PHOTO OF THE DAY: ND Spring Practice

Here's what practice looks like "indoors" at the Loftus Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  The Irish are involved in practice #3 of the Spring Season.  Photo courtesy of Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune -- he "tweeted" this photo.

Muffet's Irish -- on ESPN at 2:30 PM EDT Today!

The "Sweet Sixteen" Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on Oklahoma today in Dayton, OH.  The winner advances to the Elite Eight -- and one step closer to the FINAL FOUR.  Last year Oklahoma knocked out ND in the NCAA Tournament -- REVENGE TIME!  The game will be televised by ESPN beginning at 2:30 PM EDT.

To get you ready for today's game -- you'll want to click on the links below:


LINK:  ND vs. OKLAHOMA PREVIEW

LINK:  MUFFET'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  ND PLAYERS -- PRESS CONFERENCE

Zibby Fighting Again -- TONIGHT ON HBO!

Former Notre Dame football star and current NFL Baltimore Raven -- Tommy Zbikowski, is fighting again tonight.  He's in Atlantic City, NJ fighting in a four-round "undercard" bout on HBO's "Boxing After Dark" telecast -- and he'll have "Hall-a-Famer" Emanuel Steward in his corner.  HBO will have "highlights" of Tommy's fight during their telecast tonight which begins at 9:45 PM ET.

Steward is one of the all-time great boxing trainers -- working out of his KRONK gym in Detroit.  Zibby and Steward teamed up for this fight and it appears Zibby intends to move to Detroit after the fight to continue his quest to become the Heavyweight Champion of the World!  (Photo above of Emmanuel Steward and Tommy Zbikowski)

Just something to do while the NFL is on strike...

The New York Post and The Press of Atlantic City ran stories this morning about Tommy's fight -- see links below.  And, there's a third link to an interview with Zibby about tonight's fight -- just fast forward the video to the 10:30 mark and you'll find his interview. 

LINK:  NEW YORK POST STORY

LINK:  THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY

LINK:  ZIBBY TV INTERVIEW

The "Not So" Elite Eight: Student-Athletes

Over the next two-days, the nation's attention will be on the ELITE EIGHT -- the last teams standing in the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.  We will hear story after story about how great these teams are on the wood floor.  But, I can bet -- CBS and BANK NCAA won't be alerting all of you to this story...

Back in 1906 the NCAA was formed (in their own words) to "protect young people from the dangerous and exploitive athletics practices of the time."  This was 105 years ago -- long before the NCAA became a bank in Indianapolis.

Here's the story you won't be hearing today or tomorrow -- and it's about the "exploitation" of the "student" half of the misplaced term -- student-athlete.  If you were to properly identify the guys wearing basketball uniforms -- on TV sets these next two days -- they would be placed in two categories:

Student-Athletes or Rented-Athletes.   

Behind closed doors BANK NCAA calls the latter; "short-term assets."

Of the teams left in the Elite Eight -- here's how the teams should be identified -- based on BANK NCAA's GSR score -- (it's not a credit score) -- it's the Graduation Success Rate of its bank account holders.

Student-Athletes:

• North Carolina -- a GSR of 88 
• Butler -- a GSR of 83
• Kansas -- a GSR of 80 

Rented-Athletes or Short Term Assets:

• VCU -- a GSR of 56
• Kentucky -- a GSR of 44
• Florida -- a GSR of 44
• UCONN -- a GSR of 31
• Arizona -- a GSR of 20  

It makes you wonder why BANK NCAA even seeks a GSR score for its bank account holders?  Have you ever heard a story about BANK NCAA "turning down" VCU, Kentucky, Florida, UCONN or Arizona as a customer -- for their low GSR score?  I haven't.  From what I can see, BANK NCAA just keeps taking deposits -- from all of their account holders.

This is the story you won't hear today or tomorrow -- BANK ON IT!

PHOTO OF THE DAY: ND Coaches Clinic

The "guest speakers" at the University of Notre Dame Football Coaches Clinic this weekend are seen here in this picture with Coach Brian Kelly;  Urban Meyer and Chip Kelly.  A big "thank you" goes out to Coach Kelly for "tweeting" this photo!

Spring Practice Update -- Friday, March 25th

The gang at UND.COM was at practice again -- this morning at the University of Notre Dame -- as Brian Kelly's crew was back on the indoor field for Spring Practice #2.  Here's a link to a feature they produced on the QB competition -- along with links to interviews with the two top returning QB's on the roster (Crist and Rees): 

LINK:  QB COMPETITION AT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST INTERVIEW

LINK:  TOMMY REES INTERVIEW

Jeff Samardzija On Opening Day Cub's Roster!

Former Notre Dame football and baseball star, Jeff Samardzija -- will be in the Chicago Cubs bullpen when the season starts next weekend.  Here's a link to ESPN's story:

LINK:  THE SHARK MAKES THE CUBS ROSTER

The NCAA Is Really the Name of a Bank in Indy

The news the past few months out of Columbus (OH), Auburn (AL) and Eugene (OR) -- and the lack of any action out of the NCAA proves my point -- the NCAA is just the name of a "bank" located in Indianapolis, IN.

Five Ohio State athletes -- sell merchandise given to them to a "shady character" in Columbus.  We now know that their head coach knew about it last April -- yet, they all are eligible to play in their BCS Bowl Game.  Why you ask (?) -- just take a look at the deposit slips at BANK NCAA.

Auburn's starting QB's family seeks $150,000 + for their son's signature on a scholarship offer -- and the proof is there that it happened -- yet, BANK NCAA lets him play in the National Championship game.   Why you ask (?) -- just take a look at the deposit slips at BANK NCAA.

Oregon, the other team in the National Championship game this past January -- paid $25,000 to a Houston based "recruiting service" shortly after a star high-school player by the name of Seastrunk signed a National Letter of Intent with the Ducks -- in February of 2010.  Will Lyles was the recipient of the $25,000 and he was the kid's "personal trainer."   The check wasn't sent to Lyles from a "booster" -- it was sent directly to him by Oregon's Athletic Department.  FYI -- Oregon had sent Lyles a check for $16,500 the previous year as well.

Life must be good for "personal trainers" around the country of athletes being recruited by Oregon!

Yet, once again -- the Ducks were allowed to play in the National Championship Game.  Why (?) -- just take a look at the deposit slips at BANK NCAA.

Folks -- it's quite obvious that BANK NCAA only makes rulings when they don't impact their savings account.  If they had ruled on these three teams before the bowl games -- ratings might have dropped -- which would have impacted future contract negotiations (BANK DEPOSITS) with the TV networks.
 
So, BANK NCAA will wait, wait, wait and wait -- to charge any penalties to their account holders -- until after the CHECKS HAVE CLEARED.

Thus -- the message to athletic departments is this:  If you're willing to go "all-in" to win a National Championship -- meaning, break any rule you want.  You can -- and you won't be penalized until years after you've won that Championship -- after the checks have cleared BANK NCAA.

Sad -- but true.

Notre Dame To Go Dark This Weekend!

In honor of Earth Day -- the University of Notre Dame will "turn off the lights" on the "Golden Dome" and "Touchdown Jesus" for a sixty hour period this weekend.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  TURN OFF THE LIGHTS!

ND Fencing in 1st Place at NCAA -- Day 1

The #1 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are in first place after Day 1 of the NCAA Championships.  Notre Dame is seeking its ninth National Championship in Fencing.  Here's a link to the NCAA coverage of the event:

LINK:  NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS -- ND IN FIRST PLACE!

Golic and Newman -- Don't Try This @ Home!

Was just sent a link to this video of Notre Dame football players; Mike Golic, Jr. and Brandon Newman performing the band TOTO's song "Africa" -- in what appears to be a lecture hall at the University of Notre Dame.  You will get a laugh out of this...

LINK:  GOLIC JR. AND NEWMAN

CFN Projects ND Sweep of Big 10!

College Football News published a story today predicting the results for each Big Ten team for the upcoming 2011 season.  And, for the three Big Ten teams that play the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in 2011; Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue -- CFN is predicting Notre Dame wins over all three Big Ten opponents!  So, does that make Notre Dame a LEADER and a LEGEND?  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  IRISH "UNDEFEATED" AGAINST THE BIG TEN IN 2011

ND Alum -- Half Way Across America!

He's run 1,885.1 miles over the past 63 days -- and he's a Domer!

His name is Jeff Grabowsky -- he's a 2005 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and he's running across America -- pushing an 80 lb. stroller that contains all of his gear.  Yesterday, he ran 38.5 miles in six hours -- think about that!!!  This morning he's in Springfield, MO -- on his way to New York's Times Square -- where he should arrive sometime between May 25th and May 28th.

You can follow Jeff's run across America -- at the link below.  God Bless You Jeff!!!

LINK:  JEFF RUNS AMERICA

"Dr. Lou" -- Back in Notre Dame Stadium!

The University of Notre Dame announced today that former Notre Dame coaching legend -- Lou Holtz -- will be given an honorary "DOCTORATE" degree!  Coach Holtz -- who's been playing a character called "Dr. Lou" -- on ESPN during the college football season, will now have the "paper" to go with the title!  Notre Dame's Commencement is set for Sunday, May 22nd inside Notre Dame Stadium -- a fitting place for Dr. Lou!  Congratulations Coach!  Here's a link to the ESPN story:

LINK:  THE REAL DR. LOU!

Muffet's Irish -- Sweet 16 AGAIN!

I'm almost 48 hours late in getting a number of the stories out on Notre Dame Women's basketball -- I'm still in mourning over Sunday night's debacle in Chicago...

So, now I'm OFFICIALLY on the "bandwagon" of Muffet's team -- as they head to Dayton, OH to take on the Sooners of Oklahoma -- this Saturday at 2 PM EDT on ESPN. Here's a link to UND.COM's NCAA TOURNAMENT CENTRAL -- with "hoop to hoop" coverage of the Fighting Irish -- you'll enjoy!

LINK:  NCAA TOURNAMENT CENTRAL

ND Spring Football -- First Practice Report!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame hit the practice field for their first of 14 practices before the Blue Gold Game on Saturday, April 16th.  Here's a few links to a report from practice and post practice interviews today -- with Head Coach Brian Kelly, Coach Diaco, Coach Molnar, Coach Alford and Coach Elston from the good folks at UND.COM.  Keep an ear and eye out for "HELMET CAM" on the Notre Dame QB's -- in this report -- pretty cool coaching tool:

LINK:  PRACTICE REPORT -- #1

LINK:  COACH KELLY -- POST PRACTICE WITH MEDIA

LINK:  ASSISTANT COACHES -- POST PRACTICE WITH MEDIA

Over 100,000 Unique Visitors!!!

At 6:42 AM EDT -- at a computer in Reading, PA this morning -- a Notre Dame fan became the 100,000th Unique Visitor to the ND GO IRISH BLOG! 

THANK YOU to all of the Notre Dame Family members who've made this blog part of your daily "Notre Dame Fix" on the web.  Remember, our goal is to surpass the "stated" attendance for  the largest football stadium in America -- which will remain nameless.  We have a few thousand more to go!!!

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