First Photo: Spartan Stadium

Via the magic of Twitter a Notre Dame fan by the Twitter handle of @eTruth_Irish just posted this photo of the Michigan State student section filing into Spartan Stadium nearly two hours before kick-off.

Bring Back the Shamrocks!

I completely forgot about the Shamrock that Notre Dame Football had on its pants (I LIKE!) during the Ty Willingham era. I do remember the Shamrock on the jersey. You just got to know that there's too much time before this football game if I'm thinking about football pants design! We still have more than five hours to kick-off!!!

The Color of Gold: ND Football Helmets

There's been plenty of discussion the past couple of years about the "color" of the Notre Dame football helmets. So, I thought I'd grab four photos of ND QB's over the past 35 years to see if you can see a discernable difference in the gold color of the Irish football helmets. What do you think? I didn't want to mention the jersey color or pants -- that's another conversation!

ND vs. MSU: Brown's Heisman Day!

In the 1987 Notre Dame vs. Michigan State game, Notre Dame's All-American receiver Tim Brown tied an NCAA record with "back to back" punt returns for touchdowns in the #9 ranked Irish's 31-8 win over the #17th ranked Spartans. It was a day many felt he won the Heisman Trophy. Here's a link to the punt returns:

LINK: AN ALL TIME GREAT

Irish Get Basketball & Baseball Recruit Today!

Word on the street is Patrick Connaughton, a 6'-5" shooting guard out of St. Johns Prep (Danvers, MA) committed to the Irish basketball program this morning! Scout has him ranked as a 4* recruit and number 75 overall in the country -- so, he's a good get for Notre Dame. Schools that also offered Connaughton include; UCLA, Florida, Wake Forest, Boston College, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Marquette and Florida State. As you'll see in the ESPN blog report, Connaughton will also play baseball for Notre Dame -- where new Irish baseball coach, Mike Aoki will look forward to his highly recruited, mid-90's fastball:

LINK: CONNAUGHTON COMMITS TO IRISH

LINK: ESPN: CONNAUGHTON COMMITS

PHOTO OF THE DAY: The Golden Dive!

It's one of the greatest photos ever taken inside Notre Dame Stadium. You just have to wonder what that MSU band member (face circled) was thinking as he's about to witness Notre Dame's Golden Tate's Superman dive -- up close and personal! You can click on the photo to enlarge.

'Never Again' -- One Last Look...

This past Saturday, Notre Dame freshman WR T.J. Jones became a YOUTUBE Legend. Thankfully, that's the only result he and the Irish football program had to deal with after he forgot to cross the goal line with the football. As of this morning, almost 800,000 people have already tuned in to this video. If Michigan had not scored at the end of the game -- this would have been talked about for years. Here's the link:

LINK: YOU CARRY THE BALL INTO THE END ZONE

Do They Like Each Other?

There's been some talk this week about the Head Coaches of both teams -- and their time at Cincinnati. You see, Michigan State's Head Coach Mark Dantonio was the Bearcats Head Coach prior to Brian Kelly rolling into town when Dantonio took the reigns of the Spartans football program. As we know, Kelly took the Cincinnati program to new heights -- is Dantonio resentful? YOU BE THE JUDGE. Here's the Lansing State Journal MSU beat writer's "Green & White" opinion on the matter as well as the South Bend Tribune's Al Lesar's and the Detroit Free Press's Shannon Shelton:

LINK: LANSING STATE JOURNAL

LINK: SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK: DETROIT FREE PRESS

The Megaphone Trophy? -- A Big Deal @ MSU

I must admit, I never knew -- or if I did -- I just plain forgot that there was a "rivalry trophy" that Notre Dame and Michigan State play for in football each year. It's called the Megaphone Trophy. (Seen here in the photo) I learned about it when I heard the MSU head coach and players talk about the importance of winning this trophy. I can honestly tell you I've never heard a Notre Dame player or coach talk about this trophy. And, I couldn't find a photo of a Notre Dame player carrying this trophy -- and I know I've never seen this trophy displayed at Notre Dame. So, the question of the day is this. Is the Megaphone Trophy a big deal -- if only one team is talking about it?

East Lansing Writers Take on ND

Here's a few links to some video, blogs and articles from some of the local "sports experts" in the East Lansing area -- specifically the local Michigan State beat writers -- with their take on the Notre Dame game. You'll also find a video to MSU's Coach Dantonio talking about the history of this rivalry:

LINK: LET'S TALK ND -- MSU BEAT WRITER'S BLOG

LINK: IF MSU HAD HIRED KELLY?

