Samardzija Gets Opening Day Start for Cubs!

He sure made a good choice picking baseball...

Former Notre Dame All-American "wide receiver" Jeff Samardzija was just named the Opening Day starter for the Chicago Cubs.  Congratulations Jeff!

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA -- OPENING DAY!

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 

LINK:  VIDEO FROM INTERVIEW LAST WEEK

Irish Beat BG -- End Up Second in CCHA

Well, we needed the following to happen last night in college hockey to win the CCHA regular season title:

• Notre Dame beats Bowling Green -- CHECK!
• Michigan State beats Western Michigan -- CHECK!
• Ohio State beats Miami -- NOPE!

So, the IRISH end up in second place in the final CCHA regular season standing -- earning Notre Dame a first round bye in the CCHA tournament.  The Irish will host a second round game the weekend of March 15 - 17 against the second lowest seeded team to advance.

Here's a link to the final CCHA regular season standings -- along with game highlights:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  CCHA STANDINGS

Will It Be the ACC, Big East or the Catholic 7?

The news broke this past week that seven Catholic school members of the Big East would break away as early as next season to start their own conference.  This move would more than likely be the end to the Big East -- or, will it?

Rumor has it that the "Catholic 7" already have a TV deal with Fox.

Over the past few days -- word started to leak out that the "Catholic 7" would take the Big East name with them -- and, start their new conference next season.  So, where does that leave Notre Dame with its timetable to move to the Atlantic Coast Conference?

Here's what the media is saying:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  NEW YORK POST

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  USA TODAY