Now the "LITTLE HOUSE" in Ann Arbor!!!

At 8:12 AM ET on Thursday, March 31st -- the ND GO IRISH BLOG surpassed the "capacity" of the largest football stadium in the country -- now to be forever called the "LITTLE HOUSE" in Ann Arbor.

ND GO IRISH BLOG regulars will recall our most recent goal here was to surpass the 109,901 UNIQUE VISITOR mark -- Michigan Stadium's seating capacity -- well, we kind of "BLUE" by that number over the past 24 hours.

A Notre Dame fan from Tuscaloosa, AL logged on yesterday morning to become "UNIQUE VISITOR #109,902" -- making ND GO IRISH BLOG the largest "college venue" in America!!! 

As of 4:41 PM EST -- we now have had 120,643 UNIQUE VISITORS to the ND GO IRISH BLOG since its launch in January of 2011.  It's been an unbelievable 36 hour period for traffic to this site -- with more than 17,000 Notre Dame fans visiting this blog.  THANK YOU!

Irish Arrive in INDY for the FINAL FOUR!

The Women's Final Four's official activities began Thursday night -- even though the Irish don't play UCONN until Sunday evening at 9:30 PM ET.  The photo above shows the Fighting Irish arriving at their Indianapolis  hotel.  Here's a link to UND.COM's coverage of the FINAL FOUR -- and the motorcade bringing the IRISH to town!

LINK:  IRISH AT THE FINAL FOUR!

Spring Practice #6 -- Notre Dame Football

Coach Kelly met with the media after Friday morning's practice at the University of Notre Dame.  This was practice #6 of fifteen (including the Blue Gold Game) for the Fighting Irish during the Spring Season.  Here's a link to the interview along with a second link to a UND.COM feature on the Linebackers:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH THE MEDIA

LINK:  ND LINEBACKERS

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: ND Shamrock Helmets

Here's what the "shamrock" logo looked like on ND helmets in 1959 (top photo) and 1960 (bottom photo) -- you'll note the shamrock design changed quite dramatically.  Who knows what ND was thinking with the top photo?  Rumor has it that Coach Kuharich put the upside down shamrock on the 1959 helmet to change the luck of the football program.  I wonder what shamrock design the Irish will go with for the Michigan game?

Zibby -- "I Want to be World Champion!"

Former Notre Dame football star, Tommy Zbikowski -- sat down for an interview with a boxing writer from Sports Illustrated this week to talk about his professional boxing career.   Zibby has had a couple of pro fights the past three weeks during the NFL "hiatus."  Thought you'd enjoy this!

LINK:  TOMMY Z -- WORLD CHAMPION DREAMS

ND Football Uniform Design to Rival Oregon's?

Coach Kelly dropped a couple of "bombshells" when he met with students at Siegfried Hall this week -- the first was the "OLD SCHOOL" look for the Irish when they play Michigan this September...

However, the biggest bomb might be his comment that the IRISH will unveil a uniform, later in the season, that even Oregon isn't doing.  WHAT?  Looks like Adidas must be putting some pressure on ND to get on board with a strategy that will sell gear.  Stay tuned!

The Plane Crash That Changed Notre Dame

80 years ago today -- March 31, 1931 -- a plane crash in Bazaar, Kansas forever changed the University of Notre Dame.  A man by the name of Knute Rockne -- was unfortunately on that plane -- and his death shocked a nation, let alone a school in the "middle of nowhere."

Much has been written, much has been said -- in the eighty years since Rockne's death.  What's a given is this -- his legacy of success in football and the willingness to play "anyone -- anywhere" -- shaped the brand we know today as the University of Notre Dame.

Here's a link to a story written by The Republic -- concerning Rockne's untimely death:

LINK:  KNUTE ROCKNE'S DEATH

Irish Going "Old School" Against Michigan...

Brian Kelly, let some ND students know at Siegfried Hall today that the IRISH were going to go "old school" in their game in September against Michigan.  The Irish will be donning the "gold helmets" with the SHAMROCK. 

ND vs. USC -- This Year Under the Lights!

The University of Notre Dame "officially" announced today -- that the game October 22nd between the Fighting Irish and the Trojans from the University of Southern California will be played at 7:30 PM ET in Notre Dame Stadium.  The game -- in PRIME TIME on NBC -- will be a huge ratings winner!

A Notre Dame Man -- Jim Seymour R.I.P.

One of Notre Dame's finest -- joined Heaven's team yesterday.  Jim Seymour '69 lost his battle with cancer.  Our prayers go out to his wife and kids.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  JIM SEYMOUR

Spring Practice #5 -- Notre Dame Football

Here's a few links to UND.COM's coverage today of Notre Dame Football.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  THE OFFENSIVE LINE

LINK:  ND QB -- HELMET CAM

LINK:  DEFENSIVE BACK FEATURE

A Knute Rockne Story You'll Like

I received an email this evening from Jeanette O'Toole -- who alerted me to her husband Tom's blog called "FIGHTING IRISH THOMAS."  Thought you'd enjoy Tom O'Toole's love of the IRISH -- and his blog story on Knute Rockne.  Thanks for the nice note Jeanette!

LINK:  FIGHTING IRISH THOMAS

Diggin's Diary -- Latest At ESPNW

The Dayton Regional's Most Outstanding Player -- Skylar Diggins, has been writing a daily diary for the folks at ESPNW -- here's a link to her post from yesterday:

LINK:  DIGGIN'S DIARY

Best 30 Hrs. In Notre Dame Sports History!

If you look at a 30 hour window of time -- from 3:15 PM on Sunday, March 27th to 9:15 PM on Monday, March 28th -- and what three Notre Dame athletic teams accomplished in their sport -- it might be the greatest 30 hours in Irish Athletics history!

First, Notre Dame's Fencing team won their eighth National Championship.  Then, a few hours later, Notre Dame's Men's Hockey team won their game earning a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four and then last night, Notre Dame's Women's Basketball team beat #1 seed Tennessee (the first time ever) to earn a spot in the NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four.

I challenge the ND sports historians to come up with a more productive 30 hour period in Notre Dame sports history!!!

Here's a few links to the GREATEST 30 HOURS IN NOTRE DAME SPORTS HISTORY!

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE -- FENCING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE -- HOCKEY FINAL FOUR BOUND

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE -- BASKETBALL FINAL FOUR BOUND

Tennessee WHO? -- IRISH ON TO FINAL FOUR!

Once upon a time -- Notre Dame couldn't beat a team whose band could only play one song.  Well, that ended tonight in Dayton.  The Fighting Irish led the #1 seed Lady Vols from "start to finish" -- bringing to end two streaks;  Tennessee's 25 game winning streak this season and ND's 20 game losing streak to Tennessee.  Final score:  ND 73 - TENN 59.

THE IRISH ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THE FINAL FOUR!!!!

Skylar Diggins -- was the best player on the floor tonight and Becka Bruszewski was the toughest.  And, for Irish fans -- having to listen to a PRO TENNESSEE broadcast from our "friends" at ESPN -- it was a good thing we won!!!

Here's a couple of links to ESPN's recap of the game -- and UND.COM's coverage of the celebration!!!

LINK:  CUTTIN' DOWN THE NETS

LINK:  ESPN BLOG  

LINK:  UND.COM -- POSTGAME CELEBRATION

Ben Hansbrough -- 2nd Team AP All-American

University of Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough -- collected another honor today -- selection to the AP's All-America Second Team for Men's College Basketball.  The Big East Player of the Year -- will probably be receiving a few more honors over the next few weeks!  CONGRATULATIONS BEN!  Here's a link to the SportsIllustrated.COM story:

LINK:  HANSBROUGH NAMED AN ALL-AMERICAN

Urban Meyer -- Reports on Notre Dame Football

The former ND Assistant Coach -- was back on the Notre Dame campus for the first time since his days on the staff of Lou Holtz.  Meyer has since won a couple of National Championships for a school south of the "Mason Dixon Line."  It seemed kind of odd -- seeing him interviewing Brian Kelly.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  URBAN ON THE IRISH

Irish Women Take on Tennessee Vols Tonight!

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish take on Pat Summitt's Vols in a battle to see which team will head on to the FINAL FOUR in Indianapolis.  Tennessee is the #1 seed in the Dayton Regional and Notre Dame is the #2 seed -- should be a great ballgame!  IRISH FANS SHOULD NOTE:  Notre Dame has never beat Tennessee in women's basketball -- we're 0 - 20.  That's going to change tonight!!!  Tip off is scheduled for 7 PM ET on ESPN.  Here's a link to some of the stories pre-viewing tonight's matchup:


LINK:  GO VOLS EXTRA

LINK:  DAYTON HERALD

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ROCKY TOP TALK

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Here Come The Irish -- NCAA Frozen Four!

Jeff Jackson's "young" Fighting Irish moved one step closer to Notre Dame's first national championship in hockey last night with a 2 - 1 win over New Hampshire in Manchester, NH.  The win means the Irish get to travel to the NCAA Frozen Four -- April 7th in Saint Paul, MN -- to take on another "home state" team as they play Minnesota Duluth in the National Semi-Final game.  ND goalie Mike Johnson had 37 saves and Billy Mayday scored the game winner with 5 seconds left in the second period.  Here's some video from last night's game from our friends at UND.COM and some of the game stories.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ON ICE & LOCKERROOM CELEBRATION

LINK:  FINAL 10 SECONDS OF THE GAME

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  MANCHESTER EXAMINER

LINK:  NBC'S PRO HOCKEY TALK

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

ND Fencing Wins National Championship!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame clinched their 8th National Championship this afternoon!  Here's a link to the LIVE web feed of the final events at the NCAA National Championships and a link to the 2011NCAA Fencing National Championship highlights.  Someone needs to design a "GOLD" Fencing Helmet for the Irish!!!  CONGRATULATIONS IRISH!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FENCING -- NATIONAL CHAMPS!

LINK:  VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP