Keough Hall Earns Trip to Notre Dame Stadium!

Can you imagine playing an intramural football game with the winner earning the opportunity to play the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME in the HOUSE THAT ROCK BUILT? 

Well, in 37 degree weather tonight "under the lights" at Notre Dame's Labar Practice Complex -- the Keough Hall Kangaroos beat Keenan Hall 16 - 13 to earn the honor of running out of the tunnel into fabled Notre Dame Stadium!

The Kangaroos were down 7 - 0 early in the 1st quarter when Keenan connected on a beautiful 45 yard TD catch and run -- see video below.  It was a big-time play -- Coach Kelly may want to take a look at #3 in the Keenan uniform!

In the second quarter, Keough got on the board on a five-yard TD run (see video below).  Instead of kicking an extra point, they went for two, missing a pass play -- but, they benefited from an interference call -- getting the ball at the one-yard line for a second shot.  This time the Kangaroos ran it in to take the lead (see video below) 8 - 7 -- a lead they would never relinquish!

In the third quarter, a pass interception by the Kangaroos set up a short field and Keough drove the ball down and ran it in for what turned out to be the WINNING SCORE.  The two point conversion was unsuccessful -- putting Keough up 14 - 7.

With seven minutes left in the game, Keough was on the verge of putting the game away, when they fumbled the ball away to Keenan on the one-yard line.  On the very next play -- Keough blitzed and tackled the Keenan ball carrier in the endzone for a safety!  This made the score 16 - 7 with six minutes to go.

Keenan Hall, never giving up - drove the length of the field and scored a TD on a two-yard pass with 30 seconds left to make the score 16 - 13.   The extra point was blocked by Keough -- leaving the Kangaroos a couple of snaps to run the clock out.

I have to admit I was rooting for the men in Keough Hall tonight.  Their starting 'nose tackle' Patrick Couch (Trinity High School - South Bend) is the son of one of my colleagues at Notre Dame.  Patrick had a huge QB sack in the first half!  I couldn't be happier for Patrick and the Couch family tonight.

Keough Hall will play the winner of the other "semi-final" game tonight between Alumni Hall and Carroll Hall -- this Sunday in Notre Dame Stadium.  Should be fun!

LINK:  KEOUGH'S PRE-GAME PEP TALK

LINK:  KEENAN'S 45 YARD TD

LINK:  KEOUGH'S FIRST TD

LINK:  KEOUGH'S TWO-POINT CONVERSION

No Respect: BYU Favored Over Notre Dame

The bookies in Vegas have picked Brigham Young as the favorites - AT NOTRE DAME STADIUM -- this Saturday.   The Cougars are 7 - 3 on the season, just like our Fighting Irish.

I guess this must be the reason BYU is favored to beat Notre Dame:

• Brigham Young's wins over current Top 25 teams:  ZERO
• Notre Dame's wins over current Top 25 teams:  THREE

BYU's losses were to Virginia (2 - 8), Utah (4 - 6) and Wisconsin (8 - 2).  Only Wisconsin has a winning record among the three.

Notre Dame's losses were to Michigan (7 - 3), Oklahoma (8 - 2) and Pittsburgh (5 - 5).

No respect.

Buddhist Monks Creating Sand Mandala @ ND

Seven Tibetan Buddhist monks are currently at work on the campus of the University of Notre Dame creating a peace sand mandala.  If you're not aware of what a "sand madala" is -- here you go:

• The painting with colored sands is considered the most unique and exquisite of all artistic traditions of Buddhism. This Tibetan art form is called dul-tson-kuyil-khor, which means “mandala of colored powders.” The sand mandala represents many things, including the cycle of life – creation, beauty of existence and its impermanence, and finally, the return to the natural world for creation again.   

You can watch them create the PEACE SAND MANDALA -- LIVE by clicking on the link below.  It will take the MONKS FOUR DAYS to complete their work.  They will be working from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM the next four days -- check in on it live.


LINK:  CHECK IN ON THEIR PROGRESS -- RIGHT HERE

OT: Photo of NASCAR Tire Explosion Yesterday

This is an incredible photo of the TIRE being blown off the back of Paul Menard's Chevrolet at yesterday's NASCAR race at Homestead.  Click on the link below for the video of the explosion:

LINK:  NASCAR TIRE EXPLOSION