Photo of the Day! -- Compton Family Ice Arena

Here's a recent photo of the construction of the "Hockey Cathedral" -- also known as the Compton Family Ice Arena on the University of Notre Dame campus.  The "Compton" will open in mid-October.

Notre Dame's Campaign For Aerial Lift Safety

The University of Notre Dame just launched a campaign on aerial lift safety -- as part of its follow-up response to the Declan Sullivan tragedy.  Barry Sullivan (Declan's Dad) leads off the website's video.  Here's a link to the site as well as a story in the Chicago Tribune:

LINK:  UP RIGHT!

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

"Our Team Our Story" -- A New Show @ ND

This is a YouTube Video of Mike Golic Jr. and Brandon Newman in their new show "OUR TEAM, OUR STORY."  Now I'm not going to give it a "two thumbs up" -- but, it has potential!  Here's a link to their first two episodes:

LINK:  MEDIA DAY

LINK:  FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

Update on One Time ND Hoops Recruit Hatch

Notre Dame fans may recall the news of June 24th when former Notre Dame basketball recruit Austin Hatch (Fort Wayne, IN) was involved in a plane crash in northern Michigan that took the life of his father and step-mother.  Hatch, the only survivor of the crash, has been in Traverse City's Munson Hospital ever since.  Hatch had committed to play basketball for Michigan -- a week earlier -- picking the Wolverines over the Fighting Irish. 

To read the most recent update on Austin's condition -- click on the link below:

LINK:  AUSTIN HATCH RECOVERY UPDATE

LINK:  ESPN STORY

LINK:  THE ORIGINAL CRASH STORY

Lou Holtz & Phil Steele Talk ND Football

Former Notre Dame Hall of Fame football coach Lou Holtz and football prognosticator Phil Steele were both guests this week on the Dan Dakich Show in Indianapolis.  Here's a link to both of their appearances on the show:

LINK:  HOLTZ & STEELE

Tickets to ND's Game Against USF Go On Sale...

The University of Notre Dame announced today that the University of South Florida has returned some tickets that will go on sale at the ND Ticket Office on Monday.  The Ticket Office typically opens at 8:30 AM ET -- here's the number to call if you're still looking for tickets: 574.631.7356

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S OFFICIAL WEB RELEASE ON TICKET SALE

The Lou & Skip Holtz Show at USF Dinner!

This is pretty good stuff here...

The University of South Florida hosted a kick-off dinner this week for their football program.  After the dinner was over, Lou and Skip took questions from the audience.  Here's a link to the video:

LINK:  THE LOU & SKIP HOLTZ SHOW

Coach Kelly & Coach Quinn -- Best Buddies

Found this story via GOOGLE ALERTS this evenng -- and boy, am I glad I did!

The Buffalo News published a wonderful story today about the relationship between Jeff Quinn (the head coach of the University at Buffalo football Bulls) and Notre Dame's Brian Kelly.  It's a must read for Irish fans!  Here's the link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY & COACH QUINN

Brian Kelly Interview with Atlanta Radio Station

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a guest yesterday on Tony Barnhart's radio show in Atlanta.  Here's a link to the discussion:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY WTH TONY BARNHART

At First Glance -- I'm Not Crazy About This

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame football program has decided to change the Game Day routine leading up to their entrance to Notre Dame Stadium.  For as long as I can remember, a couple of hours before kick-off, the team would begin their "walk" to Notre Dame Stadium from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.  A great Notre Dame tradition...

Well, so much for that.

Beginning Saturday, September 3rd -- the Fighting Irish will begin a new pre-game tradition that will look something like this:

• Approximately three hours before kick-off the team will arrive on campus by bus behind the Main Building (Golden Dome) -- and the team will make the short walk to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
• Once Mass is over -- the team will walk back to their buses and board them for a "lap" around the campus through the tailgating lots south of the Stadium and back to the Gug
• They'll then have a quick team meeting inside the Gug 
• Then they'll begin their new walk to the Stadium - which will take them on a path behind the Jordan School of Science to the Library -- where they'll make a left hand turn and walk to the Stadium in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus.  The team is expected to be at the Library around 1:15 PM for a 3:30 PM kick-off.

I've got to believe a NBC exec said -- "it would make for great TV with a shot from the top of Notre Dame Stadium towards Touchdown Jesus with players walking through a mass of humanity -- on a colorful fall day..."

We'll see...

ESPN's Colin Cowherd Has Spoken...

ESPN "talking head" Colin Cowherd spent a few minutes this morning talking about our Fighting Irish.  He's making the claim that we have one of the 'easiest' schedules in college football this season -- as he compares college football schedules to 'pimples..."

He's not a fan of Notre Dame -- but, here's his read on ND today...

LINK:  COLIN COWHERD ON THE IRISH

Yeah, Notre Dame is Irrelevant -- Look At This!

