Devereaux Peters Goes Third Overall in Draft!

The WNBA held their 2012 Draft today and University of Notre Dame senior Devereaux Peters went third overall to the Minnesota Lynx.  The highest ever draft position for a ND women's basketball player!  Congratulations Devereaux!  Here's a link to the coverage:

LINK:  VIDEO OF DRAFT SELECTION

LINK:  WNBA DRAFT COVERAGE

LINK:  PIONEER PRESS COVERAGE 

LINK:  WNBA Q&A WITH DEVEREAUX 

LINK:  WNDU STORY

Final Week of Spring Practice @ Notre Dame!

The 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game is just five days away and I've got my fingers crossed that the weather man will cooperate!  Here's a link to a couple of video segments coming from today's practice and Saturdays -- thought you would enjoy.

LINK:  MONDAY'S PRACTICE VIDEO

LINK  SATURDAY'S PRACTICE VIDEO

ND Alum Kuczora '05 Ordained a Priest!

It was a special afternoon yesterday at the University of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart -- when Matt Kuczora (ND Class of 2005) was ordained a Holy Cross Priest. 

The two hour Liturgy of Ordination to the Presbyterate was a special experience for all who attended.  I caught a little video outside of the Basilica as "Fr. Matt" blessed his brothers in the priesthood -- see link below.

Father Kuczora will celebrate his first Mass, a Mass of Thanksgiving, today at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at 11:45 AM ET.  If you'd like to watch the mass online -- LIVE -- click on the link below.

Nothing like stepping up into the "big leagues" on your second day on the job! 


LINK:  ORDINATION TO THE PRESBYTERATE 

LINK:  WATCH FR. KUCZORA'S FIRST MASS -- LIVE RIGHT HERE!

Celebrating a Championship Season & Class

Muffet's Fightin' Irish held their season ending celebration this past week -- and the Big East Champions and National Championship Finalists went out in style.  Notre Dame's four graduating seniors each took a turn at the podium, you'll enjoy what they had to say.

I encourage you to watch all of the videos linked below -- it's MUST SEE -- the parents' video will make you cry!

LINK:  SEASON HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

LINK:  SENIOR PARENTS' VIDEO -- TISSUE ALERT!

LINK:  NATALIE NOVOSEL VIDEO

LINK:  FRADERCIA MILLER VIDEO

LINK:  DEVEREAUX PETERS VIDEO

LINK:  BRITTANY MALLORY VIDEO

ND Women's Softball -- Striking Out Cancer!

It's a special weekend in South Bend -- the Notre Dame women's softball program is honoring their coach's six-year old daughter Tatum Gumpf, who was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago.  All proceeds from their STRIKE OUT CANCER series with Syracuse this weekend -- will go to the Memorial Children's Hospital Pediatric Oncology Clinic.

The great news -- Tatum (pictured) is on her way to a full recovery.  GO TATUM & GO IRISH!

LINK:  STRIKE OUT CANCER

Two of the Top Football Games in 2012...

Yahoo! Sports ranked the top 12 non-conference college football games for the upcoming 2012 season and two of their top four matchups -- involve the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame.  Any thoughts on what two games their most looking forward to?  You might be surprised...

LINK:  TOP NON-CONFERENCE GAMES IN 2012

ND Fans, We Need to Vote for Kevin Randall!

University of Notre Dame senior Kevin Randall -- a captain on the Fighting Irish Men's Lacrosse Team is up for the Lowe's Senior Class Award.  He needs our VOTE -- so please click on the link below!

LINK:  VOTE FOR KEVIN RANDALL!

Notre Dame Back @ Football Practice Today!

It was practice #10 and the Fighting Irish were back on the field after a long Easter break for the team.  The folks at UND.COM featured the outside receivers in this report -- you'll enjoy!

LINK:  SPRING PRACTICE #10 AT NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Magazine's Fashion Issue...

Kerry Temple & company broke from "tradition" this month to publish a FASHION issue (for the first time) of Notre Dame magazine -- THANK YOU! Great stories, great photography -- a FUN issue!

If you're a fan of Notre Dame and not a subscriber -- you're missing out.  It's the finest college magazine in the world.  Here's a link to their site:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME MAGAZINE

The Fourth Toughest Schedule in College FB!

Notre Dame's 2012 football schedule has been ranked as one of the toughest in all of college football by college football guru Phil Steele.  Here's a link to his rankings.  Special thanks to ND GO IRISH BLOG regular and my uncle R.J. Doyle -- for bringing this to my attention!

LINK:  PHIL STEELE RANKINGS

A Star in the Making! ND's Scott Booker...

RecruIting guru Tom Lemming was interviewed this week by the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen -- and he was asked about the recruiting prowess of Notre Dame football assistant coach Scott Booker.  Irish fans will enjoy what he had to say:

LINK:  A STAR IN THE MAKING

Can You Win a National Championship Clean?

