LA TImes: Notre Dame's "Fifth" Horseman...

A Notre Dame alum Bill Dwyre '66, the long-time sports editor of the Los Angeles Times, still writes a column for the paper...

His subject this week -- Manti Te'o and his 8,500 mile journey this past week around the country picking up awards.  (That's Manti in the photo above with former Notre Dame alum Condoleezza Rice and NFL great Ronnie Lott receiving the LOTT IMPACT Trophy)

Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S FIFTH HORSEMAN

Photo of the Day -- Cubs Marketing Tickets...

I'm sure former Notre Dame All-American football player Jeff Samardzija never thought he'd be posing for a photograph with a "BOW" on his Cubs' baseball hat when he was an Irish student-athlete. 

Jeff's the star of a recent Chicago Cubs ticket marketing campaign.  ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Mike Roe was kind enough to send me this photo.

Only Notre Dame -- A Wonderful Story...

If you've spent any time on campus over the past four years you've undoubtedly run into Alvin Hu, a senior majoring in Computer Sciences and Engineering.

Alvin is one of the subjects of a story about the residence life for Notre Dame football players and students -- written by Yahoo Sports Pat Forde.  You'll enjoy this story!  (Photo - that's Alvin in the middle)

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular and Rector of St. Edward's Hall on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- Fr. Ralph Haag, C.S.C., was kind enough to alert me to this great story.

LINK:  LIVING AT NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame vs. Alabama -- Schedule Strength

This will be the first of a number of comparisons of the two teams slated to meet on January 7th, outside of Miami, for the BCS National Championship.  Today we'll look at the teams they played this season...

NOTRE DAME REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE:

• OPPONENTS' WON/LOSS RECORD:  82 - 62
• HOW MANY BOWL ELIGIBLE TEAMS:  10
• BEAT HOW MANY RANKED OPPONENTS AT THE TIME THEY PLAYED:  4
• RECORD AGAINST RANKED TEAMS:  4 - 0

ALABAMA REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE:

• OPPONENTS' WON/LOSS RECORD:  57 - 63
• HOW MANY BOWL ELIGIBLE TEAMS:  5
• BEAT HOW MANY RANKED OPPONENTS AT THE TIME THEY PLAYED:  4
• RECORD AGAINST RANKED TEAMS:  3 - 1

Tuitt and Te'o Named ESPN All-Americans!

Notre Dame sophomore defensive end Stephon Tuitt and senior linebacker Manti Te'o were named to ESPN's All-American team today.  Here's a link to the team:

LINK:  TWO DOMER'S ON FIRST TEAM

ESPN: Why Notre Dame Beats Bama!

The folks at "Numbers Never Lie..." looked at Notre Dame's goal line defense -- the best in the nation -- and used ND's "numbers" this season to show how the IRISH beat the Tide...

LINK:  THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE!

Alabama's Fan Shirt for BCS Game with IRISH

Notre Dame fans should expect to see this t-shirt roaming the beaches and streets of South Florida a few weeks from now...

ND's BCS National Championship Game Jersey

Notre Dame Football Equipment Manager Ryan Grooms "tweeted" (@NDFBEquipment) this photo today of the jersey Manti Te'o will be wearing in the BCS National Championship game!

A Record Seventh National Award -- Manti Te'o

He has no equal in the history of college football...

No single student-athlete has won as many national awards after a season.  Last night, Notre Dame's Manti Te'o was in Newport Beach, CA accepting the LOTT IMPACT TROPHY -- his seventh national award!

Here's a link to the story and a link to the LOTT IMPACT TROPHY site:

LINK:  TE'O WINS ANOTHER! -- ESPN

LINK:  LOTT IMPACT TROPHY

Ad Age Story: Notre Dame the Brand

The folks at Advertising Age wrote a story last week about the "serendipitous timing" of the resurgence of Notre Dame Football...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME -- THE BRAND

Notre Dame Glee Club's Christmas Concert!

The Notre Dame Glee Club put on their annual Christmas Concert last night at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.  Here's a link to the performance!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GLEE CLUB

Harrison Smith's 2nd Career NFL "Pick Six"

Former Notre Dame All-American Harrison Smith just returned an interception 56 yards for at TD in the Vikings game against the Chicago Bears.  This was Harrion's third career NFL interception and the SECOND HE'S TAKEN TO THE HOUSE for a TOUCHDOWN!!

To top it off -- it ended up being the GAME WINNING SCORE, as the Vikings beat the Bears 21 - 14.

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH'S PICK SIX

The Mornin' After a Heisman Hangover...

Notre Dame fans wanted a HEISMAN for its HERO -- unfortunately, a sophomore QB (who stood on the sidelines last season) from Texas A&M kept IRISH fans from celebrating well into the night...

Here's the GREAT NEWS -- our HERO has one more huge game in a GOLD HELMET and it's for EVERYTHING!

I'm guessin' Manti Te'o will add another award tonight in Los Angeles -- the LOTT IMPACT Trophy -- before catching a red-eye back to town so he can take some FINALS with his classmates.  Here's what the media has to say about the Heisman Runner-up - along with a link to Manti's post Heisman press conference:

LINK:  POST HEISMAN ANNOUNCEMENT -- PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  ORLANDO SENTINEL

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  PETER KING, SI

First Linebacker Ever Invited to Heisman's Party

The Heisman Trophy was just awarded to the 20 year-old sophomore QB from Texas A&M -- Johnny Football -- who stood on the sidelines last season.

He edged out Notre Dame's Manti Te'o -- who received the most voting points for a defensive player in the 78 year history of the Heisman Trophy.

HEISMANTI

BRING ON BAMA!

Will Manti Win Notre Dame's 8th Heisman?

In less than 12 hours from now -- Notre Dame fans all over the world will be tuning in to the HEISMAN TROPHY presentation -- with hopes that Manti Te'o will become the eighth Notre Dame All-American to win college football's most coveted prize.

The Heisman Trophy presentation begins at 8 PM ET on ESPN.

The odds are against this happening -- yet, after a football season that was not expected -- why not one more surprise!

WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS BE GREAT OR SMALL...

Here's what's certain -- the HEISMAN TROPHY will be better served in the hands of Manti Te'o.  (Illustration above from the Chicago Tribune's Joe Darrow)

I took a lap around the media to see what they're saying about the Heisman -- just click on the links below:

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO

LINK:  ABC 57 SOUTH BEND

LINK:  FOX SPORTS

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  WNDU-TV SOUTH BEND

LINK:  CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER

LINK:  ESPN EXPERTS' POLL

Senior Parents Video: Makes Me Cry Every Time

The Notre Dame Football video staff produces an annual Senior Parents Video -- that I will admit, brings me to tears every time I watch it.  Here's the video that was produced for last night's "The Echoes" -- Notre Dame's Football Awards Show.

LINK:  SENIOR PARENTS VIDEO

Top College Players Pick the Heisman Winner!

ESPN interviewed a number of the best college football players at Disney World the past few days -- asking them who should win the Heisman Trophy...

LINK:  WHO WINS THE HEISMAN?

Watch the ND Football Awards Show LIVE !!!

The #1 ranked Fighting Irish will celebrate their undefeated season TONIGHT at the beautiful DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  The event sold-out immediately -- so the next best thing is to watch it LIVE on the web.

I'm told the broadcast will begin at 8 PM ET.  Should be fun!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL AWARDS SHOW

The Most HONORED CFB Player of All-Time!

Manti Te'o is the most honored PLAYER to ever wear the GOLD HELMET in the 125 year history of Notre Dame football...

And, now -- THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

Manti Te'o has now won SIX NATIONAL AWARDS -- with the Heisman Trophy left -- which is already more than ANY COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER in HISTORY!!!

Here are the honors he's received so far:

• Maxwell Award -- the best football player in the country
• Walter Camp Player of the Year Award -- top player in the country
• Bednarik Award -- top defensive player in the country
• Butkus Award -- top linebacker in the country
• Bronco Nagurski Trophy -- top defensive player in the country
• Lombardi Award -- top lineman or linebacker in the country

Will the Heisman be next...

 LINK:  VIDEO OF MANTI WINNING MAXWELL AWARD

"Notre Dame Football Awards Show" Tonight!

Folks, this night has been a long time coming...

At 7:30 PM ET -- TONIGHT -- The Home Depot College Football Awards Show (AKA The Notre Dame Football Awards Show) will be televised on ESPN.

This is MUST SEE TV -- for the entire Notre Dame Family.

It's expected that Notre Dame's Ara Parseghian, Brian Kelly, Tyler Eifert and "some guy named" Manti will be standing on the stage accepting well deserved accolades from the college football world.

LINK:  HOME DEPOT COLLEGE FOOTBALL AWARDS SHOW