Notre Dame Football's Pep Rally Last Night!

It's Senior Day at the University of Notre Dame today -- last night, the Class of 2012 had their last Pep Rally.  Here's a link:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PEP RALLY

Is This The Day Real Grass Dies @ Notre Dame?

Today's 4 PM ET kick-off at Notre Dame Stadium will be the last time a number of Fighting Irish football players run out of the tunnel wearing the GOLD HELMET.

Will it also be the last time in Notre Dame Stadium when:

1. A football game is played on 100% natural grass?
2. A football game is played without a video board?

If you're at the game today -- take a look around -- take it all in.  I truly believe we'll see a new "high tech" turf as a playing surface next September -- and a new "high tech" scoreboard when those GOLD HELMETS return to the House That Rock Built.

GO IRISH! -- BEAT BC!

Unique Visitor #250,000 Last Night!!!!

At 10:31 PM ET last night -- a Notre Dame fan from Lake Oswego, OR became UNIQUE VISITOR #250,000 at the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

To put this in perspective -- there is only city in the state of Indiana with a population of more than 250,000 and that's Indianapolis.  Here's the rankings of population:

1. Indianapolis:  1,573,796
2. ND GO IRISH BLOG:  250,000
3. Fort Wayne:  205,727
4. Evansville:  121,582
5. South Bend:  107,789

A quarter of a million Notre Dame fans have now read at least one positive story about the University of Notre Dame at this site -- since the blog launched 23 months ago.

THANK YOU for surpassing my wildest dreams for my little blog.  It just goes to show you the power of the Notre Dame brand!

#4 ND beats #3 BC with 1.01 Seconds Left!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and Boston College played the greatest game in the history of Compton Family Ice Arenas last night! (the building is only a few weeks old)  Tied 2 - 2 after regulation -- the Fighting Irish scored the winning goal with ONE SECOND LEFT in overtime!  Here's a link to the game highlights:

LINK:  THE IRISH BEAT BC!

LINK:  COACH JACKSON REACTION

LINK:  PLAYER INTERVIEWS

Regis Philbin -- His Last Show...

Our favorite Notre Dame alum, Regis Philbin '53 left his show yesterday after 28 1/2 years and more than 50 years on television.  You'll enjoy the tribute -- and you better have some tissue!

LINK:  REGIS -- HIS LAST SHOW

The Media Picks Winner of ND vs. BC Game

Took a trip around the web this evening to see what the media experts have to say about tomorrow's 4 PM ET kick-off for the Notre Dame vs. Boston College football game.  Some interesting predictions -- to say the least!

LINK:  BOSTON GLOBE

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

LINK:  BC INTERRUPTION BLOG

LINK:  BOSTON GLOBE #2

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

Regis Philbin - The Ultimate Domer's - Last Day!

Folks, a TV icon and Notre Dame Man, Regis Philbin -- will call it quits tomorrow as he exits his own daily show after nearly 30 years on the air.  Philbin, a 1953 graduate of the University of Notre Dame has unabashedly shared his passion for his alma mater on his TV show for years...

I've got to believe there will be some talk of ND during tomorrow's show -- so be sure to tune in Friday morning!  I do know he will be "home" in South Bend on Saturday signing copies of his book "How I Got This Way" at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore. 

THANK YOU REGIS!  YOU'RE MY FAVORITE NOTRE DAME ALUM (besides my son) OF ALL TIME!

Here's a link to the LIVE! with Regis & Kelly official website:

LINK:  REGIS'S LAST SHOW

The Brian Kelly Radio Show -- Live @ 7 PM ET

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly will be hosting his final LIVE RADIO SHOW of the season tonight (Thursday) at 7 PM ET on UND.COM.  Here's a link to where you can watch the show live on the web:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY RADIO SHOW -- WATCH IT LIVE!

He Never Got "IT" @ ND -- Maybe New Mexico?

ESPN college football analyst Bob Davie has accepted the head coaching position at the University of New Mexico.  Davie, who took over for Lou Holtz at Notre Dame -- hasn't been on the sidelines since he's departure from South Bend in 2001. 

Here's why I'm sure he took the job at New Mexico:

• No expectations to win
• The NCAA won't be watching him as closely in Albuquerque
• He takes them to a bowl and he'll have his own statue

It's going to be fun to see if Lou Holtz ever comments on Bob Davie's coaching acumen...

Here's some of the media coverage:

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN

LINK:  KRQE -- CHANNEL 13

Isabela Nanni -- the Daughter of Domers!

Isabela Nanni skipped past American Idol, X-Factor, The Voice and all of the other talent competitions on the planet -- to secure a "touring" gig with the band Chicago -- at the age of 14!!!

Isabela -- the oldest daughter of Lou and Carmen Nanni (both Domers) -- WOWED 10,000 people in attendance at halftime of a February Notre Dame women's basketball game when she played a song she wrote about breast cancer survivors called "Beautiful."  See the link below to that performance.

Life changed that moment for Ms. Nanni.

Since that day eight months ago -- ol' Isabela has hooked up with the band Chicago and has performed with them at a number of concert venues.  Over the next two months, Isabela will be touring again with Chicago -- traveling to NYC, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Louisville.  This Sunday, she'll perform with Chicago at a made for TV figure skating show that NBC is producing with Brian Boitano at Notre Dame's brand new Compton Family Ice Arena.  NBC will air this show over the holidays.

The Notre Dame family needs to keep an eye on this up and coming talent!!!

Here's a link to Isabela's official website --along with a link to videos of a number of her performances. 


LINK:  ISABELA NANNI -- OFFICIAL WEBSITE

LINK:  ISABELA NANNI -- PERFORMANCE VIDEOS

LINK:  BEAUTIFUL -- WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY ISABELA NANNI

The Holy War -- Coach Kelly on Boston College

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media this afternoon for his weekly (in-season) press conference.  Up this Saturday are the Eagles of Boston College.  Here's what Coach Kelly had to say about the gang from Chestnut Hill:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH THE MEDIA

Notre Dame Basketball on ESPNU -- Tonight!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will be playing the University of Detroit tonight at 9 PM ET on ESPNU.  Be sure to tune in!

The Holy War -- Boston College Week for ND

The folks at the Boston Herald ran this first article I've seen this week on Saturday's game at Notre Dame Stadium between the Fighting Irish and the Boston College Eagles.  The Irish are 24 1/2 point favorites.  Here's a link to the story.

LINK:  HOLY WAR

Inside Notre Dame Football TV Show

The University of Notre Dame's "Inside Notre Dame Football" aired this Sunday -- here's a link to the show.

LINK:  INSIDE NOTRE DAME TV

Notre Dame Back in the Top 25 -- @ #24 in AP

The Associated Press Poll has the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish back in their Top 25 -- where they haven't been since the opening weekend of the 2011 college football season.  The Irish are ranked #24 in the AP Poll and #25 in the Coaches Poll -- here's a link to the rankings:

LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 25

Photo of the Day: Domer Catches Big Fish!

Now, Bill Laimbeer might not be your favorite Notre Dame athlete of all time -- and from what I've seen he hasn't been one to embrace the Irish -- but, he did catch a 75 1/2 lb. Cobia earlier this month off the coast of Marco Island, FL.  Fish doesn't look that big next to a 6' - 11" Laimbeer.  The world-record Cobia was caught in 2010 and weighed 121 lbs  Here's a link to the quick story:

LINK:  BILL LAIMBEER A FISHERMAN?

The Mornin' After the Irish Dominate Maryland

Took a lap around the web this morning to see what our friends in the media had to say about the Irish and their 45 - 21 win over the Terrapins of Maryland.  The game, the first ever in the Shamrock Series, drew more than 70,000 to FedEx Field (12,000 fans short of a sell-out) in the suburbs of Washington D.C.  Here's the media's take on the game:

LINK:  BALTIMORE SUN

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST #2

LINK:  TERRAPIN STATION BLOG

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES BLOG

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL LESAR

LINK:  WASHINGTON TIMES BLOG

LINK:  WASHINGTON EXAMINER

LINK:  CARROLL COUNTY TIMES

LINK:  HERALD MAIL

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  NBC 

ND Post Game Coverage -- Win Over Maryland

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame dominated the Maryland Terrapins 45 - 21, in the first game of the newly minted Shamrock Series.  Brian Kelly's offense rolled up over 500 yards in total offense for the fifth time this season.  Here's the UND.COM post game coverage:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LOCKER ROOM CELEBRATION

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME MEDIA SESSION

LINK:  PLAYER INTERVIEWS

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Shamrock Series Pre-Game Show @ 6:15 PM ET

Notre Dame football fans -- if you're looking for something to do to countdown the last two hours before kick-off -- here's a suggestion.  The gang at UND.COM will begin their SHAMROCK SERIES pre-game show live from FedEx Field at 6:15 PM ET.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PRE-GAME SHOW

First Look at FedEx Field: End Zone Painted

Here's a photo taken of the end zone at FedEx Field -- home of the Washington Redskins.  Kick-off of the SHAMROCK SERIES 150 minutes away!