Friday, September 3, 2010

One That Got Away...

He's a freshman football player at UCLA, who most thought -- including his Mom -- that he would be wearing the gold helmet of Notre Dame tomorrow against Purdue. You see, Anthony Barr is the son of a former ND football player (Tony Brooks) and St. Mary's grad (Lori Barr) -- yet, he chose to stay close to home and play for the Bruins. The Los Angeles Times ran a story yesterday on Barr's decision to pick UCLA over Notre Dame. Here's the link:

WEARING THE WRONG GOLD HELMET!

Football Weekend @ Notre Dame: To Do List!

There's plenty to do Football Weekend at Notre Dame -- the fun begins today and runs through Sunday. Today's South Bend Tribune provides a "calendar" for ND Football fans -- see link below. And, don't forget to visit Notre Dame's GAME DAY SITE -- that link is below as well:

FOOTBALL WEEKEND CALENDAR

NOTRE DAME'S GAME DAY SITE

Take a Live Look at Notre Dame!

The University of Notre Dame's official website: www.nd.edu -- has a number of LIVE webcams on campus that allows you to take a look "24/7" at Notre Dame. Webcams are pointed at the Main Building (Golden Dome) and Basilica, South Quad, Clarke Memorial Fountain and a couple of the computer labs on campus. Maybe we can convince someone at ND to point the South Quad webcam at today's Pep Rally! Here's a link:

LIVE WEBCAMS AT NOTRE DAME

Ara's Thoughts On Brian Kelly

Former Notre Dame coaching great, Ara Parseghian, was a guest this week on WSBT 960 AM's Weekday SportsBeat. Here's a link to the Parseghian interview:

ARA ON THE IRISH

Replay of The Brian Kelly Radio Show

In case you missed it last night, here's a link to a replay of Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly's first radio show from Legends. As you plan your future "Thursday evenings" during the Notre Dame football season, please note that The Brian Kelly Radio Show will air every Thursday night at 7 PM EST. If you'd like to attend in person, you'll want to get to Legends by 5:30 PM to get a seat. Here' the link:

THE BRIAN KELLY RADIO SHOW

It's Here: Football Weekend @ Notre Dame!

The 2010 Season kicks off tomorrow and I can't wait!!! For those of you fortunate enough to be on the Notre Dame campus today, here's a few of the activities you might want to take in: Walk Down The Tunnel at Notre Dame Stadium (10 AM to 3 PM) -- Trumpets in the Dome before The Band of the Fighting Irish's March Out (4 PM) in the Main Building -- Dillon Hall Pep Rally (6 PM) join the thousands (photo) in South Quad and Drummer's Circle -- Midnight, in front of the Main Building (Golden Dome). To get a look at all of the activities planned for Football Weekend at Notre Dame click on the link below to the ND Game Day site - it's good!:

NOTRE DAME GAME DAY WEBSITE

Former Irish Star -- Pitching for Twins

Former Notre Dame All-American pitcher, Jeff Manship, threw four strong innings last night for the Minnesota Twins in their extra-inning loss to the Detroit Tigers (YEAH!). Manship entered the game in the 3rd after Twins starter Scott Baker complained of elbow pain. Jeff came in and gave up one run and struck out three in his four inning stint for Minnesota. On the year, Manship has a 2.38 ERA -- striking out 14 in his 22 innings pitched. Here's a link to his statistics:

JEFF MANSHIP -- MINNESOTA TWINS

ND Prof on Mideast Peace Talks in D.C.

University of Notre Dame Associate Professor of History and Peace Studies, Asher Kaufman says "very few believe" the talks in Washington D.C. yesterday between Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas will lead to peace. Yet, Kaufman does see some positives that could come from these talks -- and he should know. A member of the Notre Dame faculty since 2005, Kaufman previously taught at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and served as a research fellow at the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, leading its Middle East Unit. Here's a link to some comments Kaufman made yesterday:

PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Only @ Notre Dame -- Seven of Them!

If you want to see seven Heisman Trophies -- the only place in the world where you'll see that many -- you'll now have to take a walk to the lobby of the Guglielmino Athletics Complex this weekend on the University of Notre Dame campus. Coach Kelly had the "Heismans" moved from the Monogram Room in Joyce to the "Gug." Football fans -- the GUG's main lobby will be open Friday and Saturday to see the Heismans. Chicago Tribune Notre Dame beatwriter, Brian Hamilton was kind enough to take this picture in the past hour and post it on Twitter. Thanks Brian!

Think Notre Dame Has Lost Its Luster?

Think again. This story in today's Salt Lake City Tribune speaks "honestly" to what it means for a college football program to schedule the University of Notre Dame. Here's the link:

BYU LANDS ND

Notre Dame Brings Credibility to BYU

Yesterday's announcement in Provo, UT that Brigham Young University was going "independent" in football -- did not go without significant influence from Notre Dame. Here's a link to a story in today's Salt Lake City Tribune in which the columnist now calls BYU "The Notre Dame of ESPN" and gives the announcement of BYU's six-game series with Notre Dame and the ESPN TV deal as all the credibility they need. Here's a link to a few of the stories on BYU following in Notre Dame's foot steps:

THE NOTRE DAME OF ESPN

IS BYU BECOMING A "LATTER DAY NOTRE DAME"

Notre Dame Talk -- Where to Find it Today!

We're approaching 48 hours to kick-off and if you're like me -- it's dominating your thoughts. So, to get you ready for Saturday's game against Purdue -- here are some "outlets" for Notre Dame fans to get their IRISH ON, all day long -- today! Just click on the links and you'll be led to the conversation! Don't forget -- The Brian Kelly Radio Show is tonight at 7PM EST -- and it's being broadcast LIVE from Legends on the Notre Dame campus.





From 8 AM EST to 12 PM EST:

NDNATION.COM

IRISH SPORTS DAILY

IRISH ILLUSTRATED

Notre Dame vs. Purdue Preview

Notre Dame Videos

5 PM EST to 7 PM EST: WSBT 960 AM Weekday SportsBeat

6 PM EST to 8 PM EST: ESPN 1240 AM Notre Dame Radio Show

7 PM EST to 8 PM EST: The Brian Kelly Radio Show

Wear Your Notre Dame Colors -- Tomorrow!

Friday, September 3rd has been declared as "College Colors Day" across America - and for the first time, the University of Notre Dame is participating. If you've visited the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore in the past couple of weeks you've seen a large "cut out" of Brian Kelly urging Notre Dame fans to show your school spirit tomorrow. So, Irish fans -- wear your Notre Dame "stuff" all day tomorrow - and wear it with pride!!! And, to prepare yourself for the conversations you're sure to have with fans from schools in the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 10, etc., -- I've provided you with a link to "FIVE TALKING POINTS" for every NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL FAN.

TALKING POINTS FOR NOTRE DAME FANS

HAMMES NOTRE DAME BOOKSTORE -- WEBSITE

COLLEGE COLORS DAY -- WEBSITE

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

NBC: ND Football Going Global!

NBC announced today a number of "enhancements" to its coverage of Notre Dame Football - now in its 20th season. Those who choose to watch the game on the web -- will have exclusive access to an extra TV camera only available to web viewers. NBC also announced a distribution deal with EuroSport to broadcast the Notre Dame games in Europe and Asia. Here's a link to all that NBC has planned:

TWENTY YEARS WITH NOTRE DAME

Vote For Coach Brey -- "Men in Kilts"

University of Notre Dame Basketball Coach, Mike Brey is a good sport! Coach Brey is participating in a fund-raising effort for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Michiana. Click on the link below and vote for Coach Brey as the "best dressed man" in a kilt -- and maybe he'll be convinced to show off this look "courtside" this winter!

VOTE FOR COACH BREY

Parseghian Interview: 5:06 PM EST - TODAY

Former Notre Dame coaching great, Ara Parseghian will be a guest today on 960 AM's Weekday SportsBeat. Here's a link to the webcast -- when you get to their website, click on the LISTEN LIVE button at the top left corner of the home page. Coach Parseghian is expected on at 5:06 PM EST:

WSBT 960 AM -- WEEKDAY SPORTSBEAT

Irish in the NFL -- Update

With final NFL cuts scheduled for this weekend -- teams had until 4 PM EST yesterday to cut their rosters to 75 players with the final cut to 53 players set for Saturday. FYI: There's presently six former Domers on this morning's Denver Broncos roster: Brady Quinn, Ryan Harris, David Bruton, Eric Olsen, Paul Duncan and Kyle McCarthy. Here's a quick update on where things currently stand for some of the more recent Notre Dame players in their attempt to earn a spot on an NFL roster:


JIMMY CLAUSEN

BRADY QUINN

GOLDEN TATE

SAM YOUNG

ERIC OLSEN

KYLE MCCARTHY

PAUL DUNCAN

DAVE BRUTON

SERGIO BROWN

JOHN SULLIVAN

Aaron Taylor's Interview with Coach Kelly

Former Notre Dame All-American, Aaron Taylor, sat down with Brian Kelly for an interview yesterday. Here's a link to the video:

TAYLOR & KELLY TALKING IRISH

Like Father -- Like Son

When you turn on your television set this Saturday afternoon to watch the Irish -- keep an eye out for a young man wearing uniform number 7. His name is Tai-ler "TJ" Jones and he's a FRESHMAN STARTING WIDE RECEIVER for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. What makes this story more special is TJ's dad -- Andre Jones, also wore #7 when he was a starting linebacker for the Irish and a member of the 1988 National Championship team. This photo was taken of the two at this year's Under Armour All-American game in Orlando. Here's a link to Irish Illustrated's interview of TJ after yesterday's practice -- and a link to a story from Irish Sports Daily back in January:

TJ JONES INTERVIEW

NOTRE DAME'S JONES BOYS

Zipcar Comes to Notre Dame

I'm sure many of you have yet to hear of a car service called Zipcar -- well it's quite unique. Zipcar has built a business around parking cars in populated areas and selling "memberships" to drive them -- whenever you need them. The University of Notre Dame has just entered an agreement with Zipcar that calls for four cars to be parked on campus for students, faculty and staff to use at their leisure -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All they have to do is become a member -- it's $35 to join -- and you'll have use of one of the four cars. It's $8 an hour to use the car and $66 per day. You must be 18 years old. Gas, insurance, emergency roadside assistance, etc., is all included with Zipcar. Zipcar also offers a fun and functional iPhone app that will honk the horn to locate a Zipcar and unlock the doors for members. Here's a link to the Zipcar website and the release announcing their relationship with Notre Dame.

ZIPCAR WEBSITE

ZIPCAR @ NOTRE DAME