Notre Dame vs. Alabama -- 11 Hours to Kick-off

The ND GO IRISH BLOG took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the "media experts" have to say about tonight's BCS National Championship game between Notre Dame and Alabama. 

Please remember this IRISH FANS -- most of the media has been wrong all season, why would they stop now?


LINK:  NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

LINK:  LOS ANGELS TIMES

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL 

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  TUSCALOOSA NEWS

LINK:  JACKSON COUNTY NEWSPAPER

LINK:  MIAMI HERALD 

LINK:  SUN-SENTINEL

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ESPN MATCHUPS

LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATION BLOG

LINK:  THE SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  COMCAST SPORTS NET

LINK:  NBC SPORTS NETWORK

LINK:  ABC NEWS

LINK:  BLEACHER REPORT

LINK:  ASSOCIATED PRESS

LINK:  TAMPA BAY SBNATION

"Today is the Day -- We're Going to Win!!!"

These words were spoken by a football coach at a little school in the "middle of nowhere" -- but, they still resonate today -- nearly 80 years later...

What though the odds be great or small, Old Notre Dame will win over all!

GO IRISH -- BEAT BAMA!!!

LINK:  KNUTE ROCKNE'S SPEECH

"Notre Dame Football is Back" -- WE KNOW IT!

Sports Illustrated's Michael Rosenberg penned this story today...

LINK:  "IT'S GOOD FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL..."

Notre Dame Fans Should Sleep Well Tonight!!!

Here's why:

• Notre Dame's last four coaches who were in their THIRD SEASON and were playing for a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- won the TITLE!  Brian Kelly is in his third season.
• There have been eight (8) BCS National Championship games where one head coach had no history of winning a BCS National Championship was up against a coach who had previously won one or more national titles.  The coach who had yet to win a national championship has won SEVEN TIMES!  Brian Kelly is playing in his first BCS title game -- Nick Saban has won three so far... 
• And, Monday January 7th is the Feast Day for Saint Andre Bessette, C.S.C. Bessette is the first member of the Congregation of Holy Cross (the founders of the University of Notre Dame) to receive canonisation as a saint by the Catholic church.

BCS National Championship -- ND Day Five!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media put together a recap of what's been going on these last five days in Miami!

LINK:  DAY FIVE REPORT

Notre Dame's BCS Championship Team Photo!

This looks like a NATIONAL CHAMPION to me!

Notre Dame Football - ONE DAY AWAY!

The Notre Dame Football equipment truck is ready to paint a "12" on its side!

ESPN Interviews of Notre Dame Players

Here's some interviews of a few members of the Fighting Irish football team by the gang at ESPN.  Click on the player's name below:

LINK:  CIERRE WOOD

LINK:  KEI VARAE RUSSELL

LINK:  STEPHON TUITT

LINK:  MIKE GOLIC JR.

The Day Before the BCS National Championship

The Fighting Irish made a visit to Joe DiMaggio's Children Hospital and Coach Kelly held his last session with the media before tomorrow night's BCS National Championship game with Alabama. 

This game can't come fast enough!

LINK:  FOOTBALL TEAM VISITS HOSPITAL

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

TV Coverage of Notre Dame's BCS Pep Rally

Took a lap around the web this morning to look into the coverage of Notre Dame's Pep Rally last night in Miami -- an event that drew more than 40,000 fans (Miami police estimate)!

Click on the links below to the UND.COM coverage along with the news report from WNDU-TV:

LINK:  REPLAY OF PEP RALLY

LINK:  WNDU-TV'S COVERAGE

Why Notre Dame is Back on Top! -- WSJ

The Wall Street Journal has been covering the Notre Dame story a lot these days -- and I like it!  Here's the latest:

LINK:  WHY NOTRE DAME IS BACK ON TOP

Notre Dame Fans in Denmark -- Viewing Party !!!

I received an email today from Notre Dame fan Matt Schaefer who is trying to pull together a viewing party for this "Tuesday morning" at an Irish pub called Tir Na Nog in Aarhus, Denmark.

If you're interested in attending -- please reach out to Matt at: schaeffe1@grinnell.edu

GO IRISH!

LINK:  TIR NA NOG OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Notre Dame Currently a 9.5 Pt. Underdog...

Just took a look at what the VEGAS GUYS are saying about Monday night's BCS National Championship game -- and here's what I learned:

• Notre Dame is still a 9.5 point underdog
• 70% of the betting public is backing the Fighting Irish on the point spread

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. ALABAMA POINT SPREAD

Notre Dame is 20 - 2 Last Twenty-two Games!

Notre Dame is tied with Alabama and Oregon with the best regular season record over the last 22 games in college football's FBS division  -- think about that!

The IRISH, Crimson Tide and Ducks are all 20 - 2 over this span of games these past two seasons.

Thousands of Notre Dame Fans at Pep Rally

The Miami Police have never seen anything like this -- just look at this photo just "tweeted" from Notre Dame's Pep Rally at the BCS National Championship Pep Rally.

Gunner Kiel Talks Freshman Season @ ND

Notre Dame's highly recruited Gunner Kiel was taking in the scene today at Sun Life Stadium when a reporter from the Chicago Tribune got him on camera for a quick interview.  Click on the link below.

LINK:  GUNNER KIEL

Brady Quinn in Miami Talkin' to UND.COM

Former Notre Dame All-American QB Brady Quinn is down in South Florida this weekend to see his Fightin' Irish play in the BCS National Championship game. 

Here's an interview he gave to the gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media:

LINK:  BRADY QUINN

Lou Holtz Speaking at ND BCS Pep Rally

The Notre Dame Family has gathered in South Beach tonight for a Saturday night National Championship Pep Rally.  Here's a photo of former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz (on the big screen) firing up the crowd!

LINK:  LOU BEFORE THE ND BCS PEP RALLY

Photo of the Day: FIVE OUT OF SIX!!!

The reaction on the floor and in the stands -- says it all.  #5 Notre Dame beats #1 and unbeaten UCONN on the road tonight!

Dick Vitale Just "Tweeted" This Photo...

Dickie V is in South Beach with the Notre Dame Family!  Pep Rally to start at 7 PM ET.