Notre Dame Grad School Alum Writes Book

Gwendolyn Oxenham, who holds a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame also holds the distinction of being the youngest Division I athlete in NCAA history when she suited up for the Duke Blue Devils women's soccer team at the age of 16.

Oxenham just authored the book "Finding the Game" -- which details her love for the game of soccer.  If you'd like to buy a copy -- click on the link below

LINK:  BOOK REVIEW

LINK:  AMAZON -- BUY THE BOOK!

Notre Dame's Eifert On Mackey Watch List!

Notre Dame fans should not be surprised with this news -- Irish senior Tyler Eifert is on the Mackey Award Watch List for the top Tight End in the country.

Ironically, there are are also (2) former Notre Dame football players on the Watch List:  Mike Ragone (transferred to Kansas) and Joseph Fauria (transferred to UCLA).

LINK:  MACKEY AWARD WATCH LIST

Coach Kelly Mic'd Up During Spring Practice

Folks, you'll enjoy this video just posted by the gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media.  You'll see Coach Kelly in action -- at practice -- good stuff here.

LINK:  COACH KELLY LIVE

Eight ND Athletes Off to London Olympics!

The University of Notre Dame will be well represented, just 19 days from now, at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England -- with eight (8) current and former IRISH student-athletes competing!

Here's the eight Notre Dame stars with their sports and the countries they will be representing:

United States of America:

• Shannon Box -- Women's Soccer
• Molly Huddle -- Track & Field
• Courtney Hurley -- Fencing
• Lee Kiefer -- Fencing
• Mariel Zagunis -- Fencing

Canada: 

• Natalie Achonwa -- Women's Basketball
• Candace Chapman -- Women's Soccer
• Melissa Tancredi -- Women's Soccer

LINK:  FIGHTING IRISH HEADED TO LONDON

Irish Chocolate Is At It Again -- I'm Glad!

Notre Dame defensive lineman Louis Nix (AKA "IRISH CHOCOLATE") was at it again with his burgeoning media career -- knocking out another video...

You'll laugh out loud watching a few ND football stars with a golf club in their hands -- good stuff here.

LINK:  IRISH CHOCOLATE -- VIDEO

Phil Steele Gives His Bowl Predictions...

Say it ain't so Phil...

Alright, here's a test for all Notre Dame football fans -- where is the BELK BOWL played?

You're going to have to click on the link below for the answer.

LINK:  STEELE'S NOTRE DAME BOWL PICK

Photo of Jimmy Clausen & His USC Girlfriend

Notre Dame fans, Jimmy Clausen is dating a former USC All-American volleyball player (Jess Gysin).  Can't say I blame him!

LINK:  JESS GYSIN VIDEO FOR IPURE

Mike Golic Jr., Talks With Coach Parseghian

Notre Dame football player Mike Golic, Jr spent some time with legendary Irish coach Ara Parseghian recently -- you'll enjoy this!

LINK:  COACH PARSEGHIAN WITH GOLIC JR.

Update: Domers Playing in US Women's Open

There are three golfers with ties to the University of Notre Dame's women's golf team playing this week at the 2012 U.S. Women's Open at Black Wolf Run outside of Kohler, WI.  The three are Becca Huffer '12,  Ashley Armstrong (rising sophomore) and incoming freshman Lindsey Weaver.  Photo above (LtoR) Becca Huffer, Lindsey Weaver and Ashley Armstrong

Yesterday's first round in HOT, HUMID conditions wasn't too kind to the three DOMERS.  Here's their scores:

• Becca Huffer:  79
• Lindsey Weaver:  79
• Ashley Armstrong:  80

Here's some of the key First Round stats for each of the IRISH stars -- you can follow today's rounds, of each of the Domers, by clicking on their name below:

Becca Huffer:

• Driving Distance:  245.5
• Fairways Hit:  13 of 14
• Greens in Regulation:  12 of 18
• Total Putts:  34
• Birdies:  3
• Pars:  7
• Bogeys:  6
• Double Bogeys:  2

Lindsey Weaver:

• Driving Distance:  236.5 yards 
• Fairways Hit:  12 of 14
• Greens in Regulation:  11 of 18
• Total Putts:  33
• Birdies:  3
• Pars:  7
• Bogeys:  6
• Double Bogeys:  2

Ashley Armstrong:

• Driving Distance:  235.5 yards
• Fairways Hit:  10 of 14
• Greens in Regulation:  11 of 18
• Total Putts:  35
• Birdies:  1
• Pars:  10
• Bogeys:  6
• Triple Bogey:  1

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S US OPEN ENTRIES

Incoming ND Frosh in Sports Illustrated!

