NBC was the WINNER Saturday!

NBC Sports is experiencing the excitement that Brian Kelly has brought to the Fighting Irish football program -- first hand. For the second week in a row -- TV ratings are up big time. The Michigan vs. Notre Dame game was the most watched Notre Dame football game in the past five-years and the most watched featuring these two teams in sixteen-years. It was the twelfth largest audience ever for a NBC telecast of a Notre Dame football game in their twenty-year history with the Irish -- and largest audience ever for two un-ranked opponents. 7 million viewers tuned in to the game -- and the two-game viewership average is the best in four years for Notre Dame football. Here are the five largest TV audiences ever for a NBC broadcast of Notre Dame vs. Michigan football game:

1: #6 Michigan 26, #3 Notre Dame 24 September 10, 1994 10.1 million
2: #3 Notre Dame 17, #6 Michigan 17 September 12, 1992 7.3 million
3: Michigan 28, Notre Dame 24 September 11, 2010 7.0 million
4: #22 Notre Dame 36, #5 Michigan 20 September 5, 1998 6.6 million
5: #20 Notre Dame 25, #7 Michigan 23 September 14, 2002 6.5 million

Pogo Back Flip Record Set on Regis & Kelly!

Former Notre Dame alum, Regis Philbin '53, hosted a Guiness Book of World Records attempt on his Regis & Kelly Show yesterday. It's "Record Breaker Week" as they've partnered with Guiness Book of World Records to break a record -- LIVE -- every day this week. On Monday's show a young man from Akron (Fred Grzybowski) set the world record for most consecutive back flips on a pogo stick! He did nine back flips -- breaking the old record of eight. I didn't know there was such a record -- but I do now! You've got to see this video:

LINK: WORLD RECORD!

Samardzjia: First Career Win as a Starter!

Jeff Samardzjia earned his first Major League victory as a starter -- pitching 5 2/3 innings of shut out baseball in the Cubs 5-1 victory over the Cardinals last night. The former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver struck out four -- and helped his own cause with an RBI single in the 2nd. The "Shark" was just brought up from the Iowa Cubs -- where he was 11-3 this season. Here's a link to the MLB site and some video of Jeff's big night:

LINK: SAMARDZJIA'S BIG NIGHT

Notre Dame Featured in Coke Zero Promotion

I've been approached on a number of occasions, since this blogged launched this past January, to sell advertising. Each time I've declined. That continues today -- the only reason I'm mentioning this promotion is because it involves our favorite school this week - the University of Notre Dame. Coke Zero is running a contest online (see link below) called the PLAYBOOK CHALLENGE and is giving away some great prizes. It's free -- and it's fun -- a good combination these days! Like any contest, you can't win if you don't play -- here's the link:

LINK: COKE ZERO'S PLAYBOOK CHALLENGE

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Is Manti Being Held?

This is a close-up of a photo (below) of Michigan's winning TD in the last minute of Saturday's game with the Irish. Is Teo being held by the collar, is it "hands to the face" or, is this just a great block? You be the Big Ten referee! Photo courtesy of Mike Doyle.

Samardzjia: Gets Cubs Start Tonight!

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver, Jeff Samardzjia, gets the start tonight for the Chicago Cubs in their game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Samardzjia was called up from the Iowa Cubs after going 11-3 for the Cubbies top minor league team this season. You can catch the action on WGN-TV or you can click on the link below and listen to the radio broadcast -- Samardzjia's first pitch is at 8:15 PM EST:

LINK: LISTEN TO THE SHARK'S START TONIGHT

Coach Kelly's Half Time Talk to Team

Jack Nolan sat down with Coach Kelly yesterday to talk about the Michigan game. I found Brian Kelly's quick and direct answer to what he said at halftime to his Irish quite enlightening. Here's the link:

LINK: COACH KELLY CONVERSATION

ND Receives $34.7 Million in Stimulus Money

The South Bend Tribune reported that the University of Notre Dame has received $34.7 million to date in federal stimulus money since May 2009 to fund 32 projects. Now to keep this in perspective; Purdue University has received $130.3 million and Indiana University $62.7 million. Here's the story:

LINK: ND STIMULUS MONEY

A Detroit Blogger's Reaction to Notre Dame

Found this blog post from the Detroit Free Press's Mark Snyder concerning Notre Dame Football's traditional "WALK" from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to the stadium. Click on link below:

LINK: NOTRE DAME TRADITIONS

Charlie's Chiefs on Monday Night Football

Former Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Charlie Weis '78 -- takes his offensive play calling to the NFL's biggest stage tonight as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Diego Chargers in the Monday Night Football game on ESPN. You can bet, the camera will be on Coach Weis often as he makes his return to the pro game. The Chiefs vs. Chargers game is the second game tonight on ESPN's Monday Night Football doubleheader with a 10:15 PM EST kick-off. The first game (Ravens vs. Jets) kicks off at 7:00 PM EST. Here's a link to a Q&A with Coach Weis last month:

