Irish Softball Big East Regular Season Champs!

It took a grand slam from senior catcher Alexia Clay (pictured)  in the final at bat against UCONN, as the Irish scored five times in the top of the seventh to overcome an 11-9 deficit to win the Big East regular season title!  ESPN's Graham Hays wrote a story today about the Big East Championships this weekend in Louisville -- here's a link.  Go IRISH!

LINK:  IRISH WIN REGULAR SEASON TITLE!

Notre Dame Coach Kelly on WFAN in New York

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly was a guest this afternoon on WFAN in NYC.  You'll enjoy listening to the podcast -- he's on the air for just under five minutes:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY ON WFAN

Carleton Scott to Leave ND Early for NBA Draft!

In what I would call "shocking news" -- University of Notre Dame graduating senior, Carleton Scott -- decided to forgo his final year of eligibility with the IRISH to enter the 2011 NBA Draft.  Scott, who will graduate with the Class of 2011 May 22nd in South Bend, had til midnight last night to make his decision.

Here's what's shocking.  Only the players drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft have guaranteed contracts -- meaning you'd have to be one of the top 30 players drafted.  Only 60 players are drafted in total.   

Scott is currently ranked #120 in the NBA Draft by ESPN. 

I'm guessing Carleton's decided to play in Europe for one of the professional leagues there.  Salaries range from $150,000 to $750,000 annually in Europe, depending on what you can negotiate.

Here's a link to a few of the news stories surrounding his decision:

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a link to the University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir singing "Notre Dame Our Mother."  Thought this was the perfect post for Mother's Day.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME OUR MOTHER!

Irish Move Up in ESPN's 'Way Too Early' Poll

Pre-season polls make news and our friends at ESPN have more than most.  Here's a link to ESPN college football writer Brian Bennett's blog post on why he voted the Irish into his top-twenty along with a link to the actual poll -- which you'll see is typical for ESPN, not factual about Notre Dame:

LINK:  ESPN'S POST SPRING WAY TOO EARLY POLL

LINK:  BRIAN BENNETT'S BLOG POST ON THE IRISH

A Notre Dame Football Promotional Video

Looks like Coach Kelly's enthusiasm is rubbing off on others at Notre Dame.  Here's a link to a video posted on the Notre Dame Football Facebook page.  You might need a Facebook account to view this.  Here's the link:

LINK:   COACH KELLY "MOTIVATING"

ND Hockey Team Takes Tour of New Home!

The Compton Family Center -- the new home of Notre Dame Hockey received its first visit by the Fighting Irish who will call it home.  Jeff Jackson's Irish received a tour of the facility -- which opens November 19th against Boston College.  The only team member who didn't take the tour was Jackson himself -- who stood outside.  The Head Coach has decided he doesn't want to step foot into the building until it is completely done.  Here's a link to the WNDU-TV coverage of the tour:

LINK:  ND'S NEW HOCKEY CATHEDRAL

Top Undrafted Player -- Ian Williams Per CBS

CBS Sports' Chad Reuter did a story today on the top "un-drafted" college football players and Notre Dame nose tackle Ian Williams is at the head of his class.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- TOP UNDRAFTED PLAYER!

ESPN's Talkin' Heads -- Talk Notre Dame

The folks at ESPN can't help themselves -- they ranked the Fighting Irish #17 in their preseason poll for the 2011 season -- but, they still don't want to believe we're back.  One of these days they might want to do their homework and have all of their facts straight about Notre Dame.  You may have to check your "blood pressure" from time to time.  Here's the link:

LINK:  ESPN'S TAKE ON NOTRE DAME

OT -- Photo of the Day!

The Ohio State University Marching Band has been working on some new formations for the upcoming 2011 football season.  Thought you'd enjoy this "sneak preview."

Mike Lee Profiled in USA Today -- Today!

Former three-time "Bengal Bouts" Champion and ND Alum Mike Lee was profiled today in USA Today.  Irish fans will recall that Mike chose to put his ND degree aside to pursue the Light Heavyweight Championship of the World.  You'll enjoy this story:

LINK:  THE FIGHTER!

The Haka Dance @ Notre Dame's O.S.C.A.R.S.

Notre Dame football player Kona Schwenke led a group of Irish athletes on stage last night at the O.S.C.A.R.S. -- the talent show that ND Athletics puts on each year.  You'll enjoy this!

LINK:  HAKA DANCE AT NOTRE DAME

Jackie Cooper Dismissed From Notre Dame

Child actor Jackie Cooper passed away Tuesday at the age of 88.  He was the first child actor (age 9)  ever to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the movie Skippy in 1931. 

What you probably never knew about Jackie Cooper was that he attended the U.S. Navy training program at the University of Notre Dame -- and that he was dismissed from the program.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  COOPER DISMISSED FROM NOTRE DAME

The Atkinson Family -- A "Must See" Interview!

Former Oakland Raider great George Atkinson II and his two sons George III and Josh were recently interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle / SportsNet.  You'll enjoy the interview about the TWINS picking Notre Dame:

LINK:  SPEED IS ON THE WAY!

Notre Dame Goes "Centerplate" for Food

The University of Notre Dame announced a few months ago that they were considering outsourcing their food service needs for Notre Dame Stadium and the other sports venues on campus.  Well, they weren't kidding.  Yesterday the university announced that they had hired CENTERPLATE, the largest food supplier to the NFL, to handle the hospitality needs of Irish fans.  Centerplate has been awarded the hospitality contracts to 12 Super Bowls, 20 World Series, 100 major bowl games, etc., -- so they just might be able to handle Notre Dame!  Here's a link to the announcement and a link to the Centerplate website:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GOES CENTERPLATE

LINK:  CENTERPLATE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Former Bills Jim Kelly's Nephew an Irish QB?

Former Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly has a talented nephew named Chad Kelly who also wears #12 and plays QB.  Chad is gaining some interest from a number of the top schools in the country -- and the Irish jumped into the picture recently.  Here's a link to a Buffalo News story about his recruitment along with a second link to a highlight video of him.  The kid's a talent:

LINK:  JIM KELLY'S NEPHEW -- IRISH RECRUITING

LINK:  CHAD KELLY'S HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

Dave Duerson Found to Have Brain Trauma

Boston University researchers just announced that former Notre Dame football star, Dave Duerson had developed the same trauma-induced disease found in more than 20 deceased players.  Irish fans will recall that Duerson shot himself in the chest on February 17th -- in order to preserve his brain for research.  Here's a link to the New York Times article:

LINK:  DAVE DUERSON -- BRAIN TRAUMA

OT -- Photo of the Day!

If you know a Buckeye fan -- you might want to send them a link to this photo of a billboard on I-94 in Michigan close to the Ohio border.

Washington Post Video Interview of Darby

Ronald Darby, who committed to Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish of Notre Dame was featured today in a video interview at the Washington Post's website.  His track coach was interviewed -- and he mentioned that Darby's indoor 200 meter time is the 2nd fastest in the world right now.  Here's a link to the feature on Ronald Darby:

LINK:  RONALD DARBY INTERVIEW

Is Jimmy Clausen Up to the Challenge?

It sure didn't take long for the "young QB's" in Carolina to be sitting on a bench next to each other!  Jimmy Clausen and Cam Newton participated in a kick-ball game for charity yesterday -- the Charlotte Observer was there and they asked a number of questions of Jimmy.  Thought you'd enjoy the interview:

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN -- WILL HE BE THE MAN IN CAROLINA?