Wednesday, March 16, 2011

ND Law Grads -- Among Highest Paid!


Forbes just released a ranking of the "mid-career" salaries of law school grads -- from the top law schools in America.  Notre Dame Law School grads -- ranked 10th overall with a "median" mid career salary of $191,000.  Here's a link to the top ten schools:

LINK:  FORBES:  RANKING OF SALARIES OF LAW SCHOOL GRADS

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Charlie Weis -- Meets With the Media


Former Notre Dame Football Coach, Charlie Weis '78 -- met with the media today for the first time wearing the colors of the Florida Gators.  You can catch Weis at approximately 33.30 minute mark of the video.  Just fast forward to that point. 

LINK:  WEIS TALKIN' GATORS

Muffet's Irish -- Also a #2 Seed in NCAA!


Not a bad year -- so far -- for basketball at the University of Notre Dame.  Both teams have been consistently ranked in the TOP TEN in 2011 and in the past two days -- both teams were given a #2 seed for their respective NCAA Tournaments.  The only "unfortunate" break seems to be that Muffet's Irish have to travel to Salt Lake City to take on UTAH -- and ND's one of the top seeds in the tournament.  Doesn't make much sense does it!?  Well, here's what the media has to say about Notre Dame Women's Basketball's chances:

LINK:  SALT LAKE CITY'S DESERET NEWS

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

Monday, March 14, 2011

Irish Obstacles -- Road to the Final Four

For the #2 Seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- here's what the road to the FINAL FOUR (the first four opponents) -- could look like, if the Top Seeds in the Southwest Region win their games:
  1. Round Two:  Akron (23 - 12) -- no common opponents with the Irish
  2. Round Three:  Texas A&M (24 - 8) -- no common opponents with the Irish
  3. Round Four:  Purdue (25 - 7) -- Indiana State, West Virginia and Wisconsin common opponents with the Irish
  4. Round Five:  Kansas (32 - 2) -- no common opponents with the Irish
It won't be easy -- but, it's also not impossible for Notre Dame to make its first FINAL FOUR appearance since 1978!  Game One -- this Friday night against Akron!!!  Here's a link to a story that gives an overview of what's ahead for Notre Dame:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Notre Dame "Selection Sunday" Show

Here's a link to UND.COM's coverage of Notre Dame basketball's "Selection Sunday" -- you'll enjoy!

LINK:  COACH BREY

LINK:  HANSBROUGH & SCOTT

LINK:  ABROMAITIS

Notre Dame a #2 Seed -- NCAA TOURNAMENT!


The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish were awarded for a fantastic year this evening with a #2 seed in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.  While it looked like the Irish would get a #1 seed after Pitt's early exit from the Big East Tournament -- the NCAA Selection Committee gave Pitt a #1 seed (awarding them for their regular season) and apparently moved Duke into a #1 seed after their ACC Tournament win -- bumping the Irish out of that spot.  Obviously, ND's loss to Louisville Friday night -- did them in.  Oh well, it's just a number in front of your name -- it won't score you any more points or grab you any more rebounds.  It's time to play ball -- and the IRISH will get going on Friday night in Chicago against the Akron Zips in the Southwest Region.  The #1 seed in the Southwest Region is Kansas.  Looks like the Irish were ranked 6th overall -- based on their draw.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET

Zibby Wins Fight in First Round!!!


Former Notre Dame football star and current Baltimore Raven safety -- Tommy Zbikowski, returned to the boxing ring in Las Vegas last night and the referee stopped the fight 1:45 into the first round!  As you'll see in the photo -- Zibby knocked down his opponent.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  ZIBBY WINS FIGHT!

NCAA "Selection Sunday" -- CBS at 6 PM EST!


This evening at 6 PM EST -- the world will know what seed the NCAA Tournament Committee has given the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  I was feeling good a bout a #1 seed until I saw a show last night that listed ND's RPI at #7.  However, ESPN's Joe Lunardi -- still has the IRISH a #1 seed playing in the Southeast Region -- with their first round games in CHICAGO!!!  I believe the worst case scenario -- the IRISH end up a #2 seed -- and, are put in the West Region because of their drawing power and the lack of top teams on the "left coast."  Ironically, the Chairman of the NCAA Tournament Committee is a "domer" -- Gene Smith, the Athletic Director at The Ohio State University.  Here's what the media believe the NCAA will do today at 6 PM EST on CBS:

LINK:  ESPN's BRACKETOLOGY

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

LINK:  LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL

LINK:  THE EXAMINER

LINK:  PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Tough Loss -- Still a #1 Seed!!!


It's taken me about fourteen hours to get over that second half performance of the Irish.  Wow -- the Louisville press just wore them out.  And, our "star" picked the wrong night to have his most difficult game of the season.  However, I still think the convincing win over Cincinnati gets them a #1 seed.  We'll know in about 27 hours.  Here's what the media is saying today about our Irish:

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  LEXINGTON HERALD LEDGER

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Friday, March 11, 2011

WOW! Irish Beat Bearcats 89 - 51 !!!


Well, the Irish just might have secured a #1 seed last night on the floor of Madison Square Garden -- as they destroyed the Cincinnati Bearcats 89 - 51 in the 2nd most lopsided loss in Big East Tournament history!  WOW!!!  Here's what the media is sayin' this morning:

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ESPN #2

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Does a Win Tonight -- Secure a #1 Seed?

With UCONN's upset this afternoon of Pittsburgh -- the door has been opened for Notre Dame to secure a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1979!  The question now is -- will it require one win, two wins or three wins in the Big East Tournament?  I'm betting it will require two wins for Notre Dame to secure a #1 seed -- we'll know Sunday night!!!

What Makes Notre Dame -- Notre Dame!!!


You're going to enjoy this story in today's New York Times -- it was authored by former ND basketball player Zach Hillesland.  First off -- it's well written, not a surprise.  And, Zach tells a good story.  I want to thank Mike Sullivan (a Domer working for Notre Dame) -- for alerting the ND GO IRISH BLOG to this story.  You're going to enjoy!

LINK:  YEAH, NOTRE DAME IS GOOD!

ND Plays Cinci Tonight on ESPN @ 7 PM EST!


The Big East Tournament begins tonight for the #4 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  Mike Brey's boys have been in Manhattan since Tuesday -- awaiting word on who they would be playing tonight at 7 PM EST.  Well -- that team is the Cincnnati Bearcats, who hung a 25 point whipping last night on the University of South Florida.  The Irish and the Bearcats played a game at Purcell Pavillion in January -- with ND winning 66 - 58.  The game should tip-off at 7 PM EST on ESPN.  Here's a link to UND.COM'S Game Day Central:  GO IRISH!

LINK:  GAME NOTES:  ND vs. CINCINNATI

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Irish Wait For Their Opponent - Day 2 in NYC!


The folks at UND.COM have been working overtime these past couple of days in Manhattan.  Here's a few interviews that took place in the past 24 hours with all of the "award winners" for the Irish!  You'll enjoy this:

LINK:  DAY 2 @ THE BIG EAST

Choosing the "Stick" Over the "Scalpel"


Former University of Notre Dame hockey goalie, Jordan Pearce is playing these days for the Grand Rapids Griffins in the American Hockey League.  Pearce, a top-notch student at ND -- had his choice of professional hockey or Med School -- he chose the former, the latter can wait. 

Looks like it was a good decision for Jordan.   I won't be surprised if someday soon -- Detroit Red Wings fans will see him wearing the "red-wheeled wing!"  Here's a link to a wonderful story about Jordan's progress in pro hockey along with a link to a Grand Rapids Press story:

LINK:  A DOMER DOING WELL!

LINK:  GRAND RAPIDS PRESS ARTICLE

Graduation Success Rates -- Top 20 Teams


Here's the most current NCAA Graduation Success Rates (see definition below) for the teams in this week's TOP-TWENTY rankings for Men's College Basketball - as determined by the ESPN/USA Today/Coaches Poll.

You will note that three schools in the top-twenty have a "perfect" GSR; Notre Dame, Brigham Young and Utah State.   And, five schools have a GSR under 50; Texas, Florida, Arizona, Kentucky and UCONN.

Thought you would find this quite interesting -- since we know CBS and ESPN won't be talking about this over the next few weeks of their coverage of  "MARCH MADNESS."

I look forward to the day when the TV networks and news media begin placing a school's GSR  next to their football or basketball rankings -- when they publish their TOP TWENTY POLLS.   Or, why doesn't the NCAA force CBS and ESPN to put every team's GSR next to their SEEDING in the Tournament Bracket during their broadcast of "Selection Sunday?"  

FYI:  I'm not holding my breath!!!

Here is how the NCAA defines GSR:  Graduation rates are based on the IPEDS-GRS which is defined as a six-year proportion of those student-athletes who graduated versus those who entered an institution on institutional aid.  In addition to the student-athlete data in the graduation-rates data, the GSR accounts for student-athletes who transfer into an institution while discounting student-athletes who separate from the institution and would have been academically eligible to compete had they returned.

Here's the TOP-TWENTY Teams in Men's College Basketball with their GSR:

#1:  Ohio State:  64 GSR
#2:  Kansas:  80 GSR
#3:  Pittsburgh:  64 GSR
#4:  NOTRE DAME:  100 GSR
#5:  Duke:  83 GSR
#6:  San Diego State:  58 GSR
#7:  North Carolina:  88 GSR
#8:  Brigham Young:  100 GSR
#9:  Purdue:  67 GSR
#10:  Texas:  42 GSR
#11:  Syracuse:  54 GSR
#12:  Florida:  44 GSR
#13:  Wisconsin:  70 GSR
#14:  Louisville:  50 GSR
#15:  Arizona:  20 GSR
#16:  Kentucky:  44 GSR
#17:  Utah State:  100 GSR
#18:  St. John's:  70 GSR
#19:  Connecticut:  31 GSR
#20:  Xavier:  92 GSR


SOURCE:  NCAA GSR DATABASE

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Hansbrough & Brey -- Big East Honors!!!


Ben Hansbrough was named Big East Player of the Year tonight -- and his coach, Mike Brey was named Big East Coach of the Year!!!  Congratulations!  Here's a link to the Big East's coverage of these major awards:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME TAKES TWO TOP AWARDS!

Big East Championship -- Tonight on ESPN!

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on "Goliath" tonight -- on their home court -- for the honor of calling one's team BIG EAST CHAMPION!  Goliath is none other than UCONN -- the team that no one could beat, until Stanford took them down earlier this season.  Irish fans will recall that a few days after Stanford broke UCONN's "million game" (90 game) winning streak -- Notre Dame was well in control of their game against the Huskies -- only to lose the game in the final minute.  The second time they played this season -- not so close...

Will this be one of those "NOTRE DAME MOMENTS" tonight?  Game time is set for 7 PM EST on ESPN -- GO IRISH!  Here's a link to tonight's game notes -- courtesy of UND.COM:

LINK:  GAME NOTES -- ND vs. UCONN

2011 ND vs. USC Game -- Under the Lights?


There's a "twitter" rumor floating around that the 2011 Notre Dame vs. USC game at Notre Dame Stadium -- will be played at night -- in PRIMETIME!  It wouldn't surprise me for two reasons;
  1. Brian Kelly has openly "campaigned" for Home Night Games
  2. And, for NBC - it's a better "pay day" for advertisers -- much bigger audience at night
If I was running the "new NBC" -- remember, COMCAST just bought them -- I would be pushing Notre Dame to "own Saturday night" -- in the months of September and October.  Moving every home game in those two months to an 8 PM EST kick-off.  Do you agree?

Notre Dame's Response to Sullivan Incident


The University of Notre Dame released a statement today -- outlining the steps it would be taking to ensure that they will no longer be using hydraulic lifts (photo of lift -- after accident) to videotape football practice.  As you'll see in the linked story below -- Notre Dame will begin using multiple 50' poles with remote cameras atop.  Here's the story:

LINK: NOTRE DAME'S NEW APPROACH TO PRACTICE VIDEO

Monday, March 7, 2011

A Former ND Great Needs Our Prayers!!!


Jim Seymour -- who Irish fans will remember as #85 in the Notre Dame gold helmet -- who was on the receiving end of many TD passes from Terry Hanratty -- is in need of our prayers.  Seymour (seen here on a Time magazine cover with Hanratty) -- is battling a very aggressive form of cancer.  Please keep Jim and his family in your prayers!!!

Irish Advance to Big East Championship Final!


Muffet's Irish beat DePaul 71 - 67 to advance to the Big East Championship game tomorrow night -- for the first time in ten years!!!  It wasn't a pretty game -- but, the Irish advance to play UCONN -- on their home court for the title.  Here's a link to the boxscore from ESPN:

LINK:  IRISH BEAT DEPAUL -- ON TO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!

Irish Move Up To #4 in the National Rankings!!!


Can you believe it?  The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- are now ranked #4 in the national college basketball polls!  Both the AP and the ESPN/USA Today/Coaches Poll have Mike Brey's boys sitting in the #4 spot.  Now, if we can win a couple of games this week -- we'll probably stay in that spot for the NCAA Selection Committee to pick us a #1 seed...  Here's a link to both polls:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BASKETBALL -- #4 IN BOTH POLLS!!!

Strong Bodies Fight -- The Movie!!!

This movie may not gather the world-wide acclaim of Rudy -- but, its mission should!!!

"Strong Bodies Fight" tells the unique story of the relationship between the University of Notre Dame's Bengal Bouts and the Holy Cross Mission in Bangladesh.   I encourage all of you to click on the link below and watch the movie trailer.   A little "insider info" -- when you visit the site the "boxer" in the blue trunks is a fighter by the name of Leo Rubinowski '09 (Bengal Bouts Champion and Boxing Team Captain) -- his Dad Conrad, is a regular visitor to the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

LINK:  STRONG BODIES FIGHT -- THE MOVIE!

Mike Brey -- Yahoo's Coach of the Year!


Well, Yahoo Sports decided to announce their All-American Team and National Coach of the Year today for college basketball today -- and Notre Dame's Mike Brey is their pick for top coach!  It's the first National Coach of the Year honor for Mike Brey -- and if the Irish keep winning, it probably won't be his last.  FYI:  Ben Hansbrough was named Second Team All-American.  Here's a link:

LINK:  YAHOO'S -- NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR 

Blue Gold Game to be Televised on Versus!


For the first time that I can recall -- the Notre Dame Blue Gold Game will be televised.  The cable channel called VERSUS will televise the game LIVE on April 16th.  As a prelude to this -- on St. Patrick's Day -- VERSUS will run a six-hour NOTRE DAME marathon beginning at 5 PM EST.  First up, the Notre Dame vs. Penn State in 1992, followed by the USC vs. Notre Dame game in 2005 and then it will end with the Florida State vs. ND 1993 game.  Should be fun for ND Fans!!!  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  VERSUS TO GET THE IRISH!

Irish Win -- Play Again Tonight on ESPNU

The #7 Irish beat Louisville last night 63 - 53 in the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament.  The win puts Notre Dame on a collision course this evening with DePaul -- the Blue Demons are ranked #12 in the country and beat the Irish 70 - 69 the last time they played.  The game will be televised tonight LIVE on ESPNU beginning at 8 PM EST.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune game story from last night along with the game notes for tonight's contest.  Go IRISH!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- GAME STORY

LINK:  GAME NOTES:  ND vs. LOUISVILLE

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Muffet's Irish on ESPNU Tonight @ 8 PM EST!


The #7 Fighting Irish play their first game tonight in the 2011 Big East Women's Basketball Tournament against Louisville.  ESPNU will televise the game -- LIVE -- beginning at 8 PM EST.  Here's the link to the game notes for tonight's contest.  Go IRISH!

LINK:  BIG EAST TOURNAMENT PLAY -- BEGINS TONIGHT!

2011 Big East Basketball Tournament -- Bracket


This is the first time the Big East Tournament will have every team play.  The fun begins on Tuesday with four games at Madison Square Garden.  The Irish will play Thursday night @ 7 PM EST against one of these teams;  Villanova, Cincinnati or USF.  Here's a link to the tournament bracket:

LINK:  2011 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT -- BRACKET

Hansbrough -- Only Unanimous Choice!



University of Notre Dame guard, Ben Hansbrough was named today to the All-Big East First Team -- and he was the only unanimous choice!!!  Here's a link to the announcement:

LINK:  HANSBROUGH -- ONLY UNANIMOUS CHOICE!!!

Are the Irish a #1 Seed in NCAA Tournament?

In the past 20 hours -- the so called college basketball "experts" are now talking about whether Notre Dame deserves a #1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.  Who would have thought!!!  Before the season started -- these same experts were predicting the Irish would finish among the "bottom half" of the tough Big East Conference.  Here are links to a Fox Sports story and a CBS Sports story -- on this very subject:

LINK:  DO THE IRISH DESERVE A #1 SEED?

LINK:  NOTRE DAME #1 SEED IN WEST REGION

Irish Beat UCONN With Hansbrough on Bench!!!

What a game...

With eight minutes to go -- I was wondering out loud -- "What was Brey thinking when he put Hansbrough back into the game with eight minutes left, four fouls and the Irish up by eight???

Then ten seconds later -- Hansbrough makes a stupid foul and he's on the bench for the balance of the game.  UCONN goes on 13-0 run putting the Irish down five and, if you were at my house -- you would have heard my yelling at the TV sure this game was over...

Yet, somehow the Irish were able to ride out UCONN's flury -- and two big free-throw misses by Scott Martin -- and still win the game 70 - 67 in front of a dismayed John Saunders (ESPN) who did his best to show his hate for ND all game long... 

It was the first win for a Mike Brey team at UCONN -- it locked up a #2 seed in the upcoming Big East Tournament -- and probably a #2 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.  WAY TO GO IRISH!!!

Here's a few links to the media's reaction to the big win today!:

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  NEWS TIMES -- CT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Is Notre Dame Doing the "Right" Thing?

I just ran across this story this evening -- and it caught me a little off guard.  Cathedral High School in El Paso, TX has been calling itself the "Fightin' Irish" since 1925.  And, over that time, they've been using the Leprechaun logo as well.

Today, the story broke that the University of Notre Dame has notified Cathedral that they must "cease" calling themselves the "Fighting Irish" and may no longer use the Leprechaun logo.  They can call themselves the "Irish"-- but that's it.

Now, having worked with the NBA, NHL, NASCAR, PGA, etc., -- I fully understand protecting your brand.  I also know that there are Catholic high schools all over America who have been calling themselves the Fighting Irish and using the Leprechaun logo -- for years!

All I can figure is Cathedral was selling the Notre Dame marks on apparel and merchandise -- and some ND Official Licensees (who pay to use the mark) who were in El Paso for the Sun Bowl started complaining -- and the University had no choice but to protect their marks.

Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PROTECTING ITS MARKS

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Irish @ Disney


This photo was just "tweeted" by a member of the University of Notre Dame's women's softball team.  They're down at Disney playing in a tournament this weekend.  Disney rarely misses an opportunity...

The Bengal Bouts -- Uniquely Notre Dame!

They "Box for Bangladesh."  Last night -- the finals of the 81st Annual Bengal Bouts were held on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  It's uniquely Notre Dame -- and it's done for a great cause.   The goal was to raise $200,000 for the Holy Cross Mission in Bangladesh -- here's hoping they met their goal!  Thirteen winners were crowned -- yet, the people of Bangladesh really won last night.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story and a link to the official site of The Bengal Bouts:



LINK:  BOXING FOR BANGLADESH

LINK:  THE BENGAL BOUTS -- OFFICIAL SITE

ESPN's Gottlieb -- Calls the Irish "Pretenders"


ESPN college basketball analyst -- Doug Gottlieb did a segment this week on ESPN where he took the top eight ranked teams in the country and he labeled them "contenders" or "pretenders" -- in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.  Well, Gottlieb -- who was an Irish student-athlete at one time -- before he was asked to leave Notre Dame for the "un-authorized" use of a roommates' credit card (I'm trying to be nice about this...) -- showed his bias in his labeling of the Irish.

I trust Coach Brey will remind his team of this in a couple of weeks!  Here's a link:

LINK:  GOTTLIEB'S THOUGHTS ON THE IRISH

NY Times Interview of Brian Kelly


Notre Dame football head coach, Brian Kelly -- met with a New York Times reporter this week to talk about his upcoming "Kelly Cares Foundation" dinner at the Waldorf Astoria on March 16th.  The event will honor former Irish coaching legends Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz -- should be a fun night!  Here's the link to the interview:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH NY TIMES

Irish Play UCONN Today on ESPN!!!


