Bettis & Brown -- Next for NFL Hall of Fame?

Over the weekend, the NFL celebrated the best of all-time in Canton, OH.

Here's hoping next year we'll see one if not two former Notre Dame student-athletes wearing that gold jacket.  Click on the story about next year's NFL Hall of Fame Class.

LINK:  WHO'S NEXT?

Notre Dame Leprechaun Challenges Fallon

Here's the challenge video posted Friday by the Notre Dame Leprechaun -- linked below...

Apparently, Jimmy Fallon does a "lip sync challenge" feature on his Tonight Show and Leprechaun "John" and the Syracuse mascot named "Otto" have challenged Fallon and his Panda character -- the week Notre Dame plays Syracuse at Met Life Stadium.   Here's the video:

LINK:  FALLON CHALLENGE

Domer Dad Bon Jovi's Letter to Buffalo Fans

Jon Bon Jovi (AKA: rock star and Dad to Notre Dame student-athlete Jesse Bongiovi) penned a passionate letter to the Buffalo Bills fans letting them know of his intentions -- if he is fortunate enough to acquire the team.

LINK:  BUFFALO FANS LETTER

Our Kid's "First Season" at Iowa Speedway

This weekend marked the third and final race weekend of the 2014 race season for NASCAR's Iowa Speedway. 

Our son, and 2008 Notre Dame graduate -- Jimmy Small has literally worked around the clock (seven days a week) the last ten months to put on a good show in Iowa.  We're very proud of his commitment to making a good first impression.

The photos above are from Victory Lane -- Jimmy with last night's Nationwide race winner Brad Keselowski and this past May's K&N Pro Series race winner Ben Rhodes.

Here is a Des Moines Register story (linked below) about Jimmy's first year at the helm.  Something I know he's real proud of -- is his TEAM at Iowa Speedway.  Way overlooked in all the hype these past few months about NASCAR placing a "28 year-old Notre Dame grad in charge" -- is the great work from all of his teammates this race season.  I sure hope they all get caught up on their sleep.

It's well deserved.

LINK:  HIS FIRST LAP

LINK:  FINAL LAPS FROM LAST NIGHT'S RACE

Under Armour's Custom Shoe for ND VIP's

Here's a photo of a Notre Dame exec's shoes from Under Armour -- they are sharp!

Domer Matt Besler '09 Opts To Play at Home!

Former Notre Dame All-American and US National Team member Matt Besler shocked the world soccer community by turning down "more money to play in Europe" -- when he signed a four-year guaranteed contract this week with his hometown MLS team -- Sporting Kansas City.

Besler's deal is worth $2.8 million -- congratulations Matt!

That's Matt on the right in the photo above holding the MLS Cup Trophy which his Sporting Kansas City team won this past season.

LINK:  STAYING HOME

Happy 24th Birthday Today for Skylar Diggins!

Former Notre Dame All-American and now WNBA All-Star -- Skylar Diggins turns 24 years-old today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKYLAR!

If you'd like to wish Skylar a Happy Birthday on Twitter - just send her a TWEET @SkyDigg4

Weekly NFL Update for Notre Dame Graduates

Took a lap around the NFL this morning to check in all of the former Notre Dame football players competing for spots in Training Camps.

AS OF THIS MORNING -- THERE ARE 39 FORMER NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL PLAYERS ON NFL TRAINING CAMP ROSTERS.  22 on offense, 16 on defense and 1 specialist.

Just click on their name below to see the latest media reports:

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN -- 8

CHRIS WATT -- CHARGERS

ZACK MARTIN -- COWBOYS

SAM YOUNG -- JAGUARS

JOHN SULLIVAN -- VIKINGS

TREVOR ROBINSON -- BENGALS

RYAN HARRIS -- CHIEFS

ERIC OLSEN -- TITANS

BRAXSTON CAVE -- PATRIOTS


TIGHT ENDS -- 5

JOHN CARLSON -- CARDINALS

TYLER EIFERT -- BENGALS

ANTHONY FASANO -- CHIEFS

TROY NIKLAS -- CARDINALS

KYLE RUDOLPH -- VIKINGS


WIDE RECEIVERS -- 3

MICHAEL FLOYD -- CARDINALS

T.J. JONES -- LIONS

GOLDEN TATE -- LIONS


RUNNING BACKS -- 5

GEORGE ATKINSON -- RAIDERS

JONAS GRAY -- PATRIOTS

ROBERT HUGHES -- CARDINALS

THEO RIDDICK -- LIONS

CIERRE WOOD -- RAVENS


QUARTERBACKS -- 1

JIMMY CLAUSEN -- BEARS


DEFENSIVE LINEMEN -- 5

LOUIS NIX -- TEXANS

KONA SCHWENKE -- CHIEFS

JUSTIN TUCK -- RAIDERS

STEPHON TUITT -- STEELERS

IAN WILLIAMS -- 49ERS


LINEBACKERS -- 4

DARIUS FLEMING -- PATRIOTS
 
DAN FOX -- GIANTS

PRINCE SHEMBO -- FALCONS

MANTI TE'O -- CHARGERS


DEFENSIVE BACKS -- 7

ROBERT BLANTON -- VIKINGS

SERGIO BROWN -- COLTS

DAVID BRUTON -- BRONCOS

BENNETT JACKSON -- GIANTS

ZEKE MOTTA -- FALCONS

HARRISON SMITH -- VIKINGS

DARRIN WALLS -- JETS


SPECIALISTS -- 1

J.J. JANSEN -- PANTHERS

MUST SEE -- Brady Quinn on Dan Patrick Show

Notre Dame fans -- you'll enjoy this interview from today.  Dan Patrick drills Brady on his experience playing for the Fighting Irish.  Good stuff here!

