NCAA Gives Scott Martin a 6th Year With IRISH!

Word broke this evening that Notre Dame senior Scott Martin has been granted a sixth year of eligibility -- making next year's Fighting Irish that much better today!  After teammate Tim Abromaitis got turned down last month on his request for a sixth year -- I wasn't feeling too good about this...

GREAT NEWS for Notre Dame basketball!

LINK:  SCOTT MARTIN TAKES THE SIXTH!

LINK:  SCOTT MARTIN INTERVIEW

LINK:  MIKE BREY INTERVIEW

Notre Dame's Latest "Two Sports" Star

Notre Dame fans are going to enjoy watching this video of Brittany Mallory and the story of her joining the IRISH Women's Lacrosse team after the Final Four.  You'll get a kick out of seeing Mallory "going to the goal" and destroying anything in her path!

LINK:  SHE'S THE FIGHTING IRISH!

Will This Book Be "Ghost" Written?

Former Ohio State University QB Terrelle Pryor, met with the folks at ESPN to talk about his mistakes in Buckeye land -- and he let the world know he'll tell the full story "whenever I write my book..."

Maybe he should have told the NCAA the $20,000 to $40,000 -- he's rumored to have received from signing autographs -- was an "advance" for his book!

LINK:  IN THE BOOK

Sporting News Ranks All 124 FBS Coaches

The Sporting News ranked every single head coach from #1 to #124 in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.  Notre Dame football fans will be interested in seeing where the following coaches are ranked -- unfortunately, one of these former Irish coaches is ranked dead last...

• Brian Kelly
• Charlie Weis
• Bob Davie
• Charley Molnar

LINK:  RANKINGS OF THE FOOTBALL COACHES

Are You Notre Dame Material? Take a Look!

The good folks at the Notre Dame Alumni Association just published this story about the incoming freshman class -- the CLASS of 2016.  If you've got a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, niece, nephew or friend -- who's interested in attending the University of Notre Dame -- you should share this link:

LINK:  DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!

The Top "FREAK" Athletes in College Football

CBS Sports' Bruce Feldman put together his FREAK LIST of the TOP TEN ATHLETES in College Football.  A Notre Dame student-athlete is on the honorable mention list.  Any guesses?

LINK:  TOP TEN FREAK ATHLETES IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Jimmy Clausen in the Middle of "Hair-Gate"

Over the past 24 hours -- former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen has been complaining on TWITTER about a "haircut" he had at SUPERCUTS...

Well, the "tweets" have caught the attention of the national media and competing barber shops in the Charlotte area.  Thought you'd get a kick out of this.

LINK:  BAD HAIR DAY FOR CLAUSEN

Big East Track & Field Championships Video

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame put on quite a show this past weekend in Tampa, FL at the Big East Track & Field Championship.  The Men placed first and the Women finished second -- CONGRATULATIONS!

Here's a link to UND.COM's coverage of the meet:

LINK:  BIG EAST CHAMPS!

Ever Walk Into a Room and Forget Why?

Well, Notre Dame psychology professor Gabriel Radvansky has researched why this happens...

This story has gotten plenty of play over the past six months or so -- unfortunately, "I forgot" to bring it to the attention of the readers of the ND GO IRISH BLOG.  Here you go:

LINK:  WHY YOU FORGET!

Coach Brian Kelly Ranked Among the Best!

Athlon Sports just came out with their ranking of the top-25 head football coaches in college football.  I won't spoil it where Notre Dame's Brian Kelly is ranked -- click on the link below:

LINK:  COACH KELLY -- ONE OF THE BEST!

Another AD Named White from Notre Dame

Danny White a 2002 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and former IRISH student-athlete was named the Athletic Director today at the University at Buffalo.  White, leaves Ole Miss where he was their Chief Fundraiser. 

Danny's Dad -- Kevin White, was Director of Athletics at the University of Notre Dame before moving on to lead the athletic department at Duke University.

Here's a link to the media coverage:

LINK:  WGRZ TV BUFFALO

LINK:  CLARION LEDGER

"The Most Improved Pitcher in Baseball..."

This is the label being placed on one Jeff Samardzija -- the former Notre Dame football All-American -- who's now on a roll as a starter with the Chicago Cubs. 

In his last 23 innings Jeff has an ERA of 0.84 with 23 strikeouts and only 6 walks.  He's now 4 - 1 on the season!

WAY TO GO SHARK!

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES STORY

LINK:  CHICAGO NOW STORY

Harrison & RJ's First Day in the NFL!

Former Notre Dame teammates Harrison Smith and RJ Blanton have begun their NFL journeys with the Minnesota Vikings -- or as Harrison put it "NOTRE DAME NORTH."  Found this video and story about these Irish stars -- ENJOY!

LINK:  VIDEO -- HARRISON'S FIRST DAY

LINK:  MINNESOTA VIKINGS BLOG

Notre Dame's Football Shoes for Ireland Game

Looks like the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will be wearing the colors of IRELAND on their feet for their September 1, 2012 game in Dublin against Navy.  What do you think?

Makes you wonder what's in store for Notre Dame's game jersey and helmet for this game...

Notre Dame Lacrosse a #4 NCAA Seed!

The 2012 NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship tournament field was announced this evening and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame were given a #4 seed earning a match-up with Yale next Saturday @ 5:15 PM ET -- here at Arlotta Stadium. 

Here's a link to the ESPN story and list of the sixteen schools that received the invitation!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME A #4 SEED

A Good-Bye Note From Aaron Lynch's Mom

Thought Notre Dame fans should see this post made by Alice Lynch today -- the mother of Aaron Lynch, the former Irish student-athlete who will be transferring to the University of South Florida.  Here's what she had to say:

This time tomorrow I will be picking up Aaron from Notre Dame and yes it's going to be definitely hard for me. Me and my family have met so many wonderful people and have had so many great times. I will cherish the memories for sure. The Notre Dame family will always be apart of us. Thank you to all the Coaches, players and fans for all the love that you guys have shown my son and family. You guys will forever be in my heart. Even though I won't be there in the stands cheering you guys on, I will always be cheering for you guys from a distance. I am so proud of all of you and Momma Lynch will miss you all. Stay focused in school and kick some *** on that football field. Go Irish!!!!! —

Kelly Needs to get a Gold Helmet on Giesting!

Notre Dame freshman track standout -- Chris Giesting (Batesville, IN) won the 200 Meters (21.15) and 400 Meters (46.03) today at the Big East Track & Field Championship -- earning "MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMER" honors.  Giesting's coming off of a National Championship in a relay at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Men's Track & Field Championships -- not a bad start to a college career!

Notre Dame football player Josh Atkinson, took fifth in the 200 Meters with a time of 21.52

I looked up Giesting's bio on the Notre Dame Athletics site and noted he did not play football in high school -- but, he was a decent point guard in basketball -- so he must have some hands!

Maybe Coach Kelly can get him to walk on to the Irish football team!

LINK:  BIG EAST TRACK & FIELD RESULTS

Josh Atkinson Runs a 10.388 100 Meters!

And, they say Notre Dame doesn't have any speed...

In the last 24 hours -- two Notre Dame football players who share the same birthday and last name -- ran a 10.36 and a 10.388 in the 100 Meters at the Big East Track & Field Championships.  That is fast!

Just a couple of minutes ago, Josh Atkinson ran a 10.388 in the 100 Meter Finals to place 4th at the Big East Championships.  Twin brother George, who ran a 10.36 on Saturday -- had a lousy start and finished in 5th place with a time of 10.46 -- see final times below.

HAS THERE EVER BEEN A FASTER SET OF TWINS IN AMERICAN TRACK HISTORY?

The Irish Men's & Women's Track & Field teams were both in first place -- after the 100 Meters.

GO IRISH!

LINK:  LIVE WEBCAST OF CHAMPIONSHIPS

LINK:  RESULTS -- 100 METER MEN'S FINAL

Life After Football -- Duerson's Brain Injuries

Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy released information this week on their findings of their study of Dave Duerson's brain.  IRISH fans will remember the former Notre Dame All-American took his own life a year ago February -- leaving behind a note requesting his brain be sent to the NFL Brain Bank.

Here's a link to the press conference -- along to a link to a recent interview former Duerson teammate Jim McMahon gave to ESPN concerning the troubles he's having...

LINK:  DAVE DUERSON'S BRAIN INJURIES

LINK:  JIM MCMAHON -- ESPN INTERVIEW

Best Looking Uniform in College Baseball!

The Notre Dame pinstripe baseball uniform is a classic.

Here's a photo of former Notre Dame football All-American Golden Tate in the pinstripes and "GOLD HELMET."  

I believe the gold helmet is not in use this season -- we need to bring it back!