Your Irish QB -- A Great Story!

Dayne Crist is ready for his chance to lead the Fighting Irish! Here's a great story in today's Chicago Tribune on the "fat kid stuck in a skinny kid's body." Enjoy!

DAYNE CRIST -- NOTRE DAME QB!

Big Recruiting Weekend for Irish!

Over the last 24 hours -- Brian Kelly & staff received commitments from four of the top players in the country! The "gold rush" began at 11 AM yesterday morning when Justice Hayes, a running back out of Grand Blanc, MI chose the Irish over Michigan, Michigan State & Tennessee at a news conference at his high school. A couple of hours later; Anthony Rabasa, an OLB out of Miami, FL committed to the Irish. Rabasa chose ND over Florida, Florida State, UCLA and Miami. Then later yesterday -- out of nowhere -- Jalen Brown, a defensive back out of Irving, TX committed to the Irish, even though he's yet to visit the Notre Dame campus! Brown chose ND over Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Nebraska. Then this morning at 11 AM -- on live television in the South Bend area -- Aaron Lynch, the 6'6" 245 lb. defensive end out of Cape Coral, FL "made it four in less than 24" for the Fighting Irish. Lynch, one of the top defensive end prospects in the country - chose Notre Dame over Florida, Florida State and many, many other top programs. Welcome all to the Notre Dame Family! (Photo LtoR: Brown, Hayes, Lynch & Rabasa). The verbal commitments from these four prep stars brings the total to 16 for the Class of 2011 -- and a #6 national ranking for this Notre Dame recruiting class. High school Student-Athletes will make their commitment "official" next February -- though word on the street is Lynch will enroll early (January 2011). Here's a link to Lynch's "live" announcement:

LYNCH COMMITS TO NOTRE DAME

PHOTO OF THE DAY -- Golden Tate's Autograph!

Former University of Notre Dame All-American, Golden Tate, stayed after practice the other day signing autographs for Seahawk fans. One "avid" fan asked Golden to sign his head (see photo).

Grotto -- Five Days After Fire

This photo was taken this morning at the Grotto on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Five days earlier, a fire broke out inside the Grotto. As you can see, the small fire left its mark on the inside of the Grotto and burned away much of the ivy that draped the shrine. The University is still restricting access to the interior of the Grotto until it completes its inspection.