USA Today Story on ND Defensive Line

They just might be the best defensive line in the country -- USA Today takes a look at why they are so special...

LINK:  ND'S DEFENSIVE FRONT

Merry Christmas From Notre Dame, IN

My first Christmas morning a few blocks from the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  We celebrated Christmas Vigil Mass last night at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart -- the photo above is the nativity scene in the Lady Chapel.

Here's a few more Christmas songs performed by students at the University of Notre Dame -- courtesy of the DAILY DOMER.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LINK:  VOICES OF FAITH

LINK:  ECHOES

Dayne Crist Talks Notre Dame...

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Dayne Crist '12 was interviewed by CBS Sports' Bruce Feldman about his time with the IRISH and the success they've had this season...

I'll always root for this young man!

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST

Twas' the Night Before Christmas...

Enjoy a few Christmas songs performed by Notre Dame students -- courtesy of the DAILY DOMER!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GLEE CLUB

LINK:  HAROMONIA

LINK:  MARIACHI ND

Missed This Interview of T.J. Jones...

Notre Dame wide-receiver T.J. Jones lost his father Andre Jones this past off-season.  Andre was a member of Notre Dame's 1988 National Championship team -- and here we are 24 years later and another member of the Jones' family is playing for a championship.

You'll enjoy this interview:

LINK:  T.J. JONES

The STORY Behind the P.L.A.C.T. Sign @ ND

It's quite possibly the most famous sign in all of American sport and the woman who painted it the first time is not that well known...

Her name is Laurie Wenger and she retired from the University of Notre Dame in 2009...

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Mike Doyle alerted me to this Rick Reilly story about the Play Like A Champion Today sign:

LINK:  THE MOST FAMOUS SIGN IN SPORT

The Rachner's Travel Channel Video...

Rich and Rick Rachner -- you won't find more passionate Notre Dame football fans than these two...

You'll enjoy their video that they submitted to the Travel Channel for their contest:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SUPER FANS!

Tim Brando and Dan Hawkins Talk Notre Dame

Folks, Tim Brando has been down on the IRISH all season -- and his view on Notre Dame's chances against Alabama should come as no surprise.  On his radio show today he talked with former Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins about the game.

LINK:  TIM BRANDO

Notre Dame Gameday iPhone App

Every iPhone should have one of these...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GAMEDAY IPHONE APP

Notre Dame to Host NFL "Boot Camp" in April

Two former Notre Dame football stars; Jeff Faine and Brady Quinn have teamed up to develop the NFL Business Management Program which will be held on the campus of the University of Notre Dame April 18 - 21.

Click on the link below to learn more:

LINK:  NFL BOOT CAMP AT NOTRE DAME

Undefeated -- A Look @ Notre Dame's Season

Here is a video produced by a Notre Dame fan that was posted on YouTube of the entire season -- real good stuff here!

LINK:  THE PERFECT SEASON

Be the FIRST TO SEE -- Notre Dame's TV Spot

The BCS National Championship game will be the LARGEST TV AUDIENCE in the history of cable television -- and to celebrate, Notre Dame has created a special 30 second TV SPOT just for this game!

If you'd like to be one of the first to see Notre Dame's TV spot -- click on the link below and sign-up!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S BCS TV SPOT

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL UPDATE...

Here's a link to UND.COM's coverage of Notre Dame football's activities leading up to the January 7th BCS National Championship game.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

Matt Swinton's Notre Dame Story -- MUST SEE

I met this young man this past April -- just weeks before his graduation from the University of Notre Dame.  Matt Swinton '12,  is someone you'll never forget -- and his story is a NOTRE DAME STORY for the ages.

This story is what Notre Dame is all about...

LINK:  MATT SWINTON'S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

ND Football Takes 100 Kids Shopping Monday

The University of Notre Dame Football Team and the Kelly Cares Foundation -- "gave back" on Monday night taking 100 South Bend elementary students on a shopping spree at a local Meijer's and dinner after... 

Very nice story!

LINK:  ND FOOTBALL -- GIVING BACK

Kelly's FIFTH COACH OF THE YEAR Honor

Brian Kelly was just named the Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year -- his FIFTH of the off-season between the undefeated season and the BCS National Championship game!

Notre Dame fans are going to LOVE this video of Coach Kelly with Lou Holtz and Ara Parseghian -- click on the link!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME COACHES ON VIDEO

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!