Odds to Win 2012 BCS National Championship

Well, the gang in "Vegas" wasted no time in publishing their betting odds as to who will win the 2011-2012 BCS National Championship -- and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are at 30 to 1.  Here's a list of some of the school's on Notre Dame's schedule next year -- and their odds of winning the BCS National Championship -- along with a link below to odds on a number of the BCS teams.  Oklahoma is the early favorite at 7 to 2.

• South Florida:  100 to 1
• Boston College: 150 to 1
• Michigan:  75 to 1
• Michigan State:  40 to 1
• Pittsburgh:  100 to 1
• Stanford:  25 to 1

LINK:  ODDS TO WIN 2011-2012 BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

America's Top Recruit -- Commits to Irish!

This young man's name is no stranger to Notre Dame fans - he's Michael Floyd.  Today, the Irish wide receiver announced that he would be RETURNING to Notre Dame for his senior season!!!  Floyd, already the career TD reception leader in ND history -- made the decision to bypass the NFL to stay in school.  Isn't this GREAT NEWS!  Here's a link to statements made today by Coach Kelly and Michael Floyd about his decision to return to the Irish football team - and two additional ESPN stories about Floyd choosing ND over the NFL -- along with a video tribute to Michael, showing every TD catch in his career:

LINK:  KELLY AND FLOYD -- STATEMENTS

LINK:  ESPN STORY ON FLOYD STAYING AT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATION BLOG -- STORY ON FLOYD

LINK:  VIDEO TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL FLOYD

First Football Polls for 2011 -- Irish Ranked!

Well, it didn't take long for a number of the "experts" to start making their predictions for the pre-season Top-Twenty college football teams -- and the IRISH are getting some respect!  Here are links to the first polls out for 2011:




LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE POLL

LINK:  NATIONALCHAMPS.NET POLL

LINK:  BLEACHER REPORT POLL

LINK:  ORLANDO SENTINEL POLL 

LINK:  SB NATION POLL

Notre Dame Finishes 19th in Sagarin Rankings!

USA Today just released Jeff Sagarin's (photo) last ranking of the 2010 college football season and our Fighting Irish finished 19th!  Here's a link to his computer ranking system for college football -- don't ask me how to explain what he does -- and a link to story that USA Today ran about this guy named "Sagarin."

LINK:  SAGARIN'S FINAL RANKINGS 

LINK:  WHO IS THIS GUY NAMED SAGARIN?

Texas Following Notre Dame's Lead...

A story broke yesterday that the University of Texas was close to finalizing a deal with ESPN to create their own TV network.  What's surprising to me is that's it's taken 20 years for another school to follow Notre Dame's lead.  The Irish have had their own "TV Network" since 1991.  Just think about that...  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  TEXAS AND ESPN IN NEGOTIATIONS

Oregon WR -- To Honor Declan Tonight!

The ND GO IRISH BLOG posted a story about Oregon's D. J. Davis's tribute to Declan Sullivan a month ago (see link below).  Well, tonight -- on college football's biggest stage -- Oregon wide receiver; D. J. Davis, will once again, be wearing a photo of Declan on his belt.  Here is a story in USA Today that talks about D. J.'s plans for the BCS Championship game:



LINK:  OREGON WR -- HONORS DECLAN SULLIVAN

LINK:  USA TODAY -- DUCK'S DAVIS HONORS ND STUDENT

Irish Hoops on ESPN2 Tonight vs. Marquette!

Mike Brey's 14-2 and now #9 (RPI) ranked Fighting Irish -- travel to Milwaukee tonight to take on the Marquette Warriors in front of a national TV audience on ESPN2's BIG MONDAY.  The game tips off at 7 PM EST -- just before the BCS National Championship game.  Marquette is 11-5 on the season and 2-1 in the Big East -- should be a very good game!  GO IRISH!  Here are links to this morning's South Bend Tribune and Milwaukee Journal stories about the game:


LINK:  SBT:  IRISH PLAY MARQUETTE

LINK:  MILWAUKEE JOURNAL STORY

Notre Dame Alum -- Releases First Book!

Timothy Ward '09 -- a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame and owner of his own business called Athletic Reveloution -- has released a book entitled "The Theory of Fat Loss."  Ward, who lives in Mobile, AL -- began as a personal trainer at the age of 18 and graduated from Notre Dame in 3 years at the age of 20.  Here's a link to his blog -- it's quite good -- along with a link to where you can buy his book.  Congratulations Timothy!!!


LINK:  TIMOTHY WARD'S BLOG

LINK:  BUY HIS BOOK -- RIGHT HERE!

NEW FEATURE -- Live Web Cams @ ND!

The ND GO IRISH BLOG has added a new feature to the blog this morning -- links to the live webcams located around the University of Notre Dame campus!

This is in response to the large number of ND fans who took advantage of the links we provided to the webcams -- in a story yesterday about the SNOW STORM at Notre Dame.

All you have to do -- is look to the right hand column of the ND GO IRISH BLOG and you'll find a section entitled:  LIVE WEBCAMS @ NOTRE DAME.  Just click on the link to the webcam view of campus you prefer -- any time of the day -- and you'll have a LIVE look at the University of Notre Dame.  Enjoy!

LINK:  LIVE WEBCAM VIEW OF DOME & BASILICA

PHOTO OF THE DAY: ND's New Recruits!

This photo is courtesy of Mike Frank's Irish Sports Daily -- and it was taken at the U.S. Army All-American game yesterday in San Antonio, TX.  From left to right you have:  George Atkinson III (WR --California), Stephon Tuitt (DE -- Georgia) and Matt Hegarty (OL -- New Mexico).

For all of you "recruiting" nuts -- these next three weeks are going to be crazy leading up to National Signing Day on February 3rd.  If you'd like to keep track of this stuff -- like I do -- you should consider subscribing to a couple of the sites that provide this information for Notre Dame fans.  You won't regret it!  Here are the links:

LINK:  IRISH ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  IRISH SPORTS DAILY

Big Weekend For TOP RANKED Irish Teams!

The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish had a number of big wins -- and a very close loss -- over this "winter" weekend.  Many of the Irish teams were in action; the 14th ranked men's basketball team, the 12th ranked women's basketball team,  the 11th ranked hockey team and the men and women track & field teams kicked off their indoor season.  Here are links to stories on each of the teams' results over the past two days:

LINK:  MEN'S BASKETBALL -- BIG WIN OVER ST. JOHN'S 

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY -- IRISH OVER ST. JOHN'S

LINK:  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL -- IRISH LOSE TO UCONN

LINK:  SBT STORY:  TOUGH LOSS TO UCONN

LINK:  HOCKEY -- IRISH ON A ROLL!

LINK:  SBT STORY:  WEEKEND SWEEP FOR IRISH!

LINK:  TRACK & FIELD -- WINS 17 EVENTS!

Irish Alums Score 3 TD's in NFL Playoff Game

Former Notre Dame football stars; Julius Jones and John Carlson scored a combined three touchdowns in the Seahawks stunning 41-36 win over the Saints yesterday afternoon in the NFL Playoffs.  The 7-9 Seahawks -- who most everyone felt didn't belong in the NFL postseason -- knocked off the defending Super Bowl Champions!  Carlson, had two touchdown catches (11 yards and 7 yards) for the Seahawks and Jones had a 5 yard TD run for the Saints.  In addition, former Irish star Golden Tate, had a catch for five yards for the victorious Seahawks.  The "only downside" to the Seahawks victory yesterday -- Pete Caroll...   Here's a link to a video of the Seahawks post game celebration -- watch it, if you must!

LINK:  SEAHAWKS POST GAME CELEBRATION

Irish vs. UCONN -- CBS @ 2 PM EST!

Muffet's #12 ranked Fighting Irish take on the #2 ranked UCONN Huskies -- in front of a SOLD OUT Purcell Pavillion (if Irish fans get through the snow to the game) and a national TV audience on CBS.  The game tips off at 2 PM EST -- GO IRISH!  Here's a link to GAMEDAY CENTRAL at UND.COM:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. UCONN -- GAMEDAY CENTRAL

Harangody's Best Game as a Pro!!!

Former Notre Dame All-American, Luke Harangody -- finally got his chance last night to show what he can do in the NBA.  The Irish start "lit up" the Toronto Raptors, in front of the home crowd, with his first career "DOUBLE-DOUBLE" -- scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the Boston Celtics' 122-102 win.  Here's a link to an ESPN blog story on Luke's big night along with a video of his post game interview.  Congrats!

LINK:  HARANGODY -- FIRST CAREER "DOUBLE-DOUBLE"

Notre Dame -- Snow Storm!!!

The University of Notre Dame is getting hammered by a "LAKE EFFECT" snow storm.  This morning, WNDU-TV is reporting that there is two feet of snow on the ground, with more on the way -- over the next 36 hours.  Those of us not in the storm, will get a kick out of the weather radar link below from WSBT-TV.  You'll see first hand how some areas are getting buried in snow and a few blocks away, there might be no snow at all.  Here's a link to the news story, a link to the weather radar -- and a live link to a webcam view of South Quad, Clarke Memorial Fountain and the Dome & Basilica -- on the University of Notre Dame campus:

LINK:  WNDU-TV REPORT ON SNOW STORM

LINK:  WSBT-TV -- LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING

LINK:  WEBCAM VIEW OF SOUTH QUAD

LINK:  WEBCAM VIEW OF CLARKE MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN 

LINK:  WEBCAM VIEW OF DOME AND BASILICA

U.S. Army All-American Bowl -- 1 PM EST

Today's U.S. Army All-American Bowl from San Antonio, TX will feature three ND "verbal" commi and a couple of more who have yet to decide.   The game will be televised by NBC beginning at 1 PM EST.  The photo above is from the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl's -- featuring the 14 Notre Dame "committed" players in the game -- you might recognize a few of their "baby" faces!  Here's the All-Americans Notre Dame fans will want to keep an eye out for today:

All-Americans -- who have "verbally" committed to the Irish:

• George Atkinson III (ATH) -- on the West Team, will be wearing #20
• Matthew Hegarty (OL) -- on the West Team, will be wearing #56
• Stephon Tuitt (DE) -- on the East Team, will be wearing #98

All-Americans -- who are still considering committing to the Irish:

• Aaron Lynch (DE) -- on the East Team will be wearing #19
• Ishaq Williams (OLB) -- on the East Team, will be wearing #1

Notes concerning today's game:

• Atkinson, one of the best athletes on the field, is playing "safety" in today's game -- the same position his father played in the NFL for 10 seasons for the Oakland Raiders.  George III will be playing wide receiver when he arrives in South Bend this fall.
• Matthew Hegarty, banged up a knee in a high school basketball game a few weeks ago -- he'll be wearing a brace and should be good to go.  He just might be the best high school offensive lineman in America.
• Tuitt, earned a starting spot at DE today -- over a player (Ray Drew) that ESPN "experts" regard as the #3 "overall" high school player in America.  So much for recruiting experts at ESPN!  A big, powerful, athletic player -- who just might be Brian Kelly's most important recruit.  A number of schools are still recruiting him hard.
• Aaron Lynch, a Notre Dame "verbal" commit this past August -- only to de-commit in October and give a verbal commit to Florida State.  Just this week, Lynch decided to "de-commit" again and now is going to visit Notre Dame next weekend.  Lynch, another big, powerful, athletic body -- was running with Tuitt, this week, as a starting DE for the East Team.  Lynch and Tuitt could team up in South Bend and become our "Browner and Fry" -- for those of you who are old enough to remember these book end Defensive Ends for Coach Parseghian.  

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY ON AARON LYNCH

• Ishaq Williams, was scheduled to make a commitment to one of his final three schools today;  Notre Dame, Penn State or Syracuse.  However, he decided in the last day or so -- to "possibly" delay this decision.  He's expected to "enroll early" in one of these schools, so he doesn't have much time.  Many feel Notre Dame leads here -- but, both parents are Syracuse grads and a few feel Penn State is the team to beat (???).  He's being recruited to play an OLB for Notre Dame, but is expected to play a DE position in today's game.

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY ON ISHAQ WILLIAMS

Here are links to both team's rosters and ESPN's analysis of some of the better players:

LINK:  ROSTERS -- 2011 U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL

LINK:  ESPN PREVIEW OF PLAYERS IN TODAY'S GAME

A "Domer" Breaks Michigan's Heart Today!

A Notre Dame alum, Jed York '03 -- broke the heart of every Michigan football fan this afternoon when it was announced that he had agreed to terms with Jim Harbaugh to become the new head coach of his San Francisco 49'ers.  Jed, the 29 year-old CEO and "Owner" of the 49'ers (that's Jed on the left in the photo) -- signed Harbaugh to a five-year $25 million contract.  Harbaugh the "people's choice" among the Michigan Wolverines' fanbase -- is now off the market -- and I guess you can thank the IRISH for that!!!  Isn't it nice having one of our rivals go through what we've had to deal with a few times in the last ten years!  Here's a link to this story -- along with

LINK:  HARBAUGH TO 49'ERS

LINK:  JED YORK -- 'GROWING UP'

Lou Holtz -- Happy Birthday!

Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz turns 74 years young today -- Happy Birthday Coach!

And, I'm betting never in his "wildest dreams" did he think he'd be starring in an animated Disney Channel show -- as himself -- in this morning's episode of "Dr. Throw."


The Dr. Throw show targets toddlers and preschool children.  In this morning's episode "Dr. Throw," Special Agent OSO, the brightly colored panda bear, had to teach a little boy named Rudy how to throw a football before the boy's Uncle Lou comes over to play a game of catch.  Rudy completes a pass just as Uncle Lou — the former University of Notre Dame football coach — enters the backyard wearing his signature blue cap and blue sweatshirt.

Do you think -- by the name of the "little boy," the use of Coach Holtz in his ND gear -- and the fact that the star of RUDY (the movie) Sean Astin is the voice of Special Agent OSO -- the writer of this episode is a Notre Dame fan?

A big ND GO IRISH BLOG thank you to regular contributor;  Dr. Jim Clancy for alerting us to this story.  Here'a a link to a WNDU-TV story -- that shows a clip from the show -- Enjoy!

LINK:  COACH HOLTZ STARS IN DISNEY CHANNEL SHOW

U.S. Army All-American Bowl -- This Saturday!

The "future" of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame's football program will be on display this Saturday afternoon on NBC at 1:00 PM EST.  Three high school All-Americans, playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, have already given their "verbal" commitment to Brian Kelly;  Matt Hegarty (OL / New Mexico), Stephon Tuitt (DE / Georgia) and George Atkinson III (WR / California).  A fourth All-American playing in this game -- Ishaq Williams (OLB / New York) will be announcing his college choice during the game.  Ishaq's finalists are:  Penn State, Syracuse and Notre Dame.  It's "must see TV" for Irish fans!  Here's a link to the Army All-American Bowl's website -- you'll want to take a look at this!

LINK:  2011 U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL

Under Armour All America Game -- 7 PM EST

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have two "verbal" commits playing tonight on ESPN in the Under Armour All-America game.  The two All-Americans are Davaris Daniels (WR) and Ben Kayock (TE) -- a third player in tonight's game; Amir Carlisle -- is currently committed to Stanford -- yet, is considering a switch to Notre Dame.  Should be fun to watch!



LINK:  TUNE IN TONIGHT -- WEDNESDAY @ 7 PM EST!