Is He the Best ND Athlete Since Rocket?

The young man's name is Chris Brown and he's "only a 3-star" wide receiver out of South Carolina -- who I believe is going to prove the recruiting experts don't know what they're talkin' about...

Today, Chris Brown cleared 7' feet in the high jump, last week he ran a 10.51 100 meters and that's not what the track & field world knows him for...

He's generally regarded as the top high school triple jumper in the country and one of the top fifteen long jumpers in the country.

Yet, I believe he's going to be known NATIONALLY for his exploits on the football field this fall -- as the 6' 2" athlete will be lining up at wide receiver for Brian Kelly's offense.  I know for a fact, that the Notre Dame coaching staff was THRILLED when he committed to ND (they know the recruiting experts missed this young man) and they're counting on him to come in and contribute right away!

Keep an eye out for Mr. Chris Brown -- he believes he'll jump higher and farther and run faster -- at the South Carolina High School Championships next month.  He's a big-time talent!


LINK:  NEW BALANCE NATIONALS -- 2011 TRIPLE JUMP

LINK:  HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS

Domer Chris Stewart's Telling Interview

Ran across this interview that former Notre Dame offensive guard Chris Stewart gave to a site called Pro Interviews.  Pretty good stuff here -- I haven't seen before...

LINK:  CHRIS STEWART INTERVIEW

Holy Cross Team Wins Bookstore Basketball!

In what could only happen in a movie like Hoosiers -- a team of five, one a Notre Dame employee and the other four, students at Holy Cross College -- won the 2012 Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore Basketball Championship last night!

THE WORLD'S LARGEST FIVE-ON-FIVE OUTDOOR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT!

In 51 degree weather and STEADY RAIN -- the Holy Cross team called "Hoops We Did It Again" won on a three-pointer over a team named SWAG that included 6'-8" former Notre Dame power forward Mike Broghamer.  See the full story in the Observer article below:

LINK:  HAMMES NOTRE DAME BOOKSTORE BASKETBALL

LINK:  OBSERVER ARTICLE

Notre Dame's Relay For Life on Campus!

The online show "Our Team, Our Story" sent their cameras to Friday night's Relay For Life event on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  $85,000 was raised for cancer research from this effort.  You'll enjoy this story:

LINK:  RELAY FOR LIFE

OT: America Takes Back This Space!

The morning of September 11, 2001 -- I was making my weekly commute from the Motor City to New York City.  My flight landed a little after 8:00 AM ET at LaGuardia airport...  What happened the next few hours will never be forgotten.

This morning, I ran across this story coming out of NYC today -- and I smiled -- because America had finally taken back this space.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NEW YORK'S TALLEST BUILDING -- TODAY

Domers Weis '78 & Crist '12 Lead Jayhawks

The Jayhawks played their first Spring game yesterday with Coach Weis and Dayne Crist leading the charge.  Here's some game highlights along with the media coverage.  The game was played in front of a crowd estimated at 15,000 -- "They're not in South Bend anymore..."

I want these two and the rest of the Fightin' Irish gang in Lawrence to do great!!!

LINK:  KANSAS JAYHAWKS SPRING GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL

LINK:  UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN

Jonas Gray to Dolphins, Dever to Cowboys...

The NFL "free agent frenzy" began even before the final pick in the 7th round -- when the owner of the Miami Dolphins got on the phone with Notre Dame's Jonas Gray to negotiate what appears to be a guaranteed one-year deal with the Irish star, who is recovering from knee surgery.

Congratulations Jonas!

Also -- Taylor Dever's agent negotiated a free-agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys for the former Irish offensive tackle and Ethan Johnson signed a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.  Gary Gray is rumored to have accepted a mini-camp / workout with the Detroit Lions.  Trevor Robinson signs a free agent deal with the Cincinatti Bengals.  Still waiting to learn if David Ruffer will sign with a team.

I Found a New Toy, You'll Want One Too!

Folks, I've been playing the last 72 hours with the Verizon 4G Droid Bionic Motorola mobile phone and their NFL Mobile ap -- watching the 2012 NFL Draft. Addictive!

This morning, I got up and I'm watching the NFL Network's Live on this phone -- and it's streaming, perfectly -- without any hesitation.

It's cable TV on the go -- my wife's not going to like that!!!

Now, if I can get a Notre Dame NBC ap for this thing -- I'll be all set!

LINK:  NFL MOBILE AP

The IRISH Finally Beat Syaracuse LAX!

