Dept. of Defense Awards $9.9 Million to ND

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) -- the U.S. Department of Defense's research and development office -- just awarded the University of Notre Dame's Center for Nano Science and Technology a $9.9 million contract.  Now I must admit -- what this group does at ND, is "way over my head" -- so I'm just going to link you to the South Bend Tribune story!

LINK:  MAJOR RESEARCH CONTRACT FOR NOTRE DAME

Two Irish Commits: In Under Armour Game

This Wednesday night at 7 PM EST -- the Under Armour All-America game will be played at Tropicana Field in Tampa, FL.  The game will be televised live on ESPN and will feature a couple of high school All-Americans who have given Brian Kelly a "verbal" commit:  Davaris Daniels, a wide receiver out of Vernon Hills, IL and Ben Koyack, a tight end out of Oil City, PA.  In addition, an "athlete" named Amir Carlisle who you will see at WR and probably RB in the game -- is currently committed to Stanford but is considering switching to Notre Dame.  Here's a link to the roster of players who will be playing in the game -- and when you get to this page, check out all of the stories being generated from the practices:

LINK:  UNDER ARMOUR ALL-AMERICANS

Charlie & Charlie Jr. -- Off to the Florida Gators

Over the last week there's been plenty of speculation in the media that Charlie Weis '78, would be leaving the Kansas City Chiefs to join Will Muschamp's new staff at the University of Florida.  Well, the move was confirmed yesterday by Charlie himself -- citing the opportunity to work alongside his son Charlie Jr. -- who's also accepted a position on the Gator's staff as a "student assistant coach."  The ND GO IRISH BLOG wishes the Weis family well in this new endeavor!  Here's a link to a USA Today story on Florida's hiring of Charlie Weis and the hiring of former ND offensive line coach Frank Verducci:


LINK:  WEIS TO FLORIDA

LINK:  WEIS JR. TO FLORIDA

The Hyundai Sun Bowl -- Celebration!

The gang at UND.COM just posted some great video from Notre Dame's victory celebration over Miami after their convincing 33-17 victory!  Here's the links to all of the action courtesy of UND.COM!  ENJOY!!!

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS -- ND OVER MIAMI IN SUN BOWL!

LINK:  COACH KELLY'S GATORADE BATH!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S LOCKER ROOM CELEBRATION! 

LINK:  SUN BOWL POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

12th Ranked Irish Beat #10 Boston U in OT!

Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish Icers rebounded yesterday afternoon -- after a tough loss the night before to eventual champion Minnesota State -- to beat the 10th ranked Terriers of Boston U in a shootout at the Shillelagh Tournament in Chicago.  The win over Boston -- which everyone expected to be the Shillelagh's Championship game -- gave the #12 Irish a 3rd place finish in the tournament.  The big stat of the game -- the Irish out-shot Boston;  42-19 -- yet the Irish trailed late in the 3rd period before scoring a short handed goal to tie the game and put it into overtime.  The short handed goal was the 9th of the season for Notre Dame -- tops in the nation!  It's always a big win in college hockey when you beat Boston U!  A ND GO IRISH BLOG thank you to regular contributor Dr. Jim Clancy for tracking down this story!

NBA / NOTRE DAME UPDATE: Luke Harangody

Our friends at ESPN did a nice story (surprisingly) on former Notre Dame All-American Luke Harangody.  You'll recall, "Gody" was a second round draft pick of the Boston Celtics this past June.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  HARANGODY -- LIFE IN THE NBA

Irish Women's BB -- WHAT A START!!!!

What's the old adage -- "It's never over til' it's over..."  Well, it was over early in the first half today for the Southeast Missouri Redhawks in their game with Notre Dame.   Muffet McGraw's Irish's started off the game with  a 36-0 run -- THE GAME WAS OVER -- in route to to a 46-6 halftime lead.  The Fighting Irish ended up winning the game 97-21.  The 21 points by an opponent is a new record for Notre Dame women's basketball!  The 17th ranked Irish are now 12-3 on the season -- leading in to Big East play -- which begins this Wednesday at Marquette.  A ND GO IRISH BLOG thanks to regular contributor Dr. Jim Clancy for alerting us to this story!  Here's a link to the UND.COM story:

LINK:  HOT START FOR THE IRISH!

Irish Will Take the Longest Winning Streak...

Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish will take a four-game winning streak into next season's opener against the University of South Florida -- an opponent which is coached by former "domer" Skip Holtz.  Notre Dame's four-game winning streak is the longest win streak -- carried over into a new season -- in the last 18 years!  You have to go back to the 1992 season when the Irish won their last six games and then won their Cotton Bowl game -- a seven game winning streak to end a season -- to find a longer winning streak entering a new season. ND Fans will recall, that this team was coached by Lou Holtz, Skip's Dad.

Do you think November's have been tough on the Irish football program?

Congratulations Irish on "finishing" a football season!!!!

Irish Take On Undefeated Syracuse @ 3:30 PM

The #15 Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the undefeated and #5 Syracuse Orangemen in the Carrier Dome today on ESPNU at 3:30 PM EST.  The 12-1 Irish are coming off of a convincing win over Georgetown on Wednesday night -- can they do it again today???  Be sure to tune-in and cheer them on to victory!  Here's a link to UND.COM's preview of the game along with the South Bend Tribune's story:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. SYRACUSE 

LINK:  SBT -- ORANGE POISED, ROLLING

ND BEAT WRITERS -- Talkin' Irish Over Canes!

The boys that write about the Irish every day -- THE BEAT WRITERS -- had plenty to say about Notre Dame's 33-17 rout over the Miami Hurricanes in the 77th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl -- enjoy!!!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- IRISH SHINE IN BOWL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- HARRISON SMITH ACTS THE PART

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ROUT OF MIAMI...

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- FLOYD PLAYS...

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ND FANS WATCH 1988 GAME

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- DOMINANT TRIUMPH...

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- IRISH TWO MINUTE DRILL

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- MIAMI FAILS...

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES -- FINE TO THE FINISH

LINK:  NBC -- NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

His Last Diary Entry -- The Red Hat Diaries!!!

You're going to want to read University of Notre Dame walk-on QB -- Brian Castello's last diary entry after today's big win over Miami...  He's a Notre Dame Man!

LINK:  THE FINAL DIARY ENTRY

Post Game Reaction -- IRISH BEAT MIAMI!

The scoreboard says it all -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have now won their last two bowl games!!!  Thanks to Ben Ford from the Elkhart Truth for "tweeting" this photo!  Here's the early reaction from the media to ND's 33 to 17 win over Miami. 

LINK:  NBC -- NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  MIAMI HERALD 

LINK:  HURRICANES PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  USA TODAY

LINK:  CBS CHICAGO

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  SB NATION 

LINK:  EL PASO TIMES

The Sun Bowl Field -- 20 Minutes to Kick-Off!

Here's a photo just "tweeted" by Ben Ford from the Elkhart Truth of the Irish "warming up" for the Hyundai Sun Bowl.  And a photo of one of the Sun Bowl hosts "tweeted" by the Hyundai Sun Bowl staff.  GO IRISH!!!

The Sun Bowl Field -- 45 Minutes to Kick-Off

Well, the field looks much better than it did an hour ago!  Here's the latest "tweeted" photo from the Hyundai Sun Bowl staff at 1:15 PM EST!

Two Hours to Kick-Off: Photo of Sun Bowl Field

Here's the latest "tweeted" pictures of the Hyundai Sun Bowl field -- two hours prior to kick-off!

Latest "Tweeted" Photo From Sun Bowl Field

As you can see, the field is still snow covered -- three hours before kick off.  What's surprising to me is the ND student managers are already setting up for the game (foreground) and you look across the field and nothing's happening on the Miami sideline -- is it too cold for them???!!!  Photo "tweeted" by the Chicago Tribune's Brian Hamilton from the Hyundai Sun Bowl pressbox at 11:10 AM EST.

First "Tweeted" Photo of ND Sun Bowl Jersey!

Well, the suspense is over -- the Irish are wearing white jerseys today in the Hyundai Sun Bowl game against Miami.  With the players names on the jerseys!  This photo was just "tweeted" at 10:58 AM by @NDFBEquipment from the Notre Dame locker room at the Hyundai Sun Bowl.  
 

Latest "Tweet" From ND Student Managers

As you can see, they're still "un-packing" Notre Dame's semi-truck at the Hyundai Sun Bowl.  It's 3 1/2 hours before kick-off and about ninety minutes before the IRISH arrive! This photo was "tweeted" by Ryan Grooms, ND Equipment Manager at 10:26 AM EST from the Sun Bowl.

ND's Student Managers Just "Tweeted" This...

As you can see the Notre Dame football equipment staff and student managers are at the Hyundai Sun Bowl, 4 1/2 hours before kick-off!  They just tweeted this photo at 9:25 AM EST from the tunnel leading into the stadium -- notice the snow covered field.  GO IRISH!!!

First "Tweeted" Photo From Hyundai Sun Bowl

As you can see, the Hyundai Sun Bowl stadium field is covered in snow.  I'm sure the Miami Hurricanes are excited about this!!!  This photo was "tweeted" by the Hyundai Sun Bowl staff at 7:30 AM EST.