I've Been Given the Gift of Notre Dame...

Earlier today, the University of Notre Dame officially announced that I would be joining their team as Senior Director of Marketing & Communications -- effective January 16, 2012.

A very humbling and special moment for my family and me.

Notre Dame's "on-boarding" process, which I began this morning, led me to a conference room where I would meet my teammates for the first time.  While I awaited their arrival, I found myself staring at this quote -- etched into the room's glass wall:

“This college will be one of the most powerful means of doing good in the country.” 

It was taken from a letter written by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., just days after he founded Notre Dame in 1842.

Who would have ever dreamed an Irish Catholic kid from Mecosta County (Michigan), Chippewa Hills High School and Ferris State University would be given the opportunity of sharing the Notre Dame story with the world.

A story Fr. Sorin began crafting 169 years earlier...

Unfortunately, I'll be leaving an extremely talented team (led by Jim Thomas) at Western Michigan University -- and some wonderful alumni -- all who have made me feel part of the WMUFAMILY.  It's been a magical year in Kalamazoo that I will never forget.  THANK YOU! 

Yes, I've been given the "GIFT" of the University of Notre Dame -- it will be an honor to serve HER mission!

  
LINK:  I KNOW SHE'S SMILING IN HEAVEN TODAY

Barkley to Return to USC -- ND Football Happy!

If you listened to sports talk radio this afternoon you would have heard the 2012 Heisman winner was determined today when USC QB Matt Barkley said he would return for his senior season.

NOT SO FAST MY FRIENDS!

Now, the best thing to come out of today's news is the ND Football team should be thrilled with the prospects of having one more shot at USC with Barkley at the helm.  I wouldn't want it any other way!  Here's the story:

LINK:  LA TIMES STORY

No Doubt He's a Notre Dame Man: Dayne Crist

Former Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist -- announced today that he would be playing at the University of Kansas next year for Charlie Weis.  Crist, who was spotted at Twelve Oaks Mall (Novi, MI) yesterday with his girlfriend -- granted an interview with the Observer on Wednesday.  Suffice to say -- he's a class act.  You'll enjoy this story along with Eric Hansen's story at the South Bend Tribune:

LINK:  A NOTRE DAME MAN

LINK:  CRIST CHOOSES CHARLIE

Notre Dame to Honor Adrian Dantley!

Former two-time IRISH All American, Olympic Gold Medalist, National Player of the Year, Naismith National Basketball Hall of Famer, two-time NBA scoring champion and NBA Hall of Famer, Adrian Dantley -- will be honored by his alma mater on March 2nd when he's enshrined in Purcell Pavillion's RING OF HONOR.  It's an honor well deserved!  Here's a link to the story at UND.COM along with a video of his career produced by NBA-TV:  You've just got to love the uniforms Digger designed for the Fighting Irish back in the day -- they were the coolest in college basketball!

LINK:  DANTLEY TO BE HONORED

LINK:  ADRIAN DANTLEY -- NBA VIDEO