15 Must "To Do's" For Notre Dame Freshmen

The Observer editorial staff posted their "15 Things Not To Miss" your freshman year at the University of Notre Dame.  I thought you'd enjoy reading this story:

LINK:  THINGS YOU MUST DO!

Irish Hoops In Final Two for #7 Player in USA!

Malina Howard, a 6'-3" "lefty" center at Twinsburg High School in Twinsburg, OH -- and the #7 ranked player by ESPN in the country in the Class of 2012 -- is down to the University of Maryland or the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Should this five-star post player join Notre Dame's 2012 recruiting class -- Muffet will probably be bringing in her highest ranked recruiting class of all-time!  Here's a link to Malina's recruiting profile:

LINK:  MALINA HOWARD

Photos From Media Day 2011 @ Notre Dame

South Bend Tribune photographers posted a section on the web today that features a number of photographs they took Tuesday of Notre Dame football players and coaches during Media Day.  I must admit, I'm not a big fan of seeing the new "fangled" football jerseys on the players without pads in them...

LINK:  PHOTOS FROM NOTRE DAME MEDIA DAY

The Best Linebacker Group in 20 Years @ ND!

When the Irish line up on defense for the first time on September 3rd against the University of South Florida -- we'll run out a set of linebackers in our 3 - 4 system that are the best we've seen in a gold helmet since the Holtz years.  In fact, for the first time in so, so long -- we'll run out an entire defense that will be thought of as one of the best units in all of college football.  It's going to be fun to dominate again!!!  The folks at UND.COM rolled out a feature today on our linebacker corps -- here's the link:

LINK:  LINEBACKER U!

ND Football Practice Report -- Wednesday!

We're only 17 days away from Notre Dame's home opener against the University of South Florida -- and the UND.COM crew was back at practice today.  Here's their feature of the safety position!

LINK:  FOOTBALL PRACTICE REPORT

A New Feature @ UND.COM -- Good Stuff!

I'm growing fonder every day of the work that the gang at UND.COM are doing for the Notre Dame Family.  Here's their latest effort called "Irish Connection."  You'll enjoy!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

The Media's Reaction to Notre Dame Football

The Notre Dame football team was on full display today as the media arrived in full force at Notre Dame Stadium to take part in Media Day 2011.  I just took a lap around the web to see who's saying what about the 2011 edition of the Fighting Irish.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL LESAR

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- BOB WIENEKE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- BRIAN HAMILTON

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES -- NEIL HAYES

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES -- PETE THAMEL

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE -- TONY KRAUSZ

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  FOX-28 TV

LINK:  ESPN BLOG -- SCOTT POWERS

LINK:  THE SPORTING NEWS -- STEVE GREENBERG

LINK:  THE NEWS SENTINEL -- TOM DAVIS

ND Football 2011 Media Day -- Highlights!

The University of Notre Dame football program hosted their annual MEDIA DAY today.  The good folks at UND.COM did a wonderful job of reporting on all of the action -- you'll enjoy their coverage:

LINK:  COACH KELLY AT MEDIA DAY

LINK:  ASSISTANT COACHES AT MEDIA DAY

LINK:  DEFENSIVE PLAYER INTERVIEWS

LINK:  TEAM PHOTO SHOOT FEATURE

Kelly Meets with Media Tuesday @ 10 AM!

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly will meet with the media tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10:00 AM ET to kick off NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY 2011.  You can watch Coach Kelly's press conference LIVE at the link below:

LINK:  COACH KELLY MEETS WITH MEDIA

ND Practice Reports: Sunday & Monday

The UND.COM team has been busy at work the past 36 hours filing some updates from the LaBar Practice Complex on the University of Notre Dame campus.  You'll see the links listed below from Sunday and Monday's football practices -- click on to watch:

LINK:  SUNDAY PRACTICE REPORT -- TIGHT ENDS FEATURE 

LINK:  MONDAY PRACTICE REPORT -- FACULTY APPRECIATION DAY

Coach Kelly Media Session After Practice #9

The University of Notre Dame football team has two practices scheduled for today, August 13th.  After the morning session -- head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media.  Here's a link to the session:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

ESPN's Outside The Lines -- Ian Williams

Former Notre Dame and now San Francisco 49'er Ian Williams, was the subject of an ESPN Outside The Lines story this morning.  Here's the link to the entire feature.  Notre Dame fans will enjoy watching Ian's journey -- boy, do I want him to make it!

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- OUTSIDE THE LINES

His Nickname is "HERCULES" -- ND's Niklas

During Brian Kelly's meeting with the media yesterday he raved about the exploits of a freshman by the name of Troy Niklas.  Niklas was recruited by USC to play OT, Stanford to play TE and ND to play DE.  Now this 6'-7" 250lb. 18-year old athlete is playing OLB (yeah, he's that big!) and turning heads.

Kelly used the word "extraordinary" to describe Niklas' ability to play in space.  Here's a link to a South Bend Tribune story about the young man they call "HERCULES."

LINK:  TROY NIKLAS

First Week of NFL Preseason -- ND Update

I took a spin around the world wide web this morning to check on a few of our favorite ND football players from the past to see how life is treating them in the NFL after week one of the exhibition season.  Just click on the player's name below to find a story or two about their journey down ROUTE 53 (NFL Rosters have 53 players) -- that's Ian Williams in his new gold helmet:

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN -- SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN -- CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE -- SEATTLE TIMES

LINK:  BRADY QUINN -- BLEACHER REPORT

LINK:  BRIAN SMITH -- NFL NETWORK

LINK:  KERRY NEAL -- INDY STAR  

LINK:  CHRIS STEWART -- WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  TOMMY ZBIKOWSKI -- MASN NEWS

LINK:  RYAN GRANT -- PACKERS WEBSITE

LINK:  SAM YOUNG -- BLOGGING THE BOYS

LINK:  KYLE MCCARTHY -- BRONCOTALK

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH -- ESPN SPORTSWIRE

LINK:  JOHN CARLSON -- RENTON REPORTER

LINK:  DEREK LANDRI -- BLEACHER REPORT

LINK:  CHINENDUM NDUKWE -- CINCY JUNGLE

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- 49ERS WEBSITE

LINK:  TERRAIL LAMBERT -- THE ADVOCATE

LINK:  RYAN HARRIS -- THE INQUIRER

LINK:  DAVID BRUTON -- DENVER POST

Notre Dame's Award Winning Photographer!

Matt Cashore, ND's award winning photographer -- has a wonderful gallery online -- that Notre Dame fans will want to visit.  He is very, very good at what he does.  Here's a link to the site:

LINK:  MATT CASHORE'S GALLERY

The Offensive & Defensive Line @ Notre Dame

It's the "strength" of the Fighting Irish football program -- our offensive and defensive linemen.  It's been a long time since ND fans could say this!  Here's two UND.COM features on these units:

LINK:  OFFENSIVE LINE

LINK:  DEFENSIVE LINE

Skylar Diggins -- Video Diary with ESPNW

University of Notre All American basketball player Skylar Diggins is preparing right now to lead the USA Women's National Team to play in China at the World University Games.  Always a "media darling," Skylar agreed to do a VIDEO DIARY with ESPNW.  Here's a link to her latest video:

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

Chicago Sun Times Interview -- Coach Kelly

Well, in the "good cop / bad cop" media coverage of ND Football in Chicago -- also known as the Chicago Sun Times / Chicago Tribune -- the Sun Times published a positive piece this AM on Coach Kelly and his program -- ND fans will enjoy this piece:

LINK:  COACH KELLY GETTING COMFORTABLE

Jimmy Clausen to Start for Panthers Tonight

Former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen will get the start tonight in the Carolina Panthers first exhibition game against the New York Giants.  The game will be "replayed" tomorrow at 1 PM ET on the NFL Network.  Here's a link to the latest stories on Clausen's QB competition with #1 pick Cam Newton:

LINK:  USA TODAY

LINK:  SUN HERALD

LINK:  ESPN NFL NATION BLOG

LINK:  CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

Top Kicker in Country Interested in Irish

His name is Bryan Holmes and he's a Kicker/Punter at Holland West Ottawa High School (Holland, MI) and he's the #1 ranked kicker in the Class of 2013.  ND GO IRISH BLOG contributor Mike Doyle, spoke with Bryan's Mom and she said "Notre Dame is on his list..."  Here's a link to a video of Bryan kicking and punting at Kohl's Kicking, Punting & Snapping Camp:

LINK:  BRYAN HOLMES -- #1 KICKER IN CLASS OF 2013