Purdue Is Selling Notre Dame Game Tickets

If you're in the mood to make the drive to West Lafayette October 1st to see the Fighting Irish play a night game -- now is your chance.  Purdue's athletic department put tickets to the game on sale today for $65.  Here's a link to their ticket site:

LINK:  SEE THE IRISH PLAY AT PURDUE

Notre Dame to Offer Seat Backs in Stadium

I never thought Notre Dame would allow this inside Notre Dame Stadium.  Here's hoping the ND fans sitting in front, behind or to the left or right of me this season -- don't purchase one.  (Maybe ND got IMG to make a "narrower" seat for the lower bowl of Notre Dame Stadium -- don't hold your breath.)  If you don't know what I'm talking about, click this link below:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SEAT BACKS

Tony Rice's Son Commits to a College Team

Anthony Rice, son of legendary Notre Dame QB Tony Rice, committed yesterday to play college football for Central Michigan University.  Anthony is a 6'-0" 168 lb. wide receiver at Marian HS in Mishawaka.  Here's a link to his highlight video along with a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  ANTHONY RICE -- WIDE RECEIVER

LINK:  RICE COMMITS TO CMU

Beano Picks Notre Dame's 1947 Team...

He's one of the few sportswriters in the country who can go by one name...

Notre Dame fans will recall Beano Cook gave Ron Powlus two Heisman Trophies before he played his first game.  Well, Beano's talkin' Notre Dame again.  Here's the link to the story:



LINK:  BEANO COOK -- YOU GOTTA LOVE HIM!

ND Recruit -- Chevy Athlete of the Year!

His name is Cam McDaniel -- and this morning he and his family left Texas for a two day drive to his new home, the University of Notre Dame.  Cam starts his Notre Dame career tomorrow -- along with the other members of the Irish's highly touted recruiting class. 

McDaniel, a star running back for Coppell High School was just named the Chevy Male Athlete of the Year by the North Texas Chevrolet Dealers.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  CAM McDANIEL -- A NOTRE DAME MAN

Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift and Notre Dame!

This past football season "best friends" Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez made the trek to the University of Notre Dame to spend some time with Taylor's brother Austin, an Irish freshman.  The two college-aged stars thought they could to just "fit in" with the ND student body so they stopped by the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore to buy some gear -- their disquise!  I'll let OK Magazine tell the rest of the story.  Here's the link:

LINK:  TAYLOR SWIFT AND SELENA GOMEZ -- ND VISIT

ND's Boxing Champ -- Press Conference Video

Notre Dame's Mike Lee '09, was in Los Angeles last week promoting his July 9th fight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.  Lee, who's undefeated as a pro -- also announced that he will be fighting on September 16th "back home" at Notre Dame.  It's the first professional fight on the Notre Dame campus! 

As more details come available -- we'll post it here at ND GO IRISH BLOG.  Here's a link to Mike's press conference video and interview:

LINK:  MIKE LEE -- NOTRE DAME'S OWN!

Notre Dame Football's Top Recruiting Target!

His name is Keith Marshall and he's a running back out of Raleigh, NC - and he's widely considered the top running back in the country and possibly the best player in the country.  Marshall is interested in the Irish and the Irish are definitely interested in him.  Here's a story today at ESPN.COM on Mr. Marshall -- enjoy!

LINK:  THE IRISH NEED THIS YOUNG MAN!

Coach Kelly Talks With the Media

Brian Kelly was in a sea of PINK Tuesday night at the Notre Dame football complex.  It was the second annual FOOTBALL 101 -- and 600 women paid for the opportunity to get on the field and run some of the same drills the Fighting Irish work on every day.  The folks at WNDU-TV caught up with Coach Kelly -- here's a link to their interview:

LINK:  COACH KELLY ON MICHAEL FLOYD

NBC's ND Beat Writer's Preview of the Season

Keith Arnold, NBC Sports' Notre Dame beat writer published a story today about his outlook for the upcoming 2011 season.  Arnold is quite "bullish" on the IRISH.  Here's a link to his opinion piece:

LINK:  2011 COULD BE THE SEASON!

The Top College Football Traditions -- ESPN

The folks at ESPN.COM are running a tournament bracket this week on the top college football traditions.  The #1 seed in the tournament is the Irish touching the Play Like A Champion sign.  If you'd like to participate -- click on the link below:

LINK:  VOTE FOR THE IRISH!

Football 101 -- Notre Dame Style!

