Coach Kelly News Conference -- Today!

Football is back!!!  The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame kick-off Spring Practice -- tomorrow!  To get things rolling, Coach Kelly met with the media this afternoon.  Here's a link to his press conference:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Will Irish Join Big Ten for Hockey?

This was the rumor going around the CCHA Championship at Joe Louis Arena this weekend: Notre Dame will be following Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State to a hockey league the Big Ten will be starting for the 2012 - 2013 season.  Folks in the college hockey world -- were talking as if it was a "done deal." 

I say "NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND..."

Here's a quick note today about the Big Ten's plans for hockey:

LINK:  BIG TEN TO ADD MEN'S HOCKEY

Michael Floyd Suspended -- Indefinitely!

The great news of January -- that Michael Floyd would be returning for his senior season -- took a significant "U" turn Sunday morning.  The Notre Dame football star was arrested for DUI by police.  This afternoon -- Head Coach, Brian Kelly released a statement with the football program's decision to suspend Floyd "indefinitely" from all football related activities.  Here's a link to the story along with Floyd's statement:

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD SUSPENDED -- INDEFINITELY

Photo of the Day: 3-D Photo of Grotto

The University of Notre Dame brought in a firm to take a 3-D photo of its Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  3-D PHOTO OF GROTTO

Jackson's Irish Learn NCAA Seed -- 11:30 AM

Notre Dame hockey fans will be tuning into ESPN2 at 11:30 AM EDT this morning to learn what "seed" the Irish will be given, who they will be playing, when and where in the upcoming NCAA Division I Men's Hockey Tournament.  The Irish didn't help themselves this weekend at Joe Louis Arena (losses to Western Michigan and Michigan) -- but, their second place finish in the CCHA, should be enough to earn them a #10 or #11 seed in the tournament.  FYI: Only sixteen teams make the tournament and each team is seeded 1 to 16.  Here's a story I found from a hockey fan who took a stab at seeding the tournament:

LINK:  THE ROAD TO THE FROZEN FOUR

ND's NCAA Game Today @ 9:40 PM EDT!

The #2 seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame play their THIRD ROUND NCAA Tournament game tonight in Chicago against "Free Shoes U" -- the #10 seeded Florida State University.  The game matches one of the better offensive teams (IRISH) in the country -- against one of the "BIGGER" and better defensive teams (Seminoles) in the country.  Tip-off is scheduled for 9:40 PM EDT -- and it will be televised on TBS -- so take a nap this afternoon!!!

Here's a link to the wonderful coverage the folks at UND.COM are providing of the Irish's tournament run:

LINK:  SATURDAY'S PRACTICE REPORT

LINK:  COACH BREY TALKIN' -- FLORIDA STATE

LINK:  IRISH PLAYERS TALKIN' -- FLORIDA STATE

Irish Win "AWAY" Game at Utah -- NCAA

If you were to ask Muffet McGraw "off the record" what she thought about being the only #1 or #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament who had to play an opening game on the opponent's HOME FLOOR -- I believe she would tell you she wasn't too happy. 

Yet, the Irish prevailed 67 - 54 over Utah -- in a game that was in doubt at half-time and as late as eight minutes to go in the game when the Utes were within five points.  The Irish were led by Skylar Diggins and Natalie Novosel with 20 points each. 

Up next -- #10 seeded Temple who clobbered  #7 seeded Arizona State 63 - 45.  The game is scheduled for Monday -- still waiting on the time for the game.  Here are link to the Salt Lake Tribune and Sports Illustrated stories -- along with a link to the NCAA Women's Bracket:

LINK:  SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  NCAA WOMEN'S BRACKET

Diggin's Diary -- Talkin' the NCAA Tournament

University of Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins -- continues her diary for ESPNW, from Utah.  Here's a link to her story:

LINK:  DIGGIN'S DIARY

Muffet's Irish on ESPN2 Today at 6:35 PM!

The other #2 seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame basketball team gets their NCAA Tournament run started this afternoon at 6:35 PM EDT on ESPN2.  The Irish take on the #15 seeded Utah -- on the Utes home floor.  (The photo above is courtesy of the South Bend Tribune -- showing the Irish at practice yesterday) Here's a link to the GAME NOTES for today's game:

LINK:  GAME NOTES:  IRISH vs. UTES

Scott & Martin -- Lead the Irish to Victory!

It wasn't easy, it wasn't pretty (14 turnovers) -- yet, it was a WIN.  The Akron Head Coach -- in an interview with a TBS courtside reporter -- called out the IRISH in his 'post half time' comments.  He inferred the IRISH played "soft" on the inside -- and they did, in the first half.

Not in the second!!!

Scott Martin got off to a fast start in the second half on the offensive end -- and Carleton Scott took control of the defensive boards as the Irish cruised to a 69 - 56 win.  It's now on to play the winner of Florida State vs. Texas A&M on Sunday.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  NCAA FAN FEED

Irish Up 4 @ Halftime -- Over Akron...

A "shaky" first half for the Fighting Irish -- if they don't hit the backboards better, it's going to be a long ride home to South Bend this evening.  Leading by eleven early -- the halftime score is 34 - 30.  It's being televised on TBS.  C'MON IRISH!

Graduation Success Rates -- NCAA Tournament

I took a look at the 64 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament teams -- and compiled their Graduation Success Rate by Region, giving them a new seeding based on their GSR.  Here's some of the highlights -- along with a link below to a Washington Post story on graduation rates of the teams in the Tournament:

• Seven (7) Teams have a perfect GSR of 100 -- and you have Princeton who is not GSR rated by the NCAA
• Thirteen (13) Teams have a GSR of under 50
• The Region that "graduates the most student-athletes" is the Southeast Region -- with an average GSR of 72.13
• The Region that "graduates the fewest student-athletes" is the West Region -- with an average GSR of 56.81
• The Second Round Game with the greatest disparity in GSR is the Notre Dame's 100 GSR vs. Akron's 38 GSR
• The Second Round Game between BYU vs. Wofford matched two teams with 100 GSR's
• The Second Round Game with the worst combined GSR is Michigan's 36 GSR vs. Tennessee's 40 GSR
• Here's the average GSR for the (5) Southeast Conference teams in the Tournament:  51.4 GSR
• Here's the average GSR for the (7) Big Ten teams in the Tournament:  67.57 GSR
• Here's the average GSR for the (11) Big East teams in the Tournament:  69.27 GSR
• Here's the average GSR for the (3) Pac 10 Conference teams in the Tournament:  44.67 GSR
• Here's the average GSR for the (4) ACC teams in the Tournament:  78.75 GSR
• Here's the average GSR for the (5) Big 12 teams in the Tournament:  54 GSR

EAST REGION
#1:  Princeton -- IVY LEAGUE
#2:  Villanova -- 100 GSR
#3:  Xavier -- 92 GSR
#4:  Marquette -- 91 GSR
#5:  North Carolina -- 88 GSR
#6:  Long Island -- 78 GSR
#7:  West Virginia -- 71 GSR
#8:  Clemson -- 71 GSR
#9:  George Mason -- 67 GSR
#10:  Indiana State -- 67 GSR
#12:  Ohio State -- 64 GSR
#13:  Syracuse -- 54 GSR
#14:  University of Texas San Antonio -- 50 GSR
#15:  Kentucky -- 44 GSR
#16:  Georgia -- 36 GSR

SOUTHWEST REGION
#1:  Notre Dame -- 100 GSR
#2:  Illinois -- 100 GSR
#3:  Vanderbilt -- 93 GSR
#4:  Boston U -- 90 GSR
#5:  Richmond -- 83 GSR
#6:  Kansas -- 80 GSR
#7:  Georgetown -- 78 GSR
#8:  Florida State -- 73 GSR
#9:  St. Peter's -- 70 GSR
#10:  Purdue -- 67 GSR
#11:  UNLV -- 67 GSR
#12:  Texas A&M -- 64 GSR
#13:  VCU -- 56 GSR
#14:  Louisville -- 50 GSR
#15:  Moorehead State -- 43 GSR
#16:  Akron -- 38 GSR

SOUTHEAST REGION
#1:  BYU -- 100 GSR
#2:  Utah State -- 100 GSR
#3:  Belmont -- 100 GSR
#4:  Wofford -- 100 GSR
#5:  Butler -- 83 GSR
#6:  UC Santa Barbara -- 77 GSR
#7:  Gonzaga -- 73 GSR
#8:  Wisconsin -- 70 GSR
#9:  St. John's -- 70 GSR
#10 UCLA -- 70 GSR
#11:  Pittsburgh -- 64 GSR
#12:  Old Dominion -- 63 GSR
#13:  Michigan State -- 50 GSR
#14: UNC Asheville -- 50 GSR
#15:  Florida -- 44 GSR
#16:  Kansas State -- 40 GSR

WEST REGION
#1:  Univ. North Colorado -- 92 GSR
#2:  Bucknell -- 91 GSR
#3:  Penn State -- 86 GSR
#4:  Duke -- 83 GSR
#5:  Oakland -- 75 GSR
#6:  Hampton -- 67 GSR
#7:  San Diego State -- 58 GSR
#8:  Memphis -- 58 GSR
#9:  Cincinnati -- 53 GSR
#10:  Missouri -- 44 GSR
#11:  Texas -- 42 GSR
#12:  Tennessee -- 40 GSR
#13:  Michigan -- 36 GSR
#14:  Temple -- 33 GSR
#15:  UCONN -- 31 GSR
#16:  Arizona -- 20 GSR

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST STORY -- GRADUATION RATES

Skylar Diggins -- Her Diary on ESPNW

Notre Dame Women's Basketball's sophomore sensation -- Skylar Diggins, is publishing her own diary on ESPNW these days.  The fun began yesterday -- as she posted a story about the last two days since SELECTION MONDAY for the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament.  I'm guessing she'll be publishing a story from "time to time" during the tournament.  Here's a link to her first story:

LINK:  DIGGIN'S DIARY

It's Notre Dame Day @ VERSUS

In honor of St. Patrick's Day -- I'M JUST GUESSING -- the good folks at the VERSUS cable network will air an afternoon and evening (six straight hours) of CLASSIC NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL games.  The fun begins at 5 PM EDT -- today with the 1992 "Snow Bowl" versus Penn State followed two hours later by the "Bush Push" game in 2005 vs. USC and at 9 PM the "#1 vs. #2" game in 1993 vs. Florida State.  So, forget the NCAA Tournament -- the IRISH play tomorrow -- tune-in to ND Football!  And, while you're at it -- click on the link below and vote for your "10 Most Memorable Moments on NBC."

LINK:   10 MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS ON NBC

Notre Dame -- Starring in Adidas TV Spot!

Adidas -- the official partner of Notre Dame Athletics -- showed their hand two weeks ago when they chose the University of Notre Dame to star in their new TV commercials.  That "school in Ann Arbor" made a claim a few years back that they "have the best deal with Adidas."  Really?  If that was the case Michigan -- why aren't you starring in these ads with Katy Perry?  Here's a link:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME "ALL IN" WITH ADIDAS

ND Law Grads -- Among Highest Paid!

Forbes just released a ranking of the "mid-career" salaries of law school grads -- from the top law schools in America.  Notre Dame Law School grads -- ranked 10th overall with a "median" mid career salary of $191,000.  Here's a link to the top ten schools:

LINK:  FORBES:  RANKING OF SALARIES OF LAW SCHOOL GRADS

Charlie Weis -- Meets With the Media

Former Notre Dame Football Coach, Charlie Weis '78 -- met with the media today for the first time wearing the colors of the Florida Gators.  You can catch Weis at approximately 33.30 minute mark of the video.  Just fast forward to that point. 

LINK:  WEIS TALKIN' GATORS

Muffet's Irish -- Also a #2 Seed in NCAA!

Not a bad year -- so far -- for basketball at the University of Notre Dame.  Both teams have been consistently ranked in the TOP TEN in 2011 and in the past two days -- both teams were given a #2 seed for their respective NCAA Tournaments.  The only "unfortunate" break seems to be that Muffet's Irish have to travel to Salt Lake City to take on UTAH -- and ND's one of the top seeds in the tournament.  Doesn't make much sense does it!?  Well, here's what the media has to say about Notre Dame Women's Basketball's chances:

LINK:  SALT LAKE CITY'S DESERET NEWS

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

Irish Obstacles -- Road to the Final Four

For the #2 Seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- here's what the road to the FINAL FOUR (the first four opponents) -- could look like, if the Top Seeds in the Southwest Region win their games:

1. Round Two:  Akron (23 - 12) -- no common opponents with the Irish
2. Round Three:  Texas A&M (24 - 8) -- no common opponents with the Irish
3. Round Four:  Purdue (25 - 7) -- Indiana State, West Virginia and Wisconsin common opponents with the Irish
4. Round Five:  Kansas (32 - 2) -- no common opponents with the Irish

It won't be easy -- but, it's also not impossible for Notre Dame to make its first FINAL FOUR appearance since 1978!  Game One -- this Friday night against Akron!!!  Here's a link to a story that gives an overview of what's ahead for Notre Dame:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR

Notre Dame "Selection Sunday" Show

Here's a link to UND.COM's coverage of Notre Dame basketball's "Selection Sunday" -- you'll enjoy!

LINK:  COACH BREY

LINK:  HANSBROUGH & SCOTT

LINK:  ABROMAITIS