ND's Boxing Champ -- Press Conference Video

Notre Dame's Mike Lee '09, was in Los Angeles last week promoting his July 9th fight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.  Lee, who's undefeated as a pro -- also announced that he will be fighting on September 16th "back home" at Notre Dame.  It's the first professional fight on the Notre Dame campus! 

As more details come available -- we'll post it here at ND GO IRISH BLOG.  Here's a link to Mike's press conference video and interview:

LINK:  MIKE LEE -- NOTRE DAME'S OWN!

Notre Dame Football's Top Recruiting Target!

His name is Keith Marshall and he's a running back out of Raleigh, NC - and he's widely considered the top running back in the country and possibly the best player in the country.  Marshall is interested in the Irish and the Irish are definitely interested in him.  Here's a story today at ESPN.COM on Mr. Marshall -- enjoy!

LINK:  THE IRISH NEED THIS YOUNG MAN!

Coach Kelly Talks With the Media

Brian Kelly was in a sea of PINK Tuesday night at the Notre Dame football complex.  It was the second annual FOOTBALL 101 -- and 600 women paid for the opportunity to get on the field and run some of the same drills the Fighting Irish work on every day.  The folks at WNDU-TV caught up with Coach Kelly -- here's a link to their interview:

LINK:  COACH KELLY ON MICHAEL FLOYD

NBC's ND Beat Writer's Preview of the Season

Keith Arnold, NBC Sports' Notre Dame beat writer published a story today about his outlook for the upcoming 2011 season.  Arnold is quite "bullish" on the IRISH.  Here's a link to his opinion piece:

LINK:  2011 COULD BE THE SEASON!

The Top College Football Traditions -- ESPN

The folks at ESPN.COM are running a tournament bracket this week on the top college football traditions.  The #1 seed in the tournament is the Irish touching the Play Like A Champion sign.  If you'd like to participate -- click on the link below:

LINK:  VOTE FOR THE IRISH!

Football 101 -- Notre Dame Style!

Brian and Paqui Kelly held their second annual FOOTBALL 101 yesterday for 600 women on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  The sold-out event is quite the hit -- as you'll see in these video reports:

LINK:  UND.COM -- VIDEO

LINK:  WNDU-TV REPORT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY & VIDEO REPORT

He's Only a Week Away From Notre Dame!

Folks his name is Davaris Daniels and he's going to be the guy who will pick up where Michael Floyd leaves off next year.  Daniels has speed (4.3 forty), hops (41 inch vertical) hands and he's 6' 3" -- and he'll be wearing that gold helmet in August!  Earlier this week Davaris was named the "Athlete of the Year" -- for his area, here's a link to the story:

LINK:  ATHLETE OF THE YEAR!

Yastrzemski's Grandson A Star At Vandy!

Notre Dame fans may know that Carl Yastrzemski attended the University of Notre Dame on a basketball scholarship before heading off to a Hall of Fame baseball career with the Boston Red Sox.

Well, Yaz's grandson Mike Yastrzemski is a star outfielder for the Vanderbilt Commodores.  Mike was drafted by the Red Sox after his senior year in high school -- he passed up the opportunity to join his Grandpa's old team to play college baseball.

Mike had a home run and four RBI in Vandy's weekend sweep of Oregon State to move on to the College World Series this weekend in Omaha.  Why couldn't we have gotten Mike to go to ND?  Here's a link to the game story:

LINK:  YAZ DIDN'T FOLLOW GRAMP!

Touchdown Jesus Getting a Makeover!

The University of Notre Dame is currently conducting maintenance on the "WORD OF LIFE" mural on the Hesburgh Library.  It was last done in 1994.  The 6,700 pieces of granite spans 134 feet high and 68 feet wide.  Here's a link to the WNDU-TV news story about the preservation work which should be completed in late September.  I'm betting before the USC game!!!

LINK:  TOUCHDOWN JESUS MAKEOVER

Domer Hannah Storm's Interview of Nowitzki

Notre Dame alum Hannah Storm (who went to the dark side when she took a job at ESPN) was front and center last night landing the interviewing duties right after the Mavericks big win over the "Heatles" to win the NBA Championship.  Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  HANNAH INTERVIEWS DIRK

Muffet McGraw's Now a Hall of Famer!

