What the Money's Sayin' -- ND vs. Utah

As has become tradition at the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- we turn to the "experts" in Vegas -- to check in on how they're analyzing Notre Dame's game with Utah.  The Utes are ranked #14th in the country -- and bring one of the best offenses and defenses to town.  The Irish are on a two-game losing streak -- WE NEED A WIN!  Here's a few links:

LINK:  CAPPERSPICKS

LINK:  PREDICTEM

LINK:  SPORTSBETTINGWORLD

LINK:  TOUTHOUSE

LINK:  ODDSSHARK

Rocket Ismail's Message to the Irish Nation!

Folks, this might be the best pep rally speech at the University of Notre Dame in some time.  It's an INSTANT CLASSIC -- and it came from none other than Raghib "The Rocket" Ismail.  The Rocket's message -- "UNBELIEF, we don't have time for you!"  SO WELL SAID!  GO IRISH!  Here's a link to the Pep Rally video -- the photo was "tweeted" by Irish LB Carlo Calabrese during the Pep Rally:

LINK:  ROCKET BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE

Coca-Cola Happiness Machine @ ND Today!

Coca-Cola brought it's  Happiness Machine to the Notre Dame campus today -- and it was quite the attraction!  WNDU brought its news team over to LaFortune today to catch this unique vending machine in action.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOT YOUR TYPICAL VENDING MACHINE

Coach Kelly @ Friday Football Luncheon

The gang at UND.COM posted this video today of University of Notre Dame Football Coach, Brian Kelly -- and his appearance at the Friday Football Luncheon today at the Joyce Athletic Center.  Here's a link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY'S COMMENTS

Yankee Stadium -- ND's Home Next Saturday!

Here's one of the latest photos -- released by the New York Yankees -- of the transformation of their $1.5 billion stadium into the home of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.  Note, no logos on the field and the vertical stripes in the far end-zone -- being painted -- just like Notre Dame Stadium!  (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Will the Newton Investigation Expose the SEC?

The news surrounding the rumored recruitment of Auburn QB Cam Newton -- isn't getting any better for all those involved.  The latest has a former Mississippi State player,  named Kenny Rogers, who told ESPN that Cam Newton's father (Cecil Newton) told him it's going to take "between $100,000 and $180,000 to deliver Cam." And, that he was present when Cecil Newton asked Mississippi coaches for money to sign his son. (see link below)

It makes you wonder where Mr. Newton came up with the idea that Mississippi State would be willing to pay and pay big to get his son to commit to his school?  Was it because he was paid by the Florida Gators, three years earlier -- to commit to their program -- the same football team where current Mississippi State Head Coach, Dan Mullen, was Cam Newton's Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach at the time?

Do you think ol' Urban Meyer might be squirming a little bit -- especially now that the FBI is involved in the investigation?

I'm guessing "Old Man Newton" is taking calls from "intermediaries representing" a few SEC schools right now, asking him  -- "what's it going to take to keep you quiet...?"

Will this be the case that blows the doors off the illegal recruiting practices and NCAA violations -- that have been long rumored to be rampant in the SEC?

LINK:  THE GOING RATE FOR A STARTING QB IN THE SEC

Coach Kelly After Thursday's Practice

University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly -- met with the media after yesterday's practice -- as the Irish prepare for their last home game at Notre Dame Stadium this Saturday against the #15th ranked Utah Utes.  Here's a link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY AFTER PRACTICE

Football Weekend Weather @ Notre Dame

Looks like today is going to be absolutely glorious!  And, Saturday -- not so good...  Better be prepared for some rain if you're going to the Utah game tomorrow.  Here's a link to WNDU's Storm 16 Interactive Radar:

LINK:  WEATHER RADAR -- NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame's MBA Program -- Top 25!

Bloomberg Businessweek just released their biennial survey of The Best U.S. Business Schools 2010 -- and the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business MBA Program was ranked 24th best in the country.  You'll recall, that earlier this year, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business undergraduate program #1 in America.   Congratulations to Dean Carolyn Woo and her team!  Here's a link to the rankings of MBA programs:

LINK:  ONE OF THE BEST!

A Walk On's Last Home Game...

James "J.T." Redshaw (North Huntington, PA) is a Notre Dame football player.  He's "five foot nuttin' and a hundred and nuttin" -- and he will be wearing the gold helmet this Saturday for the last time inside Notre Dame Stadium.  Redshaw, a walk-on, is a pre-med major and he carries a perfect 4.0 in the classroom!  Maybe we'll hear a "J.T" chant in the stands late in tomorrow's game? Notre Dame's student newspaper (Observer) ran a story on J.T. yesterday that I thought you'd enjoy:

LINK:  HIS LAST HOME GAME

Notre Dame's #1 Fan?

And I thought I was a Notre Dame fan...  The South Bend Tribune profiled -- Glenn Cooper from Groton, South Dakota yesterday.  Glenn's home is 600 miles away from the Notre Dame campus -- yet, he's a season ticket holder for every Notre Dame sports team -- except hockey.  You see, Glenn spends the school year in a home he bought in South Bend -- then he spends the summer back at his home South Dakota.  THIS IS A NOTRE DAME FAN!  Here's a link to the story.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S #1 FAN

Craig Biggio's Son Signs With Notre Dame

Connor Biggio, a second baseman at St. Thomas High School (Houston, TX) and the son of Houston Astros' all-time great Craig Biggio -- signed a National Letter of Intent yesterday --  fulfilling a dream to attend the University of Notre Dame.  Here's a link to the story:


LINK:  BIGGIO SIGNS WITH NOTRE DAME

Veteran's Day Salute: A Second Chance

Gene Dixon, the just elected president of the Notre Dame Club of Detroit, earned a MBA from the University of Notre Dame in 1969.  But, on graduation day -- June 1, 1969 -- Dixon was wearing the uniform of the US Army at Fort Knox, not the cap and gown his classmates were wearing that day in South Bend.  Well, 41 years later (May 21, 2010) -- Dixon received the opportunity to wear that cap & gown as he walked across the stage at Notre Dame's 2010 Commencement and received a standing ovation from the entire crowd.  Congratulations Gene!  Here's a link to Notre Dame's press release:

LINK:  A SECOND CHANCE AT GRADUATION

Veteran's Day Salute: Green & Bleier

Former Notre Dame student athletes; Danielle Green '99 and Rocky Bleier '68 had the distinct honor of wearing the uniform of the Fighting Irish and the uniform of the US Army.  We salute these two and all Veterans today -- for the sacrifices they and their families have made for our country!

Danielle Green-Byrd is a former left-handed shooting guard for Muffet McGraw's Irish in the late 90's -- she graduated as the 17th leading scorer in Notre Dame history.  After graduation she became an assistant coach at Washington High School (Chicago) and then Chicago State University.  In January 2003, she enlisted in the US Army -- a year later, Green-Byrd was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Freedom. On May 24, 2004 -- while on duty on the roof of a Baghdad police station, Green was hit by what she believes was a grenade. She lost her left hand, the shooting hand that helped her score 1,106 points at Notre Dame. She also has significant damage to her left leg, a dislocated left shoulder and shrapnel wounds down the left side of her body.  Danielle was one of the first women, in the US Miltary wounded in Iraq.  Green-Byrd's inspirational story has been told a number of times by ESPN, CBS, etc. -- here's a profile the US Department of Defense did on Danielle:

LINK:  DANIELLE GREEN

Rocky Bleier is a former running back for Ara Pareseghian's teams in the mid-60's.  A member of the 1966 national championship team and captain of the 1967 team -- Bleier left Notre Dame to go to the Pittsburgh Steelers who drafted him on the 16th round of the 1968 NFL Draft.  The 412th overall pick -- Bleier was drafted into the US Army after his rookie season (December 1968) with the Steelers.  He volunteered for duty in the Vietnam War and was sent there in May of 1969.  On August 20th, while on patrol in Heip Duc, Bleier was wounded in the left thigh by a rifle bullet when his platoon was ambushed in a rice paddy. While down, an enemy grenade landed nearby, sending shrapnel into his lower right leg.  While Rocky was recovering in a Tokyo hospital, doctors told him that he would not play football again. Soon after, he received a postcard from Steelers owner which just read "Rock - the team's not doing well. We need you. Art Rooney".  Well, the rest is history...   A book and movie "Fighting Back" memorialized Bleier's struggles over a two-year period to get back on the football field.  It should be noted that Rocky has four Super Bowl rings for his efforts.  Here's a link to a story that ESPN did on Rocky this past year:

LINK:  ROCKY BLEIER

Coach Kelly After Today's Practice

As is his usual, Coach Kelly met with the media after practice today.  What was not so usual today -- the first questions came from a Utah sportswriter who's already in town for Saturday's game.  Here's a link to Notre Dame Football Coach, Brian Kelly's session with the media this afternoon:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH THE MEDIA

Impersonating Lou Holtz -- A Few Laughs...

Notre Dame fans have had little to smile about these days -- let alone laugh -- when it comes to our beloved Fighting Irish.  So, for a little change of pace, I did a YOUTUBE search of people who like to impersonate  one of our favorite Notre Dame football coaches of all time -- Lou Holtz.  Just click on the links below -- ENJOY!

LINK:  AN ALABAMA RADIO SHOW'S IMPERSONATION OF LOU

LINK:  LOU'S RETURN TO THAT SAME ALABAMA RADIO SHOW

LINK:  DAN PATRICK'S IMPERSONATION OF LOU HOLTZ

LINK:  DAN PATRICK'S IMPERSONATION OF SKIP'S DAD

LINK:  FAN #1'S IMPERSONATION OF LOU HOLTZ

LINK:  RADIO STATION'S FAKE LOU HOLTZ

Domer NBA Coach -- Off to a 7-0 Start!

Former Notre Dame basketball star, Monty Williams is still undefeated as a NBA Head Coach!  The youngest head coach in the NBA -- led his New Orleans Hornets past the Los Angeles Clippers last night,  to go 7-0 on the young season.  Here's a link to Monty's post game interview:

LINK:  MONTY WILLIAMS -- UNDEFEATED NBA HEAD COACH

Where Are They Now? -- Kelly Tripucka

New York Knick fans probably know the answer to where former Notre Dame basketball player Kelly Tripucka is these days.  Tripucka is the color analyst for the Knicks home games on the MSG Network.  The four year starter for the Irish -- led Digger's teams in scoring all four years -- before heading off to the NBA.  Kelly's NBA career lasted 10 years -- with his best seasons in Detroit -- where he averaged 26.3 points per game in his second season for the Pistons.  A two-time NBA All Star, Tripucka was traded after the 1986 season to the Utah Jazz for former Notre Dame great Adrian Dantley.  Tripucka played two seasons for the Jazz before a trade to Charlotte where he played three seasons before retiring.  In 2000, the New Jersey Star Ledger named Kelly the "New Jersey Boy's Basketball Player of the Century."  In 2004, Tripucka was named to the 25 man -- "All Century Men's Basketball Team" at Notre Dame.  And, in 2008, Kelly was selected to the Detroit Pistons "All Time Team."  Here's a link to a video of Kelly's career with the Pistons:

LINK:  KELLY TRIPUCKA

Notre Dame Coaches; Martin & Alford

Chuck Martin and Tony Alford -- coaches on Brian Kelly's Notre Dame Football staff -- met with the media yesterday after practice.  Martin joined Kelly's staff from Grand Valley State where he led the Lakers to a couple of Division II National Championships as their head coach.  Alford, the only hold over from Charlie Weis's staff -- faces a unique challenge this Saturday.  Tony's brother Aaron is the running backs coach at Utah!   You're going to enjoy listening to Tony talk about his "little" brother. Here's a link to the interviews:

LINK:  MARTIN & ALFORD WITH THE MEDIA

Rees and Hendrix Meet with the Media

University of Notre Dame's Tommy Rees (#13) and Andrew Hendrix (#12) -- both Freshman QB's -- met with the media yesterday after practice, as they get ready for 15th ranked Utah this Saturday.  You're going to be impressed with both young men.  Here's a link to their interviews:

LINK:  REES AND HENDRIX -- MEET WITH MEDIA