The Mornin' After News Broke of Kelly's Return

Took a lap around the worldwide web to check on what is being said in the media -- the morning after the University of Notre Dame announced that Brian Kelly would continue as head coach of the Fighting Irish.  Click on the links below:

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  ESPN'S NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL BLOG

LINK:  COMCAST SPORTS NET PHILADELPHIA

Coach Brian Kelly to Remain at Notre Dame !!!

In what can be best described as a "frustrating few days" for the Notre Dame Family -- an official statement was just released that said Coach Kelly would continue coaching the Fighting Irish -- bypassing a potential opportunity to coach in the NFL.

Most should find Jack Swarbrick's comments about the process -- surprising -- based on all of the speculation these past 72 hours or so...

I trust Notre Dame fans will be relieved with this news.

LINK:  COACH KELLY TO REMAIN AT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CBS SPORTS' -- JACK SWARBRICK COMMENTS

LINK:  NBC SPORTS' -- NOTRE DAME CENTRAL 

LINK:  WNDU-TV BREAKING NEWS

Walter Camp Awards Dinner Tonight...

University of Notre Dame's Brian Kelly and Manti Te'o will be receiving their Walter Camp Awards this evening at Yale University Commons in New Haven, CT.

The event begins at 5 PM and I suspect with all of the speculation surrounding Coach Kelly --- the ESPN gang will be covering this...

WATCH IT LIVE RIGHT NOW!

LINK:  WALTER CAMP AWARDS DINNER -- LIVE!

Notre Dame Athletic Success -- Impressive !!!

It's been quite a Fall Semester for the University of Notre Dame's student-athletes.  Take a look at the rankings of the Fighting Irish teams that were in action:

• Football -- as high as #1 / finished #3
• Hockey -- currently #2
• Women's Basketball -- currently #2
• Men's Soccer -- as high as #3 / finished #8
• Women's Soccer -- finished #13
• Women's Golf -- finished #14
• Men's Basketball -- currently #16
• Men's Swimming -- currently #18
• Women's Swimming -- currently #20
• Women's Volleyball -- as high as #25 

Why Notre Dame Has a Seat At the BCS Table

There was an ESPN writer who at one time worked for Sports Illustrated -- who took the University of Notre Dame to task early last fall for their influence over the college football industry...

Well, here's some "fun facts" that the NCAA and BCS Committee are staring at that might just answer those critics who wonder why Notre Dame has earned the respect it has...

BOWL ATTENDANCE:

• For the first time, since they started tracking this in 2005 -- average bowl game attendance dipped below 50,000 
• Yet, the last three bowl games that Notre Dame has played in -- the IRISH have set attendance records in all three:  Hyundai Sun Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl and Sun Life Stadium

TV VIEWERSHIP: 

• No other school played in more of the Top 25 televised football games this season than Notre Dame.

 
 

The Skylar Diggins Interview -- A MUST SEE!

Kate Sullivan '02, interviewed Skylar Diggins for the Notre Dame Athletic Department -- the All-American has evolved into an "iconic" figure in the college sports landscape.  You'll enjoy this candid conversation.

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

Riddick & Motta to Play in Shrine Game

Notre Dame senior football players Theo Riddick and Zeke Motta have accepted invitations to play in the 88th Annual East West Shrine Game -- an All-Star game for college seniors played next Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

They will be playing on the WEST Team.

The game will be held Saturday, January 19th -- 4 PM ET -- with television coverage coming from the NFL Network.

LINK:  EAST WEST SHRINE GAME

Notre Dame Finishes #1 in Colley Matrix Poll

The Fighting Irish finished #1 in the season's final computer poll from Colley Matrix -- because of their strength of schedule over Alabama.

Kind of puts a damper on the validity of the computer polls -- doesn't it...

Ironically, the creator of this poll is employed at the University of Alabama -- Huntsville.  His name is Wes Colley (photo), Senior Research Scientist at The Center for Modeling, Simulation and Analysis.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME #1

LINK:  WES COLLEY BIO

"Kelly the Talking Robot" -- Autism Research

The University of Notre Dame's research in Autism was profiled last night on the PBS NewsHour -- good work going on here!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S AUTISM RESEARCH

Heaven's Team Picked Up a Notre Dame Man

Former Notre Dame All-American Mirko Jurkovic passed away this afternoon at 5:50 PM  ET -- losing a 28 month battle to colon cancer.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal..."

LINK:  TRIBUTE TO MARKO JURKOVIC

LINK:  ESPN CHICAGO

Only 101 Days to Blue Gold Game...

