Vote For ND's Melissa Henderson - ESPY Award

University of Notre Dame "rising" senior -- Melissa Henderson is one of five college athletes nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Female College Athlete.  Henderson and her Irish teammates won the NCAA National Championship this season.  Here's a link to vote for Melissa:

LINK:  MELISSA HENDERSON -- VOTE FOR HER!

Domer Named Head Golf Coach at Michigan

Chris Witten '02, has been named the Head Golf Coach at the University of Michigan.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  WITTEN NAMED THAT SCHOOL IN ANN ARBOR'S GOLF COACH

Cierre Wood -- Training Video

The South Bend Tribune must have a "travel budget" these days as one of their writers traveled to Oxnard, CA to spend the early morning with Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood.  You'll enjoy watching this unique drill:

LINK:  CIERRE WOOD

Notre Dame's "Night Shoes" for Michigan!

This photo was "tweeted" by Notre Dame Football's equipment manager.  Thought you'd enjoy seeing what the Irish will be wearing on their feet -- under the lights for the first time at Michigan Stadium.

Hansbrough & Scott Go Undrafted -- NBA

Notre Dame seniors Ben Hansbrough and Carleton Scott -- learned this evening that their road to playing in the NBA just got a little longer.  Unfortunately, the two were not among the sixty players selected tonight by NBA teams in the 2011 NBA Draft.  Makes you wonder who was advising Carleton Scott to leave early -- with one year of eligibility left at ND!

Here's a link to the NBA Draft Board:

LINK:  2011 NBA DRAFT RESULTS

Rockne's Irish Recruited An OLB Today

I've been avoiding commenting on this story since I learned about it six hours ago...

Former Notre Dame OLB Andre Jones -- who's the father of current Irish WR Tailer "TJ" Jones -- died this morning from a brain aneurysm.  Only 42 years young -- Andre was a member of Notre Dame's 1988 National Championship team. 

I remember feeling so much joy for Andre Jones and his family when word got out that TJ had decided to commit to Dad's school.  For Andre to then see his son run out of that tunnel with the gold helmet on -- and to see him play in his first game as a freshman starter -- wearing "their #7"  --  what a special time for this family.

My prayers and I'm sure the prayers of the entire Notre Dame Family go out to Andre's wife Michelle and their five kids tonight -- what a loss...

LINK:  ANDRE JONES

LINK:  LIKE FATHER -- LIKE SON

Notre Dame Dominates Big Ten Awards Show!

I kid you not!

The Big Ten Network (BTN) held their fourth annual Awards Show last night and of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- yeah, the irrelevant school in the Midwest -- dominated the awards given  in football.

The BTN gave away six awards last night for Big Ten Football -- and three of the awards involved the University of Notre Dame.  It's obvious -- the Big Ten's measuring stick is Notre Dame:

• Most Dominating Performance:  Dennard Robinson against Notre Dame
• Best Finish:  Michigan State's overtime win over Notre Dame
• Most Courageous Performance:  Mark Dantonio -- suffering heart attack after game with Notre Dame

Here's a link to the Big Ten Network story:

LINK:  ND DOMINATES BIG TEN AWARDS!

Notre Dame's Next Big Man on Campus!

Garrick Sherman, the former Michigan State big man -- just completed his transfer to the University of Notre Dame by enrolling into summer session.  The folks at UND.COM caught up with Garrick today -- here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  GARRICK SHERMAN -- NOTRE DAME'S NEXT BIG MAN!

Notre Dame's New Football Gloves for Team!

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are going to love these!  The "Leprechaun" is the design on the palm of the gloves.  These are HOT!

Eilar Hardy -- Committed to Notre Dame!

The good folks at "One Foot Down" a blog about Notre Dame football -- posted two photos today of incoming freshman safety Eilar Hardy out of Ohio.  He is committed!  Here's a link to the blog post -- where you can find the tattoo on the other arm!

LINK:  ONE FOOT DOWN

Photo of the Day! -- ND Throwback Jersey!

Here it is -- the first "official" photo of the Notre Dame throwback jersey for the night game against Michigan on September 10th.  ND head football coach Brian Kelly "tweeted" this photo today!

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