Know Thy Opponent: Saban Meets With Media

Alabama's Crimson Tide returned to practice today for their January 7th meeting with our Fighting Irish. 

After practice, Nick Saban met with the media -- here's a link to the session:

LINK:  COACH SABAN WITH MEDIA

The Rise of ND Football Via ESPN's PTI...

The folks at ESPN's Pardon The Interruption produced a THREE-PART SERIES showing all of their discussion on Notre Dame football since Bob Davie's departure in 2001...

Tune in here to the TWELVE YEAR HISTORY of Notre Dame Football through the lens of ESPN's PTI:

LINK:  ND FOOTBALL HISTORY

Notre Dame Fans -- A MUST WATCH VIDEO!

I'm going to watch this a FEW TIMES between now and January 7th...  Boy, do we have some talented fans of the FIGHTING IRISH!

IF THIS DOESN'T FIRE YOU UP -- NOTHING WILL!!!

GO IRISH!

LINK:  MUST SEE VIDEO -- ND FANS!

Zach Martin and Louis "Irish Chocolate" Nix...

Are coming back to wear the GOLD HELMET next season!  Just like this year when Manti Te'o and Tyler Eifert bypassed a NFL paycheck to come back to Notre Dame -- the same can be said for Martin and Nix.  This is huge news!

(Photo above of Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame shaking hands with Zach Martin in Dublin, Ireland)

See their interviews!

LINK:  MARTIN AND NIX -- HERE COME THE IRISH!

"Being the Best Football Team on January 7th"

This was Coach Brian Kelly's main message to the media today as he discussed Notre Dame's preparation for the BCS National Championship game. 

To catch the media session in its entirety -- click on the video below!

LINK:  MEDIA SESSION -- BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

BCS Press Conference LIVE @ 11:30 AM ET

The BCS National Championship Press Conference airs TODAY at 11:30 AM ET -- you can watch it LIVE at the link below. 

LINK:  BCS PRESS CONFERENCE

Notre Dame's UNDEFEATED Season on DVD!

You're going to want to click on the image above -- every Notre Dame fan needs this in their collection!

Palm Beach Post Story: "America's Team?"

The Palm Beach Post penned a story this week about Notre Dame and its grip on American sport.  Thought IRISH fans would enjoy this read:

LINK:  AMERICA'S TEAM

How Notre Dame Graduates Student-Athletes

There is a different standard for student-athletes at the University of Notre Dame.  You'll want to watch this -- and so should some athletic departments around the country...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GRADUATES

ESPN's Rece Davis Talks Notre Dame...

Now, we need to do something about Coach Kelly's choice of tie and suit for photos like these!

The South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen caught up with Alabama alum and ESPN personality Rece Davis to talk about the BCS National Championship...

LINK:  DAVIS ON THE IRISH

Notre Dame Alum to Host Fighting Irish for BCS

The mayor of Fort Lauderdale, FL -- the home base for the Fighting Irish during the BCS National Championship -- is Jack Seiler, Notre Dame Class of 1985.  Seiler was recently interviewed by ESPN...

(Photo above of Jack in Orange Bowl jacket shaking Brian Kelly's hand when they invited Cincinnati to play in their game.  ND fans will recall, Kelly took the ND job a few weeks later)

LINK:  JACK SEILER INTERVIEW -- PART ONE

Brady Quinn Subject of Rick Reilly Story...

Former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn was interviewed recently by Rick Reilly in a story about the "murder/suicide" of his Kansas City Chief teammate Jovan Belcher. 

Brady Quinn is all class.

LINK:  WHEN HELP IS THE HARDEST WORD...

Fourth "Brother Duo" in NBA History...

I'm watching former Notre Dame basketball star Ben Hansbrough play in the NBA against the Detroit Pistons -- and his teammate is big brother Tyler...

The Hansbrough brothers are only the fourth brother duo to play on the same team in NBA history.  Pretty special for them!

Ben played in Europe last year and literally "walked-on" to the Indiana Pacers this season -- playing his way on to their roster and into the rotation.  Congratulations Ben!

LINK:  TYLER DEFENDS LITTLE BROTHER BEN

OT: Doyle's Supper Club Making a Comeback!

Now, it has a new name -- BLUE LAKE TAVERN -- but, it will always be DOYLE'S SUPPER CLUB to our family and friends..

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Mike Doyle (who's my cousin) sent me a video (linked below) of the work that's being done to Grandpa Ray's old business.  He built Doyle's Supper Club on a vista above the "North Shore" of beautiful Blue Lake in Mecosta County (MI) back in 1939 -- and sold it in 1973...

Many fond memories of this place.

The bar has had a few starts and stops since then -- by a number of owners -- but it looks like this new owner is making a significant investment into the Blue Lake Tavern.  Here's hoping he has a great run!

LINK:  BLUE LAKE TAVERN

Notre Dame Hoops vs. Purdue Today: ESPN 2

Mike Brey's #22 ranked Fighting Irish take on Purdue this afternoon at 4:30 PM ET in Indianapolis at the Crossroads Classic.  The game will be televised on ESPN 2!

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

Our Man REGIS Defends His Alma Mater !!!

University of Notre Dame alum Regis Philbin '53, was on with Skip Bayless and Steven A. Smith on ESPN's First Take yesterday -- to defend his Fightin' Irish!

LINK:  REGIS WITH SKIP AND STEVEN A.

Blake Dudley -- Let's Get Him to Miami!

Folks, I just ran across this story about Blake Dudley a 14 year-old young man from Dowagiac, MI who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and LOVES THE FIGHTING IRISH.

You're going to want to know his story.

LINK:  BLAKE DUDLEY

LINK:  MAKE A GIFT TO GET BLAKE TO MIAMI!

33rd Unanimous All-American in ND History!

Manti Te'o just became the thirty-third football player in the 125 year history of Notre Dame football to be named a unanimous All-American.  Here's a link to the story!

LINK:  IT'S UNANIMOUS!

Domer Skip Holtz Takes Louisiana Tech Job

Former Notre Dame student-athlete and assistant football coach -- Skip Holtz '87 -- has apparently accepted the head coaching position at Louisiana Tech University.   Holtz was recently fired after leading the University of South Florida Bulls to a 3 - 9 season.

Skip has a 88 - 71 record in his thirteen year career as a  head football coach at UCONN, East Carolina and USF.  We wish Skip well!

LINK:  ESPN STORY

Bob Diaco's Broyles Award Acceptance Speech

Notre Dame's defensive coordinator Bob Diaco -- was recently named the Top Assistant Coach in college football, receiving the BROYLES AWARD for that honor. 

Notre Dame fans will enjoy his acceptance speech -- linked below:

LINK:  COACH DIACO

LINK:  NBC SPORTS STORY