Muffet's Irish -- Play for National Championship!

It still feels good the "morning after" -- trust me!!!  Muffet McGraw has another team in the NCAA Championship game -- ten years after she led her IRISH to our first National Championship in basketball in 2001.

What shouldn't be overlooked is this -- the past two games, Notre Dame beat teams with a combined 70 - 3 record.  The Lady Vols were 34 - 2 when they took on the Irish and UCONN was 36 - 1.

These two teams have won 15 of the last 23 National Championships -- think about that!

Here's a few links to UND.COM's video coverage of the big win for the IRISH last night -- along with a few of the media stories:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS -- IRISH BEAT UCONN!

LINK:  POST GAME CELEBRATION -- IRISH BEAT UCONN! 

LINK:  ND POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  INDY STAR

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE


LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

THE PHOTO OF THE NIGHT -- WINNING!

Young lady -- you led the IRISH to one of its guttiest wins of all time -- we're so proud of you and your teammates!  GO IRISH!!!!

Here's a link to what ESPN is sayin' right now...

LINK:  ESPN'S FIRST TAKE ON IRISH WIN!

Fourth Photo of the Night -- NEXT!!!!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- move on to the National Championship game Tuesday night against Texas A&M.  ND beat UCONN 72 - 63!

Third Photo of the Night -- Skylar Diggans!

This young lady -- assumed the mantle of the top player in college basketball tonight -- and what a time to do just that!!!

Second Photo of the Night! -- The Fighting Irish!

The Lady Irish have been the toughest team in America the past two weeks -- THE FIGHTING IRISH ARE BACK!!!

First Photo of the Night! -- Sorry Geno!!!

 

UCONN Coach Geno Auriemma -- thinking about where he's going to watch the Irish play on Tuesday night!

TAKE THAT ESPN! -- IRISH ON TO TUESDAY!

We had to listen to the ESPN "UCONN SPECIAL -- for more than two hours -- yet, they can shut up now -- CUZ THE IRISH ARE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!  GO IRISH!!!!

If you'd like to watch the replay -- it's right here:

LINK:  REPLAY OF IRISH'S WIN OVER UCONN!!

LINK:  INDY STAR -- GAME RECAP

4 Hours to the IRISH BEAT DOWN of UCONN!

I can feel it!!!!

We're four hours from the very best 40 minute performance -- of this season --  in women's college basketball.  THE IRISH ARE GOING TO WIN!!!  Here's a last look at ND from yesterday and a preview of tonight's game -- from our friends at UND.COM:

LINK:  ND vs. UCONN -- GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  IRISH OPEN PRACTICE

LINK:  IRISH VISIT THE INDY ZOO

ND's Chief Investment Officer -- National Award!

Scott Malpass, ND's "money guy" -- will receive Institutional Investor's "Large Endowment Manager of the Year" award -- at an event in NYC on May 16th.  Malpass manages Notre Dame's $6.2 billion endowment -- the 14th largest in Higher Education and the largest at any Catholic university.  Here's a link to Institutional Investor's announcement:

LINK:  SCOTT MALPASS GETS TOP HONOR!

ND Blue Gold Game -- First Weather Forecast

Here's the first look at weather for the Blue Gold Weekend at Notre Dame.  It won't be cold -- but, it might be a little wet.  Here you go:

LINK:  EARLY WEATHER FORECAST -- BLUE GOLD WEEKEND

ND Tight Ends -- UND.COM Feature

Here's a link to a UND.COM feature on the Tight End position at the University of Notre Dame.  Enjoy!

