Former Notre Dame All-American cornerback Shane Walton, who played for the Irish from 1999-2002, joins the podcast to discuss the intricacies of coaching cornerbacks and playing the position, his expectations for the Notre Dame secondary, coaching against Irish QB commit Tyler Buchner in practice and more (1:37).

Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen made secondary predictions in the Place Your Bets segment (23:08) before answering questions from Twitter (29:43).

Former Notre Dame All-American cornerback Shane Walton, who played for the Irish from 1999-2002, joins the podcast to discuss the intricacies of coaching cornerbacks and playing the position, his expectations for the Notre Dame secondary, coaching against Irish QB commit Tyler Buchner in practice and more (1:37).
Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen made secondary predictions in the Place Your Bets segment (23:08) before answering questions from Twitter (29:43).

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.

Former Notre Dame All-American cornerback Shane Walton, who played for the Irish from 1999-2002, joins the podcast to discuss the intricacies of coaching cornerbacks and playing the position, his expectations for the Notre Dame secondary, coaching against Irish QB commit Tyler Buchner in practice and more (1:37).  Then Tyler James and Eric Hansen made secondary predictions in the Place Your Bets segment (23:08) before answering questions from Twitter (29:43).

Shane Walton on cornerback play, Notre Dame QB commit Tyler Buchner

Spring has sprung, or something like that, for Notre Dame football, which is back on the practice field doing football stuff for the first time since the 2025 season ended at Stanford over Thanksgiving weekend. There's talent all over a deep returning roster, which includes quarterback CJ Carr.

The Pod of Gold trio of Mike Berardino and Tom Noie of the South Bend (Ind) Tribune and WNDU sports coordinator Jackson Neill take a position-by-position look of what the Irish look like this spring.

They also discuss what the upcoming NFL draft might hold for Notre Dame and touch on the Dumpster fire that currently is Notre Dame basketball.

The episode ends with some significant transfer portal news for one of our three hosts.

Spring has sprung, or something like that, for Notre Dame football, which is back on the practice field doing football stuff for the first time since the 2025 season ended at Stanford over Thanksgiving weekend. There's talent all over a deep returning roster, which includes quarterback CJ Carr.
The Pod of Gold trio of Mike Berardino and Tom Noie of the South Bend (Ind) Tribune and WNDU sports coordinator Jackson Neill take a position-by-position look of what the Irish look like this spring.
They also discuss what the upcoming NFL draft might hold for Notre Dame and touch on the Dumpster fire that currently is Notre Dame basketball.
The episode ends with some significant transfer portal news for one of our three hosts.

Spring has sprung, or something like that, for Notre Dame football, which is back on the practice field doing football stuff for the first time since the 2025 season ended at Stanford over Thanksgiving weekend. There's talent all over a deep returning roster, which includes quarterback CJ Carr.  The Pod of Gold trio of Mike Berardino and Tom Noie of the South Bend (Ind) Tribune and WNDU sports coordinator Jackson Neill take a position-by-position look of what the Irish look like this spring.  They also discuss what the upcoming NFL draft might hold for Notre Dame and touch on the Dumpster fire that currently is Notre Dame basketball.  The episode ends with some significant transfer portal news for one of our three hosts.

Pod of Gold: 2026 Notre Dame spring football thoughts

He has spoken.

It's been more than a minute since we last heard from Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman, so there was no shortage of topics to talk on when he stepped to the front of the Notre Dame Stadium interview room on Wednesday, January 15.

Freeman talked of the end (for now) of the USC series. He talked of the NFL and his interest in maybe one day coaching at the game's highest level. He talked of the transfer portal. He talked of injuries. He talked of how the end of the 2025 season can fuel a deep run in 2026. We discuss all of it, and then end the Pod with a prediction for Monday's College Football Playoff championship game.

Hint: It won't be close. 

He has spoken.
It's been more than a minute since we last heard from Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman, so there was no shortage of topics to talk on when he stepped to the front of the Notre Dame Stadium interview room on Wednesday, January 15.
Freeman talked of the end (for now) of the USC series. He talked of the NFL and his interest in maybe one day coaching at the game's highest level. He talked of the transfer portal. He talked of injuries. He talked of how the end of the 2025 season can fuel a deep run in 2026. We discuss all of it, and then end the Pod with a prediction for Monday's College Football Playoff championship game.
Hint: It won't be close.&nbsp;

He has spoken.  It's been more than a minute since we last heard from Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman, so there was no shortage of topics to talk on when he stepped to the front of the Notre Dame Stadium interview room on Wednesday, January 15.  Freeman talked of the end (for now) of the USC series. He talked of the transfer portal. He talked of injuries. He talked of how the end of the 2025 season can fuel a deep run in 2026. We discuss all of it, and then end the Pod with a prediction for Monday's College Football Playoff championship game.  Hint: It won't be close. 

Pod of Gold: Dissecting and discussing Marcus Freeman's meeting with the media

We'll try, but we may mirror the College Football Playoff selection committee and fail miserably.

In our latest Pod of Gold, we attempt to make sense that like that, the Notre Dame football season for 2025 is officially over. No College Football Playoff run to a possible national championship. No bowl game. No nothing. All of it, over.

Who's at fault? Should fingers be pointed? Our crew of South Bend Tribune columnist Tom Noie and beat writer Mike Berardino and WNDU sports coordinator Jackson Neill try their best  to figure out how what happened could happen and what it all means moving forward.

Short answer - watch out college football in 2026, Notre Dame is coming.

We'll try, but we may mirror the College Football Playoff selection committee and fail miserably.
In our latest Pod of Gold, we attempt to make sense that like that, the Notre Dame football season for 2025 is officially over. No College Football Playoff run to a possible national championship. No bowl game. No nothing. All of it, over.
Who's at fault? Should fingers be pointed? Our crew of South Bend Tribune columnist Tom Noie and beat writer Mike Berardino and WNDU sports coordinator Jackson Neill try their best&nbsp; to figure out how what happened could happen and what it all means moving forward.
Short answer - watch out college football in 2026, Notre Dame is coming.

We'll try, but we may mirror the College Football Playoff selection committee and fail miserably.  In our latest Pod of Gold, we attempt to make sense that like that, the Notre Dame football season for 2025 is officially over. No College Football Playoff run to a possible national championship. No bowl game. No nothing. All of it, over.  Who's at fault? Should fingers be pointed? Our crew of South Bend Tribune columnist Tom Noie and beat writer Mike Berardino and WNDU sports coordinator Jackson Neill try their best  to figure out how what happened could happen and what it all means moving forward.  Short answer - watch out college football in 2026, Notre Dame is coming.

Shane Walton on cornerback play, Notre Dame QB commit Tyler Buchner

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Pod of Gold: Notre Dame Football

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