IRISH ARRIVE IN EL PASO!!!

The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish arrived in El Paso, TX this morning for the 2010 Hyundai Sun Bowl.  The gang at UND.COM caught the Irish's arrival at the airport -- including Coach Kelly's "Sombrero Dance."  Here's a couple of links:

LINK:  HYUNDAI SUN BOWL WELCOMES THE IRISH!

LINK:  COACH KELLY AT EL PASO AIRPORT

Going to the Sun Bowl? -- Stay in America!

Ever since it was announced that the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame would be playing in El Paso, TX on New Year's Eve -- fans have been warned to stay on the American side of the border!  Ciudad Juarez (photo), a city of 1.5 million people that sits on the other side of the Rio Grande from El Paso -- has been declared "the most violent zone in the world -- outside of declared war zones."  Earlier this week a relative of an anti-crime crusader was gunned down in Juarez (see story below) -- so please, please, please do not cross the Mexican border if you're in El Paso this week!!!  I've also attached a travel warning from the US Government:

LINK:  VIOLENCE IN JUAREZ

LINK:  DON'T TRAVEL TO MEXICO! 

LINK:  ESPN -- YOU KNOW THEY HAD TO SAY SOMETHING

Have a Merry "Notre Dame" Christmas!

I'm going to shut down the ND GO IRISH BLOG for the next 48 hours to spend some time with my family as we celebrate Christmas.   

While I'm away, I encourage each of you to find three minutes and twenty-three seconds -- sometime over these next two days -- and watch the linked video below and share it with your family and friends.

I'll be back at it when our Fighting Irish arrive in El Paso, TX (Sunday) to take on the Hurricanes.

Go IRISH! and MERRY CHRISTMAS  to ALL!

LINK:  A VIDEO FOR OUR FREEDOM

Jimmy Clausen On NFL Network Tonight...

Former Notre Dame QB, Jimmy Clausen -- might be leading his Carolina Panthers to "slaughter" tonight against the Pittsburgh Steelers -- in Pittsburgh.  Clausen earned his first NFL win last week as a starting QB -- can he make it two in a row tonight?  Game starts at 8 PM EST.

LINK:  NFL NETWORK

Where Are They Now? -- Kelsey Wicks

Former Notre Dame basketball player, Kelsey Wicks (photo) -- goes by a new name these days;  Sister Joan of Arc.  Wicks, played for two years for Muffet McGraw's Irish -- before leaving the program during her sophomore season.  After leaving Notre Dame, Kelsey worked on refugee issues in Africa.  When she returned to America -- Kelsey received a scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame Law School -- however, she chose to go down a much different path.  Wicks joined The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecelia in Nahville, TN ("The Nashville Dominicans") -- where she wears a traditional habit and adheres to a strict life of prayer, teaching and silence (sometimes).  And, Kelsey adopted her new name:  Sister Joan of Arc.   However, as you'll see in this stories linked below -- she hasn't given up her love for basketball.  Sister Joan of Arc, we're very proud of you!  Special thanks to ND GO IRISH BLOG contributor; Dr. Jim Clancy for tracking down this story.  I've also added a link to a youtube video of what life is like for The Nashville Dominicans:

LINK:  KELSEY WICKS -- SISTER JOAN OF ARC

LINK:  THE NASHVILLE DOMINICANS

LINK:  THE NASHVILLE DOMINICANS -- PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

A Notre Dame "Pioneer" Passes...

Goldie L. Ivory '56, who earned her Masters degree in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and thought to be the first African American laywoman to earn a degree from the university -- died this past Friday.  With a name like "Goldie" -- who else should have such an honor!  Here's a link to Goldie's story in the South Bend Tribune:

LINK:  GOLDIE IVORY -- A NOTRE DAME PIONEER

Former Irish Hockey Player Receives Honor

Dr. Michael Collins '70 -- a former Notre Dame hockey player -- was awarded the 2011 Lou Lamoriello Award by the American Hockey Coaches Association.  Named in honor of the former Providence College player, coach, and administrator, the Lamoriello Award recognizes a former college hockey player or coach who goes on to a distinguished career in or out of the game of ice hockey.  Collins, an orthopedic surgeon based in Chicago -- earned two monograms playing hockey for the Fighting Irish.  Here's a link to a couple of stories concerning the honor:


LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  UND.COM STORY

Kyle Rudolph Taken in 1st Round...

The gang at Bleacher Report conducted a "mock" NFL Draft on Monday and Kyle Rudolph was a 1st round selection.  If you're like me -- you don't want to read this!!!  I won't tell you what pick or to what team -- here's the link:

LINK:  RUDOLPH GOES IN FIRST ROUND

Notre Dame Football -- Has Some Fun!

On Monday night -- after practicing for the Hyundai Sun Bowl on the Notre Dame campus -- the Fighting Irish Football team, staff and their families had a little fun in Mishawaka.  And, the gang at UND.COM went along for the ride.  Here's a link to the UND.COM story and the South Bend Tribune story -- along with a link to Strikes & Spares website:


LINK:  GETTING READY FOR MIAMI! 

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  STRIKES & SPARES WEBSITE

Ten Most Dramatic Bowl Games of All Time!

Found this story on the web this morning on the Ten Most Dramatic Bowl Games of All Time -- and the Irish played in two of the ten bowl games.  I won't spoil the surprise of what two bowl games that Notre Dame was involved in that made the list.  However, I will give you this HINT -- the Irish won both games -- and Lou wasn't involved!!!  Here's the link:

LINK:  TEN MOST DRAMATIC BOWL GAMES OF ALL TIME!

Sun Bowl: Last Media Session with Kelly

University of Notre Dame head football coach, Brian Kelly -- met with the media today for the last time -- on campus -- prior to the Sun Bowl.  Coach Kelly talks about what they've been doing with the players on the field and off -- and their plans for tomorrow before the team heads home for Christmas.  The team will meet back in El Paso, TX on December 26th -- to get ready for the New Year's Eve game with Miami.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA -- LAST TIME BEFORE

Henderson -- Honda Sports Award Recipient!

University of Notre Dame All-American soccer player, Melissa Henderson -- was honored with the Honda Sports Award -- which signifies her as the top athlete in women's college soccer!  The Honda Sports Award is awarded annually to the top student-athletes in 12 NCAA  sanctioned sports.  Melissa is the second Notre Dame athlete to ever receive this award for their sport -- and the previous winner was also a ND soccer player, Cindy Daws who took home the award in 1997.  Here is the USA Today story:

LINK:  HENDERSON NAMED TOP COLLEGE SOCCER PLAYER!

"Double Domer" Leads Cardinal Stritch U!

Dr. James P. Loftus -- who just happens to have his under graduate degree, and MBA from the University of Notre Dame -- was named the president of Cardinal Stritch University.  Cardinal Stritch (located in the Milwaukee area),  is the largest Fransican institution of higher learning in North America with its 6,900 students.  I wonder if "Mr. Loftus" is any relation to the Loftus that donated The Loftus Center (Notre Dame's indoor practice facility) -- I'm betting he is.  Congratulations Jamie!  Here's a link to the story of his hiring along with a link to the school's website:

LINK:  LOFTUS TAKES OVER CARDINAL STRITCH

LINK:  CARDINAL STRITCH UNIVERSITY

Sun Bowl: What if ND Wore These Shoes?

Found these Adidas shoes online and thought I'd start this ND GO IRISH BLOG Poll Question:  How would you feel if the Fighting Irish were to wear a "Notre Dame" edition (BLUE, GOLD AND WHITE) of these shoes -- for the Sun Bowl game?  See the POLL on the upper right portion of the blog's home page.

Coach Kelly's Monday Conversation...

University of Notre Dame football coach, Brian Kelly, met with UND.COM's Jack Nolan today to talk about the 2010 season and a few other subjects.  You'll enjoy the conversation:

LINK:  COACH KELLY'S CONVERSATION

Band of the Fighting Irish -- Wins "Heisman!"

The University of Notre Dame's Band of the Fighting Irish, was awarded the Sudler Trophy this past week -- the "Heisman Trophy" of awards for marching bands in America -- by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation.  The Sudler Trophy is the only national award for marching bands and is awarded annually to a university for its major influence in the establishment and maintenance of high standards of musical and marching performance.  The "formal" presentation will take place during halftime of a 2011 football game at Notre Dame Stadium.  A ND GO IRISH BLOG "thank you" to regular contributor; Dr. Jim Clancy -- for this story.  Here's a link to the Sousa Foundation website and a link to a halftime performance of the Band of the Fighting Irish from the Utah game this season:

LINK: JOHN PHILLIPS SOUSA FOUNDATION

LINK:  BAND OF THE FIGHTING IRISH -- UTAH HALFTIME

Where Are They Now? -- Chris Thomas

Notre Dame basketball fans will remember how big a deal it was when Chris Thomas committed to play for the Fighting Irish.  Thomas, Indiana's "Mr. Basketball" was the top point guard in the country and he picked Notre Dame over Duke, Michigan State, Indiana, Stanford and Purdue.  While at Notre Dame, Thomas received many honors, including; Big East Rookie of the Year, National Freshman of the Year, 2nd Team All Big East, etc.  After his sophomore season, Chris took a look at leaving school early for the NBA Draft, but after learning his draft status he returned to ND to play his last two seasons.  Unfortunately for Chris, he injured a knee prior to his senior season which required surgery -- and it never fully healed that season.  Thomas did leave Notre Dame as it's all-time assist leader, it's third all-time leading scorer and the distinction of recording the only "triple-double" in school history, against University of New Hampshire, when he scored 24 points, had 11 assists, and 11 steals in his very first college game at Notre Dame!  Chris was named to Notre Dame's 25 member All Century Team.  Since graduating from Notre Dame in 2005, Thomas has been playing pro basketball in Europe.  He's played for teams in Italy, Greece, Poland and Spain (the photo above is from Chris playing in Spain).  This season, Chris is back in Poland playing for Anwil Wloclawek -- where he's averaging 7.5 pts. after eight games this season.  Here's a link to his season stats and the team's profile on a euro pro basketball website:

LINK:  CHRIS THOMAS -- STATS THIS SEASON

LINK:  ANWIL WLOCLAWEK'S STARTING LINEUP

Santa Visits Notre Dame a Week Early!

The jolly man in the red and white suit visited the Hammes Bookstore yesterday, on the University of Notre Dame campus -- and Fr. Jenkins joined in the fun as well.  Santa's visit benefited the Boys and Girls Club of St. Joseph County.  Here's a link to WNDU-TV's story:

LINK:  SANTA AT NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Players Meet with Media Today

A few members of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame football team met with the media today after the #1 Offense took on the #1 Defense today -- in their last practice before they concentrate solely on their Sun Bowl matchup with Miami during Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday's practices.  Here are the links:


LINK:  DAYNE CRIST INTERVIEW

LINK:  MANTI TEO INTERVIEW

LINK:  BRIAN SMITH INTERVIEW

LINK:  GARY GRAY INTERVIEW

Coach Diaco Meets with Media After Practice

University of Notre Dame defensive coordinator, Bob Diaco -- took questions from the media today for the first time since after the Navy game.  Coach Diaco's defensive crew "turned it around" BIG TIME -- since the game against the Midshipmen.  Here's the link:


LINK:  COACH BOB DIACO