OT: Peyton Manning to Sign with Broncos

I wonder what ESPN will spend their time talkin' about now...

Any guesses?

ESPN:  Where will Tim Tebow be traded to?

That's going to be all we hear about these next few days as it was just announced that Peyton Manning's agent is negotiating what is believed to be a five-year $95 million deal with the Denver Broncos.

Looks like Brady Quinn made a good decision to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs.

LINK:  ESPN COVERAGE

Irish Football Players in Their OFF Season...

You're going to enjoy this FIGHTING IRISH DIGITAL MEDIA segment on what a few of our football players are up to in the off-season; Matt Mulvey, Mike Golic, Jr., and Kapron Lewis-Moore intimidating basketball opponents at Purcell Pavillion, Chris Salvi's Bengal Bouts Championship Final fight and the Atkinson brothers and Bennett Jackson running track...

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Charles Sollars' Notre Dame Helmet Designs

 

As an exclusive to the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- Charles Sollars, a Missouri based designer -- has taken the liberty of creating a few helmet designs for the NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH.    

I'll always be partial to the new GOLD HELMET the Irish broke out for the USC game this year -- but, it doesn't hurt to explore new options.

Just click on the photo -- and it will enlarge -- and it will kick you into slideshow mode...

Let me know what you think -- and if you have any new ideas, we'll pass them on to Charles -- use the COMMENTS section below...

Irish Win First Round NCAA Game over Liberty!

Muffet's IRISH made their first FOUR SHOTS in the 2012 NCAA Tournament -- and it was 11 - 0 and GAME OVER, just a couple of minutes in.

The halftime score was 44 - 19 and the FIGHTING IRISH didn't even take a warm-up shot coming out into the second half.  It was just a matter of how bad did Muffet's crew want to play over the last 20 minutes...

The final score ended up: 74 - 41.

Next up for the IRISH -- #8 seed California on Tuesday -- who looked VERY GOOD in their 84 - 74 win over #9 seed Iowa.  This might just be ND's toughest test before FINAL FOUR weekend in Denver.  That's how good this California team is.

LINK:  FINAL BOX SCORE

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame's NCAA Tourney Run Begins Today

Muffet McGraw's #1 seeded Fightin' Irish begin the road to Denver and the 2012 FINAL FOUR -- today at 2:40 PM ET on ESPN2 -- when they take on Jerry Falwell's Liberty University Flames at "HOME" inside Purcell Pavillion.

I'll be sitting in the stands, so expect a "first person" follow-up report this evening.  Here's a link to the NCAA coverage coming out of South Bend:

LINK:  NCAA PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. LIBERTY -- PREVIEW

LINK:  TOURNEY CENTRAL

ND Band in Ireland for 2012 St. Patrick's Day!

A few members of the Band of the Fighting Irish were in the perfect place to celebrate St. Patrick's Day yesterday -- DUBLIN, IRELAND!  As you'll see here in a few articles and videos from Ireland -- the Notre Dame marching band did us proud!

Twelve marching bands performed during the parade including -- NINE FROM AMERICA!  (the above photo is all I could find so far)

LINK:  VIDEO OF THE BAND OF THE FIGHTING IRISH

LINK:  VIDEO -- RAKES OF MALLOW

LINK:  IRISH TIMES

LINK:  BELFAST TELEGRAPH

LINK:  HOUSE OF BRIGID BLOG

Father Hesburgh Awarded Irish Citizenship!

In a St. Patrick's Day ceremony yesterday -- here on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- "Father Ted" was honored with IRISH CITIZENSHIP.  Ireland's highest honor was bestowed on ND's former president by Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny.  Here's a couple links to the story:

LINK:  IRISH AMERICA MAGAZINE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  FATHER HESBURGH VIDEO

Quinn & Zbikowski Switch NFL Teams...

Former Irish football stars; Brady Quinn and Tom Zbikowski signed with new NFL teams in the past 24 hours. 

Yesterday, Zbikowski signed a three-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts after starting his career in Baltimore. Today, Quinn agreed to a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs (terms not disclosed) after spending seasons in Cleveland and Denver.  Here's hoping the moves turn out great for both!

LINK:  QUINN SIGNS WITH CHIEFS

LINK:  ZIBBY SIGNS WITH COLTS

Sollars' Notre Dame Football Helmet Designs

I love Charles Sollars' helmet designs -- but, Charles -- I think you could do better for our IRISH! 

Give us something as cool and hot as you designed for; Alabama, LSU, Illinois, Mizzou...

Here's a link to fourteen helmet designs he came up with for Notre Dame -- along with a second link to helmet designs for a few other teams:

LINK:  NEW HELMET DESIGN FOR THE IRISH

LINK:  OTHER SOLLARS HELMET DESIGNS

The Mornin' After a Bizarre End to a Season

 

I was up 'til after 2 AM ET -- trying to make sense of what happened to our IRISH...  And, I can't.

Xavier 67 - Notre Dame 63

So, I thought I'd leave it up to Coach Brey, the players and the "experts" in the media.  Here you go:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  IRISH LOCKER ROOM -- AFTER GAME

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  CINCINNATI.COM STORY

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

Referee's Calls -- Determines Final Outcome

Folks, it's truly a shame that with less than 3 seconds left in the game -- and the IRISH down two at the free throw line...

A referee's whistle -- ends the 2011 - 2012 basketball season for our Fighting Irish.

I don't know if it rivals the call made by the first base umpire taking the PERFECT GAME away from the Detroit Tigers' pitcher two seasons ago -- but, it's usually an "un-written" rule that you let the PLAYERS PLAY at the end of the game -- especially an NCAA Tournament game.

Not tonight.  Big East referee Mike Stuart (who's one of the best in the business) made two "back to back" calls that decided the outcome of the game:

• With Eric Atkins at the free throw line with 2.8 seconds remaining and the IRISH down by 2, Stuart blows the whistle after Atkins made the first free throw -- calling Jerian Grant for a violation -- even though he's almost 20' away from the basket.  Taking the point away from Notre Dame and giving the ball to Xavier...

• Then, on the in-bounds play that followed -- Stuart blows the whistle before the ball is thrown in, calling an INTENTIONAL FOUL on our IRISH -- awarding two free throws and the ball out of bounds to Xavier -- GAME OVER...

Mike Stuart took CONTROL AWAY FROM THE PLAYERS -- of the final 2.8 seconds of the basketball game -- ultimately making the decision that Xavier WOULD WIN and our IRISH WOULD GO HOME...

Ironically, I found this interview of Mike Stuart (January 2011) talking about the end of games (see cover photo of Stuart above) where he makes this quote -- and I swear I'm not making this up -- click on the article below:

“That game was really a great game where both teams competed at their highest level, and they decided the game,” he said. “At the end of the day, that is our goal.” -- Mike Stuart.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP!!!

Sleepless in South Bend...

LINK:  MIKE STUART -- LETTING "PLAYERS DECIDE THE GAME..."

Introducing the SHAMROCKS of NOTRE DAME!

The University of Notre Dame -- for the first time in its 169 year history -- will be growing shamrocks on campus this spring...

The exact locations of where the SHAMROCKS of NOTRE DAME will be planted has not been revealed as of yet -- but, as you might expect -- you can buy these same shamrocks (as of today) in the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.

The store just has a few shamrocks in stock -- with plans to have many more in store for the BLUE GOLD WEEKEND.   They're also going to be offering this online -- with the ability to ship the SHAMROCKS of NOTRE DAME to your home.  They showed me the box they'll ship them in and you can turn the plant upside down in the box and the dirt doesn't come out -- IMPRESSIVE to say the least.

