Thursday, May 19, 2016

"Domer to Be" Leads Arapahoe to State Final


Charlie Leonard '20 (pictured above) -- who will be wearing the Notre Dame gold LAX helmet next season -- and his #3 ranked Arapahoe Warriors High School Lacrosse Team beat #2 ranked Mountain Vista 9 - 8 last night in the Colorado State Semi-Finals of the Boy's Lacrosse State Championship.


Arapahoe HS now earn the right to play #1 ranked Regis Jesuit at Denver's Sports Authority Stadium at Mile High tomorrow night at 7 PM local time.

LINK:  GAME STORY

LINK:  DENVER POST STORY

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

A "Domer to Be" Class of 2020 -- A Great Story


Folks, I often find myself feeling quite inadequate when I compare my story with the stories of many of our students here at the University of Notre Dame...

Jake Drysdale '20 -- will be enrolling at Notre Dame this August.  Here is Jake's story:

LINK:  JAKE DRYSDALE

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Domer Riley Sheahan Surprises Cancer Patient



Former Notre Dame hockey star Riley Sheahan -- now with the Detroit Red Wings -- surprised a 22 year-old cancer patient at her Prom this weekend.

LINK:  STORY

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Photos from Notre Dame's Commencement



Here's a few members of Notre Dame Football's Team 127 -- on graduation day.  Note the big guy in the middle -- that's #6 overall NFL draft pick Ronnie Stanley.


U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's plane flying over Notre Dame Stadium -- just minutes before Commencement.

University of Notre Dame's Baccalaureate Mass



These were taken by my ultra-talented Notre Dame colleagues Matt Cashore and Barbara Johnston -- at last night's Baccalaureate Mass at the University of Notre Dame.

You can purchase these photos -- and more from Commencement Weekend 2016 at the University of Notre Dame -- at the link below:

LINK:  PHOTOS 

Notre Dame's 2016 Commencement -- Replay




Saturday, May 14, 2016

Skylar, Devereaux and Natalie Together Again


The three former Fighting Irish hoops stars were together again tonight in Indianapolis -- as Skylar Diggin's Dallas Wings won their first game in franchise history over Devereaux Peters and Natalie Achonwa's Indiana Fever 90 - 79.

Skylar didn't play -- as she works to get back on the floor after her major knee surgery...

The bottom photo took place after the game -- as the three former Notre Dame stars met with the crowd.  

LINK:  BOX SCORE

Incoming Domer Wins FOUR State Titles Today


Tony Pride Jr., who has committed to play for the Fighting Irish this fall -- finished his high school sports career today in GREAT fashion!

In a little more than 3 hours this morning -- Tony won all four of his races at the South Carolina High School Track & Field State Championship:

  • 100 Meters:  10.55
  • 200 Meters:  21.28
  • 400 Meters:  48.28
  • 4 x 100 Meter Relay:  42.20 (team time -- ran anchor leg)

Friday, May 13, 2016

ESPNW Story: Skylar Diggins -- The Brand...



You will want to read the accompanying story...

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

ND Day Replay: 27 Music / Dance Performances



Here's a look back at all of the music and dance performances that took place during our Notre Dame Day broadcast.  If you'd like to watch them in their entirety - click on the link below:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME DAY 2016

The Notre Dame "Student-Athlete" -- Must See!



Great storytelling by my friends at Fighting Irish Media...

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Jaylon Smith a Guest on Mike & MIKE Today


Here is a replay of Jaylon Smith's interview this morning on ESPN's Mike & MIKE Radio Show...

LINK:  JAYLON SMITH

Domer Jerian Grant Tells His Basketball Story


4th Highest Vertical in NBA Combine History


Another Notre Dame hoops star makes his mark at the NBA Combine...

Two "Prime Time" Home Games This Fall for ND


The University of Notre Dame announced the start times for its SIX home games for the 2016 football season.  Here's the detail:
  • September 10th -- NEVADA -- 3:30 PM ET
  • September 17th -- MICHIGAN STATE -- 7:30 PM ET
  • September 24th -- DUKE -- 3:30 PM ET
  • October 15th -- STANFORD -- 7:30 PM ET
  • October 29th -- MIAMI -- 3:30 PM ET
  • November 19th -- VIRGINIA TECH -- 3:30 PM ET

In addition, Notre Dame announced its 2017 football schedule.  See the link below:

LINK:  FOOTBALL SCHEDULE INFO

A Notre Dame Student Who "Learns Differently"



This is an amazing story -- a Notre Dame student who can't read or write...

ND Day Replay: Notre Dame Symphony



I love their arrangement of the Notre Dame Victory March towards the end!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Elijah Shumate Already Making Plays in the NFL


Happy Mother's Day to Everyone We Call Mom!


My brother Jay and I had the great honor of calling this Lady pictured above -- Joan Barbara Small -- MOM!

She was our biggest cheerleader and our most ardent defender.

Mom left for Heaven in 2012.  Mother's Day has never quite been the same since.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Former ND Student-Athlete Shot This Morning


Greg Bryant -- a former Notre Dame running back who transferred to University of Alabama at Birmingham, was found shot in a car he was driving (photo above) this morning -- in West Palm Beach, FL. on I-95.

Greg is going to need our prayers...

LINK:  PALM BEACH POST STORY

Photos of Domers at NFL Rookie Mini Camps

You will find more in-depth coverage of Ronnie Stanley, Will Fuller and Jaylon Smith's first day in a NFL Mini-Camp -- on the ND GO IRISH blog...

Nick Martin #66 Texans -- standing to the left of red jersey

C.J. Prosise -- Seahawks
KeiVarae Russell -- Chiefs Rookie Dinner
Sheldon Day -- Jaguars (still rockin' his ND shoes!)
Chris Brown #10 Dallas Cowboys -- next to Jaylon
Elijah Shumate #41 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jaylon Talks to Media at Cowboys Mini Camp


Nice to see him wearing a NFL jersey... 

Look over his left shoulder in the video linked below --- that is his brother's locker Ron Smith (right next to Jaylon's), who is also on the Cowboy's roster...

LINK:  JAYLON SMITH -- COWBOYS' MINI CAMP

Cowboys Hoping Jaylon's Ready for Playoffs


Video: Ronnie Stanley's First NFL Practice


The Ravens #1 pick is the subject of this video -- along with a link to a second article on his preference for steak over crab...

LINK:  FIRST NFL PRACTICE

LINK:  STEAK OVER CRAB


The Texans Promote Their NFL 1st Rounder


Notre Dame All-American Will Fuller is the "video star" of the Houston Texans these past nine days -- here is some of the coverage...

LINK:  FULLER ON FIRST DAY OF ROOKIE MINI-CAMP 

LINK:  FULLER'S FIRST VISIT TO STADIUM

Thursday, May 5, 2016

SI's "Way Too Early" Poll Has Notre Dame #9


Even though it means nothing -- it's better than not being ranked this time of year...

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL POLL

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

ND Mens Hoops vs. National Champ Villanova


The Fighting Irish will take on defending National Champion Villanova in a game December 10th in Newark, NJ at the Prudential Center.  It's being called "The Never Forget Tribute Classic"

Tip-off is scheduled for NOON -- and the game will be nationally televised on CBS.

Tickets can be purchased -- beginning tomorrow (May 5th) at the link below:

LINK:  NEVER FORGET TRIBUTE CLASSIC

Latest "Success Tweet" for Notre Dame Football


Thought you'd enjoy seeing this...

Samardzija Breaks Bat Over Knee Last Night



The former Notre Dame All-America wide receiver is now 4 - 1 on the season for the San Francisco Giants -- after beating the Cincinnati Reds last night.

It was Jeff's third straight win -- a first for his major league career!

LINK:  MLB STORY

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA'S PITCHING STATS

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Dallas Cowboys' 5 + 4 = Jaylon's Old ND #9


Notre Dame All-American Jaylon Smith has a new number -- can't wait to see him flash #54 for the Dallas Cowboys!

V.J. Beachem Decides to Stay at Notre Dame



Notre Dame's top scorer in their NCAA run this past March -- has decided to return to school for his senior season.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

The Cowboys Phone Call to Jaylon Smith!


Enjoy!

LINK:  JAYLON SMITH

Skylar Talks What it Takes to Return to WNBA


NFL Contract Values of Notre Dame's 7 Drafted

Here's a look at the total contract value of the seven Notre Dame football players drafted into the NFL these past few days:
  • Ronnie Stanley:  $20.5 million total contract / $13.1m guaranteed
  • Will Fuller:  $10.2 million total contract / $5.6m guaranteed
  • Jaylon Smith:  $6.5 million total contract / $2.9m guaranteed
  • Nick Martin:  $4.8 million total contract / $1.7m guaranteed
  • KeiVarae Russell:  $3.3 million total contract / $813k guaranteed
  • C.J. Prosise:  $3.1 million total contract / $692k guaranteed
  • Sheldon Day: $2.9 million total contract / $609k guaranteed

The SEVEN will sign NFL contracts that total:  $51.3 million.

LINK:  CONTRACT VALUES -- 2016 NFL DRAFTED PLAYERS