Irish Hoops on ESPNU Tonight @ 7 PM ET

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish will host Big East foe Rutgers tonight at Purcell Pavillion.  Notre Dame, on a six-game winning streak, will be looking to turn the tables on the Scarlet Knights who were the last team to beat the Irish back on January 16th.  Game tips off on ESPNU at 7 PM ET.

GO IRISH!

LINK:  COACH BREY'S (WEEKLY) BIG EAST TELECONFERENCE

LINK:  OBSERVER STORY

Why We Love Notre Dame, Courtesy of ESPN

ESPN.COM's Notre Dame "blogger" is Matt Fortuna -- and to honor Valentine's Day, Matt published a number of emails yesterday from ND fans as to why they love the University of Notre Dame.  I want to thank my teammate here at Notre Dame, Chas Grundy '02, for alerting me to this story:

LINK:  WHY WE LOVE NOTRE DAME

Skylar Diggins & The New York Times...

You've got to wonder when was the last time the New York Times Magazine profiled a Notre Dame athlete who didn't wear a gold helmet...

I'm guessing NEVER -- until now.

Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins -- the most famous student-athlete under the Golden Dome right now -- was featured in a profile in the New York Times Magazine -- that Irish fans will enjoy.

Here's the link:

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS -- BIG TIME

Domer J.J. Philbin's "New Girl" on FOX

 

"Domer" J.J. Philbin, daughter of Regis Philbin, is one of the creator's of the Fox sitcom "New Girl."

I'm becoming a fan of the show...  VERY FUNNY!

LINK:  OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Does CBS' Bruce Feldman Know Something?

CBS Sports' senior college football columnist Bruce Feldman came out today with his "Top 10 Most Intriguing Redshirt Freshman" -- or, as Notre Dame would say "sophomore's with four years of eligibility remaining."

And, at the very top of that list is EVERETT GOLSON, QB -- University of Notre Dame.

Bruce is obviously hearing what many close to the Notre Dame football program have been saying for the past few months -- Everett Golson is the REAL DEAL.

It's going to be an interesting SPRING here at Notre Dame.

LINK:  TOP 10 MOST INTRIGUING REDSHIRT FRESHMEN

The Man & Mind Behind Notre Dame Magazine

His name is Kerry Temple '74, and he's the award winning editor (since 1995) of the top college magazine on the planet -- Notre Dame Magazine.

I had the great pleasure this afternoon to sit down with Kerry for a couple of hours to talk about Notre Dame.

Ironically, we learned we have something in common beyond our love for Notre Dame and telling stories.  We were both born in the same hospital in Shreveport, LA!

Notre Dame Magazine -- is a true literary treasure.  

Kerry did give me a little scoop today that the Spring issue will feature a FASHION SECTION for the first time ever.  It sounds like Kerry and TEAM (Carol Schaal '91, John Munczunski, John Nagy '00, Kerry Prugh and Julie Ettl) had some great fun creating this issue -- as did some Notre Dame students who were commissioned as models for photo shoots.

Notre Dame Magazine has a circulation of 150,000 -- if you're not one of them, you need to be!  Here's a link to the magazine's website along with a link to how you can subscribe.   This is a "must have" for fans of the University of Notre Dame:

LINK:  SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO NOTRE DAME MAGAZINE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME MAGAZINE WEBSITE

Blue Gold Game Only 67 Days Away!

One of the more anticipated Blue Gold Games in recent history is only 67 days a way!

Notre Dame fans will be looking forward to seeing the QB competition, DB competition and who's going to step forward and take over Michael Floyd's spot on the roster.  Should be fun!

To get you excited -- here's the Notre Dame Football highlight video from this past season

LINK:  2011 SEASON HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

NDGIB: The 62nd Largest City in America!

At 9:16 PM ET this evening -- a Notre Dame fan from Chicago, IL became UNIQUE "RESIDENT" #300,000 here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

To put this in perspective -- there are only 61 cities in the USA who have a population of more than 300,000.

Here's a list of the next five largest "population centers" in America:

1. Santa Ana, CA -- 324,538
2. St. Louis, MO -- 319,924
3. Pittsburgh, PA -- 305,704
4. Corpus Christi, TX -- 305,215
5. Riverside, CA -- 303,871
6. ND GO IRISH BLOG -- 300,000
7. Cincinnati, OH -- 296,943

Thank you for making the ND GO IRISH BLOG your NOTRE DAME HOMETOWN on the web!

Notre Dame's Fr. Bill Dailey on MSNBC...

The University of Notre Dame's Rev. Bill Dailey, C.S.C., was a guest on MSNBC's Up With Chris Hayes show Sunday morning.

Fr. Bill was asked to weigh in on the "subject of the day" in Washington D.C. -- the Obama administrations proposed "compromise" to force Catholic institutions to offer contraceptive services to employees.

You're going to enjoy Fr. Bill's debate with the folks at MSNBC.

In addition, twenty-five members of the University of Notre Dame faculty -- led by the university’s top ethics expert, and including some of the school’s most eminent scholars -- have signed a statement declaring that President Barack Obama’s latest version of his administration’s mandate that all health insurance plans in the United States must cover sterilizations and all FDA-approved contraceptives, including those that cause abortions, is “a grave violation of religious freedom and cannot stand."

Here's the links:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME ON MSNBC

LINK:  NOTRE DAME STANDS UP TO OBAMA

Mike Brey's Irish Finally Crack the Top 25!

The folks at CBSSPORTS.com came out with their updated Top-25 ranking this morning and the Irish have gone from being unranked to #18 in the country.  The CBS SPORTS poll is the first published each week. Here's a link to their ranking:

LINK:  IRISH RANKED IN TOP 25

Inside Notre Dame Basketball

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media are doing a bang-up job this season covering Notre Dame Athletics.  Here's their show Inside Notre Dame Basketball (Jack Nolan & Coach Brey).  Enjoy!

LINK:  INSIDE ND BASKETBALL #9

Whitney Houston Performing @ Notre Dame

The stunning news last night that Whitney Houston's life ended in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel -- left me a little numb.  I have to admit I found myself watching her performance of "I Look To You" on YOUTUBE, too many times to count last night -- see link below.

The University of Notre Dame has a small connection to Whitney.  Back in 1987, Houston performed "Didn't We Almost Have It All," inside Notre Dame Stadium, during the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics.  Here's the link:

LINK:  WHITNEY HOUSTON SINGS AT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  I LOOK TO YOU

Notre Dame Raises $204,682 for Research!

The #2 ranked Notre Dame women's basketball team's 21 game winning streak ended today, in the final 4 seconds, when West Virginia knocked down two clutch free throws to win 65 - 63.  Gutsy win for the Mountaineers.

Notre Dame announced during the second half -- that their PINK ZONE efforts raised $204,682 for breast cancer research -- most ever raised by our women's college basketball program!

Today's PINK ZONE halftime show honored hundreds of breast cancer survivors -- who ringed the Notre Dame basketball floor as Cathy Richardson sang her famous rendition of "Here Come the Irish" and Tim Stop performed a song he wrote for Haley Scott DeMaria's movie;  "Two Miles From Home" -- called "With All Your Heart Believe."

Not a dry-eye in the house...

LINK:  HERE COME THE IRISH -- PERFORMED BY CATHY RICHARDSON

LINK:  TIM STOP PERFORMS "WITH ALL YOUR HEART BELIEVE"

LINK:  NEWS STORY ON HALEY SCOTT'S MOVIE

Notre Dame on ESPNU Today at 3:30 PM ET

Muffet McGraw's #2 ranked Fighting Irish will take the court this afternoon at 3:30 PM ET to play the West Virginia Mountaineers.  Today will also mark the fourth annual PINK ZONE game for the Irish -- as ND joins the effort to raise funds for breast cancer research.  ESPNU will televise the game -- tip-off set for 3:30 PM ET. 

Notre Dame women's basketball has annually raised the most money for breast cancer awareness -- having raised more than $130,000 last season alone!

Where Are They Now? -- Rick Mirer

He was the local "golden boy" from Goshen, IN who came to Notre Dame with great fanfare.  His senior season at Goshen High School was one for the record books (3,973 yards and 30 TD's) the 2nd most in national prep history. 

Rick Mirer '93, left ND as a three-year starter at QB -- and the school record holder for most points scored running and throwing (350 pts.).  Mirer was the #2 overall draft pick (1993 NFL Draft) of the Seattle Seahawks.  Rick threw for 50 TD passes and ran for 9 more in his twelve-year NFL career.

Recently, the Notre Dame Alumni Association caught up with Rick in San Diego, CA -- where he's the owner/operator of Mirror Wine Company.  You'll enjoy this story!

LINK:  ND'S GOLDEN BOY

"SUPER" Performances by ND Football Stars!

Eight of the last Ten SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS have had at least one Notre Dame football player on its roster.  Of the 46 SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS all-time:  32 have had at least one former ND star on their roster.

Think about that.

36 former Notre Dame football stars have won at least one SUPER BOWL RING.

10 former ND football players have won "multiple" Super Bowl Rings:

• Mark Bavaro, New York Giants
• Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Nick Buoniconti, Miami Dolphins
• Eric Dorsey, New York Giants
• David Givens, New England Patriots
• Terry Hanratty, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Bob Kuechenberg, Miami Dolphins
• Joe Montana, San Francisco 49'ers
• Steve Sylvester, Oakland Raiders
• Justin Tuck, New York Giants

Not too shabby!

Latest Out of Washington D.C. for Catholics

The Catholic Bishops and the University of Notre Dame have responded to the proposed "alterations" to the Obama administration's demand that Catholic institutions offer and pay for contraceptive coverage for employees.  Suffice to say -- more needs to be done.  Here's the latest:

LINK:  FATHER JENKIN'S LATEST RESPONSE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LAW PROFESSOR'S RESPONSE

LINK:  WALL STREET JOURNAL STORY

LINK:  CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY

LINK:  FOX NEWS STORY

The Beat Goes On! Irish Over Depaul!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish are now (at 2:28 PM ET) TIED FOR SECOND in the Big East with Marquette!

The latest victim -- the DePaul Blue Demons -- who gave the Irish all they wanted today.  Yet, the Irish prevailed 84 - 76 behind 22 POINTS from both Jack Cooley and Jerian Grant -- earning their sixth straight win.  Notre Dame is now 17 - 8 on the season and 9 - 3 in the Big East.

LINK:  BIG EAST GAME STATS

LINK:  COACH BREY -- POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  POST GAME -- IRISH LOCKER ROOM

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame vs. Navy -- Football in Ireland

Heard this week on campus that tickets (NOT TIED TO TRAVEL PACKAGES) for the Notre Dame vs. Navy game in Dublin, will go on sale on March 1st at the Navy Athletics site.  This is a 'home' game for the Naval Academy -- so, they will have the majority of tickets for sale.  Presently, ND fans can buy "travel packages" from Anthony Travel that include football tickets. 

So, my advice -- get to the NAVAL ACADEMY sports site at 12:01 AM on March 1st.  Here's a link to their ticket site:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. NAVY IN IRELAND -- TICKET SITE

Meet Brian Kelly's New Coaching Staff @ ND!

The nine (9) assistant coaches who will make up Coach Brian Kelly's football staff -- and will lead the 125th football team in the history of the University of Notre Dame -- met with the media today.  You'll enjoy hearing from the three new coaches -- and the coaches returning who are coaching new position groups.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY'S NOTRE DAME COACHING STAFF