This photo was taken today in NYC's Times Square -- see the news that makes the Dow Jone's board...  Think any other school in America's naming of their QB would get this play in NYC?  Not a chance!

Dayne Crist to Lead the Irish! -- No Surprise!

Over the last 36 hours we asked the visitors to the ND GO IRISH BLOG to pick which QB would be selected as the starter for the game against University of South Florida.  And, 88% of the voters selected Dayne Crist as the QB that Coach Kelly would pick as his starter -- and, you were correct!

Here's a link to Coach Kelly's press conference today along with Dayne Crist's as well -- enjoy!

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESSER

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST PRESSER

Brady Quinn with Schlereth on Denver Radio

Former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn was just on the radio in Denver with Mark Schlereth at 104.3 The Fan.  ND GO IRISH BLOG regular contributor Jay Small, our Mountain West correspondent, alerted us to Brady's appearance on this show.  ND fans will enjoy this interview:

LINK:  BRADY QUINN ON THE RADIO

A "Pump Up" Video -- 2011 Notre Dame Football

Now, I must admit I'm not a big fan of the music -- I'm getting old!  But, Irish fans will enjoy this video...

LINK:  ND FOOTBALL -- GET FIRED UP!

Haugh & Hamilton Should Job Shadow Hansen

Eric Hansen is the Notre Dame beat writer at the South Bend Tribune -- from my perspective, it's equivalent to being the 'financial editor' at the Wall Street Journal.  David Haugh & Brian Hamilton -- who are both trying to make a name for themselves at the Chicago Tribune (by ripping Notre Dame) should "job shadow" Mr. Hansen the next time the two are on the University of Notre Dame campus.  They just might learn a thing or two about ND.  You'll enjoy these two well researched and well written stories by Mr. Hansen:

LINK:  ND RESIDENCE LIFE

LINK:  ND ADMISSIONS

Notre Dame's "Fearsome Freshmen" -- WNDU

The sports team at WNDU-TV aired a story last night about the freshmen football players at ND -- namely, Tuitt, Lynch and Williams.  When you add Niklas and Springman into the group -- you have five young men on the defensive side of the ball who stand 6"5" or taller and they each weigh between 250 lbs. and 290 lbs.  Big young men!  Here's a link to the feature:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S FEARSOME FRESHMEN

Photo of the Day -- Irish Stars Get Gold!

Here's a picture of Notre Dame's GOLD MEDAL winners this weekend (from LtoR) - Devereaux Peters, Natalie Novosel and Skylar Diggins.  The three Fighting Irish were members of TEAM USA's gold winning team at the World University Games in China.  Congratulations!

NFL Exhibition Week #2 -- ND Player Update

Took another spin around the web this morning to check in again on a few of our favorite ND football players from the past to see how life is treating them in the NFL after week two of the exhibition season.  You'll note some good performances this week from a few former Irish stars and unfortunately, some serious injuries.

Just click on the player's name below to see the latest news on them:

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN -- CAROLINA PANTHERS

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE -- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

LINK:  BRADY QUINN -- DENVER BRONCOS

LINK:  BRIAN SMITH -- CLEVELAND BROWNS

LINK:  KERRY NEAL -- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

LINK:  CHRIS STEWART -- NEW YORK JETS

LINK:  TOMMY ZBIKOWSKI -- BALTIMORE RAVENS

LINK:  RYAN GRANT -- GREEN BAY PACKERS

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK -- NEW YORK GIANTS

LINK:  SAM YOUNG -- DALLAS COWBOYS

LINK:  KYLE MCCARTHY -- DENVER BRONCOS

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  JOHN CARLSON -- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

LINK:  DEREK LANDRI -- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

LINK:  CHINEDUM NDUKWE -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

LINK:  TERRAIL LAMBERT -- NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

LINK:  RYAN HARRIS -- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

LINK:  DAVID BRUTON -- DENVER BRONCOS

LINK:  JOHN SULLIVAN -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  VICTOR ABIAMIRI -- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

LINK:  TREVOR LAWS -- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

LINK:  MAURICE STOVALL -- DETROIT LIONS

LINK:  ARNAZ BATTLE -- PITTSBURGH STEELERS

LINK:  SERGIO BROWN -- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

LINK:  ROBERT HUGHES -- CHICAGO BEARS 

LINK:  DARRIN WALLS -- ATLANTA FALCONS

LINK:  ARMANDO ALLEN -- TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 

Think This Story Won't Be Told A Few Times?

With Lou Holtz holding down a spot on ESPN's College Gameday set -- and his son Skip leading his team into Notre Dame Stadium -- the story of their family ties to ND will be told many, many times these next two weeks.  Here's a story from today's St. Petersburg Times:

LINK:  THE HOLTZ FAMILY & NOTRE DAME