A Notre Dame Family's Inspirational Son...

John Jessup's story is one you typically read in a book or see in a movie.

The son of Scott and Janet Jessup (both Notre Dame grads) and a Marian High School senior -- had to make a decision you'd never wish upon anyone you know...

I'll let the folks at the South Bend Tribune tell John's story.


LINK:  JOHN JESSUP

Skylar Diggins Drafted by the TULSA Shock!

Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins was just drafted THIRD OVERALL this evening by the Tulsa Shock in the 2013 WNBA DRAFT!

Congratulations Skylar!

Diggins joins a Shock team that was 9 - 25 last season -- she will make them better!


LINK:  SKYLAR GOES THIRD TO TULSA

Video of Notre Dame "Walk-off" Home Run !!!

The Fighting Irish Women's Softball team scored 7 RUNS in their final at bat on Sunday in their game with Rutgers to win 8 - 6!

The last three runs came with two outs -- as Cassidy Whidden (photo above) hit a three-run walk-off homer!  Whidden hit a 'grand slam' the day before...


LINK:  WALK-OFF HOME RUN!

Dan Hicks Named Next ND TV Voice on NBC!

The husband of Notre Dame alumna Hannah Storm (ESPN anchor) -- Dan Hicks -- was named the VOICE OF NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL today by NBC.  Hicks will be a popular choice among ND football fans.  His first assignment -- Saturday's BLUE GOLD GAME.

You'll enjoy the Sports Illustrated story below:


LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED STORY

WNBA Draft Tonight on ESPN2 at 8:00 PM ET

"Former" Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins will learn this evening what basketball uniform she'll be wearing next...

Skylar is expected to go third in the WNBA Draft to the Tulsa Shock -- though there are rumblings that the Chicago Sky may decide to pick the "DOMER" with their second pick.

Fans of Skylar will enjoy tonight's DRAFT -- because you know they'll be telling her story often.

Skylar is attending the WNBA DRAFT which is being held in a studio at ESPN's Bristol, CT headquarters (as you can see in the photo above, she's already there).  Here's what the media has to say about Skylar's draft position:


LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  TULSA WORLD

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

ND Football Spring PractIce #12 Report

Approximately 1,000 football coaches descended on the campus of the University of Notre Dame these past couple of days for a coaching clinic.  They were able to view a couple of practices and hear from a number of NFL and college coaches (photos above) and the Fighting Irish staff about their craft.

Here is a look inside yesterday's scrimmage and Coach Kelly's post game press conference:


LINK:  SCRIMMAGE VIDEO

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Father Ted to be Named a Navy Chaplain!

Father Ted Hesburgh will finally receive an appointment he's wanted for a long time...

LINK:  A NAVY CHAPLAIN

Notre Dame's Relay For Life Ends This Hour

More than a thousand Notre Dame students, faculty and staff spent last night inside the Compton Family Ice Arena -- walking to raise money for cancer research.  They started at 6:30 PM ET and they'll end in approximately 20 minutes at 9:00 AM ET.

Here's the media coverage:

LINK:  WNDU-TV

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