Ian Williams Battling for Starting Spot -- 49ers

Former Notre Dame defensive tackle Ian Williams is in a battle right now with former LSU star Glen Dorsey for the starting nose tackle position in the San Francisco 49ers' "3-4" defense.  Here's the story:

LINK:  WILLIAMS BATTLING TO START

Domer Nominated Brigadier General

A former student manager for Lou Holtz -- Bryan Fenton '87, was nominated earlier this month by President Obama to become Brigadier General.  The career Special Forces officer is currently director of operations, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

LINK:  GREAT HONOR

LINK:  WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A BRIGADIER GENERAL

Notre Dame's New Adidas Football Shoes

Notre Dame Football Equipment Manager, Ryan Grooms -- "tweeted" this photo today of the Adidas shoes the IRISH will be wearing this season.  Over 700 pairs showed up today...

Notre Dame Football Cancer Bowling Benefit

A few members of the Notre Dame football team were at Mishawaka's "Strikes n' Spares" this Sunday morning to raise money for cancer research.  The gang at WNDU-TV tagged along and filed this story -- there is a second link to a story in the South Bend Tribune:

LINK:  FIGHTING CANCER

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Photo of Notre Dame's New Rugby Field

As you can see they're getting close to completing the work on a new "field turf" playing surface for Notre Dame's rugby teams and recreational sports.  It's located in an area just east and north of Stepan Center.

OT: Dick and Rick Hoyt -- A Love Story...

If you ever think you CAN'T -- you better watch this!  I know I'll be tuning in to Wednesday night's ESPY AWARDS on ESPN to see Dick and Rick receive the "Jimmy V Award."  Won't be a dry eye in the place.

LINK:  A STORY FOR THE AGES

LINK:  ESPY'S TO HONOR THE HOYT'S

Cajun Creole Food Coming to Notre Dame?

Word on the street and the South Bend Tribune is that YATS -- a Cajun Creole restaurant -- is in negotiations to set up shop at Eddy Street Commons. 

Their story is CAJUN. CREOLE. CRAZY.  Sounds like fun!

LINK:  CAJUN CREOLE AT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  YATS OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Melani Ismail in Concert -- Rocket's Wife

Former Notre Dame All-American Rocket Ismail is married to Melani Ismail -- who just happens to be an accomplished singer/songwriter and author...

Some of you may remember Melani from the VH1 show "Football Wives" which she starred in.

Melani and Rocket are the proud parents of four kids.

LINK:  MELANI IN CONCERT

Notre Dame to Face 13th Toughest Schedule

Phil Steele just came out with his analysis of the toughest schedules for the upcoming 2013 college football season and Notre Dame's opponents rank the #13 most difficult.  Here's a link:

LINK:  PHIL STEELE -- MOST DIFFICULT SCHEDULES

Alan Page's Kids Book Concerning His Pinky!

Former Notre Dame All-American, NFL Hall of Famer and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice -- Alan Page, recently wrote a children's book with his daughter...

The title "Alan and His Perfectly Pointy, Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky" -- speaks to a broken pinky finger from his days with the Minnesota Vikings.  (see the broken pinky finger in above photo)

Here's a link to a TV interview of Alan and his daughter Kamie:


LINK:  ALAN PAGE'S CHILDREN'S BOOK

Skylar Has a Professional Basketball First

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins led her Tulsa Shock in scoring last night in their loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.  It was the FIRST TIME in her WNBA career that she was her team's leading scorer.  Skylar finished with 19 points -- here's the story:

LINK:  SKYLAR LEADS SHOCK

ACE Celebrates 20 Years With National Tour

Keep an eye out this summer for this BUS -- which carries the name of every Catholic school in America.  Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) will be celebrating their twentieth anniversary with a national bus tour that will take it to more than 40 cities.

Here's a little more information:

LINK:  NATIONAL BUS TOUR

Everett Golson Story in The Sporting News

The Sporting News' Matt Hayes penned a nice story about former Notre Dame student-athlete Everett Golson -- it's a story all Irish fans should read!

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

Photo of the Day: Fitting the Irish Freshmen

Notre Dame Football's Equipment Manager -- Ryan Grooms "tweeted this photo" of the "practice helmets" he's preparing for the freshmen football players for the Fightin' Irish!

America's Most Famous Investor's SECRET!

You'll find this sign in the office of one Warren Buffet -- the world's third richest man...


LINK:  INVEST LIKE A CHAMPION

Three NFL Domers -- Travel to the UK

The Minnesota Vikings and the NFL sent three former Notre Dame football stars to the United Kingdom to promote their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this September at Wembley Stadium. 

Along the way -- John Sullivan, Kyle Rudolph and Harrison Smith learned a new game...

LINK:  THREE FORMER IRISH FOOTBALL STARS

QB Everett Golson Gives First TV Interview

A TV station in Myrtle Beach, SC caught up with former Notre Dame student-athlete Everett Golson as he was preparing to play in a basketball game.  Golson didn't want to answer any questions about what happened -- but, he did say he was coming back...

Click on the link below to watch the entire interview:

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON INTERVIEW

Zack Martin: The Leader of ND Football 2013

 

He's one of the best left tackles in college football -- and if you remember recruiting rankings he wasn't one of the most sought after high school stars at his position...

Yet today -- as Coach Martin will tell you; "He's the best player at his position in our football program."  Pretty high praise.  Notre Dame fans will enjoy this story:

LINK:  COUNT ON ME

Taking a "Little Vacation" Away From the Blog

I promised my wife Susan that I'd put the computer down for a few days -- not going to be easy.

Going "unplugged" for the next 119 hours...

When I get back up on the blog there will only be 52 days until the start of the 2013 Notre Dame football season!  See you Wednesday!

GO IRISH!

God, Country, Notre Dame -- Happy Birthday!

Today marks the 237th birthday of the United States of America -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY U.S.A.!

To celebrate -- I'm bringing back one of my all-time favorite songs to the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- the Battle Hymn of the Republic:

LINK:  BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

Samardzija Third in National League in "K's"

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija is 3rd in the National League and 7th in Major League Baseball with 120 strikeouts in 113 innings pitched!  His 113 innings pitched is 7th most in the National League.

Jeff's 3.34 ERA is 23rd best in the National League and 35th best in Major League Baseball.

LINK:  MAJOR LEAGUE STRIKEOUT LEADERS

Domer John Sullivan -- Profiled in Grantland

The former sixth round draft pick out of Notre Dame is now considered "one of the best football players in the world..."

John Sullivan '07, has five years of NFL football under his belt with the Minnesota Vikings -- and he's now getting the recognition he's EARNED.  In this series called All-22 All-Star Team -- the writer selects the top 22 most under appreciated football players in the NFL.

Here is his story on John Sullivan:

LINK:  JOHN SULLIVAN -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

A "Green Roof" on Notre Dame's Morris Inn

The University of Notre Dame's official photographer, Matt Cashore (@mattcashore) -- just "tweeted" this photo of the "green" roof at the Morris Inn.  The Morris Inn has undergone a serious renovation since last October that is scheduled for completion by August 29th.

I had no idea this was growing on top of the Morris Inn roof!

Father Jenkins Visits Gettysburg Battlefield

150 years ago -- a Holy Cross priest by the name of Corby, stood on a rock overlooking the Gettysburg battlefield giving general absolution and blessing to Union and Confederate troops.

There were 51,112 casualties (dead, wounded and missing soldiers) -- from the three days of fighting.

Fr. William Corby, C.S.C. -- later went on to become the 3rd president of the University of Notre Dame.


LINK:  FR. JENKINS MASS AT GETTYSBURG

LINK:  FR. JENKINS' ADDRESS

An Interview With Notre Dame's Louis Nix III

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media sat down with Notre Dame defensive tackle Louis Nix to talk about a variety of subjects -- you're going to love this!

LINK:  IRISH CHOCOLATE

Ryan Harris and Alan Page -- MINN ND Club

Former Notre Dame All-American, NFL Hall of Famer and Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Alan Page '67, is seen in this photo "tweeted" by former IRISH offensive lineman and NFL veteran Ryan Harris '07.  The two IRISH stars were in attendance tonight at the Notre Dame Club of Minnesota's Page Scholarship event.

Domer Michael Garofola Got Another Rose!

Notre Dame alum Michael Garofola '02 just received ANOTHER ROSE tonight on ABC's The Bachelorette -- surviving to see another episode.  Next week's show takes place in Portugal...

LINK:  THE BACHELORETTE

OT: Freedom Isn't Free -- Coming Home!

Get the Kleenex handy...

LINK:  COMING HOME

Photo of the Day -- Notre Dame Joins ACC!

This photo was shot at NASDAQ's Times Square location this afternoon as the ACC rang the Closing Bell -- note all of the mascots from the Atlantic Coast Conference.  That's Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey standing next to the LEPRECHAUN!

"Largest TV Market in the Country" -- ACC

The Atlantic Coast Conference's news conference today from NASDAQ's Times Square location in New York City just finished.  ACC Commissioner Swofford welcomed the three new member institutions; University of Notre Dame (please note Mike Brey's ND shirt already has ACC on sleeve), University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University.  Key highlights:

• The newly constituted conference -- has the largest number of TV households of any conference in the country.
• In 2030, it's estimated that 55% of the United States' population will reside in the footprint of the Atlantic Coast Conference
• Translation -- if you want to do a TV negotiation with the ACC -- bring your wallet!

LINK:  JACK SWARBRICK TALKS ND'S MOVE TO ACC AND WHY

A Notre Dame Story: A Catholic Cop's Blog

I was just alerted to a story that appeared on a blog called ROMAN CATHOLIC COP -- about the blogger's time at the University of Notre Dame this past week.  Every year, Notre Dame hosts a conference for high school students called ND VISION CYM...

As you'll see -- this experience is for "grown-ups" to!

Thanks Jamie McAdams (Kansas City, MO) for sharing your story...


LINK:  ND VISION CYM

Life in the ACC Begins Today in New York City!

University of Notre Dame men's head basketball coach Mike Brey -- will be in Times Square this afternoon to ring the CLOSING BELL at NASDAQ -- with the Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference and coaches from other ACC schools.

The ACC Digital Network will provide LIVE COVERAGE TODAY -- here's the schedule:

• 2 PM ET:  LIVE PRESS CONFERENCE
• 3:45 PM ET:  CLOSING BELL CEREMONY BEGINS AT NASDAQ

LINK: WATCH IT ALL LIVE -- RIGHT HERE!

LINK:  MIKE BREY TALKS ACC MOVE

Notre Dame History Lesson at Cedar Point!

100 Years ago this very summer -- the forward pass was "perfected" -- on the beach at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH...

The then Notre Dame student-athletes -- Knute Rockne and Gus Dorais -- worked on implementing the forward pass that summer while working as life guards at Cedar Point.

This past Friday -- the GREAT GRANDSONS of Knute Rockne and Gus Dorais -- went back to that very beach to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of their great-grandfathers creation!

That's Michael Rockne on the left and Charles Dorais on the right -- alongside Cedar Point General Manager John Hildebrandt -- who just happens to be a Notre Dame grad.  Pretty cool scene!

P.S:  Did you notice how the jerseys read 1913...


LINK:  STORY ABOUT CEDAR POINT BEACH & FORWARD PASS