Surpassed the HALF MILLION MARK last night!

At 11:38 PM last night -- a Notre Dame fan from Charleston, SC became unique visitor #500,000 to the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

I am very thankful that so many members of the  Notre Dame Family have chosen to follow the positive news about our favorite university at this site.  Seems appropriate that this milestone would be achieved on THANKSGIVING DAY.

As has become custom here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- I compare the visitor count to the size of an American city.  At 500,412 (where we're at at the moment of this post) the ND GO IRISH BLOG would be the 34th largest city in America -- just ahead of three "California towns" -- could be a good omen for Saturday night!

• #33 Tucson, AZ:  520,116
• #34  ND GO IRISH BLOG:  500,412
• #35 Fresno, CA:  494,665
• #36 Sacramento, CA:  466,488
• #37 Long Beach, CA:  462,257

Thank you Notre Dame Family!

Photo of the Day: Flying the Notre Dame Flag!

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Jim Farrington '74 (Stamford, CT) sent me this photo of a Notre Dame ROTC grad flying the flag!  Thanks Jim!

"Twitter Photo" Irish Have Arrived in LA

Here's a photo "tweeted" by ND women's basketball coach Niele Ivey -- of her, Muffet McGraw and Carol Owens.  The Lady Irish play UCLA tomorrow in basketball.  Notice the Notre Dame Football truck in the background!

This Will Give You Goose Bumps -- ENJOY !!!

This was the opener to the Love Thee Notre Dame Celebration held on the campus of the University of Notre Dame on Saturday, September 22nd.  If this doesn't get your heart pumping...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING from Notre Dame !!!

On Thursday, November 1st more than 1,000 Notre Dame students said THANK YOU in a big way!

Enjoy!

LINK:  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Coach Brey's IRISH Beat His Alma Mater !

The George Washington Colonials played their first ever game against Notre Dame last night and Coach Brey's FIGHTIN' IRISH won the game 65 - 48.

Here's what the media had to say after the game -- see links below.  At the post game press conference, Coach Brey showed up wearing his alma mater's jersey.  ENJOY!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE 

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS 

LINK:  ESPN BOX SCORE

LINK:  COACH BREY POST GAME

Does Notre Dame Drive College Football?

The folks at ESPN, in cooperation with a company called Global Strategy Group, conducted a survey of "self-identified college football fans" -- and MORE THAN 50% said they WERE MORE EXCITED ABOUT THIS SEASON THANKS TO NOTRE DAME...

Here's the story:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S RESURGENCE

Pat Haden: "One Brand in College Football"

University of Southern California Athletic Director Pat Haden was on ESPN's Colin Cowherd radio show this morning...

During the interview -- Haden, who was NBC's "color guy" on Notre Dame football for many years -- came out and made this statement:

"THERE IS ONLY ONE BRAND NAME IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL...

IT'S NOTRE DAME."

I'm sure the USC fan base isn't happy with this...

Here's the entire interview -- Notre Dame fans will enjoy this!

LINK:  HADEN ON NOTRE DAME

Father Jenkins Talks Notre Dame's Success

The Chronicle of Higher Education interviewed the Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., (president of the University of Notre Dame) to talk about Notre Dame's success on the football field and in the classroom.

This is the FIRST TIME EVER that a university has sat atop the BCS rankings and the NCAA GSR rankings at the same time. 

Yes, it can be done!

LINK:  FATHER JENKINS

Coach Kelly & Coach Kiffin Talk Saturday Night!

The head football coaches at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California -- met with the media today (on their respective campuses) to talk about Saturday night's PRIME TIME game.  Here's a link to both press conferences:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY, NOTRE DAME

LINK:  LANE KIFFIN, USC

Bears QB Cutler "...Huge Notre Dame Fan."

Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler went public today with his passion for the University of Notre Dame.  The former Vanderbilt football star admitted he was a "huge fan" and that he "wanted to play football there..."

Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  CUTLER -- IRISH FAN

USC's New Starting QB: "We're Going to Win..."

They must have a different policy regarding "bulletin board" material at that school in Los Angeles...

USC's Max Wittek, who will be making his first start Saturday night -- let the world know his Trojans would beat Notre Dame.

Add this to the comments made after the game last year that the "IRISH QUIT" -- by multiple USC players -- and I trust Coach Kelly won't have to say much before this game.  Here's the latest coming out of Trojanville:

LINK:  WITTEK SAYS THEY'LL BEAT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  VIDEO OF WITTEK AT PRACTICE

For $2,400 You Can Own The Real Deal!

The same authentic Shamrock Series Helmet that the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame wore in their game against Miami this past month at Chicago's Soldier Field -- went on sale today!

Notre Dame fans can buy the 24k gold leaf helmet for $2,400...

LINK:  WHERE TO BUY

LINK:  SHAMROCK SERIES ADIDAS VIDEO

Domer Commanding Space Station!

Kevin Ford '82, took command of the International Space Station this past Sunday!

Ford is joined by two astronauts from Russia -- and next month they'll welcome three more from the USA, Canada and Russia.  Here's a link to the video of Kevin taking command of the International Space Station!

LINK:  DOMER IN COMMAND

ESPN's Mark May and "Leprechaun Dreams!"

The folks at ESPN are having some fun this week with Mark May's promise to dress up like the Notre Dame Leprechaun if the IRISH go undefeated...

LINK:  LOU AND MARK MAY

How's This For a PHOTO!

I believe this was shot by Notre Dame's award winning photographer Matt Cashore...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING from Notre Dame!

Thought you'd enjoy seeing this effort that came out of the Stewardship team, Fighting Irish Digital Media and our Marketing & Communications team at the University of Notre Dame -- hope you like!

More than 1,000 Notre Dame students signed a 24' long THANK YOU CARD on campus earlier this month.  Singer/songwriter Tim Stop performed his own rendition of HERE COME THE IRISH that I believe you'll enjoy as well...

LINK:  THANK YOU!

The Media Can't Get Enough of Notre Dame...

If you ever questioned the importance of the Notre Dame brand in American sport -- I hope you've set those thoughts aside...

Notre Dame's move to the top of the college football world, late Saturday night, even has the attention of  news organizations -- that rarely talk football.   Here's what's being said today!

LINK:  WALL STREET JOURNAL

LINK:  WSJ'S -- THE DAILY FIX

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  HUFFINGTON POST

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

#1 on the Football Field & #1 in the Classroom!

Only Notre Dame!

The University of Notre Dame is the first school ever to be ranked #1 in the BCS Football rankings and #1 in the NCAA Graduation Rates -- and to think many college football pundits thought this couldn't be done...

LINK:  STUDENT-ATHLETE EXCELLENCE

ND Glee Club Sings "Here Come The Irish"

You will want to watch this!

LINK:  HERE COME THE IRISH!