The Parseghian's & Notre Dame -- It's Family

Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC), is a rare and deadly neurodegenerative disease that primarily strikes children before or during adolescence. Unfortunately, this disease struck the Parseghian Family, prematurely ending the lives of three of Mike and Cindy Parseghian's (both are 1977 ND grads) four children; Michael, Marcia and Christa (pictured above). Since then, the Parseghian Family has dedicated their lives to finding the cause and cure for PNC through the efforts of The Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation. It was announced yesterday that the Foundation has given a generous gift to the University of Notre Dame to establish the Michael, Marcia and Christa Parseghian Endowment for Excellence to support NPC research and discovery and to build on the Foundation’s commitment to collaborate with young researchers at other institutions. Funds also will be dedicated in support of an annual NPC scientific conference that will be held at Notre Dame beginning in 2011, bringing together researchers from around the world to share discoveries and progress. Here's a story that NBC broadcast in 2008 on Coach Parseghian and his family's battle with PNC -- along with a link to the Foundation's website:

ARA'S MOST IMPORTANT GAME

A GOAL FOR LIFE -- PARSEGHIAN FOUNDATION WEBSITE

A Notre Dame Story -- I Never Knew...

Ever wonder who's the "Morris guy" whose name is on the Morris Inn at Notre Dame (photo of lobby) or, the Morris Performing Arts Center, Morris Park Country Club, etc., in South Bend? Well here is his unique "Notre Dame" story. As the story goes, E. M. Morris orphaned at 12 years old, rode his horse with all of his belongings in his saddle bag to Notre Dame. He met with Father John William Cavanaugh, the President of Notre Dame from 1905 to 1919. Given his financial situation, he asked Father Cavanaugh if he could attend the college for free. He promised to pay the University back ten-fold if they allowed him to enroll. Father Cavanaugh believed in his spirit and allowed him to do so -- and what a great decision that was! E. M. Morris and the Morris Family did pay the University back ten-fold over the years. Morris founded The Associates Investment Company in 1918, originally to help needy people, and it later became the single largest financing company in the world. The Associates was sold to Ford Motor Company, in 1998, for $3.5 Billion and sold again in 2000, to Citigroup for $31 Billion. He also founded the First Bank & Trust in South Bend which today operates as 1st Source Bank. In 1932 Morris Farms was founded in Niles, MI. E. M. Morris began purchasing parcels of land with the main principal of reforestation. He planted over 120,000 trees of many varieties. Today, Morris Farms consists of approximately 960 acres. The Morris Farms is in the news today because the Morris Family heirs just announced they're going to sell the property. Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

MORRIS FARMS ESTATE TO BE AUCTIONED

Irish Athletes Honored by Big East Conference!

The Big East Conference honored three Notre Dame athletes with 2009-2010 Big East Scholar-Athlete Sports Excellence Award. Irish basketball player Tim Abromaitis, rower Sarah Keithley and tennis player Tyler Davis were among the 24 student athletes in the Big East to receive this honor. Abromaitis (Unionville, CT) posted a 3.73 GPA in the classroom and was one of the big surprises in the Big East this year, averaging 18.2 pts. per game earning Academic All-American honors. Keithley (Austin, TX) coxed a Big East Champion boat in three of her four seasons for the Irish while posting a 3.74 GPA in the classroom. And, Tyler Davis (Nashville, TN) earned All Big East Academic Honors for the third straight year while compiling a 4-1 mark in singles for the Irish. Congratulations to all three!

ND Professor Receives Sheedy Award

Jim Collins, Notre Dame professor in the Department of Film, Television and Theatre was named the 2010 Sheedy Excellence in Teaching Award winner in recognition of his work as a scholar and teacher. The Sheedy award, named after Rev. Charles E. Sheedy, CSC who was Dean of the College of Arts & Letters from 1951 to 1969, acknowledges a faculty member who has sustained excellence in research and instruction over a wide range of courses. This individual must also motivate and enrich students using innovative and creative teaching methods and influence teaching and learning within the department, College and University. Collins is author of “Architecture of Excess: Cultural Life in the Information Age” (1995) and “Uncommon Cultures: Popular Culture and Postmodernism” (1989), editor of “Hi-Pop: Making Culture into Popular Entertainment” (2002), and co-editor of “Film Theory Goes to the Movies” (1993). His most recent book, “Bring on the Books for Everybody: How Literary Culture Became Popular Culture,” was released last month. Congratulations Professor Collins!

2010 SHEEDY EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD WINNER

New Hotel Opens up across from Notre Dame

The Fairfield Inn & Suites at Notre Dame opens up Tuesday, June 22nd. Located across the street from the University of Notre Dame, in the Eddy Street Commons development, fans of The Fighting Irish will find pretty good room rates for the football season. The hotel is sold out for the Michigan game, but rooms are still available for the other Notre Dame Football Weekends. Here's a link to their website:

FAIRFIELD INN & SUITES AT NOTRE DAME

A Domer @ NASCAR!

Jimmy Small, Class of 2008 -- left the Notre Dame campus, two years ago, for the high banks of NASCAR. Small was recruited by NASCAR to join their Series Operations Team -- a pretty cool job for a kid right out of college. That's Jimmy pictured above with Adam Sandler and Kevin James -- these two were at Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup event at Michigan International Speedway , promoting their soon to be released film; 'Grown Ups.' One of Small's duties on "Race Day" is to direct all of the 'on-camera' appearances of celebrities engaged to perform, sing a National Anthem or give the command "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!" Well, this Sunday, Jimmy was given the honor of "directing" Sandler & James in their 'now YOUTUBE legend' command to start your engines. As you watch the video -- you'll see Small's hand (in the lower right hand corner) directing these two characters. I'll leave the rest for your enjoyment.

LINK TO ADAM SANDLER & KEVIN JAMES -- NASCAR!

Incoming ND Athlete -- Named to Team USA

You can bet Muffet McGraw's smiling this morning. One of her prized incoming recruits, was just named by USA Basketball to the 12 member U18 National Team. Kayla McBride, out of Erie, PA is the fifth ND Women's Basketball Player to earn this honor in the last seven years. Kayla was selected to this team after six days of tryouts at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. She'll remain out there for the next two weeks, with her new teammates, as they prepare for the qualifying round of the FIBA U19 World Championships. The Americans must finish among the top four teams in the eight team qualifying round to earn the trip to Chile for the World Championship. The Team USA honor caps off a great high school career for McBride which earned her McDonald's All American, USA Today All American, Parade All American, ESPN RISE All American and Pennsylvania's Gatorade Player of the Year honors. She led her team to "back to back" Pennsylvania State Championships earning Kayla recognition as one of the top-25 players in America. I'm sure Muffet can't wait to have the 5'-11" McGraw join Skylar Diggs, in the Irish backcourt, for the next three seasons -- it's going to be fun!

Girl from Vietnam -- Hesburgh-Yusko Scholar!

The University of Notre Dame's inaugural class of Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars -- includes a young lady from Vietnam. Hien Luu, a senior at Conard High School in West Hartford, CT is one of 25 incoming Notre Dame students who have received this "first of it's kind" scholarship. The Hesburgh-Yusko scholarship includes an all-expenses paid summer experience each year, the first is next month when the twenty-five incoming freshmen, will go on a mountaineering experience in the Northern Cascades in Washington. Luu and her family left Vietnam for America in 1998. Here's a link to a wonderful story, in the Hartford Courant, about Hien Luu and her family:

VIETNAMESE GIRL RECEIVES HESBURGH-YUSKO SCHOLARSHIP

ND Grad's TV Show -- Debuts on Fox Today!

"Judge" Anthony Napolitano, Notre Dame Law Grad, debuts his new show "Freedom Watch" this morning at 10 AM EST -- on the Fox Business Channel. His first guests; Sarah Palin and Ron Paul. Here's a link to Judge Napolitano's website:

FREEDOM WATCH -- FOX BUSINESS CHANNEL

Irish Athletics -- Tops Again in Classroom!

The NCAA just released its sixth annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) statistics -- and, once again, all 26 of Notre Dame's varsity athletic teams exceeded the NCAA standards. (2010 NCAA APR REPORT - LINKED BELOW) In fact, eight Irish teams earned perfect scores! Five Men's teams; cross country, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field and golf -- and three Women's teams; rowing, soccer and tennis. The only school with more perfect scores than Notre Dame - Duke, they had ten. The NCAA's APR uses a series of formulas related to student-athlete retention and eligibility to measure the academic performances of all participants who receive grants-in-aid on every team at every NCAA Division I college and university. Congratulations Notre Dame Athletics! Notre Dame Football received a 978 NCAA APR score -- as compared to the NCAA APR scores for the Football Teams on Notre Dame's schedule this fall -- ranked below - from highest to lowest:
-Stanford: 976
-Navy: 973
-Boston College: 967
-USC: 965
-Army: 964
-Western Michigan: 956
-Pittsburgh: 950
-Utah: 949
-Michigan State: 941
-Tulsa: 939
-Michigan: 936
-Purdue: 930

2010 NCAA APR DATABASE

How will Notre Dame acknowledge USC games?

In the wake of today's announcement that USC must, in essence, forfeit every game that Reggie Bush played in during his three-year career with the Trojans - I wonder how Notre Dame will acknowledge these games in their record books? Do they add "three wins" to their overall total? Does Ty Willingham's and Charlie Weis's career coaching records change? It's going to be interesting to see how all of USC's opponents during the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons treat today's NCAA ruling.

San Francisco Giants Draft Golden Tate!

In the 50th round of the just completed Major League Baseball Draft - the San Francisco Giants selected former ND All-American and current Seattle Seahawk; Golden Tate. Tate was an "outfielder" in his spare time with the Irish baseball team. Will Golden leave football?

ND Victory March -- Key Evidence in Court Case

A recording of the Notre Dame Victory March has just become the key piece of evidence in a story that garnered national headlines in March. Jack McKenna, a 21-year old University of Maryland student was part of a "post game" celebration after Maryland's upset victory over top-ranked Duke in college basketball. Well, McKenna was roughed up by Police and the incident was caught on video. Come to find out, McKenna was "singing the Notre Dame Victory March" and apparently, the police took the words "Shake down the thunder..." as a threat -- which led to their actions caught on camera. Attorneys for McKenna apparently have a cell phone recording of McKenna signing the ND Fight Song and are using it as evidence. Here's a link to the original video and the news story of how the Victory March is being used in McKenna's court case. You can't make this up -- Promise!

LINK TO NOTRE DAME VICTORY MARCH AS EVIDENCE

The Ultimate Irish Tailgater!

If you're looking for a place to "tailgate" before an Irish Football Game this Fall - here's an option for you - The Notre Dame Football Hospitality Village. Tickets are available right now for you to entertain your family, friends or clients -- before kick-off of every home football game. Just click on this link for more information:

THE ULTIMATE IRISH TAILGATER

A Notre Dame Author You Should Follow

His name is Bryan Gruley and he's a 1979 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. Gruley is currently the Chicago Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal - but that's just his "day job!" Gruley continues to receive critical acclaim for his first novel; Starvation Lake: A Mystery -- which garnered him an Edgar Award nomination for "Best First Novel" by the Mystery Writers of America. And, just this past week, the Anthony Awards recognized Starvation Lake with two more nominations; Best First Novel and Best Paperback Original -- the award winners will be announced in October. Gruley's sequel, The Hanging Tree will hit the bookstores this August -- keep an eye out for it! Here's a link to Bryan's Blog where you can buy his books:

BRYAN GRULEY -- A NOTRE DAME AUTHOR

Follow a Fantasy FB Camper at Notre Dame!

NBC Sports Writer, Keith Arnold, is attending the Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp this week and he's "blogging" about his experiences on NBC's Inside the Irish Blog. Today was "registration day" and Keith tells his story. Should be fun to follow him this week -- see the link:

ND FOOTBALL FANTASY CAMP BLOG

ND FB Recruit - Wins NJ State 110M Hurdles!

Notre Dame football recruit, Bennett Jackson, a wide receiver from Raritan High School, won the 2010 New Jersey Meet of Champions State Championship in the 110 Meter Hurdles! Here's a link to his race, he's in Lane Five, as well as a link to a highlight video from his senior season:

ND FOOTBALL RECRUIT -- JERSEY STATE CHAMPION 110 METER HURDLES

ND FOOTBALL RECRUIT -- FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

ND Lacrosse Goalie -- Taken 7th in MLL's Draft!

Notre Dame All-American Lacrosse Goalie, Scott Rodgers -- was drafted 7th overall yesterday by the Major League Lacrosse's Toronto Nationals in their 10th Annual Collegiate Draft held at Yale University. The Nationals "traded up" to the top of the Second Round to get Rodgers -- who was recently named Most Outstanding Player in the 2010 NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championships. Teammate Grant Krebs, was drafted 45th overall to the Boston Cannons. The ND Men's Lacrosse team is currently in Japan on a week long exhibition tour -- playing some of the "national" teams in Japan. Congratulations Scott and Grant!

MAJOR LEAGUE LACROSSE DRAFT -- RODGERS GOES SEVENTH TO TORONTO

The Coach Kelly Challenge!

Notre Dame Head Football Coach -- Brian Kelly & Family, recently donated $250,000 to the University of Notre Dame -- and with the donation, challenged the Notre Dame Family to follow their lead. And, if you do -- you'll get to wear the same "Kelly Green ND Lapel Pin" that Coach Kelly wears (photo above left). I went online today and made a donation -- please consider doing the same! To learn more about the Coach Kelly Challenge - click on the link below:

COACH KELLY CHALLENGE

Think You Can Do This? -- Think Again!

Notre Dame Linebacker Steve Filer - just might be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! Here's a YOUTUBE video that is garnering "legendary" status for Filer. I don't think you'll want to try this at home -- see link:

FILER'S POOL TRICK