A "perfect" first half with #4 Notre Dame shutting out #17 Syracuse 4 - 0, led to a second half that got a little too close for comfort...

Yet, the Fighting Irish lacrosse program finally beat Syracuse in lacrosse -- for the first time in school history -- in front a sold-out crowd at Arlotta Stadium!  The Irish had seven different goal scorers in their 8 - 6 win -- their tenth straight win of the season!

Congratulations Coach Corrigan!

You're going to want to watch the video below -- VERY SPECIAL!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LACROSSE VIDEO

Notre Dame Lacrosse on ESPNU NOW!

The #4 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are playing right now on ESPNU against perennial power Syracuse.  TUNE IN!

Darius Fleming Goes to 49ers in Fifth Round!

Notre Dame linebacker, Darius Fleming will soon be moving to the "left" coast -- having been drafted this afternoon by the San Francisco 49ers.  The IRISH linebacker was selected in the Fifth Round as the 165th player overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Darius will be joining former teammate Ian Williams who signed with the 49ers last year as a free agent.

Congratulations Darius!

LINK:  DARIUS FLEMING DRAFT PROFILE

LINK:  HARBAUGH'S CALL TO FLEMING

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

RJ Blanton Taken in Fifth Round by Vikings!

University of Notre Dame cornerback RJ Blanton was drafted this afternoon by the Minnesota Vikings in the Fifth Round of the 2012 NFL Draft.  The 139th pick, Blanton will be joining current teammate Harrison Smith and three former teammates on the Vikings roster; John Sullivan, Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson. 

Congratulations RJ!

LINK:  RJ BLANTON DRAFT PROFILE

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST STORY

LINK:  RJ'S DRAFT DIARY

Michael Floyd Introduced to Arizona

Thursday night Michael Floyd was in mid-town Manhattan walking across the stage at Radio City Music Hall -- Friday afternoon Michael's in Tempe, AZ standing in front a throng of media who will be covering his every move for at least the next four years of his life.  His new "friends."

Thought I'd take a lap around the Arizona media landscape to see what they're saying about the drafting of Michael Floyd.  Enjoy!

LINK:  MICHAEL'S ARRIVAL

LINK:  INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  ARIZONA REPUBLIC

LINK:  FOX SPORTS ARIZONA

LINK:  TUCSON CITIZEN

I Am So Happy for Harrison Smith!

This young man is a great story.

Three years ago, Notre Dame fans all over the country were yelling at their TV sets wondering why #22 was on the field.  This fall IRISH fans will be wishing #22 was still on the field...

My how time changes everything.

Harrison Smith is going to make millions playing the game of football -- and I couldn't be happier for this young Notre Dame Man.  The folks at the Minneapolis Star Tribune published a nice story about Harrison -- as did a few other media outlets.  See the links below:

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH

LINK:  KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

Vikings GM Talks Harrison Smith

The Minnesota Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman met with the media after their selection of Notre Dame captain Harrison Smith in the First Round of the 2012 NFL Draft.  Here's a link to the video:

LINK:  VIKINGS GM SPIELMAN TALKS HARRISON SMITH

Arizona Cardinals Top Brass Talk About Floyd

The General Manager and Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals met with the media to discuss their selection of Michael Floyd as their #1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.  Here's a link to the video:

LINK:  CARDINALS TALK ABOUT FLOYD

Looks Like a Football Final Four is Possible!

University of Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick spoke with the folks at the South Bend Tribune recently to talk about the latest on-going discussion about a play-off format for college football.

The good news is the Pac 12's motive to limit the participants to the winners of the four largest football conferences fell on deaf ears...

Thus, the independents and the schools that don't belong to the SEC, Big Ten, Pac 12 and ??? -- won't be shut out of an opportunity to play for the national championship.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  JACK SWARBRICK TALKS PLAYOFF

Who's Counting? I Am...

We sure hear from the pundits when a NFL First Round goes by and not a single player from the University of Notre Dame is drafted... 

Well, thankfully -- that's not the case this morning.  Here's a list of the school counts of the #1 draft picks in last night's opening round:

• ALABAMA: 4 players
• NOTRE DAME:  2 players
• STANFORD:  2 players
• BAYLOR:  2 players
• USC:  2 players
• SOUTH CAROLINA:  2 players
• ILLINOIS:  2 players
• LSU:  2 players
• OKLAHOMA STATE:  2 players
• BOISE STATE:  2 players
• TEXAS A&M:  1 player
• BOSTON COLLEGE:  1 player
• MEMPHIS:  1 player
• MISSISSIPPI STATE:  1 player
• WEST VIRGINIA:  1 player
• NORTH CAROLINA:  1 player
• SYRACUSE:  1 player
• IOWA:  1 player
• WISCONSIN:  1 player
• VIRGINIA TECH:  1 player

Schools Notre Dame typically recruits against, without first round draft picks last night:  Michigan, Florida, Texas, Ohio State, Florida State, Miami, Penn State, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Nebraska. 

62 Notre Dame Players, NFL First Round History

I was surprised to learn that in the previous 12 NFL Drafts -- only two Notre Dame players had been drafted in the 1st Round; Jeff Faine in 2003 and Brady Quinn in 2007.

That changed today -- BIG TIME -- when Michael Floyd (13th overall) and Harrison Smith (29th overall) became the 61st and 62nd players in the 125 year history of Notre Dame football to be drafted in the First Round of the NFL Draft.  (Painting above of Angelo Bertelli, Notre Dame's first #1 overall player taken in the NFL Draft.)

ALL TIME -- NOTRE DAME FIRST ROUND NFL SELECTIONS

• 2012:  Michael Floyd and Harrison Smith
• 2007:  Brady Quinn
• 2003:  Jeff Faine
• 1999:  Luke Pettigout
• 1997:  Renaldo Wynn
• 1994:  Bryant Young, Aaron Taylor and Jeff Burris
• 1993:  Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis, Tom Carter and Irv Smith
• 1992:  Derek Brown
• 1991:  Todd Lyght
• 1989:  Andy Heck
• 1988:  Tim Brown
• 1986:  Eric Dorsey
• 1984:  Greg Bell
• 1983:  Tony Hunter
• 1982:  Bob Crable
• 1980:  Vagas Ferguson
• 1978:  Ken MacAfee, Ross Browner and Luther Bradley
• 1976:  Steve Niehaus
• 1975:  Mike Fanning
• 1972:  Walt Patulski*, Clarence Ellis and Mike Kadish
• 1970:  Mike McCoy
• 1969:  George Kunz and Jim Seymour
• 1968:  Kevin Hardy
• 1967:  Paul Seller, Alan Page and Tom Regner
• 1965:  Jack Snow
• 1960:  George Izo and Monty Stickles
• 1959:  Nick Pietrosante
• 1957:  Paul Hornung*
• 1955:  Joe Heap, Frank Varrichone and Ralph Guglliemi
• 1954:  Johnny Lattner, Art Hunter and Neil Worden
• 1951:  Jerry Groom and Bob Williams
• 1950:  Leon Hart*
• 1949:  Bill Fischer and Frank Tripucka
• 1946:  Bobby Dancewicz*, George Connor, Emil Sitko and Johnny Lujack
• 1945:  Frank Szymanski and John Yonakor
• 1944:  Angelo Bertelli* and Creighton Miller
• 1936:  William Shakespeare

LINK:  NFL ALL-TIME DRAFT LIST OF NOTRE DAME PLAYERS

*DENOTES:  Drafted #1 Overall!

Harrison Smith Goes First Round to Vikings!

Former Notre Dame team captain, Harrison Smith was just drafted #29 overall in the First Round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings!  At this draft spot, Smith can expect to sign a four-year contract with around $4 million guaranteed money.  Not a bad pay day!!!!

Harrison, the second safety taken in the draft will be joining a Vikings roster that has a number of former Domers; John Sullivan, Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson.

Congratulations Harrison!

LINK:  VIDEO OF DRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT -- NFL NETWORK

LINK:  ESPN - IMMEDIATE REACTION

LINK:  PIONEER PRESS - IMMEDIATE REACTION

Michael Floyd Drafted #13 by Arizona Cardinals!

Former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd is now the "draft property" of the Arizona Cardinals.  Michael, the second wide receiver taken and #13 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft -- will be slotted into a rookie contract that will pay him in the neighborhood of $11 million guaranteed over the minimum four-year contract he must sign with the Cardinals.  (Photo above of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with Michael Floyd)

Floyd will also be playing opposite one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in Larry Fitzgerald -- who just happens to be from the same high school as Michael (Cretin-Durham High School) in Minneapolis.  Fitzgerald is in the second year of an eight-year contract that pays him a minimum of $50 million with incentives that could pay him as much as $120 million.

A little incentive for Michael Floyd.

See the video of Michael's selection along with the immediate reaction from the NFL Network and others in the media to Arizona's pick of Floyd.

