Notre Dame Alum Tops iTunes Charts!

 


University of Notre Dame Alum, Patrick Dupre' Quigley's (pictured) latest album Claudio Monteverdi: Vespers of the Blessed Virgin 1610 put him atop of the iTunes classical charts -- when it was released in August -- and for a brief time the recording was even more popular in the iTunes all genre category than superstar Lady GaGa's "The Fame Monster."  Quigley '00, is the founding artistic director of Seraphic Fire, a Miami-based ensemble of professional singers that performs a variety of choral works, including classical, contemporary, sacred and secular.  Seraphic Fire teamed up with the Western Michigan University Chorale to record this album.  Ironically, the Irish play Western Michigan University this Saturday in Notre Dame Stadium.  After graduating from Notre Dame's Department of Music in 2000, Quigley went on to Yale to get his Master's in conducting -- before founding Seraphic Fire in 2002.  Two years later, he became the youngest ever recipient of the Robert Shaw Fellowship, which the National Endowment for the Arts and Chorus America give to one promising early-career conductor each year.  His Seraphic Fire is known for its high-quality and exciting performances of Baroque and new music. The group appeared with international pop star Shakira, singing the opening Gregorian-style chant on her platinum-selling album, “Oral Fixation 2.”  Here's a few YouTube video links to Seraphic Fire's performances and an interview of Quigley by WLRN-TV in Miami -- THEY ARE GREAT -- A MUST WATCH!

LINK:  AN INTERVIEW OF QUIGLEY AND SERAPHIC FIRE

LINK:  SERPAHIC FIRE:  Amazing Grace

LINK:  SERAPHIC FIRE:  Bach: Cantata 147 "Jesus Bleibet"

LINK:  A SERAPHIC FIRE REHEARSAL

Notre Dame Basketball Media Day Coverage

The University of Notre Dame Men's & Women's Basketball teams had their Media Days today at Purcell Pavillion.  Here's a couple of links to Mike Brey and Muffet McGraw's press conferences:

LINK:  MIKE BREY MEETS WITH MEDIA

LINK:  MUFFET MCGRAW MEETS WITH MEDIA

Western Michigan University Is Up Next!

The Fighting Irish will be playing a new foe this Saturday when the Broncos of Western Michigan University from the Mid-American Conference visits Notre Dame Stadium.  It's the first time a Mid American Conference school has ever played a football game at Notre Dame.  And, the good folks from Kalamazoo "GET" what it means to play the Irish.  Here's what one of their linebackers had to say on Saturday:

“It’s one thing to play at Michigan, which has great tradition,” Broncos junior linebacker Mitch Zajac said. “It’s one thing to play at Michigan State, which is the same kind of deal. But Notre Dame ... everybody knows Notre Dame, everybody respects Notre Dame, everybody’s seen ‘Rudy’. There’s just a whole new aspect to it.”


And, here's a link to Western Michigan University's Coach, Bill Cubit -- in an interview he gave back in August to WZZM about the Broncos playing Notre Dame:

LINK:  PLAYING A GAME AT NOTRE DAME STADIUM

Irish Basketball -- Media Day

The University of Notre Dame's Men's & Women's Basketball teams are conducting their annual Media Day today -- at Purcell Pavillion.  One of the changes already reported is the new women's basketball jersey with their names "underneath" the number.  Here's a photo of Irish forward Devereaux Peters sporting the new jersey.  Photo was just tweeted by @eTruth_Irish (Ben Ford) -- thanks Ben!  Here's a link to the ETruth website:

LINK:  ETRUTH WEBSITE

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Concert On The Steps

Every Game Day at Notre Dame, ninety-minutes before kick-off, the Band of the Fighting Irish performs for thousands in front of Bond Hall.  Here's a photo from this past Saturday's performance -- courtesy of the gang at GAMEDAY.ND.EDU

Irish to Wear New Adidas Football Jersey

Notre Dame and Adidas announced today that the Irish football team will wear new TECHFIT jerseys beginning this Saturday against Western Michigan.   Adidas claims these jerseys feature "a ground-breaking compression fit" and weight "30 percent lighter than standard football jerseys."  Adidas goes on to brag that these jerseys will provide the Irish with "a streamlined fit, new fabric, reduced seams and an ultra-lightweight name and numbering system. In addition, the Notre Dame TECHFIT jersey keeps players cool with integrated ventilation zones and moisture management fabric."  Six other Adidas schools will debut the new TECHFIT jerseys this month: Michigan, Louisville, Cincinnati, Texas A&M, UCLA and Tennessee.  The photo was suppled by Adidas.  Here's a link to a YouTube video promoting the new Notre Dame jersey -- along with a second link to the Adidas Techfit Jersey website:  


LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL JERSEY PROMO -- ADIDAS

LINK:  ADIDAS TECHFIT JERSEY WEBSITE

The Sunday Conversation -- Coach Kelly

University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach, Brian Kelly -- sat down for his weekly Sunday conversation with UND.COM's Jack Nolan.  The Irish are coming off of their second straight win -- beating Pitt on Saturday.  Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  A SUNDAY CONVERSATION WITH COACH KELLY

What Would You Fight For?

The University of Notre Dame's award winning series entitled "What Would You Fight For?" -- released another story this past week -- and it's quite powerful.  Notre Dame Law Professor, Paolo Carozza (pictured)  -- who's Chairman of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights -- was instrumental in securing human rights for the children of Paraguay.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  FIGHTING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Former Domer -- Seals Win for Eagles!

Trevor Laws, former defensive tackle for the University of Notre Dame (Dillon Hall) -- made a hit last night on San Francisco 49'ers QB Alex Smith, in the final 28 seconds, that caused an errant throw and interception --  securing the 27-24 win for the Philadelphia Eagles.  The 49'ers were driving down the field, needing a field goal to tie or a TD to win, when Laws made the big hit on Smith as he was throwing the ball.  The win puts the Eagles at 3-2 for the season and tied with the Redskins and Giants at the top of the NFC East.  (Laws is #93 in the photo).

LINK:  GAME STORY -- LAWS HIT ON QB

Where Are They Now? -- Bob Crable

Some of the "not so experienced" visitors to the ND GO IRISH BLOG might not remember All-American linebacker Bob Crable.  He played for Gerry Faust at Archbishop Moeller High School, winning three state championships -- before moving on to Notre Dame where he was recruited by Dan Devine.  Crable played for Devine for one season before his former high school coach (Faust) became his head coach at Notre Dame.  The photo is of Bob (#43) blocking a kick against Michigan. Bob earned All-American honors his junior and senior seasons at Notre Dame and was selected in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.  He played seven seasons for the Jets before a knee injury ended his career.  Crable went on to start his own sportswear company, in his hometown of Cincinnati, before selling it and returning to his alma-mater (Moeller High School) to teach and coach.  Bob was recently the guest speaker at Notre Dame High School in Utica, NY -- for the school's 50th Anniversary.  A Utica, NY television station caught up with Crable -- see the link below:

LINK:  CRABLE INTERVIEW

Jill & Thomas -- Seventh Place Last Night!

Thomas Wolfard '02, and his girlfriend Jill Haney, finished in seventh place last night in CBS's Amazing Race.  They were once again in Ghana competing in Season 17 of this globe-trotting adventure race.  The good news -- their seventh place finish ensures them that they will move on to the next show and they still have their EXPRESS PASS.  CBS's Amazing Race airs on Sunday evening's.  Wolfard, a Notre Dame grad, can also be followed on Twitter (see link below) and on Facebook (link below).  If you missed last night's show -- click on the link -- and check out CBS's "After the Race" interview with Jill & Thomas:

LINK:  CBS -- AFTER THE RACE INTERVIEW


LINK:  REPLAY OF CBS'S AMAZING RACE -- SEASON 17

LINK:  THOMAS & JILL'S FACEBOOK PAGE

LINK:  THOMAS WOLFARD'S TWITTER PAGE

OK Go's Halftime Performance at ND

The Grammy Award winning rock band -- OK Go -- performed during halftime of the Notre Dame vs. Pitt football game yesterday with The Band of the Fighting Irish.  You may recall that last year OK Go teamed up with the Notre Dame marching band in their music video for their hit song -- This Too Shall Pass.  The popular YouTube video has had more than 3,440,000 views (see the link below).  Here's a link to NBC's coverage of The Band of the Fighting Irish's halftime show -- and a link to WNDU's story as well:

LINK:  OK GO -- WNDU STORY

LINK:  OK GO -- NBC HALFTIME COVERAGE

LINK:  OK GO -- MUSIC VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

C. Pfleger Wins ND GO IRISH BLOG CONTEST

The ND GO IRISH BLOG is pleased to announce that C. Pfleger was the winner of yesterday's contest -- correctly picking the Irish to win and Michael Floyd to score the first TD.  To claim your prize -- a $15 gift certificate to the Olive Garden -- please send an email to jim.small@ndgoirish.com

Wenger Talks with WNDU

Notre Dame football player Dan Wenger received word this week that he would not be cleared to return to play this season -- after suffering two concussions.  The fifth-year center, out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, sat down with WNDU to talk about his situation.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  DAN WENGER

ESPN'S Spin -- Irish Beat Pittsburgh

Our friends at ESPN had this to say (see link below to ESPN blog) over-night about our Fighting Irish's 23-17 victory over the Pitt Panthers.  Notre Dame QB Dayne Crist threw for a TD and ran for a TD leading the Irish to their second straight win on his 21st birthday.  Here's a link to ESPN's blog story and some footage from Coach Kelly's post-game press conference -- along with a replay of our "buddies" Herbstreit and Howard (BIG TEN HOMERS) and their prediction of the ND / PITT game prior to kick-off.

LINK:  WHAT ESPN IS SAYING ABOUT THE IRISH'S VICTORY

LINK:  HERBSTREIT AND HOWARD'S GAME PREDICTION

What the Media is Sayin' -- ND's Win Over Pitt

Here's what the media had to say about Notre Dame's 23-17 win Saturday over the Pitt Panthers.  The victory brings the Irish back to 3-3 on the season with Western Michigan coming to town next week.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE 

LINK:  INDIANAPOLIS STAR 

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

NBC Game Replay: ND vs. Pitt

Like they do for every home game they televise -- NBC provides a replay of every play AND COMMERCIAL -- at Notre Dame Central.  Here's a link to watch Notre Dame's 23-17 win on Saturday -- one more time:

LINK:  REPLAY OF NOTRE DAME'S WIN OVER PITT

Coach Kelly Post Game Press Conference

The Irish beat Pittsburgh today 23-14 on the FOOT of a record-breaking performance by "walk-on" place-kicker, David Ruffer.  Ruffer was 3 for 3 including a 50 yard field goal early in the third quarter that set the all-time consecutive field goal record at Notre Dame with 15 in a row!!!  After six games -- Ruffer has to be considered one of ND's MVP's.  Here's a link to Coach Kelly's post-game press conference.

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE -- WIN OVER PITT

It's Game Day @ Notre Dame!

It's the best day of the week -- Game Day at Notre Dame!  This morning I'm updating the blog from a hotel room in Buffalo, NY -- where our youngest son is going to be competing in his first college swim meet today.  That's the good news -- the not so good news is the swim meet has "two sessions" -- the first starts at 10 AM and the second starts at 3 PM -- so, I'm going to miss the Notre Dame game.  For those of you not going to the Notre Dame vs. Pittsburgh game today -- here's what you can do ALL DAY to get ready for kick-off:


LINK:  NOTRE DAME GAME DAY RADIO SHOW --  starts at 9 AM EST

LINK:  UND.COM LIVE STADIUM CAM -- watch Notre Dame Stadium fill up, starts at 11 AM EST

LINK:  UND.COM PRE GAME BLOG -- starts at 2:30 PM EST

KICK OFF:  3:42 PM EST

LINK:  UND.COM LIVE POST GAME SHOW -- starts immediately after game's end

What the "Money's" Saying About -- ND vs. Pitt

Here's what "Las Vegas" has to say about today's game between our Fighting Irish and the Pitt Panthers.  It's always interesting to see how they analyze each game.  Here's a link to a few of the sports betting sites:



LINK:  BetUS's ANALYSIS OF ND vs. PITT

LINK:  MADDUX SPORTS -- ANALYSIS OF ND vs. PITT

LINK:  PREDICT'EM -- ANALYSIS OF ND vs. PITT

LINK:  SPORTSODDS -- ANALYSIS OF ND vs. PITT