LINK: DANTONIO PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO

The Weather Now in East Lansing

If you're planning on tailgating today before the Notre Dame vs. Michigan State game -- bring your rain gear! Though it looks like rain will move out of the area -- for awhile. Does this now qualify me as a METEOROLOGIST? That sure wasn't that hard -- was it! The image above was a look at a live radar (8:45 AM EST) of the weather in the Lansing area. Here's the live link to the weather radar at TV-6 in Lansing - if you'd like to check the weather throughout the day:


LINK: STORM DOPPLER RADAR -- EAST LANSING

Irish's Arrival at Michigan State

Here's some video of the Irish getting off their buses at Spartans Stadium at 5:30 PM last night for their "walk-thru." The WNDU-TV crew caught up with Coach Kelly as well. The photo is of Dayne Crist, Irish QB, getting off their slick looking bus. Here's the link:

LINK: IRISH IN EAST LANSING

2002 ND vs. MSU: Irish Walk-On QB!

How soon we forget... Eight years ago, Notre Dame came to Spartan Stadium to take on MSU with Carlyle Holliday behind center. Unfortunately, Caryle gets hurt late in the third quarter and the Irish have to go to an "untested" (non-scholarship, walk-on) back-up named Pat Dillingham. Sound familiar? This time the 12th ranked Irish pull one out over the 22nd ranked Spartans in the final minute as Dillingham hooks up with former ND QB, Arnaz Battle -- you'll enjoy the bonus call of the winning touchdown by Tony Roberts! Here's the link:

LINK: DILLINGHAM'S DAY IN GOLD!

CBS Sports' Spencer Tillman's Preview

Found this video this morning of CBS Sports' Spencer Tillman giving his preview of today's Notre Dame vs. Michigan State football game. Tillman "likes to talk" -- but doesn't say much -- I'll just leave it at that. Here's his pick:

LINK: PREVIEW OF TODAY'S GAME

Game Time Weather Forecast: East Lansing

The latest weather forecast for tomorrow night calls for a chance of rain at kick-off, so dress accordingly if you're heading to East Lansing. Here's a link to AccuWeather's hourly forecast for the Fighting Irish's game tomorrow evening:


LINK: COULD BE A WET NIGHT IN EAST LANSING

ABC/ESPN2 Coverage Map for Game

Notre Dame's visit to Spartan Stadium will be televised nationally via a ABC/ESPN2 "tag team" tomorrow night at 8:00 PM EST. Some of the country will see the game on ABC HD and some of the country will see the game on ESPN2 HD. The coverage map is pictured above -- along with a link below, to that same map, so you'll know what channel to tune in at:

LINK: ND vs. MSU TV COVERAGE MAP

Preview: Irish vs. Spartans

The folks at www.und.com just posted their video preview of tomorrow night's Notre Dame vs. Michigan State football game. UND.COM's Jack Nolan and former Notre Dame All-American, Reggie Brooks host this segment.

LINK: IRISH vs. SPARTANS

My Never Ending Pasta Bowl -- Photo Contest!

Our friends at Olive Garden offered to send the ND GO IRISH BLOG a $15 gift certificate -- redeemable at anyone of their more than 700 restaurants across America & Canada -- if we were to agree to let Notre Dame fans know about their "My Never Ending Pasta Bowl" promotion that's going on in their restaurants until October 10th. (We're going to use the gift certificate in a ND GO IRISH BLOG contest -- once it arrives). Here's the details on the "My Never Ending Pasta Bowl" promotion:
Head into your local Olive Garden an ask for the "Never Ending Pasta Bowl" for $8.95. You'll get all of the pasta you could ever eat, along with your choice of 40+ pasta/sauce combinations. AND -- unlimited access to Olive Garden's garden salad or soup and breadsticks. I'm getting hungry just writing this!
In addition -- you can enter the "Olive Garden Never Ending Pasta Bowl" -- Photo Contest for a chance to win a $25 Olive Garden Gift Card. To enter the contest, bring your camera (or use your cell phone) and take a photo of your Never Ending Pasta Bowl Experience -- then visit the Olive Garden's Facebook page -- link below -- and click on the CONTEST tab and share your photo and story. FYI: The closest Olive Garden to the Notre Dame campus (this is according to the Olive Garden PR people) is located at 3003 Brittany Street in Elkhart. Go Eat, Go Enter and Go IRISH!

LINK: OLIVE GARDEN FACEBOOK PAGE

Notre Dame Football Tickets Still Available

Just got off the phone with the Notre Dame ticket office and learned that tickets are still available for the following games: Western Michigan & Tulsa (pairs together) and single tickets for the Pittsburgh and Utah games. To see the Irish play - call this number: 574.631.7356 to speak with the Notre Dame Ticket Office. If you've ever dreamed about seeing the Fighting Irish in Notre Dame Stadium - here's your chance! Tickets are $70 each.

LINK: NOTRE DAME STADIUM SEATING CHART

Kelly's Last Press Conference: MSU Week

Here's a link to Coach Kelly's press conference last night after practice -- his last time with the media before Saturday night's game against Michigan State. You'll hear some great news on the health of Defensive Line and Special Teams coach, Mike Elston -- and what Coach thinks about his Irish:

LINK: COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE