March Out -- 120th Football Season!

I find it one of the "coolest things to see and hear" at Notre Dame - and that's the first "March Out" of the season from The Band of the Fighting Irish! Yesterday morning -- at 9:30 AM -- more than 500 students marched through campus as part of the annual "tryouts" to make the University of Notre Dame's marching band. The sound that reverberates through campus - gives you goosebumps! Approximately 400 band members, plus the 10 members of the Irish Guard will have the honor of joining America's first college marching band -- The Band of the Fighting Irish -- as they celebrate their 165th year! A big thank you to the guys at GameDay ND -- for videotaping the band's march through campus to their practice field. Here's a link:

FIRST MARCH OUT -- AUGUST 19th 2010

The Painting of the Notre Dame Helmets

It's one of the best traditions in college sports, the painting of the University of Notre Dame football helmets. Every Monday night during the football season, you'll find a group of approximately 80 Notre Dame students inside Notre Dame Stadium, restoring the legendary gold helmets of the Fighting Irish -- it's quite a process! Annually voted the greatest helmet in college football -- just ask Urban Meyer, Florida's Head Coach, who admitted two seasons ago on national television that Notre Dame had the best helmets in college football -- the Notre Dame helmet carries actual 23.9-karat gold flakes from the Golden Dome that sits atop the University's Main Building. Ten times in the last 131 years, Notre Dame has removed and replaced the gold leaf on the Dome -- it's called "regilding." And, when they do -- they capture the gold they remove -- and it's mixed in with the paint used on the helmets. Please note: if you're looking at the pictures of football practice, these last few weeks, and the helmets don't look "Notre Dame Gold" -- they won't. Notre Dame only paints the "game day" helmets of each player. The Irish now have a helmet for practice and a helmet for games. That's why they now paint the helmets on Monday night, instead of the traditional Friday nights from previous seasons (remember the movie Rudy). I have to admit, I liked the painting of the helmets on Friday night, I thought it was a wonderful "primer" for Football Weekend at Notre Dame -- oh well! The link to the video below will tell you this story -- and you'll see the actual gold flakes from the Dome. When you do go to this link, you'll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the video. Enjoy!

REGILDING THE GOLD HELMETS OF NOTRE DAME

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Ara & the IRISH

Fomer Notre Dame Head Football Coach Ara Parseghian (now 87 years-young), was at practice today and spoke with the team. Parseghian one of the all-time greats, won two National Championships with the Irish and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of Irish Illustrated. To subscribe to Irish Illustrated, click on the link below:

IRISH ILLUSTRATED

Evan Sharpley: Everett AquaSox

Former Notre Dame QB, Evan Sharpley, is playing first base this season for the Everett AquaSox, a farm team in the Seattle Mariners organization. Evan is second on the team with 5 HR's and 34 RBI. Here's a link to a video interview of Sharpley on the AquaSox YouTube Channel:

MEET EVAN SHARPLEY

SEASON STATISTICS -- EVERETT AQUASOX

Samardzjia: 10-2 with Iowa Cubs

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver, Jeff Samardzjia won his most recent start for the Iowa Cubs earning his 10th win of the season. He allowed one "un-earned" run in his six inning stint. Here's a link to a story on the Shark's effort:

THE SHARK GETS HIS TENTH WIN

SEASON STATISTICS -- IOWA CUBS

ESPN's Five Things to Watch: Notre Dame

ESPN.COM college football writer, Brian Bennett, offered up five things to watch for with the Notre Dame football team this season. Here's the link -- along with two other stories that Bennett wrote on the Irish today at ESPN.COM:

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH

BUZZ SURROUNDS COACH KELLY

RUN GAME NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT

Desert to Dome: Almost Dome!

University of Notre Dame's Dean of the College of Science, Greg Crawford and his wife Renate -- are just four days away from home! They're currently pedaling through Illinois, on their way to Chicago for a couple of events this weekend. The Crawford's left Tucson, AZ on July 24th -- more than 2,000 miles ago. They'll arrive home to the University of Notre Dame's Main Building (THE GOLDEN DOME) on Monday!!! If you're on campus Monday -- get out and cheer them down Notre Dame Avenue! Here's a link to their blog and all of the wonderful stories about their journey:

DESERT TO DOME -- ALMOST DOME!

