BRING ON BAMA !!!

The Alabama Crimson Tide were too much to handle for the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP game -- earning the opportunity to play Notre Dame for the National Championship with their 32 - 28 victory this evening...

It's pretty obvious what the IRISH will have to do -- make BAMA pass the ball.  It's going to be FUN!

LINK: WATCH CBS' POST GAME

The Turning Point's USC Video -- A CLASSIC!

I missed this video earlier in the week -- you're going to LOVE this...

LINK:  THE TURNING POINT -- PROTECT THIS HOUSE

Musical Tribute to Manti Te'o -- Must See !!!

I received a text and an email today from ND GO IRISH BLOG regulars Dave Peloquin and Michael McLaughlin alerting me to this video -- IT IS A MUST SEE!!!

LINK:  MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO MANTI

Video of Coach Kelly at SEC Championship

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a guest on the CBS set at the SEC Championship game in Atlanta, GA today.  Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  COACH KELLY AT SEC CHAMPIONSHIP

She's the #1 College Golfer in the Country!

For the first time in the history of the golf program at the University of Notre Dame -- an IRISH golfer is ranked #1 in the country.

And, she's a FRESHMAN!

Lindsey Weaver -- who as a high school senior became only the 2nd female golfer in history to shoot a 59 in competition -- is now ranked the #1 player in the country!  Here is her story:

LINK:  THE #1 PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY

Notre Dame & NBC -- "Best Friends Forever"

That's the headline of a Bloomberg Businessweek story...

Here's a business magazine's perspective of Notre Dame and NBC's relationship.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME & NBC

Manti Mania! -- Here's What You'll Find Today

Took a lap around the worldwide web to capture what the media is sayin' about Notre Dame's  All-American linebacker Manti Te'o -- here's what I've found today:

LINK:  DAN PATRICK SHOW

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  NESN

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

The Heisman Push Began Today for Manti!

Notre Dame's two-time All-American linebacker -- Manti Te'o -- spent the afternoon today with his own press conference (link below), followed by an award presentation ARA'S SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD during the Irish's game with Kentucky and a live "in-game" interview  with the ESPN crew -- also linked below...

I suspect we'll see a pretty good run of Manti stories over the next week as we lead up to next Saturday's Heisman Trophy presentation in New York City.

LINK:  MANTI'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  MANTI'S ESPN IN-GAME INTERVIEW

Notre Dame Beats #8 Kentucky EASILY!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish played tonight like we thought they would this season...

They DOMINATED the defending National Champions -- after overcoming a slow start when the Wildcats took an early 12 - 6 lead.  The Irish led by as many as 20 points in the second half -- finishing with a 64 - 50 win.

IT'S ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN JOHN CALIPARI'S FOUR SEASONS AT KENTUCKY THAT HIS TEAM HAS BEEN BEAT BY DOUBLE DIGITS!

Notre Dame's back court tandem of Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant led the Irish -- combining for 29 BIG points, 10 assists and 4 steals!

Here's what the media had to say about Notre Dame's big win - along with a link to Coach Brey's post game press conference and game highlights!

LINK:  COACH BREY'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER

LINK:  GAME BLOG -- HERALD LEADER

Coach Parseghian to be Honored at Disney...

Former Notre Dame all-time great football coach -- Ara Parseghian -- will be honored next Thursday night at Disney World during the HOME DEPOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARD SHOW on ESPN.  The show will be aired beginning at 7:30 PM ET.

I suspect they're just might be a few more members of the current Notre Dame football program being honored that night as well!

Congratulations Coach Parseghian!

LINK:  ARA TO BE HONORED

Photo of the Day: Writer Shining Helmets...

He's a "un-named" former Sports Illustrated writer who, a few weeks ago, wrote a less than complimentary article about the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. 

Today he was in "taking his medicine" for his prediction that USC would beat ND.

16 Million TV Viewers -- ONLY NOTRE DAME!

All of the media types who were using the "R" word when talking about Notre Dame, these past few years, should feel a little foolish...

Notre Dame's game this past week with "un-ranked" USC drew a television audience of 16 million viewers -- the most watched SATURDAY NIGHT football game in ABC history!  Here's some other "fun facts" as it relates to the size of this TV audience:

• The largest TV audience ever for a non #1 vs. #2 college football game since 1991 -- 21 YEARS -- that game was ND vs. FSU...
• The largest TV audience for a regular season college football game on any network since 2006

LINK:  NOTRE DAME TV AUDIENCE

"We Owe Notre Dame a Standing Ovation"

These were the last words in a piece produced by ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski...

LINK:  WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS

Jim Rome on Rick Reilly's Polishing of Helmets

As many of you know, Rick Reilly ran a column a few months ago in which he opined that Notre Dame did not deserve the respect it was receiving from the NCAA, BCS and others...

I'll let Jim Rome tell the rest of the story...

LINK:  JIM ROME ON RICK REILLY

"Notre Dame Beats Ohio State by Two TD's..."

An unabashed Michigan football fan and radio host of THE HUGE SHOW -- wrote a piece in the Grand Rapids Press today about the Wolverine's loss to the Buckeyes...

Simonson took it upon himself to then talk about Notre Dame, how they "do things the right way," and -- how they "would beat Ohio State by two touchdowns..."

Special thanks to long-time ND GO IRISH BLOG regular R.J. Doyle for alerting me to this story!  That's "Uncle R.J." to me!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS OHIO STATE

WSJ: Why Notre Dame Deserves This...

The folks at the Wall Street Journal produced this video; WHY NOTRE DAME DESERVES TO BE IN THE BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME...

Yeah, the Wall Street Journal is giving sports commentary.  Take a look.

LINK:  WHY NOTRE DAME!

Irish Connection Take #2 From LA Coliseum

Can't get enough of this moment for the NOTRE DAME FAMILY.  You'll want to watch this!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION -- TAKE #2

Skip Bayless: "Manti Te'o Deserves Heisman"

Never thought I'd hear Skip Bayless promote a Notre Dame player -- for anything that had a POSITIVE outcome...

The world must be changing!

You'll enjoy reading Bayless' case as to why Manti Te'o is deserving of the Heisman Trophy.

LINK:  MANTI DESERVES THE HEISMAN

TMQ: Notre Dame Should Be Celebrated!

If you're a regular to the ND GO IRISH BLOG you'll know that a common theme has been -- "when will someone talk about graduating student-athletes in the sports media..."

Well, it looks like that day has come!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SHOULD BE CELEBRATED

Notre Dame's Prophetic Author!

I have the privilege of working with Bob Quakenbush at the University of Notre Dame.  Bob, a 1976 grad, wrote a book entitled "The Gipper's Ghost" nearly 30 years ago.

The story talks about a fictional coach, by the name of COACH KELLY, who in his third year coaching the IRISH would lead them to a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

You can't make this up!

Here's a link to the ABC-TV story on Bob and his book!

LINK:  THE GIPPER'S GHOST

LINK:  THE GIPPER'S GHOST FACEBOOK PAGE

LINK:  BUY THE KINDLE VERSION!