Manti Mania! -- Here's What You'll Find Today

Took a lap around the worldwide web to capture what the media is sayin' about Notre Dame's  All-American linebacker Manti Te'o -- here's what I've found today:

LINK:  DAN PATRICK SHOW

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  NESN

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

The Heisman Push Began Today for Manti!

Notre Dame's two-time All-American linebacker -- Manti Te'o -- spent the afternoon today with his own press conference (link below), followed by an award presentation ARA'S SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD during the Irish's game with Kentucky and a live "in-game" interview  with the ESPN crew -- also linked below...

I suspect we'll see a pretty good run of Manti stories over the next week as we lead up to next Saturday's Heisman Trophy presentation in New York City.

LINK:  MANTI'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  MANTI'S ESPN IN-GAME INTERVIEW

Notre Dame Beats #8 Kentucky EASILY!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish played tonight like we thought they would this season...

They DOMINATED the defending National Champions -- after overcoming a slow start when the Wildcats took an early 12 - 6 lead.  The Irish led by as many as 20 points in the second half -- finishing with a 64 - 50 win.

IT'S ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN JOHN CALIPARI'S FOUR SEASONS AT KENTUCKY THAT HIS TEAM HAS BEEN BEAT BY DOUBLE DIGITS!

Notre Dame's back court tandem of Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant led the Irish -- combining for 29 BIG points, 10 assists and 4 steals!

Here's what the media had to say about Notre Dame's big win - along with a link to Coach Brey's post game press conference and game highlights!

LINK:  COACH BREY'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER

LINK:  GAME BLOG -- HERALD LEADER

Coach Parseghian to be Honored at Disney...

Former Notre Dame all-time great football coach -- Ara Parseghian -- will be honored next Thursday night at Disney World during the HOME DEPOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARD SHOW on ESPN.  The show will be aired beginning at 7:30 PM ET.

I suspect they're just might be a few more members of the current Notre Dame football program being honored that night as well!

Congratulations Coach Parseghian!

LINK:  ARA TO BE HONORED

Photo of the Day: Writer Shining Helmets...

He's a "un-named" former Sports Illustrated writer who, a few weeks ago, wrote a less than complimentary article about the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. 

Today he was in "taking his medicine" for his prediction that USC would beat ND.

16 Million TV Viewers -- ONLY NOTRE DAME!

All of the media types who were using the "R" word when talking about Notre Dame, these past few years, should feel a little foolish...

Notre Dame's game this past week with "un-ranked" USC drew a television audience of 16 million viewers -- the most watched SATURDAY NIGHT football game in ABC history!  Here's some other "fun facts" as it relates to the size of this TV audience:

• The largest TV audience ever for a non #1 vs. #2 college football game since 1991 -- 21 YEARS -- that game was ND vs. FSU...
• The largest TV audience for a regular season college football game on any network since 2006

LINK:  NOTRE DAME TV AUDIENCE

"We Owe Notre Dame a Standing Ovation"

These were the last words in a piece produced by ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski...

LINK:  WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS

Jim Rome on Rick Reilly's Polishing of Helmets

As many of you know, Rick Reilly ran a column a few months ago in which he opined that Notre Dame did not deserve the respect it was receiving from the NCAA, BCS and others...

I'll let Jim Rome tell the rest of the story...

LINK:  JIM ROME ON RICK REILLY

"Notre Dame Beats Ohio State by Two TD's..."

An unabashed Michigan football fan and radio host of THE HUGE SHOW -- wrote a piece in the Grand Rapids Press today about the Wolverine's loss to the Buckeyes...

Simonson took it upon himself to then talk about Notre Dame, how they "do things the right way," and -- how they "would beat Ohio State by two touchdowns..."

Special thanks to long-time ND GO IRISH BLOG regular R.J. Doyle for alerting me to this story!  That's "Uncle R.J." to me!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS OHIO STATE

WSJ: Why Notre Dame Deserves This...

The folks at the Wall Street Journal produced this video; WHY NOTRE DAME DESERVES TO BE IN THE BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME...

Yeah, the Wall Street Journal is giving sports commentary.  Take a look.

LINK:  WHY NOTRE DAME!

Irish Connection Take #2 From LA Coliseum

Can't get enough of this moment for the NOTRE DAME FAMILY.  You'll want to watch this!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION -- TAKE #2

Skip Bayless: "Manti Te'o Deserves Heisman"

Never thought I'd hear Skip Bayless promote a Notre Dame player -- for anything that had a POSITIVE outcome...

The world must be changing!

You'll enjoy reading Bayless' case as to why Manti Te'o is deserving of the Heisman Trophy.

LINK:  MANTI DESERVES THE HEISMAN

TMQ: Notre Dame Should Be Celebrated!

If you're a regular to the ND GO IRISH BLOG you'll know that a common theme has been -- "when will someone talk about graduating student-athletes in the sports media..."

Well, it looks like that day has come!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SHOULD BE CELEBRATED

Notre Dame's Prophetic Author!

I have the privilege of working with Bob Quakenbush at the University of Notre Dame.  Bob, a 1976 grad, wrote a book entitled "The Gipper's Ghost" nearly 30 years ago.

The story talks about a fictional coach, by the name of COACH KELLY, who in his third year coaching the IRISH would lead them to a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

You can't make this up!

Here's a link to the ABC-TV story on Bob and his book!

LINK:  THE GIPPER'S GHOST

LINK:  THE GIPPER'S GHOST FACEBOOK PAGE

LINK:  BUY THE KINDLE VERSION!

A MUST READ -- Wall Street Journal Story

Notre Dame fans, this is a Wall Street Journal article written by Jason Gay -- a University of Wisconsin alum -- who's not a fan of the IRISH...

You'll find this worthy of your time!

LINK:  CHILL OUT ON #1 NOTRE DAME

Sports Talk Radio on ND's Perfect Season!

Sports Talk Radio -- was filled with conversation about the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame yesterday.  Here's a sample of what you might have missed!

LINK:  MIKE & MIKE -- ESPN

LINK:  MIKE & MIKE #2 -- ESPN

LINK:  COLIN COWHERD -- ESPN

LINK:  JIM ROME -- THE JIM ROME SHOW

LINK:  JIM ROME #2 -- THE JIM ROME SHOW

LINK:  SCOTT VAN PELT -- ESPN

LINK:  DAN PATRICK -- THE DAN PATRICK SHOW

LINK:  JT THE BRICK -- FOX SPORTS

Think You've Got a Great Notre Dame Room...

You might "re-think" this after you've watched this video...

WOW, is all I can say!

LINK:  THE ULTIMATE NOTRE DAME THEATER

Inside Notre Dame Football: USC Victory Show

You'll enjoy this edition of Inside Notre Dame Football with Brian Kelly.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL -- USC VICTORY SHOW

Notre Dame Closes Gap: All-Time Winning %

A 12 - 0 season cures a lot of ills...

One of them was the All-Time Winning % lead which Notre Dame relinquished to Michigan during the Ty Willingham era...

As of this very moment -- here's the "math" on the All-Time Winning % Lead in College Football -- less than ONE THOUSANDTH OF A POINT separates Michigan and Notre Dame:

• MICHIGAN:  903 Wins -- 314 Losses and 36 Ties =  .73503%

• NOTRE DAME:  865 Wins -- 300 Losses and 42 Ties =  .73405%

So, here's the math:  Michigan has a TWO GAME LEAD on the Fighting Irish.  Here's how I see it: when Notre Dame wins the BCS Championship game and Michigan loses their bowl game -- we'll roll into Ann Arbor next fall looking to beat Michigan to regain the All-Time Winning % lead.

In the All-Time Wins department -- Notre Dame is currently #3:

• Michigan:  903 wins
• Texas:  866 wins
• Notre Dame:  865 wins

Notre Dame Turns 170 Years-old Today!

On this day -- November 26, 1842 the University of Notre Dame du Lac was founded by Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C.

Happy Birthday Notre Dame!

LINK:  FR. SORIN -- WIKI PAGE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GLEE CLUB

I Missed This Video Last Week -- MUST SEE!!!

This might be one of the best videos I've seen surrounding Notre Dame Football -- it is that good.  Oh, how I wish I had watched this before Saturday's game with USC...

LINK:  ...GOING TO CUT YOU DOWN

How You Might Want to Deal With the Haters...

If you run into a SEC fan, Oregon fan, etc., over these next forty days or so, and they say "Notre Dame doesn't deserve to play in the National Championship game -- just share the following with them...

LINK:  PAT FORDE -- NOTRE DAME PLAYED A TOUGHER SCHEDULE

USC's Lane Kiffin Talks Loss to Notre Dame

USC coach Lane Kiffin met with the media -- along with QB Max Wittek -- after losing to Notre Dame 22 - 13.  Some of the key comments from Kiffin:

• "We only ran 48 plays on offense -- which is unheard of..."
• "We were 1 for 8 on third down..."
• "They're the number 1 goal line defense in the country for two years now -- they did this to everybody..."
• "Notre Dame showed me they have phenomenal senior leadership..."
• "They (Notre Dame) are not very exotic -- they're old school..."

LINK:  LANE KIFFIN POST GAME

USC Network: "Best Team We've Played..."

USC Network's Dan Weber and Johnie Freatman talked about their game with the Fightin' Irish -- and they shared that the Trojans' admitted Notre Dame was the BEST TEAM THEY HAVE PLAYED this season...

Found it interesting they chose the backdrop of the Notre Dame Equipment truck!

LINK:  USC NETWORK ANALYSIS OF GAME

"HE IS MANTI" -- Play the Game!

Notre Dame Athletics released this video that was just "tweeted" by @CoachBrianKelly

LINK:  HE IS MANTI

Notre Dame's PERFECT Defensive Unit!

Just let this sink-in for a few seconds:

Notre Dame allowed ONE TD or LESS to 

NINE OF THEIR TWELVE OPPONENTS THIS SEASON!

Now let's look at how dominant this defensive unit was this season.  Here's how ND's defense stacked up against each of the offensive units they played this season.

• Navy:  Gave up 10 points -- 15.5 points less than Navy's average for the season.  Navy is bowl-eligible.
• Purdue:  Gave up 17 points -- 12.9 points less than Purdue's average for the season.  Purdue is bowl-eligible.
• Michigan State:  Gave up 3 points -- 17.3 points less than Michigan State's average for the season.  Michigan State is bowl-eligible.
• Michigan:  Gave up 6 points -- 24 points less than Michigan's average for the season.  Michigan is bowl-eligible.
• Miami, FL:  Gave up 3 points -- 28.4 points less than Miami's average for the season.  Miami is bowl-eligible.
• Stanford:  Gave up 13 points -- 15.6 points less than Stanford's average for the season.  Stanford is bowl-eligible.
• BYU:  Gave up 14 points -- 15.2 points less than BYU's average for the season.  BYU is bowl-eligible.
• Oklahoma:  Gave up 13 points --  28.7 points less than Oklahoma's average for the season.  Oklahoma is bowl-eligible.
• Pittsburgh:  Gave up 26 points -- 1.5 points less than Pittsburgh's average for the season.  Pitt wins their game next week and they will be bowl-eligible.
• Boston College:  Gave up 6 points -- 13.8 points less than Boston College's average for the season.
• Wake Forest:  Gave up 0 points -- 18.5 points less than Wake Forest's average for the season.
• USC:  Gave up 13 points -- 21.2 points less than USC's average for the season.
   

Mornin' After We Earn a Championship Shot!

Here's what the media's sayin' this morning about Notre Dame's 22 - 13 win over USC last night to finish a PERFECT SEASON!

LINK:  BILL PLASCHKE -- LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  GENE WOJCIECHOWSKI -- ESPN

LINK:  GARY KLEIN-- LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  MATT FORTUNA -- ESPN

LINK:  GARY PASKWEITZ -- ESPN

LINK:  KEITH ARNOLD -- NBC

LINK:  STEWART MANDEL -- SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  FRANK SCHWAB -- YAHOO

LINK:  RICH HAMMOND -- ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LINK:  MARK WHICKER -- ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LINK:  DENNIS DODD -- CBS 

Think ND Fans Will Be Playin' This Song !!!

WELCOME TO MIAMI -- NOTRE DAME FAMILY!!!

Video: Notre Dame Football's Return to Campus

The Fightin' Irish returned to the campus of the University of Notre Dame around 6 AM ET this morning -- and the cameras were rolling when the buses parked at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex.  Special thanks to WSBT-TV for posting this video!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL RETURNS HOME

Mark May -- In His Leprechaun Suit...

ESPN's Mark May made the proclamation that "if Notre Dame goes 12 - 0 this season I'll dress like the Notre Dame Leprechaun..."

Well, WE DID and HE DID!

What PERFECTION Looks & Sounds Like!

I couldn't wait to get up this morning for MASS at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart -- and to watch the videos coming out of last night's PERFECT WIN over USC.  Thank you Fightin' Irish Digital Media!

Coach Kelly's halftime speech and post game speech -- had me in tears, big time!  OH WHAT A NIGHT!

Be sure to check out Joe Theismann using his iPhone to catch all the locker room action...

LINK:  COACH KELLY'S POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  PRE-GAME ON FIELD AND POST GAME LOCKER ROOM!!!

Notre Dame's "OTHER UNDEFEATED TEAM"

Muffet's Fightin' Irish were on the left coast tonight to watch Notre Dame's big win over USC.  Here's a shot of the team before the game!

Skylar Diggins "Tweets This Photo" From LA

Looks like Notre Dame's All-American Skylar Diggins and Natalie Achonwa were standing on the field of the LA Coliseum celebrating the IRISH victory!

Just "Tweeted" Photo -- ND TEAM BUS!

Photo of Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick handing out burgers on TEAM BUS.  Photo tweeted by #125NDFB

NOTRE DAME IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

A New York Times' writer took a different look at the success of Notre Dame's football season. 

You'll enjoy reading this!

LINK:  WHY NOTRE DAME IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS

The Media Reacts to a PERFECT Notre Dame!!!

This is going to be fun to read!

Took a lap around at 1 AM on Day #8 of Notre Dame being atop of the college football world -- to see what our "friends" are now sayin' about our UNDEFEATED FIGHTING IRISH!

ENJOY THIS NOTRE DAME!

LINK:  LOU HOLTZ

LINK:  ESPN -- ND'S BALANCED ATTACK

LINK:  ESPN -- COACH KELLY AFTER WIN

LINK:  ESPN -- WILL IRISH WIN IT ALL?

LINK:  ESPN -- HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN -- NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES #2

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES 

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

We're Takin' Our Talents to South Beach!!!

Here's some of the highlights of Notre Dame's 22 - 13 win over USC tonight to go 12 - 0 for the season!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS!

NOTRE DAME IS PERFECTION! Hallelujah!

Folks, it wasn't pretty it was PERFECT!

For only the second time in the 125 year history of Notre Dame football an IRISH team is 12 - 0 on a season.  Think about that!

Here's some video I took of Notre Dame students celebrating on campus -- just minutes after the IRISH beat USC tonight!

LINK:  STUDENTS CELEBRATING #1

LINK:  STUDENTS CELEBRATING #2

It's Less Than 16 Hours to IRISH Perfection!

Folks, I have a GREAT FEELING about tonight's game between our Fightin' Irish and that school in Los Angeles.  Around 11:42 PM ET -- I expect to be watching a number of Notre Dame students gathered at North Quad's "Stonehenge" celebrating PERFECTION!
  
This is the sixth time we've gone to the LA Coliseum #1 to play USC and the IRISH are 3 - 2 in those contests.

Now, there's a few media types who don't agree with me -- so, to get you fired up for tonight's game -- here's what's being said:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  THE SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  PACIFIC TAKES

LINK:  THE OBSERVER

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  ESPN USC BLOG

LINK:  ESPN'S DESMOND HOWARD

LINK:  ESPN'S DARRELL REVELL

LINK:  ESPN'S KIRK HERBSTREIT

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES #2

Mel Kiper Picks NOTRE DAME over USC

Kiper readily admits he's a Notre Dame fan -- so it comes as no surprise to me that he picks the Fightin' Irish over USC tomorrow:

LINK:  KIPER ON THE IRISH

Their THIRD TIME Coaching ND vs. USC

The following Notre Dame football coaches BEAT USC in their third-year running the IRISH football program -- Ara Parseghian in 1966, Dan Devine in 1977 and Lou Holtz in 1988 -- and all three won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP that season!

Note to the Notre Dame Family -- this is Coach Kelly's THIRD SEASON at the helm of the Fightin' Irish!

1966:  ARA PARSEGHIAN'S IRISH ROLL USC

1977:  DAN DEVINE'S IRISH ROLL USC

1988:  LOU HOLTZ'S IRISH ROLL USC

IRISH Did Have A Walk Through @ Coliseum!

Here's a photo of Coach Kelly with ABC's Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musberger on the LA Coliseum field this afternoon.  "Tweeted" by #125NDFB.  I'm attaching some additional photos as well!

Photo of the Flight Crew Taking the IRISH to LA!

This is the second photo just "tweeted" by #125NDFB. 

Notre Dame Football Heading to Los Angeles!

This photo was just "tweeted" by @125NDFB of the Fightin' Irish boarding their charter flight to Los Angeles!

GO IRISH!

Evan Sharpley Talks Notre Dame Football

Former Notre Dame QB and First Basemen -- Evan Sharpley -- wrote a story this morning in the South Bend Tribune about the resurgence of the Notre Dame football program. 

ND fans will find this enlightening!

LINK:  THE RETURN OF NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

USC's Lane Kiffin Plays the Brian Kelly Card

Lane Kiffin is under the microscope right now with the performance of his football team this season -- so what does he do a little more than 48 hours before kick-off against Notre Dame?

Kiffin "plays the Brian Kelly card" -- talking to the media yesterday -- sending a message to USC Athletic Director Pat Haden...

LINK:  LANE KIFFIN

Surpassed the HALF MILLION MARK last night!

At 11:38 PM last night -- a Notre Dame fan from Charleston, SC became unique visitor #500,000 to the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

I am very thankful that so many members of the  Notre Dame Family have chosen to follow the positive news about our favorite university at this site.  Seems appropriate that this milestone would be achieved on THANKSGIVING DAY.

As has become custom here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- I compare the visitor count to the size of an American city.  At 500,412 (where we're at at the moment of this post) the ND GO IRISH BLOG would be the 34th largest city in America -- just ahead of three "California towns" -- could be a good omen for Saturday night!

• #33 Tucson, AZ:  520,116
• #34  ND GO IRISH BLOG:  500,412
• #35 Fresno, CA:  494,665
• #36 Sacramento, CA:  466,488
• #37 Long Beach, CA:  462,257

Thank you Notre Dame Family!