OT -- Got To Love This "Sting" Operation in AL!

I'm guessing the Indiana State Police could do this in Northern Indiana with a ND vs. USC ticket this month...  You'll get a laugh out of this!

LINK:  ALABAMA POLICE STING OPERATION

Irish Hoops Recruit Severly Injures Left Eye

Notre Dame basketball recruit Eric Katenda -- the 27th ranked power forward in the Class of 2011 suffered what is being called a freak injury in a pick up game last week.  The injury severed his optic nerve -- which has led to the permanent loss of vision in his left eye.  Here's a link to the ESPN.com story and a South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  ND HOOPS RECRUIT LOSES VISION IN LEFT EYE

LINK:  NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE ISSUE

"A High School on Steroids" -- Herbstreit on ND

ESPN College Gameday's Kirk Herbstreit and Erin Andrews were on MSNBC's Good Morning Joe -- and before they went on the air, a ND grad -- who works for the show -- caught the two on video in the "green room."

The ND grad asked if the two had ever been to ND for a football game -- surprisingly, Erin Andrews has never been to Notre Dame Stadium for a game.  Kirk Herbstreit chose to speak about watching the infamous "Bush Push" game -- and he describer Notre Dame as a "high school on steroids."  Here's a link to the video -- CLICK ON "GREEN ROOM INTERVIEWS" which is in the left hand margin.

LINK:  KIRK HERBSTREIT & ERIN ANDREWS -- TALKIN' ND

Coach Kelly's First Press Conference -- 2011!

On the eve of the 2011 football campaign, Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media.  Here's a link to the video from UND.COM and a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  KELLY'S FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Replay of Coach Kelly's Interview With WSBT

University of Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly was in the studio today over at WSBT 960 AM's Weekday SportsBeat Show.  Here's a link to the audio replay of this interview:

LINK:  COACH KELLY AT WSBT 960 AM

Michael Floyd & Coach Kelly Meet With Media!

Michael Floyd and Coach Brian Kelly met this morning with the media to announce Floyd's reinstatement to the Notre Dame football team.  The two also with Jack Nolan at UND.COM.  You'll enjoy these videos -- along with the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD & COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  COACH BRIAN KELLY WITH JACK NOLAN

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD WITH JACK NOLAN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Three Domers Named to TEAM USA!

Three of Muffet's Fighting Irish were named today to play for TEAM USA at the upcoming World University Games.  It's the first time in the 35 year history of women's basketball at Notre Dame that three team members were selected!

The three; Skylar Diggins, Natalie Novosel and Devereaux Peters were named to the twelve person team that will be represent the United States in China August 14th to the 21st.  What a great experience for these three!  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  THE FIGHTING IRISH DOMINATE TEAM USA!

Notre Dame Wins @ Michigan This Week!

Is this a good omen!?

This Monday, two life-long Notre Dame fans -- played in the shadow of the "Little House" on the University of Michigan Golf Course in the Golf Association of Michigan's 21st GAM Net Team Championship -- and WON!

Rich (Brighton, MI) and Rick (Walled Lake, MI)  Rachner, a father / son combination -- who can be seen at ND football games and road games with their hand made "Golden Dome" helmets -- shot a 63 to win this state championship.  Here's what Rick had to say about the experience:

"Jim, this was my thoughts as I drove in that morning to meet my dad at the range to warm up… I see the new stadium as I am driving North through the center of downtown Ann Arbor…and my first thought, as hard as it is to admit, was, wow, that looks awesome, they finally did something right….then as I got next to the stadium and was driving through its shadow I had the unbelievable feeling that we were coming into enemy territory and it was our day to claim victory…as I turned the  corner, away from the shadow, and put my blinker on to turn into U of M Golf Course, I looked over my left shoulder at the stadium…and confidently said to myself….”Today is our day and Sept 10th will be our day”….and 1 of 2 task complete…

From the golf course you could see the stadium and for some reason the stadium seemed to provide us with energy…one would think it would have had the opposite effect, but is there anything better for a Domer than to win on U of M soil…"

Congratulations Rich and Rick -- you did the Fighting Irish proud!!!


Please note:  That's Rick on the left and Rich on the right, in their championship photo above.

Mike Lee with Coach Parseghian Today!

Notre Dame alum, Mike Lee '09 was back "home" today at the University of Notre Dame to talk about his upcoming fight on Friday, September 16th at Purcell Pavillion.  Mike announced this morning that the fight will benefit Coach Parseghian's Foundation.  Here's a link to the WNDU-TV story:

LINK:  MIKE LEE & COACH PARSEGHIAN

Coach Brian Kelly on WSBT Radio Wednesday!

Notre Dame football fans can listen to Brian Kelly on WSBT 960 AM Wednesday afternoon at 5:15 PM ET.  Coach Kelly is scheduled to be on their Weekday Sportsbeat Show until 6:00 PM ET.  Here's a link to where you can listen to the interview LIVE:

LINK:  COACH KELLY ON RADIO SHOW!

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!