You win some basketball games at Notre Dame -- and you're on TV as much or more than Duke.  That's the "win" for ND hoops fans across the county -- as we get to watch our IRISH play more often on TV.  ESPN will have the Irish vs. UCONN game on at 2 PM EST.  Today ends the regular season for Mike Brey's boys -- they're currently 24 - 5 -- and a win will tie or break the following team records:
  • A win today -- will set the all-time "modern era" for most wins in a regular season.
  • A win today -- will tie the all-time record for most Big East wins in a regular season.
  • A win today -- will make 94 wins over the past four years -- which will be the most wins over a four-year span in Notre Dame history. 
  • And, a win today -- will give the Irish 46 Big East wins in the last four seasons -- the most ever, over a four-year span.

This will be the ninth game this season for the Irish against a ranked opponent.  UCONN is ranked 16th.  To date, the Irish are 6-2 against ranked teams.   The only problem for Irish fans today -- John Saunders -- a known "ND Hater" is doing the game for ESPN -- you may want to turn down the sound!!!

Here's a link to the game notes from Notre Dame's Media Relations team at UND.COM:

LINK:  IRISH vs. HUSKIES TODAY AT 2 PM EST

Friday, March 4, 2011

Hansbrough's "Warm-Up" Drill -- Try This!


If you're still playing hoops, or you have kids at home who like the game -- you may want to give this a try.  University of Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough -- let the folks at the Chicago Tribune "illustrate" his typical "warm-up" routine.  You'll like this!  Click on the link below:

LINK:  BEN HANSBROUGH - WARMIN' UP!

Luke Harangody Scores 18 -- Cavs Beat Knicks!


Former Notre Dame All-American Luke Harangody -- came off the bench tonight and scored 18 points in 22 minutes for the Cavaliers in their 119 - 115 win tonight over the Knick.  Luke was 6 for 11 from the floor with 4 boards and 2 assists -- in a rare road win for Cleveland.  Here's a link to the boxscore:

LINK:  GODY SCORES 18 TONIGHT!

Ben Hansbrough on "Rome Is Burning"


Notre Dame senior guard, Ben Hansbrough is quickly becoming a "media darling."  In the past day he's appeared on ESPN's PTI and ESPN's Rome Is Burning.  Here's a link to Ben's interview with Jim Rome and his interview with ESPN's PTI

LINK:  HANSBROUGH -- ROME IS BURNING

LINK:  HANSBROUGH -- WITH PTI

Ranking of College Football Stadiums -- WHAT?


CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd ranked the top 25 College Football Stadiums in the country -- Notre Dame fans won't like where he placed "The House That Rockne Built."  Here's a link:

LINK:  RANKING OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL STADIUMS

The Bengal Bouts -- TONIGHT on UND.COM!


The University of Notre Dame's 81st Annual "Bengal Bouts" Finals  -- will be held this evening at the Purcell Pavillion.  Thirteen fights are on the card -- and you can watch each bout LIVE on UND.COM beginning at 7 PM EST.  Here's the link:

LINK:  LIVE COVERAGE:  ND'S BENGAL BOUTS

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Best Business School in America -- AGAIN!


The University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business was ranked #1 in the country -- for the second straight year.  The honor was announced today by Bloomberg Businessweek as they released their annual ranking of the best undergraduate business schools in the country.  It's nice to be #1!!!  Here's a link to the story -- along with a link to their 2011 rankings:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME RANKED #1 -- AGAIN!

LINK: RANKINGS OF THE TOP BUSINESS SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY

Zibby Geting Back Into the Boxing Ring!


Former Notre Dame football star and now safety for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens -- Tommy Zibikowski, is returning to the boxing ring!  It was learned today that Zibby has agreed to fight an "unnamed" opponent in a four-round match, March 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  The fight, which is part of the Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga undercard -- will be televised on Showtime in a pay-per-view package.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story -- along with a link to a Baltimore Ravens blog story and a link to a video of Zibby's last fight!


LINK:  ZIBBY TO BOX AGAIN!

LINK:  ZIBBY BACK IN BOXING RING

LINK:  VIDEO OF ZIBBY'S TKO!

Brian Kelly Gets His First Commit for 2012!

Recruiting has changed.  Remember the day when players waited until National Signing Day to make their choice known?  Well, those days are long gone.  Yesterday, one of the top defensive backs in the country -- he's a junior in high school right now -- became the first player to commit to Notre Dame from the Class of 2012.  Tee Shepard -- out of Fresno, CA -- decided to commit to the Irish over Alabama, USC, Auburn and pretty much any other top team in the country.  Here's a link to Tom Lemming (national recruiting analyst) talking with the gang at SportsBeat and a link to RIVALS.COM and Irish Illustrated's coverage of this new story!

