John Paxson Returns Home With His Bulls!

Former Notre Dame All-American -- and three-time NBA World Champion -- John Paxson was back home "sans hair" with his Chicago Bulls.  Paxson, the Executive Vice President of the Chicago Bulls met with Jack Nolan before last night's exhibition game with the Pacers at Purcell Pavilion.

Folks, you're going to love the Paxson interview -- he's a class act.

LINK:  JOHN PAXSON RETURNS HOME

Big Game Saturday for Our Fighting Irish!

It's a little more than ten hours until kick-off of #5 Notre Dame vs. #9 Oklahoma in Norman.  The game will be televised LIVE in PRIME TIME on ABC at 8 PM ET -- and I can't wait! 

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the media "experts" have to say about tonight's game.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  USA TODAY

LINK:  ESPN - TV

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  OKLAHOMA DAILY

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  THE OKLAHOMAN

LINK:  KOCO-TV -- OKLAHOMA CITY

LINK:  KFOR-TV -- OKLAHOMA CITY

LINK:  TULSA WORLD

LINK:  JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

Notre Dame Band Visits The Children's Center

The Band of the Fighting Irish is in Oklahoma this evening -- preparing to represent Notre Dame tomorrow night in Norman.   On their way they stopped in Bethany, OK to perform for the children at The Children's Center -- a pediatric hospital that treats children with complex medical and physical disabilities.  You'll enjoy this!

LINK:  ND BAND AT THE CHILDREN'S CENTER

LINK:  NEWS COVERAGE OF NOTRE DAME'S VISIT

CNN Story on Notre Dame Football

When Notre Dame wins -- coverage of college football takes on new channels...

CNN.COM published a story today about the return of Notre Dame football -- something you don't see very often at this site.  Here's the story:

LINK:  CAN NOTRE DAME...

Notre Dame #1 Again -- 7th Time in 8 Years!

It was announced yesterday that the University of Notre Dame's Athletic Teams finished #1 among the 120 schools in the FBS -- with a 100% Graduation Success Rate for 19 of its 22 athletic programs!

All eleven of Notre Dame's women's athletic programs had a 100% graduation rate!!!

Unfortunately, it's a news story that you won't find in the national media or on ESPN's Sports Center...

LINK:  THE BEST IN AMERICA!

Manti Te'o -- a Notre Dame Man

Folks, this young man has a gift.

The parents of a dying daughter -- received a letter from Manti Te'o -- just hours before they were going to unplug the ventilator...

Bridget Smith left for heaven on October 5th.

You'll want to read this story.

LINK:  HE IS ONE OF A KIND

Coach Kelly's Last Presser Before Oklahoma

The University of Notre Dame's "fifth ranked" football team will be leaving in the morning for Norman, Oklahoma -- but, before they leave Coach Kelly met with the media...

You'll also want to know that today is COACH KELLY'S BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COACH!!!

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH THE MEDIA

Kiper and McShay Talk ND vs. Oklahoma

ESPN's draft gurus; Mel Kiper and Todd McShay talked about the matchups their most excited about this weekend in Notre Dame's game with Oklahoma. 

Kiper is always talkin' Manti Te'o and McShay is a big fan of Tyler Eifert.  You'll need to click on the link below to catch their comments.

LINK:  KIPER & MCSHAY

Brian Kelly on The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly was a guest today on THE HERD -- Colin Cowherd's show.  Cowherd has not been a big fan of the IRISH.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  COACH KELLY ON THE HERD

Kirk Herbstreit Talks ND vs. Oklahoma Today

The Fighting Irish are "front and center" this week on the "sports leader" -- as the ABC / ESPN road show heads to Norman, OK to cover Notre Dame's game with Oklahoma.  This morning -- Kirk Herbstreit was a guest on Mike & MIKE and he talked about the big game...

LINK:  HERBSTREIT TALKS NOTRE DAME vs. OKLAHOMA

Must See: A Version You've Never Heard Before

This past Saturday -- at the dedication of the Castellan Family Fencing Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- Tim Stop performed a version of HERE COME THE IRISH that I believe you're going to like!!!

LINK:  TIM STOP PERFORMING -- HERE COME THE IRISH

Notre Dame Athletics -- Never Better Nationally!

Just take a look at this -- these are SEVEN NOTRE DAME TEAMS currently ranked in the TOP 25 in the country!

NCAA NATIONAL RANKINGS:

• Football:  ranked 5th
• Men's Soccer:  ranked 7th
• Hockey:  ranked 9th
• Women's Basketball: ranked 9th 
• Women's Golf:  ranked 19th
• Men's Basketball:  ranked 23rd
• Women's Soccer:  ranked 24th

Oklahoma Week: Coach Kelly's Presser

The University of Notre Dame's head football coach Brian Kelly -- met with the media today to talk about his undefeated Fightin' Irish and their game Saturday night against Oklahoma.  Enjoy!

LINK:  KELLY ON OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Players Talk ND

Oklahoma's football program met with the media today to talk about their game this Saturday against Notre Dame.  Head coach Bob Stoops, QB Landry Jones and three other players represented the Sooners.  Here's a link:

LINK:  OKLAHOMA TALKS NOTRE DAME

LINK:  LANDRY JONES ON THE IRISH DEFENSE

Oklahoma: A 50 Year Distaste for Notre Dame

As a life-long Notre Dame fan -- I had no idea that some Oklahoma fans have been carrying around a fifty year dislike for the Fighting Irish.  It was back in 1957 when ND broke Oklahoma's 47 game winning streak -- the longest in college football history...

Well, that loss was never forgotten...

LINK:  WHY OKLAHOMA FANS...

First Look at Oklahoma Sooners: Opposition

Here's an analysis of the teams that the Oklahoma Sooners have played this season (see photo above of what Coach Bob Stoops thinks...) -- versus the teams Notre Dame have played.  Oklahoma's opponents are 24 - 20 on the season.  Notre Dame's opponents are 28 - 23 on the season.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS:

• UTEP:  (2 - 6) -- FBS rankings: 67th in passing / 97th in rushing
• Florida A&M:  (3 - 5) -- they are a Division 1 - AA school not a FBS school
• Kansas State:  (7 - 0) -- FBS rankings:  92nd in passing / 14th in rushing
• Texas Tech:  (6 - 1)  -- FBS rankings:  4th in passing / 78th in rushing
• Texas:  (5 - 2) -- FBS rankings:  44th in passing / 36th in rushing
• Kansas: (1 - 6) -- FBS rankings:  106th in passing / 44th in rushing

NOTRE DAME FIGHTIN' IRISH:

• Navy: (4 - 3) -- FBS rankings:  121st in passing / 13th in rushing
• Purdue: (3 - 4) -- FBS rankings:  72nd in passing / 71st in rushing
• Michigan State: (4 - 4) -- FBS rankings:  61st in passing / 86th in rushing
• Michigan:  (5 - 2) -- FBS rankings:  109th in passing / 17th in rushing
• Miami:  (4 - 4) -- FBS rankings:  26th in passing / 95th in rushing
• Stanford: (5 - 2) -- FBS rankings:  82nd in passing / 59th in rushing
• BYU: (4 - 4) -- FBS rankings:  76th in passing / 67th in rushing

Harrison Smith's First NFL Interception -- TD!!!

Former Notre Dame football captain and NFL first round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings -- Harrison Smith -- gets his first interception and he takes it to the HOUSE!!!

Harrison intercepts the Cardinals QB Skelton and takes it 32 yards into the endzone  -- PICK SIX!  The Vikings won the game 21 - 14.  Congratulations Harrison!

LINK:  VIDEO REPLAY OF HARRISON'S PICK SIX

"Dr. Lou" Defends Notre Dame's BCS Hopes!

Legendary Notre Dame coach and now ESPN college football commentator -- LOU HOLTZ -- brought to the "court" the case that the IRISH should play for the National Championship should they go undefeated.  You'll want to watch this.

LINK:  LOU DEFENDS HIS IRISH

BYU's Bronco Mendenhall Post Game Presser

BYU's Bronco Mendenhall met with the media after Notre Dame's 17 - 14 victory over his Cougars.  Here's a link to the video:

LINK:  BRONCO'S POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

The Mornin' After Notre Dame's Win Over BYU

Every Sunday mornin' after a Notre Dame Football Saturday -- the ND GO IRISH BLOG takes a lap around the worldwide web to see what the media has to say about our UNDEFEATED Fightin' Irish.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

LINK:  DESERET NEWS

LINK:  DESERET NEWS PHOTOS FROM NOTRE DAME

LINK:  DESERET NEWS #2

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG 

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE #3