Students Only Pep Rally Tonight at 8 PM EST

The Stepan Center will be rockin' tonight!  The Notre Dame student body will be hosting their own "student only" Pep Rally tonight for the Fighting Irish football team at the Stepan Center.  The doors will open at 6:30 PM and the rally is expected to start at 8 PM.  Go Irish!

Brian Kelly Radio Show -- 7 PM EST TONIGHT!

It's Thursday and that means the Brian Kelly Radio Show will be coming live to you from Legends of Notre Dame.  The show will air from 7 PM EST to 8 PM EST -- and here's where you can watch it or listen to it online:


LINK:  WATCH COACH KELLY'S SHOW ONLINE

LINK:  LISTEN TO COACH KELLY'S SHOW ONLINE

Coach Kelly Going Home...

He was the starting middle linebacker for the Assumption College Greyhounds (photo of Assumption's campus) -- twenty-seven years later -- he's grown up to be the Head Football Coach at the University of Notre Dame.  That's our Coach Kelly, and when he takes his team to Boston College tomorrow for Saturday's game -- he'll be heading home.  Here's a story from today's Worcester Telegram -- about Brian Kelly's return to where he grew up along with a link to the Assumption College website:

LINK:  HE'S AN ASSUMPTION GREYHOUND

LINK:  ASSUMPTION COLLEGE WEBSITE

WSJ Ranks Notre Dame's EMBA Program #6

The Wall Street Journal just released their 2010 rankings of the top Executive MBA programs in the country and the University of Notre Dame's was ranked 6th!  What I found most interesting is the "investment" to get an EMBA these days.  Believe it or not, Notre Dame's total program cost (per student) of $88,000 -- was the second lowest of the schools ranked in the top 10 in the Wall Street Journal's rankings.  Only the #10 ranked University of North Carolina's EMBA program was lower at $87,000. The Wall Street Journal didn't even rank Notre Dame's EMBA program among the top-25 in the country in their 2008 rankings -- another "feather in the cap" of the Mendoza College of Business!  The photo is of Notre Dame EMBA students on a trip to Beijing.  Here's the link to the rankings:

LINK:  THE TOP EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAMS IN AMERICA

Scout Ranks ND Recruiting Class #2

ESPN's Scout recruiting service just released it's updated recruiting rankings and they've moved Notre Dame up to #2 in the country.  In the past week, the Irish have picked up one of the top DE's in the country (Stephon Tuitt - #74 in picture) and one of the top WR's in the country (Davaris Daniels).  Here's a link to Scout's rankings:

LINK:  IRISH HAVE THE #2 RANKED RECRUITING CLASS

Weather Forecast for Boston College Game

Here's the weather forecast for the Boston area -- looks like the rain will be gone before game time Saturday night.  Here's a link to live National Weather Service Radar for the Boston area:


LINK:  LIVE BOSTON WEATHER RADAR

ABC-TV Coverage Map: ND vs. BC

ESPN on ABC just released it's coverage map for Notre Dame's game against Boston College this Saturday night on ABC.  Game starts at 8 PM EST.  As you can see, only about half of the country (households) will see the Irish play on ABC.  Just click on the map to enlarge.

Notre Dame's "SUPERMAN" Silk Worms

The University of Notre Dame and Kraig Biocraft Laboratories (Lansing, MI) made a major announcement in the past hour.  Tiny, genetically altered silkworms in a laboratory at the University of Notre Dame are spinning a novel thread of artificially created spider silk.  The resulting thread is twice as strong as natural silkworm silk and 10 times as strong as steel.  The thread has a host of possible commercial applications in surgery, healing bandages, ligament repair, bulletproof vests, athletic clothing, improved automobile airbags, etc.  "We've succeeded in genetically engineering silkworms so they produce spider webs," boasted Malcolm J. Fraser Jr., a University of Notre Dame Biological Sciences Professor -- who led the research on this project along with researchers from Kraig Biocraft Laboratories and the University of Wyoming.  Here's a link to Notre Dame's news release along with a video of Professor Fraser talking about their discovery.  I must admit I never thought I would be writing about "silk worms" on my blog -- but it's pretty exciting news coming out of Notre Dame today!  Maybe we'll see a GOLD HELMET, manufactured from this material, on our football team some day!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S "SUPERMAN" SILK WORMS

Former Irish Kicker -- Back in NFL @ 46!

John Carney, who played for Notre Dame from 1984 to 1986 -- was signed by the Super Bowl Champion, New Orleans Saints yesterday to shore up their field goal kicking.  Carney, the third leading scorer in NFL history with 2,044 points, is 46 years young!  He's a two-time Pro Bowl kicker who was named by Sports Illustrated to Notre Dame's All-Time team.  Last season, Carney went over the 300 game mark in his career, becoming only the sixth player in NFL history to do so.  Here's a link to a story on Carney's signing.  Good Luck John!

LINK:  CARNEY BACK WITH SAINTS

Irish Golfer Smashes Scoring Record!

University of Notre Dame freshman, Nicole Zhang (Calgary, Canada) let the college golf world know that she'll be a force to be reckoned with as she wins the Mary Fossum Invitational at Michigan State University with a tournament record score!  Zhang, playing in her first college tournament, shot 69-67-71 on the par-72 course -- to finish NINE UNDER PAR.  Her 207 was the only score under par -- winning the tournament by nine strokes -- and leading the Irish to their first team win at this tournament in 16 tries.  Zhang's three day total broke the previous tournament record by seven shots!

Muffet Gets Top 100 Commit Last Night!

Madison Cable, a senior guard at Mt. Lebanon High School (Pittsburgh area) informed Notre Dame Women's Basketball Coach Muffet McGraw that she was committing to the Irish!  The 5'-11" Cable is ranked the #57 overall prospect in the country and will bring some length to the Notre Dame backcourt.  She led her high school team to their second straight State Championship last season scoring 30 in the final game.  Madison was on campus this past weekend for her official visit.  Here is a link to a story on Cable's commitment -- and a link to a story about her performance in last year's State Championship game:


LINK:  TOP 100 RECRUIT COMMITS TO IRISH

LINK:  CABLE SCORES 30 IN STATE FINAL

Rivals Ranks Notre Dame Recruiting Class #3

The commitment last night of wide receiver Davaris Daniels (pictured) to Brian Kelly's first full recruiting class has vaulted Notre Dame's incoming recruiting class to #3 in the country -- according to Rivals.  Daniels, the son of Washington Redskins DE Phillip Daniels (who's currently in his 15th season in the NFL), hails from Vernon Hills High School (Chicago suburbs) -- where he's ranked the #2 overall prospect in Illinois.  Here's the most current Rivals Top Ten College Football Recruiting Rankings -- along with a link below to their website:
#1:  Texas
#2:  Alabama
#3:  Notre Dame
#4:  LSU
#5:  Florida State
#6:  Oklahoma
#7:  Ohio State
#8:  Stanford
#9:  Florida
#10:  Mississippi

LINK:  RIVALS TOP TWENTY RECRUITING CLASSES

Learning a Teammate Took His Own Life...

The University of Notre Dame launched a wonderful website in 2007 called PRAY ND -- if you haven't had the chance to visit this site, you should.  Each day, the site will post a prayer for the day -- it's a wonderful way to start your day.  Last week, former Notre Dame QB, Brady Quinn '07, was asked to offer up a reflection on Living the Gospel Every Day.  While thinking about what to write -- Quinn learned one of his Bronco teammates (Kenny McKinley) allegedly committed suicide.  Here's a link to what Brady offered up to PRAY ND in reaction to McKinley's death: "Life is but a Breath"

LINK:  BRADY QUINN'S REFLECTION

LINK:  PRAY ND WEBSITE

Domers on NBA Training Camp Rosters

Just did a lap around the NBA to see where our former Notre Dame basketball stars are playing these days.  Today is the NBA's first official day of Training Camp for the 2010-2011 season -- and here's where your favorite Irish players are competing to stay or, earn a spot on an NBA roster.  Click on the player's name and you'll be directed to a recent story or bio:

-Luke Harangody - Boston Celtics
-Matt Carroll - Charlotte Bobcats
-Tory Jackson - Milwaukee Bucks (Free Agent Tryout)
-Troy Murphy - New Jersey Nets
-Chris Quinn - Philadelphia 76ers (Free Agent Tryout)

COACHES / FRONT OFFICE / TV-RADIO TEAM
-Monty Williams, Head Coach - New Orleans Hornets
-Adrian Dantley, Assistant Coach - Denver Nuggets
-Bill Laimbeer, Assistant Coach - Minnesota Timberwolves
-Kelly Tripucka, TV Analyst - New York Knicks
-Austin Carr, TV Analyst - Cleveland Cavaliers
-Tim Kempton, Radio Analyst - Phoenix Suns
-John Paxson, Executive VP - Chicago Bulls

