Kiper & McShay -- Best Bowl Matchups

ESPN'S Mel Kiper and Todd McShay did a segment today on the best "bowl matchups" this next month -- and surprise, surprise -- Notre Dame was involved in the conversation.  Here's a link:

LINK:  ESPN'S KIPER & McSHAY ON BEST BOWL MATCHUPS

Harvard, Yale and Notre Dame: Graduate!

The Chronicle of Higher Education, just came out this week with a study that compared graduation rates at public and private research universities in 2002 and 2008, surveying students who enrolled in 1996 and 2002, respectively.  And, the top three schools in America for graduating its students are:

• Harvard:  98%
• Yale:  97%
• Notre Dame:  96%

What's even more impressive about these results is that 33% of the universities showed a drop in graduation rates from 2002 to 2008.  A ND GO IRISH BLOG "thank you" to Notre Dame alum,  Jim Conway Jr, '69 -- for alerting us to this story.  Here's a link to the survey results:

LINK:  THEY GRADUATE THEIR STUDENTS!

Own a Piece of Notre Dame History!

Matt Cashore, who just happens to be the University of Notre Dame's award winning "official photographer" -- took a "panoramic" photo (above) of the Band of the Fighting Irish's historic performance in New York's Times Square on November 20th.  Please note -- this small image above -- doesn't do this three foot wide photo justice.  I learned yesterday morning that it was being made available for sale and I bought one immediately for my "Notre Dame" room at home.  This 12" x 36" print would make a great "Christmas" present for every Notre Dame student, alum and fan!  To purchase one or two -- just click on the link below titled "a piece of Notre Dame history."  I'm also providing a link to Matt's "portfolio" of a few of the "official" photos he's taken for the University of Notre Dame -- you're going to want to own every one!

LINK:  OWN A PIECE OF NOTRE DAME HISTORY

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S OFFICIAL PHOTO LIBRARY