Notre Dame to Play LSU in the Music City Bowl!

The Fighting Irish will be traveling to Nashville to play a (8 - 4) LSU team in the Music City Bowl on December 30, 2014.

LINK:  BUY YOUR TICKETS RIGHT HERE!

Photos: Kelly Cares "Shopping Spree" at Meijer

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was over at Meijer's today with a number of his players and his wife Pacqui for their annual "shopping spree" for 109 kids from the Michiana area...

LINK:  FIGHTING IRISH DIGITAL MEDIA

Here's the local media coverage of the event:

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  WSBT-TV

LINK:  ABC-57

ACC Announces Notre Dame's Bowl at 5:30 PM

If you'd like to watch the LIVE ANNOUNCEMENT of where Notre Dame will be headed to play a BOWL GAME -- click on the link below:

LINK:  LIVE ANNOUNCEMENT AT 5:30 PM ET -- RIGHT HERE!

Coach Kelly Talks Bowl Game Today at 6:15 PM

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly will be meeting with the media today at 6:15 PM ET to talk about the MUSIC CITY BOWL and L.S.U.

You can watch this LIVE at the link below:

LINK:  COACH KELLY TALKS BOWL GAME

Muffet & Geno After UCONN Beat ND Today

The Fighting Irish played their second game in a row against UCONN without their "tallest starter" -- and we experienced a similar result...

LINK:  MUFFET POST GAME

LINK:  GENO POST GAME

Skylar Diggins' STACK Cover Shoot in NYC

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins is the subject of this MUST SEE video for Fighting Irish fans!

Maybe we'll see her courtside at Purcell Pavilion today to root on the IRISH!

LINK:  SKYLAR

South Bend Media Talks ND Bowl Options

Here's a local TV report featuring WSBT-TV's Pete Byrne and the South Bend Tribune's Notre Dame beat writer Eric Hansen -- talking Notre Dame football'S bowl options...

LINK:  BOWL OPTIONS FOR IRISH

Fighting Irish on ESPN Today at 3:15 PM ET

The #1 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on #3 UCONN today at 3:15 PM ET in a nationally televised game on ESPN.

LINK:  GO IRISH!

Izzo & Valentine Talk OT Loss to Notre Dame

I just found these this morning -- here's what Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo and star guard Denzel Valentine had to say after their 79 - 78 OT loss to our Fighting Irish Wednesday night.

LINK:  IZZO #1

LINK:  IZZO #2

LINK:  VALENTINE

ESPN Looks at UCONN vs. NOTRE DAME

It's the biggest rivalry in all of women's sport -- UCONN vs. Notre Dame.  You can watch it today on ESPN at 3:15 PM ET.  

In the photo above that's Muffet on the left and UCONN coach Geno Auriemma on the right!

In the story linked below -- ESPN's Graham Hayes looks at this rivalry. You're going to want to read this!

LINK:  ESPN

UCONN Talking About Game Against IRISH!

The two biggest names in women's college basketball meet again tomorrow -- this time in Notre Dame, IN.

The game will be nationally televised by ESPN -- again, proof of the importance of this game.

Here's what's being said by that team from Storrs -- click on the links below:

LINK:  NEWS TIMES

LINK:  HARTFORD CURANT

LINK:  BOSTON HERALD

Sunday's ACC "Notre Dame Lottery" for Bowls

You know this hasn't happened before in the ACC -- the use of a lottery to pick the BOWL that will host a team who doesn't belong to the ACC...

LINK:  CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

How Notre Dame Wins This Game Over MSU!

It's been about 22 hours since #22 and #11 led Mike Brey's Fighting Irish with clutch plays down the stretch to beat #18 Michigan State 79 - 78 in OT.  A game the "stat man" says the Spartans win every time...

KEY STATS:

• Field Goal %:  MSU .492% vs. ND .464%
• 3 Pointers Made:  MSU (9 - 17 .529%) vs. ND (7 - 23 .304%)
• Rebounds:  MSU 43 vs. ND 26

The game ended up being decided at the FOUL LINE:  ND (20 - 25 .80%) vs. MSU (5 - 9 .56%)

Here's a video of Coach Brey in the locker room after the game along with a second link to game highlights.  BIG WIN FOR THE IRISH!

LINK:  COACH BREY

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame #1 Shooting Team in the Country!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish are the #1 team in the country in field goal percentage -- by a wide margin over the other 350 colleges in the NCAA Division I -- hitting 58% of their shots this season!

We will be tested tonight with Tom Izzo's defense...

ADDITIONAL FUN FACTS ABOUT NOTRE DAME'S OFFENSIVE PROWESS:

• #9 in the country in points per game:  86.3
• #9 in the country in total three-point field goals made: 69
• #14 in the country in three-point %:  43%
• #15 in the country in assists per game:  17.9

Here's the NCAA stats:

LINK:  FIELD GOAL % RANKINGS

Notre Dame to Unveil New Under Armour Shoes

Here's what the Fighting Irish will be wearing for the first time tonight -- in the game against #18 Michigan State.

If you'd like to buy your own pair -- click on the link below:

LINK:  BUY WHAT THE IRISH WEAR!

MSU vs. ND on ESPN2 Tonight at 7:15 PM ET

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish's first big "TEST" of the season happens tonight when Tom Izzo and his Michigan State Spartans invade Purcell Pavilion.

The game will be televised on ESPN2 -- beginning at 7:15 PM ET.

To get you ready for the action -- click on the link below -- and check out Notre Dame's NEW UNDER ARMOUR SHOES!

LINK:  GAME PRIMER

LINK:  GAME NOTES

Wonderful Article on Domer Golden Tate

I thought you'd enjoy reading this story about Golden Tate and his days at Notre Dame and the Polian scouting report...

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE

Brey Talks Wednesday's Michigan State Game

The Fighting Irish will play their first "marquee" game of the season at Purcell Pavilion when Tom Izzo brings his Spartans to campus for the first meeting between these two schools on the hard court in 35 years!

Notre Dame leads the all-time series with 59 wins and 35 losses.

Coach Brey met with the media to talk about Wednesday's game -- just click on the link below:

LINK:  COACH BREY

MSU's Tom Izzo Talks Notre Dame Match-up

Michigan State's hoops coach Tom Izzo talks about the Notre Dame game and his team's status as they get ready to play our Fighting Irish tomorrow night in the ACC vs. BIG TEN CHALLENGE...

Izzo grew up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with his school-boy pal Steve Mariucci -- both were big Notre Dame fans -- so this should be a special visit for him tomorrow night.  You'll see him talk about being a ND fan late in the media session linked below.

LINK:  IZZO ON NOTRE DAME

Full Replay: Fox's Telecast of ND vs. USC

Not that any Notre Dame fan would ever want to watch this again...

LINK:  FULL GAME REPLAY

Domer Jed York to "Trade" Jim Harbaugh

How would Michigan fans feel about a Notre Dame alum trading away their #1 choice to replace Brady Hoke -- to another NFL team?

LINK:  TRADING HARBAUGH

Notre Dame's ACC Bowl Options This Morning

Now that Notre Dame is aligned with the ACC's post season bowl game package -- here's what the options look like for the Fighting Irish:

• Orange Bowl has first selection
• Russell Athletic Bowl has second selection
• If the Orange Bowl picks a Big Ten Team to play opposite an ACC team -- then a spot opens up in the Capital One Bowl for an ACC Team
• After those choices have been made -- the following Bowls could conceivably pick Notre Dame; Hyundai Sun Bowl, the Belk Bowl and New Era Pinstripe Bowl 
• In addition, an ACC team or Notre Dame will have the option of appearing in the Gator Bowl (three times) or the Music City Bowl (two times) over the next five years

BOWL PAYOUTS -- PER TEAM (last year):

• Orange Bowl:  $17 million
• Russell Athletic Bowl:  $2.275 million
• Capital One Bowl:  $4.55 million
• Hyundai Sun Bowl:  $2 million
• Belk Bowl:  $1.7 million
• New Era Pinstripe Bowl:  $1.8 million
• TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl:  $3.5 million
• Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl:  $1.837 million

If I was a betting man (and I'm not) I would bet we'll end up in Charlotte playing in the Belk Bowl -- since we've played in the Hyundai Sun Bowl and the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in Coach Kelly's previous four seasons at Notre Dame.

But, don't be surprised if the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl makes a run at a 7 - 5 Fighting Irish football team -- to sell tickets!  They took two 4 loss teams last year...

And, you just know the folks in El Paso, TX and the Bronx, NY will be making pitches to get the Fighting Irish back in their Bowls.  Jack Swarbrick's phone must be ringing off the hook this morning.

LINK:  BELK BOWL -- DECEMBER 30TH 

LINK:  CBS -- ND VS. TENN IN BELK BOWL

Notre Dame Football's "Fighting INJURED Irish"

Never seen anything like this -- especially on the defensive side of the football.

Four more Notre Dame defensive players were hurt against USC -- a fifth, Austin Collinsworth re-injured his shoulder...

• 21 Notre Dame defensive players missed game action from injuries or academic suspensions this season

Here's a look at Notre Dame Football's injury / suspension list this season:

OFFENSE -- starters (or projected) in bold

• Amir Carlisle -- missed a couple of games
• Torii Hunter Jr. -- missed a couple of games
• Tyler Luatua -- missed a few games
• Davaris Daniels -- out for season

DEFENSE -- starters (or projected) in bold

• Jarret Grace -- out for season
• Ishaq Williams -- out for season
• Keivarae Russell -- out for season
• Tony Springman -- out for season
• Sheldon Moore -- out for season
• Eilar Hardy -- missed first 9 games
• Joe Schmidt -- out for season (5 games)
• Jarron Jones -- out for season (3 games)
• Nicky Baratti -- out for season (10 games)
• Sheldon Day -- missed 2 games / maybe 3
• Andrew Trumbetti -- missed a game
• Daniel Cage -- missed a game
• Austin Collinsworth -- missed 9 games -- injured again in USC game
• Drue Tranquill -- out for season (2 games)
• Ben Councell -- missed 3 games
• Cody Riggs -- missed 3 games / maybe out for season
• Greer Martini -- injured in USC game
• Jacob Matuska -- injured in USC game
• Jay Hayes -- injured in USC game
• Max Redfield -- injured in USC game

The Malik Zaire Era -- Video of First Three Plays

Here's a look at Malik Zaire's first three plays against USC...

LINK:  ZAIRE

Coach Kelly's Post Game Press Conference

Here's Coach Kelly's post game press conference after the humbling loss to USC.

LINK:  COACH KELLY

"Jekyl and Hyde" Football Season for the IRISH

A 6 - 0 start -- with a penalty flag away from being 7 - 0 and ranked in the top THREE in the country.  And, then it all went wrong for our Fighting Irish...

A season that looked like we were heading to a BIG TIME BOWL BID -- has left us shaking our heads wondering if we'll even have enough healthy defensive players to play another game.

Here's what our scores looked like the second half of the season:

• FSU 31 -- ND 28
• ND 49 -- NAVY 39
• ASU 55 -- ND 31
• NW 43 -- ND 40
• LOU 31 -- ND 28
• USC 49 -- ND 14

If you want to relive today's game -- just click on the link below:

LINK:  FOX RECAP 

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Say a Few Prayers for Family of Connie Morris

Connie Morris, a Notre Dame employee and huge Fighting Irish fan -- was killed yesterday morning in a fire in Elkhart.  So sad...

LINK:  FATAL FIRE

Photos From Notre Dame's Trip to West Coast

Here's a few photos of Notre Dame's trip to USC -- what a difference a few hours in a plane can make...

One of the Greatest College Football Rivalries

Where do you think the USC vs. NOTRE DAME rivalry ended up on this list of the 25 greatest college football rivalries?

LINK:  USC vs. NOTRE DAME

Brady Quinn & Matt Leinart Talk ND vs. USC

Two former All-Americans -- one a Heisman Trophy winner, the other a runner-up -- sit down for an interview with the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen to talk about this game...

LINK:  QUINN & LEINART

IT'S GAME DAY IN LA -- TIME TO BEAT SC!

Notre Dame's game with "that school in Los Angeles" kicks off today a few minutes after 3:30 PM ET on FOX.  And, former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn will be in the broadcast booth -- hopefully bringing some good luck to the IRISH!