Brian and Paqui Kelly held their second annual FOOTBALL 101 yesterday for 600 women on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  The sold-out event is quite the hit -- as you'll see in these video reports:

LINK:  UND.COM -- VIDEO

LINK:  WNDU-TV REPORT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY & VIDEO REPORT

He's Only a Week Away From Notre Dame!

Folks his name is Davaris Daniels and he's going to be the guy who will pick up where Michael Floyd leaves off next year.  Daniels has speed (4.3 forty), hops (41 inch vertical) hands and he's 6' 3" -- and he'll be wearing that gold helmet in August!  Earlier this week Davaris was named the "Athlete of the Year" -- for his area, here's a link to the story:

LINK:  ATHLETE OF THE YEAR!

Yastrzemski's Grandson A Star At Vandy!

Notre Dame fans may know that Carl Yastrzemski attended the University of Notre Dame on a basketball scholarship before heading off to a Hall of Fame baseball career with the Boston Red Sox.

Well, Yaz's grandson Mike Yastrzemski is a star outfielder for the Vanderbilt Commodores.  Mike was drafted by the Red Sox after his senior year in high school -- he passed up the opportunity to join his Grandpa's old team to play college baseball.

Mike had a home run and four RBI in Vandy's weekend sweep of Oregon State to move on to the College World Series this weekend in Omaha.  Why couldn't we have gotten Mike to go to ND?  Here's a link to the game story:

LINK:  YAZ DIDN'T FOLLOW GRAMP!

Touchdown Jesus Getting a Makeover!

The University of Notre Dame is currently conducting maintenance on the "WORD OF LIFE" mural on the Hesburgh Library.  It was last done in 1994.  The 6,700 pieces of granite spans 134 feet high and 68 feet wide.  Here's a link to the WNDU-TV news story about the preservation work which should be completed in late September.  I'm betting before the USC game!!!

LINK:  TOUCHDOWN JESUS MAKEOVER

Domer Hannah Storm's Interview of Nowitzki

Notre Dame alum Hannah Storm (who went to the dark side when she took a job at ESPN) was front and center last night landing the interviewing duties right after the Mavericks big win over the "Heatles" to win the NBA Championship.  Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  HANNAH INTERVIEWS DIRK

Muffet McGraw's Now a Hall of Famer!

This photo was taken Saturday night at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.  Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw was one of the honorees.  Congratulations Muffet!

Off Topic: Detroit Tiger Fans Won't Believe It!

My Dad (Jim Small) had the privilege of wearing the Detroit Tiger "old English D" back in the mid-50's.  Well, as life-long Tiger fan I learned something today that kind of floored me a little...

The "old English D" on the Detroit Tigers baseball cap -- does not match the "old English D" on their home uniform.  Can you believe it!!!

Take a look at the photos above -- you'll note the "old English D" on the Tigers baseball cap has "two bars" while the "old English D" on the uniform has "three bars."

The "old English D" did match until the 60's -- in fact the Detroit Tigers longtime Clubhouse Manager Jim Schmakel admits he was with the Detroit Tigers 15 years before he realized they didn't match.  The Tigers do not know why the two logos don't match.

What's up with that!!!???

Muffet McGraw Enters Hall of Fame Tonight!

Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame tonight -- congratulations Coach!  Here's a link to a Knoxville newspaper story today about Muffet's honor:

LINK:  ND'S HALL OF FAMER!

Phil Steele's Forecast for the Fighting Irish!

Phil Steele just published his take on the 2011 Fighting Irish -- thought you would enjoy what he had to say.  Here's the link:

LINK:  PHIL STEELE -- BULLISH ON THE IRISH

ND Board of Trustee Forced To Resign

Roxanne Martino, a 1977 graduate of the University of Notre Dame resigned this week from ND's Board of Trustees over a Cardinal Newman Society report that she had made donations to a couple of pro abortion rights groups.

Martino runs Aurora Investment Management -- a hedge fund company based in Chicago.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  ND BOARD OF TRUSTEE RESIGNATION

My Favorite Incoming Irish Football Player!

The folks at Irish Sports Daily reported this morning that incoming Notre Dame football player Joseph Schmidt turned down a FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP from the University of Arizona this past month -- to remain a "preferred walk on" and the honor of paying $208,000 these next four years to wear the gold helmet!


The linebacker out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California is now my favorite incoming freshman football player.  Here's a link to his high school highlight tape.


LINK:  JOSEPH SCHMIDT HIGHLIGHT TAPE

MICHIGAN vs. NOTRE DAME -- THROWBACKS

I like the Notre Dame uniform WAY BETTER than the school in Ann Arbor's!

Here's a link to more views of Notre Dame's "throwback" jersey:

LINK:  I LIKE IT!

"Rudy's" Nephew -- Baseball Star at ASU?

What's up with this?  Rudy's nephew chooses to play baseball at Arizona State University?

Rudy's nephew JOHNNY RUETTIGER wears #23 for the Sun Devils -- and he's one of their better players.  Drafted in the eighth round of the MLB Draft this week by the Orioles, Rudy is a 6'-2" outfielder out of the same high school as his famous uncle (Joliet Catholic).

He's currently on ESPN right now in the NCAA Tournament game against Texas.

LINK:  RUDY'S NEPHEW A SUN DEVIL

Notre Dame's Throwback Jersey Unveiled!

Here it is folks!  I LOVE IT -- WHITE SHOES AND ALL!!!  Here's how adidas describes the uniform design:

Paying homage to the rich football tradition of Notre Dame football, the Irish "Under the Lights" adidas uniform includes a white jersey with Kelly green lettering and two Kelly green shoulder stripes, old gold-colored pants, white socks with green stripes and white shoes. A large shamrock logo appears on the traditional gold helmet for the first time since the early 1960s. The years the Fighting Irish won National Championships are listed inside the bottom hem of the jersey.


Here's a link to a photo gallery:

LINK:  ND'S THROWBACK JERSEY

Tune In At Facebook For Uniform Unveiling!

The adidas Football US Facebook site will be unveiling the "throwback" football jerseys for Michigan and Notre Dame at 8 PM ET!

Adidas / Notre Dame Unveiling Friday Night!

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly "re-tweeted" this afternoon that Adidas would be having a special "unveiling" tomorrow involving Notre Dame.  Rumors persist on the internet that this could be the "throwback" uniform for the Michigan game -- or, a major uniform design change for Notre Dame this season.

Photo of the Day! -- Brian Kelly Tweet Photo

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly "tweeted" this photo this afternoon to promote next Tuesday's FOOTBALL 101 at Notre Dame Stadium.  This second annual event benefits Breast Cancer Awareness and is for women only!

Coach Kelly Named Top 100 Irish American!

The folks at Irish America magazine have selected Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly as one of the top 100 Irish Americans!  Here's a link to the honor:

LINK:  COACH KELLY HONORED!

Not Surprised: Reggie Bush Still With Heisman

USC running back Reggie Bush has yet to return his Heisman Trophy to the Heisman Trust.  Bush, who offered to forfeit his Heisman Trophy before it was stripped from him for his NCAA violations at USC -- has yet to actually give back the trophy.  It's only been nine months....

Here's a link to the story:

LINK:   BUSH STILL HOLDING ON TO HEISMAN

Irish Pitcher Drafted By Nationals Today!

For Notre Dame (graduating) senior baseball player Brian Dupra '11 -- the third time was the charm!

As a high school senior the right handed hurler was drafted in the 36th round by the Texas Rangers back in 2007.  He turned that down to play baseball at the University of Notre Dame.  Three years later in the 2010 MLB Draft the Detroit Tigers drafted him in the 11th round -- he turned the Tigers down to come back to ND for his senior season and to get his degree.  You don't see that every day!!!

Well, this afternoon the Irish alum was drafted in the seventh round by the Washington Nationals.  Congratulations Brian!  Here's a few of the stories:

LINK:  DUPRA DRAFTED BY NATIONALS 

LINK:  ND CAREER STATS

LINK:  DUPRA TAKEN IN SEVENTH ROUND

Nice Interview of Pat Terrell

The former Notre Dame football star was in town last week for the Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp.  You'll enjoy Pat talking about Brian Kelly, his time aT ND and what he's up to these days.

LINK:  PAT TERRELL BACK HOME

Subway's Chief Marketing Officer is a Domer!

Tony Pace '79, is his name and he's given a great deal of credit for Subway's climb to the largest single brand restaurant chain in the world!  So when you see that next Subway TV commercial -- know there's a Domer behind that brand.  Here's a link to an Observer interview of Tony along with a video interview of former Notre Dame All-American and current NFL All Pro DE of the New York Giants, Justin Tuck during a Subway promotional visit.  You'll enjoy him talking about his time at ND:

LINK:  SUBWAY'S DOMER!

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK AT SUBWAY

ND's Mike Lee's Next Pro Fight July 9th!

He's 5 - 0 as a pro and he's a 2009 graduate of the University of Notre Dame.  Mike Lee is back in the ring on July 9th on SHOWTIME. 

Rumors still persist that Mike will be be back "HOME" on Friday, September 16th at the University of Notre Dame's Purcell Pavillion -- for his next pro fight -- the night before the Michigan State football game.

LINK:  MIKE'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Photo of the Day: DiCaprio Representin'

Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio is often seen wearing a Notre Dame hat.  Well, he's sportin' the ND Monogram this week in Italy as he hangs with actress and model Blake Lively. 

Three Football Coaches Back at ND Last Night!

Ara Parseghian, Lou Holtz and Gerry Faust were back at Notre Dame last night with Regis Philbin -- as part of the Reunion Weekend this weekend at the University of Notre Dame.  The three ex-coaches were interviewed by Regis in front of a large crowd at Purcell Pavillion.  You're going to love Coach Parseghian's stories about being recognized in town.  Here's a link to Eric Hanson's South Bend Tribune story (special thanks to Philadelphia's Dr. Jim Clancy for making me aware of this story!):

LINK:  PARSEGHIAN, HOLTZ AND FAUST

A Legend Is Leaving Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame's long time Executive Director of their Alumni Association Chuck Lennon is retiring this month after nearly 30 years in this position.  This weekend, Chuck and a number of his classmates from the Class of 1961 will be celebrating their 50th Class Reunion at Notre Dame.  I'm quite sure there will be a "toast or two or three" this weekend for Mr. Lennon.  Here's a link to a South Bend Tribune interview with Chuck:

LINK:  A NOTRE DAME MAN

His Ankles Are Already Turned!

There's an old Irish Blessing  that goes something like this:  “May those who love us, love us; and those who don't love us, may God turn their hearts and if He doesn't turn their hearts may He turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping."


Well, there's a writer by the name of John Feinstein who must be limping every day.  Feinstein (Duke grad) who's the author of "A Good Walked Spoiled" and "A Season on the Brink" never misses the opportunity to take a shot at Notre Dame.  Here is Feinstein's blog entry this week after hearing the news about Jim Tressel's resignation at Ohio State.
 

I know I do this on occasion but the subject of today’s blog is not going to be The NBA Finals (yawn); The Stanley Cup Finals (I plan to watch it all) or even Jim Tressel (I wrote a column you can read on WashingtonPost.com or on this blog).

I will add one thing to the Tressel column that there wasn’t space for (it will also run in tomorrow’s newspaper) because even though it isn’t directly connected to Tressel, it has some relevance in any discussion of big time college athletics.

I have no sympathy at all for Tressel or for Gordon Gee or Gene Smith who, as I wrote in the column should both be fired too at the very least for complete incompetence.  But I also think we should keep things in perspective a little bit.

Ohio State is getting fried justifiably for allowing its program to run amok and then for trying to cover up clear violations.  But why is it that almost NO ONE around the country is nailing Notre Dame for the cavalier manner in which it handled the death of Declan Sullivan?

Please don’t tell me you buy into Father John Jenkins blanket, “we’re all guilty,” press release. Really?  If everyone is guilty where is the list of those fired or at least disciplined?starting with Jenkins and then going on down to the athletic director (who claimed there was ‘nothing unusual,’ in the weather conditions minutes before Sullivan’s tower came crashing down) to the head football coach who insisted on practicing outdoors on a day when there were wind warnings all over the Midwest; to whoever was responsible for not ordering Sullivan to stay off the tower?even if he was willing, though apparently terrified, to go up there?

No one was fired.  Jenkins should have added a sentence at the end of his statement if he was being intellectually honest about how he felt that said: “Now let’s get back to the important work of figuring out how to beat Navy!”

Jenkins strikes me as a complete fraud. Can you imagine him refusing to meet with the family of the girl who committed suicide shortly after filing a report alleging sexual assault against a Notre Dame football player?  He was acting on the advice of his lawyers.  Where in the vows Jenkins took, I wonder, does it say: “your lawyer’s advice comes before comforting those involved in a tragedy?”  Meeting with the family would not have been an admission of guilt; only an admission that he cared about people who were suffering.

Can’t have that. The lawyers told him so.

I can’t wait for the fall when all the TV apologists will tell us what a wonderful, caring place and nurturing place Notre Dame is.  I will keep an air sickness bag handy should I happen to encounter a Notre Dame game while flipping channels.  You can bet I won’t actually WATCH one. (Go ahead you Irish fans, pile on and tell me how awful I am for criticizing such a wonderful place. Can’t wait.)

