ND GO IRISH BLOG -- Fans from 44 States Today!

The NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG is only five months old -- but, in that short time more than 8,000 unique Notre Dame fans have paid a visit! You come from all 50 States and more than 30 countries around the world. Pretty amazing how a little school "in the middle of nowhere" can drive such passion. Today alone, Notre Dame fans from 44 States stopped in to check in on their Irish. Thanks for making this great fun and GO IRISH!

ESPN's Mark May -- Predicts 10 Wins for Irish!

No, it's not April Fool's Day - it's the first of July, not April. ESPN College Football Live's Mark May has apparently visited a Priest and confessed his sins - because he's done a "180 on the Irish" and predicts 10 win this season. Here's a link to the video:

COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S BOLD PREDICTIONS

Notre Dame Degree -- Ninth Most Valuable!

PayScale just released their annual "College Salary Report" and it ranks a degree from the University of Notre Dame as the "ninth most valuable" in America. PayScale, which collects pay information from individuals using its online pay comparison tools, analyzed its trove of 1.4 million reports on U.S. college graduates for Bloomberg Businessweek and put a price tag on the college diplomas handed out during recent commencement ceremonies. The rankings list the net 30-year return on investment (ROI) of undergraduate degrees from various colleges and universities. With a typical college degree from the schools in this report, a graduate will earn a gross income of about $1.95 million over a 30-year career, netting about $670,000 more than a high school graduate. Notre Dame graduates out-earned high school graduates by $1.4 million, making it the ninth most valuable undergraduate degree in the nation. Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune article:

TOP TEN MOST VALUABLE COLLEGE DEGREES

Coach Kelly on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network

Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly was a guest yesterday on the Paul Finebaum Radio Show. Finebaum's show airs in the heart of SEC Country -- so Coach Kelly was behind enemy lines with this one. Here's a link to the interview.

COACH KELLY ON FINEBAUM RADIO NETWORK

"Authentic" Football Jersey in Bookstore

Here's a photo of the "Authentic Game Jersey" being sold in the Notre Dame Hammes Bookstore -- "designed to match" the uniform worn by the Irish on Game Day. So, it's truly not the same jersey the Irish will wear on Saturday's in Notre Dame Stadium. As you can see the home jersey has a new neck line, the ND Monogram logo on the sleeves and the Adidas logo front and center. I believe the Official Jersey will have a much larger ND Monogram on the sleeves and the player's names on the back -- and maybe even the ND Monogram at the top of the neckline on the back of the jersey. You'll recall the photos from Blue & Gold Weekend of a jersey that Coach Kelly signed for a fund raiser, I believe that's the official jersey the team will wear -- see link below.

BUY THE JERSEY ONLINE HERE

THIS IS THE OFFICIAL TEAM JERSEY

Golden Tate's Misstep Leads to Ad Campaign

Former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate made the national news a couple of weeks ago with his early morning visit to a Top Pot doughnut shop before it was officially opened for the day, to treat himself to a maple bar. Tate's apology to the store owner -- turned into a clever ad campaign for the Seattle based and Seattle Seahawk's official marketing partner. This photo of an actual store sign suggesting "...please wait until we are open" -- is a nod to Golden Tate's actions. Here's hoping they sell many, many maple bars and ol' Golden learns a valuable lesson. He's very lucky the store owner is a Seahawks fan.

TOP POT'S -- OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Orlando Woolridge -- Louisiana Hall of Fame!

Former Notre Dame basketball great, Orlando Woolridge, was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame this weekend. Woolridge, who grew up in the small town of Mansfield, LA -- about 40 miles south of Shreveport -- was a member of the most talented team in the history of Notre Dame basketball; the 1977 - 1978 Final Four Irish. Owning one of the most unique names in the history of Notre Dame Athletics -- Orlando earned second team All American honors his senior year. Woolridge's exploits at Notre Dame were awarded with being drafted 6th overall, in the 1981 NBA Draft, by the Chicago Bulls. During his thirteen-year career in the NBA, Orlando played for the Bulls, Nets, Lakers, Nuggets, Pistons, Bucks and Sixers. Woolridge led the NBA in scoring during the 1990 - 1991 season -- averaging 25.1 points per game -- before an eye injury sidelined him for almost half of the season. Unfortunately, Orlando's two talented sons didn't follow Dad to Notre Dame. Renaldo, is a 6'-8" forward for the University of Tennessee Volunteers and 6'-2" Royce will play his collegiate basketball at the University of Kansas this upcoming season. Congratulations Orlando!

LOUISIANA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE -- ORLANDO WOOLRIDGE

Former ND Great Receives Nagurski Award!

Mike McCoy, former Notre Dame All-American defensive tackle will receive the Bronco Nagurski "Legends" Award from the Charlotte Touchdown Club -- December 6, 2010 at their annual dinner. The Bronco Nagurski "Legends" Award recognizes the "best of the best" defensive football players in the last 40 years. McCoy was a consensus All-American at Notre Dame and was the second overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft of the Green Bay Packers. McCoy's efforts on and off the field have earned him the following acclaim; Packers Rookie of the Year, All Pro Player, Dodge NFL Man of the Year, and was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. McCoy was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the Council on Sports for a Drug Free America and by former Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh to the Pennsylvania Council for Physical Fitness. McCoy served as the chaplain of the Atlanta Braves and currently serves on several community outreach boards. Congratulations to a true son of Notre Dame!

In Line at 3 AM @ Notre Dame Stadium!

The University of Notre Dame's annual OLD2GOLD sale was this past Saturday, and "shoppers" were lined up outside Notre Dame Stadium beginning at 3 AM (photo) for the 5 AM "early bird" shopping opportunity. Organizers report that more than 400 bicycles were sold in the first 45 minutes. OLD2GOLD is a sale of all of the "left over" items that Notre Dame students donate from their dorm rooms and apartments from the previous school year. More than 40 local charities benefit from this event. Here's the WNDU-TV report from the Stadium:

OLD2GOLD -- WNDU-TV REPORT

Two Irish Players Drafted in First Round!

Notre Dame Hockey Players; Riley Sheahan and Jarred Tinordi go "back to back" last night in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft to two of the NHL's "Original Six." Sheahan (St. Catharine's, Ont) was taken 21st by the Detroit Red Wings and Tinordi (Millersville, MD) went 22nd to the Montreal Canadiens. This was the first time in the 43-year history of the Notre Dame hockey program that two players went in the first round. Shehan and Tinordi join Ian Cole (2007 to St. Louis) and Kyle Palmieri (2009 to Anaheim) as ND hockey players selected in the first round. Tinordi, who's father Mark Tinordi had a 12-year NHL career, was one of the record 11 American born players taken in the first round last night -- the most ever in the history of the NHL Entry Draft. Congratulations!

PHOTO OF THE DAY -- IAN O'CONNOR

A private workout was held yesterday at Notre Dame Stadium for the defensive end position in Brian Kelly's new 3 - 4 Defense. Ian O'Connor (photo) is seen here rushing the QB in a drill being run by the Irish Defensive Staff. Photo courtesy of Kaity Fuja, OMG Photography. Kaity (ND Class of 2009) was inside Notre Dame Stadium yesterday to shoot photos of Coach Kelly for his new website. Now, we can't show you the photos of Coach Kelly (just yet), but here's a link to the photos OMG did take of the private workout - and a link to Kaity's website:

OMG PHOTOGRAPHY AT NOTRE DAME WORKOUT

OMG PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE

Brian & Paqui Kelly -- Interviewed Last Night

Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui served as co-hosts for Football 101 at Notre Dame Stadium last night for more than 300 female fans (photo) of the Irish. This was a Kelly Cares Foundation event for breast cancer awareness and education. The 300 ND football fans were also given instruction on the fundamentals of Notre Dame Football. Sounds like they had great fun! Both Brian and Paqui also found time to talk with WSBT 960 AM's Weekday SportsBeat show. You'll find links below to both interviews as well as the WNDU-TV new story on the event:

FOOTBALL 101 -- WNDU-TV COVERAGE OF EVENT

BRIAN KELLY INTERVIEW

PAQUI KELLY INTERVIEW

Harangody Drafted by Celtics!

Congratulations to Notre Dame senior, Luke Harangody, who was drafted last night by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft -- 52nd pick overall! 'Gody' is the first Irish player drafted by the Celtics in the past 29 years -- Tracy Jackson was the last Notre Dame player to go to Boston, in the 1981 NBA Draft, when he was also drafted in the second round. Luke is the first Notre Dame basketball player to be named All Big East three consecutive seasons and was the leading scorer and rebounder in the Big East Conference in consecutive years. A graduate of Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana -- Harangody leaves Notre Dame as one of it's all time greats. Couldn't be happier for Luke and his family!