Notre Dame: ADHD Diagnosis Overused

From the late 1980s to the early 2000s, the rate of diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) soared 500 percent. Today 5 to 10 percent of all U.S. children between the ages of 6 and 18 have been diagnosed with ADHD. Research at the University of Notre Dame has concluded in many cases, diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in young children is wrong. Notre Dame economist William Evans (pictured), along with colleagues at North Carolina State University and the University of Minnesota, say approximately 1.1 million children from the late 1980s to the early part of this century could have been inappropriately diagnosed. Additionally, they say more than 800-thousand were given stimulant medication to address ADHD only because they were less mature than their peers. The researchers discovered that children who are “older for their grade” are less frequently diagnosed and treated for ADHD. Children born just after the cutoff date for enrollment and therefore relatively old for their grade had a significantly lower incidence of ADHD diagnosis and treatment than classmates born just before the cutoff and, therefore, young for their grade. All things being equal, such a disparity should not exist. The fact that it does suggests something other than the disorder is causing the increase in diagnosis. Full results of the research will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Health Economics. Here's a link to the release from the University of Notre Dame:

NOTRE DAME: ADHD MISDIAGNOSED

A Few Football Tickets Still Available

Ever wanted to attend a Notre Dame Football game? Here's your chance! I spoke with the Notre Dame Ticket Office this morning and learned that "single seat" tickets still remain for the Stanford and Pittsburgh games -- and tickets for the Western Michigan, Utah and Tulsa games are still available. Just call the Notre Dame Ticket office at 574.631.7356 -- tickets go for $70 each.

Notre Dame Footbal Media Day: The Day After

Here's a compendium of stories that were generated from Brian Kelly's first Media Day as Head Coach of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. As you'll see, he's won over the media -- now he needs to win some football games:



CHICAGO SUN TIMES ARTICLE

CHICAGO TRIBUNE ARTICLE

SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE ARTICLE

WNDU-TV COVERAGE

WSBT-TV COVERAGE

FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE ARTICLE

NBC's Notre Dame Web Portal

NBC calls it Notre Dame Central - it's their web portal to their coverage of Notre Dame football. On a Notre Dame Football Saturday you'll find live streaming content here that they don't run on the network broadcast. Here's a link to Notre Dame Central's story today about Michael Floyd along with a link to their video hub:

NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL - MICHAEL FLOYD STORY

NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL VIDEO HUB

The Notre Dame Book of Prayer

The Notre Dame Book of Prayer reflects the vibrant Catholic spirituality of Notre Dame and the sacred places on its beloved campus. It's an inspiring collection of prayers for every occasion. The book, published by Ave Maria Press, includes a forward from Notre Dame President Emeritus Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., and an afterward from University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. In addition to exclusive photos by University Photographer Matt Cashore ’04, the hardcover book includes 256 pages of traditional and contemporary prayers that reflect the rich heritage of the Catholic faith and the storied legacy of the University. In addition to traditional prayers from the Bible, the book includes personal essays and prayers written by University staff, faculty, alumni, students, and members of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The Notre Dame Book of Prayer is now available at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore and may be purchased online. Here's a link to the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore site:

HAMMES NOTRE DAME BOOKSTORE

Where Are They Now? -- Mike McCoy

Former Notre Dame All-American, Mike McCoy, personifies what it means to be a "Notre Dame Man." The defensive tackle out of Erie, PA's Cathedral High School was one of the all-time greats at his position for the Irish. As a senior, he was a consensus All-American, named UPI's Lineman Of The Year and he finished an unheard of sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting -- proving his dominance from the defensive tackle position. McCoy was drafted "second overall" by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1970 NFL Draft. He went on to an 11-year career in the NFL earning; All Pro honors, Packers Rookie of the Year, Packers Dodge NFL Man of the Year, Notre Dame Pro Player of the Year, etc. This December, The Charlotte Touchdown Club will honor Mike as the winner of the 2010 Bronko Nagurski ‘Legends’ Award, which recognizes the “best of the best” of defensive football players from the past 40 years. Yet, I'll bet he's most proud of what he's doing now with his life. Mike McCoy is President of Mike McCoy Ministries -- a ministry that works with school aged children in an effort to prevent suicides, fight drug addiction, curtail promiscuous behavior and assist them in making good life decisions. He's saving lives. McCoy travels to Catholic schools throughout the country and tells his own personal story about how alcohol consumption nearly took him down a path of construction at Notre Dame and early in his NFL career with the Packers. Last school-year, Mike spoke in 75 Catholic Schools in front of more than 10,000 students. This past February, McCoy began challenging students to commit to reading a chapter of Proverbs daily for two months. To date, almost two thousand students have accepted that challenge. Mike's upcoming travel schedule has him visiting schools in the following markets; Milwaukee, Houston, Detroit, Kansas City, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, etc. Mike McCoy is a Notre Dame Man. Please visit Mike's website to learn more about what he's doing for kids -- and how you can help his ministry. Here's a link:

MIKE MCCOY MINISTRIES

PHOTO OF THE DAY: MEDIA DAY AT ND!

Here's a picture courtesy of Twitter. The Chicago Tribune's Notre Dame beatwriter; Brian Hamilton -- just tweeted this photo -- of the 2010 Notre Dame Football team setting up for the team photo in Notre Dame Stadium.

First Look: Notre Dame's New Football Jersey

Here's a few photos just taken at Notre Dame's Media Day of Manti Teo in the Fighting Irish's new Adidas football jersey. Big changes in the look and what appears to be "comfort" (mesh material in the front and back) of the new Notre Dame Football jersey. It's definitely not the "authentic" game jersey being sold in the Notre Dame Bookstore.

Brian Kelly's Press Conference -- 11:30 AM EST

The video taken from Brian Kelly's Notre Dame Football Media Day Press Conference -- will be posted at 11:30 AM EST at www.und.com. Technical difficulties ruled the morning on the 5th floor of the Notre Dame Stadium PressBox -- not allowing for the planned live broadcast. Click on the link below for the "almost live" coverage at 11:30 AM EST:

BRIAN KELLY'S PRESS CONFERENCE

Technical Problems -- Delaying Broadcast

Just saw a "tweet" from www.und.com that they're experiencing "technical problems" with the live broadcast of Brian Kelly's press conference that started six minutes ago -- at Notre Dame. Keep checking their site -- I'm sure they're working like crazy trying to get this on. UPDATE: UND.COM JUST 'TWEETED' THAT THEY'LL HAVE THE PRESS CONFERENCE POSTED AT 11:30 AM EST -- AT THE LINK BELOW:

MEDIA DAY COVERAGE -- WWW.UND.COM

Notre Dame Ranked 19th in America

U.S. News & World Report just released its annual ranking (this morning) of the top colleges in America and the University of Notre Dame is ranked 19th. Here's a link to their 2011 ranking of the "Top-25" national universities:

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT'S RANKING OF BEST COLLEGES

Notre Dame Doctoral Students Win Big!

More than $1.5 million was awarded this season to Notre Dame doctoral students! Here's a link to the award winners:

EXTERNAL FELLOWSHIP WINNERS

New Award Announced: Paul Hornung Award

This morning at 11:00 AM EST -- the "watch list" for college football's newest award; the Paul Hornung Award, will be announced. The Paul Hornung Award is named after former Notre Dame 1956 Heisman Trophy Winner, Paul Hornung. The award will be given to the football player "who finds the most ways to help his team win this season." Hornung, known as "The Golden Boy," is one of the best "all around athletes" to ever play the game; he was a quarterback, running back, safety and place kicker throughout his Hall of Fame career. Voting for the first Paul Hornung Award winner will take place "after" the BCS Bowl Championship and will be awarded by one of Hornung's teammates with the Green Bay Packers; Bart Starr. Here's a link to a story about the Award and a second link to its official website:

PAUL HORNUNG AWARD

PAUL HORNUNG AWARD -- OFFICIAL WEBSITE