RJ Blanton Taken in Fifth Round by Vikings!

University of Notre Dame cornerback RJ Blanton was drafted this afternoon by the Minnesota Vikings in the Fifth Round of the 2012 NFL Draft.  The 139th pick, Blanton will be joining current teammate Harrison Smith and three former teammates on the Vikings roster; John Sullivan, Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson. 

Congratulations RJ!

LINK:  RJ BLANTON DRAFT PROFILE

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST STORY

LINK:  RJ'S DRAFT DIARY

Michael Floyd Introduced to Arizona

Thursday night Michael Floyd was in mid-town Manhattan walking across the stage at Radio City Music Hall -- Friday afternoon Michael's in Tempe, AZ standing in front a throng of media who will be covering his every move for at least the next four years of his life.  His new "friends."

Thought I'd take a lap around the Arizona media landscape to see what they're saying about the drafting of Michael Floyd.  Enjoy!

LINK:  MICHAEL'S ARRIVAL

LINK:  INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  ARIZONA REPUBLIC

LINK:  FOX SPORTS ARIZONA

LINK:  TUCSON CITIZEN

I Am So Happy for Harrison Smith!

This young man is a great story.

Three years ago, Notre Dame fans all over the country were yelling at their TV sets wondering why #22 was on the field.  This fall IRISH fans will be wishing #22 was still on the field...

My how time changes everything.

Harrison Smith is going to make millions playing the game of football -- and I couldn't be happier for this young Notre Dame Man.  The folks at the Minneapolis Star Tribune published a nice story about Harrison -- as did a few other media outlets.  See the links below:

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH

LINK:  KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

Vikings GM Talks Harrison Smith

The Minnesota Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman met with the media after their selection of Notre Dame captain Harrison Smith in the First Round of the 2012 NFL Draft.  Here's a link to the video:

LINK:  VIKINGS GM SPIELMAN TALKS HARRISON SMITH

Arizona Cardinals Top Brass Talk About Floyd

The General Manager and Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals met with the media to discuss their selection of Michael Floyd as their #1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.  Here's a link to the video:

LINK:  CARDINALS TALK ABOUT FLOYD

Looks Like a Football Final Four is Possible!

University of Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick spoke with the folks at the South Bend Tribune recently to talk about the latest on-going discussion about a play-off format for college football.

The good news is the Pac 12's motive to limit the participants to the winners of the four largest football conferences fell on deaf ears...

Thus, the independents and the schools that don't belong to the SEC, Big Ten, Pac 12 and ??? -- won't be shut out of an opportunity to play for the national championship.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  JACK SWARBRICK TALKS PLAYOFF

Who's Counting? I Am...

We sure hear from the pundits when a NFL First Round goes by and not a single player from the University of Notre Dame is drafted... 

Well, thankfully -- that's not the case this morning.  Here's a list of the school counts of the #1 draft picks in last night's opening round:

• ALABAMA: 4 players
• NOTRE DAME:  2 players
• STANFORD:  2 players
• BAYLOR:  2 players
• USC:  2 players
• SOUTH CAROLINA:  2 players
• ILLINOIS:  2 players
• LSU:  2 players
• OKLAHOMA STATE:  2 players
• BOISE STATE:  2 players
• TEXAS A&M:  1 player
• BOSTON COLLEGE:  1 player
• MEMPHIS:  1 player
• MISSISSIPPI STATE:  1 player
• WEST VIRGINIA:  1 player
• NORTH CAROLINA:  1 player
• SYRACUSE:  1 player
• IOWA:  1 player
• WISCONSIN:  1 player
• VIRGINIA TECH:  1 player

Schools Notre Dame typically recruits against, without first round draft picks last night:  Michigan, Florida, Texas, Ohio State, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Nebraska. 

62 Notre Dame Players, NFL First Round History

I was surprised to learn that in the previous 12 NFL Drafts -- only two Notre Dame players had been drafted in the 1st Round; Jeff Faine in 2003 and Brady Quinn in 2007.

That changed today -- BIG TIME -- when Michael Floyd (13th overall) and Harrison Smith (29th overall) became the 61st and 62nd players in the 125 year history of Notre Dame football to be drafted in the First Round of the NFL Draft.  (Painting above of Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame's first #1 overall player taken in the NFL Draft.)

ALL TIME -- NOTRE DAME FIRST ROUND NFL SELECTIONS

• 2012:  Michael Floyd and Harrison Smith
• 2007:  Brady Quinn
• 2003:  Jeff Faine
• 1999:  Luke Pettigout
• 1997:  Renaldo Wynn
• 1994:  Bryant Young, Aaron Taylor and Jeff Burris
• 1993:  Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis, Tom Carter and Irv Smith
• 1992:  Derek Brown
• 1991:  Todd Lyght
• 1989:  Andy Heck
• 1988:  Tim Brown
• 1986:  Eric Dorsey
• 1984:  Greg Bell
• 1983:  Tony Hunter
• 1982:  Bob Crable
• 1980:  Vagas Ferguson
• 1978:  Ken MacAfee, Ross Browner and Luther Bradley
• 1976:  Steve Niehaus
• 1975:  Mike Fanning
• 1972:  Walt Patulski*, Clarence Ellis and Mike Kadish
• 1970:  Mike McCoy
• 1969:  George Kunz and Jim Seymour
• 1968:  Kevin Hardy
• 1967:  Paul Seller, Alan Page and Tom Regner
• 1965:  Jack Snow
• 1960:  George Izo and Monty Stickles
• 1959:  Nick Pietrosante
• 1957:  Paul Hornung*
• 1955:  Joe Heap, Frank Varrichone and Ralph Guglliemi
• 1954:  Johnny Lattner, Art Hunter and Neil Worden
• 1951:  Jerry Groom and Bob Williams
• 1950:  Leon Hart*
• 1949:  Bill Fischer and Frank Tripucka
• 1946:  Bobby Dancewicz*, George Connor, Emil Sitko and Johnny Lujack
• 1945:  Frank Szymanski and John Yonakor
• 1944:  Angelo Bertelli* and Creighton Miller
• 1936:  William Shakespeare

LINK:  NFL ALL-TIME DRAFT LIST OF NOTRE DAME PLAYERS

*DENOTES:  Drafted #1 Overall!

Harrison Smith Goes First Round to Vikings!

Former Notre Dame team captain, Harrison Smith was just drafted #29 overall in the First Round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings!  At this draft spot, Smith can expect to sign a four-year contract with around $4 million guaranteed money.  Not a bad pay day!!!!

Harrison, the second safety taken in the draft will be joining a Vikings roster that has a number of former Domers; John Sullivan, Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson.

Congratulations Harrison!

LINK:  VIDEO OF DRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT -- NFL NETWORK

LINK:  ESPN - IMMEDIATE REACTION

LINK:  PIONEER PRESS - IMMEDIATE REACTION

Michael Floyd Drafted #13 by Arizona Cardinals!

Former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd is now the "draft property" of the Arizona Cardinals.  Michael, the second wide receiver taken and #13 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft -- will be slotted into a rookie contract that will pay him in the neighborhood of $11 million guaranteed over the minimum four-year contract he must sign with the Cardinals.  (Photo above of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with Michael Floyd)

Floyd will also be playing opposite one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in Larry Fitzgerald -- who just happens to be from the same high school as Michael (Cretin-Durham High School) in Minneapolis.  Fitzgerald is in the second year of an eight-year contract that pays him a minimum of $50 million with incentives that could pay him as much as $120 million.

A little incentive for Michael Floyd.

See the video of Michael's selection along with the immediate reaction from the NFL Network and others in the media to Arizona's pick of Floyd.

Congratulations Michael!

LINK:  VIDEO OF ARIZONA'S SELECTION OF MICHAEL FLOYD

LINK:  ESPN IMMEDIATE REACTION

LINK:  ARIZONA REPUBLIC - IMMEDIATE REACTION

LINK:  FITZGERALD WANTED FLOYD IN ARIZONA!

ND Student-Athletes Know Too Much...

You've got to love this story coming out of New York...

Billy Hunter, the Executive Director of the NBA Players' Association -- apparently wanted to invest MILLIONS of the players' money in a bank that Hunter's son was on the Board of Directors of...

Well former Notre Dame student-athlete and NBA player -- Pat Garrity (pictured) uncovered the planned investment and questioned WHY?

Well, I won't ruin the rest of the story (see below) but the old adage "Irish Need Not Apply" -- sounds appropriate for the NBA Players' Association.

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS STORY

LINK:  U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INVESTIGATING

8,186 Days of Preparation Led to This Moment

In less than five hours, Michael Floyd's life will change forever.

The 2012 NFL Draft begins at 7 PM ET on ESPN and I would imagine somewhere around 9 PM ET -- the world will welcome its newest millionaire, when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walks to the microphone and says:

"With the "blank" pick of the 2012 NFL Draft the "blank team" select Michael Floyd, wide receiver, University of Notre Dame."

Michael Floyd has been on this earth since his birth in November of 1989 and many of those years he dreamed of this moment -- a moment which will happen on the 8,186th day of his young life.

I can't wait for this young man to have that walk across the stage and to see his MOM's reaction -- a woman who did much in her life to ensure that day 8,186 was special for her son.

GOD SPEED MICHAEL FLOYD!

LINK:  IS HE HEADED TO THE JETS?

Notre Dame Hockey to Play @ Soldier Field!

Yeah, it's hockey I'm talkin' about...


It was "leaked" to the media last night, that the University of Notre Dame would be taking on Miami of Ohio on Sunday, February 17th in the first college hockey game ever played at Chicago's historic Soldier Field -- as part of a double-header that would include Minnesota vs. Wisconsin.

You've got to love the fans up in Minnesota -- they talked about the proposed games at Soldier Field and called Notre Dame the "undercard" game -- REALLY?  See their post below as well.

Ironically, just a few months earlier the Notre Dame football team will be playing another school called Miami (FL) in football at Soldier Field.

Here's a link to the details:

LINK:  IRISH TO SKATE AT SOLDIER FIELD

LINK:  NOTRE DAME AN "UNDERCARD" IN CHICAGO?

Michael Floyd @ NYC's Chelsea Piers today!

Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Michael Floyd is just 27 hours or so away from learning where he'll be playing football this fall.  As part of his preparation for tomorrow's 2012 NFL DRAFT in NYC -- Michael was in Manhattan today at Chelsea Piers having an oatmeal breakfast (courtesy of the gang at Quaker Oats), with a number of New York kids -- prior to participating in the Play 60 Youth Football Festival.

It must be great fun being Michael Floyd these days!  He's earned it!

ND NFL DRAFT Coverage: Harrison Smith

Former Notre Dame football captain, Harrison Smith will be anxiously awaiting the start to tomorrow's 2012 NFL DRAFT.  Smith "could" go in tomorrow night's First Round coverage on ESPN.  The New York media thinks the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants are considering Harrison. 

Here's a story that ran today in the New York Post:

LINK:  COULD HARRISON BE HEADED EAST?

ND NFL DRAFT Coverage: Darius Fleming

The Chicago Sun-Times published a story today about Notre Dame linebacker Darius Fleming and his plans and his family's plan for the 2012 NFL Draft which begins tomorrow.  Irish fans will enjoy this story. 

LINK:  DRAFT PLANS FOR THE FLEMING FAMILY

Armstrong Wins Big East with Playoff Birdie!

Notre Dame freshman Ashley Armstrong (Flossmoor, IL) won the Big East Women's Golf Championship with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff yesterday in Orlando at the Reunion Resort and Golf Club. 

Congratulations Ashley! 

Here's a link to her interview after her winning putt!

LINK:  BIG EAST CHAMPION

The Ultimate Domer Den -- Father Ted's!

Folks, the gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media earned the "GET" of the year in convincing Father Ted to give them access to his "Domer Den" on the 13th floor of the Hesburgh Library on the University of Notre Dame campus.

Father Ted, who turns 95 years-young next month (May 25) -- is the University of Notre Dame to many.  I had the honor two weeks ago to meet "one on one" with Fr. Ted in his "Domer Den."  After our discussion, I took this photo of him holding a miniature replica of the Golden Dome with my iPhone (sorry for the poor quality).

THIS IS A MUST SEE VIDEO!

LINK:  FATHER TED'S DOMER DEN

Another Prime Time Tilt for the Irish!

BRING IT ON!

It was announced today that ABC will be televising the Fighting Irish vs. the Spartans of Michigan State "under the lights" on Saturday, September 15 -- to a national TV audience.  It will be the first of three straight games when the IRISH will be playing in PRIME TIME.

LINK:  IRISH IN PRIME TIME

Why Not to Worry About Recruiting Rankings!

Folks, fifteen of the projected thirty-two First Round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft were rated a "THREE STAR or LOWER" by the high-school recruiting experts.  Think about that...

Here we are fretting over whether an eighteen year-old young man has two, three, four or five stars attached to his name -- when he's still a pup.  A lot happens the next four to five years in the maturation of a young man -- and we seem to forget that.

Photo above is of Jason Babin a "no-star" recruit who played at Western Michigan University and ended up being drafted in the First Round in 2004 and is a NFL Pro Bowl player for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here's that analysis by Sports Illustrated.

LINK:  AN EYE OPENER