Here's what the media is saying this morning about today's clash:

LINK:  LA TIMES #1

LINK:  LA TIMES #2

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #1

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #2

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO 

LINK:  NBC SPORTS 

LINK:  ELKHART TRUTH 

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

The San Diego Chargers' DOMERS...

Former Notre Dame student athletes Chris Watt '13 and Manti Te'o '13 -- are garnering some praise in San Diego for their recent play...

That's a photo of Chris Watt (#65) in his first NFL start this past Saturday.
 

LINK:  SAN DIEGO DOMERS

Less than 32 Hours to USC vs. Notre Dame!

Took a lap around the California web-world this morning to see what they've been saying about tomorrow's 3:30 PM ET clash between the two most famous "7 - 4 teams" in all of college football.

Just click on the links below:

LINK:  LA TIMES #1

LINK:  LA TIMES #2

LINK:  LA TIMES #3

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #1

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER #2

Photo: Thanksgiving Meat & Cheese Tray

My wife Susan was up early getting this ready for Thanksgiving with the family...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving from Notre Dame!

Earlier this month, our team crafted a "BIG" thank you for the Notre Dame Family.  It took us a few weeks to pull off -- in some less than ideal conditions -- but, the end product turned out quite nice...

We built a 119 foot-long THANK YOU wall that was nearly 9 feet tall -- see photo above.

More than 3,000 Notre Dame students participated in this THANK YOU.

Please click on the link below -- it will take you to a site that has the following:

• Three unique videos
• A photo that spans the entire 119' of the THANK YOU WALL -- with a navigation tool that will allow you to zoom in and read every message
• And, a photo gallery

Happy Thanksgiving!

LINK:  THANK YOU WALL & VIDEO

A Look at Notre Dame's Fighting INJURED Irish

Never seen anything like this -- injury, after injury, after injury...

Here's a look at the toll injuries and suspensions have taken on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team this season -- 12 STARTERS HAVE MISSED CONSIDERABLE TIME!!!

OFFENSE -- projected starters in bold

• Amir Carlisle -- missed a couple of games
• Torii Hunter Jr. -- missed a couple of games
• Tyler Luatua -- missed a few games
• Davaris Daniels -- out for season

DEFENSE -- projected starters in bold

• Jarret Grace -- out for season
• Ishaq Williams -- out for season
• Keivarae Russell -- out for season
• Tony Springman -- out for season
• Sheldon Moore -- out for season
• Eilar Hardy -- missed first 9 games
• Joe Schmidt -- out for season (5 games)
• Jarron Jones -- out for season (3 games)
• Nicky Baratti -- out for season (10 games)
• Sheldon Day -- missed 2 games / maybe 3
• Andrew Trumbetti -- missed a game
• Austin Collinsworth -- missed 9 games
• Drue Tranquill -- out for season (2 games)
• Ben Councell -- missed 3 games
• Cody Riggs -- missed 3 games / maybe out for season

I Don't Get This: Leinart to Lead Trojans...

The USC Trojans have asked former QB Matt Leinart to lead their team onto the field against Notre Dame on Saturday...

Pretty sad -- a Heisman Trophy winner turned into a mascot.

LINK:  LEINART

Thanks to a "Gang of Six" on Thanksgiving Eve

Eight days ago, in sub-zero wind chill on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- six members of ND's Carpentry Services team (photo above) went beyond the call of duty to create something special for the entire Notre Dame family. 

Their names:

• Tanner Andrysiak
• Tim Meers
• Jeremy Feltz
• Derek Stump
• Vance Welton
• George Walters

You can see the result of their efforts in this video linked below:
 
LINK:  WATCH IT RIGHT HERE!

Happy Birthday to the University of Notre Dame!

She is 172 years-old today!

Fr. Sorin founded the University of Notre Dame du Lac on this very day -- November 26 -- in the year 1842.

Happy Birthday Notre Dame!

Big Time ND Fans' TV Show -- Up For Awards!

My cousin (and big-time Notre Dame fan) Pat Doyle's TV Show "The Outdoor Option" has been nominated for 4 SPORTSMAN CHOICE AWARDS!

We can help him out by voting for The Outdoor Option in the following categories:

• Best Variety Show
• Best New Series
• Best Educational / Instructional Show
• Best Hosts

You can click on the link below to vote:

LINK:  SPORTSMAN CHOICE AWARDS