Samardzija Wins "Bobblehead" Game Today!

You know you've hit the "big time" when your team runs a "bobblehead" promotion like the Chicago Cubs did today for former Notre Dame football All-American Jeff Samardzija (see photo).

Samardzija pitched seven strong innings before turning the ball over to reliever Jeff Camp in the 8th.  Jeff also knocked in a run with a base hit -- as he earned his fifth win of the season.  His ERA now stands at a sterling 3.09!

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA WINS AGAIN!

Toughest Schedule in the Nation -- Notre Dame

CBS college football analyst Bruce Feldman picks Notre Dame's 2012 football schedule as the toughest in the country.  No surprise here.

The IRISH have five potential top 15 programs on their schedule this season; Michigan State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Stanford and that school in "central Los Angeles."

Here's the link:

LINK:  TOUGHEST FOOTBALL SCHEDULE IN AMERICA

The Stanley Cup & the University of Notre Dame

It's the greatest trophy in all of professional sport -- the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup.  Since 1893, only five former Notre Dame students have had their names etched on the Cup:

• 1976, 1977 and 1978:  Bill Nyrop, Montreal Canadiens
• 1984 and 1985:  Don Jackson, Edmonton Oilers
• 2008:  Brett Lebda, Detroit Red Wings
• 2009:  Mark Eaton, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2010:  Stan Bowman, Chicago Blackhawks

The 2012 Stanley Cup begins tomorrow night as the Los Angeles Kings take on the New Jersey Devils.

God, Country, Notre Dame: Memorial Day 2012

On a day in which we reflect on the great sacrifice millions have made for our FREEDOM -- I share with you this video entitled; GOD, COUNTRY, NOTRE DAME.

Happy Memorial Day!

LINK:  ROCKY BLEIER -- GOD, COUNTRY, NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Men's Lacrosse -- Next Year!

The Fightin' Irish came up on the short end of a 7 - 5 score in yesterday's NCAA Men's Division I Lacrosse National Semi-Final game with Loyola -- putting an end to another successful season.  Loyola's Eric Lusby scored five goals and Jack Runkel (goalie) made 15 saves, the most in his career in the Greyhounds win. 

The IRISH held Loyola to their lowest goal total of the season and dominated the face-offs 13 - 1 -- we just couldn't score...

LINK:  NATIONAL SEMI-FINAL RECAP

LINK:  ESPN STORY

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED STORY

LINK:  DAY 2 AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Are You the Smartest Notre Dame Fan?

Think you know Notre Dame?  Take the test!


LINK:  SMARTEST NOTRE DAME FAN

Notre Dame's Second Coming of Rocket Ismail!

Folks, be sure to watch the video linked below.  In a couple of weeks -- a young man from the Southwest will be arriving on the campus of the University of Notre Dame with the skills of Rocket Ismail. 

Davonte Neal comes to town with 4.37 speed and "back to back" ARIZONA PLAYER OF THE YEAR awards!  He's a huge talent!

Mose pundits believe Davonte will end up in the slot on offense -- and will be running back kick-offs and punts SOON!  After watching the film -- he needs the football in his hands -- often.  This man's a GAME CHANGER!

FYI:  I suspect Coach Kelly "might" require Neal to wear a GOLD HELMET when he's on the field!


LINK:  THE NEXT NOTRE DAME ROCKET!

Must See TV on Saturday -- ESPN2 @ 2:30 PM

Kevin Corrigan's Fighting Irish of Notre Dame left campus yesterday for Foxborough, MA -- home of the New England Patriots and home of the 2012 NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship.  The #4 seeded IRISH take on #1 seed Loyola -- Saturday at Gillete Stadium -- those of us not able to make it to the game can catch the action LIVE on ESPN2 at 2:30 PM ET.

The winner of this game will take on the winner of the Duke vs. Maryland game -- on Memorial Day!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media are tracking the IRISH all weekend long.  Here's their report filed this morning:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LACROSSE

"Never An Excuse To Quit" -- Joe Kernan '68

Loyal son of Notre Dame, Mayor of South Bend, Lieutenant Governor and Governor of the State of Indiana, professional baseball team owner and resident of the infamous HANOI HILTON -- Joe Kernan '68, was recently honored by the Notre Dame Monogram Club. 

The video that introduced Joe to the gathering is quite moving -- you'll enjoy watching! 

LINK:  LOYAL SON OF NOTRE DAME

Happy 95th Birthday Fr. Ted Hesburgh!

He turns 95 years YOUNG today! 

Happy Birthday Father Ted!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Notre Dame Student-Athletes Graduate...

Folks, it's a story that you won't find on the ESPN network -- student-athletes graduating.  And, that's a shame.  Here's a link to a feature that our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media put together that you're going to enjoy.  It's a story you'll only find here...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GRADUATES IT'S STUDENTS -- ALL OF THEM

Notre Dame's Greg Crawford -- He's At It Again!

For the third consecutive "summer" -- University of Notre Dame's dean of the College of Science, Greg Crawford is on a "cross country" bike ride to raise money and awareness for Niemann-Pick Type C disease.

This year's route will take Greg from Boston (where he left on Monday) to his end destination of Pebble Beach, CA -- where he expects to arrive on June 22nd -- 3,250 miles later!  Here's a look at his RIDE SCHEDULE!

We'll be checking in on his ride every week -- though you can check in on him everyday at his blog -- see the link below:

LINK:  GREG CRAWFORD'S DAILY BLOG

Big East Home Run Derby Champ -- ALL IRISH!

Trey Mancini (Winter Haven, FL), a sophomore Notre Dame first baseman -- won the Big East Home Run Derby in Clearwater, FL on Tuesday night -- marking the second consecutive year a member of the IRISH baseball team won the hitting contest.  The folks at UND.COM were present -- as always -- with their cameras!

LINK:  HOME RUN DERBY CHAMP

ESPN Ranks Notre Dame's Top Ten Players

The good folks at ESPN took time out of their busy schedule to "rank" the top ten players on the Notre Dame football roster.   Surprisingly, our defense -- which is projected to be the strength of the team -- only placed four players in the TOP TEN.  Take a look!

LINK:  ESPN RANKS THE IRISH PLAYERS

Latest Reaction to Notre Dame's HHS Lawsuit

Took a lap around the web this afternoon to see what the media had to say this morning -- the day after the University of Notre Dame (for the first time in its 170 year history) filed a lawsuit against the federal government.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  NEWSHOUNDS

LINK:  FOX NEWS

LINK:  NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER

LINK:  THE CATHOLIC TRANSCRIPT

LINK:  THE BOSTON PILOT

Only Notre Dame: Leprechaun Tryouts!

For the first time in the history of the University of Notre Dame Leprechaun program -- THREE LEPRECHAUNS were selected!  The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media and some ND students produced this "inside look" at the selection process for one of the most ICONIC figures in college sports.  You'll like this!

LINK:  THE MAKING OF THE LEPRECHAUN

Media Opinions on Notre Dame's Lawsuit

The media pundits are now beginning to weigh in on the University of Notre Dame's decision to file a federal lawsuit this morning in opposition to the HHS mandate.

Here's what's being said this evening at MSNBC and FOX:

LINK:  MSNBC'S ANDREA MITCHELL

LINK:  FOX NEWS' ALL-STAR PANEL

Happy 89th Birthday Coach Ara Parseghian!

Today, Notre Dame all-time great, Ara Parseghian turned 89 years young!  Congratulations Coach!

6,300 YEARS of Great Service to Notre Dame!

Tonight, inside the "north dome" of the Joyce Center -- hundreds (and I mean HUNDREDS) of University of Notre Dame employees were honored for their years of service.  Employees with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 40+ years at Notre Dame were recognized by Fr. Jenkins and his leadership team along with a number of the deans.

It was announced that the employees honored tonight represented 6,300 Years of service to the University of Notre Dame -- think about that!

One of my colleagues, Augie Freda (in photo) received one of the five major awards this evening -- as he was awarded the Presidential Leadership Award for his great work for the University of Notre Dame.  Augie Freda is well deserving of every honor he receives!

In addition, I had the great fortune of sitting next to "Notre Dame royalty" in the form of one Sally Almassy (photo with Augie).  Now, you may not know the name or face -- but, if you've ever called the University of Notre Dame's main phone number you'll know Sally's distinctive voice and delivery of; "THIS, IS THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME."

Sally was honored for her fifteen years of service to Notre Dame.  And, on the other side of me sat another colleague of mine, Jennielea Vidrich -- who was honored for TWENTY years of service to Notre Dame!

Congratulations to Augie, Sally, Jennielea and all of our colleagues at the University of Notre Dame -- you make this institution special!

Early Reaction to Notre Dame's HHS Lawsuit

Here's how the media is reporting the lawsuit Notre Dame filed this morning against the HHS mandate.  The federal lawsuit is believed to be the first complaint ever filed by Notre Dame against the federal government -- in the University's 170 year history.

LINK:  FOX NEWS

LINK:  MSNBC

LINK:  CNN

LINK:  ABC NEWS

LINK:  CBS NEWS

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  WALL STREET JOURNAL