ND vs. FSU -- Champs Sports Bowl -- TICKETS!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will be taking on the Seminoles of Florida State University on Thursday, December 29, in Orlando, at the Champs Sports Bowl.  If you're interested in tickets -- here's where you can find them!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME -- CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL

Irish Played Four Teams in AP Final Top 15

Next time someone says "Notre Dame doesn't play anyone..." -- just roll out this little diddy for them:

THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME -- PLAYED FOUR TEAMS IN THE TOP 15!

Here's a link to the AP' final rankings.


LINK:  FINAL RANKINGS -- 2011 SEASON

Kyle Rudolph -- TD Catch Against Broncos!

Notre Dame fans will not be surprised when they see this GREAT CATCH by Kyle Rudolph -- just minutes ago.  The TD catch put the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the Tim Tebow Broncos 12 - 7.  You can expect this to make SPORTS CENTER'S TOP TEN!

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH

Notre Dame Grants Dayne Crist His Release...

This news should arrive as no surprise to most Notre Dame football fans -- Dayne Crist will be wearing a different football helmet next fall.  Crist, who will graduate this month from the University of Notre Dame, has one more year of eligibility left and he's going to take advantage of that at a different school.  This became official Friday afternoon,  when Dayne was granted his release after meeting with Coach Kelly.

Dayne Crist is a Notre Dame Man -- just not a Notre Dame QB, in a Brian Kelly system.  This young man is all that is right about the world.  His parents, family and friends should take great pride in Dayne Crist the human being.  He's a world-class representative of the University of Notre Dame.  I'll be rooting for his success!

You'll want to click on the South Bend Tribune story below to see what schools are rumored to be most interested in Dayne's services:

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST

My Heisman Vote -- Baylor's Robert Griffin III

I made the decision, over night, to give my Heisman vote this season to Robert Lee Griffin III (QB), Baylor University.  Unfortunately -- I'm still waiting for my ballot in the mail!  However, that won't stop me from sharing with you why this young man is AMERICA'S BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER and the prototypical STUDENT-ATHLETE-QB Notre Dame should be recruiting for Brian Kelly's offense.

First, let's talk about "RG3's" Heisman worthy season:

• Passer rating of 192.3 -- rank #1 in the country
• Yards Per Attempt:  10.83 yards -- rank #1 in the country
• Yards Per Completion:  14.97 yards -- rank #1 in the country
• Points Responsible For:  22.67 points per game -- rank #1 in the country
• Total Offense:  386.83 yards per game -- rank #2 in the country
• TD passes:  36 -- rank #4 in the country
• Pass Completion %:  72.4% -- rank #5 in the country
• Passing yards:  3,998 yards -- rank #6 in the country

On top of all of this:

• He's taken a football program and led it to their best regular season in 25 years!  
• He's the model student-athlete haven already earned his undergraduate degree (Dec 2010) in political science in three years!  Now enrolled in grad school.  Next up law school.
• Dean's List -- Big 12 Academic Honor Roll (six times)
• Graduated #7 in his high school class
• NCAA All-American in the 400 Meter hurdles -- as a freshman -- world class hurdler
• And, he's probably the best interview in college football -- A CLASS ACT!

Can you imagine this young man in a GOLD HELMET -- running Brian Kelly's offense and representing the University of Notre Dame?   IT WOULD BE OFF THE CHARTS!

Here's a link to a highlight video:  GRIFFIN III FOR HEISMAN!

ESPN calls him the: MOST INTERESTING MAN IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL