Every week the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG -- searches the world wide web for the top performers of the greatest college fight song on the planet -- the Notre Dame Victory March. Here are three more contestants this week -- one has four legs! Click on the links below:
South Bend native, Skylar Diggins scored a career high 31 points in Notre Dame's 84 - 66 win last night over Vermont in the Second Round of the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship. The victory puts the Irish into the "Sweet Sixteen" for the eighth time in the last fourteen years! Next up for Notre Dame is third seeded Oklahoma in Kansas City this Sunday. Tip-off for the game vs. Oklahoma is scheduled for 7:34 PM EST. Go Irish!
The University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California - long time rivals on the football field -- are collaborating in the class room via videoconferencing. Two Notre Dame students are enrolled in a Master Voice course with USC's Cynthia Munzer. Munzer sits in Los Angeles on the Southern Cal campus and she listens and critiques her two ND students via the live videoconference feed. Click on the link below to see how it's done:
The Fighting Irish Women's basketball team won their opening game of the 2010 NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship yesterday -- topping Cleveland State 86 - 58. As has become a tradition for Muffet McGraw and her Irish -- she brings out the "green" version of their jersey for important games. I've seen posts this morning from ND fans wishing the Men's Irish basketball team would adopt a similar uniform design -- are you listening Mike Brey? The Irish are back in action tomorrow night when they play Vermont in the "second round" in a home game at Purcell Pavillion.
Tomorrow, NFL scouts will be found with their stop watches, note pads and cameras inside Notre Dame's indoor practice facility as they take a look at the Notre Dame football players who are interested in playing in the NFL. It's NFL Pro Day at Notre Dame and many of the graduating seniors from the past two Irish football teams will be going through a number of "combine" drills and tests. Not sure if Golden Tate will be participating -- Jimmy Clausen will not, his personal Pro Day is scheduled for April 9th, though he will be in attendance. Here are the players who will be participating; James Aldridge, Sergio Brown, Paul Duncan, Kyle McCarthy, Raeshon McNeil, Eric Olsen, Robby Parris, Morrice Richardson, Scott Smith, Toryan Smith, Sam Young, David Grimes and Asaph Schwapp. Three years ago, Brady Quinn was a hot topic amongst NFL teams -- here's a link to his NFL Pro Day at Notre Dame:
The University of Notre Dame's annual "Old 2 Gold" yard sale at Notre Dame Stadium has been set for Saturday, June 26th. The event is free and open to the public from 9 AM to 11 AM. If you'd like "first crack" at all of the items for sale -- you can pay $5 to get in at 7 AM -- and have two hours to shop the bargains first! Tickets go on sale for the early admission at 5 AM that day at Notre Dame Stadium.
Well, we have one basketball team left in the NCAA Tournament - and that's Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish. They begin tournament play tomorrow afternoon with a "home" game at Purcell Pavillion. The 2nd seeded Irish will be taking on the 15th seed, Cleveland State at 2:30 PM EST. It's been nine years since the Irish won the 2001 NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship. Tickets are still available -- and if you can't get to South Bend, you can watch the game on ESPN.
The first night game in Michigan Stadium history will take place on September 10th, 2011 -- when the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame come to town. The so called "Big House" has never hosted a night game in its 83 year history. Michigan's new Athletic Director Dave Brandon (just eleven days on the job) made the announcement yesterday. Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune Article:
It was announced yesterday that former ND All American, Raghib "The Rocket" Ismail has a new career. He's going to work for the Versus Channel and will be one of their commentators on Professional Bull Riding. Here's a link to the news article that speaks to what The Rocket is up to:
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame tip off their 2010 run in the NCAA Tournament this afternoon at 12:25 PM (EST) in New Orleans against Old Dominion University. The Monarchs finished the season as the Colonial Athletic Association champs with a record of 26 - 8. They have a RPI ranking of 27 -- which is much higher than the Irish's 49 RPI. Both teams have a common opponent in Georgetown -- which both beat this season. This will be the second meeting in basketball between the two schools. In 1984 the Irish beat the Monarchs 67 - 62 in the NIT.
Many fans of the University of Notre Dame believe the tradition of wearing green jerseys began against USC in 1977. Well, it really began in the 20's under Knute Rockne. Back then the Freshmen football teams wore green jerseys, while the Varsity wore blue. When teams showed up at Notre Dame wearing blue jerseys, Rockne would switch his team over to green jerseys to better distinguish his players from the opposition. In a game against Navy, Rockne had his teams wear a green jersey underneath their blue ones and when the Midshipmen scored first in the game - Rockne ordered his team to tear off their blue jerseys and wear the green. And, as George Trevor of the New York Sun reported; "Instantaneously, the Notre Dame regulars yanked off their blue outer sweaters and - like a horde of green Gila monsters - darted onto the field. From that moment on, Notre Dame held the initiative, imposed its collective will upon the Navy." Notre Dame came from behind to win that game, 19-6, and then used the same maneuver the following year at Chicago's Soldier Field. That 1928 game saw Notre Dame beat Navy, 7-0, with the Scholastic Football Review including this description: "Mr. K.K. Rockne may, or may not, be a psychologist. But, he did array his team in bright green jerseys for their battle with the United States Naval Academy. Mr Rockne evidently surmised that garbing a band of native and adopted Irish in their native color is somewhat akin to showing a bull the Russian flag." The green jerseys remained prominent throughout the Frank Leahy years - particularly in September of 1947, when Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack graced the cover of Life magazine clad in green. Digger Phelps used to trot out the green jerseys during the NCAA Tournament when the Irish played on or near St. Patrick's Day. Muffet McGraw has done the same with her teams. Will Brey bring the "green" to New Orleans tomorrow? The link below shows the Irish running onto the field in green jerseys in the famous 1977 game against USC:
Jeff Faine, center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former ND All American -- is giving back to the community. This Friday, Faine will host an "Evening of H.O.P.E" in Orlando. Faine's intent is to create a home for six to eight teenagers who no longer are eligible to participate in foster care. He wants to equip them with the essential tools and training necessary to become successful in life. "This is a place for some of these kids who really want help and want to make something better for themselves," Faine said. "A place to get social counseling and financial guidance, learn how to open a checking and savings account, the things that most people take for granted. A place they can live as well, but there will be requirements on their end, whether it be a obtaining a GED, two-year college degree, trade school degree, or attending a four-year university." Faine plans to build the first home in the Orlando area and then look partner with local businesses to build homes in the Tampa area as well. For more on this event -- please click on the link below:
For the 15th consecutive season, the Irish Women's Basketball Team is headed to the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame will play 15th seeded Cleveland State this Sunday in a First Round "home" game at the Purcell Pavillion. The game will be televised on ESPN. This is the 17th trip to the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship for the Irish Women's basketball program.
In the wake of the Browns trading Brady Quinn to the Broncos yesterday, stories are now surfacing that Cleveland may be interested in taking Jimmy Clausen with their seventh pick in April's NFL Draft. How ironic would that be? Clausen followed Quinn to Notre Dame and now he could be doing the same with the Browns. USA Today (today) ran a story that supported Clausen going #1 overall to the St. Louis Rams. Other sources have the Redskins looking at Clausen with their fourth pick. It now appears certain he'll go in the first ten picks. Clausen, still recovering from toe surgery, has his Pro Day scheduled the week before the Draft. For what it's worth, he was the best "losingest" QB in Notre Dame history. He was much better than his career Win/Loss record at the QB position at Notre Dame. Here's a video tribute to Jimmy:
The Cleveland Browns traded former ND QB Brady Quinn to the Denver Broncos today for a player and two draft picks. Quinn was drafted by the Browns in the first round three years ago -- yet didn't fulfill his potential in Cleveland. In Denver, Quinn will be joining a former Charlie Weis protege -- Josh McDaniels. McDaniels was on Charlie's offensive staff when Weis ran the Patriots offense. The links below are the reactions to the trade from the two cities -- enjoy!
Mike Brey and his sixth seeded Fighting Irish are headed to play the #11 seed Old Dominion in the South Region in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in New Orleans on Thursday night. WHEN WE WIN, the Irish will likely take on #3 seed Baylor on Saturday. NCAA Tournament Fact: #6 seeds have won 68.5% of their first round games. Go Irish!
Every week, NOTRE DAME GO IRISH -- searches the world wide web for the best performers of the Notre Dame Victory March. Here's this week's contestants on Irish IDOL;
After the late season "run" for the Irish -- I'm hoping to see the Irish in the "top 32" seeds in the NCAA Tournament when the NCAA Committee announces the field for the 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament tomorrow evening.
Tim Brown, former ND All American and 1987 Heisman Trophy winner -- is seeking sponsors to start a NASCAR racing team. Brown, who retired from the Oakland Raiders after sixteen years in the NFL -- is working with technical assistance from Roush Racing and NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program. Brown intends to find a black, hispanic or woman driver for his team. Good Luck Tim!
The seventh seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on the 2nd seeded Pitt Panthers tonight at 7 PM in the Big East Tournament, after beating Seton Hall last night. Tip off is set for 7PM EST on ESPN. The Irish beat Pitt 68 - 53 three weeks ago in South Bend -- starting the current five game winning streak. Go Irish!
The University of Notre Dame has been "under construction" for a long time... One new building, or addition, after another. Add one more to the list. The new hockey arena which will be located south of the Purcell Pavillion and just west of the women's softball stadium is expected to begin construction on March 15th. Here's the only artist rendition I could find of the arena. From what I've been told, it will rival any college hockey arena in America -- it's designer Michael Rossetti is calling it a 'hockey cathedral." Should be something!
Notre Dame opens up play this evening in the Big East Tournament against Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden. The Irish lost to "The Hall" by three (90 - 87), February 11th in a game played before DEFENSE returned to Notre Dame basketball. You can watch the game on ESPN2 at 7 PM EST. Go Irish!
The world's largest "five on five" outdoor basketball tournament is about to "tip off" again. Students, Faculty, Staff, Coaches -- all participate in this uniquely Notre Dame event. Registration for the 2010 Bookstore Basketball Tournament ended March 5th. Since 1972, Bookstore Basketball has taken place outside in the snow, sleet and rain -- on the Notre Dame campus. It started with 53 teams in 1972, the 2009 tournament had 712 teams. Last year's Champions in the Open Tournament; Hallelujah Holla Back will attempt to repeat, without last year's "MVP" (Joe Fauria) who transferred to UCLA and Dayne Crist who's coming off of knee surgery. If you're in town for the Blue & Gold Game you'll see the late rounds of this year's tournament on Friday night and Saturday night -- on the courts next to the Hammes Bookstore. Here's a link to a ESPNU story on last year's tournament and a link to the official tournament site:
Ryan Lash, a senior majoring in medieval studies and anthropology is one of 29 American students to receive a Gates Scholarship (Bill Gates, Co-Founder of Microsoft) to attend the University of Cambridge to pursue a masters degree. Here is a link to the news release from the University of Notre Dame:
Are you a fan of Golden Tate? Here's your opportunity to get an autographed item from Golden prior to the NFL Draft. Emerald Sky Sports is hosting a private autograph session with Golden on March 27th. The private signing session will be broadcast live on the web -- so you can actually watch Golden sign the item you requested. For more information click on this link:
If you're anything like me, you can't get enough Notre Dame information on the sports teams. Here's the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG ranking of ND related sports sites and blogs on the web. Click on the titles and it will link you to the respective site.
BusinessWeek selected Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, last week, as the top Undergraduate Business School in America. When they published the article online they asked top ND Student Athlete -- Mike Anello to pose for this photo. Anello "walked on" the football team as a sophomore, as a senior he earned a full scholarship and was named a Team Captain. He also graduated with a 3.93 GPA in Finance from the Mendoza College of Business earning Academic All-American honors. Here's a link to the article:
Found this video that looks back at the last ten years of Notre Dame Football. It shows the highs and the lows -- and I promise you it's going to get you ready for Spring Practice, the Blue & Gold Game and the Home Opener September 4th against Purdue. Enjoy!
The surging Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- winners of four straight Big East games, earned a seventh seed in the Big East Tournament this week at Madison Square Garden -- after their big overtime win yesterday over Marquette. Carleton Scott's buzzer beating three-pointer put the game into overtime and probably Notre Dame into the NCAA Tournament. The Irish will play the winner of the Seton Hall vs. Providence game -- on Wednesday. Go Irish!
Every week at NOTRE DAME GO IRISH we search the web for the top singers and musicians, in the world, and ask them to perform the greatest college fight song in the land -- the Notre Dame Victory March! Here are three more contestants -- just click on the links below:
BusinessWeek just released their ranking of the top fifty Undergraduate Business School's in the country and Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business was ranked the nation's best! Congratulations to Dr. Carolyn Woo and team for this recognition. Here's a link to the BusinessWeek ranking:
We use his name often when talking about the great coaches at Notre Dame -- yet, do we really know that much about him? He won four National Championships, had six undefeated seasons, an unbeaten streak of 39 games and he coached four Heisman Trophy winners. His overall record was 87 - 11 - 9. Yeah, they use to have "ties" in football! He resigned from Notre Dame with two years left on his contract - later saying he "didn't feel wanted at Notre Dame." Kind of hard to believe! Here's an NFL Films video tribute of Coach Leahy:
James O'Rourke, Professor of Management and Director of the Fanning Center for Business Communications -- comments on Toyota's handling of their public relations crisis. Click on the video link below:
A team of four MBA students at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business took home top honors at the ninth annual Leads Net Impact Case Competition at the University of Colorado. The competition pitted 61 MBA teams from 39 business schools in a case format competition built around businesses facing sustainability issues. Here's a link to the story:
A recent PayScale.com survey of college graduates - ten years after graduation -- found that University of Notre Dame graduates are amongst the top ten paid. To see the list -- click on the link below:
The 80th Annual Bengal Bouts culminated Saturday night at Notre Dame's Purcell Pavillion -- with 14 winners crowned. Here's a link to The Observer's recap of each fight. Click on the link below.
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Its' been reported that anywhere from 24 to 32 Notre Dame students and staff members have been in Santiago, Chile for three weeks now getting acclimated to the country -- and they experienced yesterday's 8.8 magnitude earth quake. Thankfully all are safe -- in what was the fifth highest recorded earth quake of all time. Santiago is approximately 200 miles south of the quake's epicenter. Classes were scheduled to start this week for Notre Dame's International Studies Abroad program in Chile (March 3rd) -- at present, know one knows where or when these classes will begin.
CatholicTV broadcasts Notre Dame's 10 AM Mass from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart LIVE every Sunday. Check with your local cable operator to see if they have the Catholic TV Chanel. Here's a link to CatholicTV.com -- where you can also watch the Mass from Notre Dame live online:
With wins over 12th ranked Pitt on Wednesday night at home and 11th ranked Georgetown today, on the road, the Irish have had one of their best weeks as a basketball program in a long time. And, they've done this with All American Luke Harangody on the sidelines with a bruised knee. Games with Connecticut and Marquette remain -- before the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The Irish are going to need to win one of the two remaining games and probably two games in the Big East Tournament to make the NCAA Tournament. Go IRISH!
Five members of the Fighting Irish Football Team are in Indianapolis this weekend at the NFL Combine -- the NFL's version of "show and tell." Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Kyle McCarthy, Sam Young and Eric Olsen received invites to interview and workout in front of all of the NFL teams. Olsen finished tied for 3rd amongst Offensive Linemen in the bench press of 225 lbs. -- lifting it 35 times. Sam Young finished tenth -- with 29 lifts. Young was a little quicker in the 40 yard dash going 5.19 to Olsen's 5.22. Clausen is just in town meeting with teams while recovering from his off season toe surgery. Here's a link to the NFL's coverage of the Combine as well as links to each of the profiles of the ND players along with how they are performing:
The University of Notre Dame has a number of talented musical groups on campus. One that doesn't get the publicity I think they should is the Liturgical Choir. They are fantastic. You can hear them at 10 AM Mass on Sunday's at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. They're made up of 65 to 70 students. Every year, the choir will take their show on the road -- performing to audiences around the country. And, every four years, they'll take an international trip -- with recent performances in France, Italy and Spain. Here are some links to a concert on campus and a link to their website and how you can purchase their music.
