Jimmy Clausen is getting over the jitters of being in his first NFL Training Camp. The second round draft pick, out of Notre Dame, is currently running as the third string QB for the Carolina Panthers. Here's a link to an ESPN story on Clausen's first day -- as well as a link to a NFL site that's selling Clausen's new jersey:
The incoming freshman class at the University of Notre Dame (the Class of 2014) may well be its most accomplished in the classroom yet. Those who were admitted early were in the top 3.3% of their high school class, scored an average 1460 on the SAT (composite of the Math and Science scores) and had an average ACT score of 33.1. In addition, more than 400 Valedictorians who applied to Notre Dame were not accepted. Better keep studying and getting involved in extracurricular activities at your school and in your community!!! The photo (above) is of Katie Washington, the Valedictorian for Notre Dame's Class of 2010. Here's a link to an Observer article about Notre Dame's Class of 2014 along with a link to a site that claims to track admittance results for all Notre Dame students - including those on athletic scholarships:
It's been a couple of days since the University of Notre Dame's Dean of the College of Science, Greg Crawford and his wife Renate Crawford have posted an update on their blog -- they're probably quite tired! This photo shows the pair climbing a "hill" (in Michigan we call it a mountain), during their ride through New Mexico. A 25 mile climb from 4,600 ft. in elevation to nearly 9,000 ft. above sea level -- on their ride from Tucson, AZ to the Notre Dame campus. The Crawford's are "bringing home" the relationship between the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and the University of Notre Dame. I believe they're in western Texas by now - here's a link to their blog:
Former University of Notre Dame All-American, Golden Tate, stayed after practice the other day signing autographs for Seahawk fans. One "avid" fan asked Golden to sign his head (see photo).
This photo was taken this morning at the Grotto on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Five days earlier, a fire broke out inside the Grotto. As you can see, the small fire left its mark on the inside of the Grotto and burned away much of the ivy that draped the shrine. The University is still restricting access to the interior of the Grotto until it completes its inspection.
Well, you might want to reconsider after reading this. Notre Dame professor of Mathematics, Sergei Starchenko (pictured) has been asked to speak at the International Congress of Mathematicians. Just like the Olympic Games - this conference is held every four years and next month they will meet in Hyderabad, India -- under the auspices of the International Mathematical Union. Didn't know there was such a group! Starchecnko, along with his colleague Ya′acov Peterzil of the University of Haifa in Israel, will present their research on o-minimality, a model theoretic framework for tame geometry that they use to investigate properties of complex analytic sets. Now, do you think you want to take his math class at Notre Dame? Here's a link to the Conference's website -- just in case you were interested!
James Parsons and Dr. Carrie Quinn, a married couple and Notre Dame graduates -- made a very generous $5 million gift to their alma mater this week. Parsons earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Notre Dame and a master in business administration degree from Harvard University. He has been a portfolio manager for Viking Global Investors in New York since 2003. Quinn is a graduate of both Notre Dame and Tufts University Medical School. She completed her residency at Boston Children’s Hospital and now is a pediatrician in Forest Hills, N.Y. Parsons & Quinn's gift to the University of Notre Dame will endow a directorship in the University's Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases. Notre Dame is committed to finding a cure for rare diseases that typically carry a "death sentence" for those afflicted. A big THANK YOU to this Notre Dame family!!! Here's a link to a video that promotes Notre Dame's efforts in this area:
In six months, I've yet to make a prediction at THE NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG -- but, I'm going to this time. Joe Theismann will replace Pat Haden in the NBC booth this fall for Notre Dame Football. There you go! It makes all of the sense in the world. He's worked the biggest "weekly" professional stage in football television; 'Monday Night Football, he's an accomplished athlete; Super Bowl Champion, NFL MVP and he just happens to be a "DOMER" who had great success at his alma mater; College Football Hall of Famer, All American QB and Heisman Runner-up. I think that just might make him ready for the "biggest weekly stage in college football television; "NOTRE DAME SATURDAY." Notre Dame needs someone in the booth to tell "our story" -- we need an individual who's passionate about the Irish -- yet, is confident enough to call it like it is when things aren't going so well for the blue and gold. Joe Theismann is that guy. NBC are you listening? Here's a link to story this week from USA Today's "media expert" on what he believes NBC should do -- along with a link to Theismann's Wikipedia entry:
Jimmy Clausen, second round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers, is seen here walking from his car into a dorm at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC -- home of the Panthers pre-season training camp. Earlier in the day the former Irish star signed his first NFL contract.
Former Notre Dame All-American and Biletnikoff Award Winner, Golden Tate, agreed to terms this morning with the Seattle Seahawks on a four-year contract. Tate's deal, with incentives, can reach $3.26 million over the four year period. The contract includes a $1 million signing bonus -- and an additional $470,000 in guaranteed money for the former Irish star. Rookies report to training camp tomorrow for the Seahawks. Here's a link to the Seattle Seahawks blog below. Congratulations Golden!
Former Notre Dame quarterback, Jimmy Clausen agreed to terms, early this morning, with the Carolina Panthers. It's a four-year deal with incentives that could total $6.3 million. The contract includes a signing bonus of $2.5 million -- a good negotiation for Clausen who surprisingly dropped to the 48th pick of this year's NFL Draft. The great news for both parties is Clausen won't miss any days of the Panthers training camp -- which starts today. Here's a link to the ESPN video:
University of Notre Dame's Dean of the College of Science, Greg Crawford and his wife Renate are four days into their journey from Tucson, AZ to South Bend, IN -- bringing "home" the relationship between the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and Notre Dame. Their latest update-- came from Las Cruces, New Mexico -- as they wrote about their encounter with a german shepherd (must have been a USC fan!) and dinner with the Notre Dame Club of El Paso. Here's a picture of them taking a quick break from the bikes -- standing next to the chase van and the entrance to a "ghost town" in New Mexico. You'll enjoy keeping track of the Crawford's 2,200 mile journey on their blog -- here's the link:
Former Notre Dame All American Lacrosse player, D.J. Driscoll, scored a goal in the USA's 12-10 victory over Canada in the title game of the 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship in Manchester, England. Driscoll, a defenseman for Team USA is a 2006 graduate of Notre Dame and currently a member of the Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse. The victory was the seventh world title for the USA. Congratulations D.J.!
Danny Spond (pictured), out of Littleton, Colorado -- is a member of Brian Kelly's first recruiting class. Spond is on campus right now taking a few classes and working out with his teammates and Coach Longo. Irish Sports Daily's Christian McCollum penned this wonderful story about Danny and his journey to Notre Dame. After reading his story -- I believe he'll become one of your favorite players on the Notre Dame roster. It's a "free" story on this subscription site -- enjoy:
VegasInsider.com just released its annual "over/under" win totals for the upcoming football season. What this means is you can place a bet with them that a team will either win more (over) or less (under) than the number of wins they've set for the season. The Fighting Irish's number has been placed at 8 wins for the 2010 season. Here's a look at the over/under win totals for a few of Notre Dame's opponents this season -- and a link to the report:
One of the most visited landmarks on the University of Notre Dame campus -- the Grotto -- caught on fire last night. The last time this happened was in 1985. The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, was completed in 1896 as a replica of the original in Lourdes, France. Construction began in 1895 -- and it was during this period that this little known "miracle" happened: A Notre Dame Priest named Father Maguire nears the end of his letter of correction concerning the 1896 Grotto with this brief description of a little known event that occurred as the Grotto was nearing its completion. "The "spring" actually did appear and old Father Letourneau felt it was a miracle since it appeared almost at the same spot as the one at Lourdes. But wiser people closed it up so as to prevent wild rumors regarding it." This incident at the Notre Dame Grotto paralleled a similar occurrence that happened at the Grotto of Lourdes in France in 1858. When Bernadette scratched a hole in the dirt of the floor of the cave at Lourdes, a spring appeared. It became the origin of the Lourdes water that is still sent all over the world. See the link below titled "Dedication of the Grotto." The cause of the fire is under investigation -- and for now, the entrance into the Grotto is closed until University officials determine the extent of the damage. UPDATE TO ORIGINAL STORY: University of Notre Dame officials report that there were visitors praying at the Grotto when the fire broke out. The latest information is available at the link below to the Chicago Tribune story. The original WNDU-TV news story is also linked below:
The University of Notre Dame has again earned Honor Roll distinctions in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Great Colleges to Work For program. The Great Colleges program evaluates universities on the basis of a dozen criteria such as teaching environment, facilities, compensation and benefits, and the faculty and staffs’ sense of respect and appreciation. The program is three years old; Notre Dame has participated in the past two years, earning Honor Roll distinctions both years. The primary factor for awarding the Great Colleges designation is employee feedback on a survey about the workplace environment administered by the Great Colleges program partner, ModernThink L.L.C. The University of Notre Dame was just one of 39 schools to receive this honor. Click on the link below to see the list of schools. Congratulations Notre Dame!