Monday, September 30, 2013

Adidas vs. Nike -- Helmet & Uniform War...


The Irish unveiled their "all white" jersey and pants -- with their chrome shamrocked helmets that they'll be wearing in Saturday night's game, earlier this summer...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S SHAMROCK SERIES GEAR

Well, the Sun Devils of Arizona State will be sporting this look in Texas.

I know which looks better to me!

Notre Dame's "3" Shamrock Series Helmets



Here's a couple of photos "tweeted" by Notre Dame Football Equipment Manager Ryan Grooms -- of the football helmets the Fighting Irish have wore at the last two Shamrock Series games and the helmet they will be wearing Saturday night in Arlington, TX.

Roof to be Closed @ AT&T Stadium Saturday


The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will be playing a "home game" this Saturday night in Texas...

The annual Shamrock Series game will pit the Arizona State Sun Devils versus our Irish in a game in the newly named AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.  Just this afternoon the decision was made to close the roof for the game since the forecast is calling for a 30% chance of rain.

Here's a few links to video tours of the world's biggest football stadium...

LINK:  AT&T STADIUM TOUR

LINK:  VIP TOUR

LINK:  FOX SPORTS TOUR

LINK:  OFFICIAL TOUR VIDEOS

Tyler Eifert's Blog Post on "Made-Man"


Former Notre Dame All-American and Cincinnati tight end Tyler Eifert -- was asked to write a post on a blog called MADE MAN.  Here's a link:

LINK:  TYLER EIFERT

Good Morning America @ Notre Dame Tuesday!


The folks from ABC'S Good Morning America will be on the campus of the University of Notre Dame tomorrow morning -- beginning at 6:20 AM ET -- to promote the kick-off of BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

You should see LIVE REPORTS from Notre Dame between 8 AM ET and 9 AM ET

If you'd like to participate, they will be shooting in front of the Hesburgh Library "AKA Touchdown Jesus" -- so where your pink!  Coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui will be just a couple of the guests scheduled to appear.

LINK:  GOOD MORNING AMERICA -- FROM NOTRE DAME

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Stoops Ask Photographer for Special Photo

Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops posed for a photograph on the field of Notre Dame Stadium yesterday with his wife and mother...

A special moment for his Irish Catholic family.

LINK:  A SPECIAL MOMENT

Kiffin Fired Last Night After 62 - 41 Loss !!!


Story just broke -- Pat Haden fired Lane Kiffin last night...

LINK:  ESPN STORY

LINK:  LA TIMES STORY

399 Football Games @ Notre Dame Stadium !!!


Stanley Weber (Tiffin, OH) -- who is 89 years young -- was in the stands at Notre Dame Stadium yesterday for the 399th football game in his life-time!  He has every single ticket stub from those 399 games...

That's Stanley on the left with his great-nephew Joe Fretz.  Joe and Stanley make the three-hour drive from Tiffin to Notre Dame -- every home game Saturday morning. Stanley and Joe's season tickets are in the front row of Section 1 -- on the east side of the TUNNEL entrance.  My wife Susan and I sit a row behind them...

Stanley has missed only one home football game since the 1950 season because he was hospitalized with an aneuyrsm.  The game -- Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech in 1975 when some walk-on named "Rudy" sacked a QB.

His first game at Notre Dame Stadium -- was November 22, 1941.  Frank Leahy was in his first year coaching the IRISH and Stanley saw Notre Dame beat USC 20 - 18.   The Irish went undefeated that season.

Ironically, Stanley's 400th game in Notre Dame Stadium will be October 19th against USC!

Stanley and his wife Anna are the proud parents of Tom Weber, a member of Notre Dame's Class of 1966.  Anna stopped coming to games with Stanley eight years ago because she didn't like the long walk "up and down the steps" to and from their seats.  They have been married 70 years!

This man has had a "front row seat" to college football history -- imagine the stories he can tell.  I'm looking forward to shaking Stanley's hand and asking to have my picture taken with him at game #400.  Pretty incredible.




Saturday, September 28, 2013

Coach Kelly Post Game Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media after today's 35 - 21 loss to Oklahoma.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY

Jerome Bettis With Notre Dame Leprechaun


Jerome Bettis was back "home" today at Notre Dame Stadium...

Post Game Player Interviews After ND Loss


Here's some video interviews courtesy of the gang at IRISH SPORTS DAILY:

LINK:  TOMMY REES

LINK:  T.J. JONES

LINK:  BENNETT JACKSON

Game Highlights: Oklahoma 35 -- ND 21


Here are the highlights from today's game between Oklahoma and Notre Dame:

LINK:  NBC GAME  HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  UND GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Quick Media Reaction to Oklahoma's Win...


Two quick touchdowns by Oklahoma in the first three minutes of the game was too much for Notre Dame to come back from.  As the Irish fall to 3-2 this season.  Here's what the media is saying about the game:

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  NORMAN TRANSCRIPT

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

Coach Kelly Post Game with NBC's Flanagan


Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly on the field with NBC's Alex Flanagan -- right after today's 35 - 21 loss to Oklahoma.

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH ALEX

YES, IT IS GAME DAY @ NOTRE DAME!


...and what a beautiful day for a football game!  Not a cloud in the sky -- the perfect setting to beat Oklahoma! 

Took a lap around the world-wide web to see what the media experts are saying about today's game -- click on the links below:

LINK:  NORMAN TRANSCRIPT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

Friday, September 27, 2013

Setting Up for the Notre Dame Football Team!


This is a "vine" created by the Notre Dame Football Equipment staff.  It shows them preparing the Notre Dame Stadium Locker Room for the Fighting Irish. 

Note the "two-way" tape on the shoulder pads to keep the opposition from grabbing the ND jerseys...

LINK:  GETTING READY FOR THE FIGHTING IRISH

Irish Women's Soccer Now 10 - 1 on Season!

Five straight wins for the Fighting Irish -- including 4 straight in the Atlantic Coast Conference -- has put Randy Waldrum's squad ranked #5 in the nation! 

Last night, Notre Dame took on #21 Maryland and the Irish rolled -- beating them 5 - 0!  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  IRISH BEAT MARYLAND

LINK:  WOMEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER RANKINGS

Brian Kelly's Last Media Chat Before Oklahoma


Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media last night for the last time before Saturday's game with Oklahoma.  Here's the link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

Notre Dame's Impact on Michiana: $1.2 Billion!


The University of Notre Dame just released the results of a comprehensive economic study they typically commission every five years.  And, the area's largest employer rolled out a HUGE story!

$1,167,000,000 -- is the annual economic impact Notre Dame has on the area!

Here's the story from the South Bend Tribune:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S IMPACT

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Renaldo Wynn '96: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma


The ACC Digital Network's Renaldo Wynn '96 talked about Notre Dame's game with Oklahoma in this report.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  WYNN ON THE IRISH

Domer Dad Celebrates AL Central Title!!!


Torri Hunter Sr., father of Notre Dame student-athlete Torri Hunter Jr., knocked in the only run last night's American League Central Division clincher for the Detroit Tigers.  Then, he walked in on his Manager's live TV interview and picked Leyland up and carried him into the clubhouse party...

Pretty special moment you'll want to see.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  TORRI HUNTER SR. -- THE LEADER OF THE TIGERS

LINK:  TORRI HUNTER SR.

ESPN Talks Blake Bell vs. Notre Dame Defense


The Oklahoma Sooners' QB Blake Bell is making his first start on the road this Saturday -- in Notre Dame Stadium.  The gang at ESPN talks about how Blake Bell could fare against the Fighting Irish:

LINK:  BLAKE BELL vs. NOTRE DAME DEFENSE

"We've Caught Notre Dame at the Wrong Time"


This was the response to the question posed by ESPN to former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer as to why Notre Dame leads the all-time series; 9 wins to 1 loss.  Here's the story:

LINK:  WRONG TIME

Oklahoma Coach On The Dan Patrick Show


Oklahoma's head football coach Bob Stoops was on the radio today with Dan Patrick talking about their game with Notre Dame this Saturday.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  STOOPS WITH DAN PATRICK

Sooner Report: Countdown to Notre Dame


The folks in Norman, OK are fired up for Saturday's game with Notre Dame.  Here's a link to a video story featuring a number of Sooner players talking about the IRISH.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  SOONERS TALK NOTRE DAME

NBC's Mike Mayock in Norman, OK This Week


NBC's color analyst on Notre Dame Football -- Mike Mayock -- was in Norman, OK to get prepared for Saturday's game between the Irish and the Sooners.  Here's a link to his interview:

LINK:  MIKE MAYOCK ON ND vs. OU

Watch Coach Kelly's Radio Show LIVE @ 7 PM


Notre Dame fans -- tune-in to Coach Brian Kelly's Radio Show tonight -- LIVE @ 7 PM ET -- from O'Rourke's Public House in South Bend.  You can watch the show at the link below:

LINK:  COACH KELLY RADIO SHOW

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Which College Sign is More Famous in Sport?



Play Like A Champion Today -- Notre Dame fans believe this belongs to them.  Oklahoma fans will tell you they've been touching these very same words for more than 50 years...

LINK:  PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY -- OKLAHOMA STYLE

The Spartans Talk to Big Ten About Officiating


The conversation continues -- as Michigan State reached out to Big Ten officials about the interference penalties called on the Spartans in their game with Notre Dame...

Here's what's being said:

LINK:  MSU PENALTIES

Photo of the Day -- "The Looby's"


I received a surprise email today from a new follower of the ND GO IRISH BLOG...

It was from an old friend of mine from my days growing up in Michigan.  Larry Looby (Philadelphia, PA) surprised me with an email today -- having run across my blog this past weekend.

I haven't spoken to Larry in 35 years!

Larry (the guy on the right) is the proud parent of Josh Lobby '15 (on the left) a tuba player in the Band of the Fighting Irish.

MEET THE LOOBY'S!

Big Time ND Fan Appearing in New TV Show


The photo above is of Dan and Danny Reaser, co-hosts of The Outdoor Option TV Show, along with avid ND fan and hunting guide - Billy Roberts (ND sweatshirt) at Mar Mac Lodge in Central Ontario.

The Outdoor Option is produced by my cousin Pat Doyle (a big-time Notre Dame fan as well) and debuts on the Sportsman Channel in January 2014.

This is MUST SEE TV!

LINK:   THE OUTDOOR OPTION

Notre Dame's Shamrock Series Helmet "Vine"


Notre Dame fans will enjoy taking a look at this...

LINK:  ND'S SHAMROCK SERIES HELMET

Hesburgh Library is Now 50 Years-Old !!!


It's one of the most photographed buildings on the planet...

Notre Dame's Hesburgh Library turned 50 years old this past week and its celebration was covered by a number of news outlets -- including the Washington Post.    You'll enjoy the video in the story!

Happy Birthday!

LINK:  HESBURGH LIBRARY TURNS 50

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Oklahoma Newspaper Talks Notre Dame vs OU


You can tell it's a big game to the folks in Oklahoma...

The Norman Transcript -- their local newspaper -- had stories about Notre Dame all over their home page today.  Big Game!

LINK:  NORMAN TRANSCRIPT

Notre Dame Football Talk: WSBT 960 AM


If you'd like to tune-in to Notre Dame Football talk this evening -- just click on the link below:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL TALK

Coach Kelly's "Turning Points" in MSU Win


Here's a WatchND story on the TURNING POINTS in Notre Dame's win over Michigan State this past Saturday.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  TURNING POINTS

Coach Kelly's Press Conference @ Noon ET


Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media this afternoon to talk about Saturday's game with Oklahoma.  Here's a link to the official transcript -- as the video becomes available, that will be posted later:

LINK:  TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  VIDEO REPLAY OF PRESS CONFERENCE

Monday, September 23, 2013

Former ND Student-Athlete: Statue in Boston!

Carl Yastrzemski "Yaz" was honored by the Boston Red Sox with a statue outside of the right field entrance to Fenway Park.  Yastrzemski, recruited to play basketball at Notre Dame -- also played baseball for the IRISH (1957 - 1958) before heading off to the Red Sox organization in 1959.

Here's the media coverage of

LINK:  VIDEO STORY

LINK:  YAZ STATUE

Trick Shot Monday -- A New Location Today

The Fighting Irish took their "Trick Shot Monday" act to a new location.  You'll have to watch to find out where they went!

LINK:  TRICK SHOT MONDAY

Notre Dame Promoting a GREEN OUT Saturday!


The Notre Dame Athletic Department is promoting a WEARING OF THE GREEN this Saturday afternoon in Notre Dame Stadium.  See the link below!

LINK:  WEARING OF THE GREEN

Oklahoma's Stoops Talks About Notre Dame


Bob Stoops met with the media today to talk about Oklahoma's game this Saturday with Notre Dame.  Here's a link to the video replay:

LINK:  STOOPS TALKS IRISH

MSU's Dantonio Talks About Loss to IRISH


Michigan State's head football coach took questions from the media yesterday following their 17 - 13 loss to Notre Dame.  Here's what he had to say:

LINK:  DANTONIO TALKS LOSS

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Notre Dame Ranked #22 in Both Polls Today


The AP Poll and Coaches Poll were released today and the Fighting Irish remain ranked #22 in both polls.


LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

Notre Dame Player Interviews After Game


Here's what the FIGHTING IRISH football players were saying after the game against MSU yesterday:

LINK:  CAM MCDANIEL

LINK:  COREY ROBINSON

LINK:  NICK MARTIN

LINK:  JARRETT GRACE

The Megaphone Trophy Remains in South Bend


The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media were in the Notre Dame locker room after yesterday's 17 - 13 win over Michigan State.  Here's the report:

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Penalties Were the Story in ND vs. MSU 2013


I have yet to talk with any of my friends who are MSU fans about yesterday's game with Notre Dame.

Want to guess what they'll be complaining about?

The Big Ten officials called 115 yards worth of penalties against the Spartans and 86 penalty yards against the Irish.  TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS worth of yellow flags.   Here's what's being said in the media:

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  M LIVE

LINK:  LANSING STATE JOURNAL

LINK:  DETROIT NEWS

LINK:  DETROIT FREE PRESS

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Weis '79 Beats Holtz '86 in DOMER BOWL


Two Notre Dame alums squared off in a football game yesterday in Lawrence, KS -- and Charlie Weis' (Class of 1979) Kansas Jayhawks beat Skip Holtz's (Class of 1986) Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on a last second 52 yard field goal.

Here are the highlights:

LINK:  DOMER BOWL

Brian Kelly's Post Game Press Conference


Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media after the Fighting Irish's 17 - 13 victory over the Michigan State Spartans.  Here's what he had to say:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY WITH THE MEDIA