Saturday, November 9, 2013

OT: Beacon Test -- One World Trade Center



This brings a smile to my face and an uneasiness to my stomach -- all at the same time.

This evening, Manhattan's new One World Trade Center lit its BEACON for the very first time.  Taking it to 1,776 feet tall!

I had the misfortune of being in NYC the morning our country changed forever...

Notre Dame Football Arrives in Pittsburgh, PA



The #1 road show in college football -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- rolled into Pittsburgh late Friday afternoon to take a look at the Steeler's Heinz Field, site of tomorrow night's prime time game against the Pitt Panthers.

As you'll see in the bottom photo -- ABC's Brent Musberger was there to chat with Coach Kelly...


Notre Dame Football on ABC Tonight at 8 PM ET


Here's the "tune-in" promotion the Fighting Irish send out to the top high school football players in the country.

Friday, November 8, 2013

#3 Ranked Notre Dame Beats #1 Minnesota!


Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish beat the top ranked Golden Gophers tonight at a sold-out Compton Family Ice Arena by the score of 4 - 1!

It's the first loss of the season for Minnesota -- a win tomorrow and Notre Dame should take over the #1 ranking in the country.

Minnesota' head coach Don Lucia '81 is a Notre Dame alum and former Irish hockey player who also doubles as the father of #22 Mario Lucia who wears the gold helmet!  See the interview linked below:

LINK:  MARIO LUCIA INTERVIEW 

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Brian Kelly's Last Media Session Before Pitt


Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly met with the media tonight for the last time before Saturday night's PRIME TIME game against the Pitt Panthers.  Here's a link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

A Wish Comes True For Notre Dame Fan

A young man from Bethlehem, PA named Cameron Kessler -- a kidney transplant survivor -- had a wish to spend a day with the Notre Dame football team.  Well, as you'll see in this wonderful story -- told by our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media -- his wish came true and then some!

You'll enjoy Coach Elliott's perspective as well.   MUST SEE!

LINK:  WISH COMES TRUE

49 Hours to Kick-Off -- Media Thinks Squeaker


The Fighting Irish are 7 - 2 and the Pitt Panthers are 4 - 4 -- yet, a few in the media think Notre Dame will lose Saturday's game...

We're not getting the respect due a team that is 19 - 3 its past 22 games.

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Domer Dad Wins AL Silver Slugger Award!


Torii Hunter Sr., -- father of Notre Dame wide receiver Torii, Jr. -- was awarded the SILVER SLUGGER AWARD as one of the top three hitting outfielders in the American League.  Hunter, who plays right field for the Detroit Tigers hit .304, with 17 home runs and 84 RBI.

Congratulations Torii!

LINK:  SILVER SLUGGER AWARD

Photo: Pitt Panther's Football Practice Today

Folks, you won't believe where this photo was taken...

The Pitt Panthers had one of their student managers dress up in a Leprechaun suit at their football practice today -- as they get ready for Saturday's game with our Fighting Irish.

OT: Looking For a New Place to Call Home?


Michael Jordan's 56,000 square foot home in the suburbs of Chicago will be sold via an "exclusive auction" set for November 22nd.  Here's a link to the promotional video...

LINK:  MICHAEL JORDAN'S HOME

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

OT: Nike Helping Promote Michigan State


The folks at Nike have put together a promotional video for the Spartans of Michigan State -- and wouldn't you know it, they had to be sure Notre Dame was included.  They just forgot to show the scoreboard!

LINK:  THE SPARTANS

Pitt Week -- Coach Kelly Press Conference


Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media -- as he does every Tuesday during the football season -- to talk about the upcoming game.  Today's topic, the Pitt Panthers.

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

OT: Most Successful Football Play of All-Time


Folks, you have to watch what a middle-school football team did for a teammate in Olivet, MI.  Get your Kleenex out!

LINK:  MOST SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL PLAY OF ALL-TIME

Jeff Samardzija Trade Rumors to Arizona


Word on the street is the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks are discussing a trade that would involve former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija. 

Samardzija finished 9th in all of Major League Baseball for strikeouts in 2013 -- with 214 in 213.2 innings pitched.

Here's the story:

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA ON TRADING BLOCK

Monday, November 4, 2013

Notre Dame Football "Livin' on a Prayer" Video

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media convinced a number of Notre Dame football players to perform in a music video for the song "Livin' On a Prayer."  You'll want to watch this.

Suffice to say -- don't give up your athletic scholarship!

LINK:  LIVIN' ON A PRAYER MUSIC VIDEO

Domer Dating Former ABC Bachelor Contestant


Notre Dame alum Michael Garofola '02, is back in the limelight.  The attorney out of southern Florida -- who was on the last season of ABC's The Bachelorette -- is now dating a former contestant on ABC's The Bachelor -- AshLee Frazier.  Here's the People magazine story:

LINK:  GAROFOLA BACK IN THE NEWS

CBS "Bowl Expert" Has Notre Dame in Dallas...


CBS's BCS Expert Jerry Palm has the Fighting Irish playing on New Year's Day in Dallas, TX against the Rice Owls in the "Heart of Dallas" Bowl...

