Sunday, November 18, 2012

Our "Little Girl" is Getting Married!!!



Conor Walsh asked our daughter Kara Small to marry him this afternoon...

And, she said YES!

Very special moment for our "little girl" and the Small family.  Kara -- we couldn't be happier for you -- Conor, we'll be proud to call you SON & BROTHER.

PS:  Conor is a Notre Dame fan!!!

Photo of the Year (So Far): The Last Time...


Here's a photo I took in Notre Dame Stadium of Manti Te'o running out onto the field to hug his Mom & Dad at the 50 yard line -- prior to yesterday's game with Wake Forest.  Awesome moment.

The Grace Hall #1 Sign is BACK IN PLACE!!!


Notre Dame will "light up" the #1 sign atop GRACE HALL this evening -- celebrating Notre Dame football's return to the top spot in college football.

I suspect the lighting will take place after the 8:30 PM ET announcement of the BCS rankings!

Here's a photo (above) "tweeted" by the Notre Dame Alumni Association of the #1 sign going back on top of Grace Hall!


Notre Dame Gets 56 of 59 Coaches' #1 Votes


I want to know what college football coach voted NOTRE DAME #4 -- in the just released Coaches Poll!  Fifty-six coaches picked Notre Dame #1!

LINK:  COACHES POLL STORY

LINK:  COACHES POLL

The Media's Take on NOTRE DAME Being #1


Now, we have many who love us around the world -- and a "few" who don't -- so the news last night that Notre Dame was returning to the TOP OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL did not go unnoticed!

ENJOY THIS MOMENT!

LINK:  THE END OF THE WORLD

LINK:  FOX NEWS

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

Forbes' Twist on Notre Dame's Success on Field

Leave it to Forbes magazine to author a story today about the "restoration of the Notre Dame brand" -- as it relates to the success of our football team.  You'll enjoy this!

LINK:  THE NOTRE DAME BRAND

AP Poll: Notre Dame #1, Alabama #2


I'm not surprised we're #1 -- however, I'm shocked we got ALL 60 FIRST PLACE VOTES!

Saturday's game with USC can't come fast enough!

Notre Dame fans will want to tune-in this evening to ESPN when they "officially" announce NOTRE DAME as the #1 Team in the BCS RANKINGS.  The fun begins at 8:30 PM ET!

GO IRISH!


LINK: AP POLL STORY

LINK:  USA TODAY STORY

Notre Dame Students Celebrating on Campus!


This photo was just "tweeted" by WNDU-TV's Angelo DiCarlo -- as word got out around campus that the NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH are #1 in college football!

Here's the WNDU-TV video linked below!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME STUDENTS CELEBRATE THE NEWS!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

6,937 Days Since the IRISH Were Last #1 !!!


Notre Dame has not been ranked #1 in college football since November 20, 1993 -- when Boston College kicked a field goal to beat the IRISH.

It's been way too long!

ENJOY THIS NOTRE DAME!!!

The Irish are now the only team in college football that know they need only two more wins to win a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- and the RING!

LINK:  ESPN 

PS:  Irish fans we're going to start hearing this story the next few days -- "Notre Dame should have to play in a conference championship to qualify for the National Championship game..."  -- just smile and make plans to take January 7th off of work!!!

NOTRE DAME #1: ONLY UNDEFEATED TEAM!


November 17, 2012 -- the day NOTRE DAME returned to the top of the COLLEGE FOOTBALL world!
  • #1 Kansas State loses to Baylor 52 - 24
  • #2 Oregon loses to Stanford in OT 17 - 14
  • #3 NOTRE DAME beats Wake Forest 38 - 0

KSU LOSES, IRISH CONTROL DESTINY!


CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!

The Baylor Bears -- who were 4 - 5 coming into their game tonight with #1 ranked Kansas State Wildcats and they crushed them 52 - 24!

THANK YOU BAYLOR BEARS!!!

Notre Dame can now secure a spot in the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME with a win next Saturday against that school in Los Angeles!

INCREDIBLE!!!

LINK:  USC QB INJURED


Post Game Coverage: ND 38 -- WFU 0


The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media have done a world-class job all season -- and they didn't disappoint today!  Here's their coverage of Notre Dame's 38 - 0 win over Wake Forest.  Enjoy!

LINK:  COACH KELLY'S POST GAME PRESSER

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

LINK:  SENIOR PLAYER INTERVIEWS

LINK:  T.J. JONES INTERVIEW

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

11 - 0 and PERFECT @ HOME for the IRISH!


The Irish put on an offensive show in the first half -- running up more than 460 yards of offense and 31 points -- while the defense continued its dominance holding their EIGHTH OPPONENT in eleven games to ONE TOUCHDOWN or less.

Think about that...

The IRISH are 11 - 0 for the first time in 23 years!

Here's what the media has to say about Notre Dame's 38 - 0 win over Wake Forest today.

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ESPN -- NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

Final Gameday @ NOTRE DAME for Seniors!


There will be many "lasts" today at Notre Dame Stadium for the members of the University of Notre Dame's Class of 2013 -- here's rooting they wal away with IRISH EYES SMILING!

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what's being said about this afternoon's game.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 

LINK:  WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  YAHOO! SPORTS

Friday, November 16, 2012

Preparing the ND Locker Room for the IRISH!


Ryan Grooms and crew put the 'icing on the cake' every Friday morning -- as they prepare for the Fightin' Irish to come in to their Notre Dame Stadium locker room on Saturday around 1:30 PM ET.  Here's a story that WSBT-TV did on the preparation of this "hallowed" space:

LINK:  THE NOTRE DAME LOCKER ROOM

Thursday, November 15, 2012

#8 Notre Dame Hockey Beats #13 Michigan!



Jeff Jackson's Fightin' Irish beat the Michigan Wolverines tonight in Ann Arbor by the score of 3 - 1 -- with two third period goals!  Here's a link to the game's highlights:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME WINS ROAD GAME TONIGHT

Wake Forest Week: Coach Kelly With Media


This is the last media session for Coach Kelly before Saturday afternoon's game with Wake Forest.  He reported it was nearly a "PERFECT PRACTICE" on Thursday -- so the IRISH should be ready to roll!  Here's a link to the media session:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

Muffet's Lady Irish Add More Size & Talent!


Playing in "back to back" National Championship Finals has its benefits.  One is recruiting, and Muffet McGraw landed (ONCE AGAIN) one of the top recruiting classes in the country!

How's this for some size;  6'-4", 6'-4" and 6'-3" -- then you throw in the starting point guard on Team USA's Gold Medal 17-Under team at this summer's World Championships for good measure. 

Here are the four student-athletes who committed to the Fighting Irish:

Taya Reimer -- (photo above) who's ranked as high as the #3 player in the country -- is a 6'-3" forward out of Fishers, IN.  Here is Taya's bio:

LINK:  TAYA REIMER

Lindsay Allen -- who's ranked as the #17 player in the country -- is a 5'-7" point guard out of Mitchelville, MD.  Here is Lindsay's bio:

LINK:  LINDSAY ALLEN

Kristina Nelson -- who's ranked as the #32 player in the country -- is a 6'4" power forward out of Buford, GA.  Here is Kristina's bio:

LINK:  KRISTINA NELSON

Diamond Thompson -- who's ranked as the #73 player in the country -- is a 6'4" power forward out of Wheaton, IL.  Here is Diamond's bio:

LINK:  DIAMOND THOMPSON


LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S OFFICIAL RELEASE


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Off Topic: What's Flying Over Denver!


The folks at CNN broke a story today about an "un-identified" flying object that can only be seen if you video tape the skyline of DENVER (during lunch time) and then slow down the video. 

You're going to want to watch this!

LINK:  FLYING OVER DENVER

Four Top High School Hoops Stars Sign Today!

The NCAA's "early" signing period tipped off today and Mike Brey's Fightin' Irish landed four high school basketball stars!   

The class is ranked 10th in the nation -- we haven't seen a class as highly regarded as this in quite some time!

The class is led by a local product by the name of Demetrius Jackson (photo on the left) -- the Marian High School standout is one of the top point guards in the country -- ranked the #26 prospect overall.  He's a huge get for the IRISH.  Here's a link to his HIGHLIGHT VIDEO along with a link to an impressive DUNK:

LINK:  DEMETRIUS' DUNK

LINK:  DEMETRIUS JACKSON

The second highest ranked player also hails from the State of Indiana and that's V.J. Beachem who plays for New Haven High School (Fort Wayne, IN).  The 6'-6" small forward is ranked #64 in the country by Scout.com.  Here is V.J's highlight video:

LINK:  V.J. BEACHEM

The third Notre Dame recruit among the top 100 players in the country is Steve Vasturia -- a 6'-5" shooting guard out of St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia.  Vasturia is ranked #90 in the country by Scout.com.  Here is Philly news story about Steve's commitment to Notre Dame:

LINK:  STEVE VASTURIA

And the fourth player to commit to Notre Dame today is another local product -- his name is Austin Torres and he's a 6'-6" power forward from Mishawaka's Penn High School.  Torres and Jackson play on the same AAU team in the summer leagues.  Here is Austin's highlight video:

LINK:  AUSTIN TORRES


LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S OFFICIAL RELEASE