LINK:  DATABASE OF ALL-TIME NOTRE DAME PLAYERS IN NBA

Where Are They Now? -- Alan Page

He's probably best known as #88 with the "Purple People Eaters" -- a Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings.  Or, as a dominant defensive end for the Fighting Irish's 1966 National Championship team -- which earned him College Football Hall of Fame honors.  But these days -- he's known as the "bow-tie" wearing Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.  Alan Page is a 1967 graduate of the University of Notre Dame who played 15 years in the NFL.  His football career is legendary -- yet, it's what he's done with his life after football that is what he's immensely proud of.  Page earned his law-degree during the off-seasons while playing with the Vikings.  He became a lawyer after his NFL days were over and moved up through the ranks as an Attorney General in Minnesota and on to their Supreme Court.  He's also probably the only Pro Football Hall of Famer who's run a marathon!  These days -- when he's not making law decisions on the Supreme Court -- Alan and his wife Diane oversee the Page Education Foundation, which they started in 1988.  To date, they've awarded grants to more than 4,100 students who in turn have given more than 300,000 hours to younger students.  When he retires from the Supreme Court, Page intends to become a public school teacher.  To say Alan Page is unique -- would be an understatement!  Here's a link to the Page Education Foundation website along with a 2008 interview with Justice Page:

LINK:  PAGE EDUCATION FOUNDATION

LINK:  JUSTICE PAGE INTERVIEW

The Notre Dame Pep Rally

It's one of the "must see" events for Notre Dame fans who make it to campus by 6 PM EST on Friday of a Football Weekend.  This is a video of this past Friday's Pep Rally which ESPN's Dick Vitale was the guest speaker.  Here's the link:

LINK:  THE NOTRE DAME PEP RALLY

Notre Dame's Quarterback Luncheon

Every Friday, on a home football weekend, the University of Notre Dame hosts a luncheon in the north dome of the Joyce Center.  It's typically a gathering of about 1,500 Notre Dame fans who are treated to lunch and a visit from the Head Football Coach, a current player, a former player, etc., in a set-up much like the Tonight Show.  Here's a link to a video I took from this past Friday's QB Luncheon:

LINK:  THE NOTRE DAME QUARTERBACK LUNCHEON

Team's Arrival to Notre Dame Campus

In all of my years of going to Notre Dame Football games this was a first for me -- watching the team's motorcade to the circle behind the Main Building (Golden Dome), see them depart from their buses, then assemble and walk to the Basilica.  Here's a video of their arrival to campus -- along with their traditional walk after Mass from the Basilica to Notre Dame Stadium:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL TEAM'S ARRIVAL

Coach Weis Had Emergency Surgery Today

Former Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Charlie Weis '78 - was taken to a Kansas City Hospital after the Chief's third straight win yesterday.  Chief's Head Coach Todd Haley released a statement that the issue is "not life threatening."  ESPN is reporting he had emergency Gall Bladder surgery -- and Weis's agent just confirmed that Coach Weis was diagnosed with the infection on Friday and chose to wait until after the game -- and did have surgery this morning.  Say some prayers for Coach Weis.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  COACH WEIS SURGERY

Legendary Hollywood Columnist (ND Student)

Legendary Hollywood reporter and former Notre Dame student, Jim Bacon passed away September 19th at the age of 96.  Bacon's colorful career was the subject of a 1999 E! True Hollywood Story -- as he was quite a Hollywood character.  During his 75-year career as a newspaperman, columnist and author, Bacon was a confidant of Marilyn Monroe, hung out with John Wayne, knocked back drinks with Frank Sinatra (photo of Bacon and Sinatra) and the Rat Pack, traded cigars with Winston Churchill and met eight U.S. presidents.  He spent 23 years with AP, followed by 18 years at the Herald Examiner. Most recently, he wrote a weekly column, recalling memories from Hollywood’s glory days, for Beverly Hills 213, where his last column appeared June 6.  He also authored three best-selling books: “Hollywood Is a Four Letter Town,” “Made in Hollywood” and Jackie Gleason’s autobiography “How Sweet It Is,” which he co-authored.  Bacon belonged to an era when hard-drinking columnists mixed freely with Hollywood royalty.  In “Four Letter Town,” he claimed an affair with Marilyn Monroe.  Pretending to be the coroner, he made his way through a police barricade to get Lana Turner’s first-hand account of the fatal stabbing of her lover Johnny Stompanato by her daughter Cheryl Crane.  He accompanied Elizabeth Taylor’s physician to her home to break the news of the death of her third husband, Mike Todd, in a plane crash.  Bacon also broke the story of John Wayne’s cancer, and he was the first to debunk Clifford Irving’s hoax, “The Autobiography of Howard Hughes.”

LINK:  JIM BACON'S OBIT