Mike DeCicco '49, died of congestive heart failure yesterday, at the age of 85. Coach DeCicco's fencing teams won FIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS during his 34-year coaching tenure at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame begins play in the NCAA Tournament today -- down the Toll Road in Toledo, OH. The #1 seeded Fightin' Irish (CCHA Champions) will be taking on the WCHA Champions from St. Cloud State.
There isn't any national TV coverage today -- everyone can watch it on ESPNU (tomorrow) at Noon ET. Those who have access to WHME-TV 46 can watch it LIVE today beginning at 1:30 PM ET.
Here's the stat of the day -- Notre Dame a #1 seed is 2 - 4 against teams in the NCAA Tournament. St. Cloud State a #4 seed is 9-7-1 against teams in the NCAA Tournament. We have our hands full today!
Here is the media coverage this week from Fighting Irish Digital Media:
The #1 seeded and #2 ranked Notre Dame Fightin' Irish take on the Kansas Jayhawks -- for the first time ever -- in a SWEET SIXTEEN game Easter Sunday in Norfolk, VA. The Jayhawks become the 197th different opponent in the history of women's basketball at Notre Dame.
The Jayhawks are 20 - 13 on the season and are led by Monica Engelman who is averaging 18 points a game in the tournament. They start two 6'-3" forwards -- so they'll have a slight height advantage on the IRISH. Here's what the Lawrence, KS media has to say about today's game:
This morning around 10:45 AM ET -- Katie Paige, a senior at Ann Arbor Pioneer HS -- signed her "acceptance letter" to attend the University of Notre Dame. Katie chose to sign the letter at the Grotto. A special moment!
That's Katie's dad Patrick -- proudly standing with a member of Notre Dame's Class of 2017.
Matt Besler '09, earned his "stars and stripes" this past Tuesday night when he played all ninety minutes for TEAM USA (his first start for USA in a World Cup Qualifier) in America's 0 - 0 tie with Mexico at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City.
Besler, an All-American with the IRISH -- is the first Notre Dame student-athlete to ever play in a World Cup qualifier for any nation. Justin Morrow '10, is also a member of TEAM USA but he's yet to see the field in a World Cup Qualifier.
Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today after the Wednesday morning practice. During the session with the media he announced the transfer of a couple of players and confirmed the injuries to Chase Hounshell and Amir Carlisle.
Former Notre Dame QB and Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana -- was just inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Here's a link to an interview of Joe at the event. The photo above shows Montana (on the left) with fellow Hall of Fame inductee Warren Beatty.
The University of Notre Dame hosted a PRO DAY today for NFL Scouts to check in on former members of the Irish football program as they prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.
THE STORY OF THE DAY: The forty heard round the world! What a difference a tenth of a second means for Manti -- could be millions...
Adidas never misses an opportunity -- here's what the Notre Dame senior football players are wearing today inside the Loftus Athletics Complex at the NFL PRO DAY...
The University of Notre Dame's cheerleaders, leprechaun and pep band visited Regina Elementary School in Iowa City yesterday, while waiting for tonight's NCAA Tournament game -- pretty cool scene!
The NCAA Tournament continues this evening for the #2 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- as they play a true "road game" tonight taking on the Iowa Hawkeyes (on their home floor) in a battle to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
The newly crowned CCHA Playoff Champions were awarded a #1 seed last night in the upcoming run to the NCAA's FROZEN FOUR. Notre Dame will play St. Cloud State in Toledo, OH this Saturday in the single elimination tournament.
Here's a link to the teams selected to compete in the NCAA Men's Hockey National Championship -- along with some reaction from Coach JacksoN:
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame won their first game of the NCAA Tournament by 33 -- as they put away University Tennessee Martin in Iowa City.
Freshman Jewell Loyd led the IRISH with 27 points on 10 for 15 shooting from the floor. Notre Dame will play the winner of the Miami, FL vs. Iowa game on Tuesday night.
Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins is back with the gang at ESPNW -- publishing a blog about her experiences for what IRISH fans hope will be a long NCAA run. Here's yesterday's blog post:
Jeff Jackson's #9 ranked Fighting Irish hockey team won the last ever MASON CUP today over Michigan by the score of 3 - 1 -- as the CCHA played it's final game at Joe Louis Arena after 42 years. It's the third CCHA TITLE for Notre Dame.
IRISH goalie STEVEN SUMMERHAYS was OUTSTANDING --- making some huge saves in the third period!
Notre Dame as the CCHA Champion gets an automatic bid to the NCAA National Championship -- which begins next week. The IRISH will go into the tournament having won nine straight games!
Michigan -- which had won nine straight -- had to beat ND to earn a bid to the NCAA Championship.The IRISH put an end to Michigan's 22 year streak of making the NCAA tournament.
The NCAA Hockey National Championship field will be announced this evening at 9 PM ET on ESPNU.
Muffet McGraw's Fightin' Irish tip off their annual run for a National Championship today in Iowa City at 5:05 PM ET against the University of Tennessee Martin. UTM has two 20+ point scorers in their starting line-up who are in the TOP TEN in the country in scoring. No other team in the country can make this claim...
Should be an interesting match-up. The game will be televised LIVE on ESPN2.
Former Notre Dame football star Tommy Zbikowski -- signed a one-year contract today to play safety for the Chicago Bears. Zibby grew up in the Chicago suburbs -- so it's pretty cool!
The Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame did two things today -- they beat Ohio State 3 - 1 earning a trip to tomorrow afternoon's CCHA Final against the winner of the Miami of Ohio vs. Michigan game this evening. And, they definitely clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament...
Here's a link to the highlights, post game press conference and post game coverage:
The last CCHA FINAL FOUR will be played today and tomorrow in Hockeytown -- as the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame play Ohio State at 1:05 PM ET and Miami of Ohio and Michigan play at 4:35 PM ET. The winners play tomorrow at 2:05 PM ET.
Tip-off is scheduled for 9:45 PM ET tonight on CBS -- as the Notre Dame Fightin' Irish begin NCAA Tournament play against Iowa State at the University of Dayton Arena. Here's a link to the pre-game coverage:
The President of the United States took a verbal jab at the University of Notre Dame's basketball jersey on ESPN this week -- so, Mike Brey is sending that jersey to the White House.
The University of Notre Dame's Morris Inn is undergoing a significant renovation/expansion project that is going to produce a world-class hotel for on-campus guests. You'll enjoy this "fly through" virtual tour of what the Morris Inn will look like this September when it re-opens its doors -- along with a second link to the LIVE WEBCAM following the construction project:
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced today that they've signed former Notre Dame basketball star Chris Quinn to a contract. Quinn has been playing in the NBA's Development League for the Tulsa 66ers. Here's the story:
It may not look like it outside -- but Spring has returned to Notre Dame -- as the Fighting Irish football team hit the practice field for the first day of Spring Practice.
Looks like Stephon Tuitt (#7) has hit the weight room!
The Stayer Center for Executive Education opened its doors this past week -- and let me tell you -- this building is spectacular! Here's a link to a short little slide show of Notre Dame's newest campus facility.
The photo above is of a stained glass window in the St. Matthew Chapel inside the Stayer Center.
Bloomberg Businessweek just released their rankings of the top undergraduate Business Schools in the country and for the FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR -- the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business is ranked #1!
I believe this is the first time a university has been ranked #1 -- four consecutive years!
The first practice of the Spring Season, here at the University of Notre Dame, took place at 8 AM ET "inside" at Meyo Field inside the Loftus Sports Center. After practice, Brian Kelly met with the media to talk about his Fighting Irish football team:
The University of Notre Dame football team begins Spring Practice this week -- leading up to the 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game on April 20th. To kick things off, Coach Kelly met with the media at NOON ET today -- here's the follow-up media coverage:
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame begin their quest for a third straight trip to the Final Four via Iowa City, IA "When" they make it -- they will probably be the only team not to play a game on their home court in the NCAA tournament.
Game I'm most concerned about -- the potential to have to play Iowa on their home court in a Second Round game -- the #2 team in the tournament did not deserve that...
It didn't take long for the media to weigh-in on what lies ahead for the IRISH:
Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly made the trip to Breezy Point, Queens this past week to visit the ravages of Hurricane Sandy. Coach Kelly and his Kelly Cares Foundation has pledged financial help to the Catholic Club -- a popular community center that was destroyed in the storm.
The only #1 seed to have to go on the road to play ALL of their games to make it to New Orleans for the FINAL FOUR -- the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame. The other #1 seeds; Baylor, Stanford and UCONN will play their first two games at home...
The (31-1) IRISH will begin their NCAA Championship run in Iowa City, IA this Sunday at 5:05 PM ET against the #16 seed (19-14) University of Tennessee Martin.
She'll be wearing "blue and gold" next fall in Purcell Pavillion -- Taya Reimer was just named the National Player of the Year by McDonald's! The 6'-3" forward will be joining the IRISH this next season -- along with three other top high school stars.
That was the question poised to a few "experts" over at ESPN -- on the eve of the NCAA Selection Show -- that will air on their channels this evening at 7 PM ET. Here's what they had to say:
The #12 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will play the "un-ranked" Ohio State Buckeyes this Friday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena in the semi-finals of the CCHA HOCKEY TOURNAMENT.
Miami of Ohio will play Michigan in the other semi-final. The winners will play Saturday for the honor of being the last CCHA Champion!
Notre Dame and Ohio State last played back in February in Columbus -- with the Buckeyes winning 6 - 3 the first night and the two teams playing to a 2-2 OT time the next night -- with the IRISH winning the shootout for the extra point.
Took a quick look around the web to see what I could find out about the Iowa State Cyclones from the Big 12 Conference. Iowa State lost their last game to Kansas 88 - 73 in their conference tournament. Photo above of Iowa State's reaction to playing Notre Dame...
It didn't take long for ALL of the talking heads at ESPN to pick Iowa State over ND -- probably the best news we could get!!!
Some quick facts:
22 - 11 season record
The Cyclones are 6 - 4 their last 10 games
Four starters score in double figures -- led by Will Clyburn at 15.0 pts. per game
The Notre Dame men's basketball team will begin NCAA Tournament play next Friday night in Dayton, OH against the Iowa State Cyclones in First Round play in the WEST REGION. The Irish are a #7 seed.
An omen? The last team to beat the overall #1 seed in the tournament (Louisville) -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!
The defending National Champion Kentucky Wildcats -- did not make it into the tournament -- along with schools like Virginia, Maryland, Iowa, Tennessee, Southern Miss an Alabama..
Here's a link to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Bracket -- along with the reaction from Notre Dame:
ESPN's resident "bracketologist" Joe Lunardi -- has the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame playing in the EAST REGIONAL as a #6 seed -- playing a #11 seed Saint Mary's in the First Round at Auburn Hills, MI.
"WHEN" the IRISH win -- they would more than likely play Michigan State in the Second Round...
Of course, we'll find out for real tonight -- who the IRISH will play and where.