The game is played outdoors in the Cotton Bowl -- a venue the Irish know well on New Year's Day!

LINK:  HEART OF DALLAS BOWL

Pitt's Coach Paul Chryst Talks Notre Dame


The Pitt Panthers head football coach Paul Chryst met with the media today to talk about Saturday's PRIME TIME showdown with the Fighting Irish.  Here's a link to a transcript of his media session:

LINK:  CHRYST TALKS NOTRE DAME

All-Time Winning Percentage -- Race to #1


The University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame are the two winningest football programs in college history.  At this very moment the all-time records are as follows:
  • Michigan:  909 - 317 - 36 (.7307 %)
  • NOTRE DAME:  872 - 303 - 42  (.7291%)

So, here's the gap -- to overtake Michigan at season's end -- here's what Notre Dame must do its last four games -- including a bowl game:
  • Notre Dame goes 4 - 0  / Michigan goes 2 - 3 /  Notre Dame takes over all-time winning %

Notre Dame's Game vs. Pitt on ABC @ 8 PM ET


The folks at ABC announced yesterday that they will be televising Notre Dame's game this Saturday against Pittsburgh in "prime time" at 8 PM ET. 

No other team plays on national television as much as Notre Dame...

LINK:  ABC TO TELEVISE SATURDAY'S GAME

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Brian Kelly's Halftime and Post Game Speech

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media -- once again -- provides us fans with the "inside look" at the Notre Dame football program.  THANK YOU!

Here's a link to this week's episode of ICON.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS NAVY

NFL Video of Kyle Rudolph's TD Catch Today


Former Notre Dame tight end and now Minnesota Viking -- Kyle Rudolph -- caught a 31 yard TD catch today against the Dallas Cowboys.  Unfortunately, Kyle broke a bone in his foot on the play...

LINK:  RUDOLPH TD CATCH

Keough Hall Wins on Fumble Return for TD!!!


Keough Hall's Will Fields picked up a QB fumble and ran it into the endzone for a TD with just over a minute left in the game to give the Kangaroos a 8 - 0 win over O'Neill Hall in Notre Dame Interhall football.  The win puts Keough at 3 - 1 on the season and clinches them a spot in the upcoming playoffs for a trip to Notre Dame Stadium for the championship.  I apologize in advance for the quality of the video of the TD -- my iPhone let me down!

The first video is of a catch you won't believe -- A ONE HANDER! -- better than any catch you'd see from Calvin Johnson on Sundays!

LINK:  VIDEO OF "CATCH OF THE YEAR" 

LINK:  VIDEO OF FUMBLE RETURN FOR TD

Irish Move Up One Spot as Michigan Falls Out


The Associated Press just released their Top 25 after week 11 of the college football season -- and our Fighting Irish moved up a spot to #24.  And yes, Notre Dame is still ranked behind the team they beat (who has the same record) a few weeks ago -- Arizona State;



LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

NBC's Full Replay of Notre Dame 38 - Navy 34


Here is a link to the full game replay of Notre Dame's win over Navy yesterday afternoon.

LINK:  NBC FULL GAME REPLAY

The Media the Mornin' After ND Beats Navy


Got to "sleep in" an extra hour here in the shadow of the Golden Dome -- I needed it after the game yesterday with Navy.  Thank goodness we made that fourth down stop!!!

As I always do the morning after Notre Dame plays a football game -- I took a lap around the worldwide web to see what the media is saying about the win over Navy.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO -- TONY RICE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL LESAR

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL WIENEKE

LINK:  WNDU-TV

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Notre Dame Player Interviews After Navy Win


Here's a couple links to interviews with Notre Dame players after their 38 - 34 win today over the Naval Academy.  Jaylon Smith, Tommy Rees, Tarean Folston and Dan Fox,

LINK:  DEFENSE

LINK:  OFFENSE

Brian Kelly Navy Post Game Press Conference


Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media after today's 38 - 34 win over the Naval Academy.  The victory puts the Irish at 7 - 2 on the season.  Here's the presser:

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME

Here's a Post Game Interview of Ben Koyack


Notre Dame junior tight-end Ben Koyack caught a TD pass in the third quarter -- his second of the season -- as the Fighting Irish pulled out a win over the Naval Academy today.

LINK:  KOYACK INTERVIEW

Video of Both Blue Angels' Fly-Overs Today !!!


Here's what it looked like from the second row in Section 1 of Notre Dame Stadium when the Navy's Blue Angels did their "DELTA FORMATION" fly-over of the "House That Rock Built!"

You'll see and hear the National Anthem played by the Band of the Fighting Irish and the perfectly timed Blue Angels fly over -- followed by a second fly-over just north of the stadium.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NATIONAL ANTHEM FLY-OVER

LINK:  SECOND FLY-OVER

NBC Game Highlights from ND's Win Over Navy


Here are the game highlights from Notre Dame's 38 - 34 win over the Naval Academy.

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  FIDM -- GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Navy's Head Football Coach Talks After Loss


Coach Niumatalolo met with the media after their 38 - 34 loss today to Notre Dame.  Here's some video from his post-game press conference:

LINK:  COACH NIUMATALOLO

A Star was Born at Notre Dame Today!


