Davonte Neal: The Next Rocket @ ND?

Notre Dame freshman, Davonte Neal -- was named this afternoon as the starting punt returner for the FIGHTING IRISH!

Now, we all remember the IRISH had a total of 3 return yards ALL SEASON in the punt return game in 2011.  I'm counting on Davonte surpassing that on his first return!

I've been following ND football for a very long time -- and on film -- I must say he's the closest I've seen to Mr. Raghib "Rocket" Ismail in an IRISH uniform.  He has special skills with the football in his hands -- as you'll see in his highlight video linked below.  YOU MUST WATCH HIS VIDEO!

I can't wait until Navy's first punt...

LINK:  THE NEXT ROCKET?

Notre Dame Football Names its Starting QB!

Folks, there's not a more scrutinized position in all of sport than the QB for the University of Notre Dame...

This afternoon, Coach Kelly announced that Everett Golson had won the starting position for the IRISH!

Everett Golson joins a select fraternity of some of the greatest names in college football history; Huarte, Hanratty, Theismann, Lamonica, Montana, Clements, Rice, Jackson, Mirer, Rice, Beurlein, Quinn, etc., -- who've worn the GOLD HELMET under center.

Everett -- the Notre Dame Nation will be rooting for you!  To get you excited about Mr. Golson's talents -- here's some video highlights from his senior year in high school and his first official press conference as a starter:

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

NINE DAYS to NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL!!!

Folks, if you're like me -- you can't wait!!!

Here's a video that will get you fired up for the start of the 125th season of the greatest college football program in the land...

GO IRISH!


LINK:  ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

Coach Longo Firing Up His Troops!

Notre Dame Football's head strength and conditioning coach Paul Longo is seen in this video (linked below) coaching his boys.  You'll enjoy the intensity he brings to his craft.

LINK:  GO IRISH

Samardzija Talks Notre Dame Football

Folks, former Notre Dame football All-American Jeff Samardzija was on TV with a couple MLB "talkin' heads" -- click on the link below -- pretty funny...

LINK:  JEFF SAMARDZIJA

Photo: Turf Additions to Notre Dame Stadium

The University of Notre Dame's highly acclaimed photographer Matt Cashore -- took this recent photo of the interior of Notre Dame Stadium.  You'll note the addition of "field turf" that rings the grass field and covers the Irish and opposition sidelines.

Domer Gets Four-Year Contract Extension

Former Notre Dame basketball star Monty Williams -- signed a four-year contract extension today to continue on as coach of the NBA's New Orleans Hornets.  Congratulations Monty!

LINK:  MONTY WILLIAMS EXTENSION!

The Maturation of ND's Everett Golson

The South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen sat down with Notre Dame QB Everett Golson to discuss his journey to what looks like will be a starter's role 12 days from now in Dublin, Ireland.  You'll enjoy this story.

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON -- MATURING

Domer Gains Membership to Augusta National

Normally this wouldn't be public knowledge...

However, today's breaking news that Notre Dame alumna Condoleezza Rice '75, had become a member at Augusta National Golf Club -- is significant in that she's among the first two females ever extended membership to this exclusive club.

Congratulations Condi!

LINK:  RICE A MEMBER AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL

Tickets for ND's Dublin Pep Rally Available

If you're going to Notre Dame's game against Navy in Dublin -- and you haven't purchased your ticket to Friday night's Pep Rally, you still have time!

On Thursday, August 30th and again on Friday, August 31st (if still available) -- a limited number of tickets will go on sale at the O'Connell House in Dublin from 10 AM to NOON each day.

Folks, this is not your typical NOTRE DAME PEP RALLY -- it's a huge production.  See the promotional video below.  I've also included a second link with directions to the O'Connell House.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME:  A WELCOME HOME!

LINK:  DIRECTIONS TO O'CONNELL HOUSE

Navy "Beats" Notre Dame Scout Team Saturday

Well, this has to be a first.

The Washington Examiner published a story yesterday about Navy's 45 - 0, closed scrimmage, victory Saturday over their Notre Dame "scout team."  Really?

LINK:  NAVY SHUTS OUT NOTRE DAME

Gunner Kiel Talks Shamrock Series Uniform

Notre Dame Football Equipment Manager Ryan Grooms has become a "twitter" star -- here's a video he posted of Irish freshman QB Gunner Kiel and his reaction to what ND will be wearing against Miami at Chicago's Soldier Field.

LINK:  GUNNER'S REACTION

NFL Training Camp Update: ND Players

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what's being said about our former Notre Dame football stars now playing in the NFL.  Just click on the players' name below and you'll find out!

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH -- VIKINGS

LINK:  DAVID BRUTON -- BRONCOS

LINK:  JOHN SULLIVAN -- VIKINGS

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD -- CARDINALS

LINK:  BRADY QUINN -- CHIEFS

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH -- VIKINGS

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK -- GIANTS

LINK:  ANTHONY FASANO -- DOLPHINS

LINK:  RJ BLANTON -- VIKINGS

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE -- SEAHAWKS

LINK:  TREVOR ROBINSON -- BENGALS

LINK:  TOMMY ZBIKOWSKI -- COLTS

LINK:  JEFF FAINE -- BUCCANEERS

LINK:  SAM YOUNG -- BUFFALO BILLS

LINK:  RYAN GRANT -- FREE AGENT

LINK:  MAURICE STOVALL -- LIONS

LINK:  JORDAN BLACK -- REDSKINS

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- 49ERS

LINK:  DARRIN WALLS -- FALCONS

Final Two-A-Day Practice Yesterday!

The Fightin' Irish held their last practices of "training camp" yesterday and the gang at UND.COM was present to capture the action.  See the link below.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S FINAL TRAINING CAMP PRACTICE

Question Notre Dame's Relevance -- Really?

A columnist employed by ESPN created some attention for himself this week by writing a story questioning Notre Dame's power position in college football.  Well, a colleague of his wrote a reply yesterday that I thought I'd share with the ND GO IRISH BLOG community.

LINK:  IRISH RELEVANT

Shamrock Series Helmet & Gloves

Here's a few photos of Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert and Mantie Teo dressed in the Shamrock Series helmet, uniform, and gloves the Irish will be wearing in their game October 6 against Miami at Chicago's Soldier Field.  Along with a photo of Coach Kelly with his two returning All-Americans.

Notre Dame Football Media Day Recap

The 125th edition of the Fighting Irish football program held their annual Media Day yesterday afternoon in rainy South Bend.  And, the gang at UND.COM did their usual best of giving us "wall to wall" coverage.

Click on the link below to watch all of the videos from Media Day.

LINK:  MEDIA DAY COVERAGE

Surpassed the 400,000 Unique Visitor Mark!

Thank you Notre Dame fans!

At 9:54 AM ET this morning, a Notre Dame fan from Lincoln, Nebraska became unique visitor #400,000 to the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

It's quite humbling to see the number of IRISH fans visiting this site every day.  Incredible.

If the ND GO IRISH BLOG were a city -- its population would rank #44 in the United States!  Just ahead of Miami, FL and just behind Raleigh, NC.

A Notre Dame Pep Rally -- Ireland Style!

Folks, the Irish people are going to throw a PEP RALLY unlike anyone has ever seen -- Friday night at Dublin's O2 Arena -- hours before the kick-off of the 125th anniversary season of Notre Dame Football.  It's truly going to be an event to remember!

Here's a link to the video (below) that has been produced to promote the event.  Word on the street is the Pep Rally will be carried on Ireland TV -- with a rumored worldwide TV distribution deal -- with an estimated audience of 40 million.  As more information becomes available for this -- I'll pass on the details.

Think about that...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME:  A WELCOME HOME

Notre Dame's 2012 Shamrock Series Uniform

Here's what Notre Dame's Shamrock Series helmet / uniform combination looks like for their game October 6 against the Miami Hurricanes at Chicago's Soldier Field.

That's Notre Dame All-Americans; Tyler Eifert (80) and Manti Teo (5), modeling the new gear.