The Heisman Push Began Today for Manti!

Notre Dame's two-time All-American linebacker -- Manti Te'o -- spent the afternoon today with his own press conference (link below), followed by an award presentation ARA'S SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD during the Irish's game with Kentucky and a live "in-game" interview  with the ESPN crew -- also linked below...

I suspect we'll see a pretty good run of Manti stories over the next week as we lead up to next Saturday's Heisman Trophy presentation in New York City.

LINK:  MANTI'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  MANTI'S ESPN IN-GAME INTERVIEW

Notre Dame Beats #8 Kentucky EASILY!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish played tonight like we thought they would this season...

They DOMINATED the defending National Champions -- after overcoming a slow start when the Wildcats took an early 12 - 6 lead.  The Irish led by as many as 20 points in the second half -- finishing with a 64 - 50 win.

IT'S ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN JOHN CALIPARI'S FOUR SEASONS AT KENTUCKY THAT HIS TEAM HAS BEEN BEAT BY DOUBLE DIGITS!

Notre Dame's back court tandem of Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant led the Irish -- combining for 29 BIG points, 10 assists and 4 steals!

Here's what the media had to say about Notre Dame's big win - along with a link to Coach Brey's post game press conference and game highlights!

LINK:  COACH BREY'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER

LINK:  GAME BLOG -- HERALD LEADER

Coach Parseghian to be Honored at Disney...

Former Notre Dame all-time great football coach -- Ara Parseghian -- will be honored next Thursday night at Disney World during the HOME DEPOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARD SHOW on ESPN.  The show will be aired beginning at 7:30 PM ET.

I suspect they're just might be a few more members of the current Notre Dame football program being honored that night as well!

Congratulations Coach Parseghian!

LINK:  ARA TO BE HONORED

Photo of the Day: Writer Shining Helmets...

He's a "un-named" former Sports Illustrated writer who, a few weeks ago, wrote a less than complimentary article about the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. 

Today he was in "taking his medicine" for his prediction that USC would beat ND.

16 Million TV Viewers -- ONLY NOTRE DAME!

All of the media types who were using the "R" word when talking about Notre Dame, these past few years, should feel a little foolish...

Notre Dame's game this past week with "un-ranked" USC drew a television audience of 16 million viewers -- the most watched SATURDAY NIGHT football game in ABC history!  Here's some other "fun facts" as it relates to the size of this TV audience:

• The largest TV audience ever for a non #1 vs. #2 college football game since 1991 -- 21 YEARS -- that game was ND vs. FSU...
• The largest TV audience for a regular season college football game on any network since 2006

LINK:  NOTRE DAME TV AUDIENCE

"We Owe Notre Dame a Standing Ovation"

These were the last words in a piece produced by ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski...

LINK:  WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS

Jim Rome on Rick Reilly's Polishing of Helmets

As many of you know, Rick Reilly ran a column a few months ago in which he opined that Notre Dame did not deserve the respect it was receiving from the NCAA, BCS and others...

I'll let Jim Rome tell the rest of the story...

LINK:  JIM ROME ON RICK REILLY

"Notre Dame Beats Ohio State by Two TD's..."

An unabashed Michigan football fan and radio host of THE HUGE SHOW -- wrote a piece in the Grand Rapids Press today about the Wolverine's loss to the Buckeyes...

Simonson took it upon himself to then talk about Notre Dame, how they "do things the right way," and -- how they "would beat Ohio State by two touchdowns..."

Special thanks to long-time ND GO IRISH BLOG regular R.J. Doyle for alerting me to this story!  That's "Uncle R.J." to me!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS OHIO STATE

WSJ: Why Notre Dame Deserves This...

The folks at the Wall Street Journal produced this video; WHY NOTRE DAME DESERVES TO BE IN THE BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME...

Yeah, the Wall Street Journal is giving sports commentary.  Take a look.

LINK:  WHY NOTRE DAME!

Irish Connection Take #2 From LA Coliseum

Can't get enough of this moment for the NOTRE DAME FAMILY.  You'll want to watch this!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION -- TAKE #2

Skip Bayless: "Manti Te'o Deserves Heisman"

Never thought I'd hear Skip Bayless promote a Notre Dame player -- for anything that had a POSITIVE outcome...

The world must be changing!

You'll enjoy reading Bayless' case as to why Manti Te'o is deserving of the Heisman Trophy.

LINK:  MANTI DESERVES THE HEISMAN

TMQ: Notre Dame Should Be Celebrated!

If you're a regular to the ND GO IRISH BLOG you'll know that a common theme has been -- "when will someone talk about graduating student-athletes in the sports media..."

Well, it looks like that day has come!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SHOULD BE CELEBRATED

Notre Dame's Prophetic Author!

I have the privilege of working with Bob Quakenbush at the University of Notre Dame.  Bob, a 1976 grad, wrote a book entitled "The Gipper's Ghost" nearly 30 years ago.

The story talks about a fictional coach, by the name of COACH KELLY, who in his third year coaching the IRISH would lead them to a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

You can't make this up!

Here's a link to the ABC-TV story on Bob and his book!

LINK:  THE GIPPER'S GHOST

LINK:  THE GIPPER'S GHOST FACEBOOK PAGE

LINK:  BUY THE KINDLE VERSION!

A MUST READ -- Wall Street Journal Story

Notre Dame fans, this is a Wall Street Journal article written by Jason Gay -- a University of Wisconsin alum -- who's not a fan of the IRISH...

You'll find this worthy of your time!

LINK:  CHILL OUT ON #1 NOTRE DAME

Sports Talk Radio on ND's Perfect Season!

Sports Talk Radio -- was filled with conversation about the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame yesterday.  Here's a sample of what you might have missed!

LINK:  MIKE & MIKE -- ESPN

LINK:  MIKE & MIKE #2 -- ESPN

LINK:  COLIN COWHERD -- ESPN

LINK:  JIM ROME -- THE JIM ROME SHOW

LINK:  JIM ROME #2 -- THE JIM ROME SHOW

LINK:  SCOTT VAN PELT -- ESPN

LINK:  DAN PATRICK -- THE DAN PATRICK SHOW

LINK:  JT THE BRICK -- FOX SPORTS

Think You've Got a Great Notre Dame Room...

You might "re-think" this after you've watched this video...

WOW, is all I can say!

LINK:  THE ULTIMATE NOTRE DAME THEATER

Inside Notre Dame Football: USC Victory Show

You'll enjoy this edition of Inside Notre Dame Football with Brian Kelly.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL -- USC VICTORY SHOW

Notre Dame Closes Gap: All-Time Winning %

A 12 - 0 season cures a lot of ills...

One of them was the All-Time Winning % lead which Notre Dame relinquished to Michigan during the Ty Willingham era...

As of this very moment -- here's the "math" on the All-Time Winning % Lead in College Football -- less than ONE THOUSANDTH OF A POINT separates Michigan and Notre Dame:

• MICHIGAN:  903 Wins -- 314 Losses and 36 Ties =  .73503%

• NOTRE DAME:  865 Wins -- 300 Losses and 42 Ties =  .73405%

So, here's the math:  Michigan has a TWO GAME LEAD on the Fighting Irish.  Here's how I see it: when Notre Dame wins the BCS Championship game and Michigan loses their bowl game -- we'll roll into Ann Arbor next fall looking to beat Michigan to regain the All-Time Winning % lead.

In the All-Time Wins department -- Notre Dame is currently #3:

• Michigan:  903 wins
• Texas:  866 wins
• Notre Dame:  865 wins

Notre Dame Turns 170 Years-old Today!

On this day -- November 26, 1842 the University of Notre Dame du Lac was founded by Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C.

Happy Birthday Notre Dame!

LINK:  FR. SORIN -- WIKI PAGE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GLEE CLUB

I Missed This Video Last Week -- MUST SEE!!!

This might be one of the best videos I've seen surrounding Notre Dame Football -- it is that good.  Oh, how I wish I had watched this before Saturday's game with USC...

LINK:  ...GOING TO CUT YOU DOWN