This photo was taken Saturday night at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.  Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw was one of the honorees.  Congratulations Muffet!

Off Topic: Detroit Tiger Fans Won't Believe It!

My Dad (Jim Small) had the privilege of wearing the Detroit Tiger "old English D" back in the mid-50's.  Well, as life-long Tiger fan I learned something today that kind of floored me a little...

The "old English D" on the Detroit Tigers baseball cap -- does not match the "old English D" on their home uniform.  Can you believe it!!!

Take a look at the photos above -- you'll note the "old English D" on the Tigers baseball cap has "two bars" while the "old English D" on the uniform has "three bars."

The "old English D" did match until the 60's -- in fact the Detroit Tigers longtime Clubhouse Manager Jim Schmakel admits he was with the Detroit Tigers 15 years before he realized they didn't match.  The Tigers do not know why the two logos don't match.

What's up with that!!!???

Muffet McGraw Enters Hall of Fame Tonight!

Notre Dame women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame tonight -- congratulations Coach!  Here's a link to a Knoxville newspaper story today about Muffet's honor:

LINK:  ND'S HALL OF FAMER!

Phil Steele's Forecast for the Fighting Irish!

Phil Steele just published his take on the 2011 Fighting Irish -- thought you would enjoy what he had to say.  Here's the link:

LINK:  PHIL STEELE -- BULLISH ON THE IRISH

ND Board of Trustee Forced To Resign

Roxanne Martino, a 1977 graduate of the University of Notre Dame resigned this week from ND's Board of Trustees over a Cardinal Newman Society report that she had made donations to a couple of pro abortion rights groups.

Martino runs Aurora Investment Management -- a hedge fund company based in Chicago.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  ND BOARD OF TRUSTEE RESIGNATION

My Favorite Incoming Irish Football Player!

The folks at Irish Sports Daily reported this morning that incoming Notre Dame football player Joseph Schmidt turned down a FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP from the University of Arizona this past month -- to remain a "preferred walk on" and the honor of paying $208,000 these next four years to wear the gold helmet!


The linebacker out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California is now my favorite incoming freshman football player.  Here's a link to his high school highlight tape.


LINK:  JOSEPH SCHMIDT HIGHLIGHT TAPE

MICHIGAN vs. NOTRE DAME -- THROWBACKS

I like the Notre Dame uniform WAY BETTER than the school in Ann Arbor's!

Here's a link to more views of Notre Dame's "throwback" jersey:

LINK:  I LIKE IT!

"Rudy's" Nephew -- Baseball Star at ASU?

What's up with this?  Rudy's nephew chooses to play baseball at Arizona State University?

Rudy's nephew JOHNNY RUETTIGER wears #23 for the Sun Devils -- and he's one of their better players.  Drafted in the eighth round of the MLB Draft this week by the Orioles, Rudy is a 6'-2" outfielder out of the same high school as his famous uncle (Joliet Catholic).

He's currently on ESPN right now in the NCAA Tournament game against Texas.

LINK:  RUDY'S NEPHEW A SUN DEVIL

Notre Dame's Throwback Jersey Unveiled!

Here it is folks!  I LOVE IT -- WHITE SHOES AND ALL!!!  Here's how adidas describes the uniform design:

Paying homage to the rich football tradition of Notre Dame football, the Irish "Under the Lights" adidas uniform includes a white jersey with Kelly green lettering and two Kelly green shoulder stripes, old gold-colored pants, white socks with green stripes and white shoes. A large shamrock logo appears on the traditional gold helmet for the first time since the early 1960s. The years the Fighting Irish won National Championships are listed inside the bottom hem of the jersey.


Here's a link to a photo gallery:

LINK:  ND'S THROWBACK JERSEY

Tune In At Facebook For Uniform Unveiling!

The adidas Football US Facebook site will be unveiling the "throwback" football jerseys for Michigan and Notre Dame at 8 PM ET!