Update: ND Football Players in the NFL

I took a "lap" around the NFL this evening to check in on some of our favorite Irish players in the National Football League.  Just click on the player's name:

LINK:  TOM ZBIKOWSKI

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK 

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN

LINK:  BRADY QUINN 

LINK:  SERGIO BROWN

LINK:  VICTOR ABIAMARI 

LINK:  MAURICE STOVALL

LINK:  RYAN GRANT

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH

LINK:  CHINEDUM NDUKWE

LINK:  JOHN SULLIVAN

LINK:  RYAN HARRIS

LINK:  SAM YOUNG

LINK:  ANTHONY FASANO

OT -- An Impressive Young MAN!

By way of the title of this blog -- the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- we don't normally speak to the good works of student-athletes who don't wear a gold helmet.  But, today -- I'm going to make an exception.

Kirk Cousins is the QB at Michigan State University.  This weekend he spoke at the Big Ten's Media Day -- and his message is such that if you have a young person in your home -- they need to see and hear what he had to say.  I'm going to be rooting for Mr. Cousins on every Saturday except September 17th.  Here's a link to the video:

LINK:  COUSINS SPEAKS AT BIG TEN MEDIA DAY

Golden Tate Representin' the Irish Out West!

Former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate -- and now Seattle Seahawk -- was wearing some "Blue & Gold" this past week in Tacoma, WA at a charity golf event.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE

Photo of the Day! -- Rudolph Signs Contract

Former University of Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph signed his first NFL contract yesterday -- here's a picture he "tweeted" of this big moment.  Congratulations Kyle!

A Thank You to ND's Media Relations Dept.!

I've truly grown tired of hearing the media call someone a "redshirt freshman" or a "fifth year senior -- when describing one's eligibility status as a student-athlete.  At Notre Dame, the so called "fifth year seniors" are typically graduates of Notre Dame who have enrolled in grad school or law school.

The University of Notre Dame gets little to zero credit -- from the talking heads in the media -- for the fact that their so called "fifth year seniors" are actually college graduates taking grad or law school classes.

Notre Dame graduates its student-athletes in four years -- not five, six or never!

We've all seen the stories where a Notre Dame student-athlete is labeled as having "left school early" -- when they actually already graduated in four years and decided not to play their fifth year to pursue a career in the pro ranks.  The media "assumes" they left school early since you can't graduate on time if you're a Division I athlete -- because that's the case at most schools not called Notre Dame. 

I had made a post on January 28th of this year -- with a suggestion as to how the ND Media Relations Department should "label" the CLASS / ELIGIBILITY of all of its student athletes on all rosters, media guides, websites, news releases, etc., at the University of Notre Dame:

• Freshman (FR) -- are student athletes in their freshman academic year at Notre Dame
• Sophomores (SO) -- are student athletes in their sophomore academic year at Notre Dame
• Juniors (JR) -- are student athletes in their junior academic year at Notre Dame
• Seniors (SR) -- are student athletes in their senior academic year at Notre Dame
• Grad Student (GS) -- are student athletes who have already completed their undergraduate degree and are now in grad school or law school at Notre Dame and are playing out their five years of eligibility 

Well, wouldn't you know -- I noticed today that all of Notre Dame's 2011 "rosters" (SEE FOOTBALL ROSTER BELOW) now have all of the student-athletes who've graduated and are now in grad school -- listed as GS for grad students!!!

Here's a big THANK YOU to the University of Notre Dame's Media Relations team for taking the lead in setting the standard for proper recognition by all for the term "student-athlete!"  

The photo is of Notre Dame running back Robert Hughes who played four years for the Fighting Irish and graduated on time!  Hughes signed with the Chicago Bears this past week.


LINK:  NOTRE DAME 2011 FOOTBALL ROSTER

ND Kickoff Luncheon Tickets -- On Sale Now!

Every Friday at 11:30 AM on a Football Weekend at the University of Notre Dame -- thousands of fans gather at the Joyce Center's north dome for the ND Kickoff Luncheon.  It's the best way to kick-off a football weekend at Notre Dame -- and tickets went on sale this week.

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly is always in attendance with a player or two -- and other special guests.  Here's a link to the order form for the luncheon tickets -- which go for $23 each.

LINK:  ND KICKOFF LUNCHEON -- ORDER FORM

Rocket Put His Money Where His Mouth -- WAS!

He has one of the greatest nicknames in college football history -- Raghib "Rocket" Ismail -- and it looks like he may have made a smart business investment!  For those of you who have followed Rocket's career since his CFL / NFL days -- you've probably learned that his athletic skills didn't translate too well in picking companies to invest in.

Looks like that's changed!

Rocket has invested in a company called BITE TECH.  They make "mouth guards" -- I can't believe I have two stories in one day on the ND GO IRISH BLOG about mouth guards!

Well, the folks at Rivals.com caught up with Rocket to talk with him about his latest venture and a potential career change you'll find quite surprising -- here's the link:

LINK:  ROCKET PUT HIS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH WAS!

Sponsor a Notre Dame Band Uniform -- Today!

The Band of the Fighting Irish is involved in a campaign to "sponsor" a Notre Dame Band Uniform.  A number of the band uniforms have been in use for ten seasons and are "fading and fraying."  With a gift of $250 you can purchase a new uniform for the greatest college marching band in the land!

Our oldest son Jimmy '08 was an Irish Guard in The Band of the Fighting Irish for the 2006 and 2007 football seasons.  We made a $250 donation in his name today! 

Here's a link to how you can make this donation -- and a second link to a video of The Band of the Fighting Irish in action at Yankee Stadium this past season!

LINK:  SPONSOR A BAND UNIFORM!

LINK:  THE BAND OF THE FIGHTING IRISH @ YANKEE STADIUM

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