Thursday, December 31, 2015
Domer Justin Tuck -- Raiders' Man of the Year!
The former Notre Dame All-American is now up for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award -- he joins fellow Domer David Bruton as one of the candidates this year!
LINK: CONGRATULATIONS JUSTIN!
Brian Kelly & Urban Meyer This AM in Phoenix
Both coaches held their final press conference today -- a joint one --- for the assembled media...
Notre Dame Players Visit Fiesta Bowl Site
Here's a few photos from Notre Dame's visit to University of Phoenix Stadium -- site of tomorrow's Fiesta Bowl game versus Ohio State.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Monday, December 28, 2015
Domer T.J. Jones' First NFL Touchdown Catch!
Former Notre Dame student-athlete T.J. Jones scored his first NFL Touchdown yesterday in the Detroit Lions win over San Francisco. Click on the link below to see T.J.'s incredible catch:
LINK: T.J. JONES' FIRST TD!
Notre Dame's Basilica Getting a New Organ
Here are pictures of the work going on inside Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart as they ready for the installation of a brand new organ. Photos courtesy of @johncnagy
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Brian Kelly Stands Alone -- Most Career Wins!
With the retirement of Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer -- Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly leads all active FBS football coaches with the most career wins with 226!
He now stands 48th -- ALL-TIME in college football history in career wins!
That's more than Saban, Meyer, Swinney, Harbaugh, Stoops -- and any other name you want to throw into the mix...
He's the only active FBS head coach with more than 200 career wins. Think about that Fighting Irish fans!
LINK: BRIAN KELLY
Friday, December 25, 2015
Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C. -- Christmas Message
The University of Notre Dame's 17th president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. sent out his annual Christmas message this week.
LINK: MERRY CHRISTMAS
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Domers Eifert & Martin Named to NFL Pro Bowl
The two former Notre Dame All-Americans -- Tyler Eifert (Bengals) and Zack Martin (Cowboys) were named last night to play in the NFL Pro Bowl game. It's the first for Eifert and the second for Martin.
Here's a former NFL Pro Bowl MVP -- Kyle Rudolph's tweet honoring Eifert's selection:
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Domer Kyle Rudolph "the Red Nose Reindeer"
The former Notre Dame student-athlete and current Minnesota Viking TE is seen here wearing the "red nose" and antlers of the famous leader of Santa's sleigh -- as he visits a hospital in Minneapolis.
Monday, December 21, 2015
Irish Chocolate and Bennett Jackson at MSG
Former Notre Dame student-athletes Bennett Jackson and Louis Nix III -- stopped by Madison Square Garden tonight to see former Fighting Irish hoops star Jerian Grant play for the Knicks. Jackson and Nix are on the New York Giants roster...
Jerian scored 6 points in the Knick's 107 - 99 loss to the Orlando Magic.
Monday Night Football -- Notre Dame Style!
The Detroit Lions' Golden Tate and Theo Riddick (ND alums) are putting on a show so far tonight in New Orleans -- see the links below:
LINK: TATE TD #1
LINK: TATE TD #2
LINK: RIDDICK'S JUKE
Domer Bruton Plays 60 Snaps With Broken Leg
Former Notre Dame student-athlete David Bruton -- a team captain with the Denver Broncos -- broke his leg in the first quarter and played the rest of the game thinking it was a "bruise."
David also "survived" a vicious late -- helmet to helmet hit -- from the Steelers' Cody Wallace (video above). Bruton broke his leg two plays prior this hit. The NFL is expected to levy a significant fine on Wallace -- see video above.
Here's the story:
LINK: DAVID BRUTON JR.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Domer Skip Holtz Talks New Orleans Bowl Win!
Skip Holtz '87 -- son of legendary ND football coach Lou Holtz and father of current Fighting Irish basketball player Chad Holtz -- led his Louisiana Tech team to a win in the New Orleans Bowl over Arkansas State last night.
Nice Toledo Blade Story on DeShone Kizer
You'll want to read this story about DeShone's "throwing session" for both Notre Dame and Ohio State in May 2013...
LINK: DESHONE KIZER
The NFL Christmas Cleats Battle: Nike vs UA
Here's what Odell Beckham Jr. (Nike), and Cam Newton (Under Armour) and Antonio Brown (Nike) are wearing today in their warm-up for NFL games...
Even though I don't wear anything from this company -- I've got to give this round to Nike -- Beckham's shoes have a gift and lights!
Domer David Bruton Bronco's "Man of the Year"
The former Notre Dame student-athlete is now up for consideration for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. I want to thank my brother Jay Small for alerting me to this story.
LINK: STORY
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Notre Dame vs. Indiana on ESPN2 @ 2 PM ET
Big game today for Coach Brey's Fighting Irish!
Here's a link to a preview of Notre Dame vs. Indiana -- coming out of the INDY STAR this morning.
LINK: PREVIEW ND vs. IU
Friday, December 18, 2015
Bob Davie Talks About Notre Dame Experience
Former Notre Dame football coach Bob Davie -- is having some success in New Mexico...
He recently opened up about his time in South Bend.
LINK: DAVIE ON ND
561 Glee Club Members Singing Victory March!
If you love these two Notre Dame songs -- the Alma Mater and Victory March -- you'll want to see this special performance from this past October!
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW!
More than 500 members of Notre Dame's Glee Club celebrated their 100th Anniversary!
LINK: THE MAKING OF 100
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Consensus All-Americans #98 & #99 at ND!
I wonder who will be #100 next year!
Notre Dame has the most consensus All-Americans in college football history -- as Ronnie Stanley and Jaylon Smith become #98 and #99.
LINK: CONGRATULATIONS
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Domer Seidel's National Championship Ring!
Two-time NCAA National Champion Molly Seidel '15 just received her "first of two" awesome rings from Notre Dame's Monogram Club!
Molly won the 10,000 meters at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship in June and she won the 2015 Women's Cross Country National Championship this past month.
This ring is for her 10,000 meter National Championship.
See video below of her most recent National Title!
Golden Tate's Engagement: Back in September!
Former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate is engaged to be married... It happened early in the NFL season, when the Lions were in San Diego to play the Chargers.
I missed this story!!!
LINK: GOLDEN'S ENGAGEMENT
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
WEBCAMS: Notre Dame Stadium Construction
Here's a link to four webcams situated all around Notre Dame Stadium -- giving you a LIVE LOOK at the construction going on at the HOUSE THAT ROCK BUILT.
Construction is set to be completed by the start of the 2017 football season.
If you look at the webcam that looks into the Stadium -- you'll note the old Press Box is gone...
LINK: STADIUM WEBCAMS
The "Swish" Heard Round South Bend!
Nick Becker is a fifth grade basketball player here in South Bend -- who has aspirations to play football someday for the Fighting Irish...
Nick has Down syndrome.
Saturday, December 5th -- in a gym in South Bend, IN -- Nick Becker scored his first two points in a basketball game (he made his second shot too!). He, his family and his friends scored more in the game of life...
There's a line in the Notre Dame Victory March "...what though the odds be great or small..."
I'm betting on Nick!
You're going to want to read this story...
Special thanks to Rick Becker -- Nick's Dad -- who sent me a note this morning alerting me to the video and story he had written about Nick's first bucket!
LINK: NICK'S FIRST TWO POINTS
Monday, December 14, 2015
A 3-D Look at Ticket Locations for Fiesta Bowl
If you're looking to go -- or -- already have your tickets to the 2016 Fiesta Bowl -- here's your chance to see what your view of the Fighting Irish will be inside the Stadium.
Notre Dame is the "visiting team" -- their sideline will be the sideline closest to the words Fiesta Bowl in the middle of the field.
LINK: FIND YOUR SEAT - FIND YOUR VIEW
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Army vs. Navy: America's Football Game!
My favorite "non-Notre Dame" football game EVERY YEAR -- it just doesn't get any better than this for me.
I look forward to their MARCH ON into Lincoln Financial Field, CBS's game intro (last year's above) -- and the joy and despair at game's end...
I always find myself rooting for NAVY -- and I will again today. Just hope it's a close game!
Will Fuller Named Notre Dame Football MVP
I will never forget a conversation I had with former Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator Chuck Martin, my Uncle Pat Sweeney and cousin Kevin Sweeney in the middle of the team's locker room at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex -- three years ago...
We had an impromptu conversation about the "star rankings" given to recruits when I asked Coach Martin this question; "What incoming recruit do you think will surprise the most?"
His answer: "We signed a wide receiver out of Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia named Will Fuller, that no one is talking about. We believe he will be a big time player for us and he's only a so-called "three star" recruit. He is really fast and he can high-point the ball..."
Prophetic.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Former ND VP, Assoc. Provost -- "Finals Stress"
Dan Myers, a former VP, Associate Provost at the University of Notre Dame is now the Provost at Marquette University.
It's nice to see Dan is back to his old tricks in Milwaukee!
A Sneak Peak at My "Ugly Sweater" for Work!
A homemade "Ugly Christmas Sweater" I'll wear to our work party here at Notre Dame tomorrow...
It's presently sitting in my garage on the car hood -- hoping the "adhesive" fumes are gone by morning!
GO IRISH!
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Domer Named "Miss Rodeo America 2016"
Notre Dame alum Katherine Merck '12 (Spokane, WA) was just named Miss Rodeo America 2016! Merck graduated from ND with a degree in Finance.
LINK: MISS RODEO AMERICA 2016
Day, Smith & Fuller Earn All-American Honors!
The first of many All-American teams was announced today and Notre Dame's Sheldon Day and Jaylon Smith were named to USA Today's First Team All-American team and Will Fuller received Second Team All-American honors...
Congrats!
LINK: USA TODAY ALL-AMERICANS
OT: Weiland's Ex-Wife's Letter to Rolling Stone
I'm not a rock-n-roll fan so I have to admit I had never heard of Scott Weiland, lead singer of the Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland passed away last week at the age of 48.
A sad story.
As you'll see in this poignant letter his ex-wife sent to Rolling Stone magazine -- Weiland was a fan of the Fighting Irish...
LINK: DON'T GLORIFY THIS TRAGEDY
OT: Bravo Virginia Tech Coach Buzz Williams
ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Tom Chronert was kind enough to send this to me last night. I have to admit it brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you Coach Williams -- I'm now a huge fan!
LINK: VIRGINIA TECH -- VETERAN'S DAY
Monday, December 7, 2015
Urban Meyer Talks Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame
Here's a link to Ohio State's Urban Meyer talking their Fiesta Bowl matchup with Notre Dame...
THIS WILL BE MEYER'S FIRST GAME COACHING AGAINST NOTRE DAME.
He talks briefly about the two schools that have met the most to him -- note the absence of Florida...
LINK: URBAN MEYER
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Back on the Soapbox -- Wear Green at Fiesta!
I was at the last Fiesta Bowl that Notre Dame played against Ohio State -- their fans (all dressed in red) and our fans were in blue, gold, green, black, yellow and white...
Those who were at that game will tell you -- it looked like Ohio State was playing a home game -- because their RED STOOD OUT.
Look at the fans in the photos above -- from that game...
It's time -- Notre Dame fans need to don their FIGHTING IRISH GREEN for the Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl!
Domer Golden Tate Visited Sports Center
The Lions' wide receiver apparently spent his off weekend in Bristol, CT. Here's the proof -- including a Taylor Swift Christmas Stocking!
Notre Dame to Take on Ohio State in Fiesta
It's on...
The #8 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have been selected to play in the Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day against that #7 ranked school in Columbus, OH.
As we all know -- Ohio State is coached by FOUR former Notre Dame assistant coaches; Urban Meyer, Tony Alford, Ed Warriner and Tim Hinton. The Buckeyes Director of Athletics is a Domer and former football player Gene Smith -- and their Assistant AD for Football Sports Performance, Micky Marotti is a former ND football staffer as well.
This is a great bowl opponent for our IRISH!
LINK: BUY FIESTA BOWL TICKETS
Bowl Pairings Announced Around 3:00 PM ET
The College Football Playoff Committee will make the call today as to what Bowl Notre Dame will play in and who their opponent will be.
The Selection Show will begin at 12:30 PM ET on ESPN -- and it runs to 3 PM ET. It's expected they'll announce Notre Dame's bowl and opponent in the last hour of the show.
