Samardzija's Becoming the Leader of the Cubs

Former Notre Dame football star Jeff Samardzija is quickly becoming the face and voice of the Chicago Cubs.  Just yesterday he was asked to comment about the actions of one of the Cubs' top prospects who was involved in a bench clearing brawl.

His response was that of a leader -- I'm quite sure the Cubs' Theo Epstein was impressed:

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA TELLS IT LIKE IT IS

LINK:  SOLER WIELDS BAT

NBC Notre Dame Football TV Show April 20th

The NBC Sports Network will air a show next Saturday (April 20th) at NOON ET about Notre Dame Football -- just prior to the BLUE GOLD GAME -- to get you fired up -- watch the video linked below:

LINK:  STRONG & TRUE

MUST SEE VIDEO! A Tradition of Excellence...

Notre Dame Women's Basketball -- three straight trips to the FINAL FOUR -- a tradition of excellence.  Lady Irish Hoops fans will enjoy this "inside access" to the program...

LINK:  A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE

ND Football: Handing Out the GOLD HELMETS

Notre Dame Football Equipment Manager Ryan Grooms handed out the GOLD HELMETS to the Fightin' Irish this week -- you'll enjoy his interaction with "early enrollee" Steve Elmer...

LINK:  THE GOLD HELMET

Coach Brian Kelly Ranked #4 on Coaches List

Athlon Sports published a ranking of the top COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHES in America - and Notre Dame's Brian Kelly was ranked #4.  I think you'll be surprised who is #3...

LINK:  TOP COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHES

A MUST READ by ND Mag Editor Kerry Temple

Every Thursday I have the honor of having lunch with Kerry Temple '74 (photo above), the long-time editor of the finest college magazine on the planet -- NOTRE DAME MAGAZINE.  From a booth in Legend's -- we typically enjoy a conversation about all that is Notre Dame...

A side note -- in my first ever conversation with Kerry I learned that we were born in the same hospital in Shreveport, LA.  He was the first and only human (at the time) that I had ever met from Shreveport.  I've since met another colleague here at Notre Dame (Angie Appleby Purcell) who was also born in that same hospital...

This morning, Michael Rodio (DAILY DOMER) shared with me a story Kerry had just written about Skylar Diggins -- it was so good I had to share it with all of you.

LINK:  THE STORY'S END

Manti Te'o Interview With Steve Mariucci

Former Notre Dame All-American Manti Te'o was recently interviewed for a NFL Network show called NFL Game Changers.  Manti was interviewed by former NFL coach Steve Mariucci.  Here's a link to that interview:

LINK:  MANTI TE'O -- NFL GAME CHANGERS

Brady Quinn Signs Contract With Seahawks

Former Notre Dame All-American QB Brady Quinn -- signed a contract with the Seattle Seahawks.  This will be NFL team #4 for Quinn as he's played for Cleveland, Denver, Kansas City and now Seattle.

The move to Seattle means he'll be playing for former USC coach Pete Carroll...

LINK:  QUINN TO SEATTLE

ND -- Last to Beat Both National Champions

The University of Notre Dame's men's and women's basketball teams (respectively) were the last teams to beat the NCAA National Champions from Louisville and UCONN this season...

Unfortunately, that doesn't get you a National Championship ring or banner.

Where Are They Now -- Coley O'Brien

The more "experienced" fans of Notre Dame football will remember a QB by the name of Coley O'Brien.  He was the man behind center in the GAME OF THE CENTURY back in 1966 with Michigan State.

You'll enjoy this interview:

LINK:  COLEY O'BRIEN

Notre Dame Leprechaun Tryouts This Friday

Do you have what it takes to be the "living" mascot here at the University of Notre Dame? 

Well, the annual tryouts for the Notre Dame Leprechaun will take place this Friday.  Here's a clip produced by Fighting Irish Digital Media concerning a Dillon Hall resident who will be one of the ND students trying out:

LINK:  THE NOTRE DAME LEPRECHAUN

First Time Outside for Notre Dame This Spring

The Fightin' Irish took advantage of the improving weather Saturday and they got outside for a portion of practice.  Here's the UND.COM video coverage:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL PRACTICE

Notre Dame Law Wins a National Title!

And, it took place in New Orleans...

A team of eight Notre Dame Law School students won the 2013 Student Trial Advocacy National Competition this weekend in New Orleans!  Team members: Brian Salvi, Shelia Prendergast, Michelle Pope, Kristian Weir, Brian Ellixson, Ted Koroshetz, Andrew Spica and Bryan Pasciak.

The IRISH were "undefeated" -- going 11- 0 in the Regional and National Finals.

Here were the other Law Schools that won their Regional Championship earning a trip to New Orleans for the National Championship:

• Georgetown University
• Washington University (St. Louis)
• University of Texas
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of California (Davis)
• Syracuse University
• Suffolk University
• Georgia State University
• Stetson University
• Loyola University
• William Mitchell College
• Campbell University
• Southwestern University

LINK:  NOTRE DAME WINS A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Thank You Skylar for FOUR GREAT YEARS!

It wasn't the ending she had worked for -- or, the ending we had hoped for...

Yet, I wake up this morning SMILING!  Smiling for the efforts of a TEAM that no one expected could go this far.  Smiling for a "leader" who willed her team to win after win this season and many during her career.  And, smiling for a program that is "excellence" personified.

Thank you Skylar Diggins for sharing your talent with Notre Dame.  You will never be forgotten.


LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Photo of Fighting Irish Leaving Hotel for Arena!

This photo was just "tweeted" by @ndwbb -- shows the Lady Irish leaving their hotel for Final Four game tonight with UCONN.

Photo of the Day! Condoleezza Rice at Masters

It's the greatest week in golf -- played at what I believe to be the greatest golf course in the world.

Notre Dame alum and Augusta National member Condoleezza Rice '75, is seen here in a golf car wearing the famous member's green jacket!

Samardzija Strikes Out Thirteen: Leads MLB!

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija made his second start of the season for the Chicago Cubs today and he lasted 5 2/3 innings -- STRIKING OUT THIRTEEN in the process.

After two starts -- Jeff Samardzija leads all of Major League Baseball with 22 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched!

Unfortunately, he gave up a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to the Atlanta Braves before being pulled out of the game.   The Cubs lost the game 5 - 1.

LINK:  BOX SCORE

LINK:  MAJOR LEAGUE STRIKEOUT LEADERS

Skylar Diggins' ESPN Blog -- FINAL FOUR

The University of Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins is authoring a BLOG during the NCAA Tournament for ESPNW.  Here is her latest blog post along with an ESPN interview she gave on stage at the Final Four Salute Dinner:

LINK:  SKYLAR'S BLOG POST

12 Hours to Notre Dame vs. UCONN IV

Will our IRISH beat Notre Dame beat UCONN for the fourth time this season and eighth time in their last nine meetings?  It's going to be fun!

Here's the media coverage this morning -- this will keep you occupied til' game time -- can't wait to watch this game!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S DAY THREE

LINK:  ESPN #1

LINK:  ESPN #2

LINK:  ESPN #3

LINK:  ESPN #4

LINK:  ESPN #5

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #1

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #2

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #3

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  TIMES PICAYUNE

OT: Brain Cancer Patient Goes 69 Yards for TD!

Jack Hoffman has brain cancer and he's only 7 years-old...

Yet it didn't stop him today from taking a hand-off and racing 69 yards for a TD in Nebraska's Spring Football game.

Hoffman led the Cornhuskers in rushing.


LINK:   A TOUCHDOWN RUN TO REMEMBER

Photo of the Day: Public Practice @ Final Four

This photo was "tweeted" by @ndwbb of the NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH at their public practice this afternoon.

Coach Brian Kelly Post Practice Presser Today

Notre Dame football is two weeks away from the 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game -- and after today's practice, Coach Kelly met with the media:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Final Four Press Conference For Notre Dame

Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw, Skylar Diggins and Kayla McBride met with the media today -- 30 hours prior to its PRIME TIME matchup with UCONN tomorrow night:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Vegas Pickin' UCONN Over Our Irish Tomorrow

It's as if Notre Dame's three wins this year over UCONN never happened -- two took place on the road in the State of Connecticut...

Oh well, -- UCONN was favored in the previous three IRISH WINS!

Our Lady Irish spent their first full day in New Orleans yesterday at the FINAL FOUR -- with some practice, some interviews and a dress up "Welcome Party" for all of the teams.  Our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media were in attendance -- take a look:


LINK:  NOTRE DAME AT FINAL FOUR

A New Access Road to Notre Dame in August

The University of Notre Dame has begun construction this week on a new road -- and the closing of a section of a current road (Douglas Road) -- that will be completed by mid-August.

The new access road to campus will sit right straight across from the intersection of the Indiana Toll Road (Exit 77) entrance/exit and 933 (Michigan Avenue).  The new road will begin here and will wind its way to the western edge of Warren Golf Course - where it will reconnect to Douglas Road.

The South Bend Tribune ran this story today:

LINK:  THE CLOSING OF DOUGLAS ROAD

"The Doubters" -- There Are Many @ Final Four

Seems like every media story I read has UCONN beating our Fightin' Irish on Sunday night in the National Semi-Final game...

They conveniently "throw away" the previous three wins this season by Notre Dame over Geno's team in this manner -- "if only for a missed shot here or...  UCONN would have won these three previous meetings..."

The IRISH, on a 31 game winning streak -- THREE of them against UCONN -- are obviously wearing the Rodney Dangerfield masks on Bourbon Street this week...

I LOVE IT!


LINK:  UCONN TO WIN NATIONAL TITLE

LINK:  ESPNW PODCAST

First Video of Lady Irish Arriving @ Final Four

Here's the Fightin' Irish arriving at the Final Four in New Orleans this evening.  Click on photos to make them larger!


LINK:  VIDEO COVERAGE

LINK:  TIMES PICAYUNE -- NEW ORLEANS

Two National Awards for Lady Irish Hoops!

It was announced today that Muffet McGraw was named National Coach of the Year!  And, Jewell Loyd was named National Freshman of the Year! 

WOW!

The Irish left for New Orleans and the Final Four today at 5 PM ET -- here's a video report:

LINK:  FINAL FOUR BOUND!

Let the Talk Begin: ND vs. UCONN in Final Four

It's unfortunate that this game isn't on Tuesday night for all of the marbles...

It's also a shame that the three wins already against UCONN this season -- don't mean anything if we don't beat them for a FOURTH TIME -- something I'm sure has never happened to a Geno Auriemma team in his tenure in Storrs.

So -- the media's pickin' UCONN over our IRISH -- big surprise.

LINK:  ESPN -- KATE FAGAN

LINK:  ESPN -- EXPERTS PICK THE WINNER

LINK:  ESPN -- MICHELLE SMITH

LINK:  ESPN -- ND vs. UCONN IV

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #2

Notre Dame Football: Back at Practice Today

Here's the video from today's Spring Practice "inside" the Loftus Sports Center at the University of Notre Dame:

LINK:  SPRING PRACTICE VIDEO

The Future of ND Basketball Tonight on ESPN

The future of Notre Dame men's and women's basketball will be on display tonight in Chicago...

At 7 PM ET the McDonald's All-American Girls Game will be televised on ESPNU -- and it will feature two high school stars headed to South Bend to play for Muffet this fall;

• #12 -- Taya Reimer;  6'-3" Forward playing for the East Team
• #15 -- Lindsay Allan;  5'-8" Point Guard playing for the East Team

At 9:30 PM ET the McDonald's All-American Boys Game will be televised on ESPN -- and it will feature a high school star headed to South Bend to play for Mike Brey this fall:

• #11 -- Demetrius Jackson; 6'-1" Point Guard playing for the East Team

That's Demetrius Jackson -- to the far right in the photo above -- holding his Skills Competition trophy.

The Mornin' After the Irish are Final Four Bound

As is the custom here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- we take a romp around the worldwide web to see what the media has to say about our Fightin' Irish the morning after a big win. 

Here's the buzz after last night's victory over Duke to advance to a third straight FINAL FOUR:


LINK:  DUKE CHRONICLE

LINK:  DUKE CHRONICLE #2

LINK:  RALEIGH NEWS OBSERVER

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

THERE IS ONE MORE NET TO CUT DOWN...

Skylar Diggins just might be the greatest LEADER to ever wear a Notre Dame jersey -- in any sport.

FIGHTIN' IRISH: BACK WHERE THEY BELONG!

The Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame won their 30th straight game tonight -- earning a THIRD STRAIGHT TRIP to the FINAL FOUR. 

LINK:  POST GAME CELEBRATION

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Muffet & Skylar: THREE TIMES to Final Four!

The photo of the night...

IRISH Back to the FINAL FOUR -- AGAIN !!!

It wasn't pretty, it wasn't easy...  Can you say THREE-PEAT!

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish beat Duke tonight 87 - 76 to earn a THIRD STRAIGHT TRIP to the FINAL FOUR!

Now, it's time to play "that school in Storrs" for a fourth time on Sunday night around 9 PM ET...


LINK:  SKYLAR AND MUFFET INTERVIEW

LINK:  VIDEO OF POST GAME CELEBRATION

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  GRAHAM HAYS -- ESPN

LINK:  QUICK RECAP

LINK:  BOX SCORE

Video of Anders Lee Goal #1 in First NHL Game!

Former Notre Dame hockey captain, Anders Lee -- scores a goal in his first NHL hockey game!  Lee last played for the IRISH on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament -- here he is three days later on his sport's biggest stage...

That's Anders on the left - seconds after scoring the goal!

Lee scores on a "wrister" in the 1st period of the New York Islander's game with the Winnipeg Jets.  Catch Mom & Dad in the stands after his goal!  You'll also want to catch the Islander's head coach reaction to all of the questions from the New York media about Anders Lee...


LINK:  VIDEO REPLAY OF ANDERS' FIRST GOAL

LINK:  ANDERS LEE SCORES FIRST NHL GOAL!

Photos From NCAA Tournament Site in Norfolk

Here's a photo just "tweeted" by @NotreDameBand from the arena in Norfolk, VA -- site of tonight's battle between Notre Dame and Duke for a spot in the FINAL FOUR!

First Photos of Lady Irish Leaving Team Hotel

This photo was just "tweeted" seven minutes ago by @NotreDameBand -- as they play the VICTORY MARCH for the Fightin' Irish as they leave the hotel for tonight's game with Duke.

Jackson Wins McDonald's Skills Competition!

McDonald's All-American and future Notre Dame student-athlete, Demetrius Jackson -- won the McDonald's All-American Skills Competition last night.

Jackson, who will be playing for Mike Brey's Fighting Irish this next season -- was named a "CAPTAIN" for his East Team for Wednesday night's game.  You can see Demetrius in action at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN -- Wednesday, April 3, 2013.


LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES STORY

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

It's Notre Dame vs. Duke Tonight @ 7 PM ET

Muffet's Fightin' Irish face their toughest test so far in the NCAA Tournament tonight, when they take on the fifth ranked Duke Blue Devils.  The game will be televised on ESPN beginning at 7 PM ET.  The winner advances to next Saturday night's FINAL FOUR game in New Orleans against UCONN.

Tonight's game will serve as a "sneak preview" of what Notre Dame can expect next season when we join the Atlantic Coast Conference -- Duke (pictured above) won the ACC Tournament.

Here's a link to yesterday's press conference and a couple of links to previews of tonight's game:


LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 

LINK:  DUKE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL VIDEOS

Samardzija Throws Eight Scoreless Innings!

Not a bad way to start a season...

Former Notre Dame All-American football star Jeff Samardzija made his OPENING DAY pitching debut for the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park in Pittsburgh against the Pirates -- and boy did he have a game!

The Cubs won the game 3 - 1.

How's this for a stat line:

• 8 innings pitched
• 2 hits
• 9 strikeouts
• 1 walk
• ZERO RUNS ALLOWED!
• VICTORY #1!

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA DOMINANT!

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES STORY

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  BOX SCORE

Notre Dame's Anders Lee Signs With Islanders

Notre Dame hockey captain, Anders Lee is off to the NHL...

The IRISH junior center -- a sixth round draft pick of the New York Islanders back in 2009 -- signed a two-year deal this morning and is already practicing with the team.  Lee is expected to be in uniform this week (possibly tomorrow night) and getting some ice time.

Congratulations!

LINK:  ANDERS LEE SIGNS WITH ISLANDERS

I Don't Want to Jinx Our Lady Irish...

But, the door has been opened WIDE to that coveted National Championship!

The #5 seeded Louisville Cardinals pulled off the upset of ALL-TIME in women's college basketball last night when they hit 16 three-pointers in their 82-81 win over what was thought to be "unbeatable" Baylor!

WOW!

So, here's what's ahead for the IRISH:

• Tuesday night -- we play #2 seed DUKE, a tough opponent -- win that game...
• And, we play UCONN for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- yeah, it's a game early -- but this will be the game!  Can the IRISH BEAT UCONN FOUR TIMES in the same season?  
• Get past UCONN and you're probably looking at TENNESSEE or GEORGIA in the "second National Championship game."

Going to be fun!

LINK:  WHO'S THE FAVORITE NOW?

LINK:  LOUISVILLE BEATS BAYLOR!