Weather Permitting: BLUE ANGELS FLYOVER!

If you're going to Saturday's Notre Dame vs. Navy football game you could be in for a special treat.  The world-famous NAVY BLUE ANGELS are here in town and are scheduled to do a pre-game fly over Notre Dame Stadium -- in their DELTA formation shown above -- should be awesome!

Flying in Jet #2 for the Blue Angels is Right Wing Pilot Lt. Cdr. John Hiltz (photo above), a 2002 alumnus of Notre Dame.

Here's a couple videos of the BLUE ANGELS to get you ready for Saturday!

LINK:  STADIUM FLY OVER

LINK:  BLUE ANGELS VIDEO

Notre Dame's Men's Hoop Team Ranked #21

The Fighting Irish's Men's Basketball Team was ranked #21 today in the just released Associated Press pre-season rankings of college basketball teams.  Notre Dame, playing for the first time in the Atlantic Coast Conference, is the fourth highest ranked team in the ACC:

1. Duke (#4)
2. Syracuse (#8)
3. North Carolina (#13)
4. NOTRE DAME (#21)
5. Virginia (#24)

LINK:  PRE-SEASON RANKINGS

A "Perfect Start" for Taya Reimer Tonight!

The reigning McDonald's High School Player of the Year started her college career tonight with a PERFECT SHOOTING NIGHT!   Taya Reimer (pictured above), playing in a Notre Dame jersey for the first time had this stat line in only 20 minutes of playing time:

• 11 for 11 from the field
• 5 for 5 from the foul line
• 27 points
• 6 rebounds
• 3 blocked shots

By the way -- the IRISH won the game 118 to 49 over California (PA) a NCAA Division II program.  Here is a link to Coach McGraw's post game press conference:

LINK:  COACH MCGRAW'S PRESSER

Video Tour of Brian Kelly's Office @ Notre Dame

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly welcomed the crew from Fighting Irish Digital Media into his office this week for a tour of his "digs."  Pretty nice!

LINK:  COACH KELLY'S OFFICE

Muffet's #7 Ranked Fighting Irish Play Tonight

In about an hour from now "basketball without Skylar" begins at the University of Notre Dame as the #7 ranked Fighting Irish kick-off the 2013 - 2014 season with an exhibition game vs. California (PA).  Muffet "tweeted" earlier today that her "three senior starters" would not play this evening because of injuries -- so we'll probably be looking at a starting line-up that looks like this:

• Jewell Loyd 
• Michaela Mabrey
• Madison Cable
• Lindsay Allen
• Taya Reimer

Allen and Reimer are both freshmen who come in with big-time credentials.  Should be fun!

LINK:   WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Brian Kelly's Navy Game Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today to talk about Saturday's game with the Naval Academy.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY PRESSER

Everett Golson's Sports Illustrated Interview

Everett Golson agreed to talk with Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples.  Here's a link to the on camera interview:

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

Domer Chris Quinn Takes Northwestern Job

Former Irish student-athlete Chris Quinn '06, was named Director of Player Development for the Northwestern Wildcats basketball team today.  Quinn played six seasons in the NBA. 

Congrats Chris!

LINK:  DOMER TO NORTHWESTERN

Notre Dame Bowl Options: Orange or Pinstripe?

The South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen updated Notre Dame's bowl options today -- and it looks something like this:

• Win the rest of the games and play in the Orange Bowl against Florida State
• Win all but one of the games left and play in the Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers

Sun or Snow...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S BOWL OPTIONS

Golden Tate's 80 Yard TD Catch on MNF!

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver and now Seattle Seahawk Golden Tate -- caught an 80 yard TD catch on Monday Night Football in a game against the St. Louis Rams.  The Seahawks held off the Rams 14 - 9 with a last second goal line stand. 

Here's a link to the video of the TD catch.

LINK:  GOLDEN'S TD CATCH ON MONDAY NIGHT

Trick Shot Monday -- "AKA Torii Toss"

They might as well just give the ping pong ball to Torii Hunter Jr. and let him star in his own production every Monday night...