 

With the breaking story today that Baylor's women's basketball team (men as well) is under investigation for recruiting violations and you look back at most of the recent National Championship teams or runners-up; USC, Auburn, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon, UCONN, Kentucky, etc., (football and basketball) -- it seems like the constant is this -- they ALL break the rules...

Kind of sad isn't it -- especially if you're a program that makes an effort to do the right thing.

Case in point -- I witnessed something I found kind of odd a couple of weeks ago on the University of Notre Dame campus.

A football assistant coach stopped his car on the edge of campus and out hopped a four-star recruit with his parents and I watch them hug and say good-bye.  And, then the parents and recruit "walk across the street (Angela / Edison) to their hotel (Fairfield Inn & Suites) -- apparently there must be a rule that says you can't transport recruits off campus during an unofficial visit.  

Would it have been a big-deal for that coach to drive another 75 feet across the road to the hotel and drop them off?  Probably not if you're at an institution that doesn't follow the rules -- or makes its own.  Obviously, this coach was doing the right thing -- per the NCAA and Notre Dame.


Remember, they say "character" is best defined as what you do when no one is watching you.

LINK:  BAYLOR UNDER INVESTIGATION

Former Notre Dame QB Blair Kiel -- RIP

Blair Kiel, who started at QB for the IRISH in 1980 as a freshman -- passed away today at the age of 50.  Kiel, one of the very few to ever be a four-year starter at QB for Notre Dame -- went on to play seven season in the NFL for Tampa Bay, Indianapolis and Green Bay.

Blair's nephew Gunner Kiel, is a member of the ND football program.  A sad day for the Kiel family.  A life lost way too soon.

LINK:  BLAIR KIEL RIP

Jeff Samardzija Pitches Cubs to First Win!

The former two-star IRISH standout started his first game in seventeen months today at Wrigley and Cub fans everywhere are probably wondering WHY!

Samardzija pitched 8 2/3 innings allowing three runs on four hits (with eight strikeouts) -- as the Cubs win their first game of the 2012 season 4 - 3 over the Washington Nationals.

LINK:  FORMER IRISH STAR LEADS CUBS TO FIRST WIN!

Easter Mass -- Live From Notre Dame!

Easter Mass from the University of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart can be seen live this morning at 10:00 AM ET and again at 11:45 AM ET.  Photo courtesy of Matt Cashore and ND Photoshelter.

LINK:  WATCH EASTER MASS -- LIVE AT 10 AM ET

LINK:  WATCH EASTER MASS -- LIVE AT 11:45 AM ET

The Shark Gets His First Start Today for Cubs!

Former Notre Dame All-American football player Jeff Samardzija makes his first start for the Cubs since September 2010 today at Wrigley Field against the Washington Nationals.

The Cubs are 0 - 2 after two games -- one of four teams in the National League who haven't won a game yet this season.

Jeff is coming off a very positive spring earning a spot in the Cubbies starting rotation.  Good luck SHARK!

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

ESPN Sport Science Tests Michael Floyd

 

Irish football fans -- you'll enjoy this!  The good folks at Sport Science did some "testing" of former Notre Dame football star Michael Floyd.  Here you go!  Special thanks to "converted" ND fan, Travis Mather for alerting me to this story:

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD ON SPORT SCIENCE

Today We're All Bulldogs! BEAT BC!

 

It's truly a "David vs. Goliath" battle tonight in Tampa, FL when #1 seed Boston College will take on Ferris State University in the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey National Championship game.  The game starts at 7 PM ET on ESPN2.

Now, I know it's not too difficult for Notre Dame fans to root against that school in Chestnut Hill.  Then for good measure, you add in the fact that my wife Susan and I and many of our family members are Ferris alums -- and, it becomes quite obvious who the Small / Doyle / Sweeney clan will be rooting for this evening.

To get the Ferris State faithful ready -- here's a sneak preview of head coach Bob Daniels' pre-game pep talk to the Bulldogs: 

LINK:  GREATEST PRE-GAME PEP TALK OF ALL TIME!

LINK:  ESPN GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  ESPN #2

GO BULLDOGS!

Notre Dame's Atkinson Brothers: ESPN Story

 

George and Josh Atkinson were the focus of an ESPN story yesterday.  Thought IRISH fans would enjoy reading about these two young men.

LINK:  THE BROTHERS ATKINSON

Irish Fans, Root for the Ferris Bulldogs Today!

This is OFF TOPIC I know -- but, the "Harvard of the North" (AKA) Ferris State University is playing today in the NCAA Frozen Four Semi-Finals against Union College.

Ferris, which is best known for its Pharmacy and Optometry schools -- also happens to be my alma mater.  So, at 4:30 PM ET today on ESPN -- you can be sure to know that I'll be rooting for the BULLDOGS -- and I'm asking the entire Notre Dame family to do the same!

Today we're all BULLDOGS!

LINK:  DETROIT FREE PRESS STORY