Ballroom Dancing Competition @ Notre Dame

This morning at 8:00 AM ET -- on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- college dance teams from all over the Midwest were competing in a ballroom dancing competition (IRISH DANCESPORT GALA) inside South Dining Hall.

I must admit I did not know ballroom dancing had become a "sport" on college campuses -- so I had to take a little video from my iPhone and do a little research.  Pretty cool!

LINK:  IRISH DANCESPORT

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S COMPETITION TEAM

Notre Dame #4 Dream School for Parents

The Princeton Review released its list of the top ten "dream schools" for PARENTS and the University of Notre Dame was #4 on the list!  Special thanks to Cappy Gagnon '66 for bringing this to my attention.  Here's the top ten:

1. Stanford University
2. Princeton University
3. Harvard University
4. University of Notre Dame
5. Massachusetts of Technology
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. Cornell University
8. Duke University
9. Yale University
10. University of Southern California

LINK:  TOP TEN DREAM SCHOOLS

Notre Dame Arrives in Denver for Final Four!

Muffet's Fightin' Irish arrived in Denver for Sunday afternoon's "re-match" with the UCONN Huskies and the folks at UND.COM were along for the ride.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME ARRIVES IN DENVER

Jeff Samardzjia Named a Starter for the Cubs!

The Chicago Cubs named their starting rotation this afternoon and former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzjia is their #3 starter!

Jeff has had a quality spring training for the Cubbies -- culminating in six scoreless innings yesterday and the news today he's moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation!  Here's a link to the coverage:

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  MLB

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

ESPN Hoops Experts Talks Irish vs. UCONN

Here is a podcast of Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli who chatted today on ESPN RADIO about the upcoming Women's NCAA Final Four.  Specifically, the IRISH and UCONN meeting for the eighth time in the last sixteen months -- this Sunday afternoon.

LINK:  ESPN FINAL FOUR PREVIEW PODCAST

Muffet's IRISH Leave ND Today for Denver!

They're the best dressed team in women's college basketball -- as you'll see in the video below...

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame departed campus today for their flight today to Denver for the 2012 Women's NCAA Final Four!  The gang at UND.COM caught up with the team as they were leaving town.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  FINAL FOUR BOUND!

LINK:  ESPN PREVIEW OF GAME

A Couple of Domers Getting a New Start!

Charlie Weis '78 and Dayne Crist '12 on the football practice for the first time in Lawrence, KS yesterday.    I will be rooting for both this season!

The Day After a Final Four Performance!

Took a lap around the worldwide web this evening to see what the "experts" are now saying about Muffet's IRISH.  What a difference an 80 - 49 point beat down of Maryland makes...

Here's what I found along with a link to UND.COM's coverage of the IRISH in their post game celebration and media session.

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  POST GAME CELEBRATION

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND NEWSPAPER

LINK:  RALEIGH OBSERVER

LINK:  ESPN COVERAGE

LINK:  WSBT - TV

LINK:  WSBT-TV #2

Practice #5 -- The Notre Dame Quarterbacks!

The Fighting Irish held practice #5 this morning and the folks at UND.COM pointed their cameras at the four competing for the starting QB position...

ENJOY!

LINK:  THE NOTRE DAME QB

Photo of the Day: OFF TO DENVER!

 

This photo says it all...  Kayla McBride with a little souvenir!

A CLINIC -- IRISH WIN by 31 Over Maryland!

Folks, the women's basketball experts at ESPN -- four out of five of them picked Maryland over Notre Dame...

Girl, do I hope they pick UCONN over the IRISH!!!!

Tonight was one of the most dominating performances of all-time in NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY of a #2 seed -- as the IRISH win by 31 points over Maryland 80 - 49!

Skylar Diggins -- think she wasn't motivated by the "DOUBTERS" -- led the Irish with a TRIPLE DOUBLE; 22 pts., 10 rebounds, 11 assists and then 5 steals for good measure.  DOMINANCE!

NOTRE DAME OUTSCORED THEIR TWO OPPONENTS IN THE RALEIGH REGIONAL BY A COMBINED 75 POINTS -- think about that...

DENVER -- HERE COME THE IRISH!

The Irish will play Sunday night at 6 PM ET on ESPN against a school from Storrs, CT.  Should be fun!

LINK:  VIDEO OF IRISH DOING THE JIG!

LINK:  GAME BOX SCORE

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