Nun Takes on USC's John Robinson!

Former USC Football Coach, John Robinson, was in town last week for his enshrinement into the College Football Hall of Fame. During his stay in South Bend he granted an interview with WNDU-TV. One of his stories was a classic. He recalls pulling up in their team bus to Notre Dame Stadium for the 1993 game. Robinson is the first guy off the bus, and he sees a nun standing there waiting to greet his team (so he thinks). Having gone to Catholic grammar and high school, Robinson immediately smiled and said "Hi sister, how are you?" The reaction wasn't what the coach expected. "We're going to beat the hell out of you people today," the nun replied. Well, she was right! The Irish beat the Trojans that day 31 - 13. Sounds like Brian Kelly should track this nun down and have her stand at the Visitor's lockerroom door for every home game! Here's a link to the video interview:

USC COACH ROBINSON'S RUN-IN WITH NUN AT ND

Samardzija: 7 - 1 with Iowa Cubs

After watching the Chicago Cubs play last night on ESPN, hoping to see Coach Kelly conduct "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" (I didn't see him on TV) -- I began wondering how a former Notre Dame All-American football player nicknamed "Shark" was doing with baseball? Well, he's doing quite well! Jeff was sent down by the Cubs to their top minor league team (Iowa Cubs) in April. They had him first come out of the bullpen as a closer -- but have since moved him into a starting role. He's 7 - 1 with the Iowa Cubs winning his last three starts. Samardzija has a ERA of 2.76 in 58.2 innings pitched -- striking out 58 while walking 38. His 2.76 ERA is best on the team among pitchers with more than 50 innings of work. Here's a link to the Iowa Cubs team website:

IOWA CUBS OFFICIAL SITE

Paterno - "Notre Dame would not be..."

Joe Paterno, long time coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions sure is bitter about Notre Dame. In a recent interview he let the world know that he would rather see Rutgers join the Big Ten over Notre Dame. His exact words: "Notre Dame would not be one of my top picks." Paterno feels Rutgers would do more for the Big Ten than Notre Dame. EARTH TO JOE! Joe, please know this -- NOTRE DAME DOES THE PICKING! Here's hoping Notre Dame always remains independent -- and never joins the likes of Paterno's Big Ten!

PATERNO -- OUT OF TOUCH!

Zibby Adds Eight Inches to Vertical Leap!

Just checked in on former Notre Dame safety and now Baltimore Raven, Tom Zbikowski. A story in yesterday's Baltimore Sun speaks to what he's been doing this offseason to make himself better. Well, it appears he's been successful! Zibby added 2 1/2" to his neck size and 8" to his vertical leap. Here's a link to the story:

ZIBBY HARD AT WORK

Reminder -- Coach Kelly at Wrigley Tonight!

Coach Kelly is conducting "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" tonight at the Cubs games against the Cardinals. It's the Sunday Night Baseball game -- meaning it will be televised live on ESPN. The game starts at 8 PM EST.

IRISH IDOL Returns!

It's been a few months since THE ND GO IRISH BLOG's talent scouts have searched the global web for the best performers of the greatest college fight song on the planet. Here's Regis Philbin '53 leading The Band of the Fighting Irish at the world famous Carnegie Hall in New York City this past May:

REGIS & THE BAND OF THE FIGHTING IRISH - CARNEGIE HALL

Kelly Cares Foundation Event -- Chicago

The Kelly's were in Chicago Saturday evening, hosting a Kelly Cares Foundation event in the Windy City. A few reporters caught up with Coach Kelly and here's their story -- along with a video interview. Click on the link below:

KELLY CARES FOUNDATION -- WINDY CITY

Clausen & Tate Still Unsigned

Former Notre Dame quarterback and second round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers - Jimmy Clausen - has yet to sign his first NFL contract. Clausen's surprising drop to the second round -- took millions of "guaranteed" dollars off the table in this negotiation. As a point of reference, Sam Bradford, the first QB taken (and #1 pick overall) is looking at $50 million guaranteed -- while Clausen, the second QB taken in the NFL Draft will be looking at probably $1.5 to $2 million tops in guaranteed money. Meanwhile two of Clausen's teammates; Sam Young (four-year deal, terms not disclosed, with a $110,500 signing bonus) and Eric Olsen (four-year deal starting at $395,000 -- don't know what signing bonus was) signed contracts with the Cowboys and Broncos, respectively, in the past week. Meanwhile, Golden Tate is still negotiating with the Seahawks. Earlier this month, the player drafted the spot before Tate -- signed a $3.25 million dollar four-year contract. Of the $3.25 million -- $1,025,000 was guaranteed. Meaning Tate will probably be looking at a contract totaling $3 million over four years with around $1 million guaranteed. The challenge for Clausen, Tate, Young and Olsen, with NFL contracts, is the only money guaranteed is the signing bonus. So, signing a four-year contract, like Young and Olsen did, doesn't mean you'll be employed -- you have to earn your spot, every day. Your NFL team could cut you tomorrow and all you're owed is the signing bonus. Fortunately, these four are more fortunate than most in the "LEAGUE" -- since they'll always have their Notre Dame education to fall back on. Here's hoping that's many years from now!