Notre Dame freshman (I don't like to add the adjective TRUE) Tarean Folston rushed for 140 yards and the game winning TD in his first big-time action this season.  Congratulations Tarean!

Here is his post-game interview with Alex Flanagan:

LINK:  FOLSTON

Flanagan's Post Game Interview of Brian Kelly


NBC's Alex Flanagan interviewed Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly on the field -- just after his Irish beat Navy 38 - 34.  Here's the interview:

LINK:  INTERVIEW

That Was WAY TOO CLOSE! Irish Beat Navy!


A huge 4th down stop of a reverse by freshman Jaylon Smith with 1:08 left on the clock -- closed out a 38 - 34 win for the IRISH over the Naval Academy.

Notre Dame had only three possessions in the second half -- thankfully, the IRISH scored TD's each time -- as they erased a 20 - 17 deficit.  Here's the initial reaction from the media:

LINK:   NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Notre Dame Recruiting "Tune-in" Promotion




The University of Notre Dame has "upped its game" when it comes to engaging the top high school football players in the country.  Here's a series of what appears to be a "TUNE-IN CAMPAIGN" -- to make sure the TV sets are tuned into the FIGHTING IRISH on Saturdays in the homes of the players Notre Dame is recruiting...




Notre Dame Beats Maryland in Volleyball


Debbie Brown's Fighting Irish beat ACC foe Maryland last night 3 games to 1 -- click on the link below for the highlights:

LINK:  IRISH BEAT TERRAPINS

"Why Notre Dame Plays Navy" -- Fr. Hesburgh


If anyone ever questions you why Notre Dame plays the Naval Academy every year -- this is the 87th in a row today -- here's why!

The photo above is from the 40's when the Navy trained officers at Notre Dame -- recognize South Quad?

LINK:  WHY NOTRE DAME PLAYS NAVY

Fighting For the Ethical Use of Technology


The University of Notre Dame's award winning "WHAT WOULD YOU FIGHT FOR" TV commercials -- focuses today on the ethical use of technology. 

Here's the TV spot:

LINK:  FIGHTING FOR!

The Admiral and His Notre Dame Son...


How often do you think the NBC cameras will be on David Robinson this afternoon while his son Corey's Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on his alma mater the Naval Academy?  And, what hat will he have on?

You just have to know that Dan Hicks will be "waxing poetically" about this family dynamic...

Here's the media's spin on this so far:

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES STORY

LINK:  ESPN

Brian Kelly Talking Today's Game With Navy


Here's Brian Kelly talking about Notre Dame's game today with the Naval Academy -- over the past five days.  Click on the links below:

LINK:  FRIDAY NIGHT PEP RALLY

LINK:  FRIDAY FOOTBALL LUNCHEON

LINK:  THURSDAY NIGHT RADIO SHOW

LINK:  THURSDAY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  TUESDAY PRESS CONFERENCE

Media's Take on Navy vs. Notre Dame Today


Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what's being said about today's  87th meeting on the football field between the Naval Academy and the University of Notre Dame.  Here's what I found:

LINK:  BALTIMORE SUN

LINK:  CAPITAL GAZETTE

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Friday, November 1, 2013

"Parents Day @ Notre Dame Stadium" -- NYT


The New York Times published a story today about Jon Bon Jovi and a number of the "famous parents' of football players at Notre Dame...

They talk about the need for "red carpet" -- at Notre Dame it's called the GOLD CARPET!

They also profiled Bon Jovi's son Jesse -- a freshman "walk-on" football player for the Fighting Irish.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

Mike Brey Goes "Flint Tropics" @ Pep Rally!


Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey showed up at tonight's pep rally -- a day late for Halloween -- dressed as Will Farrel's character Jackie Moon...  Got to love it!

LINK:  REPLAY OF PEP RALLY TONIGHT!

Photo of Father Ted With the Blue Angels!


Father Ted Hesburgh, C.S.C., was the appropriate individual at Notre Dame to have his photo taken this afternoon with the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels.  Fr. Ted was named a honorary Navy Chaplain this past April -- see link below.  The tall pilot standing to the right of Fr. Ted is Notre Dame alum John Hiltz '02.

The photo was taken by Notre Dame's award winning photographer Matt Cashore -- an hour after the Blue Angles "test" flight over campus today.

LINK:  HONORARY NAVY CHAPLAIN

Video: Blue Angels Fly Over @ Notre Dame!


The U.S. Navy's Blue Angels made a practice run this lunch hour over the campus of the University of Notre Dame. You're going to love the video shot by the University Communications video team!  Great work!

The photo above was shot by my wife Susan -- from her iPhone -- as they were flying directly over our house.  She thought it was appropriate that "the Blue Angels flew over Notre Dame on All Saints Day!"

LINK:  BLUE ANGELS FLY OVER!

The Notre Dame Pep Rally Today @ 5:45 PM ET


If you'd like to see the "first ever" Notre Dame Pep Rally held in the Compton Family Ice Arena -- just click on the link below!  The fun begins at 5:45 PM ET!

LINK:  WATCH THE NOTRE DAME PEP RALLY