Didn't Take ESPN Long to Pick the "Favorite"

The Fightin' Irish are just a few hours into fall camp and ESPN already has picked the front-runner at QB -- I won't spoil who they're talking about...

LINK:  FIRST TEAM REPS AT QB

Two New Opponents on 2013 Irish Schedule

The University of Notre Dame released their 2013 football schedule today and Irish fans will see two new schools on the schedule; Temple and Arizona State.

And surprisingly, BYU travels to Notre Dame Stadium for the second straight season.  Don't know the last time I've seen that.  Here's the schedule:

8/31/13:  Temple @ Notre Dame Stadium
9/07/13:  Michigan @ Away
9/14/13:  Purdue @ Away
9/21/13:  Michigan State @ Notre Dame Stadium
9/28/13:  Oklahoma @ Notre Dame Stadium
10/5/13:  Arizona State @ Dallas Cowboys Stadium
10/19/13:  USC @ Notre Dame Stadium
10/26/13:  Air Force Academy @ Away
11/2/13:  Naval Academy @ Notre Dame Stadium
11/9/13:  Pittsburgh @ Away
11/23/13:  BYU @ Notre Dame Stadium
11/30/13:  Stanford @ Away

LINK:  2013 NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Notre Dame's DUBLIN Game Balls

ND Football Equipment Manager Ryan Grooms "tweeted" this photo of the GAME BALLS the Irish will be using in Dublin on September 1st! 

Special thanks to ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Tom Badguy for alerting me to this!

Notre Dame Football's First Practice -- 2012

The Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame held practice #1 this morning at the Labar Practice Complex -- here's a link to a few of the SUBSCRIBER sites and their coverage. 

I currently subscribe to IRISH SPORTS DAILY and IRISH ILLUSTRATED -- I recommend both.

LINK:  IRISH SPORTS DAILY

LINK:  IRISH ILLUSTRATED

Replay of Coach Kelly's Press Conference

The 125th season of Notre Dame Football began yesterday with Coach Kelly's press conference.  Our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media were on hand to video the event. 

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Tim Brown Talks ND Football with NBC

Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner, All-American and NFL all-time great Tim Brown -- spoke with NBC's Alex Flanagan at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship -- and he talks ND football.  Enjoy!

LINK:  TIM BROWN TALKIN' NOTRE DAME

Media's Early Reaction to Today's Presser

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today to talk about the start of official football practice tomorrow morning.  I took a lap around the worldwide web to catch the early reaction from the media -- you won't be surprised with what they're talking about:

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- TYLER JAMES 

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG -- POST #1

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG -- POST #2

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG -- POST #3

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

Coach Kelly's Press Conference LIVE at Noon!

The 125th edition of Notre Dame Football kick's off today with Coach Kelly's press conference -- which you can watch live at NOON EST.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE LIVE -- AT NOON ET

ND's Road Oppenents: Home Field Advantage

The University of Notre Dame has, by most accounts, the most difficult football schedule among the 120 schools in the FBS this season. 

Recently a website called PredictionMachine.com came out with their ranking of the best "home field advantages" in college football.  Here's where Notre Dame's "road opponents" rank with their home field advantage:

• September 15th:  Michigan State: #12
• October 27th:  Oklahoma:  #1
• November 10th:  Boston College  #94
• November 24th:  USC:  #71

LINK:  HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE

Notre Dame Football's New Game Ball

Notre Dame Football's Equipment Manager Ryan Grooms -- "tweeted" this photo of the new footballs you'll see the IRISH use this year from WILSON.  Got to love the green!

ND Law School Alum Running for U.S. Senate

Clark Durant, a 1976 graduate of the Notre Dame Law School, is a candidate in next Tuesday's primary for one of Michigan's two seats in the U.S. Senate.  Here's a link to his website and a promotional video that speaks to Clark's involvement with the Cornerstone Schools in Detroit -- an institution he co-founded in 1991.

LINK:  CLARK DURANT FOR U.S. SENATE

LINK:  PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

Coach Kelly Talks About the 2012 Fightin' Irish!

Head football coach Brian Kelly met with the gang at UND.COM to talk about the 125th edition of NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL.  Enjoy!

LINK:  DEFENSIVE IDENTITY

LINK:  SCHEDULE

LINK:  TIGHT ENDS & WIDE RECEIVERS

LINK:  RUNNING BACKS & LINEBACKERS

LINK:  QUARTERBACKS

LINK:  OFFENSIVE LINE

LINK:  CORNERBACKS

Why Regis Loves Notre Dame -- Good Story

Our team, here at the University of Notre Dame, just released a video starring Regis Philbin '53 -- for an initiative called LOVE THEE NOTRE DAME.  Thought you'd enjoy seeing this!

LINK:  LOVE THEE NOTRE DAME

Forbes Ranks the University of Notre Dame #12

Forbes Magazine just came out with their ranking of the top universities in the country and the University of Notre Dame was ranked #12.  Forbes teamed up with the Washington D.C. based Center for College Affordability to establish this list. 

Here was the criteria:

1. Quality of teaching
2. Great career prospects
3. High graduation rates
4. Low levels of debt

LINK:  FORBES RANKING OF TOP COLLEGES

Brian Kelly on Weekday SportsBeat Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a guest this evening on WSBT 960 AM's Weekday SportsBeat.  Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY -- RADIO INTERVIEW

Katenda's Story -- One Irish Fans Must Follow

A freak injury that severed his optic nerve, put in jeopardy the basketball career of Notre Dame freshman Eric Katenda...

The word on campus is he's adapting quite well to this challenge and just might be a contributor on this year's Irish team.  The folks at the South Bend Tribune caught up with Eric and Coach Brey to talk about the progress he's making.  I'll be rooting for this young man!!!

LINK:  KATENDA'S COME BACK

Notre Dame Fantasy Campers' Experience

If you've ever dreamed of running out of that TUNNEL wearing a GOLD HELMET -- you're not alone...

A few Irish fans got to do just that a "little late" in life this past month, you'll enjoy this video!  Special thanks to ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Tom Badguy for letting me know about this!
 

LINK:  RUNNING OUT THAT TUNNEL

Irish Duo Lead Women's Golf Tournament!

Notre Dame's Ashley Armstrong (Flossmoor, IL) and Kristina Nhim (Cypress, CA) fired a three-under 69 today in the opening round of the Pure Silk Collegiate Team Championship to lead the tournament!

Today's format was "alternate shot" and the IRISH were the only team under par.  Tomorrow's format is best ball followed by stroke play on Thursday.  There are 54 teams competing. 

GO IRISH!

LINK:  LIVE SCORING

LINK:  NEWS STORY

ND's Jack Swarbrick Meets With Bloggers

University of Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick met with a number of bloggers this past week -- thought you'd enjoy the conversation.

LINK:  SWARBRICK WITH BLOGGERS

Domer Scores Two Goals for Canada Today!

Former Notre Dame soccer star Melissa Tancredi '04, scored both goals today in Canada's 2-2 tie with Sweden today to clinch a spot in the Olympic Quarterfinals!  Way to go Melissa!

LINK:  TANCREDI LEADS CANADA