LADY IRISH -- YOU MADE US PROUD!!!

Well, I would have "bet the house" at halftime that Notre Dame would have won this game tonight...  I'm glad I didn't!!!

It wasn't the ending we all had hoped for -- yet, we can't overlook what Notre Dame did these past few weeks.  I'm already looking forward to next season -- and what I suspect will be a TOP FIVE pre-season ranking -- with all but one player coming back for the IRISH!

Becka Bruszewski -- thank you for leading this team and making it tough enough to beat TENNESSEE and UCONN in the same week.  Something no team has ever done in the NCAA Tournament. 

Here's a link to the post game press conference:  KEEP YOUR HEADS UP!

ON TO IRISH HOCKEY and the FROZEN FOUR!!!!

PHOTO FROM INDY -- ND ARRIVES!!!

Here's a photo "tweeted" by @Jo_Rae from CONSECO FIELDHOUSE in the past eight minutes.

ND Football & Basketball Team in Indy Tonight!

Just heard that Brian Kelly and Mike Brey have taken their respective teams to Indianapolis this afternoon to cheer on their classmates to a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!  Don't know how many went -- just know they boarded buses this afternoon for the drive to Indy.  GO IRISH!

Top Hoops Recruit -- Commits to Lady Irish!!!

Hannah Huffman, the #38 ranked player in the country out of the Class of 2012 -- committed to Muffet McGraw and the Fighting Irish yesterday!!!  The 5'-9" combo guard, out of Northern California -- grew up a fan of Notre Dame.

Her dad, Larry Huffman, is a 1986 ND and former member of the golf team -- think he's PROUD TODAY!

Huffman chose Notre Dame over UCLA and Cal Berkley.  Here's a link to the ESPN story:

LINK:  HUFFMAN CHOOSES NOTRE DAME!

IRISH MEN: 2 - 0 vs. National Champ UCONN

The University of Notre Dame Men's Basketball team watched UCONN beat Butler last night -- knowing they were the last team to beat UCONN -- and one of two teams in the country who were 2-0 vs. the gang from Storrs, CT.  (Louisville was the other)

Shows you how close -- and how far away -- you can be to a National Championship in basketball.

UCONN finished ninth in the Big East Conference (they were 9-9 in the conference) -- yet, they're on top of the world this morning!

Women's National Championship -- 8:30 PM!

The University of Notre Dame Women's Basketball team is less than 13 hours away from the most important 40 minutes -- of their lifetime.  At 8:30 PM EDT -- tip off of the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship is scheduled -- and I'm expecting a "green background" in CONSECO FIELDHOUSE!!!

It's going to a great night of TV -- unfortunately, we're more than likely going to have to listen to ESPN's Doris Burke talk about UCONN throughout the game -- and we're going to have to do our best not to change the channel when ESPN plays another tribute to Maya Moore this evening...

OH WELL -- the good news is we're playing, they're not!!!  GO IRISH -- BEAT DOWN THE AGGIES!!! 

Here's a link to what the media is sayin' this morning about tonight's National Championship game:

LINK:  HOUSTON CHRONICLE

LINK:  USA TODAY

LINK:  PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

LINK:  INDY STAR

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  BOSTON GLOBE

LINK:  ABC NEWS

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

ND's Skylar Diggins -- As Good As Advertised!

Notre Dame fans will remember two years ago when word got out that Skylar Diggins walked into the ND locker room after a game -- wearing her high school varsity jacket -- to let Muffet McGraw know she was IRISH!

At the time -- Skylar was the most acclaimed high school star -- to ever commit to a University of Notre Dame women's athletic team.  Well, she's been as good as advertised.  On the biggest stage of her life last night -- she calmly led the Irish by the "bully" in women's college basketball. 

Can she do it again tomorrow night?  I believe she will do just that.

It's definitely going to be fun to watch!  And, you can be sure all eyes -- ESPECIALLY IRISH EYES -- will be on Skylar!  Here's a few links to some stories today about her importance to Notre Dame:

LINK:  ESPN BLOG -- #1

LINK:  ESPN BLOG -- #2

LINK:  ESPN BLOG -- #3

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

The Day After -- the Day Before the Final Game!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame spent the morning after last night's win over UCONN by meeting a "rap star" -- and meeting with the media.  Here's a link to UND.COM's continuing coverage of Notre Dame's National Championship run in Indianapolis!!!

