ND Football's Awards Show -- TOMORROW!

The University of Notre Dame football team will be debuting a new event tomorrow -- The 2010 Football Awards Show!  And, our friends at UND.COM will be providing LIVE COVERAGE beginning at 4:15 PM EST with a Preview Show -- followed by the Football Awards Show at 5:00 PM EST.  Here's a link to where you can find this programming tomorrow!


LINK:  ND FOOTBALL AWARDS SHOW -- PREVIEW 

LINK:  THE 2010 FOOTBALL AWARDS SHOW

Notre Dame's Greatest Recruiting Classes!

The folks at Bleacher Report just published their own ranking of Notre Dame's ten greatest recruiting classes of all time.  I thought you'd enjoy this story -- as we sit less than two weeks away from National Signing Day.  Here's a link:

LINK:  BLEACHER REPORT:  ND'S TOP TEN RECRUITING CLASSES

A ND Alum -- Running Across America!

His name is Jeff Grabosky '05 -- and this Notre Dame alum begins a "run" across America later today!  As you'll see in the links below, Jeff has a wonderful story to tell -- and a wonderful message for our country.  The ND GO IRISH BLOG is committed to following this DOMER'S journey from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast.  I encourage all of you to click on the link to his blog (below) and to click on the story about the motivation behind this 3,700 mile run.  Good Luck Jeff!

LINK:   A RUN FOR PRAYER

LINK:  JEFF RUNS AMERICA -- OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Tuitt "Re-Commits" to Notre Dame!

In the last half hour -- it's been reported that FIVE-STAR Stephon Tuitt, one of the top 25 players in the country -- has re-committed to joining the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!   If you've been following recruiting -- Tuitt announced yesterday that he was "de-committing" from the Irish and "committing" to Georgia Tech.  Well, that all changed this evening when Coach Kelly, Diaco and Martin visited with Stephon and his Mom-- at the Tuitt residence in Georgia.  See the link to the Atlanta JourNal Constitution story below.  Tuitt's commitment now means Notre Dame's current recruiting class has four defensive players who are among the TOP 100 players in the country.  A first for Notre Dame football in the past ten years!  They are as follows:

• Ishaq Williams, OLB -- Rivals has him ranked the #16 player in the country
• Stephon Tuitt, DE -- Rivals has him ranked the #22 player in the country
• Aaron Lynch, DE -- Rivals has him ranked the #28 player in the country
• Ben Councell, OLB -- Rivals has him ranked the #91 player in the country

Here's a link to Rivals Ranking of the TOP 100 High School football players in the Class of 2011:

LINK:  RIVALS TOP 100

LINK:  AJC -- TUITT SWITCHES COMMITMENT TO ND

#11 Lady Irish Beat #16 Georgetown Last Night!

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish beat the Hoyas 80-58 last night -- in what was probably their most impressive game of the season!  The win, the first for the Irish in five tries against ranked opponents this season, moves their record to 16-4 and 5-1 in the Big East.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story along with a recap of the game, player interviews and highlights from UND.COM:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- GAME STORY

LINK:  UND.COM -- PLAYER INTERVIEWS, HIGHLIGHTS

A Classy Move -- By A Classy Young Man...

University of Notre Dame junior, Kyle Rudolph --  who over the Christmas recess made the decision to forgo his senior season with the Irish to enter the NFL Draft -- wrote a "good-bye" letter to his fellow students that was published in the school's newspaper yesterday.  Here's a link to his letter in the Observer:

LINK:  RUDOLPH'S GOOD-BYE

Notre Dame's Favorite Son -- Retires!

University of Notre Dame alum extraordinaire -- Regis Philbin announced his retirement this morning -- after 28 years with his own show!  No set date for when his last day will be -- but, it's been rumored that it will be early to late summer.  Regis -- you've done the IRISH PROUD, all these years!!!  Notre Dame fans can't thank you enough!!  Here's a link to the announcement:

LINK:  REGIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT!

Five Irish Recruits -- Start Classes in the AM!

Five years ago, Chris Stewart, George West and James Aldridge started a new "recruiting" trend at the University of Notre Dame.  EARLY ENROLLMENT -- something other schools had been doing for some time finally became an acceptable practice at ND.  Well, tomorrow morning -- five high school seniors become college freshmen; Brad Carrico, Kyle Brindza, Everett Golson, Ishaq Williams and Aaron Lynch (pictured).  You'll find a link below to MSNBC's Keith Arnold blog story about this very subject.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S FIVE NEW STUDENT-ATHLETES!