"Welcome to Notre Dame..."

The University of Notre Dame introduced its new head baseball coach this week -- Mik Aoki. Aoki is the 20th head baseball coach in the history of Notre Dame baseball. I knew this fact from the press release that Notre Dame sent out to the media. Now, I could have just picked up the phone and called Cappy Gagnon -- who just happens to be the foremost authority on Notre Dame baseball in the world. A 1966 graduate of Notre Dame, Cappy Gagnon returned to his alma mater in March 1996 to assume his current post as coordinator of stadium personnel. In that role, he is responsible for overseeing the 857 ushers who handle crowd management for football games at Notre Dame Stadium. When you hear one of them say "Welcome to Notre Dame" -- that's Cappy's influence. Cappy has had an interesting and distinguished career. Gagnon has previously served as assistant director of training at THE POLICE FOUNDATION, a Washington, D.C.-based police think tank; the executive assistant/director of special programs for the Sheriff of Los Angeles County; and the technical services manager for the Olympia (Wash.) Police Department. While with the L.A. Sheriff's Department, he received the Exemplary Service Award, two commendations from the National Association of Counties, and a commendation from the L.A. Human Rights Commission. Because of his service on the nine-member Los Angeles County "Blue Ribbon Commission on the Homeless," he received a commendation from the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Gagnon also worked for Gavin de Becker as a security supervisor, providing protective services for more than 30 of the most prominent public figures in the entertainment industry. In that capacity, he supervised security of many of the entertainers who performed at President Ronald Reagan's first inauguration in 1981. Gagnon also was the security escort and provided all the advance work for more than 100 venues for Cher's 1990 world tour. A noted baseball historian, Gagnon served two years (1984-85) as the president of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), a worldwide group of 7,000 baseball historians. He also wrote Notre Dame Baseball Greats (cover above), published by Arcadia Press (2004) -- a link to buy the book online is below. One of my favorite Cappy Gagnon stories is when Bobby Bowden brought his Seminoles into Notre Dame Stadium to play the Irish (not sure of the season). Now, it was well known that the Seminoles had a "grave yard" outside their football practice field in which they ceremoniously 'buried' a clump of grass from every away football field they were victorious. They called these clumps "scalps." Well Cappy wasn't going to allow that to happen at Notre Dame! So, the game is over, the Seminoles had beaten the Irish that day - and one of the Seminoles' star players had just reached down to take a "scalp" out of Notre Dame Stadium. Only to find someone grabbing his wrist -- telling him "politely" to put that grass down -- he did -- that someone was Mr. Cappy Gagnon. The scene was caught by a photographer who later presented the series of photos to Cappy - which you'll find framed on his office wall. The topper was the next day when this athlete was interviewed about the game and he mentioned that the Irish "weren't that tough, but their ushers sure were!" If you ever have the honor of crossing paths with Cappy Gagnon -- and I hope you do -- you'll quickly learn he's a class act, a wonderful representative of his alma mater and a NOTRE DAME MAN! Buy his book!

AMAZON: NOTRE DAME BASEBALL GREATS

Desert to Dome -- Starts TODAY!

University of Notre Dame's Dean of the College of Science -- Greg Crawford and his wife Renate -- begin their 2,200 mile bike ride from the Desert (Tucson, AZ) to the Dome (Notre Dame, IN) TODAY! The Crawford's are "bringing home" the relationship between the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and the University of Notre Dame -- as the two have joined forces to find a cure for Neimann-Pick Type C. A disease that took the lives of three of Coach Ara Parseghian's grandchildren at a young age. The journey will be documented on their blog -- link below -- so please be sure to check in on them over the next four weeks. They expect to ride onto campus on August 23rd. Those of you along their route (the map is on the blog) please make an effort to cheer them on -- either on the side of the road or at one of the Notre Dame Club events scheduled. SAFE TRAVELS!

OFFICIAL DESERT TO DOME BLOG

More Than 10,000 Unique Visitors!

This morning, the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG went over the 10,000 unique visitors mark -- in less than six months! Notre Dame fans from all 50 States and more than 40 countries, around the globe, have made ND GO IRISH BLOG part of their daily "Notre Dame fix." Thank you! In honor of reaching the 10,000 Unique Visitor benchmark -- I've changed the design of the site. I hope you like! Go Irish!

You Have to Watch this Video!

Notre Dame Football players, Michael Floyd and Mike Ragone decided to take their "skills" to Melissa Cook Stadium on the University of Notre Dame campus. Little did they know what they were getting into as they stood at the plate and faced Irish hurler Jody Valdivia (pictured). Valdivia (Anaheim Hills, CA) set a school record this year for most wins in a season (32) while striking out more than 240 batters. You can now add two more to Jody's total -- though it appears Ragone was given a gift at the end! Take a look:

CAN YOU HIT THIS!

Brian Kelly to Sing at Wrigley -- Sunday Night!

University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly, will be the guest conductor of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" this Sunday night -- during the seventh inning stretch of the Cubs vs. Cardinals game. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball crew (8 PM EST) - don't be surprised if Kelly does an interview with them during the game. He will be interviewed by WGN Radio during the sixth inning. If you get there early, you'll see Coach throwing out the ceremonial first pitch as well. Here's a link to Ozzy Osborne, leading the Cubs fans in this wonderful tradition - let's hope Coach Kelly sounds better than Ozzy!!!!

OZZY SINGS AT WRIGLEY

HERE'S THE VIDEO OF COACH KELLY'S DAY AT WRIGLEY

"Catholics vs. Convicts" -- A Renewal

The University of Miami's Athletic Director, Kirby Hocut, "let the cat out of the bag" yesterday when he announced that they had agreed to a three game series with the Fighting Irish. The schedule calls for a "neutral site" game at Chicago's Soldier Field in 2012 and then a game at Notre Dame in 2016 followed by a game at Miami in 2017. Notre Dame fans will recall that the series was not renewed in 1990 after bad blood between the schools (photo). To set the stage -- here's Rocket Ismail's classic story about his first Miami vs. Notre Dame game at Notre Dame Stadium:

STORY TIME WITH ROCKET ISMAIL

"Domer" Schedules Second Pro Fight

Top Rank Boxing announced this week that former three-time Notre Dame Bengal Bouts champion and 2009 Notre Dame grad -- Mike Lee, will be fighting his second professional bout on August 14th. Lee, who earned a win in his first pro fight -- a unanimous decision over Emmit Woods on May 29th -- will be taking on Keith Debow in a light-heavyweight bout at the Laredo Energy Center in Laredo, TX. Mike is currently in Houston training with Ronnie Shields. Shields is no slouch, he's worked with Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker -- to name just a few. Good Luck Mike!

TOP RANK BOXING WEBSITE

Desert to Dome -- Starts Saturday!

Dean Greg Crawford and his wife Renate's bike ride from Tucson to South Bend -- to "bring home" the relationship between the Ara Parseghian Medial Research Foundation and the University of Notre Dame -- begins Saturday, July 24th. Following them on their 2,200 mile journey is a "chase van" (pictured here in front of the Main Building) -- click on photo to enlarge. The ND GO IRISH BLOG will be following the Crawford's on their ride home to Notre Dame -- a ride that is expected to end on August 23rd. If you live along their route -- see the route on the linked site below -- be sure to say hello, honk a horn, YELL GO IRISH! -- even sign the chase van. And, if you're so moved, make a donation to this worthy cause. Safe travels!!!

DESERT TO DOME

The Home of the Most Heisman Trophies!

In light of USC's decision yesterday to return Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy -- leaving USC with six Heisman Trophies -- does that now mean that Notre Dame is the only school with seven Heisman Trophy "winners?" The Heisman Trust is rumored to be meeting next week to decide just that. At the very least -- Notre Dame is, once again, the only college campus in America where you'll find seven Heisman trophies! I'd like to believe that USC's actions make it that much easier for the Heisman Trust to follow suit and rescind Bush's Heisman Trophy. Makes you wonder now if Bush and his family feel that the home and the other perks they received, was worth it. Here's a link to the story concerning USC removing the trophy as well as a second story discussing the Heisman Trust's plans:

USC RETURNS HEISMAN TROPHY

HEISMAN TRUST TO MEET

Who Takes Haden's Spot in the Booth?

With the news yesterday that Pat Haden, NBC color analyst, will be named the next Athletic Director at USC -- effective August 3rd -- there is an opening in the Notre Dame telecast booth. It's going to be interesting to see who NBC will select for this position. I would like to see a "pro Notre Dame" voice sitting alongside Tom Hammond. My top choices: Joe Theismann, Rocket Ismail, Jerome Bettis or Steve Beurlein. Here's a link to an article that lists many more prospects for the position:

WHO IS NEXT?

"I'm Done With Coaching"

These were the words of one Tyrone Willingham, who was recently interviewed by a Jacksonville newspaper. Many thought that was the case after his second season with the Irish. The 56 year-old former Notre Dame Head Coach hasn't been seen much since his firing from Washington. Ty says he "is retired" -- I'm guessing he's just playing a little more golf these days! Here's a link to the article:

WILLINGHAM DONE WITH COACHING?

ND Priest Named Holy Cross Superior General!

The Rev. Richard V. Warner, a 1962 grad of Notre Dame, has been named the 12th superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Warner will lead the worldwide ministries of Holy Cross from its headquarters in Rome. He takes on these duties this week. Congratulations Father Warner! Here's a link to a photo and news release on this apointment:

REV. RICHARD V. WARNER