ND Women's Lacrosse Ranked 14th in the Country!

And, they're headed to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year. The Fighting Irish (11-6) are coming off of a heart breaking loss in FOUR OVERTIMES to Syracuse in the Big East Tournament this past week. Notre Dame will be taking on Northwestern - who's ranked #2 and the winner's of the last five NCAA National Championships. The game will be played this Saturday at Northwestern's Lakeside Field. Good Luck IRISH!

Notre Dame's Chinese Speech Contest

The University of Notre Dame's Department of East Asia Languages and Cultures just completed its 2010 Chinese Speech Contest -- it's an innovative and somewhat entertaining competition. You just have to wonder how difficult it is to learn this language. The photo is the famous ND logo (on a ball cap) in Kanji, which are the Chinese characters used in the modern Japanese logographic writing system. Here's a link to a video of the competition.

ND'S CHINESE SPEECH CONTEST

ND Makes Major Research Investment

In the past twelve months, the University of Notre Dame has committed $80 million in what they're calling their Strategic Research Investments. The most recent investments represent nine more research initiatives for the University. Here's a link to a video produced by Notre Dame's Department of Education and to SRI's website -- that will explain where this money is going.

ND'S STRATEGIC RESEARCH INVESTMENTS

SRI's WEBSITE

"Five for Riley" - a ND Story

I read this story this AM on Mike Frank's Irish Sports Daily website (www.irishsportsdaily.com) and it affected me. You see, my wife and I have been very fortunate to have three healthy kids. Unfortunately, this Notre Dame family didn't have such good fortune. It's a story about two ND alums, Henry and Maggie Scroope and their son Henry John Scroope V. Young Henry only lived to be five months old -- and it was a life that was spent for the most part at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. Here's a link to Mike Frank's site and his story about the Scroope family and their efforts to "give back" to Riley Hospital.

FIVE FOR RILEY

"The Bus" vs. "Dr. J" -- Tonight on the Golf Channel

Former Notre Dame great and Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Champion, Jerome "The Bus" Bettis will be taking on NBA legend, Julius "Dr. J" Erving tonight on the Golf Channel's "Trump's Fabulous World of Golf" at 9:00 PM EST. This made for TV event, matches these two in an eighteen hole match with the winner receiving money for his charity -- and a trophy. They'll be playing Trump's course in West Palm Beach, FL. Click on the link below for a preview.

THE BUS vs. DR. J -- GOLF CHANNEL

Brian Kelly on Sports Radio in DC

Coach Brian Kelly was in Washington D.C. yesterday for the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation event - where he was honored for his involvement with this group. Before the event, Coach Kelly was interviewed by THE FAN 106.7 -- Sports Radio in D.C. Here's the interview -- click on the link:

COACH KELLY RADIO INTERVIEW

Happy Mother's Day!

The ND GO IRISH BLOG would like to wish all of the Mom's and Grandma's a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! And, to celebrate this special day - we've lined up the University of Notre Dame's Glee Club, the University of Notre Dame's Liturgical Choir and the Irish Trumpets of Notre Dame to perform; "Notre Dame Our Mother." Enjoy!

NOTRE DAME OUR MOTHER - GLEE CLUB

NOTRE DAME OUR MOTHER -- LITURGICAL CHOIR

NOTRE DAME OUR MOTHER - IRISH TRUMPETS

Follow Mark Baldwin -- ND Grad, Pro Golfer

Mark Baldwin is "pursuing the dream" of competing on the PGA Tour. He's a 2006 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, out of Lanconia, New Hampshire. Baldwin, a four-year monogram winner for the Fighting Irish, is currently competing on the Canadian PGA Tour. While at Notre Dame, Baldwin earned All Big East Honors three times and won the Big East's Individual Title in 2005. In March, Baldwin shot a 66 at a Nationwide Tour "Monday" Qualifier -- earning medalist honors. He finished 50th at the Mexican PGA Championship in April. Mark has his own blog -- from which he reports on his journey... Click on the link below.

MARK BALDWIN'S BLOG

The Irish Guard -- Uniquely Notre Dame

It's been voted by many as one of the top college football traditions -- the Irish Guard of Notre Dame. Started in 1949, at the request of then coach Frank Leahy - the Irish Guard (ten Notre Dame students) has led The Band of the Fighting Irish into stadiums all over America. Each member must stand at least 6'-2" tall -- and in full uniform, they stand more than 7' tall. After every home victory -- the Irish Guard perform their trademark "Victory Clog" in Notre Dame Stadium. You can also catch them in action 90 minutes before kick-off in front of Bond Hall -- performing their "Slow March" and the Irish Guard Inspection. Here's a link to the Irish Guard in action:

THE IRISH GUARD

Notre Dame Band to Perform at Carnegie Hall!

The University of Notre Dame Band will perform -- for the very first time -- on the world famous Carnegie Hall stage. The concert, scheduled for May 17th will be a musical milestone for the Notre Dame Band and will leave a legacy of new music. Renowned composers Joseph Turrin and Samuel Hazo were both commissioned to write new works for the occasion. Turrin’s “Fanfare and Prelude” and Hazo’s “Siorai September” will each have their premiere performances at Carnegie Hall by the Notre Dame Band. Performing at Carnegie Hall is an accomplishment more than 165 years in the making for the Notre Dame Band and this concert will be a celebration of Notre Dame, its talented student musicians, and the loyal sons and daughters of the University that have sustained the Band of the Fighting Irish for the past century and a half. Here's a video of the Notre Dame Band from their 2004 performance at another famous venue - the Sydney Opera House.

NOTRE DAME BAND IN CONCERT

Mike Brey -- Chairman of Rules Committee

Notre Dame Head Basketball Coach, Mike Brey, has been elected Chairman of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee. In this role, Coach Brey will stay in touch with rules issues during the season and to compare ideas and gauge opinions on potential rules changes with colleagues in conference and region. Maybe he can change a rule or two that will guarantee the Irish make the FINAL FOUR!

Coach Kelly --Honored by Friends of Jaclyn

Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly will be in Washington D.C. this Saturday evening to be honored at the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation dinner. Kelly was selected by the charitable organization based on his exceptional leadership and involvement with the foundation’s “Adopt‐A‐Child” program. The Foundation was inspired by Jaclyn Murphy, who was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor, in March 2004 when she was nine-years-old. The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation matches a child with cancer and a college sports team. In essence, the college team "adopts" the child. Kelly participated in the program in 2009 as head coach at the University of Cincinnati. The Bearcats adopted Mitch Stone, a 12‐year‐old boy battling a pediatric brain tumor. A Cincinnati native who was in the sixth grade at Maddux Elementary School when the Bearcats adopted Stone became as much a member of the Cincinnati football team as any of the players. The Bearcats became the first NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision team to adopt a child through Friends of Jaclyn. Jaclyn Murphy is now 14 -- here's an HBO Sports story on her -- and what this foundation does. IT IS A MUST WATCH - WHEN YOU GET TO THE SITE, LOCATE THE "HBO SPORTS ON FOJ" LINK -- FOR THE VIDEO.

JACLYN'S STORY

What are they doing now? -- Tim Andree

While writing the story on Tim Andree (Mr. Bookstore) - I found myself wondering what his Dad (also Tim Andree) was up to these days. Well, Tim Andree, Sr. is doing just fine! He's the CEO of Dentsu Holdings USA, a global advertising agency. A product of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, MI -- Andree was a 1979 McDonald's All American, prior to joining Digger's Fighting Irish squad. After leaving ND, Andree pursued a pro basketball career in Europe and Japan (he was a 5th Round Draft pick of the Chicago Bulls) before putting his Notre Dame degree to work. Here's an interview Andree did this past year with Fast Company.

FAST COMPANY'S INTERVIEW OF TIM ANDREE

2010 Mr. Bookstore

I'm late in reporting on this -- my bad! The 2010 Bookstore Basketball Tournament ended on Blue-Gold Weekend -- with a team led by the son of a former ND basketball player and ND swimmer, winning the championship. Tim Andree, 6'-8" (a walk-on for Mike Brey's squad) -- and a senior, was eligible to play this year since he is graduating. Andree's team; Alexander's Grille (the team pictured) won the tournament -- beating "He Went to Jared" -- and in the process he earned Co-Mr. Basketball honors. Andree's Dad (same name) played basketball at Notre Dame under Irish coach Digger Phelps from 1979-83. Tim's mother, the former Laureen Langen, was a member of the Irish women's swim team from 1980-84. In addition, a week later -- Andree was awarded the 2010 Monogram Club Postgraduate Scholarship for his 3.51 GPA. Andree will be attending Law School in the Fall.

