"Being the Best Football Team on January 7th"

This was Coach Brian Kelly's main message to the media today as he discussed Notre Dame's preparation for the BCS National Championship game. 

To catch the media session in its entirety -- click on the video below!

LINK:  MEDIA SESSION -- BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

BCS Press Conference LIVE @ 11:30 AM ET

The BCS National Championship Press Conference airs TODAY at 11:30 AM ET -- you can watch it LIVE at the link below. 

LINK:  BCS PRESS CONFERENCE

Notre Dame's UNDEFEATED Season on DVD!

You're going to want to click on the image above -- every Notre Dame fan needs this in their collection!

Palm Beach Post Story: "America's Team?"

The Palm Beach Post penned a story this week about Notre Dame and its grip on American sport.  Thought IRISH fans would enjoy this read:

LINK:  AMERICA'S TEAM

How Notre Dame Graduates Student-Athletes

There is a different standard for student-athletes at the University of Notre Dame.  You'll want to watch this -- and so should some athletic departments around the country...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GRADUATES

ESPN's Rece Davis Talks Notre Dame...

Now, we need to do something about Coach Kelly's choice of tie and suit for photos like these!

The South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen caught up with Alabama alum and ESPN personality Rece Davis to talk about the BCS National Championship...

LINK:  DAVIS ON THE IRISH

Notre Dame Alum to Host Fighting Irish for BCS

The mayor of Fort Lauderdale, FL -- the home base for the Fighting Irish during the BCS National Championship -- is Jack Seiler, Notre Dame Class of 1985.  Seiler was recently interviewed by ESPN...

(Photo above of Jack in Orange Bowl jacket shaking Brian Kelly's hand when they invited Cincinnati to play in their game.  ND fans will recall, Kelly took the ND job a few weeks later)

LINK:  JACK SEILER INTERVIEW -- PART ONE

Brady Quinn Subject of Rick Reilly Story...

Former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn was interviewed recently by Rick Reilly in a story about the "murder/suicide" of his Kansas City Chief teammate Jovan Belcher. 

Brady Quinn is all class.

LINK:  WHEN HELP IS THE HARDEST WORD...

Fourth "Brother Duo" in NBA History...

I'm watching former Notre Dame basketball star Ben Hansbrough play in the NBA against the Detroit Pistons -- and his teammate is big brother Tyler...

The Hansbrough brothers are only the fourth brother duo to play on the same team in NBA history.  Pretty special for them!

Ben played in Europe last year and literally "walked-on" to the Indiana Pacers this season -- playing his way on to their roster and into the rotation.  Congratulations Ben!

LINK:  TYLER DEFENDS LITTLE BROTHER BEN

OT: Doyle's Supper Club Making a Comeback!

Now, it has a new name -- BLUE LAKE TAVERN -- but, it will always be DOYLE'S SUPPER CLUB to our family and friends..

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Mike Doyle (who's my cousin) sent me a video (linked below) of the work that's being done to Grandpa Ray's old business.  He built Doyle's Supper Club on a vista above the "North Shore" of beautiful Blue Lake in Mecosta County (MI) back in 1939 -- and sold it in 1973...

Many fond memories of this place.

The bar has had a few starts and stops since then -- by a number of owners -- but it looks like this new owner is making a significant investment into the Blue Lake Tavern.  Here's hoping he has a great run!

LINK:  BLUE LAKE TAVERN

Notre Dame Hoops vs. Purdue Today: ESPN 2

Mike Brey's #22 ranked Fighting Irish take on Purdue this afternoon at 4:30 PM ET in Indianapolis at the Crossroads Classic.  The game will be televised on ESPN 2!

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

Our Man REGIS Defends His Alma Mater !!!

University of Notre Dame alum Regis Philbin '53, was on with Skip Bayless and Steven A. Smith on ESPN's First Take yesterday -- to defend his Fightin' Irish!

LINK:  REGIS WITH SKIP AND STEVEN A.

Blake Dudley -- Let's Get Him to Miami!

Folks, I just ran across this story about Blake Dudley a 14 year-old young man from Dowagiac, MI who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy and LOVES THE FIGHTING IRISH.

You're going to want to know his story.

LINK:  BLAKE DUDLEY

LINK:  MAKE A GIFT TO GET BLAKE TO MIAMI!

33rd Unanimous All-American in ND History!

Manti Te'o just became the thirty-third football player in the 125 year history of Notre Dame football to be named a unanimous All-American.  Here's a link to the story!

LINK:  IT'S UNANIMOUS!

Domer Skip Holtz Takes Louisiana Tech Job

Former Notre Dame student-athlete and assistant football coach -- Skip Holtz '87 -- has apparently accepted the head coaching position at Louisiana Tech University.   Holtz was recently fired after leading the University of South Florida Bulls to a 3 - 9 season.

Skip has a 88 - 71 record in his thirteen year career as a  head football coach at UCONN, East Carolina and USF.  We wish Skip well!

LINK:  ESPN STORY

Bob Diaco's Broyles Award Acceptance Speech

Notre Dame's defensive coordinator Bob Diaco -- was recently named the Top Assistant Coach in college football, receiving the BROYLES AWARD for that honor. 

Notre Dame fans will enjoy his acceptance speech -- linked below:

LINK:  COACH DIACO

LINK:  NBC SPORTS STORY

A Fourth "Coach of the Year" Award for Kelly!

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly is well on his way to matching Manti Te'o and his award haul these few weeks leading up to the BCS National Championship game.

Today it was announced that the Football Writers Association of America has named Brian Kelly the winner of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award!  He is the fourth Notre Dame football coach to receive this honor: Ara Parseghian, Lou Holtz and Charlie Weis...

This is the fourth Coach of the Year honor bestowed on Coach Kelly:

• Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award
• Home Depot Coach of the Year
• Walter Camp Foundation Coach of the Year
• Sporting News Coach of the Year

LINK:  COACH OF THE YEAR

ND Fans Headed to Miami -- Check This Out

The folks at the Travel Channel asked that I share this with the ND GO IRISH BLOG followers...

They are creating a new televisions series on Super Fans -- and they're seeking to cast a NOTRE DAME SUPER FAN who's headed to the BCS National Championship game in Miami. 

If you're going and are interested in trying out for the cast for this new TV series -- just send them an email at:  travelsuperfancasting@gmail.com.

The casting call ends on December 21st...

The winner will receive -- a "tailgate experience of a life-time."

ND's Resurgence: Coincidence or Destiny?

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Tom Hohmeier sent this to me -- YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS UP!  This ran on Notre Dame Magazine's site -- authored by Ted Mandel '86.

This leaves the whole Lincoln – Kennedy coincidence thing in the dust

Did you know?...

• In 1987, ND beat Michigan State at home, scoring 31 points.
• In 2011, ND beat Michigan State at home, scoring 31 points.

• In 1987, ND finished the season with 8 wins.
• In 2011, ND finished the season with 8 wins.

• In 1987, ND lost their bowl game, a game they led early on.
• In 2011, ND lost their bowl game, a game they led early on.

• In 1987, ND lost their all-time leading receiver, Tim Brown, to graduation.
• In 2011, ND lost their all-time leading receiver, Michael Floyd, to graduation.  

• In 1988, the ND QB was Tony Rice, who was from South Carolina . He started his 3rd career game against Michigan State in East Lansing . ND beat Michigan State by a score of 20-3. The star of the game was Notre Dame's defense, which held the Spartans to 89 yards rushing for the game. Defensive captain Michael Stonebreaker intercepted a pass in the 4th quarter to seal the win.

• In 2012, the ND QB is Everett Golson, who is from South Carolina . He started his 3rd career game against Michigan State in East Lansing . ND beat Michigan State by a score of 20-3. The star of the game was Notre Dame's defense, which held the Spartans to 78 yards rushing for the game. Defensive captain Manti Te'o intercepted a pass in the 4th quarter to seal the win.

• In 1988, Lou Holtz suspended his starting running back for the last game of the season, the farthest road game of the year.

• In 2012, Brian Kelly suspended his starting running back for the first game of the season, the farthest road game of the year.

• In 1988, Notre Dame defeated their highest ranked road opponent (USC) by 17 points (27-10).
• In 2012, Notre Dame defeated their highest ranked road opponent ( Oklahoma ) by 17 points (30-13).

• Only two coaches in the history of Notre Dame have recorded 12-0 records — Lou Holtz in 1988 and Brian Kelly in 2012.

• In 1988, Lou Holtz was in his third season.
• In 2012, Brian Kelly is in his third season.

• In 1988, Lou Holtz won his second Coach of the Year award.
• In 2012, Brian Kelly won his second Coach of the Year award.

• Notre Dame won the 1988 National Championship game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona .
• Notre Dame will play the 2012 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida .

• There are exactly 5 letters in the city names and 7 letters in the state names of those two locations.

• In 1988, Miami was the defending national champion, winner of two national titles in the past five years.
• In 2012, Alabama is the defending national champion, winner of two national titles in the past five years.

• Miami was 37-5 in the 42 games played before meeting Notre Dame.
• Alabama is 37-5 in the 42 games played before meeting Notre Dame.

• In 1988, Jimmy Johnson’s winning percentage at Miami was .843 (43-8) before playing Notre Dame. After losing to Notre Dame, it was .827.
• In 2012, Nick Saban’s winning percentage at Alabama is .837 (67-13) before playing Notre Dame. If Notre Dame wins, his winning percentage will be .827.

• Brian Kelly and Lou Holtz were born 24 years apart.
• Their first seasons at Notre Dame were exactly 24 years apart.

• It's been exactly 24 years since Notre Dame won their last National Championship.

Just saying….

LINK:  NOTRE DAME MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Notre Dame's Ticket Demand Dwarfs Bama's

Notre Dame had more than 100,000 requests for its 17,000 ticket allotment to the BCS National Championship game -- as compared to Alabama's 42,000 requests for its 17,000.

What's interesting is this -- the 42,000 ticket requests is 25,000 more than Bama realized when they played Texas in the 2010 BCS National Championship game -- their first title game in seventeen years.

The power of Notre Dame...

Here's the story:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FANS DOMINATE