Irish Women's Basketball begin NCAA run!

Well, we have one basketball team left in the NCAA Tournament - and that's Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish. They begin tournament play tomorrow afternoon with a "home" game at Purcell Pavillion. The 2nd seeded Irish will be taking on the 15th seed, Cleveland State at 2:30 PM EST. It's been nine years since the Irish won the 2001 NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship. Tickets are still available -- and if you can't get to South Bend, you can watch the game on ESPN.

Notre Dame to play "under the lights" at Michigan

The first night game in Michigan Stadium history will take place on September 10th, 2011 -- when the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame come to town. The so called "Big House" has never hosted a night game in its 83 year history. Michigan's new Athletic Director Dave Brandon (just eleven days on the job) made the announcement yesterday. Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune Article:

ND AT NIGHT IN MICHIGAN

What are they doing now? -- Rocket Ismail

It was announced yesterday that former ND All American, Raghib "The Rocket" Ismail has a new career. He's going to work for the Versus Channel and will be one of their commentators on Professional Bull Riding. Here's a link to the news article that speaks to what The Rocket is up to:

NO BULL!

Irish Men's Basketball begin NCAA Journey Today!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame tip off their 2010 run in the NCAA Tournament this afternoon at 12:25 PM (EST) in New Orleans against Old Dominion University. The Monarchs finished the season as the Colonial Athletic Association champs with a record of 26 - 8. They have a RPI ranking of 27 -- which is much higher than the Irish's 49 RPI. Both teams have a common opponent in Georgetown -- which both beat this season. This will be the second meeting in basketball between the two schools. In 1984 the Irish beat the Monarchs 67 - 62 in the NIT.

Happy St. Patrick's Day - Wearin' of the Green!

Many fans of the University of Notre Dame believe the tradition of wearing green jerseys began against USC in 1977. Well, it really began in the 20's under Knute Rockne. Back then the Freshmen football teams wore green jerseys, while the Varsity wore blue. When teams showed up at Notre Dame wearing blue jerseys, Rockne would switch his team over to green jerseys to better distinguish his players from the opposition. In a game against Navy, Rockne had his teams wear a green jersey underneath their blue ones and when the Midshipmen scored first in the game - Rockne ordered his team to tear off their blue jerseys and wear the green. And, as George Trevor of the New York Sun reported; "Instantaneously, the Notre Dame regulars yanked off their blue outer sweaters and - like a horde of green Gila monsters - darted onto the field. From that moment on, Notre Dame held the initiative, imposed its collective will upon the Navy." Notre Dame came from behind to win that game, 19-6, and then used the same maneuver the following year at Chicago's Soldier Field. That 1928 game saw Notre Dame beat Navy, 7-0, with the Scholastic Football Review including this description: "Mr. K.K. Rockne may, or may not, be a psychologist. But, he did array his team in bright green jerseys for their battle with the United States Naval Academy. Mr Rockne evidently surmised that garbing a band of native and adopted Irish in their native color is somewhat akin to showing a bull the Russian flag." The green jerseys remained prominent throughout the Frank Leahy years - particularly in September of 1947, when Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack graced the cover of Life magazine clad in green. Digger Phelps used to trot out the green jerseys during the NCAA Tournament when the Irish played on or near St. Patrick's Day. Muffet McGraw has done the same with her teams. Will Brey bring the "green" to New Orleans tomorrow? The link below shows the Irish running onto the field in green jerseys in the famous 1977 game against USC:

NOTRE DAME WEARING GREEN VERSUS USC IN 1977

Former ND All American helping troubled teens!

Jeff Faine, center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former ND All American -- is giving back to the community. This Friday, Faine will host an "Evening of H.O.P.E" in Orlando. Faine's intent is to create a home for six to eight teenagers who no longer are eligible to participate in foster care. He wants to equip them with the essential tools and training necessary to become successful in life. "This is a place for some of these kids who really want help and want to make something better for themselves," Faine said. "A place to get social counseling and financial guidance, learn how to open a checking and savings account, the things that most people take for granted. A place they can live as well, but there will be requirements on their end, whether it be a obtaining a GED, two-year college degree, trade school degree, or attending a four-year university." Faine plans to build the first home in the Orlando area and then look partner with local businesses to build homes in the Tampa area as well. For more on this event -- please click on the link below:

JEFF FAINE'S PROJECT H.O.P.E.

Muffet's Irish Receive 2nd Seed in NCAA Tournament!

For the 15th consecutive season, the Irish Women's Basketball Team is headed to the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame will play 15th seeded Cleveland State this Sunday in a First Round "home" game at the Purcell Pavillion. The game will be televised on ESPN. This is the 17th trip to the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship for the Irish Women's basketball program.

Is Clausen on his way to Cleveland?

In the wake of the Browns trading Brady Quinn to the Broncos yesterday, stories are now surfacing that Cleveland may be interested in taking Jimmy Clausen with their seventh pick in April's NFL Draft. How ironic would that be? Clausen followed Quinn to Notre Dame and now he could be doing the same with the Browns. USA Today (today) ran a story that supported Clausen going #1 overall to the St. Louis Rams. Other sources have the Redskins looking at Clausen with their fourth pick. It now appears certain he'll go in the first ten picks. Clausen, still recovering from toe surgery, has his Pro Day scheduled the week before the Draft. For what it's worth, he was the best "losingest" QB in Notre Dame history. He was much better than his career Win/Loss record at the QB position at Notre Dame. Here's a video tribute to Jimmy:

CLAUSEN'S NOTRE DAME YEARS

Brady Quinn traded to Broncos!

The Cleveland Browns traded former ND QB Brady Quinn to the Denver Broncos today for a player and two draft picks. Quinn was drafted by the Browns in the first round three years ago -- yet didn't fulfill his potential in Cleveland. In Denver, Quinn will be joining a former Charlie Weis protege -- Josh McDaniels. McDaniels was on Charlie's offensive staff when Weis ran the Patriots offense. The links below are the reactions to the trade from the two cities -- enjoy!

CLEVELAND FAN REACTION TO QUINN TRADE

DENVER FAN REACTION TO QUINN TRADE

Irish receive a SIXTH SEED!

Mike Brey and his sixth seeded Fighting Irish are headed to play the #11 seed Old Dominion in the South Region in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in New Orleans on Thursday night. WHEN WE WIN, the Irish will likely take on #3 seed Baylor on Saturday. NCAA Tournament Fact: #6 seeds have won 68.5% of their first round games. Go Irish!

Irish IDOL -- three more contestants...

Every week, NOTRE DAME GO IRISH -- searches the world wide web for the best performers of the Notre Dame Victory March. Here's this week's contestants on Irish IDOL;

YOUNG MAN IN PAJAMAS

GUITAR HERO

MOHAWK SINGER

Are the Irish a 6, 7 or 8 Seed?

After the late season "run" for the Irish -- I'm hoping to see the Irish in the "top 32" seeds in the NCAA Tournament when the NCAA Committee announces the field for the 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament tomorrow evening.

Former Heisman Trophy Winner -- Seeking Sponsors for NASCAR Team!

Tim Brown, former ND All American and 1987 Heisman Trophy winner -- is seeking sponsors to start a NASCAR racing team. Brown, who retired from the Oakland Raiders after sixteen years in the NFL -- is working with technical assistance from Roush Racing and NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program. Brown intends to find a black, hispanic or woman driver for his team. Good Luck Tim!

Irish vs. Pittsburgh this evening at Big East!

The seventh seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on the 2nd seeded Pitt Panthers tonight at 7 PM in the Big East Tournament, after beating Seton Hall last night. Tip off is set for 7PM EST on ESPN. The Irish beat Pitt 68 - 53 three weeks ago in South Bend -- starting the current five game winning streak. Go Irish!

ND Hockey "Cathedral" Construction to Start

The University of Notre Dame has been "under construction" for a long time... One new building, or addition, after another. Add one more to the list. The new hockey arena which will be located south of the Purcell Pavillion and just west of the women's softball stadium is expected to begin construction on March 15th. Here's the only artist rendition I could find of the arena. From what I've been told, it will rival any college hockey arena in America -- it's designer Michael Rossetti is calling it a 'hockey cathedral." Should be something!

Irish play Seton Hall tonight @ 7 PM

Notre Dame opens up play this evening in the Big East Tournament against Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden. The Irish lost to "The Hall" by three (90 - 87), February 11th in a game played before DEFENSE returned to Notre Dame basketball. You can watch the game on ESPN2 at 7 PM EST. Go Irish!

NOTRE DAME'S COVERAGE OF BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

It's March - BOOKSTORE BASKETBALL!

The world's largest "five on five" outdoor basketball tournament is about to "tip off" again. Students, Faculty, Staff, Coaches -- all participate in this uniquely Notre Dame event. Registration for the 2010 Bookstore Basketball Tournament ended March 5th. Since 1972, Bookstore Basketball has taken place outside in the snow, sleet and rain -- on the Notre Dame campus. It started with 53 teams in 1972, the 2009 tournament had 712 teams. Last year's Champions in the Open Tournament; Hallelujah Holla Back will attempt to repeat, without last year's "MVP" (Joe Fauria) who transferred to UCLA and Dayne Crist who's coming off of knee surgery. If you're in town for the Blue & Gold Game you'll see the late rounds of this year's tournament on Friday night and Saturday night -- on the courts next to the Hammes Bookstore. Here's a link to a ESPNU story on last year's tournament and a link to the official tournament site:

ESPNU STORY ON BOOKSTORE BASKETBALL

2010 BOOKSTORE BASKETBALL OFFICIAL SITE

ND Senior - Gates Cambridge Scholar!

Ryan Lash, a senior majoring in medieval studies and anthropology is one of 29 American students to receive a Gates Scholarship (Bill Gates, Co-Founder of Microsoft) to attend the University of Cambridge to pursue a masters degree. Here is a link to the news release from the University of Notre Dame:

LASH RECEIVES GATES SCHOLARSHIP

Golden Tate Private Autograph Signing

Are you a fan of Golden Tate? Here's your opportunity to get an autographed item from Golden prior to the NFL Draft. Emerald Sky Sports is hosting a private autograph session with Golden on March 27th. The private signing session will be broadcast live on the web -- so you can actually watch Golden sign the item you requested. For more information click on this link:

GOLDEN TATE PRIVATE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING

Notre Dame Sports on the Web

If you're anything like me, you can't get enough Notre Dame information on the sports teams. Here's the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG ranking of ND related sports sites and blogs on the web. Click on the titles and it will link you to the respective site.
ND Sports Subscription Sites - Rankings:

#1: Irish Sports Daily
#2: Irish Illustrated
#3: Blue & Gold Illustrated

ND Sports Free Sites - Rankings:
#1: Notre Dame Official Athletic Site
#2: ND Nation
#3: Notre Dame Central
#3: The Unofficial Home of Notre Dame Football

ND Sports Blogs - Rankings:
#1: Blue-Gray Sky
#2: Under the Golden Dome