LINK:  A POSITION OF EXCELLENCE

ND Football's "Party on the Patio"

During Saturday's practice -- the ND Football program hosted 35 women from the University who have played a role in the Notre Dame Football program.  UND.COM was on hand to tell the event's story.  Here's the link:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S "PARTY ON THE PATIO"

Final Press Conferences @ THE FINAL FOUR

The good folks at UND.COM were working hard again yesterday in Indianapolis -- covering the final Press Conferences before tonight's game against UCONN.  Remember to take a nap this afternoon -- the game tips off around 9:30 PM ET!  Here are the links:

LINK:  MUFFET McGRAW'S -- FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PLAYERS -- FINAL FOUR PRESS CONFERENCE

Final Four Headquarters -- 13 Hours to Tip-Off!

Tonight's the night Notre Dame beats UCONN in women's basketball.  We're going to find a way to control Maya Moore -- and we're going to dominate the backboards.  I can feel it.  This is not as talented a team as we're use to seeing from Auriemma -- and, we match up quite well.  The key is this -- we need to win the first five minutes of the game.

To get you ready for tonight's contest -- here's a look around the media world this AM -- and all that is being said about THE GAME.  Remember -- tip off is slated for around 9:30 PM ET on ESPN. 

GO IRISH!!!

LINK:  INDIANAPOLIS STAR -- STORY #1

LINK:  ESPNW BLOG

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  USA TODAY

LINK:  THE TIMES LEADER 

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS

LINK:  ABC NEWS

LINK:  SEATTLE POST INTELLIGENCER

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  HARTFORD CURRENT

OT -- The Butler Bulldogs are Flying High!!

Here's a photo of the Butler Bulldog -- their mascot -- posing with the pilots on their flight to Houston.  Looks like the DOG will be on TV again Monday night!  Congratulations Butler -- OUR IRISH could learn something from you!!!

The Fighting Irish @ The Final Four!

Here's some interesting "behind the scenes" videos of the Fighting Irish getting ready for tomorrow's game against UCONN -- produced by the Women's Basketball Media Relations Team at ND.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME IN INDY

LINK:  DAY 1 @ THE FINAL FOUR!

Irish Men's Golf -- A Fashion Statement?

Just saw this photo of Notre Dame's Chris Walker -- sporting the "knee high" socks on the golf course.  Do you think Chris might have lost a bet?  WOW!!!

Skylar Diggins -- All American!!!

Here is a video from this morning's announcement that Skylar Diggins was named to State Farm Coaches All American team.  Skylar is the third Notre Dame women's basketball player in history to be named to this ten member team (Ruth Riley 2001 - Jacqueline Bateast 2005).  Thanks to the gang at UND.COM for their quick turn around on this breaking story.  CONGRATULATIONS SKYLAR!!!

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS -- ALL AMERICAN!

Will Coach Kelly Get a Jumbotron @ ND?

Coach Kelly made some news this week when he met with some students at Siegfried Hall on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.   Besides talking about some uniform changes for the Irish this fall -- he was asked a question whether he would like to see a "jumbotron" in Notre Dame Stadium.  His answer:  "YES..."

Last June, a Notre Dame alum -- who's an architect -- posted these architectural renderings (click on them to enlarge) of how he would re-design Notre Dame Stadium.  As you can see -- a JUMBOTRON is part of his proposed re-design in the south end of the Stadium -- opposite "Touchdown Jesus."  And, a few private suites to add to the Stadium's seating capacity.  What do you think?

Coach Brey -- Piling Up the National Awards!

University of Notre Dame Men's Basketball Coach -- Mike Brey, is going to need a bigger office on campus to showcase all of the hardware he's won over the past few weeks.  Yesterday, the Associated Press named Coach Brey their National Coach of the Year.  Ten days ago, the National Basketball Writers Association named him their National Coach of the Year -- as did Yahoo! Sports a few weeks prior.

Coach Brey has been awarded SEVEN (7) NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR HONORS this post season!

He was also named the Big East Coach of the Year -- the third time in the last five years.  Congratulations Coach!

LINK:  AP -- NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

LINK:  USBWA -- NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

LINK:  YAHOO! SPORTS -- NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

LINK:  UND.COM -- VIDEO FEATURE