Congratulations Michael!

LINK:  VIDEO OF ARIZONA'S SELECTION OF MICHAEL FLOYD

LINK:  ESPN IMMEDIATE REACTION

LINK:  ARIZONA REPUBLIC - IMMEDIATE REACTION

LINK:  FITZGERALD WANTED FLOYD IN ARIZONA!

ND Student-Athletes Know Too Much...

You've got to love this story coming out of New York...

Billy Hunter, the Executive Director of the NBA Players' Association -- apparently wanted to invest MILLIONS of the players' money in a bank that Hunter's son was on the Board of Directors of...

Well former Notre Dame student-athlete and NBA player -- Pat Garrity (pictured) uncovered the planned investment and questioned WHY?

Well, I won't ruin the rest of the story (see below) but the old adage "Irish Need Not Apply" -- sounds appropriate for the NBA Players' Association.

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS STORY

LINK:  U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INVESTIGATING

8,186 Days of Preparation Led to This Moment

In less than five hours, Michael Floyd's life will change forever.

The 2012 NFL Draft begins at 7 PM ET on ESPN and I would imagine somewhere around 9 PM ET -- the world will welcome its newest millionaire, when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walks to the microphone and says:

"With the "blank" pick of the 2012 NFL Draft the "blank team" select Michael Floyd, wide receiver, University of Notre Dame."

Michael Floyd has been on this earth since his birth in November of 1989 and many of those years he dreamed of this moment -- a moment which will happen on the 8,186th day of his young life.

I can't wait for this young man to have that walk across the stage and to see his MOM's reaction -- a woman who did much in her life to ensure that day 8,186 was special for her son.

GOD SPEED MICHAEL FLOYD!

LINK:  IS HE HEADED TO THE JETS?

Notre Dame Hockey to Play @ Soldier Field!

Yeah, it's hockey I'm talkin' about...


It was "leaked" to the media last night, that the University of Notre Dame would be taking on Miami of Ohio on Sunday, February 17th in the first college hockey game ever played at Chicago's historic Soldier Field -- as part of a double-header that would include Minnesota vs. Wisconsin.

You've got to love the fans up in Minnesota -- they talked about the proposed games at Soldier Field and called Notre Dame the "undercard" game -- REALLY?  See their post below as well.

Ironically, just a few months earlier the Notre Dame football team will be playing another school called Miami (FL) in football at Soldier Field.

Here's a link to the details:

LINK:  IRISH TO SKATE AT SOLDIER FIELD

LINK:  NOTRE DAME AN "UNDERCARD" IN CHICAGO?

Michael Floyd @ NYC's Chelsea Piers today!

Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Michael Floyd is just 27 hours or so away from learning where he'll be playing football this fall.  As part of his preparation for tomorrow's 2012 NFL DRAFT in NYC -- Michael was in Manhattan today at Chelsea Piers having an oatmeal breakfast (courtesy of the gang at Quaker Oats), with a number of New York kids -- prior to participating in the Play 60 Youth Football Festival.

It must be great fun being Michael Floyd these days!  He's earned it!

ND NFL DRAFT Coverage: Harrison Smith

Former Notre Dame football captain, Harrison Smith will be anxiously awaiting the start to tomorrow's 2012 NFL DRAFT.  Smith "could" go in tomorrow night's First Round coverage on ESPN.  The New York media thinks the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants are considering Harrison. 

Here's a story that ran today in the New York Post:

LINK:  COULD HARRISON BE HEADED EAST?

ND NFL DRAFT Coverage: Darius Fleming

The Chicago Sun-Times published a story today about Notre Dame linebacker Darius Fleming and his plans and his family's plan for the 2012 NFL Draft which begins tomorrow.  Irish fans will enjoy this story. 

LINK:  DRAFT PLANS FOR THE FLEMING FAMILY

Armstrong Wins Big East with Playoff Birdie!

Notre Dame freshman Ashley Armstrong (Flossmoor, IL) won the Big East Women's Golf Championship with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff yesterday in Orlando at the Reunion Resort and Golf Club. 

Congratulations Ashley! 

Here's a link to her interview after her winning putt!

LINK:  BIG EAST CHAMPION

The Ultimate Domer Den -- Father Ted's!

Folks, the gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media earned the "GET" of the year in convincing Father Ted to give them access to his "Domer Den" on the 13th floor of the Hesburgh Library on the University of Notre Dame campus.

Father Ted, who turns 95 years-young next month (May 25) -- is the University of Notre Dame to many.  I had the honor two weeks ago to meet "one on one" with Fr. Ted in his "Domer Den."  After our discussion, I took this photo of him holding a miniature replica of the Golden Dome with my iPhone (sorry for the poor quality).

THIS IS A MUST SEE VIDEO!

LINK:  FATHER TED'S DOMER DEN

Another Prime Time Tilt for the Irish!

BRING IT ON!

It was announced today that ABC will be televising the Fighting Irish vs. the Spartans of Michigan State "under the lights" on Saturday, September 15 -- to a national TV audience.  It will be the first of three straight games when the IRISH will be playing in PRIME TIME.

LINK:  IRISH IN PRIME TIME

Why Not to Worry About Recruiting Rankings!

Folks, fifteen of the projected thirty-two First Round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft were rated a "THREE STAR or LOWER" by the high-school recruiting experts.  Think about that...

Here we are fretting over whether an eighteen year-old young man has two, three, four or five stars attached to his name -- when he's still a pup.  A lot happens the next four to five years in the maturation of a young man -- and we seem to forget that.

Photo above is of Jason Babin a "no-star" recruit who played at Western Michigan University and ended up being drafted in the First Round in 2004 and is a NFL Pro Bowl player for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here's that analysis by Sports Illustrated.

LINK:  AN EYE OPENER

Justin Tuck's Monogram Club Speech

Former University of Notre Dame football star and two-time Super Bowl Champion New York Giant Justin Tuck -- spoke at Friday night's Monogram Club's Blue Gold dinner.  You'll enjoy how he defines "special place..."

WOW!

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK'S SPECIAL PLACE

Top 25 College Football Players in America

The Sporting News published a list yesterday of the top-25 college football players in the country.  You'll find one player on that list who wears a GOLD HELMET -- and you'll find six players from our opponent's this season.  Here's the list:

LINK: RANKING THE TOP COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN AMERICA

Holtz Talks Notre Dame @ Cotton Bowl HOF

Former Notre Dame head coach -- Lou Holtz was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame last Thursday and it didn't take long for the ESPN college football analyst to talk about his favorite school.  Enjoy the links:

LINK:  HOLTZ TALKS NOTRE DAME

NBC'S Alex Flanagan's ND Sideline Interviews

During Saturday's Notre Dame Blue Gold Game -- NBC's Alex Flanagan was roaming the sidelines interviewing a number of former IRISH football stars.  Here are those interviews:

LINK:  MIKE FLOYD & JONAS GRAY

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH

The Day After ND's Spring Game 2012

Took a lap around the worldwide web today to see what the media had to say about Notre Dame's 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game.  You'll also find game highlights from the good folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media.  Enjoy!

LINK:  BLUE GOLD GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #1

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #2

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #3

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

ESPN Shows its Bias Against ND -- AGAIN!

The gang in Bristol, CT were showing highlights today of Spring football games across the country.  All of the game clips they showed were positive HIGHLIGHTS -- except for one game...

ESPN chose to show Notre Dame QB's being intercepted twice -- before showing one Everett Golson TD pass. 

Not surprised.

Did Notre Dame Find a QB Today?

If you listened to Coach Kelly after Notre Dame's Blue Gold Game (link below) you would say -- NO.  However, if you polled the 51,000 people inside Notre Dame Stadium today I think they'd say the job belongs to Everett Golson!

And, if you're looking for a position that's stacked with talent -- look no further than the running back position where #3 running back George Atkinson, III ran for 124 yards on 15 carries.

Yet, the story of the day was the Notre Dame QB position.  Here were the stats for each of the QB's:

• Golson: 11-15 for 120 yards, 2 TD's and 25 yards rushing
• Rees:  7-14 for 84 yards, O TD's 1 yard rushing and 1 interception
• Hendrix:  59 yards passing and 12 yards rushing and 1 interception
• Kiel:  57 yards passing and 15 yards rushing and 1 interception

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  PLAYER INTERVIEWS

Blue Gold Game @ 1:30 PM ET Today!

Today's 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game will be televised today (for the second time ever) on the NBC SPORTS NETWORK.  The first play from scrimmage will take place just a few minutes at the 1:30 PM ET air time.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  NBC SPORTS CENTRAL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

The Best THE SHIRT Ever? Just Might Be!

Folks the 2012 THE SHIRT was just unveiled on the University of Notre Dame campus and I must say it's my all-time favorite!  The goal is to sell 200,000 and they expect to put a huge dent into that number this weekend. 

I've got to believe Golden Tate and Robert Hughes (photo above) - the two stars of THE SHIRT -- were quite thrilled with the honor.  Photo courtesy of ND GO IRISH BLOG regular, Travis Mather.

Here's where you can buy it online!

LINK:  BUY THE SHIRT!

LINK:  THE UNVEILING

Notre Dame Tight End Position in the News

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have had an incredible run of big-time talent at the Tight End position; Bavaro, Hunter, Fasano, Carlson, Rudolph, Eifert to name just a very few in the past few years.  Word on the street is the IRISH will be using "multiple tight ends" on the field this fall.  Here's what ESPN is reporting:


LINK:  ESPN BLOG STORY ON ND TIGHT ENDS

LINK:  ESPN VIDEO STORY

Photo of the Day: Who Said Bald Is Beautiful?

Didn't see this photo...  I couldn't pass this up!

The MAN in this photo is none other than Notre Dame alum, Timothy O'Connor,  AKA "OAK" -- who agreed to shave his head this week to raise money for childhood cancer research.  Thanks Timmy!

For those of you who don't know -- Timmy is the creative genius behind much of the packaging of the great digital work coming out of the Fighting Irish Digital Media team.  You'll see his handy work along with Eric Runyon and Philip Zastrow in the website linked below concerning the 125th Anniversary of Notre Dame Football:

LINK:  TIM O'CONNOR'S WORK

THE SHIRT: Tomorrow the World Will Know

It's the #1 selling item on any college campus in the world.  This T-SHIRT TRADITION started in 1990 and it's never looked back.


I'll never forget a call we received from our oldest son Jimmy five years ago this month "Dad, I'm on The Shirt!"  The Shirt 2007 -- carried for the first time ever -- photos of actual Notre Dame students inside the Notre Dame Monogram.  Jimmy, an Irish Guardsman's photo is the first you see on the bottom left of the Monogram (see below).  They "only" sold 135,000 shirts that year.

What's cool today is we still see people wearing The Shirt 2007 -- reminding us of that special moment for our son and our family...

Tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM ET -- THE SHIRT 2012 will be unveiled to a LIVE TV audience, the Band of the Fighting Irish, Glee Club, Coach Brian Kelly and other dignitaries.  ONLY NOTRE DAME.

Here's a link to a video of the 2010 unveiling of THE SHIRT:

LINK:  THE SHIRT

ND Football's "Patio Appreciation Party"

The Notre Dame football program hosted women, from all over campus yesterday. at a THANK YOU event on the patio outside of Coach Kelly's office.  Enjoy!

LINK:  PATIO APPRECIATION PARTY

ND Coach Elliott Featured in ESPN Story Today

I learned today that Notre Dame's safeties coach Bob Elliott's life was threatened in the late 90's with a rare blood disorder.  The more and more I read about Coach Elliott -- the more I'm impressed with this Coach Kelly hire.

See for yourself!

LINK:  COACH BOB ELLIOTT

A Tribute to "Uncle Blair" This Saturday...

Notre Dame freshman QB Gunner Kiel will wear the #5 his Uncle Blair Kiel wore as a four-year starter for the IRISH -- this Saturday in the 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium.

Gunner was assigned uniform #1 this spring -- but, in honor of Uncle Blair (who died a couple of weeks ago) Kiel will run out onto Notre Dame Stadium for the first time in a GOLD HELMET wearing the number five.  A nice tribute to the Kiel family.

Great Notre Dame Stories: Launched Today!

Notre Dame football fans -- you're going to want to click on the link below.  The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media started their journey (THIS AFTERNOON) to tell 125 great stories -- as part of their 125th Anniversary of Notre Dame Football celebration.

If you click on the link below you'll see three stories -- the first is a story about how and why Notre Dame made the decision to begin flying the football team around the country.  The second story is about the "first game of the century" -- the 1935 game between Notre Dame and Ohio State.  And, the third story is about Notre Dame's upset of then undefeated and #1 ranked Pitt Panthers in 1982.

The fun starts at the link below:

LINK:  THREE GREAT NOTRE DAME STORIES

Photo of the Day: St. Baldrick's Event @ ND

The University of Notre Dame's now "annual" St. Baldrick's Foundation event to fund childhood cancer research took place today at LaFortune.  And, as you can see in the above photo -- the Notre Dame Football team was in the chairs with their classmates cutting off their hair for charity.

LINK:  UND.COM VIDEO FEATURE

LINK:  ST. BALDRICK'S WEBSITE