ND Football Players -- Eligible for a Fifth Year

I received this question today from ND GO IRISH BLOG regular, R.J. Doyle: "What Notre Dame football players are eligible for a fifth year next season?"  A very good question -- let's first start with the list of seniors, who played this year for the Irish, who still have a fifth year of eligibility left.  Here goes:

Notre Dame Senior Football Players -- Eligible for a Fifth Year:

1. Taylor Dever, OT
2. Gary Gray, DB
3. Andrew Nuss, OG
4. Emeka Nwankwo, DE
5. Steve Paskorz, LB
6. Mike Ragone, TE
7. Matt Romine, OT
8. David Ruffer, K
9. Harrison Smith, S
10. Brandon Walker, K
11. Dan Wenger, C -- is seeking a "medical 6th year" of eligibility from the NCAA

If I had to make an educated guess -- I would suspect the following players have been asked by Coach Kelly to come back for a "fifth year:"  Dever, Gray, Nuss, Ragone, Romine, Ruffer and Smith.  And, I believe Notre Dame is doing what it can to assist Wenger in getting a sixth year of eligibility. 

We should know later this month!

The 25th Ranked Irish -- Beat Indiana State!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish are now 8-0 after last nights 81-72 win over Larry Bird's alma mater, Indiana State.  This was a "tune-up" game for Notre Dame, as they get ready for the big game next Wednesday -- when they take on John Calipari's 10th ranked Kentucky Wildcats.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune's game story, along with a links to game highlights -- and Mike Brey's post game comments.  Go Irish!  Photo courtesy of the South Bend Tribune.

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- GAME STORY

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS -- ND vs. INDIANA STATE

LINK:  MIKE BREY'S POST GAME COMMENTS

A Domer's First Book -- An Autobiography?

Betsy Ross (we're not talking about the "flag maker") is a Notre Dame alum who you may recall seeing on ESPN's SportsCenter -- where she worked for five years in the late 90's.  Well, now you can add "author" to Betsy's resume -- her book "Playing Ball With The Boys" captures what it was like for a number of women who were the "pioneers" in sports, broadcasting and sports management.  After learning what Ross has done in her own life -- she probably could have just called this an "autobiography."  Betsy is president and founder of Game Day Communications and has more than 20 years of experience as a sports and news anchor.  Before anchoring SportsCenter and ESPN News, Ross worked at NBC News Channel and Cincinnati’s NBC affiliate, WLWT-TV.  And, she continues to be involved in sports broadcasting as play-by-play anchor for women’s college basketball for ESPN, Fox Sports and other national and regional outlets, and as a sports reporter for Cincinnati’s FOX 19.  Here's a link to a Cincinnati website's story on Betsy and a link to where you can buy her book!

LINK: A CINCINNATI.COM STORY ABOUT BETSY

LINK:  PLAYING BALL WITH THE BOYS -- AMAZON