Recruiting Rankings -- ND Lookin' Good!

Just took a "lap" around a number of the services that rank the incoming recruiting classes for college football.  As things stand today -- a couple of weeks before National Signing Day (February 2nd) -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame appear to be looking at a TOP TEN Recruiting Class!  Here's the latest rankings:



LINK:  ESPN -- RECRUITING RANKINGS 

LINK:  RIVALS -- RECRUITING RANKINGS

LINK:  SCOUT -- RECRUITING RANKINGS

LINK:  MAX PREPS -- RECRUITING RANKINGS 

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Father Ted and MLK Jr.

On this day that celebrates the life and contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. -- I thought it would be appropriate to display this photo of the University of Notre Dame's Rev. Theodore Hesburgh "Father Ted" standing arm-in-arm with Martin Luther King, Jr. at a rally celebrating the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act at Chicago's Soldier Field.  The significance of this photo is this -- Chicago’s Cardinal John Cody refused to appear at the event (as did the city’s other prominent Catholic leader, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley) so Hesburgh drove up from Notre Dame to provide a national Catholic presence.

A Giant Snowman @ Notre Dame

WNDU-TV ran this story yesterday -- of a giant snow man that was constructed on the Notre Dame campus by students returning for the "Spring" Semester.  You'll recall -- the campus was hit with a major snow event last week, with upwards of three feet of snow falling in a 36 hour period.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  GIANT SNOW MAN @ NOTRE DAME

High School "All-Star" Games -- Big Surprises!

Brian Kelly and staff will be pleased to see "three" of their verbal commitments named among the "Top Ten Surprises" at the recent high school All-Star football games played across the country -- by the "recruiting experts" at Rivals.com.  I won't spoil the story -- but, the #1 surprise in the country is a ND commit!  Here's the link:


LINK:  TOP TEN SURPRISES @ HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR GAMES

Video of "GO IRISH" chant in Ethiopia!

Notre Dame alum, Matt Desmond is involved in Run Across Ethiopia -- a group that is running the equivalent of a marathon -- EVERY SINGLE DAY -- for ten straight days in Ethiopia, to raise money to build three schools in this African country.  They began the run last Sunday -- and as you'll see in the links below -- Matt is thinking about Notre Dame along the way.  In the first video, you'll find Matt teaching a number of Ethiopian children how to yell "GO IRISH" and "Michael Floyd."  In the second video, Matt teaches them how to yell "Ishaq Negus" -- the first and middle name of the high school All-American, Ishaq Williams -- who committed to Brian Kelly this week.  Only at Notre Dame!

LINK:  ETHIOPIAN CHILDREN YELLING "GO IRISH!" 

LINK:  ETHIOPIAN CHILDREN YELLING "ISHAQ NEGUS" 

LINK:  FACEBOOK -- RUN ACROSS ETHIOPIA 

LINK:  BLOG: RUN ACROSS ETHIOPIA

All the Notre Dame Men @ Florida

If you've been paying any attention at all to the Florida Gators football program the past five years under Urban Meyer -- and now a month into the Will Muschamp era -- you will have found one common trait amongst each of their coaching staffs:  a relationship to the University of Notre Dame.

FACT:  Each of the last six (including current) Florida Gator football coaching staffs have spent more years; attending, coaching or playing football at Notre Dame -- than Brian Kelly's current staff.

Think about that...

Meyer, a former Notre Dame assistant coach under Lou Holtz -- hired a number of coaches who had ties to the University of Notre Dame football program during his five years at Florida:

• Steve Addazzio -- Offensive Coordinator, was on Bob Davie's staff at Notre Dame
• Greg Mattison -- Co-Defensive Coordinator, was on Davie's and Willingham's staff at Notre Dame
• Charlie Strong -- Defensive Coordinator, was on Lou Holtz and Bob Davie's staff at Notre Dame
• Chuck Heater -- Co-Defensive Coordinator, was on Lou Holtz's staff at Notre Dame
• Anthony Weaver -- Grad Assistant, former Notre Dame starting defensive end

Will Muschamp, who was named as Meyer's replacement this past month -- has already followed suit -- hiring two Notre Dame grads to his staff:

• Charlie Weis '78 -- Offensive Coordinator -- ND alum and former Head Coach of the Irish
• Bryant Young '94 -- Defensive Line Coach -- ND alum, former Irish All-American and Grad Assistant on Charlie Weis' staff at Notre Dame

Don't they say; "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Irish Women's Hoops -- Smash Pitt Panthers!

