A Story You'll Love: A Notre Dame Walk-On

Today, a young man from Texas begins a new journey.  His name is Omar Hunter and at 3:30 PM ET he'll report for fall football camp at the University of Notre Dame.

Omar hails from Harlingen High School (Harlingen, TX) where he was their class president ALL FOUR YEARS and graduated FOURTH IN HIS CLASS.

Here's a couple of news stories about Omar's path to South Bend, along with a video of him singing our National Anthem and a video of his first touchdown run.  Pretty special young man.

LINK:   OMAR HUNTER

LINK:  OMAR HUNTER'S GOING TO NOTRE DAME

LINK:  OMAR SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

LINK:  50 YARD TD RUN AS A SOPHOMORE

Catch Jonas Gray Tonight on NBC @ 8 PM ET

Former Notre Dame running back Jonas Gray will be playing in his first NFL game tonight since a knee injury back in 2011 with the Fightin' Irish.  Gray and his Dolphin teammates will take on America's "other team" the Dallas Cowboys TONIGHT at 8 PM ET on NBC.

Should be fun to see #32 carrying the ball again!  Here's some stories about Jonas:

LINK:  "I'VE GOT TO GIVE IT MY ALL"

LINK:  HE'S ON THE BUBBLE

Ricky Watters Introduced by Ricky Watters, Jr.

This is a pretty cool scene -- just found it on the web. Former Notre Dame running back Ricky Watters (National Champion, Super Bowl Champion) was introduced by his son Ricky Jr. at the Central Florida Hall of Fame ceremony.  It's from a couple of years ago -- but, you have to see this!

LINK:  RICKY WATTERS, JR.

"Notre Dame Needs to Stay There..."

This commentary was written by the South Bend Tribune's Al Lesar -- in follow-up to Coach Brian Kelly's press conference yesterday.

LINK:  PERCHED NEAR THE TOP

Moving the Fightin' Irish to Marion, IN For Camp

Here's a photo "tweeted" yesterday by Ryan Grooms, Notre Dame football's equipment manager -- of the number of trucks it's going to take to move the Fightin' Irish to Marion, IN -- for the first four days of training camp.

"Breaking In" the New Notre Dame Footballs

The photo above was "tweeted" by Notre Dame Football equipment manager Ryan Grooms.  Ryan and his team have been getting the new Wilson Notre Dame footballs ready for the Fightin' Irish!

If you look closely at the picture you can see the brushes, pads, etc., they use to rough up the new footballs so they're not to slippery for the players.
  
You can follow Ryan on Twitter @NDFBEquipment

Coach Brian Kelly Meets Media Today at Noon!

The 2013 Notre Dame football season officially kicks off today with Coach Brian Kelly's annual kick-off press conference with the local and national media.  The event will be carried LIVE on the internet beginning at NOON ET TODAY!  Just click on the link below to watch the replay:

LINK:  REPLAY OF PRESS CONFERENCE

Brian Kelly Interview This Evening @ WSBT

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was interviewed this evening at WSBT 960 AM here in South Bend.  Here's a link to the entire interview along with a video clip of the Q&A session:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY INTERVIEW

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Notre Dame Ranked #11 in First Coaches' Poll

Well, it's an improvement over last season when you couldn't find Notre Dame on anyone's pre-seaon Top-25 poll.  Here's the USA Today Coaches Poll:

LINK:  COACHES POLL

Irish Sports Daily is Offering 60-Day Free Trial

Folks, I subscribe to Mike Frank's Irish Sports Daily -- have for a few years now.  I just saw today that Mike was offering a 60-day FREE TRIAL -- it's a must do if you love Notre Dame football as much as I do.

Here's a link to the IRISH SPORTS DAILY offer:

LINK:  60-DAY FREE TRIAL

Domer Kory Minor -- Firing You Up This Day!

Notre Dame fans should remember Kory Minor '99 -- he was a four year starter for Lou Holtz at linebacker and I believe he's still the all-time Irish defensive player in "tackles for losses."  Minor captained the Irish football team his senior season.

Kory went on to play four season in the NFL before heading off to start his business career.  He is now the CEO of Kory Minor Industries -- where he is a TAKE ACTION COACH.

Here is a couple videos of Kory FIRING YOU UP! -- take a peek!

LINK:  KORY MINOR -- TAKE ACTION!

LINK:  KORY MINOR -- GET INTO THE GAME!

LINK:  KORY MINOR INDUSTRIES WEBSITE

Only 30 Days to Notre Dame Football 2013!

Can you sense the excitement!

We're only 30 days away from Notre Dame football's home opener with the Temple Owls.

Remember, there's college football and then there is NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL!

Here was head coach Brian Kelly at his finest this past season -- linked below -- if this doesn't get you fired-up you must not have a pulse!

LINK:  COACH KELLY FIRING UP THE IRISH!

Tyler Eifert Putting on a Show For HBO

Former Notre Dame All-American tight end Tyler Eifert is proving the Cincinnati Bengal's got it right when they selected him in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

And, the cameras at HBO's "Hard Knocks" are capturing it all on film...

The first episode airs August 6th at 10 PM ET on HBO.

LINK:  TYLER EIFERT -- THE REAL DEAL

LINK:  HARD KNOCKS "TEASER"

Coach Kelly's Press Conference Friday @ Noon!

Notre Dame's 2013 Football Season "officially" kicks off this Friday at NOON ET -- as head coach Brian Kelly meets with the media to talk about the upcoming training camp and season.  As always, you can watch it LIVE HERE at the link below!

LINK:  LIVE FRIDAY @ NOON ET -- CLICK HERE

OT: Oregon Goes "Over the Top" on Facility

$68 million will get you quite a building...

Take a look at these photos of Oregon's new football facility.  The photo above is of the lobby...


LINK:  OREGON'S FOOTBALL FACILITY

LINK:  SI PHOTOS OF FACILITY

Making of the Notre Dame Helmet -- Must See!

Hydro-Graphics, Inc. -- is the company behind the cool lookin' college football helmets you started seeing the past couple of years. 

Especially Notre Dame's gold helmet!

This ESPN story shows a little about the company -- and you'll hear them talk about the Notre Dame GOLD HELMET.

LINK:  THE GOLD HELMET

NFL Training Camp Updates: ND Players

Took a lap around the worldwide web this evening to see how former Notre Dame football stars are doing in NFL training camps.  Just click on the name of your favorite Irish player:

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK -- GIANTS

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- 49ERS

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH -- VIKINGS

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD -- CARDINALS

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE -- SEAHAWKS

LINK:  KYLE McCARTHY -- CHIEFS

LINK:  TYLER EIFERT -- BENGALS

LINK:  MANTI TE'O -- CHARGERS 

LINK:  ANTHONY FASANO -- CHIEFS

LINK:  DAVID BRUTON -- BRONCOS

LINK:  THEO RIDDICK -- LIONS

LINK:  KAPRON LEWIS-MOORE -- RAVENS

LINK:  JOHN CARLSON -- VIKINGS

LINK:  BRADY QUINN -- SEAHAWKS

LINK:  MIKE GOLIC, JR. -- STEELERS

LINK:  TREVOR ROBINSON -- BENGALS

LINK:  JOHN SULLIVAN -- VIKINGS

LINK:  RYAN HARRIS -- TEXANS

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH -- VIKINGS 

LINK:  TOMMY ZBIKOWSKI -- BEARS

Jonas Gray '12 -- Back on the Field After Injury

Former Notre Dame running back Jonas Gray '12 is seen here in this photo at the Miami Dolphins training camp.  Gray is coming off of a torn ACL which cost him the entire 2012 NFL season.  Jonas signed with the Dolphins as a free agent after the 2012 NFL Draft and is now seeing the practice field for the first time.  Here's hoping he makes their 53 man roster!

Coach Kelly Talks 2013 Training Camp Plans

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with WatchND's Jack Nolan this week to talk about the Irish's upcoming training camp.  You'll enjoy this:

LINK:  COACH KELLY TALKS ABOUT HIS TEAM

Jeff Samardzija on the Trade Block in Chicago?

I truly can't believe the Chicago Cubs would be willing to trade the former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver -- who's currently 3rd in the National League in strikeouts with 146 in 144.1 innings pitched.

Last night he pitched seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball -- yet, the Cubs get shutout and the bullpen gives up five in their 5-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Reportedly, the buzz at Wrigley is they're worried that Jeff is going to test the free agency waters -- three years from now...  They have him under contract for three more years -- and they're worried about 2017?

Here's the media coverage:

LINK:  PRICE ON SAMARDZIJA SKY HIGH

LINK:  ESPN INTERVIEW

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA THROWS SEVEN SHUTOUT INNINGS