11 Years Ago -- A Notre Dame Man Stood Tall

It was a day unlike any other in the 236 year history of our nation -- and a day this Notre Dame man faced head on...

September 11, 2001

You see, Jimmy Dunne '78, lost 66 of his friends and colleagues that day when a passenger jet crashed into World Center Tower  2 -- where his company was located on the 104th floor.

What this Notre Dame man has done since, for the families who lost their loved ones and for his company -- is truly remarkable.  Here's a story that ran last year in Fortune -- on the 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001.

LINK:  A NOTRE DAME MAN

Vince Vaughn -- Notre Dame Interview

He's been a life-long Notre Dame fan -- and this past Saturday he was on the sidelines with his pal Owen Wilson watching the IRISH beat Purdue.  UND.COM's Jack Nolan got the opportunity to interview Vaughn -- here you go!

Vaughn -- pictured above -- appeared in RUDY!


LINK:  VINCE VAUGHN WITH JACK NOLAN

Photo of the Day: Owen Wilson at Notre Dame

Hollywood star Owen Wilson was at Saturday's football game between the Fightin' Irish and the Purdue Boilermakers.  Here's a photo of Owen with a few of the Notre Dame cheerleaders on the sidelines of Notre Dame Stadium.

People Magazine featured this photo on their site:

LINK:  PEOPLE MAGAZINE

NBC Replay: Notre Dame vs. Purdue

Here's all of the video currently available online from NBC of yesterday's 20 - 17 win for the Irish over Purdue.  Click on the links below:

LINK:  ALEX FLANAGAN'S INTERVIEW OF COACH KELLY

LINK:  ALEX FLANAGAN'S INTERVIEW OF TOMMY REES

LINK:  MIKE MAYOCK'S POST GAME COMMENTS

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  NBC GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  THE BAND OF THE FIGHTING IRISH -- HALFTIME SHOW

NCAA Statistics -- National Rankings Week 2

National Rankings -- here's a quick look at where Notre Dame players, offensive, defensive and special team units stack up amongst the 120 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision:

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS:

Everett Golson

• 34th in completion rate:  67.4%
• 38th in QB rating:  151.0
• 52nd in yards passing:  433 yards

 Theo Riddick

• 53rd in yards rushing:  160 yards
• 61st in yards rushing per game:  80 yards

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS:

Stephon Tuitt

• 2nd in total QB sacks:  4 sacks 
• 18th in tackles for loss:  4 tackles

Bennett Jackson

• 2nd in interceptions:  2 interceptions

Manti Teo

• 76th in tackles per game:  9.0 per game

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKINGS:

• 4th in 3rd down efficiency:  62.5%
• 12th in time of possession:  33.56 minutes of possession per game
• 25th in fewest fumbles lost:  1 fumble lost this season
• 28th in interceptions thrown:  1 interception thrown this season
• 31st in turnovers lost:  2 turnovers this season
• 40th in scoring offense:  35.0 pts. per game
• 42nd in first downs:  23.0 first downs per game
• 57th in rushing offense per game:  172.5 yards per game
• 49th in passing offense per game:  260.5 yards per game

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKINGS:

• 7th in turnovers gained:  6 turnovers gained
• 9th in fumbles recovered:  3 fumble recoveries
• 13th in QB sacks:  3.5 sacks per game
• 14th in passes intercepted:  3 interceptions
• 27th in first downs allowed:  16.5 per game
• 28th in scoring defense:  13.5 pts per game
• 37th in yards allowed per game:  314.5 per game
• 43rd in passing defense:  195 yards per game
• 50th in rushing yards allowed per game:  119.5 per game
• 53rd in total offense per game:  433 yards per game

Fightin' Irish Move Up to #19 in USA Today Poll

The USA Today Poll has the Irish ranked #19 and the Associated Press has Notre Dame at #20.  Here's the rankings:

LINK:  NATIONAL RANKINGS

The Mornin' After ND Beats Purdue 20 - 17

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the media has to say about Notre Dame's last second 20 - 17 win over Purdue -- just click on the links below:

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

LINK:  INDY STAR

LINK:  HAMMER & NAILS

LINK:  JOURNAL & COURIER #1

LINK:  JOURNAL & COURIER #2

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES #1

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES #2

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #3

ND vs. PURDUE -- Notre Dame Locker Room!

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media were workin' their magic today -- catching Hollywood's Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson (photo above) sportin' their ND Monogram hats on the sidelines...

And, the last minute drive, field goal and post game locker room celebration.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LOCKER ROOM

A Win is a WIn is a WIn and We're 2 - 0 !!!

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 2 - 0 after a late field goal by Kyle Brindza put the Irish past Purdue 20 - 17.  Some of the key story lines from this game:

• Seven Irish starters got injured and never returned
• Golson threw for 289 yards -- completing 67% of his passes
• ND's defense held Purdue to under 300 total yards of offense
• Golson's late fumble 
• Rees came off the bench and took the IRISH down the field with two clutch third down pass completions -- completing 3 of 8 passes for 35 yards

The Irish have won their first two games of the season for the first time since 2008 and for only the fourth time in the last sixteen seasons -- think about that!!!

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS -- ND 20 - PURDUE 17

Rudy's Out Promoting "MY STORY"

Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger is out on a media tour promoting his new autobiography "MY STORY."

His travels this morning took him to NYC and FOX & FRIENDS.  Now, I don't have that video yet -- he was just on the air -- here is a video of an interview he gave on Wednesday this week:

LINK:  RUDY'S MY STORY

LINK:  BUY RUDY'S BOOK

Replay: Notre Dame's Pep Rally Last Night!

As has become tradition at the University of Notre Dame -- THOUSANDS of IRISH fans were in attendance last night at the PEP RALLY for the Purdue game!!!

YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE MANTI TEO!!!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PEP RALLY

GAME DAY @ NOTRE DAME!

Here's what all of the "experts" are saying about Notre Dame's game today versus Purdue -- just click on the links below. 

VEGAS HAS THE IRISH AS 14.5 pt. FAVORITES

Folks, this game makes me NERVOUS.  I believe this is the best Purdue team we've seen in some time and we're going to have our hands full.  Here's my ND GO IRISH BLOG score prediction:

• Notre Dame:  31
• Purdue:  27

LINK:  INDY SPORTS LEGENDS

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  NBC NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  THE SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  WEST LAFAYETTE'S JOURNAL & COURIER

Coach Kelly at Today's ND Football Luncheon

Notre Dame's Friday Football Luncheon took place at noon today in the North Dome of the Joyce Athletic Complex -- and Coach Kelly was front and center.  Here's a link to the video:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL LUNCHEON

If You're Having Trouble Loading This Site!

I've been receiving phone calls and emails from ND GO IRISH BLOG regulars letting me know they can't load the site -- and there's some "weird things" going on with the graphics.  I have been talking with BLOGGER SUPPORT and they can't figure it out yet.

I'm having NO TROUBLE on my MAC in either SAFARI or FIREFOX with the site -- now, I'm guessing it's because I've EMPTIED MY CACHE...

So -- please try that -- GO TO GOOGLE and do a search on how to EMPTY CACHE -- and let's hope this does the trick!

SORRY!!!

I'm Guessing This Isn't a ND Licensed Product

This photo was "TWEETED" today of someone on campus with their DOME UMBRELLA -- very clever!

Off Topic: But You Have to See This!

I had heard a few of the ESPN personalities talking about this specific commercial and how it was "the best they've ever produced..."

Well, it just might be!

LINK:  JOHN CLAYTON -- AT HOME

Photo of the Day: Think It Was a Fair Fight?

The picture of the coin toss between Notre Dame and Navy -- makes you wonder what those two guys in the blue jerseys were thinking...

Louis Nix III -- Unplugged, Notre Dame Style!

Folks, this young man is a natural entertainer...  You're going to smile watching this interview.

LINK:  LOUIS NIX

Notre Dame Fan Mel Kiper, Jr. Talks Teo & Tuitt

ESPN's Draft Guru -- Mel Kiper, Jr. -- was on the air this morning talking about the Notre Dame game with Purdue and he decided to single out two IRISH players:

• Manti Teo:  "Best Inside Linebacker in the nation..."
• Stephon Tuitt:  "Arguably the best defensive lineman, virtually in college football..."

LINK:  KIPER ON THE IRISH

Notre Dame Movie Release Today at 4 PM ET!

If you have access today to the worldwide web at 4 PM ET -- you can watch the premiere of the film ANY GIVEN DAY -- which was produced by the University of Notre Dame's Admissions department.  Knowing that group -- I'm sure it's quite good!!!

Here's a link where you can watch the PREMIERE LIVE on the web:

LINK:  ANY GIVEN DAY -- NOTRE DAME