Moore) and predictions.

Another weekend of college football, another easy-does-it win for No. 3 Notre Dame, which moved to 4-0 with a business-like trip to West Lafayette and a 49-10 victory over Purdue. The South Bed Tribune trio of Mike Berardino, Tom Noie and Austin Hough review Purdue, preview what challenges North Carolina might offer with head coach Bill Belichick before spending 30 good minutes with former Notre Dame cornerback Troy Pride, Jr.  What does this Notre Dame team have to be national championship-caliber that those Irish teams Pride played on could have used to have success? Pride's answer may surprise you.  We close the show with three hot takes (think a big day on tap for Leonard Moore) and predictions.

Pod of Gold 09/30: Reviewing Purdue, previewing North Carolina

And like that, Notre Dame football has hit the quarter ole of the 2026 regular season coming clear of the 27-10 victory over Michigan State. It was a weird night for myriad reasons at Notre Dame Stadium, but the Irish moved to 3-0 with a (relatively) easy night's work.

We discuss the run game. We discuss the pass game. We discuss the offensive line and for good measure, we discuss CJ Carr and what more he could (should) do with this offense. There's way less concern on the other side of the football with one of the game's elite outfits.

Our reader question this week centers on all the hubbub around the failed fake punt for Notre Dame. Was it good? Bad? Indifferent? 

We also talk with Lafayette Journal and Courier writer Sam King and the chance Purdue has to make this a competitive contest at Ross-Ade Stadium. Our Pod closes with plenty of hot takes and predictions.

And like that, Notre Dame football has hit the quarter ole of the 2026 regular season coming clear of the 27-10 victory over Michigan State. It was a weird night for myriad reasons at Notre Dame Stadium, but the Irish moved to 3-0 with a (relatively) easy night's work.
We discuss the run game. We discuss the pass game. We discuss the offensive line and for good measure, we discuss CJ Carr and what more he could (should) do with this offense. There's way less concern on the other side of the football with one of the game's elite outfits.
Our reader question this week centers on all the hubbub around the failed fake punt for Notre Dame. Was it good? Bad? Indifferent?&nbsp;
We also talk with Lafayette Journal and Courier writer Sam King and the chance Purdue has to make this a competitive contest at Ross-Ade Stadium. Our Pod closes with plenty of hot takes and predictions.

And like that, Notre Dame football has hit the quarter ole of the 2026 regular season coming clear of the 27-10 victory over Michigan State. It was a weird night for myriad reasons at Notre Dame Stadium, but the Irish moved to 3-0 with a (relatively) easy night's work.  We discuss the run game. We discuss the pass game. We discuss the offensive line and for good measure, we discuss CJ Carr and what more he could (should) do with this offense. There's way less concern on the other side of the football with one of the game's elite outfits.  Our reader question this week centers on all the hubbub around the failed fake punt for Notre Dame. Was it good? Bad? Indifferent?   We also talk with Lafayette Journal and Courier writer Sam King and the chance Purdue has to make this a competitive contest at Ross-Ade Stadium. Our Pod closes with plenty of hot takes and predictions.

Rick Minter on how Notre Dame's defense may evolve under Marcus Freeman

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Pod of Gold: Notre Dame Football

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