Every week at NOTRE DAME GO IRISH we search the world wide web for talented singers, of every age, and ask them to perform the Notre Dame Victory March. Here are our three latest contestants on Irish IDOL -- just click on the links below and enjoy!
The 80th Annual Bengal Bouts finished up their Semi-Final Rounds last night at the Joyce Center -- leaving two fighters in each of the weight classes to go at it this Saturday night at 7 PM in the Finals. In the Heavyweight Final Will "At the Edge of Darkness" Burroughs will take on Kevin "The Long Beach Lumberjack" Crepeau. You've got to love the nicknames! Tickets are on sale at the University of Notre Dame's Ticket Office at the Joyce Center.
In 1996 a few Notre Dame students got together and created an a cappella singing group -- and named themselves the Undertones. Since then, this group has recorded six albums, most recently in May of 2009 they released "12 Items or Less." The 2009 - 2010 edition of the Undertones is comprised of 12 Notre Dame students. NBC (the home of Notre Dame football) produced a show this past season called "The Sing Off" in which they brought in eight a cappella groups to compete for a grand prize of cash and a recording contract. One of the college groups -- from Tufts University -- made the Finals. Maybe we'll see the Undertones on NBC next year! The links below are to their website -- where you can buy their music and the second link is to a youtube video of their reunion concert this past year at Notre Dame. Enjoy!
Blessed Brother Andre Bessette, of the Holy Cross Congregation - the founders of the University of Notre Dame -- was approved for sainthood, this past Friday, with formal canonization scheduled for Sunday, October 17th, 2010. Brother Andre, a Holy Cross Brother, is credited with thousands of miraculous healings. Born in Quebec, Blessed Brother Andre lived and worked in Canada (though he did spend some time in America) until his death in 1937. He is the first member of the Holy Cross Congregation to be approved for sainthood. The link below is a tribute to Brother Andre.
Alexander Haig, former Secretary of State and U.S. Army General -- died yesterday of complications from a staphylococcal infection while at John Hopkins Hospital. Haig graduated from West Point, but prior to his time as a Cadet, he attended the University of Notre Dame for two years. He's best known for his comment "I am in charge here" -- after the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan -- even though he was at best -- fifth in line to run the country.
The #9 ranked Fighting Irish opened their 2010 Lacrosse season on the road against #2 ranked Duke -- and upset the Blue Devils 11 - 7. It's the first time a ND Lacrosse squad has defeated a team ranked in the top 2 in the country. Not a bad way to start a season!
Samantha Maxwell, a Notre Dame junior from Chandler, AZ -- recorded the fastest time in the country yesterday in the 100 Breaststroke at the Big East Swimming & Diving Championship. Maxwell, an All American -- touched the wall in a time of 59.64 shattering the Big East record in this event. The Irish Women's and Men's teams are in first place - going into today's final sessions.
Former Notre Dame All-American, Ross Browner was voted the Favorite Irish Defensive End of All Time in a vote of NOTRE DAME GO IRISH blog visitors. Browner received 26% of the vote -- Alan Page finished second and current New York Giant DE Justin Tuck finished third. Browner was a force at Defensive End for the Irish in the mid 70's -- teaming with Willie Fry to form the most famous duo at this position in Notre Dame Football history. He was a four year starter -- and a unanimous All American choice his junior and senior seasons for the Irish. He won the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award and won the Maxwell Award as the nation's best player -- the only lineman to win this award. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting his senior year. And, he was a member of two National Championship teams at Notre Dame. Browner was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. A first round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals -- he was voted the team's MVP in 1978 and set a Super Bowl record for tackles by a defensive lineman in Super Bowl XVI. A true Notre Dame legend.