Trent Dilfer's Daughter Maddie -- Signs NLI!

The Notre Dame women's volleyball program announced the signing today of four high school volleyball stars today -- three who earned Under Armour All-American honors.  Including the daughter of former NFL Super Bowl winning QB Trent Dilfer -- Maddie Dilfer.  (photo above)

• Maddie Dilfer (Saratoga, CA) -- 5'-11"
• Sam Fry (Cincinnati, OH)  -- 6'-2"
• Sydney Kuhn (Wichita, KS) -- 6'-2"
• Maddie Plumlee (Raleigh, NC)-- 6'-1" 

LINK:  OFFICIAL RELEASE

The "American Ride" Rolls into Notre Dame!

BYUtv's Stan Ellsworth rode his Harley Davidson to the campus of the University of Notre Dame to shoot an episode of his TV show "American Ride."  Irish fans will enjoy this -- MUST SEE TV!

LINK:  STAN ELLSWORTH VISITS NOTRE DAME

$43,000 to Attend Joe Montana's QB Camp

Former Notre Dame and San Francisco QB Joe Montana has agreed to sell a personal "three-hour" QB school for six people for $43,000 -- through a company called "Ifonly."

Here's the FOX NEWS STORY:

LINK:  JOE MONTANA

First Major ACC Honor for Notre Dame Student!

Harry Shipp, a senior forward out of Lake Forest, IL was named Offensive Player of the Year today for the Atlantic Coast Conference!  Shipp has 24 points on the season -- leading the Irish in scoring and the #1 ranking in the country!

In addition, Notre Dame head soccer coach Bobby Clarke was named the ACC Coach of the Year! 

Not a bad start for the Fighting Irish in the ACC!

LINK:  SHIPP AND CLARKE AWARDS!

America's Top HS Women's Player Picks ND!

The consensus #1 player in the country -- Brianna Turner (photo above) out of Pearland, TX leads a three-person recruiting class picked #3 in the country -- that will further stock the talent shelf for the Notre Dame Women's Basketball program:

• Turner, a 6'-3" forward WHO CAN DUNK A BASKETBALL -- is a huge get for Notre Dame!  She was recruited by every program in the country.  See her highlight video below.  

• Mychal Johnson, a 5'-8" guard out of St. Joseph HS, Huntington WV -- was the first to commit to Muffet.  She's good with the ball and off the ball.  A huge get for Notre Dame!  See her highlight video below.

• Kathryn Westbeld, a 6'-2" forward out of Fairmont HS in Kettering, OH is considered the #21 ranked player in the country by MaxPreps.  Another huge get for Notre Dame! See her highlight video below.

Here is some more information:

LINK:  MUFFET TALKS RECRUITS

LINK:  OFFICIAL RELEASE

LINK:  BRIANNA TURNER HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  MYCHAL JOHNSON HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  KATHRYN WESTBELD HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame Hoops Signs Two Forwards Today

Mike Brey announced the signing of two high school basketball stars today to National Letters of Intent.  Martin Geben (photo above) a 6'-9" power forward from Lithuania (via St. Marita Goretti HS -- Hagerstown, MD) and Bonzie Colson, Jr., a 6'-6" forward out of St. Andrew's School in Barrington, RI.

Here's the media coverage:

LINK:  BREY SIGNS TWO!

LINK:  OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Old Man Winter Appears at Notre Dame Today

You've got to love the talent of Notre Dame's official photographer Matt Cashore.  Look at this picture today!

"Billboard Bibbs" Bests Coach Alford's Record

Notre Dame's running backs coach Tony Alford, who played football for Colorado State University, saw his 24 year-old single game rushing record of 310 yards broken this past Saturday!

Coach Alford -- always the class act -- picked up the phone, after receiving permission from CSU, to congratulate "Billboard" Kapri Bibbs (pictured above) who gained 312 yards in the Rams 38 - 17 win over Nevada.

LINK:  ALFORD'S RECORD GOES DOWN!

Brian Kelly's Press Conference Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media to talk about Saturday night's performance against Pittsburgh, plans for this bye week and a look ahead to BYU.  Here's a link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESSER

Big Win for Muffet's Lady Irish Over #18 MSU

The #6 ranked Fighting Irish didn't play their best game last night -- yet, it was good enough to beat Michigan State 81 - 62.  MSU returned their top six players from last year's NCAA Tournament team -- so it was a good early test for Notre Dame.  Here's what Muffet had to say after the game:

LINK:  MUFFET PRESSER

God, Country, Notre Dame

Happy Veterans Day to all our heroes!  Thank you so much for the sacrifices you and your families have made for all of us in America. 

Here's a video of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flying over Notre Dame Stadium at the end of the Band of the Fighting Irish playing our National Anthem.

LINK:  BLUE ANGELS' FLY-OVER

Brian Kelly's Post Game Presser After Pitt Loss

You can see it in his face and in his voice -- Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly is at a loss for how the Irish played last night:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

We Gave a Game Away Tonight in Pittsburgh

Three turnovers (one in the end zone and two in the fourth quarter), two huge penalties on third down that led to two Pitt touchdowns and the ejection of Stephon Tuitt.  Then for good measure, add in a mental lapse on a fumble that could have led to a TD for our defense...

Not a film our "Injured Irish" will want to look at on Monday.

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS / LOW-LIGHTS

Getting Heinz Field Ready for the Fighting Irish

America's #1 football road show -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- gets set up for tonight's prime time clash with the Pitt Panthers.  The lockerroom is ready and so are sidelines with heated benches...

Duquesne Hosts Notre Dame Football Today...

The Fighting Irish worked out today at Duquesne University as they await tonight's clash with the Pitt Panthers.  Here's a photo of the field...

Swarbrick Talks Stadium Expansion and Turf...

These are the three questions on the minds of most Notre Dame football fans -- beyond how the team's doing and what recruits are we going to sign:

• Will Notre Dame move forward with plans to expand the football stadium?
• Will Notre Dame replace the grass with field turf?
• Will we see a "jumbotron" in the stadium?

Well, the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen gets his chance to ask Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick these questions and a few more:

LINK:  SWARBRICK

This Didn't Take Long -- ND's First ACC Title!

The #1 ranked Fighting Irish men's soccer team clinched Notre Dame's first Atlantic Coast Conference Championship last night with a 2 - 0 win over Pittsburgh.  Congratulations!

LINK:  FIRST ACC TITLE!

Prime Time PRIMER: Notre Dame vs. Pitt

In about twelve hours from now, our #23 ranked Fighting Irish will play their FIFTH game in PRIME TIME this season -- no other college football team can make that claim -- as they take on the 4 - 4 ranked Pitt Panthers at Heinz Field

When was the last time a 4 - 4 team hosted a nationally televised game in PRIME TIME? 

Here's the latest buzz in the media about tonight's game:

LINK:  PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO

LINK:  NBC'S INSIDE THE IRISH

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Notre Dame Hockey Fans Celebrate Big Win!

The #3 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame knocked off previously unbeaten and #1 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers 4 - 1 last night at Compton Ice Arena.  Here's a video of the sold-out crowd of 5,022 celebrating Notre Dame's fourth goal!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS #1

OT: Beacon Test -- One World Trade Center

This brings a smile to my face and an uneasiness to my stomach -- all at the same time.

This evening, Manhattan's new One World Trade Center lit its BEACON for the very first time.  Taking it to 1,776 feet tall!

I had the misfortune of being in NYC the morning our country changed forever...

Notre Dame Football Arrives in Pittsburgh, PA

The #1 road show in college football -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- rolled into Pittsburgh late Friday afternoon to take a look at the Steeler's Heinz Field, site of tomorrow night's prime time game against the Pitt Panthers.

As you'll see in the bottom photo -- ABC's Brent Musberger was there to chat with Coach Kelly...

Notre Dame Football on ABC Tonight at 8 PM ET

Here's the "tune-in" promotion the Fighting Irish send out to the top high school football players in the country.

#3 Ranked Notre Dame Beats #1 Minnesota!

Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish beat the top ranked Golden Gophers tonight at a sold-out Compton Family Ice Arena by the score of 4 - 1!

It's the first loss of the season for Minnesota -- a win tomorrow and Notre Dame should take over the #1 ranking in the country.

Minnesota' head coach Don Lucia '81 is a Notre Dame alum and former Irish hockey player who also doubles as the father of #22 Mario Lucia who wears the gold helmet!  See the interview linked below:

LINK:  MARIO LUCIA INTERVIEW 

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Brian Kelly's Last Media Session Before Pitt

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly met with the media tonight for the last time before Saturday night's PRIME TIME game against the Pitt Panthers.  Here's a link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

A Wish Comes True For Notre Dame Fan

A young man from Bethlehem, PA named Cameron Kessler -- a kidney transplant survivor -- had a wish to spend a day with the Notre Dame football team.  Well, as you'll see in this wonderful story -- told by our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media -- his wish came true and then some!

You'll enjoy Coach Elliott's perspective as well.   MUST SEE!

LINK:  WISH COMES TRUE

49 Hours to Kick-Off -- Media Thinks Squeaker

The Fighting Irish are 7 - 2 and the Pitt Panthers are 4 - 4 -- yet, a few in the media think Notre Dame will lose Saturday's game...

We're not getting the respect due a team that is 19 - 3 its past 22 games.

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

Domer Dad Wins AL Silver Slugger Award!

Torii Hunter Sr., -- father of Notre Dame wide receiver Torii, Jr. -- was awarded the SILVER SLUGGER AWARD as one of the top three hitting outfielders in the American League.  Hunter, who plays right field for the Detroit Tigers hit .304, with 17 home runs and 84 RBI.

Congratulations Torii!

LINK:  SILVER SLUGGER AWARD

Photo: Pitt Panther's Football Practice Today

Folks, you won't believe where this photo was taken...

The Pitt Panthers had one of their student managers dress up in a Leprechaun suit at their football practice today -- as they get ready for Saturday's game with our Fighting Irish.

OT: Looking For a New Place to Call Home?

Michael Jordan's 56,000 square foot home in the suburbs of Chicago will be sold via an "exclusive auction" set for November 22nd.  Here's a link to the promotional video...

LINK:  MICHAEL JORDAN'S HOME

OT: Nike Helping Promote Michigan State

The folks at Nike have put together a promotional video for the Spartans of Michigan State -- and wouldn't you know it, they had to be sure Notre Dame was included.  They just forgot to show the scoreboard!

LINK:  THE SPARTANS

Pitt Week -- Coach Kelly Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media -- as he does every Tuesday during the football season -- to talk about the upcoming game.  Today's topic, the Pitt Panthers.

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

OT: Most Successful Football Play of All-Time

Folks, you have to watch what a middle-school football team did for a teammate in Olivet, MI.  Get your Kleenex out!

LINK:  MOST SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL PLAY OF ALL-TIME

Jeff Samardzija Trade Rumors to Arizona

Word on the street is the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks are discussing a trade that would involve former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija. 

Samardzija finished 9th in all of Major League Baseball for strikeouts in 2013 -- with 214 in 213.2 innings pitched.

Here's the story:

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA ON TRADING BLOCK

Notre Dame Football "Livin' on a Prayer" Video

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media convinced a number of Notre Dame football players to perform in a music video for the song "Livin' On a Prayer."  You'll want to watch this.

Suffice to say -- don't give up your athletic scholarship!

LINK:  LIVIN' ON A PRAYER MUSIC VIDEO

Domer Dating Former ABC Bachelor Contestant

 

Notre Dame alum Michael Garofola '02, is back in the limelight.  The attorney out of southern Florida -- who was on the last season of ABC's The Bachelorette -- is now dating a former contestant on ABC's The Bachelor -- AshLee Frazier.  Here's the People magazine story:

LINK:  GAROFOLA BACK IN THE NEWS

CBS "Bowl Expert" Has Notre Dame in Dallas...

CBS's BCS Expert Jerry Palm has the Fighting Irish playing on New Year's Day in Dallas, TX against the Rice Owls in the "Heart of Dallas" Bowl...

The game is played outdoors in the Cotton Bowl -- a venue the Irish know well on New Year's Day!

LINK:  HEART OF DALLAS BOWL

Pitt's Coach Paul Chryst Talks Notre Dame

The Pitt Panthers head football coach Paul Chryst met with the media today to talk about Saturday's PRIME TIME showdown with the Fighting Irish.  Here's a link to a transcript of his media session:

LINK:  CHRYST TALKS NOTRE DAME

All-Time Winning Percentage -- Race to #1

The University of Michigan and the University of Notre Dame are the two winningest football programs in college history.  At this very moment the all-time records are as follows:

• Michigan:  909 - 317 - 36 (.7307 %)
• NOTRE DAME:  872 - 303 - 42  (.7291%)

So, here's the gap -- to overtake Michigan at season's end -- here's what Notre Dame must do its last four games -- including a bowl game:

• Notre Dame goes 4 - 0  / Michigan goes 2 - 3 /  Notre Dame takes over all-time winning %

Notre Dame's Game vs. Pitt on ABC @ 8 PM ET

The folks at ABC announced yesterday that they will be televising Notre Dame's game this Saturday against Pittsburgh in "prime time" at 8 PM ET. 

No other team plays on national television as much as Notre Dame...

LINK:  ABC TO TELEVISE SATURDAY'S GAME

Brian Kelly's Halftime and Post Game Speech

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media -- once again -- provides us fans with the "inside look" at the Notre Dame football program.  THANK YOU!

Here's a link to this week's episode of ICON.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS NAVY

NFL Video of Kyle Rudolph's TD Catch Today

Former Notre Dame tight end and now Minnesota Viking -- Kyle Rudolph -- caught a 31 yard TD catch today against the Dallas Cowboys.  Unfortunately, Kyle broke a bone in his foot on the play...

LINK:  RUDOLPH TD CATCH

Keough Hall Wins on Fumble Return for TD!!!

Keough Hall's Will Fields picked up a QB fumble and ran it into the endzone for a TD with just over a minute left in the game to give the Kangaroos a 8 - 0 win over O'Neill Hall in Notre Dame Interhall football.  The win puts Keough at 3 - 1 on the season and clinches them a spot in the upcoming playoffs for a trip to Notre Dame Stadium for the championship.  I apologize in advance for the quality of the video of the TD -- my iPhone let me down!

The first video is of a catch you won't believe -- A ONE HANDER! -- better than any catch you'd see from Calvin Johnson on Sundays!

LINK:  VIDEO OF "CATCH OF THE YEAR" 

LINK:  VIDEO OF FUMBLE RETURN FOR TD

Irish Move Up One Spot as Michigan Falls Out

The Associated Press just released their Top 25 after week 11 of the college football season -- and our Fighting Irish moved up a spot to #24.  And yes, Notre Dame is still ranked behind the team they beat (who has the same record) a few weeks ago -- Arizona State;



LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

NBC's Full Replay of Notre Dame 38 - Navy 34

Here is a link to the full game replay of Notre Dame's win over Navy yesterday afternoon.

LINK:  NBC FULL GAME REPLAY

The Media the Mornin' After ND Beats Navy

Got to "sleep in" an extra hour here in the shadow of the Golden Dome -- I needed it after the game yesterday with Navy.  Thank goodness we made that fourth down stop!!!

As I always do the morning after Notre Dame plays a football game -- I took a lap around the worldwide web to see what the media is saying about the win over Navy.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO -- TONY RICE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL LESAR

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL WIENEKE

LINK:  WNDU-TV

Notre Dame Player Interviews After Navy Win

Here's a couple links to interviews with Notre Dame players after their 38 - 34 win today over the Naval Academy.  Jaylon Smith, Tommy Rees, Tarean Folston and Dan Fox,

LINK:  DEFENSE

LINK:  OFFENSE

Brian Kelly Navy Post Game Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media after today's 38 - 34 win over the Naval Academy.  The victory puts the Irish at 7 - 2 on the season.  Here's the presser:

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME