ND Football Involved in Concussion Testing

The University of Notre Dame football program along with Stanford and Washington will have a number of their football players (22 Irish student athletes to be exact) wearing a special mouth guard that will monitor the punishment they take in practice and in games.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story.


LINK:  ND INVOLVED IN CONCUSSION TRIAL

First Pro Fight @ ND -- Tickets on Sale Now!

University of Notre Dame grad Mike Lee '09 -- will be returning "home" on Friday, September 16th for the first professional fight ever on the ND campus.  It's called FIGHT LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY -- and it should be a "must see" for many Irish fans, especially those coming into town a day early for the Michigan State football game.  TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE -- here's the link:

LINK:  MIKE LEE'S FIGHT -- TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Bettors Move Irish to Six Pt. Favorite Over UM

The Notre Dame vs. Michigan football game scheduled "under the lights" on 9.10.11 at Michigan Stadium opened with Michigan as a 2 point favorite.

The betting line now shows the IRISH as a SIX POINT Favorite.  I'm not a gambler, so I don't know how often you'll see an 8 point swing in a spread -- but that seems quite extreme.

What do the bettors know?   Here's a link:

LINK:  IRISH NOW A SIX POINT FAVORITE OVER MICHIGAN

Former Irish Athlete Turned U.S. Congressman

United States Congressman Mike Kelly '70 (R-PA) apparently played the "Notre Dame card" this morning in a speech he gave to his fellow Republican colleagues in the House.  Here's a POLITICO.COM story about Mike Kelly's speech -- scroll down the article to find the story about Kelly:

LINK:  KELLY:  PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY!

LINK:  MIKE KELLY -- WIKIPEDIA

Coach Dan Devine -- Finally Gets his Statue!

He's the only Notre Dame football coach who has won a National Championship who hasn't been honored with a statue outside a gate at Notre Dame Stadium.  Well, that comes to an end this October 8th when the University of Notre Dame unveils a lifesize statue of Coach Devine.  Congratulations to the Devine family -- I'm glad he's finally receiving this honor!  Here's a link to the story along with a link to a feature on Devine's "GREEN JERSEY" game against USC:

LINK:  DEVINE GETS A STATUE!

LINK:  WEARING THE GREEN AGAINST SC

Mike Lee & Coach Parseghian Tuesday at ND!

Notre Dame boxing champion, Mike Lee '09 -- will be hosting a press conference next Tuesday at the Naimoli Club at Purcell Pavillion on the University of Notre Dame campus.  Mike will be announcing his FIGHT LIKE A CHAMPION event which is scheduled for Friday, September 16th at ND!

The first professional fight ever on the University of Notre Dame campus!!!

Mike's guest at Tuesday's press conference will be none other than Notre Dame coaching legend Ara Parseghian.  The press conference starts at 10 AM -- and if you're in the area you just might want to show up!  Tickets are expected to go on sale this Friday at the Notre Dame Ticket Office -- remember it's the Friday night of the Michigan State football weekend so tickets will go fast!  I'll have a link to the ticket site, once it's made available.

Here's a link to Mike's interview after his KO earlier this month at the Home Depot Center and a recent radio interview he had with WGN:

LINK:  MIKE LEE INTERVIEW

LINK:  WGN RADIO INTERVIEW

"Where Can I Find ND Football Tickets?"

In the past six hours I've received numerous emails from Notre Dame football fans from around the country who were unsuccessful this morning in buying tickets from the Notre Dame Ticket Office (unsold tickets went on sale today) to the game of their choice.  Each email asked this question: "Where can we find Notre Dame Football tickets for sale at a good price for "blank" game?"

Well, that's a good question! :)

Here are my suggestions on what you might want to do:

1. You will find tickets for sale at STUBHUB.com - they won't be cheap, but you will find tickets to every home and away football game the Irish will play this year.  I have purchased tickets at STUBHUB before and have always had a good experience with them.  If you have to know before you go to ND that you have tickets to the game -- this is your best route.
2. Get to know a number of Notre Dame alums who have season tickets or someone who works at the University of Notre Dame -- a few of the departments on campus have tickets to every game.   Sometimes these tickets are not spoken for -- Michigan State and USC will be!  I've been able to secure many tickets to ND games, over the years, via this route.
3. Scout the various websites devoted to Notre Dame football on the internet.  The free site:  www.ndnation.com has had pages devoted, in the past, to the buying and selling of of football tickets.  The pay sites:  www.irishsportsdaily.com -- www.irishillustrated.com -- www.irisheyes.com -- will have subscribers selling their tickets to games they can't attend.  I've had good luck going this route in the past -- you just have to be checking these sites frequently because minutes after someone posts they have tickets to sell -- they're gone.
4. Keep calling the Notre Dame Ticket Office.  Usually in August, Notre Dame will start receiving the unsold tickets back from the opposition schools on the schedule.  These tickets will come back the week of the game as well -- always a good idea to call the Ticket Office on Monday afternoon of game week.  I've had some luck with this in the past as well.
5. Just make the trip to Notre Dame Stadium without tickets.  I've done this on many occasions over the years and I've made my best "deals" on tickets this way.  I've found if you stand at the edge of the parking lot between The Purcell Pavillion and Notre Dame Stadium holding a sign or fingers in the air -- you'll find ND alums who have extra tickets to sell.  It helps to have a ND shirt on or hat!  I have never, ever, been shut out of finding a ticket this way.  Just be patient -- and get there a couple hours before kick-off.  Also on Game Day at Notre Dame you'll find a line of people standing outside a "ticket window" on the East side of Notre Dame Stadium -- hours before kick-off.  If there are any un-sold tickets to the game -- they can be purchased here.  I've never tried this -- so I don't know the success rate of those standing in line.

Now, if you go the latter route -- and somehow you don't get tickets.  You can watch the game live on the big screens in the Joyce Center for FREE.  Many people prefer this route, especially on inclement days.

I hope this helps!

Michigan AD: "We'll Only Play ND..."

University of Michigan AD Dave Brandon let the world know that his team will only play one opponent "out of conference" on the road -- and that's the University of Notre Dame.

I'm sure Big Ten/Twelve Commissioner Jim Delany may have cringed a little when he heard this -- Big Ten/Twelve execs/fans don't like to publicly acknowledge the unique position Notre Dame holds in college football.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  ONLY ND ON THE ROAD

Irish Grads Sign With NFL Teams Today!

Here's the latest on where the graduating seniors at the University of Notre Dame have chosen to sign with -- as they begin their quest to play in the "LEAGUE."

• Ian Williams:  San Francisco 49'ers
• Darrin Walls:  Atlanta Falcons
• Chris Stewart:  New York Jets
• Brian Smith:  Cleveland Browns
• Kerry Neal:  Indianapolis Colts
• Armando Allen:  Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Robert Hughes:  Chicago Bears

Will the Irish Wear Green in the USC Game?

This photo was "tweeted" this morning by Notre Dame Football's equipment manager.  His message said "Look what arrived yesterday!"

Ian Williams to Sign Contract With San Fran!

University of Notre Dame defensive tackle Ian Williams "tweeted" this evening that he's agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49'ers -- who just happen to be run by "Domer" Jed York '03.  Williams should make if official tomorrow -- when undrafted free agents are expected to be able to sign contracts.  Congratulations Ian!


LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS TO THE 49'ERS

ESPN's Mark Schlabach Picks The Irish...

Mark Schlabach picked six teams to make a major move in college football this fall.  Fighting Irish fans will enjoy this story:

LINK:  IRISH ARE READY

Photo of the Day! -- Deontay Greenberry!

Notre Dame football "verbal" commitment -- Deontay Greenbery -- was in Orlando this weekend for the Gridiron Kings 7 - 7 Championship.  And, Deontay was representin' the IRISH!

Greenberry and his cousin Tee Shepherd (also a ND verbal commit) -- led the WEST to the Semi-Finals.

The Latest For Eight Irish NFL Hopefuls

The wait for Ian Williams, Darren Walls, Chris Stewart, Armando Allen, Robert Hughes, Brian Smith, Duval Kamara and Kerry Neal is almost over.  If the players sign the agreement tomorrow as expected -- teams will be able to sign their own free agents on Monday.  However, undrafted free agents will not be able to sign with their new teams until Tuesday.  The good news is this -- 23 UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS played in the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl.  Stay tuned!

Notre Dame Goes Solar Powered

The University of Notre Dame's Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering has placed solar panels on the roof of their building.  These unique solar panels are expected to meet the building's electricity demands.  The solar installation was free to the university.  This is the third building on campus with solar panels on its roof.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  GOING SOLAR

Gridiron Kings -- ND Recruits Featured In Story!

Deontay Greenberry and his cousin Tee Shepherd are both "verbally" committed to play football at the University of Notre Dame -- after their upcoming senior season.  Well, this weekend the Californians are in Orlando, FL joining two other "IRISH VERBALS" (Ronald Darby and C.J. Prosise) at the Gridiron Kings 7 on 7 tournament.  You'll enjoy this ESPN story.  The photo is of Tee Shepherd -- courtesy of ESPN.

LINK:  COUSINS LOOKING TO BE KINGS!

Poster Of The Day -- Mike Lee's ND Fight!

Here's the official promotional poster for Mike Lee's '09 seventh professional fight -- scheduled for Friday, September 16th at the University of Notre Dame's Purcell Pavillion.  Surprisingly, this will be the first professional fight ever at ND -- and it falls on the Michigan State football weekend.

I just wish Mike's opponent was the Michigan State football player who planted the flag at Notre Dame Stadium a few seasons ago!!!

Should sell-out soon!  I'll let you know when the tickets go on sale!!!

Manti Teo Talks With NBC!

Notre Dame fans will enjoy this interview of Manti Teo!  Click on the link below:

LINK:  WHEN TEO TALKS...

Mike Lee to Fight at ND's Purcell Pavillion

The University of Notre Dame's Purcell Pavillion will be hosting its first professional fight on Friday, September 16th when Mike Lee (Notre Dame's Class of 2009) will take the ring.  The next day, the Fighting Irish will be taking on the Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Stadium.  As soon as the tickets go on sale at the Notre Dame Ticket Office -- I'll provide a link here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

It's going to be great fun!!!

Domer Picked as a Navy Blue Angels' Pilot!

It's widely considered the highest profile pilot position in the world -- a Navy Blue Angels pilot -- and Navy Lt. John Hintz '02 (University of Notre Dame) was just selected to join this precision flying team!  Hintz joins a select group of pilots who have had the honor of wearing this uniform and flying the Blue Angels trademark blue and gold jet.  Congratulations John!  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  JOHN HINTZ A BLUE ANGEL! 

LINK:  BLUE ANGELS WEBSITE

LINK:  BLUE ANGELS PRESS RELEASE