Her name is Dani Aragon (Billings, MT) and she'll be enrolling at the University of Notre Dame this August as a member of the Fighting Irish Track & Field team.  Aragon will be joining her "big sister" Alexa who will be a "rising junior" on the track team at Notre Dame.

Dani was featured in the July 2nd edition of Sports Illustrated in their FACES IN THE CROWD section after qualifying for the World Junior Championships in Barcelona later this month with her time of 2:05.06 in the 800 meters.

Here's a few links to the story:

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  BILLINGS GAZETTE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME INCOMING FRESHMAN

Image of the Day for the Notre Dame Nation!

Thought the Notre Dame Family would enjoy seeing this!  It was posted on Twitter by @TurningP2011

All-Time Record Temperatures @ Notre Dame!

Folks, it was 100 degrees today -- setting an all-time record for heat on July 4th at the University of Notre Dame.  That's ALL-TIME!

And, the tough news to take is this -- it's going to be warmer Thursday (tomorrow) 101 degrees and even warmer on Friday 103 degrees.

WOW!

LINK:  UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME WEATHER FORECAST

Happy Birthday #236 America!

On this July 4th -- our country's 236th birthday -- I encourage all of you to watch this music video (linked below) of the U.S. Army Chorus singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic.  It chokes me up every time!

LINK:  THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

ND Football to Bring $30 Million to Ireland!

The biggest draw in college sports -- has to be Notre Dame football.  What other team can take their show across the Atlantic -- and bring 40,000 fans and $30,000,000 in cash -- to a country that doesn't play the game...

Here's a story on the economic impact the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will have on the Ireland economy.

LINK:  THE IRISH ARE COMING!

Shark Strikes Out a Career High Eleven Tonight!

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija, struck out eleven tonight in the Cubs 4 - 1 win over the Atlanta Braves.  The eleven "K's" are a career high for Jeff.  Congratulations! 

Samardzija is now 6 - 7 on the season with a 4.77 ERA.

LINK:  THE SHARK STRIKES OUT ELEVEN

Muffet Signs Ten-Year Contract Extension!

She's not going anywhere else -- not that we ever thought she was...

The University of Notre Dame just announced that our Hall of Fame women's basketball coach, Muffet McGraw has signed a ten-year contract extension -- keeping her on the ND bench through the 2021 - 2022 season.

The contract extension is believe to be one of the longest -- if not the longest -- in the history of women's basketball.  It's well deserved!

LINK:  UND.COM STORY

LINK:  MUFFET IS NEVER LEAVING!

Chris Quinn Back in America from Russia

Former Notre Dame basketball star Chris Quinn just finished up a year playing professional basketball for a team out of Moscow, Russia -- and they won the EUROCUP!

Quinn signed a one-year $1.1 million dollar deal, last year, to play for BC Khimiki.

Here's a link to a story about Quinn's experience in Russia and a link to the post-game celebration of the EUROCUP:

LINK:  BACK IN AMERICA WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP

LINK:  VIDEO OF CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION

Jed York Talks About the 49ers New Home!

Jed York '03, is the youngest CEO / Owner in the National Football League.  The Notre Dame alum has been busy these days building a new stadium in Santa Clara, CA for his San Francisco 49ers.  The $1.2 billion "monument to technology" hopes to bring the Super Bowl to northern California for the first time.

Here's the latest on the stadium's construction -- including the fight over $30 million in funding:


LINK:  GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY

LINK:  LIVE WEBCAM OF STADIUM CONSTRUCTION

LINK:  49ERS SUE SANTA CLARA 

LINK:  SANTA CLARA STADIUM -- OFFICIAL SITE

Brady's Girlfriend Competing @ Olympic Trials

Alicia Sacramone -- who has been dating former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn since 2009 -- is competing tonight and tomorrow in San Jose, CA at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials.

Sacramone, a former World Champion in the Vault -- is attempting to make the U.S. Team after tearing an achilles tendon less than eight months ago.  The U.S. Team will be announced on Sunday.

Here's a link to a recent story about Alicia's return to the sport and an interview of her talking about her beau Brady.

LINK:  BRADY QUINN'S GIRL

First Notre Dame Female U.S. Track Olympian!

Molly Huddle '06, became the first Notre Dame female athlete to make the United States Track & Field Olympic Team in history last night, as she finished 2nd in the 5,000 meter run!!!

Congratulations Molly!

LINK:  SHE'S GOING TO THE OLYMPICS!