Looking for Notre Dame vs. Purdue Tickets?

I took a stroll through StubHub.com this morning to see what the ticket prices were for the Purdue game -- Saturday, September 4th. Well, prices ranged from $115 per ticket to $5,000 per ticket -- yeah, that's right! The guys selling upper level endzone tickets for this much "really don't want to sell their tickets" -- but, just might for $5,000 a piece. I've purchased Yankees tickets over the years with StubHub and have always had a good experience. Here's a link to available tickets for the Purdue game:

STUBHUB -- NOTRE DAME vs. PURDUE TICKETS

Promoting Notre Dame's Olympic Sports

Found this video promoting the University of Notre Dame's efforts in marketing their "Olympic" sports -- though it appears more like a spot promoting the company that's given the Irish a good deal. Maybe that's the "payback?" Here's the link:

PROMOTING NOTRE DAME SPORTS

Where Are They Now? -- Tom Clements

The "more experienced" visitors to the NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG will remember Tom Clements famous pass to Robin Weber out of his endzone to seal the victory for the Irish over Alabama (and Bear Bryant) in the 1973 Sugar Bowl - and Ara's last National Championship! Before earning All-American honors and finishing fourth in the Hesiman Trophy voting his senior year - Clements chose a Notre Dame football scholarship over a North Carolina basketball scholarship -- and Irish fans are glad he did! These days, Clements roams the sidelines of the Green Bay Packers as their QB Coach -- a role he's had for the past five years in Green Bay. Clements had a "cup of coffee" as a QB in the NFL -- a third stringer in 1980 for the Kansas City Chiefs -- but he tore it up in the Canadian Football League. Tom was drafted by the Ottawa Rough Riders out of Notre Dame and he was named Rookie of the Year in his inaugural season. He went on to play 13 seasons in the CFL, leading the Rough Riders to their last Grey Cup Championship (the CFL's Super Bowl) and being named one of the "50 All Time Greats" in the modern-era of the Canadian Football League. Clements returned to Notre Dame "a couple of times" since his graduation -- the first time was in the "off-seasons" during his CFL days when he attended Notre Dame Law School. He earned his Law degree from Notre Dame in 1986, graduating magna cum laude. Clements was a practicing attorney for five years after retiring from the CFL -- but, Lou Holtz changed that when he hired Tom as his QB coach in 1992. Tom coached at Notre Dame until 1995 -- after which he went back to practicing law for a year or so, before joining the New Orleans Saints in 1997 as their QB coach. Since then, Clements has coached for the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and now the Packers. Here's a video clip of Clements pass to Weber in the Sugar Bowl and a second video of highlights from the National Championship game -- A MUST SEE -- you'll hear the infamous voice of Howard Cosell calling the action -- I forgot he worked college football games:

CLEMENTS TO WEBER

HIGHLIGHTS OF 1973 SUGAR BOWL

Off Topic: PGA's Two Stroke Penalty

If you were watching the PGA Championship, from Whistling Straits, in the past hour -- you were witness to one of the most difficult rulings in major championship history. Dustin Johnson was leading the PGA Championship on the 18th tee. His tee shot was "blocked" way to the right into the gallery. His ball ended up on "sandy, flat" lie in a sea of people (photo of where his ball ended up in the gallery). His third shot went left of the pin into what I'll call a shaggy ditch. Remarkably, Johnson hit a great pitch shot to about eight feet from the pin. All he has to do is make the putt and he's won the PGA Championship. Well, he misses the putt -- putting him into a three man playoff -- so he thinks and we all think. Unfortunately, a PGA Rules Official was waiting for Johnson at the side of the green -- asking him if he "grounded his club in the bunker back there?" Dustin didn't know he was in a trap, nor did any of the "talking heads at CBS." History now knows that he was in a bunker and he did ground his club -- a two stroke penalty. Which, took him from tied for first and into a playoff -- to a tie for fifth place and a long ride home. What a shame. Can you imagine if he had made the putt -- thinking he had won a Major Championship!!!??? The PGA of America needs to review the rules concerning bunkers at Whistling Straits for future tournaments. My belief is if you allow spectators to stand and walk through bunkers -- which they did all week -- the players should be allowed to ground their clubs in them. When have you ever seen a PGA tour player hit a shot from a bunker full of spectators? Think about it... Here's an interview with Dustin Johnson and Mark Wilson -- the PGA Rules Official who made the call:

