Lemming Ranks ND's Recruiting Class #1!

College football recruiting guru, Tom Lemming -- released his weekly rankings of the top recruiting classes in the country this morning and guess who's at the top of the list -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame!!!  Now, the list will probably change a couple more times before next Tuesday's National Signing Day.  But -- it's encouraging!!!!  Here's his top twenty:

1. Notre Dame
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. Florida State
5. LSU
6. Southern California
7. Ohio State
8. Clemson
9. Auburn
10. South Carolina
11. Florida
12. Georgia
13. Oregon
14. Illinois
15. California
16. Arkansas
17. Virginia
18. Washington
19. North Carolina
20. Wisconsin

Here's a link to Tom Lemming's blog -- if you'd like to subscribe:

LINK:  TOM LEMMING'S BLOG

Notre Dame Football Awards Show -- VIDEO

The 2010 Notre Dame Football Awards Show took place Saturday night at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center -- and the event "kicked-off" with a video of the 2010 season.  I thought you would enjoy seeing this -- here's a link:

LINK:  2010 ND FOOTBALL AWARDS SHOW VIDEO

Notre Dame Hoops on ESPN Tonight

Mike Brey's 15th ranked Fighting Irish take on the #2 ranked Pitt Panthers this evening -- on national television!  ND needs a big win on the road -- and tonight would be the perfect time to do just that.  The game tips off at 7 PM EST on ESPN's Big Monday.  Here's a link to UND.COM's notes for tonight's game:

LINK:  UND.COM -- IRISH TAKE ON THE PANTHERS

PHOTO OF THE DAY: Shamrocks @ ND!

This photo was sent to the ND GO IRISH BLOG this morning from the good folks at the  Detroit Catholic Central Swim Team.  The "Shamrocks" (ranked 5th in Michigan's high school swim team rankings) were competing in the 2nd Annual Great Lakes States Invitational at the the University of Notre Dame this weekend.  This photo was taken at the Eck Visitor Center on Friday.

Floyd MVP -- 2010 Football Awards Show

The University of Notre Dame football team tried something "new" last night -- and no it wasn't the spread offense.  Brian Kelly wanted to change up the "tried and true" banquet that every team from grade school to college has conducted to celebrate a season's end -- with something more "fast paced."  This should not come as a surprise to ND football fans!  So, last night in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the Notre Dame campus -- a new tradition was created.  It's called the Football Awards Show -- and, from all accounts -- it was a huge success.  Michael Floyd was named the team's Most Valuable Player -- and ten other awards were handed out:

Most Valuable Player: junior wide receiver Michael Floyd.

Nick Pietrosante Award (most inspirational player): senior running back Robert Hughes.

Guardian of the Year Award: sophomore offensive tackle Zack Martin.

Lineman of the Year Award: senior nose guard Ian Williams.

Rockne Student-Athlete Award: senior kicker David Ruffer.

Next Man In Award: freshman quarterback Tommy Rees.

Special Teams Player of the Year: freshman wide receiver Bennett Jackson.

Offensive Newcomer of the Year: sophomore tight end Tyler Eifert.

Defensive Newcomer of the Year: freshman outside linebacker Prince Shembo.

Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year: freshman running back Cameron Roberson.

Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: freshman linebacker Kendall Moore.

Here's a link to a replay of the 2010 Football Awards Show -- please know this about the video link.  I'm sitting here in a hotel room in Lewiston, NY (Barton Hill Hotel & Spa) -- the morning after Niagara University's 122-121 victory over Canisius -- our youngest son Brady swims for Niagara.  And, I've tried to watch the replay of the Show (with not the best internet connection) and the first ten minutes of the video is just crowd noise.  Advance the video to the ten minute mark and that's where the show starts.  The gang at UND.COM will probably realize this soon enough and it will be fixed.  SO BE PATIENT!

LINK:  2010 FOOTBALL AWARDS SHOW

2010 Football Awards Show -- TODAY!

The University of Notre Dame's "first ever" 2010 Football Awards Show is being held tonight at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center -- and the gang at UND.COM will be providing LIVE COVERAGE!  The fun begins at 4:15 PM EST when UND.COM goes live with a Pre-Awards Show -- followed by the live coverage of Notre Dame's 2010 Football Awards Show at 5 PM EST.  Here are the links below!



LINK:  UND.COM'S -- PRE SHOW

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S 2010 FOOTBALL AWARDS SHOW

#3 Meets The Media...

Brian Kelly's biggest "get" this off-season was a fourth year out of Mr. Michael Floyd.  You'll recall earlier this month, Michael made the decision to return to Notre Dame for his senior year -- turning down the opportunity to enter the NFL draft.  Floyd met with the assembled media today at Notre Dame -- here's a link:

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD'S PRESS CONFERENCE

Coach Kelly -- Today's Press Conference

University of Notre Dame head football coach, Brian Kelly -- met with the media today to discuss the 2010 football season -- prior to the team's 2010 Football Awards Show tomorrow.  Here's a link to his session today with the media:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY -- PRESS CONFERENCE

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