Here's what the media thinks this AM:
LINK: CBS SPORTS -- PEACH BOWL vs. FLORIDA STATE
LINK: FOX SPORTS -- FIESTA BOWL vs. OHIO STATE
LINK: ESPN -- FIESTA BOWL vs. IOWA
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Samardzija: No ND Athlete Has Been Paid More
If you ever catch someone questioning Jeff Samardzija's decision to choose baseball over football -- just point this out:
With the guaranteed contract Jeff Samardzija just signed today with the San Francisco Giants he will -- have been and will be -- paid $133,795,000 to play the game of baseball!
He has made $43,795,000 in his career so far...
No other former Notre Dame athlete has been paid more to play a professional sport -- and it's not even close!
#3 Notre Dame Takes on #1 UCONN on ESPN
Muffet's Fighting Irish take on that team from Storrs, CT today on ESPN at 5:30 PM ET -- not at full strength -- for the third time in the last four games of this series.
Notre Dame's top two forwards; Brianna Turner and Taya Reimer are not expected to play for the #3 ranked Irish against the nation's top team.
These two teams played for the National Championship back in April.
The Opponents Notre Dame Will Face In 2016
I decided to look at Notre Dame's opponents next season, their head coaches, returners at QB and the team's record in 2015. Here's some of the highlights:
- ND plays against three teams with head coaches that are former ND assistants in their first four games
- ND will play half of their games in 2016 against teams with a new starting QB
- ND's opponents' returning starting QB's threw 66 TD's and 29 INT's
- ND will play against three teams in 2016 who have new head coaches -- four if you want to count USC
- ND's opponents' record in 2015: 82 - 57
@ TEXAS -- September 3
- Head Coach Charlie Strong -- former ND assistant
- QB: Jerome Heard -- 5 TD / 5 INT
- 2015 record: 5 - 7
NEVADA -- September 10
- Head Coach Brian Polian -- former ND assistant
- QB: Tyler Stewart -- 15 TD / 7 INT
- 2015 record: 6 - 6
MICHIGAN STATE -- September 17
- Head Coach Mark Dantonio
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 12 - 1
DUKE -- September 24
- Head Coach David Cutcliffe -- former ND assistant
- QB: Thomas Sirk -- 15 TD / 6 INT
- 2015 record: 7 - 5
@ SYRACUSE -- October 1
- Head Coach Dino Babers (just hired)
- QB: Eric Dungey -- 11 TD / 5 INT
- 2015 record: 4 - 8
@ NORTH CAROLINA STATE -- October 8
- Head Coach Dave Doeren
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 7 - 5
STANFORD -- October 15
- Head Coach David Shaw
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 11 - 2
MIAMI -- October 29
- Head Coach Mark Richt (just hired)
- QB: Brad Kaaya 15 TD / 4 INT
- 2015 record: 8 - 4
@ NAVY -- November 5
- Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 9 - 2
ARMY (Shamrock Series Game) -- November 12
- Head Coach Jeff Monken
- QB: Ahmad Bradshaw 5 TD / 2 INT
- 2015 record: 2 - 9
VIRGINIA TECH -- November 19
- Head Coach Justin Fuente (just hired)
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 6 - 6
@ USC -- November 26
- Head Coach Clay Helton (just named)
- QB: New starter in 2016
- 2015 record: 8 - 5
Friday, December 4, 2015
Should Stanford's Last TD Have Counted?
You're going to want to watch this / read this...
On Stanford's last TD of the game -- a pass to a wide-open TE in the left flat -- you'll notice that the TE is lined up on the right side of the line (third lineman over from the center -- photo below) like an offensive tackle. I'll let the article take it from here...
No matter what you think -- this is a "brilliant" formation and play call in the redzone.
LINK: ILLEGAL PLAY?
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Domer's At It Again: "Re-elect Iowa Speedway"
Just last month Notre Dame alum Jimmy Small '08 -- was trying out for the Iowa Barnstormers...
Well, yesterday -- he announced Iowa Speedway's re-election campaign. Here is his stump speech.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Latest Bowl Projections for Notre Dame
LINK: CBS SPORTS -- PEACH BOWL vs. FLORIDA STATE
LINK: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED -- FIESTA BOWL vs. IOWA
LINK: FOX SPORTS -- FIESTA BOWL vs. OHIO STATE
LINK: ESPN -- FIESTA BOWL vs. IOWA or HOUSTON
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
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