Brian Kelly on Weekday SportsBeat Tonight!

Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly will be a guest tonight on WSBT 960 AM's Weekday SportsBeat Show. They're broadcasting live from outside Notre Dame Stadium. Coach Kelly is expected on the show at 6:30 PM EST. Here's a link to their website.

WSBT 960 AM WEEKDAY SPORTSBEAT

Does Harangody Get Drafted Tonight?

Notre Dame's Luke Harangody learns tonight if he'll be drafted by an NBA Team or, if he'll have to go the "free agency" route to make an NBA roster. The 2010 NBA Draft begins tonight at 7 PM EST at Madison Square Garden -- it will be televised on ESPN. Harangody is a "tweener" at 6'-6" tall (not the 6'-8" a Notre Dame basketball roster would like you to believe). He's not big enough to be your prototypical NBA power forward -- nor, is he athletic enough to be your prototypical NBA small forward. Yet, he knows how to play the game -- and NBA Draft Experts have him going as high as 25th (which would be the tail end of the first round) or not being drafted at all. Going to be a nerve wracking day for the Harangody's!

USGA Public Links at Notre Dame!

Many of the the top female amateur golfers in the world are at the University of Notre Dame's Warren Golf Course this week for the 2010 USGA Women's Amateur Public Links Championship. It's the first time Notre Dame has hosted a national United States Golf Association event an indicative of the quality of this golf facility. Monday and Tuesday was the 36-hole qualifier for the field of 156 players. Only the top 64 players qualified for Match Play -- which began yesterday. It took a score of +10 or better to qualify for individual match play. Aria Jutanugarn, a 14 year-old from Thailand (pictured) was the low qualifier with a 36-hole score of -7 under par -- can you believe it!!!. University of Notre Dame Women's Golf Team members; Becca Huffer (Denver, CO) and Nicole Zang (Canada) qualified for match play - both won their first round matches, but were beaten this morning as the field was narrowed down to 16. The Championship Match will be held this Saturday. Admission is free - so, if you're in the area, it's a great opportunity to see many of the top female amateur golfers in the world. Here's a link to the live scoring from the Championship:

USGA WOMEN'S AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP -- LIVE SCORING

Old 2 Gold Yard Sale -- Saturday at ND Stadium!

The University of Notre Dame's Annual "Yard Sale" will be held this Saturday at historic Notre Dame Stadium. The "early bird" sale goes from 7AM to 9AM -- to get tickets for early entry, the line opens up at 5 AM and the tickets are $5. Tickets are not required for children 12 and under. If you don't want to get up that early, general admission (which is free) begins at 9 AM. The Old-2-Gold Sale ends at 11 AM. There are 33 semi-truck trailers full of merchandise to be sold -- click on the link below to see list of items -- so get there early!

LIST OF ITEMS ON SALE

Football Tickets on Sale Today!

If you've ever wanted to make the "pilgrimage" to Notre Dame to see a football game -- today might be your lucky day! You need to pick up the phone RIGHT NOW and call this number: 574.631.7356 -- when they answer, hit the number 6 on your phone IMMEDIATELY so you won't have to spend a minute listening to Notre Dame Ticket Office info you won't care about. GO IRISH!

Coach Kelly Cares -- Football 101, THURSDAY!

Are you tired of your husband or boyfriend claiming to be the "know it all as it relates to Notre Dame Football?" Well, here's your chance to change that! This Thursday -- June 24th from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM -- the Notre Dame Football discussion will be for WOMEN ONLY! It's called Football 101 and it's an event being hosted by Coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui at Notre Dame Stadium benefiting Breast Cancer research. If you'd like to go, here are the rules -- you must be female, you must be at least 21 years old and you must register online. Here's a link to the registration site:

FOOTBALL 101 -- REGISTRATION

Dayne Crist Interview -- The Sporting News

Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist, recently sat down with a reporter from The Sporting News to talk about Fighting Irish Football. Here's a link to the story:

DAYNE CRIST - NOTRE DAME QUARTERBACK