Irish Beat #19 UCONN 50 - 48 on the Road!

What was expected to be a down year for the Fighting Irish -- now looks more like a Notre Dame team that could be headed to the NCAA TOURNAMENT!

For the fourth time in a few weeks, NOTRE DAME has beaten a ranked opponent -- the second time on the road!  The Irish have beaten #12 Pittsburgh, #10 Louisville, #1 Syracuse and now #19 UCONN.

The Irish have now won four of the last five against UCONN.

IMPRESSIVE WIN!

LINK:  BOX SCORE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LOCKER ROOM

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN (IT'S ALL ABOUT UCONN) HIGHLIGHTS

$8,000 in Cash, Airplane Tickets and a Car...

That's the benefits that UCONN freshman basketball player Ryan Boatright and his mother "admitted to" receiving for committing to play basketball for Jim Calhoun's program.

And, he's playing today against the IRISH -- serving only a nine game suspension for the $8,000 in cash, free airplane tickets and car... 

You can't make this stuff up.

So, what's the lesson learned here:  You might as well take the money, tickets and cars -- because if you get caught, you'll only miss a few games... 

UNBELIEVABLE.

LINK:  UCONN PLAYER REINSTATED -- NCAA REPORT

ND's "Mad Bomber" -- Daryle Lamonica

ND GO IRISH BLOG friend Cappy Gagnon -- was kind enough to forward me this YOUTUBE video this morning of former Irish QB Daryle Lamonica, from his days in the AFL and NFL.  Lamonica, a three-year starter for Notre Dame -- left his professional football career as one of the all-time greats.  Take a look at this resume:

• 78.4% winning percentage as a NFL starter (66 - 16 - 4) -- 2nd best all-time!
• 90% wining percentage a a AFL starter (40 - 4 - 1) 1st all-time!
• 2 Time AFL MVP:  1967 & 1969
• 3 Time AFL All-Star:  1965, 1967, 1969
• 2 Time NFL Pro Bowl:  1970 & 1972
• 3 Time AFL Champion:  1964, 1965, 1967

Please note:  the photo above was from Super Bowl II -- Lamonica threw 2 TD passes in the game.

LINK:  DARYLE LAMONICA HIGHLIGHTS

Best Selling Domer -- Takes Questions...

Former University of Notre Dame track star Nicholas Sparks '88 -- has been busy writing BEST SELLER AFTER BEST SELLER -- since his days in South Bend.  Six of his books have been adapted to movies; Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John and The Last Song. Two more are in various stages of development. The Lucky One will be released as a film April 20, 2012. "Safe Haven" is expected to be in theaters February 2013.

ABC purchased the TV rights to a Spark's archangel love story drama called The Watchers -- which will be his first foray into a television series.  We'll have to keep an eye out for this...

A few weeks ago, the folks at CNN.COM were able to get Nicholas to sit down and take some questions from his fans.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NICHOLAS SPARKS TAKES QUESTIONS