Great Gains in Strength & Conditioning

Can you imagine nine months ago weighing 350 lbs. and being able to do 4 pull-ups -- and six months later you weigh 12 LBS MORE. and can now do 23 pull-ups! That's Notre Dame's Chris Stewart's story. Every single player on the Notre Dame Football team that went through winter and summer conditioning with Paul Longo (pictured) -- Notre Dame Football's Strength & Conditioning Coordinator -- lowered their body fat index, yet gained weight. Every single player improved their bench press and their vertical leap. In fact -- eight months ago, only 1 Notre Dame Football player could bench press 400 lbs. or squat 600 lbs. Now 9 can! Here's a link to a video of the workouts that began this past January with Coach Longo and his staff:

GETTING STRONGER AND FASTER

"The Right Man at the Right Time"

Found this article this morning written about Brian Kelly and how Notre Dame got it right -- hiring him as our football coach. Thought you'd enjoy this read:

NOTRE DAME GOT IT RIGHT THIS TIME

Ever Wanted to Live at Notre Dame?

Here's your chance. If you haven't been to campus in the past 12 months or so -- you're in for a big surprise. Eddy Street Commons, a real-estate development located immediately south of campus, is filling up with owners, tenants, businesses and PEOPLE. This photo is of the Champions Way City Homes which face the Notre Dame campus off of Angela Boulevard. 22 of these homes, priced at $400,000 or so -- have already been sold. Here's a story in the South Bend Tribune which updates the progress of this community -- along with a link to the development's website:

EDDY STREET COMMONS UPDATE

EDDY STREET COMMONS WEBSITE

Notre Dame's ACE -- Rolls Into Richmond

The University of Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) is sending four of its "teachers" into the Richmond (VA) Diocese this month. In its 16th year of serving Catholic education in America, ACE will place 180 young teachers, who are completing their masters of education degrees at Notre Dame, into Catholic dioceses across the nation. These teachers come from some 50 undergraduate schools, including Notre Dame, and commit to two years of service at primarily city and rural Catholic elementary and high schools. In addition, ACE has 48 students enrolled in the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, a master’s degree program that prepares aspiring leaders to be principals and superintendents for Catholic schools. The "brain-child" of Co-Founders; Fr. Tim Scully, C.S.C. and Fr. Sean McGraw, C.S.C., ACE is a great example of Notre Dame "giving back" to the Catholic Church in America. Here's a story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about ACE coming to town. There's a second link to the ACE website -- if you'd like to learn more about this wonderful program:

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FROM NOTRE DAME

NOTRE DAME'S ACE WEBSITE

Trevor Laws -- Impressive Early

NFL life hasn't been easy for former Notre Dame star, Trevor Laws. Trevor is in his third training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles after being drafted by Philadelphia in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Here's a nice story yesterday, about the favorable impression Laws is making early in camp - after "working his butt off" in the off season with the Eagles training staff:

TREVOR LAWS WILL HE BE AN EAGLE?

In Case You Missed It!

Here's a link to all of the press conferences (VIDEO) held yesterday at Notre Dame, "kicking-off" the 2010 Football Season. Enjoy!

2010 FALL CAMP KICK-OFF

Tim Brown Joins ESPN "3D" Network

Former Notre Dame All American and Heisman Trophy winner -- Tim Brown has joined ESPN. Brown will become an analyst for ESPN's "3D" telecasts of 13 football games this season, including the BCS Championship Game. ESPN launched a 3D Network in June -- with coverage of the June 11th World Cup Match between South Africa and Mexico. This network has been in the works for two years now, with the first football game "test" broadcast in 3D being the USC vs. Ohio State game this past season. ESPN has plans to broadcast 85 live sporting events in the next twelve months in 3D. So you'll want to check to see if your TV is 3D ready -- only 4% of the new TV's purchased in America in the past twelve months have this option. If it is, you'll need to buy some 3D glasses (they cost more than $100) and you'll need a 3D ready "top box" -- see link below for how to sign up for this network. If you don't have a 3D TV, ESPN has plans to broadcast some of these games in 3D movie theaters across the country. No word yet, if Notre Dame will be one of the team's on ESPN's schedule this year for 3D -- though I wouldn't be surprised if the USC game ends up in 3D. Brown's first game for ESPN's 3D network will be the September 6th matchup between Boise State and Virginia Tech.

ARE YOU 3D READY?

Wear the Lapel Pin Coach Kelly Wears!

Whenever you see Coach Kelly wearing a sport coat or suit coat -- you'll see him wearing his "official kelly green" Notre Dame lapel pin, made just for him. Now, you can get one too! All you have to do is make a $10, $15, $20 or more donation to the Coach Kelly Challenge. I did just that for several family members -- it's a great Notre Dame gift! Here's a link to how you can get this pin and join Coach Kelly in this challenge:

COACH KELLY CHALLENGE -- OFFICIAL LAPEL PIN

Replay of Coach Kelly on Weekday SportsBeat

In case you missed it, here's the replay of Coach Brian Kelly's interview last night with the boys from the WSBT 960 AM's Weekday SportsBeat radio show. One of the callers "Kevin from Holland" asking a question of Coach Kelly, is a regular visitor to the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG. Just click on the link:

COACH KELLY INTERVIEW

Notre Dame Football Starts Today!

If you're like me -- and I bet you are -- you can't wait for September 4th to get here. But, first things first -- our team needs to practice -- make that, go through MEDIA DAY. Today's annual Notre Dame Football Media Day begins at 11:30 AM EST with LIVE COVERAGE on www.und.com. Be sure to check in on all of the interviews. Here's the link below:

MEDIA DAY LIVE COVERAGE -- 11:30 AM EST -- TODAY!

Coach Kelly's Comments Today...

Coach Kelly just finished with the boys at Weekday SportsBeat - here's a few of his comments: "Every single player is healthy and ready to go tomorrow." "We've gone from 1 player to 9 players who can now benchpress 400 lbs." "We've gone from 1 player who could squat 600 lbs. to 9 players." "We showed a highlight video to our team prior to the Spring Game and I was surprised that a few of our players didn't know who Jerome Bettis was." "We're close to the limit of the number of scholarships we have left..." "We'll be announcing a few more exciting opponents in the next few weeks (when asked about the Texas announcement).

Irish Legends Tee It Up!

Ara Parseghian, Lou Hotlz, Johhny Lattner and Johhny Lujack were in Bridgman, MI for the Irish Legends golf event this week. Thanks to Kevin Sweeney for sending this to me! Here's the link:

IRISH LEGENDS GOLF EVENT

Listen to Brian Kelly Interview - Live Today!

University of Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, will be on the WSBT 960 AM Weekly SportsBeat show this afternoon. The show begins at 5:30 PM EST with Coach Kelly expected on the show til' 6:00 PM EST. Just click on the link below -- and then at the top left of their home page -- click on the LISTEN LIVE" button. Here's the link:

HEAR COACH KELLY -- LIVE -- ON THE RADIO TODAY AT 5:30 PM EST

Name Your Moment Promotion -- Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame just announced the opportunity to "Name Your Moment" at Purcell Pavillion -- the chance to put your name on a seat or on a plaque on the wall. The investment is $1,500 - here's a link to the video and promotion:

NAME YOUR MOMENT AT NOTRE DAME

Sports Illustrated Reporting: ND & Texas to Play!

Sports Illustrated is reporting that the Irish and Longhorns have agreed to a four game series beginning in 2015. The 2015 game will be at Notre Dame, followed by games at Texas in 2016 and 2019 and the fourth game in 2020 will be held at Notre Dame. So, no neutral site games.

ND Law Prof Comments on Judge's Ruling

Gerald Bradley, University of Notre Dame Law Professor -- wrote an opinion piece yesterday on the Federal Judge in California's ruling on Proposition 8, concerning same-sex marriage. Here's a link to the Notre Dame Prof's opinion piece -- along with his bio on the Notre Dame Law School site:



POSSIBLE BIAS?

GERALD BRADLEY - NOTRE DAME LAW

Zibby -- Pick Six @ Ravens Practice Today

Former University of Notre Dame safety, Tommy Zbikowski -- showed off his improving speed this morning, intercepting a Flaco pass and going 60 yards for a TD. Zibby worked with a new trainer this off-season and the hard work appears to be paying off. Here's a link to the story:

ZIBBY'S PICK SIX

Sam Young -- Surprising the Cowboys

Former Notre Dame offensive tackle and sixth round pick of the Dallas Cowboys, Sam Young -- is impressing his new coach. Here's an update on the Domer's first camp with the Cowboys:

SAM YOUNG SURPRISING SOME

Manti Teo's Mission

Here's a story in today's Chicago Tribune concerning Notre Dame football player; Manti Teo. Teo, the highly sought after recruit out of Hawaii, started a number of games for the Irish last season as a freshman. Much has been speculated about when Manti will take his Mormon mission. Here are his thoughts, and his family's -- on this very subject:

MANTI'S MISSION

Desert to Dome -- 1,000 Mile Mark Today!

Dean Greg Crawford and his wife Renate will pedal past the 1,000 mile mark today on their way home to Notre Dame! The 2,200 mile journey began July 24th in Tucson, AZ -- at the steps of the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation -- and will end on August 23rd at the steps of the Golden Dome! You can follow their journey thru TEXAS at the link below:

DESERT TO DOME -- ALMOST HALF WAY HOME!