Photo of the Day: First Photo From Raleigh!

This photo was just "tweeted" by Peter Byrne at WSBT-TV -- of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame huddling up before they begin warm-ups for their Regional Final in Raleigh, NC against Maryland.  Tip-off scheduled for 9:12 PM ET on ESPN.  Looks like an empty building doesn't it...

Walk-Off Three Run Homer: Irish Win Opener!

 

The Notre Dame women's softball team beat the Broncos of Western Michigan University in their home opener this evening with a two-out, WALK-OFF -- THREE RUN HOME RUN by Amy Buntin!

The IRISH trailed WMU 3 - 0 going into their last at bats...

A home run, triple, walk, fielder's choice (which the runner beat out) and another HOME RUN and the IRISH score five in the bottom of the seventh and it's game over!

This was my first-ever women's college softball game.  I walked in during the fifth-inning thinking they played nine innings...  I have to admit I had no idea the three-run homer was a walk-off until I saw the Broncos walk off the field.

I want to give a shout-out to Tom Lux '78 -- who was kind enough to give me some inside scoop on the Irish softball program.  Tom and his wife Anna are the proud parents of former Irish softball star Christine Lux '10 and junior first baseman Kathryn Lux '13.

Notre Dame Plays for Final Four Tonight!

 

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will play for the final spot in the Women's Final Four tonight when they tip-off at 9 PM ET against the Maryland Terrapins on ESPN.  The "experts" are all picking Maryland to beat the IRISH tonight -- I DON'T THINK SO!

Here's a link to UND.COM's preview of tonight's game.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. MARYLAND

LINK:  SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF RALEIGH REGIONAL

Irish Recruits: McDonalds' All-Americans!

Muffet's IRISH are playing in Raleigh, NC tomorrow night...

The future of the IRISH hoops program (Jewell Lloyd & Michaela Mabrey) plays the next night (Wednesday) night in Chicago in the McDonald's All-American game -- 7 PM ET on ESPNU. 

Lloyd is a BIG TIME talent and Mabrey is the perfect compliment -- it's going to be fun seeing these two on the court next year with Diggins, McBride, Achonwa and company!  (Photo:  Jewell Lloyd)

LINK:  JEWELL LLOYD -- McDONALD'S ALL-AMERICAN

LINK:  JEWELL LLOYD -- ONE OF THE BEST EVER

LINK:  MICHAELA MABREY -- McDONALD'S ALL-AMERICAN

Coach Tony Alford at Practice Today!

The Notre Dame football team held practice #4 this morning in chilly weather conditions -- check that -- normal March weather conditions in the Midwest!

Anyway, what's fun about today's coverage from the Fighting Irish Digital Media team was their "miking" of ND coach Tony Alford during practice.  You'll enjoy this inside access to Notre Dame football.

LINK:  TONY ALFORD

Muffet's IRISH Getting Zero Respect from ESPN

Five of the folks at ESPN who cover women's college basketball have made their selection on who will win the Notre Dame vs. Maryland game tomorrow night...

Four of the five have picked Maryland.

You know what -- I kind of like that...

LINK:  WHO GOES TO THE FINAL FOUR 

LINK:  ELITE EIGHT -- PRESS CONFERENCE

The Irish Roll Over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Well, the Small Family Championship ended with Jimmy's school (Notre Dame) beating Kara's school (St. Bonaventure) 79 - 35.

The Bonnies never got into this game and it was over early as Muffet emptied the bench with 11 minutes to go.  Notre Dame moves on to play #2 seed Maryland Tuesday night at 9 PM ET.

GO IRISH!

LINK:  BOX SCORE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

LINK:  ESPN GAME RECAP

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  BUFFALO NEWS #1

LINK:  BUFFALO NEWS #2

OT: Will Hamilton is a NCAA Champion!

A childhood friend, USS teammate and long-time training partner of our kids' (Kara & Brady) -- WILL "CHILL" HAMILTON won the NCAA Championship last night in the 200 Fly!  Hamilton, a freshman -- also clinched the team NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP for the California Bears with his win!

It's pretty cool seeing a kid you've known, since the age of eight, accomplish something like this!

Hamilton's time of 1:40.94 is the SIXTH FASTEST ALL-TIME in the 200 Fly -- think about that.  This time is not far behind Michael Phelps' American record time of 1:39.65

Will will now be a legitimate contender for one of the two spots on the U.S. Olympic Team -- in this event -- at the upcoming Olympic Trials.   

I also want to give a "SHOUT OUT" to John McGuire -- who was Will's only coach for the past ten years and our kids' coach as well at GREAT LAKES AQUATICS.  There's probably a tear or two in his eyes this morning -- seeing one of his kids win an NCAA Championship with such class.

LINK:  INTERVIEW AFTER 200 FLY WIN!

LINK:  COACH INTERVIEW -- FAST FORWARD TO 6:10 MARK OF VIDEO

LINK:  A TRIBUTE FROM A TEAMMATE

Who Will Be the QB for the Fighting Irish?

 

After practice #3 yesterday -- the four student-athletes competing for, I would argue, the most high profile position in college athletics:  THE NOTRE DAME QUARTERBACK -- met with the media for the first time.

Tommy Rees, Andrew Hendrix, Everett Golson and Gunner Kiel will be THE NEWS coming out of South Bend, IN these next 160 days until the Irish play in Dublin, Ireland.  Here's what the media is saying these past 24 hours:

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  WNDU-TV

Skylar Diggins -- Her ESPNW Blog...

She truly is the most famous athlete right now at the University of Notre Dame -- Skylar Diggins...

For the second year running -- Skylar agreed to produce a video blog on her tournament experience.  Enjoy!

LINK:  MARCH 24 BLOG

LINK:  MARCH 19 INTERVIEW

LINK:  MARCH 19 BLOG

LINK:  MARCH 16 BLOG

Sixteen Turns to Eight Today -- GO IRISH!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will tip it off against St. Bonaventure this afternoon at 2:32 PM ET on ESPN2.  The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media produced a preview of today's game between the IRISH and the BONNIES.  (photo above of Skylar Diggins and Markisha Wright at practice yesterday)

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  PLAYERS' PERSPECTIVE OF BONNIES

ND Football: The Pads Came On Today!

In front of a number of the top junior high school football players in the country -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame broke out the "equipment" today and did some bangin'...

The good folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media were the only cameras allowed at practice -- so enjoy the show!

LINK:  PRACTICE #3 -- ND SPRING FOOTBALL

LINK:  COACH KELLY AFTER PRACTICE

Know Thy Opponent: St. Bonaventure Bonnies

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish will play St. Bonaventure tomorrow morning at 2:30 PM ET in a Sweet Sixteen match-up in Raleigh, NC.  The Irish will be playing a program (BONAS) that has never been in this position before -- will they be able to handle it?

Yesterday, Coach McGraw met with the media to talk about this game -- see that link below.  Also, I've tracked down some of the local media coverage coming out of western New York for this match-up.

LINK:  MUFFET'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  BONA PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  BUFFALO YNN -- NEWS STORY

LINK:  BONAS vs. NOTRE DAME MATCHUP

LINK:  BUFFALO NEWS

LINK:  BONNIES RETURN TO CAMPUS

LINK:  RISE OF ST. BONAVENTURE BASKETBALL

The Face of Notre Dame Football!

Four years ago this young man from Hawaii shocked the recruiting world when he committed to the University of Notre Dame.  Manti Te'o is the definition of a Notre Dame Man.  Impressive human being.  Here's a link to an interview that took place today at ND:

LINK:  MANTI TE'O

Irish Swimmer Dyer -- 4th in 200 FR @ NCAA

University of Notre Dame swimmer Frank Dyer -- finished fourth this evening in the Men's 200 Freestyle at the NCAA Division I Swimming Championships in Seattle, WA.  Congratulations!

LINK:  RESULTS -- 200 FREE

LINK:  VIDEO INTERVIEW

Spring Practice #2 & Junior Recruiting Weekend

The folks at UND.COM had their cameras at practice today catching the Fighting Irish at work -- specifically the linebackers.  In addition -- the University of Notre Dame is hosting many of the top junior high school football players in the country on campus today and tomorrow.  It's a big recruiting weekend for the IRISH.

LINK:  SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE #2

LINK:  STORY ON IRISH VERBAL COMMITMENT

Media Reacts to the Start of ND Spring Football

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the media had to say about the start of Spring Football at the University of Notre Dame.  Just click on the links below.  (photo above of Gunner Kiel.)

LINK:  ESPN: SPRING FOOTBALL -- EARLY STORY LINES 

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN #2

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #2

ND vs. St. Bonaventure -- ESPN's Take

 

The folks in Bristol, CT are never short of opinions...

Today, their experts opined about Sunday's game between the IRISH and the BONNIES in Raleigh, NC.  For St. Bonaventure - it's a first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament and two wins later -- they get to take on "Goliath" in a game few feel they can win.  DANGER!

Here's what ESPN has to say about this Sweet Sixteen match-up:

LINK:  ST. BONAS vs. NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football is BACK!!!

The Notre Dame football team was back on the field today in GOLD HELMETS -- with the first practice of Spring Football at ND!  Practice started at 7 AM and ran until 10 AM.  Here's Coach Kelly's post practice media session along with a look "INSIDE" practice #1:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESSER

LINK:  PRACTICE #1 -- VIDEO REPORT

Photo of the Day: The Last Time at Purcell

This is the last time Notre Dame fans will see the backs of these three jerseys at Purcell Pavillion -- as seniors; Devereaux Peters, Natalie Novosel and Brittany Mallory -- along with Fraderica Miller (not pictured) played their last game on the Purcell Pavillion floor.  Photo by Travis Mather