LINK:  IRISH MEET "D.M.C."

LINK:  PLAYERS PRESS CONFERENCE -- NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

LINK:  MUFFET'S PRESS CONFERENCE -- NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Muffet's Irish -- Play for National Championship!

It still feels good the "morning after" -- trust me!!!  Muffet McGraw has another team in the NCAA Championship game -- ten years after she led her IRISH to our first National Championship in basketball in 2001.

What shouldn't be overlooked is this -- the past two games, Notre Dame beat teams with a combined 70 - 3 record.  The Lady Vols were 34 - 2 when they took on the Irish and UCONN was 36 - 1.

These two teams have won 15 of the last 23 National Championships -- think about that!

Here's a few links to UND.COM's video coverage of the big win for the IRISH last night -- along with a few of the media stories:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS -- IRISH BEAT UCONN!

LINK:  POST GAME CELEBRATION -- IRISH BEAT UCONN! 

LINK:  ND POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  INDY STAR

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE


LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

THE PHOTO OF THE NIGHT -- WINNING!

Young lady -- you led the IRISH to one of its guttiest wins of all time -- we're so proud of you and your teammates!  GO IRISH!!!!

Here's a link to what ESPN is sayin' right now...

LINK:  ESPN'S FIRST TAKE ON IRISH WIN!

Fourth Photo of the Night -- NEXT!!!!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- move on to the National Championship game Tuesday night against Texas A&M.  ND beat UCONN 72 - 63!

Third Photo of the Night -- Skylar Diggans!

This young lady -- assumed the mantle of the top player in college basketball tonight -- and what a time to do just that!!!

Second Photo of the Night! -- The Fighting Irish!

The Lady Irish have been the toughest team in America the past two weeks -- THE FIGHTING IRISH ARE BACK!!!

First Photo of the Night! -- Sorry Geno!!!

 

UCONN Coach Geno Auriemma -- thinking about where he's going to watch the Irish play on Tuesday night!

TAKE THAT ESPN! -- IRISH ON TO TUESDAY!

We had to listen to the ESPN "UCONN SPECIAL -- for more than two hours -- yet, they can shut up now -- CUZ THE IRISH ARE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!  GO IRISH!!!!

If you'd like to watch the replay -- it's right here:

LINK:  REPLAY OF IRISH'S WIN OVER UCONN!!

LINK:  INDY STAR -- GAME RECAP

4 Hours to the IRISH BEAT DOWN of UCONN!

I can feel it!!!!

We're four hours from the very best 40 minute performance -- of this season --  in women's college basketball.  THE IRISH ARE GOING TO WIN!!!  Here's a last look at ND from yesterday and a preview of tonight's game -- from our friends at UND.COM:

LINK:  ND vs. UCONN -- GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  IRISH OPEN PRACTICE

LINK:  IRISH VISIT THE INDY ZOO

ND's Chief Investment Officer -- National Award!

Scott Malpass, ND's "money guy" -- will receive Institutional Investor's "Large Endowment Manager of the Year" award -- at an event in NYC on May 16th.  Malpass manages Notre Dame's $6.2 billion endowment -- the 14th largest in Higher Education and the largest at any Catholic university.  Here's a link to Institutional Investor's announcement:

LINK:  SCOTT MALPASS GETS TOP HONOR!

ND Blue Gold Game -- First Weather Forecast

Here's the first look at weather for the Blue Gold Weekend at Notre Dame.  It won't be cold -- but, it might be a little wet.  Here you go:

LINK:  EARLY WEATHER FORECAST -- BLUE GOLD WEEKEND

ND Tight Ends -- UND.COM Feature

Here's a link to a UND.COM feature on the Tight End position at the University of Notre Dame.  Enjoy!

LINK:  A POSITION OF EXCELLENCE

ND Football's "Party on the Patio"

During Saturday's practice -- the ND Football program hosted 35 women from the University who have played a role in the Notre Dame Football program.  UND.COM was on hand to tell the event's story.  Here's the link:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S "PARTY ON THE PATIO"