Muffet's 12th ranked Fighting Irish traveled to Pittsburgh last night to take on the 9-7 Pitt Panthers -- and it looked like they had a "little fun" in the process, leading 50-19 at halftime!  Notre Dame went on to beat Pitt 82-50 -- taking their record to 15-4 for the season and 4-1 in the Big East.   Surprisingly, Notre Dame had lost its last two games against Pitt. Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  SBT:  IRISH ROUT PITT

Aaron Lynch Commits to Notre Dame!

One of the top defensive ends in the country -- Aaron Lynch (Cape Coral, FL) gave his verbal commitment to Notre Dame this morning!  Lynch, who put on a show this past Saturday rushing the QB at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl -- will "enroll early" at ND -- meaning he'll begin classes this next Tuesday.  Lynch, is the second All-American to commit to Notre Dame in as many days -- joining U.S. Army All-American teammate Ishaq Williams who committed yesterday.  Those who follow recruiting know that Lynch had committed to Notre Dame back in July -- only to "de-commit" in November to commit to Florida State.  Aaron had a change of heart during his week of practice leading up to the U.S. Army All-American game -- and Irish fans are glad he did!  A HUGE two days for the Notre Dame football program.  See a link below to a highlight video of Aaron's senior season and a link to the South Bend Tribune story.  Welcome "back" home Aaron!

LINK:  AARON LYNCH -- HIGHLIGHT VIDEO 

LINK:  SBT:  LYNCH COMMITS AGAIN TO IRISH!

ND's Randy Waldrum Named Coach of the Year!

University of Notre Dame's women's soccer coach -- Randy Waldrum, was named last night as the NSCAA/Mondo National Coach of the Year!  It's the third year in a row that Randy has received a national coaching honor.  In 2008, he was named the FieldTurf Division I National Coach of the Year -- and, in 2009, he was selected as the Soccer America Division I National Coach of the Year.  Coach Waldrum led the Fighting Irish this season to their second National Championship in his twelve year career at Notre Dame.  Randy's overall record at Notre Dame is 253-36-11 -- a .862 winning percentage!  Here's a link to the UND.COM story.  Congratulations Coach Waldrum!!!

LINK:  UND.COM -- NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR!

Notre Dame Scientist's Discovery!

Notre Dame scientist and Bayer Professor of Engineering -- Hsueh-Chia “Chia” Chang is developing a portable device that can rapidly pinpoint pathogens, toxins and other harmful substances in fluids, ranging from blood and saliva, to water from lakes and streams.  This device has the real potential to supplant certain conventional technologies in the areas of homeland security, environmental safety and medical diagnostics.  Chia is teaming up with F3 -- a company that has leased laboratory space at Notre Dame's Innovation Park -- to take this product to market.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story about this exciting development:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SCIENTIST'S DISCOVERY!

Three Irish Commits Named to TEAM USA!

Three high school football All-Americans -- who've given their "verbal" commitment to Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have been selected to play in the Team USA vs. The World football game on February 2nd in Austin, TX.  George Atkinson (WR - California), Matt Hegarty (OL - New Mexico) and Stephon Tuitt (DE - Georgia) will be wearing the 'red-white and blue."  Here's a link to Team USA's roster:

LINK:  THREE ND RECRUITS -- ON TEAM USA ROSTER

Ishaq Williams Selects Notre Dame!

U.S. Army All-American -- Ishaq (E-Shock) Williams from Brooklyn, NY -- surprised many with his commitment this morning to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  Williams had scheduled an "official visit" to Penn State University today -- but an "early morning" visit (4:30 AM) to the William's home from Notre Dame's Defensive Coordiator, Bob Diaco -- triggered a quick change in plans!  Ishaq, a 6'-6" 230 lb. OLB will enroll early -- meaning he'll be in class this next Tuesday at Notre Dame and will participate in Spring Practice with the Irish.  This is a major "recruiting win" for Notre Dame!  Here's a link to a New York Post story on Ishaq's commitment -- YOU'LL LOVE THIS STORY! -- and a link to highlight video from his junior season in high school.

LINK:  NEW YORK POST STORY

LINK:  ISHAQ WILLIAMS -- HIGHLIGHT VIDEO