LINK:  LEMMING TALKS TEE SHEPARD

LINK:  TEE SHEPARD COMMITS TO NOTRE DAME

A Story You Must Know!!!


Bob Muzikowski, has a connection to the University of Notre Dame.  Yesterday, in a conference room in San Diego, CA – Bob met with a number of members of Notre Dame’s Development Team to tell his story.   And, oh what a story he has…


I know of this meeting because a good friend of mine, at Notre Dame, was kind enough to give me a copy of Bob’s book “Safe At Home” – and to let me know that Bob was going to meet with his team on Tuesday.

I had never heard of Bob Muzikowski… 

A few years back, Paramount Pictures released a movie called “Hardball” starring Keanu Reeves playing an alcoholic “Wall Street” type who turned around his life coaching a Little League baseball team in Chicago.  I saw that movie.  Well, after reading all 261 pages of Safe At Home last night and this morning – I now know that this movie was un-authorized and a rather “POOR ATTEMPT” by Hollywood – to tell Bob’s story.

Bob Muzikowski and his wife Tina – are heroes.  Heroes to thousands of kids in Chicago and New York City who were dealt the challenge of growing up in an environment most of us only know about from the 11 o’clock newscast each night. 

The Muzikowski’s and their friends began by using the game of baseball to change kids’ lives.  I’ve read many books in my day – and I must admit – Bob & Tina’s story is powerful.

I encourage all who enjoy a great story – to buy their book.  You won’t put the book down when you start reading it – and, it will have an impact on how you look at the world – I PROMISE!

I've also provided a link below to a high school that Bob & Tina started with their friends - yeah, they've moved up from Little League to now their own high school!  They launched Chicago Hope Academy six years ago and they now have more than 140 students enrolled.  Almost 90% of the students can't afford to pay the tuition -- but that hasn't stopped Bob & Tina... 

I am in awe of Bob and Tina Mizukowski's commitment to their community - you will be too!!!  Please click on all of these links -- and buy the book!!!



Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Troy Murphy to Join the Celtics?

Rumor has it that former Notre Dame basketball star -- Troy Murphy, is set to sign with the Boston Celtics for their NBA Playoff run.  Murphy became a free agent in the past few days and it was believed he was on his way to Miami to play with Lebron and D. Wade.  Apparently -- they Celtics have changed his mind.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  TROY MURPHY TO SIGN WITH CELTICS?

ND Basketball's Home Record: 84 - 6

Is Purcell Pavillion becoming the most difficult place to play in the country?  Believe it or not -- our Fighting Irish are now 84 - 6 over the last 90 games played in our home arena -- think about that!  Is there really that great of a home court advantage for the IRISH?  Here's a link to a story in the Observer -- Notre Dame's student newspaper:

LINK:  HOME COOKIN' @ NOTRE DAME!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

A Record Night for Notre Dame Basketball!


Seniors Ben Hansbrough and Ty Nash -- went out in style last night.  The duo, playing their last home game in an IRISH uniform -- led #7 Notre Dame to a 47-27 halftime lead over #19 Villanova -- playing what might be the best twenty minutes of basketball in the history of this program.  For the night, the Irish set a school record -- making twenty (20) three-pointers in their 93 - 72 win.

The win clinched an undefeated home record for Notre Dame -- the third time in the last five seasons!

Hansbrough scored 30 points to go along with his 10 rebounds and 5 steals.  Nash had a "double-double"scoring 11 and grabbing 11 boards.  And senior "walk-on" Tim Kopko -- got into the act making an acrobatic shot late in the game (to the great delight of the ND students) -- a fitting end for these three seniors!!!

Oh by the way, Tim Abromaitis also scored 30 points, going 9 for 13 from beyond the three-point arc.  A big night for Notre Dame Basketball!!!  Here's a link to UND.COM's game highlights along with a link to Coach Brey's post game conference.  And, a third link to the South Bend Tribune game story:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  COACH BREY POST GAME PRESSER

LINK:  BIG WIN FOR THE IRISH!