Each SHAMROCKS of NOTRE DAME plant comes in a ceramic pot complete with a "story card" that speaks to this new "living tradition," about to begin this spring, on the University of Notre Dame campus.

I bought two SHAMROCKS of NOTRE DAME plants to give to my Mom and Mother-in-Law for St. Patrick's Day -- they're both huge ND fans who will now have a "story to tell" about "their shamrocks from Notre Dame..."

What's cool is this -- Notre Dame alums, parents, fans and friends will have the opportunity to always have a "living piece of Notre Dame" growing in their yard, home or office -- and a STORY TO TELL.  It's going to be a great gift item...

I've also learned that all proceeds from the sale of the SHAMROCKS of NOTRE DAME will go to the University's Annual Fund which annually provides financial aid for deserving students, enhances academic and student life, advances the university's Catholic mission and funds other areas of greatest need.

The Real March Madness Begins Tonight!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish have been getting ready for a couple of days now in Greensboro, NC for tonight's scheduled 9:45 PM ET tip-off with Xavier.  The NCAA now calls this a "second round" game since they 'play-ins' were created last season... 

It's still a FIRST ROUND game to me -- a game the IRISH will win!

Last night, the folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media and UND.COM posted a few stories from the tournament site that IRISH fans will enjoy.  I must admit, I'm now a big fan of Garrick Sherman who's in his transfer season from Michigan State -- after learning what he had to do just to "practice" with his teammates in Greensboro -- it's in one of the stories below...

LINK:  COACH BREY WITH JACK NOLAN 

LINK:  COACH BREY NCAA PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  PLAYERS NCAA PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  DAY ONE @ NCAA TOURNAMENT

To Get You Fired Up for Spring Practice!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media spent some time with the IRISH at a winter workout...

With the official start of Spring Practice -- just six days away -- thought this would get NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL fans excited.  Enjoy!

LINK:  WINTER WORKOUT FOR THE IRISH

2012 ND vs. Michigan -- UNDER THE LIGHTS!

The University of Notre Dame announced today that their game on September 22 with the University of Michigan, will be played UNDER THE LIGHTS -- in prime time on NBC.  Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.

All other games at Notre Dame Stadium will have a 3:30 PM ET kick-off this season.  The Shamrock Series game between Notre Dame and the University of Miami will be a 7:30 PM ET kick-off at Chicago's Soldier Field.

Amir Carlisle: NCAA Ruled ELIGIBLE TO PLAY!

Amir Carlisle, who transferred into Notre Dame for the spring semester from the University of Southern California -- was ruled ELIGIBLE to play this fall for the Fighting Irish!

Here's a link to highlights of USC's win over Colorado this past season -- a game in which Amir had 90 yards rushing and  31 yards receiving:

LINK:  AMIR CARLISLE

Notre Dame: Tee Shepard Headin' Home...

News just broke that Tee Shepard, one of Notre Dame's top rated recruits -- who had enrolled early -- has left school to return home to Fresno, CA.  This was just announced by university spokesman, Brian Hardin.

LINK:  WNDU STORY

Graduation Success Rate: NCAA Men's Teams

Did some homework as to how well the 64 teams in the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship -- graduate their student-athletes.  The NCAA has been reporting the Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of every athletic team at every member school since 2004 -- you'll find the results below.

Seven schools in this year's NCAA Tournament scored a PERFECT GSR SCORE, graduating 100 percent of their student-athletes;  University of Notre Dame, Duke University, Davidson College, Brigham Young University, Harvard University, Creighton University and Belmont University.

