Photo of the Day -- ND's Commencement Mass

This beautiful photo was taken by Matt Cashore -- the University of Notre Dame's award-winning photographer -- at yesterday's Commencement Mass inside Purcell Pavillion.  It's a special moment for the Notre Dame graduates and their families.

Watch Notre Dame's Graduation LIVE Today!

The University of Notre Dame will be celebrating its 167th Commencement this morning from the "house that Rock built" -- Notre Dame Stadium.  And, you can watch it LIVE beginning at 9:00 AM ET until 11:30 AM ET -- at the link below!

Notre Dame moved their graduation ceremonies back outside to Notre Dame Stadium in 2010 because of the renovation of Purcell Pavillion -- the first time since 1959 -- and it was awesome!

Folks, if you're up and at 'em this morning you should watch this event -- it's really good.  The Academic Procession will begin at approximately 9:00 PM as the 2,000 graduates of the Class of 2012 will walk "out of the tunnel" into Notre Dame Stadium.  What a way to graduate!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S 167th COMMENCEMENT -- WATCH IT LIVE!

Notre Dame Football Game Replays on NBC!

With only 105 days to kick-off of the 2012 season -- the 125th Anniversary season of Notre Dame football -- here's a link to where you can find a full replay of every game televised by NBC the last few seasons.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL ON NBC

Watch Notre Dame's Commencent Mass LIVE!

The 167th Commencement exercises at the University of Notre Dame are taking place this weekend.  One of the special moments for Notre Dame students, parents and families is the Commencement Mass which takes place TODAY at 4:30 PM ET.

You can watch it LIVE on the web -- beginning at 4:30 PM ET -- just click on the link below:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S COMMENCEMENT MASS

Notre Dame Lacrosse on ESPNU Sunday!

Kevin Corrigan's #4 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will be playing #5 Virginia tomorrow afternoon in NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship Quarterfinal action.  The game will be televised on ESPNU beginning at NOON ET SUNDAY.

Here's some information about Sunday's game along with a second link to a video of the IRISH after today's practice!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME  vs. VIRGINIA

LINK:  IRISH SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS AFTER PRACTICE

Senior Week a Wonderful Notre Dame Tradition!

Approximately 2,000 young men and women are about to begin their "LAST" weekend as students at the University of Notre Dame.  If they're like our oldest son Jimmy -- it's a bittersweet time in their lives.  You're excited to move on to that next challenge -- yet, you've just spent the greatest four years of your life in a place you don't want to say good-bye to.

One of the many things that makes the NOTRE DAME EXPERIENCE so special is SENIOR WEEK.  The gang at the OBSERVER caught up with the Class of 2012's president to talk about what they have been doing -- click on the link below:

LINK:  SENIOR WEEK AT NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame & Cleveland Clinic Partnership!

Two of the most respected "brands" in the world have struck a partnership.  The University of Notre Dame and the Cleveland Clinic have agreed to develop and market medical technology and innovations.

This is big news!

(Photo of Robert Bernhard, Notre Dame's VP for Research)

LINK:  CLEVELAND CLINIC & NOTRE DAME

I Will Always Root For This Notre Dame Man!

Dayne Crist, now the starting QB of the Kansas Jayhawks -- is back at Notre Dame with his classmates preparing for Sunday's 167th Commencement at the University of Notre Dame.  The folks at WSBT-TV caught up with Dayne -- you'll enjoy this story:

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST -- BACK AT ND

O'Brien Named Notre Dame's Valedictorian!

Michael J. O'Brien (the name's right out of central casting) will be standing in front of the University of Notre Dame's Class of 2012, as its valedictorian, at Sunday's 167th Commencement ceremonies.  He's graduating with a perfect 4.0 as a political science major from the College of Arts & Letters.  A finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship and Gates Cambridge Scholarship -- O'Brien is headed off to the University of Chicago Law School this fall.

Here's a couple of links with more information about Michael:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S VALEDICTORIAN

LINK:  Q&A WITH O'BRIEN

Add Ring Designer to Justin Tuck's Resume!

The New York Giants unveiled their SUPER BOWL RINGS today and former Notre Dame All-American Justin Tuck had a hand in its design.  The link below will lead you to more detail on the Giants' super ring:

LINK:  NEW YORK GIANTS SUPER BOWL RINGS

Michigan's Athletic Director Talks Notre Dame

That school in Ann Arbor's Athletic Director David Brandon met with the media yesterday and one of the questions he fielded had to do with the Notre Dame football series.  Brandon offered up a bit of news that I've never heard before about how long the commitment is to playing each other.

Click on the link below to find out!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME & MICHIGAN -- IT STARTED 125 YEARS AGO

One of the Top Surprises of the Spring!

When you play QB and wear THE NOTRE DAME GOLD HELMET -- you're in the national spotlight.  This time's it's Everett Golson's turn to get some love from the media.  Here's where CBS Sports Bruce Feldman ranks Everett's spring performance:

LINK:  ONE OF THE TOP TEN SURPRISES

Casper Makes 50 Domers in Hall of Fame!

Former Notre Dame great, Dave Casper was elected today into the College Football Hall of Fame!  The former IRISH tight end will be the 44th ND football player enshrined in the Hall of Fame to go along with six former Notre Dame head coaches.

The 50 Hall of Famers represent the most of any college in the country!

LINK:  GREEN BAY POST GAZETTE

Big Time Recruit for IRISH Basketball!

The word this week that Scott Martin was granted a sixth year by the NCAA was a huge RECRUITING win for the Fighting Irish!  Martin was a BIG part of ND's run last year in the Big East and will be a key part of what's going to be an exciting upcoming season for IRISH basketball.

Yesterday afternoon, Coach Brey and Scott Martin met with the media to talk about his sixth year -- see the link below.

LINK:  SCOTT MARTIN'S SIXTH!

Coach Kelly Trades His Infamous Visor...

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was the keynote speaker Saturday at Assumption College's 95th Commencement.  The former Assumption College student-athlete was also awarded an honorary degree in the process.  Here's a few links to the media coverage:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY BACK AT ASSUMPTION

LINK:  WORCESTER TELEGRAM

Big Weekend for IRISH Athletic Teams!

The Fighting Irish Men's Lacrosse team beat Yale (the hottest team in the country) by a convincing score of 13 - 7 -- advancing Notre Dame to an ELITE EIGHT game next Saturday with Virginia in the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships.  See a link to the highlights below.

Notre Dame's baseball team clinched a spot in the Big East Tournament (beginning May 23 in Clearwater, FL) with a series win over Rutgers this weekend. 

And, the IRISH Women's Rowing team won their NINTH CONSECUTIVE Big East Championship this weekend on Mercer Lake in Windsor, NJ.

LINK:  IRISH BEAT YALE BULLDOGS IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

LINK:  BIG EAST ROWING CHAMPIONSHIP -- RESULTS

IRISH vs. Yale Today on ESPNU @ 5:15 PM ET

Notre Dame's #1 ranked defense in the country will be taking on the Ivy League Champion Yale Bulldog's today in their first round game of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship tournament.  The game will be televised on ESPNU beginning at 5:15 PM ET.

Yale comes into today's game on a nine game winning streak.  Going to be a great game!

It's a HOME GAME for the #4 seeded IRISH - so, if you're looking for something to do on a beautiful Mother's Day -- head to campus!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

As a salute to my three favorite Mom's today; Joan Small, Margaret Manhard and Susan Small -- and all of the Mother's in the Notre Dame Family -- please click on the link below.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME OUR MOTHER

Chris Brown's 200 Meter Run 2012 State Meet

Notre Dame Football recruit Chris Brown (wide receiver) competed this weekend in the 2012 South Carolina State Track & Field Championships -- see the link below to the video of his race in the 200 meters.

I'm quite sure Brown's not very happy with the results -- since he's run faster, jumped higher and farther before.  The great news is this -- he can now set his sites on wearing the GOLD HELMET!

Chris Brown's 2012 State Meet Results:

• 100 Meters:  10.81 -- 2nd place
• 200 Meters:  21.60 -- 2nd place
• High Jump:  6' - 6" -- 2nd place
• Triple Jump:  49' - 05" -- State Champion

LINK:  200 METERS -- CHRIS BROWN  (ADVANCE VIDEO TO 42:30 MARK)

Brian Kelly Goes Back Home to Danvers, MA

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was back home Thursday night in Danvers, MA -- speaking at St. John Prep's Alumni Foundation event.  Before the fun -- Coach Kelly met with the media.  Here's some of the coverage:

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  BOSTON HERALD

LINK:  SALEM NEWS