PGA'S TWO STROKE PENALTY

A Look at the ND Depth Chart

South Bend Tribune Notre Dame Football beatwriter, Eric Hansen, took a look at the depth chart at each position after yesterday's first scrimmage of fall camp. Coach Kelly was quite enthusiastic after yesterday's practice -- giving plenty to hope about for Notre Dame fans! Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

NOTRE DAME -- TALENTED DEPTH

Manti's Notre Dame Mission

University of Notre Dame linebacker, Manti Teo, spent this past Sunday with a writer from the Chicago Tribune -- the result is an article that provides unique insight to how this young man operates. He's a special talent -- on and off the field. Click on the link below:

MANTI TEO -- CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

Coach Kelly Media Session: After Practice

University of Notre Dame Football Coach, Brian Kelly, spent six minutes yesterday taking questions from the assembled media. Topics; health of Mike Ragone, status of EJ Banks, QB depth chart, practicing in the heat and Steve Filer's "skateboarding." Click on the link below and scroll to the right side of the page and click on Coach Kelly August 13th:

COACH KELLY MEDIA SESSION

Irish Basketball to Play in Hoosier Classic!

A press conference is scheduled for this Monday in Indianapolis, where it's expected that the University of Notre Dame, Indiana University, Purdue University and Butler University will announce they're going to play a doubleheader at Conseco Fieldhouse this season. Rumor has it that the four coaches will be at the event, and there will be a "blind draw" to determine who plays who to determine college basketball supremacy in the Hoosier state! Though I don't suspect an Indiana vs. Purdue matchup is feasible (?) since they're probably already on each others Big Ten schedule. Here are links to the websites of each of these college basketball programs:

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME BASKETBALL

BUTLER UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL

INDIANA UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL

PURDUE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL

ND Student Wins Princess Grace Award

University of Notre Dame student, Javi Zubizarreta, a Film, Television and Theatre major -- won the 2010 Princess Grace Award from the Princess Grace Foundation (PGF). And, he also won the Cary Grant Film Award from the PGF - which is only awarded to one filmmaker each year. Zubizarreta will receive the awards in New York City in November at the annual black-tie Princess Grace Awards Gala. Javi (Boise, ID) will be a senior this fall at Notre Dame and he's the only underclassmen student of the six filmmakers receiving awards this year. Zubizarreta intends to use the grant he receives from PGF to produce a "soulful" film about an old and young Basque shepherd. Javi is a third-generation Basque-American (Basque is a region of northern Spain). Congratulations Javi! Here's a link to the Princess Grace Foundation website and their announcement of the award winners:

PRINCESS GRACE FOUNDATION -- 2010 AWARD WINNERS

Zibby and Sergio - Big Plays Last Night!

Former Notre Dame Safety's; Tommy Zbikowski and Sergio Brown, both made big plays in their teams' respective NFL pre-season openers last night. Zibby forced a Carolina fumble / turnover on his huge hit on QB Matt Moore and Sergio sealed the Patriots win over the Super Bowl Champion Saints with his own huge hit on a receiver that ended up in an interception. Zbikowski also had a nice punt return in the first half. Here's a couple video replays of Zibby and Sergio's big plays last night:

ZIBBY'S HIT ON MATT MOORE

SERGIO'S HIT ON SAINTS RECEIVER

More Interviews of Irish Football Players

Blue & Gold Illustrated has a "SEVEN DAY FREE TRIAL" going on right now and during that time, they're making some of their interviews of Notre Dame Football coaches and players available for free. Here's a link to interviews of; Coach Martin, Prince Shembo, Jamoris Slaughter, Danny McCarthy, Danny Spond and Darrin Walls. Just click on the link below:

BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED INTERVIEWS

IRISH IDOL -- A Dad and His Daughter

From time to time, THE NOTRE DAME GO IRISH BLOG searches the world to find the best performers of the Greatest College Fight Song in the land: The Notre Dame Victory March. We found this video that was taken 16 years ago -- of then 3 year-old Stephanie -- who will be beginning her sophomore year at Notre Dame in a few weeks. As you can see, Stephanie Wesley (we believe that's her last name) didn't have many options when it came to picking a college! FYI: She does sing the song late in the video! Enjoy:

THREE YEAR-OLD SINGING VICTORY MARCH

Favorable Reviews: Clausen's First NFL Game

Former Notre Dame QB, Jimmy Clausen, got his "feet wet" and pretty much everything else wet in his NFL debut last night against the Baltimore Ravens. The skies opened up and it rained like crazy for most of the second half in the Carolina Panthers 17 - 12 loss. Clausen, as planned, came into the game in the second quarter and led the Panthers on five offensive series in the second and third quarters. Jimmy can claim that he led his team on a scoring drive in his first time behind center in an NFL game. On his first drive he completed 4 of 6 passes and the Panthers made a field goal. For the game, he completed 8 passes in 15 attempts with one interception after his receiver fell down making a cut in the rain. ESPN analysts' Ron Jaworski and John Gruden were extremely complimentary of Clausen's play as have been most of the media reports after the game. Here's a few links to what's being said about Clausen's debut:

ESPN BLOG ON CLAUSEN

BLEACHER REPORT ON CLAUSEN

FOOTBALL NEWS ON CLAUSEN

PANTHERS BLOG ON CLAUSEN

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER ON CLAUSEN

Notre Dame Player Interviews

Mike Frank and the gang at Irish Sports Daily have been kind enough to make some of their interviews of Notre Dame Football players and coaches available to "non-subscribers" to their site. Here's links to interviews with Darrin Walls and Danny Spond:

DARRIN WALLS

DANNY SPOND

PHOTO OF THE DAY -- Golden Tate's Catch

Former Notre Dame All-American, Golden Tate, is doing his thing now for the Seattle Seahawks. Here's a picture, from a recent practice, where Tate makes one of his patented "one handed" grabs. Just watch, he's going to have a big year for the Seahawks.

Notre Dame Ranked 33rd in Forbes List

Forbes Magazine came out this morning with its third annual ranking of the Best Colleges in America. They say it's a ranking "from the student's perspective." Well -- I'm going to challenge their ranking of the University of Notre Dame! I WANT A RECOUNT! Forbes ranks Notre Dame as the 33rd best out of 610 colleges in the U.S. Here's a link to the article and the list of the rankings of all 610 schools:

FORBES: BEST COLLEGES IN AMERICA

Lou Holtz -- "Talkin" Notre Dame Football

Former Notre Dame coaching great, Lou Holtz, granted an interview with the South Bend Tribune this week to talk about a subject he's very fond of: Notre Dame Football. Coach is as bullish as ever about the Irish -- and his ESPN on screen partner; Mark May -- is giving the Domers some love as well. I wonder how long that will last! Anyway, Lou believes Notre Dame will be favored in every game they play this year! It's a wonderful article, touching on a number of subjects -- click on the link below:

LOU'S LOVIN' THE IRISH

Reminder: Clausen Plays Tonight on ESPN

It's his NFL debut! The Carolina Panthers have traveled to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in their first pre-season game. The Panthers' 'beatwriters' are predicting that Clausen will be the "SECOND" QB in the game -- meaning he'll probably hit the field "late in the first quarter" or at the start of the second quarter. The game starts at 8 PM EST on ESPN. Be sure to tune in -- and, don't forget he now wears #2!


GAME PREVIEW: PANTHERS vs. RAVENS

Desert to Dome -- They're in Missouri!

The University of Notre Dame's Dean of the College of Science, Greg Crawford and his wife Renate, are less than 700 miles from Notre Dame! The 2,200 mile bike ride from the "desert" (Tucson, AZ) to the "dome" (Notre Dame, IN) is now in Missouri -- and only 12 days from their scheduled arrival to Notre Dame! Here's a link to their daily blog post:

DESERT TO DOME -- IN MISSOURI!

Clausen Makes NFL Debut Tomorrow!

ESPN is currently running a promotion of its first "Thursday Night NFL Game" and it stars former ND QB, Jimmy Clausen. The "tune in" promo is selling "Jimmy Clausen's first NFL game." I guess ESPN forgot that Notre Dame is still irrelevant and Clausen is the Panthers third string QB. Anyway, you can see Clausen throw his first NFL touchdown pass tomorrow night at 8:00 PM EST on ESPN. The Carolina Panthers are traveling to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. Here's a link to a story about Clausen's first game and a second story on how he's fitting in with the team:

CLAUSEN'S NFL DEBUT

STORY TODAY IN THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER