ND Grad and "Mascot" Artist

His work received some publicity today when ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach wrote about Brian Kelly's purchase of a print entitled "Original Fighting Irish." The artist is none other than ND Alum; Revere La Noue. Revere was a former ND Lacrosse player and a large piece from his "Original Fighting Irish Print Series" is hanging in Arlotta Stadium (the new home of the ND Lacrosse program) at Notre Dame. La Noue's latest work is a series devoted to the unknown history of the college mascot. Here's a link to his website:

THE MASCOT GALLERY

Original Fighting Irish

Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly -- has this painting hanging in his office. The print is entitled "Original Fighting Irish" and it's the work of former ND Lacrosse player; Revere La Noue -- an award winning artist. ESPN.com reporter, Mark Schlabach penned this article today on the changes Coach Kelly is making to the "habits" of Notre Dame football -- click on the link below. You can also click on the link to a YouTube video that shows the actual steps involved in the painting of the Original Fighting Irish.

CHANGING NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

THE MAKING OF ORIGINAL FIGHTING IRISH

Top Florida OT commits to Notre Dame

Jordan Prestwood, a 6'-6" 270 lb. student athlete out of Plant City, FL held a press conference Monday afternoon, at his high school, to announce his commitment to the University of Notre Dame. Prestwood, chose the Irish over schools such as; Florida, USC, Florida State, Alabama, Auburn, etc. He played TE for the majority of his junior season -- leading many schools to recruit him at that position. The Irish have other plans for Jordan -- and he's in agreement that his best position will be at the offensive tackle position in college. Prestwood is the second commitment from the Class of 2011 -- as high school athletes continue to commit earlier and earlier. Here's some info on Jordan:

RECRUITING PROFILE ON JORDAN PRESTWOOD

The Economic Impact of your Birthday

Notre Dame Professors Dan Hungerman and Kasey Buckles have been studying the economic impact of when you were born -- and have determined that if you are born in the winter months you are going to have lower wages and less education than most. Pretty controversial -- watch it for yourself:

WILL YOUR BIRTHDAY IMPACT YOUR EARNING POWER?

What are they doing now? -- Adrian Dantley

Former Notre Dame All-American, Adrian Dantley is currently the interim head coach of the Denver Nuggets -- while head coach George Karl deals with his cancer treatments. Dantley has been an assistant for the Nuggets for the past four seasons. The Nuggets are 9 - 7 since Karl had to leave the bench to deal with his neck and throat cancer.

Irish Recruit Matt James Dies From Fall

Matt James, a senior at St. Xavier High School, died yesterday from a fall from a hotel balcony in Panama City, Fl. James, a high school All American offensive tackle, was one of the top rated recruits in Brian Kelly's first recruiting class at Notre Dame. A memorial prayer service is about to begin at Xavier High School in Cincinnati. Our prayers go out to the James family.

Barlow Finishes Second in Three-Point Contest

Notre Dame senior, Ashley Barlow, competed last night in the State Farm Three-Point contest in Indianapolis -- finishing in second place to University of Detroit's Bridig Mulroy. Mulroy was the NCAA leader this season in three pointers made, with a .515 shooting percentage. Barlow scored 19 points in the first round to Mulroy's 20 -- and in the Finals, Barlow went first and struggled, scoring only 11 points. Mulroy surpassed Barlow with one rack of balls to go.

LINK TO SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

No ND Football Players in Bookstore Basketball

Coach Kelly announced yesterday that his football players would not be playing Bookstore Basketball this year -- meaning the defending champions "Hallelujah Holla Back" (Dayne Crist and Jonas Gray) will not be able to "re-peat." Kelly made it very clear that his players need to concentrate on football this spring. Probably a good idea! Coach Kelly said he would revisit this subject again next year. Games start this Saturday.

Notre Dame's Barlow at Final Four in Indy

Irish Senior, Ashley Barlow will be competing this evening at the 22nd Annual State Farm Slam Dunk and Three Point Championships at the site of this weekend's Final Four -- in her hometown of Indianapolis. Ashley, won't be dunking -- but, she will be competing in the three-point competition against seven of the top shooters in the country. The competition is taking place inside the Indiana Convention Center (adjacent to Lucas Oil Stadium - where the Final Four will be played) at 7 PM EST. ESPN will be televising the event on a "tape-delayed" basis at 9 PM EST tonight. Good Luck Ashley!

79th Anniversary of Knute Rockne's Death

A plane carrying Notre Dame Head Football Coach Knute Rockne - crashed on this date, 79 years ago. Ironically, Rockne was on his way to participate in the filming of a movie called "The Spirit of Notre Dame" -- which just happens to be the name of Notre Dame's current development campaign. The plane crashed in a wheat field near the town of Bazaar, Kansas -- killing all eight people on board.

Notre Dame Partners with YMCA

The University of Notre Dame's NonProfit Professional Development announced today that it would begin providing executive training to the YMCA's senior leadership this August -- at Notre Dame's executive classroom space in Chicago. The YMCA joins other service organizations such as; Volunteers of America, Catholic Charities USA and National Human Services Assembly -- who have sought executive training from Notre Dame.

NOTRE DAME AND THE YMCA

Graduation moves to Notre Dame Stadium

In a move to accommodate more people at graduation -- the University of Notre Dame is moving Commencement, for the first time, to Notre Dame Stadium. The renovation of Purcell Pavillion left the arena with about 1,000 fewer seats, thus the need to move to a larger venue. This morning, Notre Dame announced the eight who would be receiving Honorary Degrees from the University. Here's a link to the story:

NOTRE DAME GRADUATION

Notre Dame's "Social Robots" and Autism

The University of Notre Dame's Psychology Department is working with "social robots" in their work with children with Autism. Here's a story released yesterday by Notre Dame concerning their work in this area. Click on link:

ND'S SOCIAL ROBOTS

Notre Dame installs a "Cleanroom" on campus

No, its not a prototype for a "George Jetson" dorm room at Notre Dame -- it's a 9,000 square foot classroom in Stinson-Remick Hall. It's the new home for some of Notre Dame's most advanced research projects. Click on the link to the story:

NOTRE DAME'S CLEANROOM

A New "Helmet Rule" for Irish Football!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame hit the Lumbar Practice Fields for the first time yesterday under the direction of new Head Coach, Brian Kelly. One of the changes Kelly has brought to the Irish program is you "can't take your helmet off" during practice. It's all part of the discipline and attention to detail that Kelly felt our football program was lacking. Yesterday's practice was the first of fifteen (including April 24th's Blue & Gold Game) that the NCAA allows for Spring Practice. If you'd like to see some free video online of the Irish's practice -- click on the link below:

CBS SPORTS.COM ALL ACCESS PASS TO NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS

Notre Dame one of the "DREAM" colleges in America!

In an annual survey of more than 3,000 parents of college applicants by the Princeton Review, when asked "what dream college do you wish your child could attend if acceptance or cost weren't issues?" -- the University of Notre Dame was ranked the "seventh most dreamiest University in America." In last year's survey -- Notre Dame was ranked fourth, which leads me to think high school parents must have had some "nightmares" these past twelve months!!! To see the list of the "top ten" -- click on this link:

PARENTS TOP TEN DREAM SCHOOLS FOR THEIR KIDS

Irish IDOL -- three more contestants...

Every week the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG -- searches the world wide web for the top performers of the greatest college fight song on the planet -- the Notre Dame Victory March. Here are three more contestants this week -- one has four legs! Click on the links below:

ONE FROM THE DOGS

TWO YEAR OLD ZACH & DAD

KAELIN

Skylar leads the Irish to Sweet Sixteen!

South Bend native, Skylar Diggins scored a career high 31 points in Notre Dame's 84 - 66 win last night over Vermont in the Second Round of the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship. The victory puts the Irish into the "Sweet Sixteen" for the eighth time in the last fourteen years! Next up for Notre Dame is third seeded Oklahoma in Kansas City this Sunday. Tip-off for the game vs. Oklahoma is scheduled for 7:34 PM EST. Go Irish!

LINK TO SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

ND and USC Making Music Together!

The University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California - long time rivals on the football field -- are collaborating in the class room via videoconferencing. Two Notre Dame students are enrolled in a Master Voice course with USC's Cynthia Munzer. Munzer sits in Los Angeles on the Southern Cal campus and she listens and critiques her two ND students via the live videoconference feed. Click on the link below to see how it's done:

MAKING MUSIC ND & USC

Muffet brings out the Green -- in Irish win!

The Fighting Irish Women's basketball team won their opening game of the 2010 NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship yesterday -- topping Cleveland State 86 - 58. As has become a tradition for Muffet McGraw and her Irish -- she brings out the "green" version of their jersey for important games. I've seen posts this morning from ND fans wishing the Men's Irish basketball team would adopt a similar uniform design -- are you listening Mike Brey? The Irish are back in action tomorrow night when they play Vermont in the "second round" in a home game at Purcell Pavillion.