BOOKSTORE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Joanna Philbin -- "the daughters"

Joanna, who just happens to be the daughter of Regis Philbin (ND Class of '53), was in Manhattan last night for the book party for the release of her first book; "the daughters." The book centers on the lives of three 14 year-old girls who were born into families with famous parents. Philbin signed a three book deal with Little Brown. Joanna did her undergrad at Brown University and received a MFA in Creative Writing and a Law Degree from the University of Notre Dame. The book is available at Amazon. Here's a link to the Facebook page created for "the daughters."

THE DAUGHTERS - BY JOANNA PHILBIN

Golden Tate Turning Heads in Seattle!

He now wears #81 for the Seattle Seahawks -- and it didn't take long for his new teammates and coaches to notice the new kid in town. Golden Tate participated in the Seahawks Minicamp this past weekend. Here's a link to a story on what they're saying about their second round draft choice out of Notre Dame, a link to a Seahawks video that has former Notre Dame All-American John Carlson interviewed -- and NFL TV's Draft Coverage of Seattle's "Golden" selection:

SEAHAWKS TV

NFL DRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT OF GOLDEN TATE TO SEAHAWKS

GOLDEN'S TURNING HEADS

The Top "Pre-Game Tradition"

It shouldn't be a surprise to Notre Dame fans -- it's the slapping of the Play Like a Champion Today sign in the Notre Dame Locker room. The blog -- Bleacher Report announced it's TOP 25 Pre-Game Traditions in College Football today and they have this on top. Here is the "wikipedia" definition of Play Like a Champion Today: Play Like A Champion Today is hand-painted in blue letters on a 36" by 48" sign located in a stairwell between the home team locker room and the tunnel to the field of Notre Dame Stadium. It is a tradition by Fighting Irish players to touch it on their way out of the locker room. A commercial for the university once featured alumni touching a sign before preparing for other "fields of play" (courtroom, surgery room, etc.). It is one of the most recognized motivational signs in college sports.The original sign that hangs in the Notre Dame Tunnel was painted by Laurie Wenger for Coach Lou Holtz. Here's the top 25:

THE TOP 25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PRE-GAME TRADITIONS

Let's Help This ND Grad Secure a Pepsi Grant!

Notre Dame grad, Hy Pham '09, is in Medical School outside of Pittsburgh and he's developed a community service project that will teach kids in the Pittsburgh area how to stay healthy. To fund this effort, he's applied to Pepsi - they're giving away grants each month to worthy projects. Part of the Pepsi process is a contest -- and the ten best ideas (most votes at the end of the month) secure funding for their project. Here's the note Pham sent to Cappy Gagnon, ND Class of '66:

"I am writing to you today to ask for a favor. One of my classmates and I have been working on a community service project and we are trying to help secure funding for it. Our biggest potential source of funding could be from PEPSI. They're actually giving away grants each month, but to acquire one, we there's a contest that requires us to get votes from people across the nation. The way it works is that the top ten ideas at each grant level by the end of the month will win these grants.

What I am asking is if you could vote for us and if there's any chance for you to pass along the message to those you know. People may have to register an account through the pepsi website so that may take a minute or two, but after that, voting should only take a second by clicking on a link. The rules allow you to vote for an idea once each day, but you can vote for that idea everyday until the end of the month on May 31st.

For more details on our project, you can go to our own website www.medschool4kids.com or you can visit the page that PEPSI has reserved for us. You will have access to vote in either places, but yes, the direct link for registering and voting on the pepsi website is: www.refresheverything.com/medschool4kids

In a short summary, what I am trying to do is to create an educational program teaching young kids (ages 8-11) how to be and stay healthy, and our curriculum is going to be structured like a "mini-medical school for kids". Through our interaction, we hope to share valuable science and health knowledge as well as to pass along our passion for learning. We will also make sure to do our best to express the importance of having a positive attitude, goals, and dreams, and in doing so, to also empower and inspire the kids to live well-balanced, healthy lives. Speaking on our behalf, we truly do want to make a lasting, positive impact on kids and the community, and with your help and funding from PEPSI, I know we can."

Here's the link to the Pepsi site - please visit today and help out Hy Pham and his efforts to help kids in the Pittsburgh community!

MEDSCHOOL4KIDS.COM

If You Have a ND Photo You'd Like to Share...

Please feel free to email me any of your favorite Notre Dame photos -- and I'll be sure to add them to the ND GO IRISH BLOG SLIDESHOW. Just email them to me at; jim.small@ndgoirish.com

Music & Notre Dame

Notre Dame's Department of Music just released a video of it's program -- and launched a new website. Please click on both links below and enjoy...

THE MUSIC OF NOTRE DAME

ND'S MUSIC WEBSITE