I have never purchased a Feinstein book and I know I never will... 

Will the Irish Leave the CCHA for Hockey East?

The University of Notre Dame is weighing its options right now for what hockey conference it will be playing in for the 2012 - 2013 season.  Some reports have the Irish staying in the CCHA in a reconfigured conference of teams from the current CCHA and possibly North Dakota and Denver from the WCHA or, they're off to join Boston College and few other schools in Hockey East.  Here's a link to a story where ND hockey coach Jeff Jackson is asked about where the Irish may end up:

LINK:  ARE THE IRISH HEADED EAST?

Most Desirable College Football Coaching Jobs

The folks at Sports Illustrated came out today with their list of the most desirable college football coaching jobs in America and ND football fans will not be pleased with how they ranked our favorite team's football position.  Here's the link:

LINK:  MOST DESIRABLE COACHING POSITIONS

Former USF Coach Talkin' Smack About Irish!

Found this story this evening regarding an interview the former head coach of the University of South Florida Bulls gave to a local radio station in the Tampa area.  Jim Leavitt was asked about the Bulls and their upcoming season.  Well, Mr. Leavitt let it be known that USF would "really put it on Notre Dame."

Here's hoping the USF Bulls come strutting into Notre Dame Stadium in September feeling overly confident...

LINK:  THE BULLS WILL "PUT IT ON NOTRE DAME"

Notre Dame Grad Brings Down Tressel!

Many of you probably didn't know that the last sportswriter to ever win a Pulitzer Prize is George Dohrmann, who is a 1995 graduate of the University of Notre Dame.  George won it in 2000 while working for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

And, it's the same George Dohrmann who did all of the investigative work that led to the Sports Illustrated cover story that is credited with moving the Ohio State University's senior leadership team to ask for Jim Tressel's investigation.  Here's a link to George's story about Coach Tressel's time in Columbus:

LINK:  THE STORY THAT CHANGED THE FACE OF FOOTBALL IN OHIO

College FB Players Getting $17,000 In Cash!

If you've been following the news recently -- there has been plenty of conversation about "paying" college athletes over and above their scholarships.  Well, according to this informative story linked below -- a college football player can receive up to $17,040 in CASH from their athletic department and our government each year -- and not be in violation with NCAA rules. 

CASH THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID!

ND football fans will enjoy this story.  It was an eye opener for me!

LINK:  FOOTBALL PLAYERS RECEIVE CASH -- PLENTY OF IT!

Tressel Is Out -- What's NEXT For tO$U?

I wonder what the editorial cartoonist at the Cleveland Plain Dealer will be drawing for tomorrow morning's edition in light of the "VEST'S" forced resignation in Columbus?

So, was it the crime or was it the cover up that led to Jim Tressel's problems at Ohio State?  It should be both - the question now is how tough will BANK NCAA be on the folks in Ohio?

Will Notre Dame alum and Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith survive?

It is going to make for great internet fodder these next few months!

LINK:  COLUMBUS DISPATCH COVERAGE

Our National Guard Deserved Better!

You would have thought on Memorial Day Weekend in America that race cars sponsored by the NATIONAL GUARD would have fared better than they did yesterday!  Now I know this isn't a Notre Dame story, but on MEMORIAL DAY it's a story I couldn't pass up...

In an eight-hour period Sunday -- at the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 -- cars sponsored by the National Guard were comfortably in the lead at both tracks with less than a 1/4 lap remaining in each race.  Big leads turned into BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!

At Indianapolis Motor Speedway, rookie driver JR Hildebrand was leading the race on the last lap, all he had to do was finish the final turn and cross the finish line for victory.  HIS NATIONAL GUARD CAR HIT THE WALL!  See the link below to the video of the end of this race.

And, at Charlotte Motor Speedway last night Dale Earnhardt JR was leading the race on the last lap, all he had to do was finish the final turn and cross the finish line for victory.  HIS NATIONAL GUARD CARE RAN OUT OF GAS!  See the link below to the video of the end of this race.

Think about it -- both NATIONAL GUARD cars had big leads going into the final turn at both race tracks -- both drivers had JR in their names -- and both cars didn't win on Memorial Day Weekend.  Coincidence?

LINK:  LAST LAP OF INDIANAPOLIS 500

LINK:  JR HILDEBRAND INTERVIEW

LINK:  LAST LAP OF COCA-COLA 600 

LINK:  DALE EARNHARDT JR INTERVIEW