Thirteen (13) schools in this year's NCAA Tournament GRADUATE LESS THAN HALF of their student-athletes in the NCAA Tournament -- they are:

• UCONN:  graduates 25%
• New Mexico State:  graduates 28%
• Mississippi Valley State:  graduates 35%
• University of Florida:  graduates 38%
• Southern Mississippi University:  graduates 42% 
• University of Colorado:  graduates 43%
• Norfolk State:  graduates 43%
• Temple University:  graduates 43%
• University of South Florida:  graduates 44%
• University of Michigan:  graduates 45%
• Long Beach State:  graduates 45%
• Iowa State:  graduates 45%
• Indiana University:  graduates 47% 

Here's a "re-seeding" of each NCAA Tournament Region -- by GSR:

SOUTH REGION
#1:  Duke -- 100 GSR
#2:  Notre Dame -- 100 GSR
#3:  Xavier -- 93 GSR
#4:  Wichita State -- 92 GSR
#5:  Lehigh:  85 GSR
#6:  Kentucky:  69 GSR
#7:  UNLV:  67 GSR
#8:  VCU:  67 GSR
#9:  Baylor:  56 GSR
#10:  South Dakota State:  50 GSR
#11:  Indiana:  47 GSR
#12:  Iowa State:  45 GSR
#13:  Colorado:  43 GSR
#14:  Mississippi Valley State:  35 GSR
#15:  New Mexico State:  28 GSR
#16:  UCONN:  25 GSR

WEST REGION
#1:  Davidson:  100 GSR
#2:  BYU:  100 GSR
#3:  Marquette:  91 GSR
#4:  LIU Brooklyn:  91 GSR
#5:  Michigan State:  82 GSR
#6:  Missouri:  67 GSR
#7:  Saint Louis:  67 GSR
#8:  Colorado State:  64 GSR
#9:  New Mexico:  57 GSR
#10:  Louisville:  56 GSR
#11:  Murray State:  56 GSR
#12:  Memphis:  55 GSR
#13:  Virginia:  50 GSR
#14:  Long Beach State:  45 GSR
#15:  Norfolk State:  43 GSR
#16:  Florida:  38 GSR

EAST REGION
#1:  Harvard:  100 GSR
#2:  Vanderbilt:  93 GSR
#3:  Loyola (MD):  92 GSR
#4:  West Virginia:  83 GSR
#5:  Montana:  75 GSR
#6:  Gonzaga:  73 GSR
#7:  Florida State:  67 GSR
#8:  Texas:  67 GSR
#9:  St. Bonaventure:  65 GSR
#10:  Ohio State:  57 GSR
#11:  UNC-Asheville:  57 GSR
#12:  Cincinnati:  56 GSR
#13:  Syracuse:  54 GSR
#14:  Wisconsin:  50 GSR
#15:  Kansas State:  50 GSR
#16:  Southern Mississippi:  42 GSR

MIDWEST REGION
#1:  Creighton:  100 GSR
#2:  Belmont:  100 GSR
#3:  Kansas:  91 GSR
#4:  North Carolina:  89 GSR
#5:  Detroit Mercy:  89 GSR
#6:  Vermont:  86 GSR
#7:  Saint Mary's:  82 GSR
#8:  North Carolina State:  80 GSR
#9:  Ohio:  79 GSR
#10:  Georgetown:  70 GSR
#11:  Alabama:  67 GSR
#12:  San Diego State:  62 GSR 
#13   Purdue:  50 GSR
#14:  Michigan:  45 GSR
#15:  South Florida:  44 GSR
#16:  Temple:  43 GSR

LINK:  NCAA GSR DATABASE 

Minnesota Vikings: Bookend IRISH Tight Ends!

Former Notre Dame football star John Carlson -- returned "home" today when he signed a five-year $25 million contract ($11 million guaranteed) with the Minnesota Vikings.

Carlson, who's played the last four seasons in Seattle with the Seahawks -- will be joining another former Notre Dame TE star on the Vikings roster, by the name of Kyle Rudolph.

LINK:  JOHN CARLSON -- A VIKING!

Charlie's Still Thinking About Notre Dame...

Found this article on Kansas Jayhawks head football coach Charlie Weis '78 -- who you'll see just can't stop thinking about his time in South Bend.  Here's the link below:

LINK:  CHARLIE'S NEW HOME