Notre Dame Football's 83rd annual Blue Gold Game will be held on Saturday, April 20th.

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR'S BLUE GOLD GAME

This Didn't Take Long, Odds to Win NC in 2013

The Vegas odds makers came out yesterday with their picks to win the BCS National Championship in 2013.  And, our IRISH are in the 8th position.  Here's the top TWENTY:

• Alabama:  5 to 1
• Oregon:  8 to 1
• Ohio State:  17 to 2
• LSU:  12 to 1
• Texas A&M:  12 to 1
• Florida:  14 to 1
• Florida State:  14 to 1
• NOTRE DAME:  22 to 1
• Clemson:  22 to 1
• Louisville:  22 to 1
• Miami:  25 to 1
• Oklahoma:  25 to 1
• South Carolina:  25 to 1
• Georgia:  28 to 1
• Nebraska:  28 to 1
• Stanford:  30 to 1
• Texas:  30 to 1
• Michigan:  33 to 1
• USC:  33 to 1
• Oklahoma State:  40 to 1

From Near Death to Wearing ND's Gold Helmet

Arturo Martinez is a Notre Dame football player -- a walk-on defensive lineman -- who at the age of 14 had STAGE IV HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA.

You're going to want to know his story...

LINK:  ARTURO MARTINEZ

I Will Never Forget This Interview...

After last night's game -- Theo Riddick was interviewed in the Notre Dame locker room.  You'll want to fast forward this WNDU-TV report to the 1:37 mark.

I will always root for this young man.

LINK:  THEO RIDDICK

Notre Dame Priest Honored by CCUSA !!!

The University of Notre Dame's Vice President for Mission Engagement and Church Affairs -- Rev. Bill Lies, C.S.C. -- will be honored this Saturday with the "Keep the Dream Alive Award" from Catholic Charities USA!   

Congratulations to Fr. Bill !!!

LINK:  SIGNIFICANT AWARD FOR ND PRIEST

Muffet's IRISH Move up to #2 in AP Rankings!

The Notre Dame women's basketball team's win on Saturday over then #1 UCONN has vaulted the IRISH to the #2 spot behind Baylor in the AP Poll -- yet the Coaches Poll still has UCONN ahead of ND -- go figure...

LINK:  WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Final College Football Rankings Just Released

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame ended up being ranked #3 in the final USAToday Coaches Poll and #4 in the final AP Poll for the 2012 college football season.

From 'un-ranked' to the final game of the season.

CONGRATULATIONS IRISH!


LINK:  FINAL FOOTBALL POLLS

Big Road Win for Coach Brey's Fighting Irish!

The #16 ranked Notre Dame men's basketball team traveled to Cincinnati last night to take on the #13 Bearcats and beat them 66 - 60 -- a huge road win for the IRISH!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  CINCINNATI NEWSPAPER

The Mornin' After...

Yeah, we got hammered... 

Alabama was so dominant last night, they would have done the same thing to my other favorite football team -- the Detroit Lions.  (That's not saying much...)

Yet, I feel GREAT about our Notre Dame football program and the direction we're headed.

Here's why I'm excited:

• We are a TOP TEN football program -- again -- and we're going to be for some time
• We have a COACH who has proven he can build winning "CHAMPIONSHIP" programs
• We have a QB who's going to be GREAT -- and will be a Heisman finalist before he's done
• We have the most TALENT on our team since the days of Lou Holtz in the late 80's and early 90's -- combined with a coaching staff that can DEVELOP this talent
• Everyone in our football program now knows -- WE CAN WIN -- and that is huge
• The Notre Dame Family has been re-energized this season
• And, we've been given a gift by the Alabama Crimson Tide -- EMBARRASSMENT -- a gift I believe will propel this team to a National Championship in the next three years.

What's also great is this -- the WORLD got to witness the power of the NOTRE DAME BRAND -- especially the "Y and Z" generations.  No other university can stir the hearts and souls of so many people around the globe.  It was fun to watch.

So what do we do now!

1. Stay POSITIVE
2. Remember where we've been and look FORWARD to where we're going
3. And, be THANKFUL for all of the joy of these past 18 weeks -- it's been off the charts

I'd like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to Coach Kelly, his STAFF and to the 105 student-athletes who wore the GOLD HELMET last night in Sun Life Stadium -- you have AWAKEN THE ECHOES!

Remember -- it's only 235 days to kick-off of the 126th season of Notre Dame Football!


LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Photos From ND's Game Day Party in Miami!

These photos have been sent to me courtesy of Samantha Ruttura -- who received the free ticket to tonight's BCS National Championship game courtesy of the YP team.