For the fourth time this season -- Hunter made the winning toss on Trick Shot Monday at Notre Dame.

LINK:  TORII TOSS

OT: Oregon Fake Punt Against UCLA

You have to wonder what the UCLA special teams coach was thinking on this approach to rushing a punter...

LINK:  OREGON'S FAKE PUNT

98 Years Ago ND Scored 27 TD's in One Game!

Folks, on this day -- 98 years ago, the Ramblers of Notre Dame beat the American College of Medicine and Surgery of Chicago 142 - 0 !!! 

And, the game was called off -- after only 33 minutes of play...

This game stands as the GOLD STANDARD for offensive output in the 126 year history of Notre Dame Football.  (That's the team photo from the 1905 Notre Dame football team above.)  See the story below:

LINK:  27 TD'S IN ONE GAME!

Notre Dame Back in the Top 25 Today

I'd like to know how these VOTERS can justify the following...

• In the AP poll the Irish are ranked #26 -- ranked ahead of them is Arizona State.  The same Arizona State the IRISH beat earlier in the season.
• In the Coaches Poll the Irish are ranked #25 -- ranked behind Michigan State.  The same Michigan State the IRISH beat earlier in the season.  Michigan State has beaten two teams with winning records.
• Wisconsin ranked #22/#23 has two losses, just like Notre Dame -- one of those losses was to Arizona State -- the same Arizona State team that Notre Dame beat this season.  Wisconsin has beaten two teams with winning records.  

LINK:  AP & COACHES POLLS

Brian Kelly's Post Game Presser: Air Force

Minutes after Notre Dame's 45 - 10 win over Air Force last night -- Coach Kelly met with the media. Here's a link to the post game press conference:

LINK:  AIR FORCE POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Quick Media Reaction to Notre Dame's Victory

Notre Dame outscored Air Force 45 - 10 -- in a game the Irish trailed in the first quarter 7 - 0.  Tommy Rees had the best game of his career -- TAKING OVER THIRD PLACE ALL-TIME AMONG NOTRE DAME QB'S FOR CAREER TOUCHDOWN PASSES -- and the Fighting Irish finally figured out the triple option in the second half.  Here's the initial media reaction to the game:

LINK:  DENVER POST

LINK:  COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 

LINK:  CBS SPORTS NETWORK

"Touchdown" Tommy Rees Throws 5 TD Passes

Notre Dame beat the Air Force Academy 45 - 10 today in a game that Tommy Rees will remember for the rest of his life... 

Here are the higlights!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SCORES 45!

Troy Niklas Boarding Team Bus for Game

This was just "tweeted" by @NDSportsBlogger -- Troy Niklas and Zach Martin (inside the bus) heading off to game with Air Force.

The #2 Ranked Fighting Irish Win Again!

The Notre Dame hockey team continued their streak of not trailing in any hockey game this season...

Last night the #2 ranked Fighting Irish beat #21 Minnesota-Duluth 3 -2 in front of almost 7,000 fans at Duluth's Amsoil Arena. 

College hockey fans will remember that Minnesota-Duluth won the 2011 NCAA Division I National Championship in hockey -- beating Notre Dame in the semi-finals of the Frozen Four that year 4-3.


LINK:  IRISH BEAT MINNESOTA-DULUTH

Notre Dame's Ties to Colorado Springs Area

The Colorado Springs Gazette must have decided to boost their readership this week by pumping out a number of Notre Dame stories.  Here's one about a former Notre Dame student -- now a Holy Cross Priest -- and some talk about the Notre Dame Club of Colorado Springs tailgate which had sold more than 1,000 tickets...

There is a second link to a story about Joe Montana and his game against the Air Force Academy.

LINK:  ONLY NOTRE DAME

LINK:  THE LEGEND OF MONTANA

Story: Inside the Obsession of Notre Dame Fans

The Colorado Springs Gazette's Brent Briggeman penned this story today about the obsession of Notre Dame fans.

Frankly, I don't know what he could be talking about!  :)

LINK:  INSIDE THE OBSESSION

Media Preview of Notre Dame vs. Air Force

The Fighting Irish are favored to win this game -- the oddsmakers have us as 20 point favorites.

Not so fast my friends...   Our Irish are coming off of a tough / emotional win over USC, we're playing a team that runs the option and we'll be without Louis Nix and Christian Lombard...

Here's what the media has to say:

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  DENVER POST

LINK:  COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Alabama Students Punished for Leaving Early

Maybe Alabama should send these "student groups" to the University of Notre Dame for a football game...

LINK:  ALABAMA STUDENTS PUNISHED

Will the High Altitude Impact Notre Dame?

When Notre Dame's football team walked out to to their chartered jet yesterday at South Bend Airport they were standing 799 feet above sea level...

Today, when they walk onto the football field in Colorado Springs they'll be standing more than a MILE CLOSER TO THE SUN -- as the elevation is 6,621 above sea level.

The story linked below speaks to the impact of altitude change at Denver's "Mile High" Stadium on football players and the game -- from the perspective of the Philadelphia Eagles.

FUN FACT:  The Air Force Academy's football stadium is 1,000 feet higher above sea level than Denver's.

LINK: PERFORMANCE AT HIGH ALTITUDE

A Little Welcome Sign at the Air Force Academy

Think they're trying to send a message to their opponents?

Story on the Rochell Brothers...

There's a decent chance Notre Dame freshman football player Isaac Rochell will be playing against his older brother Matt -- who's a starting left tackle for Air Force -- in tomorrow's game. 

Irish fans will enjoy this story...

LINK:  ROCHELL BROTHERS

IRISH Arriving in Colorado Springs For Game

Thought you'd enjoy seeing these photos that were "tweeted" by @NDFootball and by @NDFBEquipment these past few hours from the Air Force Academy.

Got to love the shot of Notre Dame's equipment staff making sure the IRISH have privacy in the bathroom stalls.

Muffet & Kayla at ACC Media Day

The University of Notre Dame is experiencing a number of "firsts" this fall as the Fighting Irish enter play in the Atlantic Coast Conference.  For women's basketball it meant a trip to Greensboro, NC for Muffet McGraw and Kayla McBride for the ACC's Women's Basketball Media Day.

LINK:  ACC MEDIA DAY

LINK:  VIDEO BOOTH -- PLAYERS

Notre Dame Lacrosse Gets Special Uniforms

The ND Men's Lacrosse team is sporting a "new look" in their exhibition game today against the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

OT: Name Change for the NFL's Redskins?

Word's breaking this afternoon that a neighbor of Washington Redskins' owner Dan Snyder has filed for a patent to lock down the name Washington Bravehearts for "football purposes."  Here's the story:

LINK:  WASHINGTON BRAVEHEARTS

Cam McDaniel's Appearance on NBC's Today!

Notre Dame running back Cam McDaniel made a guest appearance this morning on NBC's Today Show -- in follow up to the reaction to the photo above.  I must say the women of Today -- were a little over the top -- thank goodness Carson Daly (huge Notre Dame fan) was there to bring the conversation back to football...

LINK:  CAM MCDANIEL

CBS Sports Network Interviews Coach Kelly

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a guest today on the CBS' Inside College Football Show.  Here's the link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Notre Dame Sets "All-Time" NCAA GSR Mark!

For the eighth time in the nine years that the NCAA has released their Graduation Success Rate scores -- the University of Notre Dame finished #1 in the country.  NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

This year 20 of 22 teams received a PERFECT GSR -- the most ever in NCAA history!  See the story on ESPN:

LINK:  NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Nix and Lombard Out For Saturday's Game

Notre Dame's "Irish Chocolate" Louis Nix III will not be traveling with the team to play Air Force this weekend.  Louis is dealing with a sore knee and was unable to practice this week.

Christian Lombard injured his back on Tuesday -- leading to surgery on Wednesday and news that he'll be lost for the season.  Lombard will be replaced by freshman Steve Elmer.

Learn more from Coach Brian Kelly's Thursday press conference:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Brian Kelly's Radio Show Tonight at 7 PM ET

Every Thursday night during the football season -- Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly hosts his radio show from O'Rourke's Pub in South Bend.  Here's a link to watch tonight's LIVE SHOW beginning at 7 PM ET:

LINK:  COACH KELLY RADIO SHOW

Spond Going Home Without Gold Helmet...

Notre Dame student-athlete Danny Spond will be going home to Colorado tomorrow -- as the IRISH fly to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Academy on Saturday.

Spond, who was the starting outside linebacker on last year's #1 ranked Fighting Irish was forced into "retiring" from the game this summer when some medical issues resurfaced.  The folks at ESPN picked up on Spond's return home this weekend -- here's the story:

LINK:  GOING HOME

Notre Dame Football's Internet Sensation...

Folks, you can't make this stuff up.

During last week's game with USC, Notre Dame running back Cam McDaniel's helmet came off during a play.  Well, the photo (shown above) is racing through the social media world -- as we speak -- and now outlets like CNN, USA TODAY, HLN, etc., -- are talking about it:


LINK:  USA TODAY STORY

LINK:  HLN -- HEADLINE NEWS

LINK:  LINKED OFF CNN'S HOMEPAGE

NFL FILMS: Onward Notre Dame

If you'd like to see NFL Films' Onward Notre Dame -- just click on the link below:

LINK:  ONWARD NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Football Players Giving Back...

The Notre Dame football team spent Monday evening this week visiting the South Bend Center for the Homeless.  You'll want to watch this.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

Notre Dame's on CBS Sports Network Saturday

If you're wondering if your cable TV provider offers the CBS SPORTS NETWORK -- you can click on the link below to find out!  The Notre Dame vs. Air Force game kick's off at 5:20 PM ET on Saturday.

LINK:  FIND THE CBS SPORTS NETWORK CHANNEL

A "MUST SEE" Video Produced by Ireland TV

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year award winners visited the University of Notre Dame this summer.  You'll want to watch their coverage of this experience.

 LINK:  THE IRISH @ NOTRE DAME

Brady Quinn Signs with St. Louis Rams Today

Well, he was on the west coast playing for the Seattle Seahawks in August -- on the east coast playing for the New York Jets in September -- and now he'll be in the Midwest playing for the St. Louis Rams in October...

Congratulations Brady!

LINK:  ST. LOUIS DISPATCH

Coach Kelly's Tuesday Press Conference

As always -- you can watch the replay right here:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Air Force QB Says He Won't Be Scared vs. ND

Here's the first story I've found about Notre Dame's game against the Air Force Academy this Saturday.

LINK:  WON'T BE SCARED

Notre Dame Hockey Ranked #2 in the Nation!

A 4 - 0 start to the season lands Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish a #2 ranking in the latest college hockey polls.  Notre Dame received 11 first place votes -- trailing only #1 Minnesota. 

The Golden Gophers are coached by former ND hockey player Bob Lucia '81 -- who's also the father of Irish hockey player Mario Lucia.

Minnesota comes to South Bend on November 8th and 9th to play the IRISH -- should be quite a weekend of hockey at the Compton!

LINK:  COLLEGE RANKINGS

Big-Time Notre Dame Fan Retires From Tigers

Jim Leyland, a big-time Notre Dame fan, retired today from managing the Detroit Tigers.  Leyland leaves the Tigers having led them to the Central Division Championship three straight season -- the first team to ever do so.

Looks like Leyland will have more time to get to Notre Dame!

LINK:  LEYLAND -- NOTRE DAME FAN

LINK:  LEYLAND STEPS DOWN

Inside Notre Dame Football -- USC EDITION

If you'd like to re-live Saturday night's big win over USC -- you'll want to watch this edition of INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL.

LINK:  WATCH IT HERE