The Shirt -- a Notre Dame Tradition!

It's typically the #1 selling item in any college bookstore in America every year -- and the 21st edition of THE SHIRT will be unveiled this Friday afternoon in a ceremony in front of the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.

THE SHIRT that is my personal all-time favorite is the 2007 shirt -- and it's purely a biased opinion.  My son Jimmy Small '08 -- then a junior and an Irish Guard -- was included in the montage on the back of THE SHIRT that year.  I believe that year they sold around 135,000 of the shirts and then coach Charlie Weis gave away another 5,000 of THE SHIRT to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq -- during his tour.

For some reason -- there has been very little "chatter" online about the COLOR of this year's shirt.  I'm guessing it just might be a WHITE shirt this year -- just a guess. 

If you'd like to read about the history of THE SHIRT -- check in on some of the previous designs -- or, just place your order -- check out the links below:

LINK:  THE SHIRT PROJECT -- 2011

LINK:  THE HISTORY OF THE SHIRT

LINK:  PREVIOUS SHIRTS

Latest Blue Gold Weekend Weather Forecast

Five days ago the forecast was 71 degrees and sunny for next Saturday's BLUE GOLD Game...

Folks -- today the forecast is for RAIN and 57 degrees at kick-off -- WHAT!!!

LINK:  LATEST FORECAST 

LINK:  BUY THIS UMBRELLA!

Michael Floyd -- ND's Decision a Shocker!

The University of Notre Dame surprised most loyal ND followers with the news yesterday afternoon that Michael Floyd will not be suspended from school -- and will not be kept off the football field.

Michael Floyd is still suspended "indefinitely" by Brian Kelly from the Notre Dame football team.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if Brian Kelly "reinstates" him to team activities in JUNE, when the team returns for the summer semester.  Yet, I wouldn't be shocked if Coach Kelly decides to sit him for the "home opener" against the University of South Florida...

Here's a link to a video at Irish Illustrated of Coach Kelly commenting this morning on the Michael Floyd situation -- along with a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD NOT SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

ND Spring Practice -- Update #10

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame completed their 10th practice of the Spring Season -- yesterday -- and the gang at UND.COM was there to catch the action.  Here's their report:

LINK:  WIDE RECEIVER UPDATE

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST INTERVIEW

Video of NFL Pro Day @ Notre Dame

Nine former football stars at Notre Dame worked out on Thursday for NFL Scouts inside the Loftus Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  Here's a link to UND.COM's coverage of NFL Pro Day @ Notre Dame:

LINK:  NFL PRO DAY @ NOTRE DAME

Will He Become the First American Born Pope?

Timothy Dolan -- is the "larger than life" Archbishop of the New York Diocese.  Living in the Detroit suburbs and Diocese, I must admit I knew nothing about Dolan -- that changed after his 60 Minutes interview last month.  Called "THE HOLY BULLDOZER" -- I couldn't get enough of Archbishop Dolan!

Here's a link to that 60 Minutes story -- and a link to his Saint Patrick's Day Pastoral Letter.  Hey ND -- he would make a great Commencement Speaker!

LINK:  DOLAN'S 60 MINUTES INTERVIEW

LINK:  SAINT PATRICK'S DAY PASTORAL LETTER

Notre Dame NFL PRO DAY -- Results!

NBC's Notre Dame Beat Reporter -- Keith Arnold is reporting on the results of today's NFL PRO DAY at Notre Dame for nine former Irish players.  Here's the link to his story along with links to stories from The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated:

LINK:  NFL PRO DAY @ NOTRE DAME

LINK:  TSN -- RUDOLPH HEALTHY

LINK:  SI -- PRO DAY AT ND

Notre Dame Spring Practice #9 -- Update

Coach Brian Kelly met with the media after yesterday's practice -- as the IRISH completed practice #9 "OUTSIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME" leading up to next Saturday's BLUE GOLD game.  Here's a link to that media session along with a UND.COM's practice report and interview of Bob Diaco and Charley Molnar:

LINK:  UND.COM -- POST PRACTICE REPORT

LINK:  COACH KELLY -- MEETS WITH THE MEDIA

LINK:  COACH MOLNAR -- MEETS WITH THE MEDIA

LINK:  COACH DIACO -- MEETS WITH THE MEDIA

NFL PRO DAY @ NOTRE DAME TODAY!

Nine former Notre Dame football stars will be showcasing their strength, skill and speed today in front of a number of NFL Scouts -- as it's NFL PRO DAY @ NOTRE DAME.

Armando Allen, Robert Hughes, Ian Williams, Kyle Rudolph, Duval Kamara, Kerry Neal, Brian Smith, Chris Stewart and Darrin Walls -- will be on display.  Here's a link to some media coverage about today's event!

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS' DIARY

LINK:  BLEACHER REPORT

ND @ Frozen Four -- 5 PM EDT on ESPN2

Jeff Jackson's University of Notre Dame's Men's Hockey team plays this afternoon in the National Semi-Final of the FROZEN FOUR!!!  The Irish will be playing Minnesota-Duluth -- with the winner advancing to Saturday's National Championship game against the winner of the Michigan vs. North Dakota game.  Here's what the media is sayin' about today's game:

LINK:  MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

LINK:  INSIDE COLLEGE HOCKEY

LINK:  SB NATION -- MINNESOTA

LINK:  COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Blue Gold Weekend -- Latest Weather Forecast!

The weather forecast is getting better and better for next week's Blue Gold Weekend @ Notre Dame!  Here's the link:

LINK:  BLUE GOLD WEEKEND -- WEATHER FORECAST

The Frozen Four -- Irish Play Tomorrow!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame Men's Hockey team takes the ice tomorrow afternoon at 5 PM EDT against Minnesota-Duluth in the National Semi-Final game in the Frozen Four!  Here's a photo from ND's practice today at the Excel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN. 

The Irish met with the media today -- here's a link to the press conference -- along with a link to their practice:

LINK:  IRISH HOCKEY PRACTICE -- FROZEN FOUR

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S FROZEN FOUR -- PRESS CONFERENCE

A "Confident" Cierre Wood -- Talkin' to ESPN

University of Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood -- is now the "man" -- in the Irish backfield.  Today, the folks at ESPN released an interview of Wood at ESPN.COM -- here's the link:

LINK:  CIERRE WOOD -- ESPN INTERVIEW

Irish Hockey @ The Frozen Four!

Jeff Jackson and his "young" Fighting Irish arrived in Minneapolis last night for the NCAA Men's Hockey Division 1 National Championship's -- FROZEN FOUR.  I just love that twist on the Final Four!  Here's a photo "tweeted" last night by one of the Notre Dame hockey players as they visited the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, MN.

The Irish play Minnesota-Duluth tomorrow afternoon (Thursday) at 5 PM EDT in the Semi-Finals.  The game will be televised LIVE on ESPN2 beginning at 5 PM EDT.   GO IRISH!

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