Photo of the Day: DiCaprio Representin'

Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio is often seen wearing a Notre Dame hat.  Well, he's sportin' the ND Monogram this week in Italy as he hangs with actress and model Blake Lively. 

Three Football Coaches Back at ND Last Night!

Ara Parseghian, Lou Holtz and Gerry Faust were back at Notre Dame last night with Regis Philbin -- as part of the Reunion Weekend this weekend at the University of Notre Dame.  The three ex-coaches were interviewed by Regis in front of a large crowd at Purcell Pavillion.  You're going to love Coach Parseghian's stories about being recognized in town.  Here's a link to Eric Hanson's South Bend Tribune story (special thanks to Philadelphia's Dr. Jim Clancy for making me aware of this story!):

LINK:  PARSEGHIAN, HOLTZ AND FAUST

A Legend Is Leaving Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame's long time Executive Director of their Alumni Association Chuck Lennon is retiring this month after nearly 30 years in this position.  This weekend, Chuck and a number of his classmates from the Class of 1961 will be celebrating their 50th Class Reunion at Notre Dame.  I'm quite sure there will be a "toast or two or three" this weekend for Mr. Lennon.  Here's a link to a South Bend Tribune interview with Chuck:

LINK:  A NOTRE DAME MAN

His Ankles Are Already Turned!

There's an old Irish Blessing  that goes something like this:  “May those who love us, love us; and those who don't love us, may God turn their hearts and if He doesn't turn their hearts may He turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping."


Well, there's a writer by the name of John Feinstein who must be limping every day.  Feinstein (Duke grad) who's the author of "A Good Walked Spoiled" and "A Season on the Brink" never misses the opportunity to take a shot at Notre Dame.  Here is Feinstein's blog entry this week after hearing the news about Jim Tressel's resignation at Ohio State.
 

I know I do this on occasion but the subject of today’s blog is not going to be The NBA Finals (yawn); The Stanley Cup Finals (I plan to watch it all) or even Jim Tressel (I wrote a column you can read on WashingtonPost.com or on this blog).

I will add one thing to the Tressel column that there wasn’t space for (it will also run in tomorrow’s newspaper) because even though it isn’t directly connected to Tressel, it has some relevance in any discussion of big time college athletics.

I have no sympathy at all for Tressel or for Gordon Gee or Gene Smith who, as I wrote in the column should both be fired too at the very least for complete incompetence.  But I also think we should keep things in perspective a little bit.

Ohio State is getting fried justifiably for allowing its program to run amok and then for trying to cover up clear violations.  But why is it that almost NO ONE around the country is nailing Notre Dame for the cavalier manner in which it handled the death of Declan Sullivan?

Please don’t tell me you buy into Father John Jenkins blanket, “we’re all guilty,” press release. Really?  If everyone is guilty where is the list of those fired or at least disciplined?starting with Jenkins and then going on down to the athletic director (who claimed there was ‘nothing unusual,’ in the weather conditions minutes before Sullivan’s tower came crashing down) to the head football coach who insisted on practicing outdoors on a day when there were wind warnings all over the Midwest; to whoever was responsible for not ordering Sullivan to stay off the tower?even if he was willing, though apparently terrified, to go up there?

No one was fired.  Jenkins should have added a sentence at the end of his statement if he was being intellectually honest about how he felt that said: “Now let’s get back to the important work of figuring out how to beat Navy!”

Jenkins strikes me as a complete fraud. Can you imagine him refusing to meet with the family of the girl who committed suicide shortly after filing a report alleging sexual assault against a Notre Dame football player?  He was acting on the advice of his lawyers.  Where in the vows Jenkins took, I wonder, does it say: “your lawyer’s advice comes before comforting those involved in a tragedy?”  Meeting with the family would not have been an admission of guilt; only an admission that he cared about people who were suffering.

Can’t have that. The lawyers told him so.

I can’t wait for the fall when all the TV apologists will tell us what a wonderful, caring place and nurturing place Notre Dame is.  I will keep an air sickness bag handy should I happen to encounter a Notre Dame game while flipping channels.  You can bet I won’t actually WATCH one. (Go ahead you Irish fans, pile on and tell me how awful I am for criticizing such a wonderful place. Can’t wait.)

I have never purchased a Feinstein book and I know I never will... 

Will the Irish Leave the CCHA for Hockey East?

The University of Notre Dame is weighing its options right now for what hockey conference it will be playing in for the 2012 - 2013 season.  Some reports have the Irish staying in the CCHA in a reconfigured conference of teams from the current CCHA and possibly North Dakota and Denver from the WCHA or, they're off to join Boston College and few other schools in Hockey East.  Here's a link to a story where ND hockey coach Jeff Jackson is asked about where the Irish may end up:

LINK:  ARE THE IRISH HEADED EAST?

Most Desirable College Football Coaching Jobs

The folks at Sports Illustrated came out today with their list of the most desirable college football coaching jobs in America and ND football fans will not be pleased with how they ranked our favorite team's football position.  Here's the link:

LINK:  MOST DESIRABLE COACHING POSITIONS

Former USF Coach Talkin' Smack About Irish!

Found this story this evening regarding an interview the former head coach of the University of South Florida Bulls gave to a local radio station in the Tampa area.  Jim Leavitt was asked about the Bulls and their upcoming season.  Well, Mr. Leavitt let it be known that USF would "really put it on Notre Dame."

Here's hoping the USF Bulls come strutting into Notre Dame Stadium in September feeling overly confident...

LINK:  THE BULLS WILL "PUT IT ON NOTRE DAME"

Notre Dame Grad Brings Down Tressel!

Many of you probably didn't know that the last sportswriter to ever win a Pulitzer Prize is George Dohrmann, who is a 1995 graduate of the University of Notre Dame.  George won it in 2000 while working for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

And, it's the same George Dohrmann who did all of the investigative work that led to the Sports Illustrated cover story that is credited with moving the Ohio State University's senior leadership team to ask for Jim Tressel's investigation.  Here's a link to George's story about Coach Tressel's time in Columbus:

LINK:  THE STORY THAT CHANGED THE FACE OF FOOTBALL IN OHIO

College FB Players Getting $17,000 In Cash!

If you've been following the news recently -- there has been plenty of conversation about "paying" college athletes over and above their scholarships.  Well, according to this informative story linked below -- a college football player can receive up to $17,040 in CASH from their athletic department and our government each year -- and not be in violation with NCAA rules. 

CASH THAT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID!

ND football fans will enjoy this story.  It was an eye opener for me!

LINK:  FOOTBALL PLAYERS RECEIVE CASH -- PLENTY OF IT!

Tressel Is Out -- What's NEXT For tO$U?

I wonder what the editorial cartoonist at the Cleveland Plain Dealer will be drawing for tomorrow morning's edition in light of the "VEST'S" forced resignation in Columbus?

So, was it the crime or was it the cover up that led to Jim Tressel's problems at Ohio State?  It should be both - the question now is how tough will BANK NCAA be on the folks in Ohio?

Will Notre Dame alum and Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith survive?

It is going to make for great internet fodder these next few months!

LINK:  COLUMBUS DISPATCH COVERAGE

Our National Guard Deserved Better!

You would have thought on Memorial Day Weekend in America that race cars sponsored by the NATIONAL GUARD would have fared better than they did yesterday!  Now I know this isn't a Notre Dame story, but on MEMORIAL DAY it's a story I couldn't pass up...

In an eight-hour period Sunday -- at the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 -- cars sponsored by the National Guard were comfortably in the lead at both tracks with less than a 1/4 lap remaining in each race.  Big leads turned into BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!

At Indianapolis Motor Speedway, rookie driver JR Hildebrand was leading the race on the last lap, all he had to do was finish the final turn and cross the finish line for victory.  HIS NATIONAL GUARD CAR HIT THE WALL!  See the link below to the video of the end of this race.

And, at Charlotte Motor Speedway last night Dale Earnhardt JR was leading the race on the last lap, all he had to do was finish the final turn and cross the finish line for victory.  HIS NATIONAL GUARD CARE RAN OUT OF GAS!  See the link below to the video of the end of this race.

Think about it -- both NATIONAL GUARD cars had big leads going into the final turn at both race tracks -- both drivers had JR in their names -- and both cars didn't win on Memorial Day Weekend.  Coincidence?

LINK:  LAST LAP OF INDIANAPOLIS 500

LINK:  JR HILDEBRAND INTERVIEW

LINK:  LAST LAP OF COCA-COLA 600 

LINK:  DALE EARNHARDT JR INTERVIEW

Darby Dominates Maryland State Track Meet!

University of Notre Dame football commitment Ronald Darby -- who's a junior at Potomac High School -- is racing this weekend at the Maryland High School Track & Field State Championship.

You'll find links below to a video of Ronald winning the 100 Meter Dash (10.37 official time) -- it's the third race on the video.  A video of his win in the 200 Meter Dash (20.88 official time) -- a video of his anchor leg win in the 4 x 100 Relay and his anchor leg win in the 4 x 200 Relay win.

FYI:  Both of these times would be among the top 50 in the current NCAA Division 1 rankings for the 100 Meters and 200 Meters this season.  Don't forget he's a junior in high school!

An additional point of reference -- a 20.88 would be the second fastest time ever run by a Notre Dame student-athlete in the 200 Meters.  Only one ND track athlete has ever run under a 20.90 in the 200 meters in school history. 

•  2011 Big East Championship Time in 200 Meters:  21.05
• 2011 Big East Championship Time in 100 Meters:  10.44

Ronald competed in four events (4X100 Meter Relay and 4X200 Meter Relay as well) -- winning a State Championship in each race.  Congratulations!

LINK:  DARBY WINS 100 METERS

LINK:  DARBY DOMINATES 200 METERS

LINK:  DARBY'S ANCHOR LEG OF 4X200 METER RELAY

LINK:  DARBY'S ANCHOR LEG OF 4X100 METER RELAY

LINK:  DARBY INTERVIEW

LINK:  NEWS STORY

The Real Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame!

The University of Notre Dame's Army ROTC Fightin' Irish Battalion has more than 80 cadets -- who are on a chosen journey to defend our freedom.   

On this Memorial Day Weekend in America I thought it was fitting to showcase the real FIGHTIN' IRISH of Notre Dame.  Thank you for making this commitment to our country!

The photo is from this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City.  Here's a link to their official website:

LINK:  THE FIGHTIN' IRISH BATTALION

Luke Zeller Back Home in Indiana

Found this article this morning about former Notre Dame basketball player Luke Zeller.  Some of you may recall that Luke was a former Mr. Basketball in Indiana before he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame.  Since graduation, Luke has been playing pro basketball in Europe, Japan and the NBA Developmental League.  This past week Luke and his family were back home in Indiana -- here's a link to that story:

LINK:  LUKE ZELLER BACK HOME

LINK:  ZELLER'S PRO STATS

Notre Dame's Rumored Helmet for Michigan

This photo is being routed around the internet as Notre Dame's rumored helmet for the September 10th "throw back" game at Michigan.  While it's not exactly what the IRISH wore during the Kuharich years -- it's close enough.  I have to admit I'm not a big fan of the green facemask...  Looks like what Baylor wears.

Brian Kelly Makin' Changes To His Irish

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly has made some position changes since Spring Practice that will be interesting to watch this August when he gets back at practice with the Irish.  Here's a link to a South Bend Tribune story on this very subject:

LINK:  CHANGIN' THE IRISH

The Ad Campaign for ESPN's College Network

I've spent much of my career telling stories for brands.

A marketing campaign for ESPNU -- ESPN's college sports network -- called "NEVER GRADUATE" caught my attention.  Its intent is to tell alums and fans of college sports team that they can always feed their passion for their school at ESPNU.

I get it.

Yet, my first reaction to the campaign was this;  "Why would a TV network that is devoted exclusively to college athletics, create the tagline; NEVER GRADUATE?

Then I realized ESPN doesn't care if student-athletes ever graduate from college -- they just care if these entertainers (excuse me, student-athletes) provide them with great programming while they're on campus over a one to five year period of their life.  They could care less about the next forty to fifty years of the lives of these student-athletes.

I get it.

While I fully understand it's not ESPN's role in life to make sure student-athletes graduate from college -- that's up to the universities and the NCAA they send checks to.  I would have thought there might be one senior executive in Bristol, CT who would have determined this isn't the best message to associate with college athletics:  NEVER GRADUATE. 

Unfortunately, they don't "have" to get it -- they just have to get you to tune-in.

Spirit of Notre Dame -- $2 Billion!

The University of Notre Dame is celebrating one of the most successful capital campaigns in the history of higher education.  Over the past seven years, the Spirit of Notre Dame campaign has raised more than $2 BILLION -- the first time a university without a medical school has ever raised this much money.  Congratulations Notre Dame!

Catholic Charities Honors Father Ted

Catholic Charities honored legendary University of Notre Dame president Father Hesburgh at their annual event in Boston.  Father Ted couldn't make the event, so Father Jenkins accepted the award on his behalf.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  CATHOLIC CHARITIES HONORS FATHER TED

Ohioans -- Drop Your Subscription Today!

This cartoon ran yesterday in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  Just goes to show you how "low" this paper will go to support their troubled coach and in-state college football team. 

Drawing a comparison between Declan Sullivan's tragic death and Ohio State's knowingly breaking the rules -- AN ALL TIME LOW IN JOURNALISM.   If you still call it that in Ohio. 

I trust Notre Dame fans will do the right thing with the Cleveland Plain Dealer.