The Doors Open Friday Night -- It's a Beauty!

A $53 million investment in the hockey program at Notre Dame.

This Friday night, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will take the ice for the first time in the brand spanking new Compton Family Ice Arena -- AKA "The Hockey Cathedral."

Here's a link to a UND.COM feature.

LINK:  IRISH HOCKEY'S NEW HOME!

ESPN Power Rankings Has Irish at #23

It's a start...

Ever since the ten turnover nightmare, the Irish have been digging themselves out of a self-inflicted hole called 0 and 2.  While still not cracking the Top 25 AP or Coaches Poll -- a Notre Dame win Saturday night and we'll back.  Here's a link to ESPN's "power rankings."

LINK:  ESPN COLLEGE FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS

Here's Lane Kiffin on 710 AM Talkin' Irish...

University of Southern California head football coach Lane Kiffin was on the radio today in Los Angeles talkin' with Mark Willard about Saturday's game with our IRISH.  Here's a link to the interview on 710 AM:

LINK:  LANE KIFFIN ON THE RADIO

A New Video Feature @ ND -- IRISH UPDATE

The folks at UND.COM have "upped their game" big time over the past twelve months -- knocking out plenty of new content on a consistent basis!  I really like what they're doing.

Here's a new program called IRISH UPDATE -- which will be a weekly effort showcasing the 'olympic' sports at Notre Dame. 

LINK:  IRISH UPDATE

Five Days to USC -- But Who's Counting...

It's the week Notre Dame and USC fans get excited for every season.  Had the Irish not have "given away" their first two games of the season, this would have been THEE GAME in college football.  The boys in Vegas have ND has 8.5 pt. favorites over the Trojans.  Here's a few stories coming out of the "left coast:"

LINK:  SUNDAY PRACTICE AT USC

LINK:  SB NATION -- LOS ANGELES

LINK:  LA TIMES

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LINK:  ESPN LA

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

Rocket Relives His Two TD Returns @ Michigan

You just got to love Rocket Ismail -- Notre Dame needs to hire him...  He sure can tell a story.

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Notre Dame's Path to #1 All-Time Winning %

Folks, with little to do on a non-ND football weekend, I thought I'd work on a "math problem" for our Irish.  As many of you may know, our football team's woes over the past twenty seasons has dropped us behind that school in Ann Arbor in "ALL-TIME WINNING PERCENTAGE."

We can reclaim that title this season!  Here's how we get that done:

Current All-Time Winning Percentage as of October 16, 2011:

1. Michigan:  .73522%
2. NOTRE DAME:  .73232%

Now, here's what we need to happen yet this season.  Michigan needs to lose 4 of their next 5 games.  Here's how that happens:

• Purdue at Michigan -- Michigan wins
• Michigan at Iowa -- Iowa wins
• Michigan at Illinois -- Illinois wins
• Nebraska at Michigan -- Nebraska wins
• Ohio State at Michigan -- Ohio State wins

And, the Irish win all of their last six games!

Here's what the All-Time Winning % will look like at the end of the 2011 regular season:

1. NOTRE DAME:  .73367%
2. Michigan:  .73306%

Look Who's the Projected #2 Pick in NFL Draft

Looks like Mr. Michael Floyd made a "GREAT DECISION" to hang around for his senior season at Notre Dame.  Here's a look at The Sporting News updated mock 2012 NFL Draft.

LINK:  FLOYD A PROJECTED TOP PICK

Domer Bubba Cunningham to UNC as AD?

There are rumors flying around the internet this evening that Bubba Cunningham '84 & '88 is the top candidate to become the next Athletic Director at the University of North Carolina.  Cunningham, the AD at Tulsa, was also rumored to be moving to Kansas University in the past year...

LINK:  CUNNINGHAM TO CHAPEL HILL

Trick Shot Monday -- ND Football Team Fun!

You can't describe this -- you just have to watch it...

LINK:  TRICK SHOT MONDAY

Lou & Beth Holtz -- Leading the ND Family

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular, Diego Ybarra alerted me to this collaboration between Lou & Beth Holtz and the University of Notre Dame.  It's an effort to raise money to assist Notre Dame researchers in the efforts to find a cure for cancer.  Here's the link:

LINK:  LOU & BETH HOLTZ

Stephon Tuitt -- A Lesson Learned

Notre Dame football freshman Stephon Tuitt "overslept" one morning two weeks ago and it cost him a trip to Purdue to play against the Boilermakers.  Matt Fortuna, ESPN's Notre Dame beat writer caught up with Tuitt to ask him about this learning experience.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  LEARNING THE HARD WAY

Coach Kelly With Mike & MIKE -- Friday Morn'

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was in Bristol CT this evening spending time with Lou Holtz and Mark May on the College Football Live set -- and he'll be back tomorrow morning as a guest 'on-set' at the Mike & MIKE Show in the morning (7:45 AM ET).  Rumor has it that Coach Kelly will stick around and be a guest on Colin Cowherd's show later in the morning.  Be sure to tune in to ESPN RADIO or ESPN2!

LINK:  COACH KELLY ON MIKE & MIKE

Phil Steele Projects Notre Dame to Fiesta Bowl

College football guru Phil Steele came out today with his picks for the upcoming bowl game season.  Steele has the Irish playing Boise State -- won't the folks at ESPN love that! -- in the Fiesta Bowl on January 5th.  Here's a link to his projections:

LINK:  IRISH OFF TO FIESTA?

Media Day for the Notre Dame Basketball Teams

Muffet McGraw and Mike Brey "tag teamed" the media today as they trotted out the 2011 - 2012 editions of their respective basketball programs.  Trust me -- Notre Dame Basketball is back -- it's going to be a fun season for both teams!  Here's a link to the media coverage:

LINK:  MUFFET McGRAW -- MEDIA DAY

LINK:  ND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL -- PLAYER INTERVIEWS

LINK:  MIKE BREY -- MEDIA DAY

LINK:  ND MEN'S BASKETBALL -- PLAYER INTERVIEWS

Double Domer Stars in ESPN's The Dotted Line

Eugene Lee, President and CEO of etl Associates, Inc -- who has a couple of degrees from Notre Dame -- starred today in an ESPN Films movie called "The Dotted Line."

Lee, a sports agent, was featured in this film about the role an agent plays in the sports industry.  If you haven't seen the film -- you'll want to!  Special thanks to ND GO IRISH BLOG contributor Mike Doyle for alerting me to Lee's relationship with Notre Dame!  

Here is a link to Lee's company website and a link to his promotional video:

LINK:  ETL ASSOCIATES

LINK:  LEE'S "SIZZLE REEL"

Irish Football Intern Succumbs to Leukemia

Xavier Murphy '11, a member of Brian Kelly's football staff these past two seasons (intern / senior manager) died today from complications associated with leukemia.  Murphy was diagnosed just four weeks ago -- after complaining of back pain to the Notre Dame training staff.  Very, very sad.

Please say a prayer today for Xavier and his family.

LINK:  XAVIER MURPHY

Bye Week -- Notre Dame Football Update

Here's the latest on Notre Dame football, Tuesday during their bye week -- as the Irish gear up for USC next Saturday in prime time.  Coaches are out on the road recruiting...

LINK:  COACH KELLY MEDIA SESSION

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

Brady Quinn Taking Some Flack...

Former Notre Dame All American QB Brady Quinn -- who's languishing on the bench in Denver is taking some heat in the Mile High City for leaving to be at his girlfriend's side for her surgery.  Quinn is dating USA elite gymnast Alicia Sacramone (pictured) -- who tore her Achilles tendon in Tokyo preparing for the World Championships.  Here's a link to the story...

LINK:  THE BEST BOYFRIEND

ND's Student Newspaper -- Air Force Recap

The Observer, the University of Notre Dame's award winning student newspaper, runs a recap of the Irish football game every week and I thought you'd like to see it.  You'll enjoy the perspective!

LINK:  THE OBSERVER