Michigan vs. Notre Dame -- Sooner Than Later

Notre Dame's Brian Kelly spoke with a Sports Illustrated reporter about efforts to renew the rivalry with Michigan...

It has been 1,008 days since Michigan last scored a point against Notre Dame.

LINK:  MICHIGAN vs. NOTRE DAME

My Friend David and His Friend Muhammad Ali

David Chaudoir grew up playing in the backyard at Muhammad Ali's long-time home in Berrien Springs, MI -- just 29 minutes from the University of Notre Dame.  He later worked 12 years for Muhammad Ali Enterprises as their Director of Marketing.

That's David a number of years ago with Ali -- please know it pains me to post a photo of Ali wearing this shirt...

For the last three years -- David has been my teammate here at the University of Notre Dame.

Today -- David is in Louisville with Ali's family and former colleagues celebrating the life of his friend.

David wrote this reflection -- the night of Ali's death.  He's allowed me to share this with all of you today.

“After me, there will never be another.”

One of Muhammad Ali’s famous lines. He had an endless supply of them. He had an endless supply of everything: fun, talent, mischief, justice, audacity, humor, peace, energy, faith, and most of all, love.

When I first met Muhammad in the mid-1980s I had no understanding of who he was beyond the fun guy with a playground in his backyard down the street. A decade later, I went to work in his office when I started college and for years beyond. Only then did I come to realize the magnitude of his impact.

Muhammad’s awe and appreciation of the world and people around him was met only by his ability to harness them for good. This was due both to his abiding faith in God and his authenticity as a human being living out that faith.

Muhammad was a supreme athlete, an activist, a trickster,  an iconoclast, a humanitarian, a titan, but I knew him as a confidant, a mentor, a calming presence. He was a philosopher-poet who lived in the real world, shaking and brightening it along the way. His uncanny ability to sense people’s moods extended from society in general to the few of us who worked with him every day.

He was aware of his effect on people which accounts for so many missed airplanes and appointments—from the beginning of his career and for as long as he was able to, he would stop for photos, autographs, hugs. He loved to surprise people; even on the highway he’d roll down the window and stare at unsuspecting drivers. It seems anyone you meet has a Muhammad Ali story. There are literally millions of them.

Muhammad treated everyone with the same level of dignity: celebrity, president, king, sheikh, the people who worked with him. He didn’t give preferential treatment to anyone. He loved his family. He loved his friends. In the same hour he could give you a belly laugh and say something inspirational that would reduce you to tears. Muhammad was a happy person and a perpetual source of joy for everyone who knew him and for the millions who only knew him from the media. Such was the range of his aura.

This man was comfortable anywhere and everywhere. Yet small-town Michigan was his home for nearly thirty years after he retired from boxing. I was so fortunate and blessed to have spent many of those years with him. A boy from Berrien Springs who was able to walk this earth in his company, bearing witness to untold moments of grace and compassion the likes of which I will surely never see again.

Muhammad Ali was and is exactly who he said he was: The Greatest of All Time.

Muhammad, you were the King of the World and the Prince of our Hearts.

There will never be another.

-- David Chaudoir

LINK:  LIVE TV COVERAGE FROM LOUISVILLE THIS AM

Good Stuff: Broadway Car Pool Karaoke

Notre Dame alum Patrick Vassel is the Assistant Director of Broadway smash hit Hamilton -- look for him on stage this Sunday night at the Tony Awards!

Another Day With "The Program" for ND FB!

Set the example.
Hold your teammates accountable.#NDFBTheProgram pic.twitter.com/dLCzMAQix8

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 9, 2016

Always preparing for the next challenge.#NDFBTheProgramhttps://t.co/1ZFitUWAad

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 8, 2016

Accomplish the mission.
Take care of your teammates.#NDFBTheProgram pic.twitter.com/uueDaDaV55

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 8, 2016

We're at the lake this morning.#NDFBTheProgram pic.twitter.com/exQ2zFBYiY

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 8, 2016

Day 1 was just the beginning.

The Program continues tomorrow.#NDFBTheProgramhttps://t.co/MzO4b9A8tp

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 8, 2016

Wednesday with THE PROGRAM for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!

WNDU-TV: Pat Connaughton Interview

What Notre Dame Football Is Up To This Week

Being good isn't good enough.
We want to be great.

The Program is back.#NDFBTheProgramhttps://t.co/uldXoqT5Gt

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 7, 2016

Push your limits.#NDFBTheProgramhttps://t.co/iTggL0IxBu

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 7, 2016

Hard work is always doing 'One More.'#NDFBTheProgramhttps://t.co/1Tib4SSDrT

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 7, 2016

"The Program" is back working with the Notre Dame football this week on teamwork and leadership...

Domer Ian Cole Scores 1st Stanley Cup Goal!

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won 3 of the first 4 games of the Stanley Cup Final series with the San Jose Sharks.

In games 1 and 4 -- the first goal scored (Pittsburgh Penguins) was by former Notre Dame hockey stars Bryan Rust and Ian Cole -- respectively.

Domers Bruton & Harris at White House Today

“Now, I’m a Bears fan… 1985 was pretty good!

But I gotta admit, this [defense] was pretty good too!" -@POTUS https://t.co/6TvGJlRAIB

— NFL (@NFL) June 6, 2016

Domer Harrison Smith -- NFL's Highest Paid...

Former Notre Dame team captain, Harrison Smith is now the HIGHEST PAID SAFETY in all of professional football!

Congratulations Harrison!

LINK:  HARRISON'S NEW CONTRACT

Billy Crystal's "15 Rounds of Muhammad Ali"

Billy Crystal's Muhammad Ali tribute - 15 Rounds (1979) from Face Productions on Vimeo.

LINK:  BILLY CRYSTAL ON ALI

Jennifer Hudson's Tribute to Muhammad Ali

"The Greatest Of All Time" and His Irish Roots

Muhammad Ali, at one time the most recognized person in the world, lived much of his life just 29 minutes from the campus of the University of Notre Dame in the town of Berrien Springs, MI.

Yet, what many might not know about Muhammad Ali is his IRISH roots.  He was the Fighting Irish...

LINK:  ALI'S IRISH ROOTS

Urban: "LeBron Would Have Come to ND"

So says former Notre Dame assistant football coach -- now Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer...

LINK:  LEBRON TO NOTRE DAME

Sneak Peek at ND Football Equipment for 2016

Notre Dame Football's Equipment Manager Ryan Grooms (@NDFBEquipment) tweeted out these photos this week...

I'm going to guess the bottom photo is of a WHITE FOOTBALL CLEAT with gold laces for the Fighting Irish this fall.  Maybe this is what we'll wear on the road?

Further Proof the ACC Made a Great Deal...

This has been happening in football stadiums all over the ACC since Notre Dame's arrival on the schedule in 2014 -- big crowds!

Here's the latest proof point -- NC STATE has Notre Dame on its football schedule this season...

LINK:  NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Air Force One -- Flying Over Notre Dame Today

This photo was posted on Twitter by @MLCaterina -- a multimedia journalist with the South Bend Tribune -- as Air Force One flew over campus carrying the President of the United States to his events in nearby Elkhart, IN.

Notre Dame's "BAJA CLUB" Promotional Video

Domer Bryan Rust's First Stanley Cup Goal!

 

The former Notre Dame hockey star scores his THIRD STRAIGHT GOAL in the NHL Playoffs for the Penguins -- this one to kick off game #1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Memorial Day -- Battle Hymn of the Republic

A must read story of the tribute given Indiana soldier Joe Montgomery in 2007...

LINK:  ONE LAST TRIP HOME

U.S. Marines Silent Drill Team Perfomance

United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon from Jake Jolivette on Vimeo.