Former Notre Dame offensive tackle, Sam Young -- is running with the "first team" these days with the Dallas Cowboys. The sixth round draft pick is replacing Marc Colombo who's knee injury looks like it will require surgery. It's going to be interesting to see if Sam can hold on to the job until Colombo comes back. Here's a link to the story:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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:
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:
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!
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: