Torii Hunter Jr. Goes For "THREE-PEAT"

Notre Dame wide receiver Torri Hunter Jr. has been showing off his "ball skills" every TRICK SHOT MONDAY -- and for the third time -- he's the Man!

Watch today's episode of TRICK SHOT MONDAY:

LINK:  TORII'S THREE-PEAT

Coach Kelly's Pre Game Speech to IRISH!

You're going to want to watch this episode of ICON.

Coach Kellys fires up the IRISH for the battle with USC before the game and during halftime -- and then he leads the post game locker room celebration. MUST SEE!

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Portable Tailgate Kitchen & Storage Unit

The folks at WSBT-TV caught up with a fan in the tailgating lots of Notre Dame Stadium yesterday afternoon who created a "portable tailgate."  Here's the story:

LINK:  SEEKING A PATENT

Mike Golic Sr. -- Chipping for Charity @ ND

Former Notre Dame football player, parent of two former and one current Irish student-athlete and ESPN radio/TV personality -- was back on campus yesterday helping the Kelly Cares Foundation raise money for Breast Cancer Research.  Enjoy!

LINK:  GOLIC BACK AT ND

Full NBC Replay: Notre Dame's Win over USC

Here's how you find the replay...

When you click on this link -- you 'll want to click on the video "below" -- where it says Full Replay ND vs USC.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. USC -- NBC REPLAY

Notre Dame Players With the Media Last Night

Here's some of the interviews of Notre Dame football players I've found this morning -- after the Fighting Irish beat USC 14 - 10:

LINK:  NICK MARTIN

LINK:  TROY NIKLAS

LINK:  T.J. JONES

Tuitt Dominates USC -- Then Talks Future...

Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt dominated the Trojans last night -- and after the game he took some questions from the media about his future.  Here's what he had to say:


LINK:  TUITT TALKS

USC's Orgeron With Media After Loss to ND

Here's a replay of USC's interim head football coach Ed Orgeron with the media -- after the Trojan's 14 - 10 loss to Notre Dame last night.

LINK:  ORGERON WITH MEDIA

Tommy Rees' "Emotional" Half Time Speech

Word's gotten around this morning about Notre Dame QB Tommy Rees' speech to his teammates at halftime of last night's 14 - 10 win over USC.  Here's the story:

LINK:  TOMMY REES AT HALFTIME

The Los Angeles Media Reacts to ND's Win!

It's always fun to see what they're saying on the "left coast" the morning after Notre Dame beats USC.  Enjoy!

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES #1

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES #2

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES #3

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #1

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #2

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #3

BOOKEND USC GAMES: 72 YEARS APART!

In the "you can't make this up" category of stories -- this was a story I couldn't pass up...

Stanley Weber's first game inside Notre Dame was against USC as Frank Leahy's Irish beat the Trojans 20 -18 on November 22, 1941 -- game #400 (72 years later) Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish beat USC 14 - 10 !!!

If you follow this blog you'll recall that the only game Stanley has missed inside Notre Dame Stadium since 1950 was the 1975 game against Georgia Tech when some guy named "Rudy" sacked a QB -- see the South Bend Tribune story linked below.

Well, wouldn't you know it -- before game 400 -- Stanley Weber gets to meet Rudy Ruettiger (photo above).  

And, it gets better.  While Stanley is talking with Rudy he pulls off his hat and reveals a "special hair cut" (bottom photo) that he received by a barber this week in Tiffin, OH.   Come to find out, the barber who cut the Notre Dame monogram into the back of 89 year-old Stanley's head is Jason Raitz -- the "first cousin" of Brian Kelly's executive assistant, Beth Raitz-Rex.

You can't make this up!

Congratulations on #400 Stanley!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Bottom Line: Notre Dame Beats USC 14 - 10

It wasn't pretty...

The Fighting Irish held on to a 14 - 10 halftime lead -- shutting out the Trojans in the second half -- beating the team from southern California for the first time at home since 2001.  Here's some of the media coverage:

LINK:  COACH KELLY AFTER THE GAME

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE 

LINK:  INSIDE THE IRISH BLOG

LINK:  JOE SCHMIDT INTERVIEW

LINK:  TONY RICE TALKS IRISH WIN

Coach Brian Kelly Post Game With Media

A 14 - 10 win over arch-rival USC was all on Notre Dame's defense.  They performed!

The offense struggled as did special teams -- yet, the IRISH WIN!

Here's what Coach Kelly had to say with the media:

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME PRESSER

The Media Talks About USC vs. Notre Dame

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what's being said about tonight's PRIME TIME clash between USC and our FIGHTING IRISH!  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

Game Day @ Notre Dame: Weather Forecast

Here's the latest weather forecast (12 hours before kick-off) for tonight's game between USC and the FIGHTING IRISH of NOTRE DAME -- along with a LIVE LINK to Notre Dame Weather Radar.

Dress warm -- the "real feel" temperature will be 40 degrees at kick-off and around 36 degrees at game's end.  

PERFECT WEATHER FOR A TEAM FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!

LINK:  COLD

LINK:  LIVE WEATHER RADAR

Lou Holtz Pep Rally Speech @ Notre Dame

In the shadow of Touchdown Jesus -- Lou Holtz riled up the Notre Dame nation...

Here's a replay of Coach Holtz's pep rally speech tonight:

LINK:  COACH HOLTZ

Photo of Newly Sodded Notre Dame Stadium

The day after the Fighting Irish's last home game in Notre Dame Stadium -- the turf was removed, making way for a new playing surface.

Here's what it looked like this afternoon as the crew was re-painting the numbers on the field.

Doesn't look too bad!

25th Anniversary of the 1988 National Champs!

This weekend the 1988 National Champions will be honored here at Notre Dame.  It was a special team -- a special season.  You're going to want to watch this look back at their championship run through the eyes of Coach Holtz and his players.

LINK:  NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

How Did This Notre Dame Student Do It?

Folks, he did zero training -- he is not a varsity athlete...

Yet, he shows up in the Windy City last weekend and runs the 26 mile Chicago Marathon in 3 hours and 3 minutes -- qualifying for the Boston Marathon!

Here is Daniel Yerkes' story -- which I found on the St. Edward's Hall Blog, The Gentelemen's Monthly.

LINK:  LOOK, NO TRAINING!

Coach Kelly's Last Media Session Before USC

It's Thursday of game week -- which means Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media for the last time before kick-off.  Here's what he had to say about Saturday night's game against USC:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

Inside Look @ NFL Films on Campus

NFL FILMS, widely considered the "best at what they do" -- was back on campus the week after the Oklahoma game -- producing a feature film called ONWARD NOTRE DAME.

Irish fans can watch this show this Saturday at 5 PM ET on the NBC.

Here's a sneak preview of what they were up to:

LINK:  NFL FILMS @ NOTRE DAME

LINK:  PROMOTIONAL TRAILER

OT: The College Brand Run by Nike...

The folks in Eugene, OR will be outfitting their football team in PINK HELMETS, shoes, socks and gloves for this Saturday's game against Washington State.  Twenty-five of the helmets will be "auctioned" off to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.  Here's a link to the ESPN story:

LINK:  PINK HELMETS

USC's Effort to Hire Knute Rockne in 1924

Can you imagine if this had happened?

You'll want to read this story written by Notre Dame alum Keith Arnold -- on his INSIDE THE IRISH Blog:

LINK:  ROCKNE TO USC

Jerian Grant Named ALL ACC Preseason Team

Notre Dame senior shooting guard Jerian Grant received a little recognition yesterday from the Atlantic Coast Conference media -- as he was selected to the ALL ACC "Preseason" Team.

LINK:  GRANT -- ALL ACC PRESEASON

Kelly's FIRST FIVE STAR RECRUIT this Fall!

Word here on campus -- according to the Observer -- is Stephon Tuitt will return for his senior year of school and football at Notre Dame.  Tuitt is currently the #2 defensive end on one of the ESPN "talking heads" draft boards.

Let's hope he doesn't change his mind!

Here's the story:

LINK:  TUITT TO RETURN!

Notre Dame Picked Fifth in ACC Media Poll

The first season for Notre Dame basketball in the Atlantic Coast Conference -- began today with the ACC's official media day.  And, as they do - the media released their poll of who would win the conference title.  Here's their ranking:

1. Duke
2. Syracuse
3. North Carolina
4. Virginia
5. NOTRE DAME
6. Pittsburgh
7. Maryland
8. Boston College
9. Florida State
10. North Carolina State
11. Georgia Tech
12. Miami
13. Wake Forest
14. Clemson
15. Virginia Tech

Now that my friends is a basketball conference!

Replay: Brian Kelly on Dan Patrick Show Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a guest on the Dan Patrick Show today -- you'll hear some things you've never heard before...

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY ON DAN PATRICK

USC's Marqise Lee -- "I'll be 100% by Saturday"

USC's All-American wide receiver, who missed the past couple of weeks with a knee injury suffered against Arizona State, says he'll be 100% by Saturday night.  Bring it on!

LINK:  LEE TO PLAY SATURDAY

PRIMER: USC vs. Notre Dame

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media put this piece together on the "greatest intersectional rivalry" in college football.

I have never understood the use of "intersectional" when describing this game...

LIVE:  GET FIRED UP!

USC Week: Coach Kelly Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today to talk about Saturday's prime-time game against USC.  Here's a link to the replay:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

The Streak Must Come to an End Saturday!

This is a shocking fact...

Bob Davie is the last Notre Dame coach to beat USC in Notre Dame Stadium -- back in 2001 -- when the IRISH beat the Trojans 27 - 16.  Tyrone Willingham lost his only home game to USC and Charlie Weis was 0 for 3 against the Trojans inside Notre Dame Stadium.

Coach Kelly is 2 - 1 versus USC, but the loss came at home.  That's five losses in a row...

It's time we change things inside the "house that Rock built!"

LINK:  VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF 2001 VICTORY

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. USC RIVALRY

Father Scully to Receive the Simon Award!

Notre Dame's ACE program -- the Alliance for Catholic Education -- is now celebrating its 20th anniversary.

It's leader, the Rev. Tim Scully, C.S.C. -- will be honored next month in New York City with the Simon Award -- an annual $100,000 lifetime achievement prize, the largest such award for an American nonprofit leader!

Congratulations Fr. Scully!

Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  110 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

It's Monday -- There Must Be a Trick Shot...

Here is the BEAT USC WEEK edition of Trick Shot Monday...

LINK:  TRICK SHOT MONDAY

Bowl Options for Notre Dame Football...

The South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen looked ahead at what Notre Dame's bowl options might be if we don't finish in the top-14 and earn a BCS bowl bid.  You won't be happy...

LINK:  BOWL OPTIONS

Domer Dad Walks Super-Fan Down the Aisle

Jon Bon Jovi -- the rock-n-roll Dad of Notre Dame student-athlete Jesse Bongiovi granted the wish of a fan this week when he showed up at her Las Vegas wedding.  Here's the story:

LINK:  WEDDING CRASHER

NCAA Eligibility Standards -- Game Changer?

The folks at NCAA headquarters have decided to "up the ante" on academics for high school student-athletes who want to receive a college scholarship...

The new rules -- which will go into effect for those who are currently in their freshman year of high school -- will require a higher GPA and more core classes, prior to their senior year, to be eligible.  Click on the link below for all of the changes.

According to the NCAA's research -- 43% of the college basketball players and 35% of the college football players who are "seniors" this year would not have been eligible to receive a scholarship if the new rules were in effect.

LINK:  ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS

10th Anniversary of Bartman's Wrigley Foul Ball

10 years ago Monday evening (October 14, 2003) -- Notre Dame alum Steve Bartman '99, was sitting in the stands at Wrigley Field watching his beloved Chicago Cubs.  Unfortunately for Steve -- a foul ball forever changed his life...

LINK:  BARTMAN -- 10 YEARS LATER

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

Know Thy Opponent: USC's Haden on Orgeron

The interim head football coach of the USC Trojans -- Ed Orgeron will be auditioning again for the full-time gig this Saturday night in prime time at Notre Dame Stadium.

Orgeron's record is now 11 - 25 as a head coach.

We should expect a Trojan team to show up fired up to play -- as I suspect Orgeron will need to beat the IRISH to have any chance at getting this job full-time.  Here's what former NBC analyst for Notre Dame football -- turned athletic director -- Pat Haden says about his coaching situation.

LINK:  HADEN ON ORGERON

A "Perfect Start" to a Hockey Season for ND!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame kicked off the 2013 - 2014 college hockey season with two wins over Western Michigan: 4 - 0 on Friday night and then 3 - 0 on Saturday night!

Two SHUTOUT WINS to start the season!

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS FROM FRIDAY'S GAME

LINK:  WEEKEND STORY

Domer Talks "D.C. Dysfunction" on CNBC

Former Notre Dame Lacrosse "three-time" All-American Jim Keenan '98 and BlackRock's Managing Director -- was a guest this morning on CNBC talking about the government shutdown's impact on the stock market.

LINK:  JIM KEENAN

Lookout Hockey East! -- Here Come The Irish!

Notre Dame's move to the Hockey East Conference this year will put the Fighting Irish on some college campuses in towns we haven't seen before:  North Andover (MA), Durham (NH), Burlington (VT), etc.

And, it will place us back with a school in Chestnut Hill who knows how to play the game.  Should be fun!

LINK:  HOCKEY EAST

The New "Big House" for College Football

Bristol Motor Speedway will be "building" a football field over top of their infield garage area -- to host a college football game between Tennessee and Virginia Tech in 2016. 

Bristol can seat 160,000 fans -- the artist illustration above shows how they plan on pulling this off...

Pretty cool.

"Romeo and His Roommates" -- MUST SEE !!!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media just produced this story on ND football player Romeo Okwara and his life off the field with his buddies at Dillon Hall...

You're going to love this story:

LINK:  ROMEO'S ROOMMATES

Doug Brown -- Long Time Notre Dame Usher...

Notre Dame fans will recognize the face -- and probably not the name...

For thirty-five years you could find Elkhart native Doug Brown at every home football and basketball game at Notre Dame -- wearing that familiar blue blazer.

Doug Brown left for heaven Tuesday -- losing his battle with cancer.  A friend of his at the Elkhart Truth wrote a wonderful tribute to this "big man with a big heart" -- you'll want to read this.

LINK:  DOUG BROWN

Interim USC Football Coach Going Back in Time

Ed Orgeron, the interim head coach for the University of Southern California football team is showing videos of the good old days of Trojan football -- in an attempt to turn things around in Los Angeles.

The Trojans are 10 - 8 in their last 18 football games -- they play Arizona tonight in the LA Coliseum on Fox Sports 1 at 10:30 PM ET.

LINK:  GOING OLD SCHOOL

Media Day for Notre Dame Men's Basketball

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish met with the media today -- as they tip-off their first season of competition in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Here's a report from today's event:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PLAYERS

Paying Off a Bet to Notre Dame NFL Teammates

Baltimore Raven star Terrell Suggs is seen here wearing a Notre Dame sweatshirt as "payback" for Notre Dame's 37 - 34 win over his Arizona State Sun Devils.  That's former Irish stars and Raven teammates Kapron Lewis-Moore on the left and Jonas Gray on the right.

Turning Point: SIX QB SACKS AGAINST ASU!

Have to admit it was exciting to see -- and it was a long time coming...

LINK:  TURNING POINT

Muffet's Lady IRISH Talk With Media Today!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame's women's basketball program -- fresh off three straight trips to the FINAL FOUR -- open the first season in sometime without a player named Skylar...

And believe it or not, they just might be more talented this season than last.

Here's a few of the Irish stars talking with the media today:

LINK:  MEDIA DAY