Coach Kelly's Comments Today...

Coach Kelly just finished with the boys at Weekday SportsBeat - here's a few of his comments: "Every single player is healthy and ready to go tomorrow." "We've gone from 1 player to 9 players who can now benchpress 400 lbs." "We've gone from 1 player who could squat 600 lbs. to 9 players." "We showed a highlight video to our team prior to the Spring Game and I was surprised that a few of our players didn't know who Jerome Bettis was." "We're close to the limit of the number of scholarships we have left..." "We'll be announcing a few more exciting opponents in the next few weeks (when asked about the Texas announcement).

Irish Legends Tee It Up!

Ara Parseghian, Lou Hotlz, Johhny Lattner and Johhny Lujack were in Bridgman, MI for the Irish Legends golf event this week. Thanks to Kevin Sweeney for sending this to me! Here's the link:

IRISH LEGENDS GOLF EVENT

Listen to Brian Kelly Interview - Live Today!

University of Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, will be on the WSBT 960 AM Weekly SportsBeat show this afternoon. The show begins at 5:30 PM EST with Coach Kelly expected on the show til' 6:00 PM EST. Just click on the link below -- and then at the top left of their home page -- click on the LISTEN LIVE" button. Here's the link:

HEAR COACH KELLY -- LIVE -- ON THE RADIO TODAY AT 5:30 PM EST

Name Your Moment Promotion -- Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame just announced the opportunity to "Name Your Moment" at Purcell Pavillion -- the chance to put your name on a seat or on a plaque on the wall. The investment is $1,500 - here's a link to the video and promotion:

NAME YOUR MOMENT AT NOTRE DAME

Sports Illustrated Reporting: ND & Texas to Play!

Sports Illustrated is reporting that the Irish and Longhorns have agreed to a four game series beginning in 2015. The 2015 game will be at Notre Dame, followed by games at Texas in 2016 and 2019 and the fourth game in 2020 will be held at Notre Dame. So, no neutral site games.

ND Law Prof Comments on Judge's Ruling

Gerald Bradley, University of Notre Dame Law Professor -- wrote an opinion piece yesterday on the Federal Judge in California's ruling on Proposition 8, concerning same-sex marriage. Here's a link to the Notre Dame Prof's opinion piece -- along with his bio on the Notre Dame Law School site:



POSSIBLE BIAS?

GERALD BRADLEY - NOTRE DAME LAW

Zibby -- Pick Six @ Ravens Practice Today

Former University of Notre Dame safety, Tommy Zbikowski -- showed off his improving speed this morning, intercepting a Flaco pass and going 60 yards for a TD. Zibby worked with a new trainer this off-season and the hard work appears to be paying off. Here's a link to the story:

ZIBBY'S PICK SIX

Sam Young -- Surprising the Cowboys

Former Notre Dame offensive tackle and sixth round pick of the Dallas Cowboys, Sam Young -- is impressing his new coach. Here's an update on the Domer's first camp with the Cowboys:

SAM YOUNG SURPRISING SOME

Manti Teo's Mission

Here's a story in today's Chicago Tribune concerning Notre Dame football player; Manti Teo. Teo, the highly sought after recruit out of Hawaii, started a number of games for the Irish last season as a freshman. Much has been speculated about when Manti will take his Mormon mission. Here are his thoughts, and his family's -- on this very subject:

MANTI'S MISSION

Desert to Dome -- 1,000 Mile Mark Today!

Dean Greg Crawford and his wife Renate will pedal past the 1,000 mile mark today on their way home to Notre Dame! The 2,200 mile journey began July 24th in Tucson, AZ -- at the steps of the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation -- and will end on August 23rd at the steps of the Golden Dome! You can follow their journey thru TEXAS at the link below:

DESERT TO DOME -- ALMOST HALF WAY HOME!

Choosing Seating for ND's Hockey Cathedral

Here's a photo of a "mock up" of seating choices for the University of Notre Dame's consideration for its new Hockey Stadium - the architects have called it a "Hockey Cathedral." The $53 million facility will be unmatched on any college campus in America. If you haven't been to campus in a few months you'll be surprised to see what's going up in the Southeast corner of the parking lot south of The Joyce Center!

Golden Tate -- "Making Plays" in Seattle

Former Notre Dame All-American and Biletnikoff Award Winner -- Golden Tate, is putting on a show in Training Camp for his Seattle Seahawks teammates. Tate is "just making plays" as his new QB will attest. I won't be surprised if he's in the discussion, all season, for Rookie Of The Year honors in the NFL. Go Golden! Here's a link to an article from yesterday's practice - and a link to Golden's personal blog:

GOLDEN TATE -- PUTTING ON A SHOW!

"PLAYMAKER" TATE'S BLOG

Notre Dame Soccer Player -- MVP of Milk Cup

Dillon Powers (Plano, TX) a rising sophomore at the University of Notre Dame was named MVP of the "Milk Cup" -- an international soccer tournament held in Northern Ireland. Dillon led the United States U-20 national team to the championship with a 3-0 win over the host country, Northern Ireland. The US earlier beat China and Denmark to qualify for the Championship Match. Powers earned Big East All Rookie Team honors this past season for the Irish. Congratulations Dillon!

ND #1 Producer of CEO's in Financial Industry

Bloomberg BusinessWeek just completed a ranking of where the CEO's of the top 100 US financial firms attended college, for their undergraduate education, and the school at the top of the list: The University of Notre Dame! Five "Domers" sit in the top chair at these largest companies; James Rohr of PNC Financial Services Group and Debra Cafaro (photo) of Ventas Inc. (one of only two women in the rankings), James Flaherty, HCP; Paul Reilly, Raymond James Financial; and Terrence Cavanaugh, Erie Indemnity. Tied for second; Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell and Colgate. Further evidence as to why the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business is ranked as the #1 undergraduate Business School in the country!

A Domer Dad -- Wears His New Colors

University of Florida grad, former Cincinnati Bengal, NBC Sports Analyst -- and father of a "freshman" football player at Notre Dame, Chris Collinsworth -- was a guest on Jim Rome's show today. And, Chris wore the cap of his new favorite team! Take a look for yourself:

COLLINSWORTH WITH JIM ROME

Recruiting Expert Tom Lemming -- Talks Irish

CBS Sports College Football Recruiting Analyst, Tom Lemming, sat down with the boys at WSBT 960 AM for their Weekly SportsBeat Show. Lemming is considered one of the "deans" of college football recruiting -- having spent many years covering this topic. You'll enjoy his thoughts about Brian Kelly and his staff's recruiting prowess -- and where he would rank this recruiting class nationally. Just click on the link below:

TOM LEMMING ON WSBT 960 AM

Coach Kelly ESPN Interview -- Yesterday

University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly, agreed to sit down with an ESPN reporter yesterday to talk about the state of Notre Dame Football. You'll enjoy the interview. Click on the link below:

COACH KELLY WITH ESPN

Notre Dame Alum's -- Latest Book!

I posted a story about Notre Dame Alum (Class of 1979), Bryan Gruley, back on June 8th. At the time I was writing about his first book; Starvation Lake: A Mystery. Well Bryan, who "moonlights" as the Chicago Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, sent me a note this morning announcing the release of his latest book: The Hanging Tree -- which is available today at Barnes & Noble, Borders and Amazon. To see some reviews of The Hanging Tree - click on the link below. I've also attached a link to Bryan's book tour schedule -- which begins today in Petoskey, MI. If you get a chance, please stop in and see Bryan -- and tell him the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG sent you!

REVIEWS OF THE HANGING TREE

BUY THE BOOK HERE!

BRYAN GRULEY'S BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

Live Coverage of Media Day -- This Friday!

The 2010 Notre Dame Football season "officially" begins this Friday with its annual Media Day. Coaches and players will be made available to the media and you can watch it LIVE on www.und.com. Their live coverage begins at 11:30 AM EST!

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL -- MEDIA DAY COVERAGE

Golic Up to the NFL Conditioning Test!

Former Notre Dame football player, father of two current ND football players and co-host of ESPN's "Mike & MIKE" -- Mike Golic, took on a unique challenge yesterday. Golic decided to take on the NFL Conditioning Test that the Washington Redskins' Albert Haynesworth continues to fail. Now, it goes without saying that Mike Greenberg (Golic's on air partner) was the impetus of this challenge. He told Golic there was no way a "fat former NFL player" could finish this test. Now mind you, if Haynesworth (29 years-old) doesn't pass this test -- his $115 - $120 million contract can be voided. So, 47 year-old Golic decided to take on the test of running two 300 yard "shuttle runs" in less than 143 seconds -- LIVE on the ESPN show "NFL LIVE." I won't spoil the fun -- when you get to the linked site below, first click on the video of the two of them arguing on the show. Then click on the second video which is Golic taking on the conditioning test:

GOLIC TAKES ON REDSKINS CONDITIONING TEST

NEWS REPORT OF GOLIC'S FEAT