The Undertones -- a cappella at Notre Dame!

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!

UNDERTONES WEBSITE

UNDERTONES IN CONCERT

The Holy Cross Congregation has first Saint!

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.

BLESSED BROTHER ANDRE

Al Haig - a Notre Dame student...

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.

Irish Lacrosse stuns #2 Duke!

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!

Irish Swimmer - fastest time in the country!

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.

BIG EAST SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIP

Ross Browner voted Favorite Irish DE of All Time!

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.

ROSS BROWNER HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating 60 Years of African American Student Athletes at Notre Dame

This past November, the University of Notre Dame celebrated 60 years of African American student athletes -- with a tribute at a football game and a video to commemorate this occasion. Ironically, this year's Notre Dame's football recruiting class features a running back from California named Cameron Roberson -- who's Grandfather, Thomas Murray Turner, was one of the first African American's to graduate from Notre Dame in 1959. February is Black History Month in America -- please watch this wonderful video:

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS AT NOTRE DAME

Bengal Bouts start 80th year at Notre Dame

Preliminary rounds started this weekend for the 80th annual Bengal Bouts at the University of Notre Dame. 186 boxers faced off in 93 fights Saturday, with the winners heading to the Quarter Finals this Tuesday. This event annually raises tens of thousands of dollars for the Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh.

THE BENGAL BOUTS

THE 2010 PRELIMINARY ROUNDS

Dave Casper voted favorite Irish TE of all time!

He's one of the best to ever play his position in college or the NFL. He's in the College Football Hall of Fame and the NFL Hall of Fame as well -- and, he was just voted the favorite Irish TE of all time in a vote here at NOTRE DAME GO IRISH. Casper won by five votes over former Notre Dame TE and NFL All Pro, Mark Bavaro. Casper garnered 21% of the 349 votes cast, Bavaro had 20%, Ken MacAfee was third with 17% and Anthony Fasano had one more vote than John Carlson finishing fourth with 10%. Former Heisman Trophy winner Leon Hart finished sixth - even though the position he played in college "END" -- wasn't called a TE back then.

Happy Valentine's Day - Notre Dame style!

Notre Dame is in the hearts of many. And, we're not afraid to flaunt it on special occasions -- especially at weddings. Watch this video of 75 year-old Anne Hunter -- her passion for the Irish should be an inspiration to us all. Happy Valentine's Day!

ANNE HUNTER

ND Bengal Bouts Champ turns Pro!

Mike Lee, a 2009 Notre Dame graduate -- and three time Bengal Bouts Champion turned pro today, after a successful Golden Gloves run since graduation. The light heavyweight was to make his announcement this morning at ND and then later at Harry Caray's in Chicago. He has signed with Bob Arum of Top Rank Boxing. Good Luck Mike! Here's a link to a news story about Mike earlier this year.

MIKE LEE TURNS PRO

BOB ARUM TALKS ABOUT LEE

Kelly to honor coaching legend Eddie Robinson

Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly, will be the keynote speaker tomorrow at the grand opening of the Eddie G. Robinson Museum in Grambling, La. Robinson is one of the all-time coaching greats winning a record 407 games in his 57 year coaching career at Grambling.

COACH KELLY KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Irish IDOL -- three more contestants...

Every week NOTRE DAME GO IRISH searches the world wide web for the best singers (or dancers) of the VICTORY MARCH. This week's show will not disappoint. It just goes to show you the passion for the FIGHTING IRISH is alive and well. Links below. Go Irish!


KATIE

NOTRE DAME BABIES

DUNCAN

3rd Ranked Irish to wear Pink Sunday!

Muffet McGraw's third ranked Fighting Irish Women's Basketball team will be donning their pink jerseys Sunday in their home game against DePaul. In what's called the "PINK ZONE" -- the Irish will be promoting breast cancer research and awareness. The Irish are undefeated at home this season -- sporting a 22 - 1 overall record. Tip off is at 3:00 PM at the Purcell Pavillion.

IRISH IN PINK

Tony Rice voted Favorite Irish QB of All Time!

When the poll was first published, his name was left off the ballot. A major oversight by this Blogger! His fans, quickly pointed this out and Rice was rightly placed amongst the list of all time great QB's at Notre Dame. A list of QB's that no other school in America can match. It contains Heisman Trophy Winners, All Americans, National Champions, Super Bowl Champions, College Hall of Famer's, Super Bowl MVP's, NFL All Pro's, NFL Hall of Famer's, etc. And, Tony Rice -- who led the Irish to their last National Championship -- was voted the Favorite Irish QB of All Time (QUITE AN HONOR) by the visitors to the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH Blog with 29% of the vote. Joe Montana finished second with 25%, Brady Quinn was third with 13%, Terry Hanratty finished fourth and Jimmy Clausen fifth. Rice adorned the cover of Sports Illustrated four times during the 1988 and 1989 seasons -- and was voted one of the top athletes of all time in his home state of South Carolina. Tony was also named MVP in ND's Fiesta Bowl win over WVU -- the win that clinched the National Championship. A Notre Dame Man -- Rice now resides in the South Bend area. Congratulations Tony!

HIGHLIGHTS OF RICE'S 1988 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

What Notre Dame is FIGHTING for...

The University of Notre Dame has been airing a number of TV spots the past few years under the banner of "What would fight for?" You'll see them every time the Irish play football or basketball on television. It's been a very unique way of "selling Notre Dame" to the world. Over the past year I've noticed a few more colleges attempting to follow Notre Dame's lead when producing their own TV spots. Here's a few of the ND commercials.

ADVANCEMENT OF MEDICINE

FOR SAFETY

AGAINST THE ODDS

The #3 favorite number on an Irish uniform!

It wasn't even close. Notre Dame's #3 earned 41% of the vote of the visitors to the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG. It's one of the most famous uniform numbers in sports. It's been worn by ND QB's; Guglielmi, Hargrave, Lamonica, Montana, O'Brien, Battle, Mirer and Powlus. It's also been worn by a kicker; Harry Oliver a RB named Darius and it's currently being worn by All-American candidate Michael Floyd. Troy Murphy wore the #3 for the Irish Basketball team as Tory Jackson does right now. Finishing second was the uniform #7 -- with 13% of the vote. And the #10 finished third with 12%.

Catherine Soler named ND Student Body President!

For the first time in school history, two sophomores have been elected as student body president and vice president for the 2010 - 2011 school year, in a vote Monday at Notre Dame. Catherine Soler and Andrew Bell garnered 54.6% of the vote. Soler become Notre Dame's fifth female student body president.

SOLER & BELL WIN ELECTION

Notre Dame Fencing Teams - Both Undefeated!

The Fighting Irish Men's & Women's Fencing Teams finished their regular seasons undefeated. This is the fourth time in the program's history that both teams were undefeated. The Irish Men's & Women's teams are currently ranked #2 in the country.

TWO IRISH PERFECT SEASONS

The Organ - DeBartolo Performing Arts Center

While this story is not just about the Fritts organ in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- it does showcase this beautiful instrument. If you ever get the chance to take a tour of this facility -- please be sure to see the Chris and Anne Reyes Organ and Choral Hall. The organ took fifteen months and 18,000 hours to build. Click on the link below:

THE FRITTS ORGAN AT NOTRE DAME