The Irish Football Team Having Some Fun!

The University of Notre Dame football team celebrated their last night in South Bend -- before heading home and then on to Orlando for the Champs Sports Bowl -- at Strikes & Spares.  Bowling, Go Karts, Putt-Putt and some shenanigans -- all in a good night of fun for the Irish!  Here's a link to the highlights:

LINK:  HAVING SOME FUN

Sports Illustrated's High School All-Americans

The editorial staff at Sports Illustrated announced their High School All-American team today and if you follow Notre Dame football recruiting you'll find a couple of familiar names on the list.  Here's a link to the team:

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICANS

Troy Murphy Signs Contract With LA Lakers

Former Notre Dame basketball star Troy Murphy signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers today for $1.4 million.  Modest by NBA standards, Murphy is coming off a season where he had a serious back injury and didn't play much at all.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  TROY MURPHY SIGNS WITH LAKERS

ESPN Blog Interview -- Manti Teo Stayin' @ ND

The folks at ESPN caught up with University of Notre Dame All-American Manti Teo to talk about his decision to return for his senior year with the Fighting Irish.  It's a story that's been told a few times, but -- I don't mind reading it over and over...  Here's the link:

LINK:  ESPN'S INTERVIEW OF MANTI

Irish Give Kentucky Their First Loss of Season

Muffet McGraw's 3rd ranked Fighting Irish beat the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats 92 - 83 today in front of a SOLD-OUT Purcell Pavillion!  Here's a link to some of the post game coverage:

LINK:  POST GAME PRESSER

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

Notre Dame on TV -- Sunday, December 18

If your NFL team isn't playing as well as you would like and you're looking for something else to watch -- ND fans have OPTIONS today!  At 1:00 PM ET, Muffet's 3rd ranked Fighting Irish will take on the #7 ranked Kentucky Wildcats on ESPNU.  Then at 4:00 PM ET -- the University of Notre Dame's Compton Family Ice Arena will play host to the Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular on NBC.  This two-hour TV special includes the band Chicago, The Band of the Fighting Irish, South Bend's 14 year-old Isabela Nanni and other surprises!  Here's a sneak peak at their rehearsal:

LINK:  CHICAGO AND BOITANO

The Mornin' After Going Without A Field Goal...

Notre Dame fans watched our Irish go almost 16 minutes (end of first half and start of second half) without a field goal -- nearly half of the game -- in a 69 - 58 loss to Indiana yesterday in the Close The Gap Crossroads Classic.  Add in eleven misses at the free throw line and you had a game that was tough to watch.  Here's what the media has to say about our Irish basketball team along with Coach Brey's post game press conference:

LINK:  COACH BREY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  INDIANAPOLIS STAR

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  NEWS SENTINEL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Swarbrick Talks Independence With SBT

University of Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick answered some questions from the folks at the South Bend Tribune on a variety of subjects;  football independence, NBC, Big East, paying student-athletes and more.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  SWARBRICK INTERVIEW

Irish vs. Indiana on ESPN2 Today at 4:30 PM ET

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish travel to Indianapolis today to play in the Close The Gap Crossroad Classic against the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers.  ND fans can catch the game on ESPN2 at 4:30 PM ET.  Here's some game notes:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME TO PLAY INDIANA

Rudy Settles Today with SEC -- $382,866

Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger -- wrote a check today to the Securities Exchange Commission for $382,866 to settle charges that he deceived investors who bought stock in his sports drink company.  Here's a link to the Chicago Sun Times story:

LINK:  RUDY WRITES BIG CHECK TO SEC

Photo of the Day -- Notre Dame Christmas Tree

The University of Notre Dame's Main Building (AKA Golden Dome) -- has this Christmas Tree on display.

Nowhere Else But Notre Dame -- The Video

ND GO IRISH BLOG Oakland Country correspondent, Rick Rachner -- passed on this link tonight to this video tribute to Notre Dame Women's Basketball program.  It's really good.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOWHERE ELSE BUT NOTRE DAME!

Irish Get HUGE OT Commit Today in Las Vegas!

They say "what happens in Vegas...stays in Vegas..."

Well, at 5 PM ET -- what happened in Vegas was 6'-6" 285 lb. offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley chose the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!  Stanley, out of Bishop Gorman HS had offers from USC, Oregon, etc., -- he's a huge get for the Irish!

Here's a link to his announcement video and Las Vegas Sun story:

LINK:  HE'S NOT STAYING IN VEGAS!

LINK:  LAS VEGAS SUN STORY

ND's Brian Boitano Skating Special -- Sunday!

It didn't take long for the University of Notre Dame's brand "spanking" new ice arena to host a world-class event!  Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic Champion -- along with the band Chicago, the Band of the Fighting Irish and South Bend's 14 year-old Isabela Nanni put on quite a show in front of the NBC cameras in the Compton Family Ice Arena.

ND fans can watch the broadcast on NBC this Sunday from 4 PM to 6PM ET

Here's a link to show's promotion:  BRIAN BOITANO SKATING SPECATULAR

ND Football Awards Show -- Back Stage...

The folks at UND.COM have their act together...

This week's Irish Connection gives us ND fans a behind the scenes look at Notre Dame Football's Award Show.  You'll enjoy this!


LINK:  ND FOOTBALL AWARDS SHOW -- BACK STAGE!

Charlie Weis Tells All -- Chicago Tribune Story

Former University of Notre Dame head football coach, Charlie Weis '78 -- sat down with the Chicago Tribune's Brian Hamilton.  Weis was quite candid in his assessment of the five years in South Bend.  You'll find this a story worth reading.

LINK:  CHARLIE WEIS & NOTRE DAME

A Tale of Two Florida Bowls -- Take the Test!

Over the course of seven days in central Florida -- four college football teams will play bowl games in a stadium in Orlando and a stadium in Tampa.  Here's a quick analysis of the two bowl games:
 

• The game in Orlando pays out $2.25 million per team
• The game in Tampa pays out $3.5 million per team

• The game in Orlando features two teams who have lost a total of eight games this season
• The game in Tampa features two teams who played in their respective Conference Championship game

• The game in Orlando features two teams not ranked in the final Top 25 BCS Poll
• The game in Tampa features two teams who are ranked #16 and #17 in the final BCS Poll

• The game in Orlando had never been sold out in its previous 21 bowl games
• The game in Tampa has sold out multiple times in its previous 25 bowl games

• The game in Orlando is played in a stadium that has 72,000 seats
• The game in Tampa is played in a stadium that has 65,000 seats

TIME TO TAKE THE TEST!

Question:  Which bowl game is sold out?

Answer:  The Champs Sports Bowl game played in Orlando matching the Seminoles of Florida State vs. the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  This is Notre Dame's first appearance in the Champs Sports Bowl -- the GAME SOLD OUT -- FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER -- IN THREE DAYS!

Notes:  The Outback Bowl game in Tampa pits the SEC's Georgia Bulldogs vs. the Big Ten's Michigan State Spartans.  MSU has sold less than half of its tickets -- and it doesn't look good for them selling many more!  See the story:


LINK:  BIG TEN RUNNER-UP CAN'T SELL BOWL TICKETS

Senior Parents' Video -- Notre Dame Football

If you're prone to crying easily -- you may just want to grab the Kleenex right now!  This video, produced by the folks at the NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL VIDEO DEPARTMENT, is a wonderful testament to what it means to wear the GOLD HELMET from the parents' perspective.  This is very well done and a MUST SEE VIDEO!

LINK:  ND FOOTBALL PARENTS' VIDEO

The Smack Talk Begins -- Champs Sports Bowl

Florida State University players have already begun "talkin" about how they're going to blowout the Irish on December 29th in Orlando.  Here's video proof!

LINK:  FSU -- TALKIN' SMACK

The Brian Kelly Radio Show Tonight @ 7 PM ET

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly will be hosting his final radio show of the season TONIGHT at Legends.  Rumor has it he'll have a SPECIAL GUEST!  The fun begins at 7 PM ET -- and you can watch it here LIVE:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY RADIO SHOW -- WATCH IT LIVE