The Irish Blogger Gathering is back! The IBG has returned for the 2012 season, but much like Notre Dame's own quarterback situation, the IBG has made some changes. These changes were made to freshen it up, make it more relevant, and more engaging for you, the reader.

This years IBG membership consists of:

• Subway Domer
• Her Loyal Sons
• Inside The Irish
• Strong & True (und)

The way we do the discussion will change drastically. In the past, one site was asked to come up with 5-7 questions and then everyone else would answer those questions and post them on their own site. It was OK for a while, but the conversation never circled around like we had hoped. 

This season, the "rules" are as follows:

• Round Robin format with weekly pairings.
• One site asks another site 3 questions, and then posts those answers. 
• The articles will be posted on Thursday each week.

It's as simple as that. Our hope, is that this will provide a much broader discussion each week and provide more insight for all of our loyal and not so loyal readers.

We'll be chatting soon, as game week FINALLY is right arond the corner. Thank-you and we hope this is a fantastically fun season both on the field and within the web.

-The Irish Blogger Gathering
*Special thanks to Kelly Bloor for this years banner!

At a Thursday presser, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly announced something that most of us already knew, something that a lot of us were hoping for, and something few saw coming.

Editor's Note: Clare Brady is an account executive, health coach, blogger, Notre Dame graduate, and recovering m&m addict. You can find her preaching the truth at her website Fitting It All In & on Twiter (@fittingitallin).  I asked Clare to share with you, the loyal Subway Domer fans, her "Dublin Experience." This first part is all about the prep and excitement for the trip. Look for part two to be published after Clare arrives back in the states. Unless, of course, some Irish Lad sweeps her off her feet- then we will be but a memory...

I should just lie.

When I tell people I’m going to Ireland to see a Notre Dame Football game, the reactions are a mix of “Come again?” and “You spoiled little brat.”

Great Shane of Subway Domer video fame decided to sit down and simulate the 2012 Football Season on NCAA Football 2013. He took notes as he watched the Notre Dame games unfold. Dear god, he's going to die at a young age...

Next up: Boston College

Welcome to TWITTERMANIA!!! This is the place to find the very best tweets about Notre Dame football, college football, and a whole bunch of stuff in between. 

This is a contest, but there are no prizes to be had. I mean, how do you hand over a fat bottle of brewed glory to someone? You don't, as it just appears from somewhere where that type of stuff is made. You can find the rankings here, or at the top of the page in the "TWITTERMANIA" tab. 

This week, after the Shamrock Series explosion, we dwell on Pop Tarts and some guy named Lo Wood. 

On to the tweets (which are without comment this week)!...

Notre Dame cornerback, Lo Wood was mentioned by Brian Kelly to be one of the best performers coming out of fall camp. Wood was the presumptive starter at CB and one of only two current cornerbacks with any game experience. 

Now there most likely is only one returning cornerback with any game experience:

Presumptive starting corner Lo Wood suffered a season-ending Achilles injury on Monday with surgery expected later this week, per a source.

— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) August 21, 2012

Notre Dame will now have to find the answer to this HUGE loss. Could Slaughter be moved from safety to cornerback? Will Jalen Brown show enough skill to make a difference? Will somebody just stay healthy? We will be haring more on this tomorrow, I'm sure.

Friends, I felt the need to put this video up on the site even though I'm sure a lot of you have already viewed it this past month. After the huge meltdown over the Shamrock Series uniforms, and other similar topics from this past summer (jumbotrons, fieldturf, etc) I think it is important that we all step back and remember what Notre Dame Football is really all about. 

It's about winning. It's about winning the right way. It's about a team playing its fucking ass off each week. It's about those players and coaches standing shoulder to shoulder in defiance of a world that hates them. It's about the past and the hope for the future. Hope is right there, and it is staring us right in the face- daring the team to step up and rise. 

So, forget the minor details that do nothing more than remind us how much we live in the past each day, but rather step forward and be ready to fight. Fight with every ounce of your being, and after every last drop of sweat and every last drop of blood has spilled off of your body- fight again. Fight. Fight as fans. Fight as a team. Fight as Domers. 

125 years. Fight, 125 more.