Saturday, November 29, 2014

Say a Few Prayers for Family of Connie Morris


Connie Morris, a Notre Dame employee and huge Fighting Irish fan -- was killed yesterday morning in a fire in Elkhart.  So sad...

LINK:  FATAL FIRE

Photos From Notre Dame's Trip to West Coast


Here's a few photos of Notre Dame's trip to USC -- what a difference a few hours in a plane can make...

One of the Greatest College Football Rivalries


Where do you think the USC vs. NOTRE DAME rivalry ended up on this list of the 25 greatest college football rivalries?

LINK:  USC vs. NOTRE DAME

Brady Quinn & Matt Leinart Talk ND vs. USC


Two former All-Americans -- one a Heisman Trophy winner, the other a runner-up -- sit down for an interview with the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen to talk about this game...

LINK:  QUINN & LEINART

IT'S GAME DAY IN LA -- TIME TO BEAT SC!


Notre Dame's game with "that school in Los Angeles" kicks off today a few minutes after 3:30 PM ET on FOX.  And, former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn will be in the broadcast booth -- hopefully bringing some good luck to the IRISH!

Here's what the media is saying this morning about today's clash:

LINK:  LA TIMES #1

LINK:  LA TIMES #2

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #1

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #2

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO 

LINK:  NBC SPORTS 

LINK:  ELKHART TRUTH 

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE


Friday, November 28, 2014

The San Diego Chargers' DOMERS...


Former Notre Dame student athletes Chris Watt '13 and Manti Te'o '13 -- are garnering some praise in San Diego for their recent play...

That's a photo of Chris Watt (#65) in his first NFL start this past Saturday.
 

LINK:  SAN DIEGO DOMERS

Less than 32 Hours to USC vs. Notre Dame!


Took a lap around the California web-world this morning to see what they've been saying about tomorrow's 3:30 PM ET clash between the two most famous "7 - 4 teams" in all of college football.

Just click on the links below:

LINK:  LA TIMES #1

LINK:  LA TIMES #2

LINK:  LA TIMES #3

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #1

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #2

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Photo: Thanksgiving Meat & Cheese Tray


My wife Susan was up early getting this ready for Thanksgiving with the family...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving from Notre Dame!


Earlier this month, our team crafted a "BIG" thank you for the Notre Dame Family.  It took us a few weeks to pull off -- in some less than ideal conditions -- but, the end product turned out quite nice...

We built a 119 foot-long THANK YOU wall that was nearly 9 feet tall -- see photo above.

More than 3,000 Notre Dame students participated in this THANK YOU.

Please click on the link below -- it will take you to a site that has the following:
  • Three unique videos
  • A photo that spans the entire 119' of the THANK YOU WALL -- with a navigation tool that will allow you to zoom in and read every message
  • And, a photo gallery

Happy Thanksgiving!

LINK:  THANK YOU WALL & VIDEO

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

A Look at Notre Dame's Fighting INJURED Irish


Never seen anything like this -- injury, after injury, after injury...

Here's a look at the toll injuries and suspensions have taken on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team this season -- 12 STARTERS HAVE MISSED CONSIDERABLE TIME!!!

OFFENSE -- projected starters in bold
  • Amir Carlisle -- missed a couple of games
  • Torii Hunter Jr. -- missed a couple of games
  • Tyler Luatua -- missed a few games
  • Davaris Daniels -- out for season

DEFENSE -- projected starters in bold
  • Jarret Grace -- out for season
  • Ishaq Williams -- out for season
  • Keivarae Russell -- out for season
  • Tony Springman -- out for season
  • Sheldon Moore -- out for season
  • Eilar Hardy -- missed first 9 games
  • Joe Schmidt -- out for season (5 games)
  • Jarron Jones -- out for season (3 games)
  • Nicky Baratti -- out for season (10 games)
  • Sheldon Day -- missed 2 games / maybe 3
  • Andrew Trumbetti -- missed a game
  • Austin Collinsworth -- missed 9 games
  • Drue Tranquill -- out for season (2 games)
  • Ben Councell -- missed 3 games
  • Cody Riggs -- missed 3 games / maybe out for season

I Don't Get This: Leinart to Lead Trojans...


The USC Trojans have asked former QB Matt Leinart to lead their team onto the field against Notre Dame on Saturday...

Pretty sad -- a Heisman Trophy winner turned into a mascot.

LINK:  LEINART

Thanks to a "Gang of Six" on Thanksgiving Eve


Eight days ago, in sub-zero wind chill on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- six members of ND's Carpentry Services team (photo above) went beyond the call of duty to create something special for the entire Notre Dame family. 

Their names:
  • Tanner Andrysiak
  • Tim Meers
  • Jeremy Feltz
  • Derek Stump
  • Vance Welton
  • George Walters

You can see the result of their efforts in this video linked below:
 
LINK:  WATCH IT RIGHT HERE!

Happy Birthday to the University of Notre Dame!


She is 172 years-old today!

Fr. Sorin founded the University of Notre Dame du Lac on this very day -- November 26 -- in the year 1842.

Happy Birthday Notre Dame!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Big Time ND Fans' TV Show -- Up For Awards!


My cousin (and big-time Notre Dame fan) Pat Doyle's TV Show "The Outdoor Option" has been nominated for 4 SPORTSMAN CHOICE AWARDS!

We can help him out by voting for The Outdoor Option in the following categories:
  • Best Variety Show
  • Best New Series
  • Best Educational / Instructional Show
  • Best Hosts

You can click on the link below to vote:

LINK:  SPORTSMAN CHOICE AWARDS

Domer Kym Worthy '84, Subject of ABC Drama


Notre Dame Law School alum Kym Worthy '84, a prosecuting attorney for Wayne County (MI), is the subject of a possible ABC TV series called "Conviction."

Here's the story:

LINK:  KYM WORTHY

Muffet's Notre Dame Fighting Irish Ranked #1


Well, it only took a three weeks for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to climb to the ranks of #1 in the Coaches Poll!

Here's the latest women's college basketball rankings:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME #1

Replay of Coach Brian Kelly's Tuesday Presser


Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly will meet with the media today to talk one last time about Louisville and then take questions about Saturday's game with "that school in Los Angeles..."

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY

Brian Kelly Talks Louisville and Looks to USC


On Sunday afternoon, Coach Kelly recorded his weekly "Inside Notre Dame Football" TV show -- here's a look at what he had to say about the loss to Louisville and the look ahead to Saturday's game with USC:

LINK:  INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

Monday, November 24, 2014

Must Read: A Dad, His Son and Notre Dame


Folks, I'm always excited when Rick Becker -- a professor at Bethel College -- sends me a story he's written for his blog...

This story is about his eleven year-old son Nick and his first Notre Dame football game.  Got to love it...

THANKS RICK!

LINK:  NICK'S FIRST ND GAME

Notre Dame Remembers Jim Butz '49, Today


I was fortunate to have spent some time with Jim Butz when he was running things at a golf company called Tiger Shark.  Our conversations invariably led to his love for Notre Dame..

This morning, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart -- Jim Butz will be memorialized.  He died on October 12th at the age of 90 -- he's come "home" today to be buried in Notre Dame's Cedar Grove Cemetery.

He lived quite a life -- which you'll see in the story linked below.

Butz will always be remembered for his role in the creation of the "FIGHTING IRISH (Leprechaun) LOGO."  Butz asked Ted Drake if he could create "some symbol for Notre Dame..."

The rest is history.

LINK:  JIM BUTZ