LINK: Q&A WITH CHARLIE WEIS

New York Town Hires Notre Dame

The village of Skaneateles, NY (located in the Finger Lakes region) recently contracted with six University of Notre Dame graduate students and their professor to assist them in developing their master plan. The town's Comprehensive Plan Review Committee hired the Urban Design Studio students for $10,000 to assist them in planning their future. The Notre Dame students will be meeting with Skaneateles residents this week (September 14th - 16th) and will be presenting their completed work in December. Here's a link to the story:

LINK: NOTRE DAME COMES TO TOWN

Former NFL Great's "Twins" Are Irish!

Former Oakland Raider great, George Atkinson's twin sons; George III and Josh gave their verbal commitment to Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish this morning. George III is a top wide receiver / running back prospect and brother Josh is a defensive back. Dad, seen here in the photo with his boys, is a radio analyst for the Raiders these days. Here's a video of George III from his junior year:

LINK: IRISH COMMIT

Clausen's NFL Debut...

Former Notre Dame QB, Jimmy Clausen -- made his NFL debut today in the Carolina Panthers 31-18 loss to the New York Giants in the first "official" NFL game played in the Giants & Jets new $1.6 billion stadium. Clausen got into the game late -- when the Panthers starting QB, Mal Moore, was shaken up. Moore was taken to a New York hospital after the game for observation. Jimmy attempted two passes -- but neither was caught. Ironically, Clausen's NFL Passer Rating ended up higher than his teammate Moore's -- can someone please explain to me how you can have an NFL Passer Rating when you don't complete a pass? Here's a link to the statistics:

LINK: CLAUSEN'S NFL PASSER RATING

PHOTO OF THE DAY: A Little Wet @ ND!

It was a rainy day yesterday at Notre Dame. Thought this sign in South Quad was quite appropriate!

Replay: A Tough One to Watch...

We rolled into our driveway around 1:50 AM this morning -- the I-69 Exit off of the Indiana Toll Road isn't much fun after a Michigan or Michigan State game -- what a mess! Much like the first half and last three minutes of the game against Michigan yesterday -- not in any hurry to relive any of those moments! So, if you dare -- here's a link to NBC's replay of yesterday's game:

LINK: A DIFFICULT LOSS

It's Football Saturday @ Notre Dame!

Folks, we're about an hour away from leaving Motown for Notre Dame and our seats in Section 119 -- there will be sixteen of us Irish fans sitting in amongst the Michigan fans (God help us!). The nation will be watching to see if Notre Dame is on its way back -- FYI: WE ARE! For those of you who will rooting for the Irish from home -- here's a few options to get you ready for kick-off:

1. At 9 AM EST -- click on this link and listen to WSBT 960 AM's Notre Dame Football Show -- it goes all morning long - right up to kick-off!

2. At 11 AM EST -- click on this link and watch Notre Dame Stadium fill up and watch the Irish come out of the Student Section on to the field for pre-game warmups

3. At 2:30 PM EST -- click on this link and watch NBC's online pre-game show

4. And, at 3:41 PM EST -- kick-off of the Notre Dame vs. Michigan game on NBC or online

Go IRISH!!!

Replay: Pep Rally - Michigan Week

The Fighting Irish Football Team started Football Weekend with a trip to the Pep Rally at the Irish Green on the Notre Dame campus. The photo was taken from the cell phone of one Brian Smith #58 -- senior linebacker for the Irish. Here's a link to the Pep Rally -- Go Irish!

LINK: Pep Rally

You'll Enjoy This Access to the Irish!

I just got done watching this video just posted by the gang at www.und.com -- this might be their best effort yet! Coach Kelly truly gave them ALL ACCESS for his first game. This video takes you from their last practice on Friday afternoon to inside the Irish Locker Room after the game. CLICK ON THE TOTAL ACCESS VIDEO -- you'll like this!

LINK: IRISH ALL ACCESS -- THE FIRST GAME

Game Day Weather Forecast

Just took a look at AccuWeather's forecast for South Bend, IN tomorrow -- and it's not that bad! If you look at the "hourly" forecast, they're predicting no rain from 11 AM to 7 PM -- let's hope they're correct!!! Here's the link:

LINK: HOURLY WEATHER FORECAST -- IRISH vs. WOLVERINES

Lemming Talking ND Recruiting - Today!

College football recruiting expert, Tom Lemming, will be joining the boys at WSBT 906 AM's Weekday SportsBeat -- today from 5:00 PM EST to 6:00 PM EST -- as they broadcast from the Irish Green. Here's a link to listen to them live on the web:

LINK: TOM LEMMING ON WEEKDAY SPORTSBEAT