No "under God" at NBC -- What Will ND Do?

Executives at NBC felt is was "politically correct" to omit the words "...under God.." from the Pledge of Allegiance in a piece they created to start off their telecast yesterday of the final round of the USGA's U.S. Open.

Now some of you may not feel like I do about this subject -- but I find this extremely offensive.

What's next?  Will these same NBC executives decide they can no longer call the mural on the Hesburgh Library "Touchdown Jesus?"  Will they determine it would be politically incorrect to show the statue of Mary Our Mother on top of the Golden Dome on Football Saturday's?

What will Notre Dame do?  Will they issue a statement -- or, will they just hope it will go away?

Here's a link to news coverage:

LINK:  NBC -- AND THEIR AGENDA

Happy Father's Day!

I'm going to be enjoying Father's Day today with my wife Susan and our three kids; Jimmy, Kara and Brady.  Everyone is in town today -- a rarity at our home -- so I'm going to enjoy it!

In honor of this special day for Notre Dame DAD's all over the world -- here's a link to the greatest college fight song in the land!:


LINK:  THE NOTRE DAME VICTORY MARCH!

Notre Dame Fans Will Want One Of These!

The University of Notre Dame acquired four "SMART CARS" for staff to run around campus for meetings.  Here's a link to the story:


LINK:  NOTRE DAME GETTING SMART!

Finally a USC Football Player Who Is Truthful!

USC Trojan QB Matt Barkley was interviewed this past Tuesday by ESPN's Erin Andrews -- and I'm sure Troy fans weren't crazy with Barkley's answer to the question "Where's your favorite place to play a football game?:"

"NOTRE DAME."

Finally, a Trojan who speaks the truth!

Purdue Is Selling Notre Dame Game Tickets

If you're in the mood to make the drive to West Lafayette October 1st to see the Fighting Irish play a night game -- now is your chance.  Purdue's athletic department put tickets to the game on sale today for $65.  Here's a link to their ticket site:

LINK:  SEE THE IRISH PLAY AT PURDUE

Notre Dame to Offer Seat Backs in Stadium

I never thought Notre Dame would allow this inside Notre Dame Stadium.  Here's hoping the ND fans sitting in front, behind or to the left or right of me this season -- don't purchase one.  (Maybe ND got IMG to make a "narrower" seat for the lower bowl of Notre Dame Stadium -- don't hold your breath.)  If you don't know what I'm talking about, click this link below:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SEAT BACKS

Tony Rice's Son Commits to a College Team

Anthony Rice, son of legendary Notre Dame QB Tony Rice, committed yesterday to play college football for Central Michigan University.  Anthony is a 6'-0" 168 lb. wide receiver at Marian HS in Mishawaka.  Here's a link to his highlight video along with a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  ANTHONY RICE -- WIDE RECEIVER

LINK:  RICE COMMITS TO CMU

Beano Picks Notre Dame's 1947 Team...

He's one of the few sportswriters in the country who can go by one name...

Notre Dame fans will recall Beano Cook gave Ron Powlus two Heisman Trophies before he played his first game.  Well, Beano's talkin' Notre Dame again.  Here's the link to the story:



LINK:  BEANO COOK -- YOU GOTTA LOVE HIM!

ND Recruit -- Chevy Athlete of the Year!

His name is Cam McDaniel -- and this morning he and his family left Texas for a two day drive to his new home, the University of Notre Dame.  Cam starts his Notre Dame career tomorrow -- along with the other members of the Irish's highly touted recruiting class. 

McDaniel, a star running back for Coppell High School was just named the Chevy Male Athlete of the Year by the North Texas Chevrolet Dealers.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  CAM McDANIEL -- A NOTRE DAME MAN

Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift and Notre Dame!

This past football season "best friends" Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez made the trek to the University of Notre Dame to spend some time with Taylor's brother Austin, an Irish freshman.  The two college-aged stars thought they could to just "fit in" with the ND student body so they stopped by the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore to buy some gear -- their disquise!  I'll let OK Magazine tell the rest of the story.  Here's the link:

LINK:  TAYLOR SWIFT AND SELENA GOMEZ -- ND VISIT

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