Domer Becca Huffer in Final Pairing Sunday!

.@beccahuffergolf put together a 6-under par 66 performance today, which included seven birdies and only one bogey. She is 9-under overall and will be in the final pairing tomorrow! #PrascoCC #Road2LPGA pic.twitter.com/qCGmTYHxRG

— Symetra Tour (@ROAD2LPGA) July 1, 2018

Former Notre Dame golf star Becca Huffer (Denver, CO) shot a 66 today to move into a tie for 2nd place and spot in tomorrow's final pairing of the Symetra Tour stop in Cincinnati.

GO IRISH!!!

LINK:  SYMETRA TOUR LEADERBOARD

Storm the Stadium -- Notre Dame Stadium!

What a cool opportunity!!!

Domer Golden Tate Getting Some Love...

Keep sleepin' on our WRs 💤 pic.twitter.com/oiyM3wD4ua

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) June 30, 2018

Notre Dame Dad Makes US Senior Open Cut!

Mike Finster -- the father of a Notre Dame student -- is playing this week in the US Senior Open.

Finster is tied for low amateur -- heading into the weekend!  Only 3 amateurs made the cut.

That's Mike (photo above) getting ready to hug his wife Marybeth after the round.

Congrats Mike!

LINK:  MIKE FINSTER GOLF

LINK:  US SENIOR OPEN LEADERBOARD

3,600 Steps in "The House That Rock Built!"

Three thousand, six hundred steps.

THIS IS OUR HOUSE. #GoIrish ☘ pic.twitter.com/75g1DTM6on

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 30, 2018

Pope Receives ND National Title T-Shirt!

Pope Francis received a Notre Dame Women's Basketball National Championship T-shirt from Fighting Irish Fan Patricia McAdams this past month...

Domer Dad Finster Shoots 72 in Round One...

Mike Finster -- whose Dad and brother are ND alums and his daughter is a student at the University of Notre Dame -- shot an opening round 72 today at the US Senior Open.  He currently stands in a tie for 26th place.

Finster's 72 is tied for the 2nd lowest round among the Amateurs playing in this year's US Senior Open.

Mike tees off at 2:25 PM MT tomorrow...


LINK:  FINSTER'S SCORE CARD

LINK:  MIKE'S BLOG

Domer Dad Playing in US Senior Open Today!

His name is Mike Finster -- his daughter Ashley is a student at the University of Notre Dame.

Mike's journey to the Senior PGA Tour is not your typical path -- see below...

Mike tees off today in his first round of the US SENIOR OPEN at 10:55 AM MT -- GOOD LUCK MIKE!

That's Mike teeing off today (pink shirt) in his final practice round -- he played in a group today with Golf Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer.

LINK:  MIKE'S STORY

Four Domers on Supreme Court Short List

With today's announcement of the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Kennedy -- the White House announced this afternoon that there is a list of 25 who will be considered for the appointment.

Four (4) Notre Dame alums are on this list:

• Amy Coney Barrett
  
• Thomas Hardiman
• Federico Moreno
• Margaret Ryan

LINK:  SUPREME COURT SHORT LIST

TV Introductions Being Shot Today at ND

Follow us on Snapchat 👻 (ndfbrecruiting) and instagram (ndfootball) for an inside look at day 1️⃣ of 2018 Production Week. #GoIrish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/Ob56GXQniI

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 26, 2018

Domer Doc Reattches Wisconsin Man's Arm

Notre Dame alum, Dr. Matt Butler (on right in photo above) -- a hand surgeon at Hand to Shoulder Center in Wisconsin reattached the severed arm of a construction worker.

The operation took five hours...

Butler's roommate at Notre Dame -- Super Bowl Champion Rocky Boiman.

LINK:  VIDEO OF PATIENT

Domer Tuck Accepts Job at Goldman Sachs

Rockford, AL to Notre Dame to the NFL New York Giants and then on to Wharton Business School.

Next stop Goldman Sachs for the former Super Bowl Champion!

LINK:  TUCK

Freshmen Can Play 4 Games -- Redshirt Stays

There is a major rule change in college football this season -- and it means you will definitely see more freshmen on the field for Notre Dame this Fall...

LINK:  FULL STORY

Two Incoming Hockey Players Drafted by NHL

Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish had two of its incoming recruits drafted this weekend in the 2018 NHL Draft.

• Jake Pivonka -- taken #103 by the New York Islanders
• Spencer Stastney -- taken #131 by the Nashville Predators

Both players are on campus getting ready for the upcoming season.

Miami Heat's Reaction to Signing Matt Farrell

Thought you'd enjoy this...

LINK:  MATT FARRELL

Easiest Non-Conference Football Schedules

Keep an eye on this list -- late in the season when we see who is ranked in the TOP TEN -- will it ever come back and bite these schools when the College Football Playoff does its final rankings?

LINK:  EASY SCHEDULES

NFL Mini-Camp Updates on Former ND Players

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what's being said about a few of our former Notre Dame Football players after their first NFL mini-camp experience...

LINK:  QUENTON NELSON

LINK:  MIKE MCGLINCHEY

LINK:  DURHAM SMYTHE

LINK:  EQUANIMEOUS ST. BROWN

LINK:  JOSH ADAMS

CFB Expert Phil Steele Talks Notre Dame...

He starts talking about Notre Dame at the 5:45 mark...

Coach Kelly Receives Red Coat in Fort Wayne

Bonzie Colson & Matt Farrel Make NBA Choices

Bonzie Colson has committed to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers Summer League Team and Matt Farrell will play for the Miami Heat's Summer League Team.

Still awaiting word on where Martinas Geben will play...

Go get it!

1.5 Million Notre Dame Fans and Counting!

When I started this blog eight years ago -- I could have never dreamed this big...

At 10:23 PM ET this evening -- unique Notre Dame fun number 1,500,000 showed up for the first time at my ND GO IRISH BLOG.   Fighting Irish Fan number 1.5 million hails from Spring, Texas!

It all began on January 24, 2010 with this simple little post -- POST #1 -- and he we are 3,071 days later and this is POST number 20,343.

For you "math majors" out there that's an average of 6.6 positive stories -- EVERY SINGLE DAY -- over these last eight years about the University we all love.  Pretty crazy isn't it...

Thanks for making the ND GO IRISH BLOG one of your stops on the worldwide web -- where you can read positive news about the University of Notre Dame, its students, faculty staff, alumni, parents and friends.

I hope I have a few more days and stories in me to share about Notre Dame.

Thanks 1.5 million!!!

Equanimeous Holding His Own in Green Bay

The former Notre Dame wide receiver is putting on a show in Green Bay during the Packer's mini camp...

LINK:  EQ

Photos of Incoming Freshmen Working Out

 John Dirksen

 Tommy Tremble #24

 Shayne Simon

 Jayson Ademilola

The Fighting Irish Football Team is back on campus -- getting tuned up for the 2018 Football Season.  Here's a few of the incoming freshmen at work today.

Vote For Arike's Game Winner for the ESPYS

Vote below...

LINK:  ARIKE'S GAME WINNER

Here's Why You Come to Notre Dame...

Last week we completed our 2018 #4for40 Excellence BeyoND program with a career trek to Chicago.

Check it out ⬇️#GoIrish ☘ pic.twitter.com/3dSTGKK9tf

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 20, 2018

Domer Lili Thompson Drafted by Globetrotters!

Former Notre Dame women's basketball team member (and National Champion) Lili Thompson -- was one of five players drafted today by the world famous Harlem Globetrotters!

Notre Dame fans will recall that Lili tore her ACL in early January -- ending her season and Notre Dame career way too early...

This should be fun!

LINK:  STORY

The Freshmen FB Players Arrive at Notre Dame

The freshmen have officially arrived and are ready to make their mark. #GoIrish ☘ #IrishBouND18 pic.twitter.com/8VcvTFwgM0

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 19, 2018

Arike Commemorates a National Championship

Go Irish ☘️ pic.twitter.com/dIdskrCjjX

— Arike Ogunbowale (@Arike_O) June 17, 2018

Look Who Is Leading the WNBA in Scoring!

 

She played under the Golden Dome...

LINK:  WNBA STATS

What Your Father Gives You -- Your Name...

On Father's Day -- I'm always reminded of the gift every Dad gives their kids -- their NAME.

That's my Dad in the photo above, he's on the right, sitting next to Al Kaline who is sitting next to Harvey Kuehn in the Detroit Tiger's dugout...

This is one of my "two" all-time favorite poems...

