Irish Move Up in ESPN's 'Way Too Early' Poll

Pre-season polls make news and our friends at ESPN have more than most.  Here's a link to ESPN college football writer Brian Bennett's blog post on why he voted the Irish into his top-twenty along with a link to the actual poll -- which you'll see is typical for ESPN, not factual about Notre Dame:

LINK:  ESPN'S POST SPRING WAY TOO EARLY POLL

LINK:  BRIAN BENNETT'S BLOG POST ON THE IRISH

A Notre Dame Football Promotional Video

Looks like Coach Kelly's enthusiasm is rubbing off on others at Notre Dame.  Here's a link to a video posted on the Notre Dame Football Facebook page.  You might need a Facebook account to view this.  Here's the link:

LINK:   COACH KELLY "MOTIVATING"

ND Hockey Team Takes Tour of New Home!

The Compton Family Center -- the new home of Notre Dame Hockey received its first visit by the Fighting Irish who will call it home.  Jeff Jackson's Irish received a tour of the facility -- which opens November 19th against Boston College.  The only team member who didn't take the tour was Jackson himself -- who stood outside.  The Head Coach has decided he doesn't want to step foot into the building until it is completely done.  Here's a link to the WNDU-TV coverage of the tour:

LINK:  ND'S NEW HOCKEY CATHEDRAL

Top Undrafted Player -- Ian Williams Per CBS

CBS Sports' Chad Reuter did a story today on the top "un-drafted" college football players and Notre Dame nose tackle Ian Williams is at the head of his class.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- TOP UNDRAFTED PLAYER!

ESPN's Talkin' Heads -- Talk Notre Dame

The folks at ESPN can't help themselves -- they ranked the Fighting Irish #17 in their preseason poll for the 2011 season -- but, they still don't want to believe we're back.  One of these days they might want to do their homework and have all of their facts straight about Notre Dame.  You may have to check your "blood pressure" from time to time.  Here's the link:

LINK:  ESPN'S TAKE ON NOTRE DAME

OT -- Photo of the Day!

The Ohio State University Marching Band has been working on some new formations for the upcoming 2011 football season.  Thought you'd enjoy this "sneak preview."

Mike Lee Profiled in USA Today -- Today!

Former three-time "Bengal Bouts" Champion and ND Alum Mike Lee was profiled today in USA Today.  Irish fans will recall that Mike chose to put his ND degree aside to pursue the Light Heavyweight Championship of the World.  You'll enjoy this story:

LINK:  THE FIGHTER!

The Haka Dance @ Notre Dame's O.S.C.A.R.S.

Notre Dame football player Kona Schwenke led a group of Irish athletes on stage last night at the O.S.C.A.R.S. -- the talent show that ND Athletics puts on each year.  You'll enjoy this!

LINK:  HAKA DANCE AT NOTRE DAME

Jackie Cooper Dismissed From Notre Dame

Child actor Jackie Cooper passed away Tuesday at the age of 88.  He was the first child actor (age 9)  ever to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the movie Skippy in 1931. 

What you probably never knew about Jackie Cooper was that he attended the U.S. Navy training program at the University of Notre Dame -- and that he was dismissed from the program.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  COOPER DISMISSED FROM NOTRE DAME

The Atkinson Family -- A "Must See" Interview!

Former Oakland Raider great George Atkinson II and his two sons George III and Josh were recently interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle / SportsNet.  You'll enjoy the interview about the TWINS picking Notre Dame:

LINK:  SPEED IS ON THE WAY!

Notre Dame Goes "Centerplate" for Food

The University of Notre Dame announced a few months ago that they were considering outsourcing their food service needs for Notre Dame Stadium and the other sports venues on campus.  Well, they weren't kidding.  Yesterday the university announced that they had hired CENTERPLATE, the largest food supplier to the NFL, to handle the hospitality needs of Irish fans.  Centerplate has been awarded the hospitality contracts to 12 Super Bowls, 20 World Series, 100 major bowl games, etc., -- so they just might be able to handle Notre Dame!  Here's a link to the announcement and a link to the Centerplate website:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GOES CENTERPLATE

LINK:  CENTERPLATE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Former Bills Jim Kelly's Nephew an Irish QB?

Former Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly has a talented nephew named Chad Kelly who also wears #12 and plays QB.  Chad is gaining some interest from a number of the top schools in the country -- and the Irish jumped into the picture recently.  Here's a link to a Buffalo News story about his recruitment along with a second link to a highlight video of him.  The kid's a talent:

LINK:  JIM KELLY'S NEPHEW -- IRISH RECRUITING

LINK:  CHAD KELLY'S HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

Dave Duerson Found to Have Brain Trauma

Boston University researchers just announced that former Notre Dame football star, Dave Duerson had developed the same trauma-induced disease found in more than 20 deceased players.  Irish fans will recall that Duerson shot himself in the chest on February 17th -- in order to preserve his brain for research.  Here's a link to the New York Times article:

LINK:  DAVE DUERSON -- BRAIN TRAUMA

OT -- Photo of the Day!

If you know a Buckeye fan -- you might want to send them a link to this photo of a billboard on I-94 in Michigan close to the Ohio border.

Washington Post Video Interview of Darby

Ronald Darby, who committed to Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish of Notre Dame was featured today in a video interview at the Washington Post's website.  His track coach was interviewed -- and he mentioned that Darby's indoor 200 meter time is the 2nd fastest in the world right now.  Here's a link to the feature on Ronald Darby:

LINK:  RONALD DARBY INTERVIEW

Is Jimmy Clausen Up to the Challenge?

It sure didn't take long for the "young QB's" in Carolina to be sitting on a bench next to each other!  Jimmy Clausen and Cam Newton participated in a kick-ball game for charity yesterday -- the Charlotte Observer was there and they asked a number of questions of Jimmy.  Thought you'd enjoy the interview:

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN -- WILL HE BE THE MAN IN CAROLINA?

How Long Will the Wait be for Ian Williams?

Ran across this writer's look at the "Ten Best Players Undrafted" and he picked Notre Dame's Ian Williams as the #1 player that was not drafted yesterday.  See the link below.

Typically a player like Williams, who didn't get drafted, would have signed a free-agent deal last night with a NFL team.  With the NFL Lock Out still in play -- teams cant' talk to Ian right now.  The good news is Williams and his agent, have plenty of time to research every team and see where he would fit in best. 

The same goes for Chris Stewart, Armando Allen, Darrin Walls and the other Irish seniors who would like to play in the NFL.  It's time to do your homework and prepare to put yourself in the best position to make a team.

LINK:  THE TEN BEST -- UNDRAFTED

Kyle Rudolph Interview with VIKINGS.COM

The #43 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Kyle Rudolph, was in Minneapolis yesterday to meet with the media.  Here is a link to one of his interviews:

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH -- MEETS WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS MEDIA

ND 2010 Opponents - 2011 NFL Draft Results

Here's a look at how many players were drafted from everyone of the teams that Notre Dame played this season.  The first group of teams make up the eight teams we beat (26 players drafted), while the second group of teams make up the teams we lost to (9 players drafted):

TEAMS WE BEAT IN 2010 -- PLAYERS DRAFTED INTO NFL:

• Purdue:  1
• Boston College:  1
• Pittsburgh:  5
• Western Michigan:  0
• Utah:  2
• Army:  0
• USC:  9
• Miami:  8

TEAMS WE LOST TO IN 2010 -- PLAYERS DRAFTED INTO NFL:

• Michigan:  2
• Michigan State:  2
• Stanford:  4
• Navy:  0
• Tulsa: 1

Notre Dame Players Drafted (NFL) Since 2000

As you can see below, this is the third time in the last twelve drafts that there was only one Notre Dame player drafted into the NFL.  The lack of players being drafted this year -- also cost the Irish the top spot in the All-Time NFL Draft list of most players drafted from one college.  A school in Los Angeles can now claim that honor.  Notre Dame now has had 466 players drafted into the NFL, USC with their 9 player drafted this year is now at 472.  Here's the Draft by year for Notre Dame -- since 2000:

2000 NFL DRAFT:
Round 7 (214): Jarious Jackson - Denver Broncos

2001 NFL DRAFT:
Round 3 (68): Mike Gandy - Chicago Bears
Round 3 (86): Brock Williams - New England Patriots
Round 4 (119): Jabari Holloway - New England Patriots
Round 6 (178): Tony Driver - Buffalo Bills
Round 6 (195): Dan O'Leary - Buffalo Bills
Round 7 (213): Anthony Denman - Jacksonville Jaguars

2002 NFL DRAFT:
Round 2 (52): Anthony Weaver - Baltimore Ravens
Round 4 (133): Rocky Boiman - Tennessee Titans
Round 5 (138): John Owens - Detroit Lions
Round 6 (198): Tyreo Harrison - Philadelphia Eagles
Round 6 (206): Javin Hunter - Baltimore Ravels
Round 7 (253): David Givens - New England Patriots

2003 NFL DRAFT:
Round 1 (21): Jeff Faine - Cleveland Browns
Round 5 (153): Jordan Black - Kansas City Chiefs
Round 5 (168): Sean Mahan - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 5 (170): Shane Walton - St. Louis Rams
Round 6 (182): Gerome Sapp - Baltimore Ravens
Round 6 (197): Arnaz Battle - San Francisco 49ers
Round 6 (212): Brennan Curtin - Green Bay Packers

2004 NFL DRAFT:
Round 2 (43): Julius Jones - Dallas Cowboys
Round 2 (60): Courtney Watson - New Orleans Saints
Round 4 (122): Glenn Earl - Houston Texans
Round 6 (170): Vontez Duff - Houston Texans
Round 6 (180): Jim Molinaro - Washington Redskins

2005 NFL DRAFT:
Round 3 (74): Justin Tuck - New York Giants
Round 5 (144): Jerome Collins - St. Louis Rams

2006 NFL DRAFT:
Round 2 (53): Anthony Falsano - Dallas Cowboys
Round 3 (90): Maurice Stovall - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 6 (205): Dan Stevenson - New England Patriots

2007 NFL DRAFT:
Round 1 (22): Brady Quinn: Cleveland Browns
Round 2 (57): Victor Abiamiri - Philadephia Eagles
Round 3 (70): Ryan Harris - Denver Broncos
Round 5 (166): Derek Landri - Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 6 (202): Mike Richardson - New England Patriots
Round 7 (230): Dan Santucci - Cincinnati Bengals
Round 7 (253): Chinedum Ndukwe - Cincinnati Bengals

2008 NFL DRAFT:
Round 2 (38): John Carlson - Seattle Seahawks
Round 2 (47): Trevor Laws - Philadelphia Eagles
Round 3 (86): Tom Zbikowski - Baltimore Ravens
Round 6 (186): John Sullivan - Minnesota Vikings

2009 NFL DRAFT:
Round 4 (114): David Bruton - Denver Broncos

2010 NFL DRAFT:
Round 2 (48): Jimmy Clausen - Carolina Panthers
Round 2 (60): Golden Tate - Seattle Seahawks
Round 6 (179): Sam Young - Dallas Cowboys
Round 6 (183): Eric Olsen - Denver Broncos

2011 NFL DRAFT:
Round 2 (43): Kyle Rudolph - Minnesota Vikings


Here's a link listing all of the players drafted from Notre Dame, by year -- just scroll down:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME ALL-TIME NFL DRAFT BY YEAR