SUPER BOWL XLVII -- Ian Williams, 49ers

The Orlando Sentinel ran a story this week on former Notre Dame football player Ian Williams (that's him on the left at Super Bowl XLVII Media Day) -- who is a member of the San Francisco 49ers.  

Williams is the lone ND alum wearing a helmet in today's Super Bowl.  Thought you'd enjoy this:

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS

Super Bowl Sunday -- Again for Notre Dame !!!

Eight of the last Ten SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS have had at least one Notre Dame football player on its roster.  If San Francisco wins today -- that will make Nine of the last Eleven -- are you reading this NFL General Managers?

• Ian Williams is a defensive lineman for the 49ers -- #93

Of the 46 SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS all-time:  32 have had at least one former Notre Dame star on their roster.

Think about that.

36 former Notre Dame football stars have won at least one SUPER BOWL RING.

10 former ND football players have won "multiple" Super Bowl Rings:

• Mark Bavaro, New York Giants
• Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Nick Buoniconti, Miami Dolphins
• Eric Dorsey, New York Giants
• David Givens, New England Patriots
• Terry Hanratty, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Bob Kuechenberg, Miami Dolphins
• Joe Montana, San Francisco 49'ers
• Steve Sylvester, Oakland Raiders
• Justin Tuck, New York Giants (photo above)

Not too shabby!

Pretty In Pink -- ND Beats Bearcats Today by 22

The University of Notre Dame's annual PINK ZONE GAME took place at Purcell Pavilion this afternoon and the #2 IRISH did not disappoint the sold-out crowd -- beating Cincinnati by 22 points 64 - 42.

Here's the highlights

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Cris Carter in the HOF -- Tim Brown Passed Up

Folks, take a look at the career numbers of five former wide receivers who had distinguished careers in the NFL.  They are listed as Candidates A, B, C, D and E -- below.

Three of the five have already been enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame, a fourth was just elected today and the fifth is former Notre Dame Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown -- who's now been passed up four times... 

Guess which candidate is Tim Brown -- and when you figure it out -- tell me how he's not in the Hall of Fame??!!


CANDIDATE A:

• 9th all-time in NFL receiving yards:  13,899 yds.
• 4th all-time in NFL passes caught:  1,101 receptions
• 4th all-time in NFL TD pass receptions:  130 TD's

CANDIDATE B:

• 5th all-time in NFL receiving yards:  14,934 yds.
• 5th all-time in NFL passes caught:  1,094 receptions
• 7th all-time in NFL TD pass receptions:  100 TD's

CANDIDATE C:

• 13th all-time in NFL receiving yards:  13,089 yds.
• 21st all-time in NFL passes caught:  819 receptions
• 7th all-time in NFL TD pass receptions:  100 TD's

CANDIDATE D:

•  21st all-time in NFL receiving yards:  11,904 yds.
•  35th all-time in NFL passes caught:  750 receptions
•  45th all-time in NFL TD pass receptions:  65 TD's

CANDIDATE E:

• 16th all-time in NFL receiving yards:  12,721
• 13th all-time in NFL passes caught:  940 receptions
•  36th all-time in NFL TD pass receptions:  68 TD's

Candidate A is Cris Carter -- who was elected today to the NFL Hall of Fame.  Candidate B is Tim Brown -- who has been passed up four times for the NFL Hall of Fame.  Candidate C is NFL Hall of Fame member Steve Largent.  Candidate D is NFL Hall of Fame member Michael Irvin and Candidate E is NFL Hall of Fame member Art Monk.

Irish Hold DePaul to One Point in OT WIN!!!

Mike Brey's Fightin' Irish beat DePaul 79 - 71 in overtime this afternoon in front of a national TV audience on ESPN2.  The win moves Notre Dame to 18 - 4 on the season, 6 - 3 in the Big East -- good for fourth place. 

Here's the highlights!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame Hoops on TV Today -- 2 PM ET !!!

Notre Dame's men's basketball team, is on the road today, taking on the DePaul Blue Demons.  The game will be televised LIVE on ESPN2 at 2 PM ET!  GO IRISH!

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

NYT Story: Notre Dame's "First Fighting Irish"

The New York Times published an opinion pieced today about the "Irish Brigade" who fought in the Civil War.  The author -- James Schmidt, wrote a book entitled "Notre Dame and the Civil War."

You'll enjoy this!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S FIRST FIGHTING IRISH

LINK:  BUY THE BOOK HERE

Looks Like a Win for Religious Freedom in U.S.

On May 21, 2012 -- the University of Notre Dame filed a lawsuit against the federal government's mandate to require contraception coverage.

Well, just fifteen minutes ago -- it was announced that the Obama administration is offering up new language which would "opt-out" Notre Dame and all other religious institutions from having to offer contraception coverage to employees.

The University of Notre Dame was one of five Catholic universities who filed suit against this mandate.  Here's the list:

• The University of Notre Dame
• The Catholic University of America
• Franciscan University of Steubenville
• University of St. Francis
• Ave Maria University

 
LINK:  MANDATE CHANGE

A Notre Dame Alum Interview -- from SPACE!

University of Notre Dame's Dennis Brown (AVP for Public Information and Communications) -- was given special access by NASA to interview Kevin Ford '82 -- Commander of the International Space Station while circling the earth.

Note the sign Kevin "slaps" when he goes to work every day!

You'll want to watch this!

LINK:  DOMER COMMANDER!

Dr. Carol Lally Shields -- A Notre Dame Woman!

You're going to want to watch this story about former Notre Dame student-athlete -- Dr. Carol Lally Shields '79...

LINK:  A NOTRE DAME WOMAN

Much Needed Win Last Night for Brey's Boys

 

The Fightin' Irish beat Villanova 65 - 60 last night in front of the home crowd at Purcell Pavilion.  Villanova -- one of the hottest teams in the country -- was coming off back to back wins over #3 Syracuse and #5 Louisville.  BIG WIN FOR THE IRISH!

Notre Dame is now 113 - 9 over the last 122 games played at Purcell Pavilion.

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  COACH BREY PRESS CONFERENCE

Western New York Radio Host Honored by ND

A radio show host in Jamestown, NY -- who never went to school at Notre Dame -- was honored this week by the Notre Dame Alumni Association for his loyalty and support of his favorite school.  A pretty cool story...

LINK:  HONORED BY NOTRE DAME

Athletes Using Deer-Antler Spray -- Really ???

Baltimore Raven's linebacker Ray Lewis and members of the Alabama football program were sold DEER ANTLER SPRAY (a performance enhancing agent) by a company called SWATS -- in a Sports Illustrated story that broke yesterday...

Never thought I'd be reporting about deer-antler spray...

LINK:  DEER-ANTLER SPRAY

LINK:  BAMA PLAYERS USING

Brian Kelly Talk at Super Bowl Media Day

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was credited today with the switch of a skinny high school sprinter into a Super Bowl starting offensive tackle -- after he had a little cry...

LINK:  ONE OF KELLY'S FORMER PLAYERS

Shamrock Placement on ND Hoops Jersey?

Here's a photo of the current WHITE HOME JERSEY for Notre Dame Women's Basketball (on the top) and here's a look at last year's WHITE HOME JERSEY (on the bottom) -- check out the placement of the shamrock above IRISH.  Could there be a potential SHAMROCK CONSPIRACY brewing in the media?

Just having some fun...

Notre Dame's #2 Lady Irish Beat #9 Tennessee!

Muffet McGraw's Fightin' Irish went into Knoxville tonight and beat the Lady Vols 77 - 67 -- for the first time in nine tries!  And, Skylar Diggins had her biggest scoring game in her college career -- knocking down 33 points!

The win makes Notre Dame the first school in women's college basketball history to beat UCONN and Tennessee in the same season -- for THREE STRAIGHT SEASONS!

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  BOX SCORE

Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins Profiled on ESPN

Skylar Diggins is the unquestioned leader of the #2 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  ESPNW's Graham Hays wrote a story about Skylar today -- here's the link:

LINK:  ADDING TO HER LEGACY

Muffet's #2 Fightin' Irish Take on #9 Lady Vols

It's the BIG MONDAY game on ESPN2 TONIGHT at 7 PM ET and it matches up our #2 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish against the #9 ranked Tennessee Volunteers -- in one of the marquee games of the season in women's college basketball.

To make the night more special -- Tennessee will be unveiling a banner for Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt -- who retired last season.  Their building will be rocking!

Muffet has never beaten Tennessee in Knoxville -- going 0 - 8 against the Volunteers in their building.  Let's hope that changes tonight!

Kyle Rudolph Named MVP of NFL PRO BOWL!

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Kyle Rudolph was named MVP of the NFL's PRO BOWL last night in Honolulu!  Rudolph, in his second season with the Minnesota Vikings, caught five passes for 122 yards and a TD -- in what could be the last NFL PRO BOWL ever played...

Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  RUDOLPH NAMED MVP

LINK:  VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame Leads Right to Life March on D.C.

More than 700 Notre Dame students, faculty and staff were in Washington D.C. on Friday to lead thousands who were marching on our nation's Capital to support a RIGHT TO LIFE.  Here's some news coverage from WNDU-TV:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LEADS MARCH ON WASHINGTON D.C.