Your Family Name

You got it from your father
It was all he had to give
So it's yours to use and cherish
For as long as you may live

If you lost the watch he gave you
It can always be replaced;
But a black mark on your name
Can never be erased

It was clean the day you took it
And a worthy name to bear
When he got it from his father
There was no dishonor there

So make sure you guard it wisely
After all is said and done
You'll be glad the name is spotless
When you give it to your son

Happy Father's Day to My Dad & All the Dads!

This is a photo of my Dad (in the middle) celebrating the news, with four of his teammates, that he had just become a Dad for the first time!

He was a professional baseball player and in the middle of a road trip when word got to the team that I was born.  Back in the "good old days" baseball teams didn't allow you to stay home for the birth of a child.  Thankfully, those days are in the past...

I've been very lucky to have a wonderful Dad in my life -- who is as big of a Notre Dame fan as me!

Happy Father's Day -- DAD!

On a side note -- I had never seen this photo until a week ago.  My Aunt Barb found this in a box and gave it to my cousin Mike Doyle to text it to me to see if I could identify who was in the photo with my Dad. 

Mike McGlinchey and Joe Staley's "Bromance"

The two offensive tackles share a common bond in San Francisco -- they both played for Brian Kelly...

LINK:  STORY

OT: FSU Bulldog Super Fan in Tennessee!

I received a text this morning from my cousin Patrick Doyle (like me, a huge Notre Dame fan) with a photo of a young man named Dan DelGrosso (pictured above) sporting a Ferris State Bulldogs National Championship T-shirt at Two Rivers Ford in Mt. Juliet, TN.

Our Ferris State Bulldogs won the NCAA Division II National Championship in basketball this past April!

Dan, a 1973 Ferris grad, grew up in Dearborn, MI -- but now calls the Volunteer State home.  Pat's son Dustin (he's my cousin but, I think of him as a nephew) works with Dan in their Commercial Sales Department.

I loved seeing Dan representing the "crimson and gold" of Ferris (my alma mater and Pat's too!) in an area fond of the color orange...

When was the last time they won a National Championship in Tennessee?

Thanks Dan!

Go Bulldogs!

Zack Martin -- Biggest NFL Contract in History!

In the last 24 hours, former Notre Dame All-American Zack Martin signed a contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys for six years and $84,000,000.  The largest contract in NFL history for an Offensive Guard!

The link below is of a TV interview he did today...

LINK:  RECORD SETTING CONTRACT

LINK:  DALLAS MORNING NEWS STORY

Kelly Cares -- Notre Dame Football 101

Domer Jimmy Dunne -- Golf Channel Story

Getting the ND Football Gear Ready...

Notre Dame Football vs. The Force

ESPN's "Way to Early Top 25" CFB Rankings

I was surprised to see the Fighting Irish ranked this high.

LINK:  RANKINGS

"Triple Crown Effect" on College Football's Best

Here's a look at the NINE WINNINGEST TEAMS in FBS college football history -- and how they fared in years when a race horse won the TRIPLE CROWN:

1. NOTRE DAME:  107 - 11 - 5
2. Alabama:  102 - 18 - 12
3. Oklahoma:  93 - 24 - 7
4. Michigan:  88 - 23 - 4
5. Penn State:  86 - 28 - 4
6. Texas:  83 - 37 - 5
7. Ohio State: 81 - 27 - 7
8. USC:  80 - 42 - 5
9. Nebraska:  63 - 49 - 8

GO IRISH!

Triple Crown Winners a Good Omen for ND!

There are now 13 Triple Crown Winners in the history of horse racing -- and you know what -- in the football season that follows, Notre Dame Football has won 87% of its games and 5 National Championships!

• 1919:  Sir Barton wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 9 - 0
• 1930:  Gallant Fox wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 10 - 0
• 1935:  Omaha wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 7 - 1 - 1
• 1937:  War Admiral wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 6 - 2 - 1
• 1941:  Whirlaway wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 8 - 0 - 1
• 1943:  Count Fleet wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 9 - 1
• 1946:  Assault wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 8 - 0 - 1
• 1948:  Citation wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 9 - 0 - 1
• 1973:  Secretariat wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 11 - 0
• 1977:  Seattle Slew wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 11 - 1
• 1978:  Affirmed wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 9 - 3
• 2015:  American Pharoah wins Triple Crown / Notre Dame: 10 - 3 
• 2018:  Justify wins Triple Crown / ???

Triple Crown Years / Notre Dame Football Record:  107 - 11 - 5

The years that are BOLDED -- Notre Dame won the National Championship!

This fun fact is courtesy of Tim Bourret '78 -- a Notre Dame alum who just retired after spending 40 years as Clemson's Sports Information Director.  Tim was inducted into the SID Hall of Fame.

Domer Mike Lee '09 Wins NABO TITLE!!!

 

Despite breaking a rib in the first round -- Notre Dame alum Mike Lee (on right in photo above) defeated Jose Hernandez in a unanimous decision last night winning the NABO Light Heavyweight Title!

LINK:  STORY

The Most All-American Centers in College FB!

Over the last 50 years -- no one in college football has produced more All-Americans at the center position in college football...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame is Statistically "Offensive Guard U"

50 years of research by John Baranowski -- led to his selection of "Offensive Guard U..."

LINK:  OFFENSIVE GUARDS

Notre Dame is Statistically "Tight End U"

John Baranowski looked at every position group in college football over the last 50 years...

LINK:  TIGHT END U

Notre Dame Statistically is "Offensive Line U"

Sports historian John Barnowski has looked at the last 50 years of college football "position by position" -- and you know what he learned...

Notre Dame is the #1 producer of offensive line talent in college football.

LINK:  OFFENSIVE LINE U!

Updated Photos of Football Practice Facility

Took a spin over to campus today...

Skylar Goes for 35 Points and 12 Rebounds!

A WNBA career night -- for Notre Dame all-time great Skylar Diggins-Smith -- as she returned home to Indiana...

Skylar is currently the 2nd leading scorer in the WNBA -- averaging 23.0 points -- and 3rd in assists at 6.0 per game.

LINK:  BIG NIGHT

Notre Dame a "Common Thread" in Ranking...

ESPN looked at the toughest "non-conference" schedules of Power 5 Conference teams this upcoming season...

Look at what school pops up the most.

LINK:  TOUGHEST SCHEDULES

Domer Mike Lee '09 Fights Again Friday Night

He's 20 - 0 as a professional boxer -- the former three-time Bengal Bouts Champ goes for professional win #21 tomorrow night.

That's Mike Lee on the left in the photo above.

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

The Rocket and Aaron Taylor on HOF Ballot!

There are more (45) former Notre Dame football players and coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame -- than from any other single college in America...

Former Fighting Irish stars Raghib "Rocket" Ismail and Aaron Taylor are up for election -- see story below.

LINK:  HALL OF FAME

Two Incoming Hoops Recruits on Team USA!

Muffet's defending National Champions will be well represented on the USA's U-18 national team -- as guards Jordan Nixon and Abby Prohaska were just named to the team!

Congrats!

Notre Dame Hosts US Senior Open Qualifier

In a preview of next year's 2019 US Senior Open -- which will be held at Notre Dame's Warren Golf Course -- a number of the top senior golfers in the country were on hand to attempt to qualify for this year's US Senior Open.

Kelly Cares Golf Outing -- Chat With Media...

Domer Monty Williams Hired by Philadelphia

Former Notre Dame hoops star Monty Williams -- was just hired by the Philadelphia 76ers as their lead assistant.  The Domer has had previous NBA head coaching experience with the New Orleans Pelicans...

LINK:  MONTY WILLIAMS

Six Year-Old Gives Knute Rockne Speech...

🤣If you’re a Notre Dame or Knute Rockne fan you have to hear this. @momoshinn son Carter, does a great rendition of Rockne. Oh and he’s 6. ☘️ @CoachBrianKelly @NotreDame @Knute_Rockne50 @NDFootball pic.twitter.com/HNGfNbF6IP

— Chris Reed☘️ (@theceltictiger) June 5, 2018

You have got to love this!!!

Notre Dame Men's Lacrosse Trip to Spain...

Not a bad gig being a student-athlete at the University of Notre Dame...

LINK:  SEE THE 11 DAY TRIP

Notre Dame Fund "Fancy Sock" Promotion!

I have been wearing "fancy socks" for a long time -- when I saw these I knew I had to have both pairs!

Your gift funds financial aid for students at the University of Notre Dame.

LINK:  ND FANCY SOCKS

Construction Under Way for New FB Facility

The Notre Dame Football Team's new Indoor Football Practice Facility is under construction as we speak...