LINK:  BRADY QUINN ON DAN PATRICK

Replay: Coach Kelly's Press Conference Today

The 127th football season at the University of Notre Dame got it's start today with Coach Kelly's opening press conference.  Fall camp begins Monday at the Culver Academies.

You'll want to watch this:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

Brady Quinn Worked Out for Patriots This Week

It's been a busy week for former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn.

On Monday, Quinn was in Foxboro, MA working out for the New England Patriots.  On Thursday he was being announced by Fox Sports as their new college and pro football analyst...

Then today -- he was a guest on the Dan Patrick Radio Show -- see link below to interview:


LINK:  QUINN GETS PATRIOTS' TRYOUT

LINK:  DAN PATRICK RADIO SHOW INTERVIEW

Johnny Lujack Recovering "Well" From Surgery

The man many consider the greatest athlete to ever wear a Notre Dame uniform -- Johnny Lujack '47 -- is at the Mayo Clinic this morning recovering from successful neck surgery.  Here's the story:

LINK:  LUJACK

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  THE LEGEND OF LUJACK

Justin Tuck Leading By Example in Oakland

Former Notre Dame All-American and Super Bowl Champion Justin Tuck is getting used to his new surroundings in Oakland. 

See the story linked below:

LINK:  TUCK

Troy Niklas Finally Hits the Practice Field in AZ

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Troy Niklas has been dealing with a couple of injuries ever since being drafted in the 2nd round of this year's NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

Well, he finally hit the field this week -- albeit a little rusty...

As you can see in the photo above -- Troy is wearing a protective soft-cast over his healing broken right hand.

LINK:  NIKLAS PRACTICING

Detroit Lions Are Raving About Golden Tate

They're calling him the "best #2 wide receiver" ever to line-up opposite Calvin "Megatron" Johnson in Detroit...

I was surprised to hear that Golden was such a good "route runner."  It was one of his knocks when he first got to the NFL a few years ago.

LINK:  BIG DAYS FOR GOLDEN?

Nice Story About the Cardinals' Michael Floyd

Is this the year former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd becomes a dominant force in the National Football League?  The folks in Arizona think so...

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD

Notre Dame Alumna Swims English Channel!

Sara Marley '90, completed the 21 mile swim in 13 hours and 50 minutes!!!

Here's the story!

LINK:  ENGLISH CHANNEL SWIM

LINK:  BLOOMBERG NEWS STORY

Notre Dame Design Element for Under Armour?

If you look closely at the "numbers" and shoulder stripes -- inside the design -- it appears the designers at Under Armour are picking up the ceiling of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart (top photo) in the look they've created for the women's soccer jerseys...

This is just a guess.

We never saw anything like this from Adidas.

Local News Coverage: Field Turf Install Done!

Here's a few of the local news reports from South Bend TV outlets -- as they were let inside Notre Dame Stadium today to see the completed installation of Field Turf.   Only a few "minor" touch-ups before the opening game on August 30th!

It looks fantastic!

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY

LINK:  WSBT-TV STORY

LINK:  ABC 57 -- STORY

Notre Dame Soccer's New Under Armour Jersey

They will be the "best dressed" team in college soccer!

Take close notice to all of the detail:

• The collar:  God, Country, Notre Dame
• The numbers and shoulder stripes  Looks like they may have picked up a design cue from the ceiling of the Basilica

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Notre Dame Soccer's New Under Armour Shoes

They're getting cooler all the time!

The New View From Notre Dame's Tunnel

Is this awesome or what!!!

Got to Love Mike's Lee's Boxing Trunks!

Found these photos of "undefeated" pro boxer Mike Lee '09 from his Friday night fight in Chicago!  His boxing trunks are off the charts!

LINK:  LEE GOES 13-0!

Jerian Grant Returns "Home" to Notre Dame

Here's a three-part feature on Jerian Grant's return to Notre Dame for his senior season.  Click on the links below:

LINK:  JERIAN -- PART 1

LINK:  JERIAN -- PART 2

LINK:  JERIAN -- PART 3

Skylar Shares Workout Secrets With Oprah!

The former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins offered some tips on working out in the August issue of Oprah Magazine...

The Tulsa Shock announced today that Skylar set their all-time single season scoring record with her 560 points -- with eight games left to play!

LINK:  SKYLAR WITH OPRAH

Football Tickets Tough to Sell in Ann Arbor

Here's what happens when your home schedule looks like this:

• Appalachian State
• Miami of Ohio
• Utah
• Minnesota
• Penn State
• Indiana
• Maryland

Your Athletic Director seeks approval to set off fireworks after the games to entice fans to buy tickets. 

LINK:  MICHIGAN TICKET CHALLENGE

ND's "Left Side" Making a Mark in NFL Camps

Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Chris Watt '13, was taking first team reps at the Chargers' training camp -- there's a link to the story below -- as was his more famous running mate Zack Martin '13, who's turning heads at the Cowboys' camp.

Chris wears #65 for the Chargers.  Zack wears #70 for the Cowboys.

LINK:  CHRIS WATT

LINK:  ZACK MARTIN

LINK:  VIDEO OF PRACTICE -- CHRIS IS #65 / MANTI #50

Interesting Take: Will ND Help or Hurt ACC?

A couple of writers at ESPN tackled the question -- "Will Notre Dame help or hurt the ACC this season?"  It's an interesting read...

LINK:  ND & THE ACC

Notre Dame Talked With Georgia's Dooley...

About coaching the Fighting Irish after Dan Devine stepped down.

Vince Dooley -- the long time coach and AD at Georgia "prayed" for the IRISH as a young boy in Mobile, AL.  Notre Dame fans will enjoy this South Bend Tribune story.

LINK:  DOOLEY & NOTRE DAME

Latest Photo of Notre Dame Stadium Field Turf

It looks magnificent!

The "eighteen" endzone lines are in -- all pointing at the GOLDEN DOME -- with each set at an angle of 42 degrees -- to signify Notre Dame's founding in 1842.

Just click on the photo to enlarge.

Latest Photo of Notre Dame Coaches UA Gear

The Notre Dame football coaches returned to campus today to get ready for the 2014 season -- here's what was awaiting them in their locker room at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Grooms @NDFBEquipment

Is This the Biggest NFL Contract in ND HIstory?

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Kyle Rudolph signed a $36.5 million contract extension yesterday with the Minnesota Vikings.   See the video interview below. 

The amount just might be the biggest ever signed by a former Notre Dame football player in the NFL.  Here's the top three that I've tracked down...

1. Kyle Rudolph:  $36.5 million
2. Golden Tate:  $31 million
3. Justin Tuck:  $30 million

If you know of bigger NFL deals signed by former ND football stars -- send me an email at jim.small@ndgoirish.com

LINK:  RUDOLPH TALKS $36.5 MILLION

Brady Quinn Joins Fox Sports College FB Team

Former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn has apparently signed a contract to be a color analyst on Fox Sports' college football telecasts this fall. 

Congrats Brady!

LINK:  BRADY'S BROADCAST BOOT CAMP

End Zone Stripes Are In -- Notre Dame Stadium

Drove by the Rockne Gate at Notre Dame Stadium -- this afternoon -- and took this photo.  I could see the diaganol stripes in the endzone are in place -- unfortunately, this photo does not do it justice.

From outside the tunnel gate -- the field looks awesome!

Here's the latest photo from inside Notre Dame Stadium -- much better!

Here's the story behind the end-zone stripes at Notre Dame Stadium.  There are nine stripes in each endzone -- totaling 18.  They are each set at an angle of 42 degrees -- all pointing towards Notre Dame's iconic Golden Dome.  

They signify the year 1842 -- the year the University of Notre Dame du Lac was founded.

 

SBT's Lesar Talks ND Football Independence

A group called CINESPORT -- never heard of them -- interviewed the South Bend Tribune's Al Lesar about the future of Notre Dame's football independence.  Here's a link to the video interview:

LINK:  INDEPENDENCE

OT: Nike's "Passing of the Baton" to Rory

You've got to hand it to Nike -- they "just do it..."

LINK:  NIKE

Justin Tuck's New Start With Oakland Raiders

The Mercury News caught up with former Notre Dame All-American Justin Tuck as he gets ready for his first Training Camp with the Oakland Raiders...

The photo above is of Tuck's distinctive face mask -- now on the "silver and black" helmet of the Raiders.

LINK:  TUCK

Harrison Smith Predicts How Many Irish Wins!

Former Notre Dame football captain Harrison Smith was interviewed walking into Vikings Training Camp the other day and he was asked a question about how many wins will our Fighting Irish have this season...

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH

Story on the Pittsburgh Steelers' Stephon Tuitt

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Stephon Tuitt is featured in this article about the Steelers' defensive line...

LINK:  TUITT

Coach Kelly Hosts FB Camp in Washington D.C.

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was in Washington D.C. this week hosting a football camp at St. Johns College High School.

The folks at the Washington Times caught up with Coach Kelly for a quick interview...

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Photo of Kona Schwenke at KC Chiefs Practice

Here's a photo of Kona Schwenke (#93) today at the Kansas City Chiefs practice today...

Michael Floyd "One of the Top 25 Players..."

Under the age of 25 in the NFL...

So says the gang at ESPN -- click on the link below:

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD