Happy Mother's Day From Notre Dame!

This is a sad Mother's Day for my brother Jay and me...

Our mom, Joan Small, left for heaven eleven months ago.  So we find ourselves this Sunday morning having to remember our mom and all of the things she did for us over our lifetime.  We do so with tears in our eyes...

I'm guessing the tears we'll leave us one day -- but never the memories.  Oh, how she loved Notre Dame...

Thank you mom for always giving us your best, for loving us every day -- we miss you dearly.

On this Mother's Day I'd like to share with you a blessing from the University of Notre Dame's Fr. Bill Lies, C.S.C. (and a few surprises).  Our team created this to share with the Notre Dame family everywhere.  I hope you'll enjoy this:

LINK:  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY FROM NOTRE DAME

Toughing It Out -- Just Like a Football Player

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija was the subject of a story by the folks at ESPN concerning a game he recently pitched against the Reds when he fielded a "come-backer" off the tip of a finger on his throwing hand...

You'll also gain some insight on why Jeff chose a career in baseball over football.

LINK:  HE MADE A GREAT CHOICE!

Joe Doyle '49 -- A Notre Dame Man -- RIP

I never had the honor of meeting Joe Doyle '49 -- but, I have always known of him...

Yesterday afternoon at the age of 92, Doyle died at South Bend's Memorial Hospital.    For thirty years -- from 1951 to his retirement in 1981 -- Doyle was the Sports Editor of the South Bend Tribune.  

In the photo above, Doyle is on the far left...

LINK:  JOE DOYLE REMEMBERED

Manti Te'o Post Practice Press Conference

So, the #38 pick in the 2013 NFL DRAFT has his own press conference after his Rookie Camp press conference with the San Diego Chargers...  Welcome to the life of Manti Te'o...

LINK:  MANTI'S FIRST POST PRACTICE PRESSER

Sports Illustrated Selects ND's Steve Elmer

The folks at Sports Illustrated selected their "Ten Most Impressive Early Enrollees" in college football and Notre Dame's Steve Elmer made the list!  Take a look:

That's Elemer #79 in the photo above...
 

LINK:  ELMER ONE OF THE BEST!

First Look -- Manti In His New Football Jersey

Here's what Manti Te'o looks like in his San Diego Chargers uniform today at rookie camp.


LINK:  FIRST DAY AS A NFL PLAYER

LINK:  "FELT LIKE A FRESHMAN"

LINK:  UT-SAN DIEGO NEWSPAPER STORY

OT: This Makes Me Quite Proud Today!

I was getting off of a plane at New York's Laguardia Airport on the morning of September 11, 2001 -- just twenty minutes or so before the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center. 

What transpired the next four days in New York City is something I'll never forget...

In the past few minutes -- I received an alert that the SPIRE atop ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER was being put in place -- making the building 1,776 feet tall...

Here's the video:

LINK:  MUST SEE!

Skylar Diggins Gets Five Stiches in Pro Debut

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins played her first game as professional today and she has a bloody lip, 9 points (3 for 11 from the floor) and a TECHNICAL FOUL to show for it...

The cut lip required five stitches to close the wound...

Diggins and her Tulsa Shock teammates played an exhibition game tonight against the Atlanta Dream losing 72 - 58 -- here's the game story:

LINK:  SKYLAR'S WNBA DEBUT -- TULSA WORLD

Manti Te'o Signs His NFL Rookie Contract!

The amount was not released -- but, you can assume it's not that much more than what last year's 38th pick in the NFL Draft signed for:

• Guaranteed money:  $2.4 million
• Four-year contract value (including guaranteed money):  $5.1 million

CONGRATULATIONS MANTI!

LINK:  MANTI SIGNS FIRST NFL CONTRACT

Heaven's Team Picked Up a Fullback Yesterday

Asaph Schwaap '10 lost his battle to non-Hodgkins Lymphoma yesterday at the age of 26.  He was diagnosed just a year ago...

The former Notre Dame football player called "ACE" by his friends and teammates -- led a life of 'giving back' to his community -- as you'll see in this story today in his hometown's newspaper:

LINK:  ASAPH SCHWAAP

John Goodman Talks Bengals Free Agent Deal

Former Notre Dame wide receiver John Goodman will be joining his old college and high school teammate Tyler Eifert in Cincinnati this weekend for the BENGALS Rookie Camp on Friday!

You'll enjoy this interview by a Fort Wayne TV station.

LINK:  TEAMMATES AGAIN...

Detroit Lions Running Back Coach Talks Theo!

Former Notre Dame football star Theo Riddick was the subject of conversation with the Detroit Lions' running back coach -- IRISH fans will enjoy this video:

I will never forget Theo Riddick's interview in the locker room after the National Championship game with Alabama -- I will always root for this young man!

LINK:  THEO RIDDICK -- DETROIT LIONS

Steelers Blogger Has Golic Making Final Roster

Mike Golic, Jr. was in Pittsburgh this weekend for their Rookie Camp as an undrafted free agent.  I found a blogger who follows the Steelers who thinks Golic makes their 53 man roster!

LINK:  GOLIC TO MAKE STEELERS

LINK:  STORY ON GOLIC, JR.

Manti's NFL Career Starts Tomorrow Morning!

The most talked about 38th pick in the history of the NFL -- will get his chance tomorrow to put on the Chargers' helmet "for real" in their ROOKIE CAMP. 

It's going to be interesting to see how many media show up to see #50 in action!  HAWAII 5-0!

The photo of Manti Te'o above was taken during Notre Dame's Blue Gold Game...
 

LINK:  CHARGER'S ROOKIE CAMP -- SNEAK PEAK

Coach Kelly & Tim Brown on Sirius Town Hall

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown sat down with some IRISH fans in a "TOWN HALL" style event staged by Sirius.  Here's a link to some of the coverage:

LINK:  SIRIUS TOWN HALL

LINK:  RECRUITING TALK 

LINK:  NFL TALK 

LINK:  SPECIAL PLAYERS 

LINK:  FRESHMAN IMPACT

First BCS Bowl Predictions -- Notre Dame To...

The gang at CBS Sports put out their first "pre-season" projections for BOWL GAMES and Notre Dame is in the BCS conversation...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SEEING ORANGE?

Taylor, Crable and Ismail Up for Hall of Fame

Three former Notre Dame football stars; Aaron Taylor, Bob Crable and Raghib Ismail will learn today if they've been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The announcement will be carried LIVE TODAY at 11:30 AM ET -- click on the link below to watch!

LINK:  WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT HERE!

OT: Track Team DQ'd for Religious Celebration

A young man at a Texas high school had just crossed the finish line at a track meet in 1st place -- when he put his hand up to his ear pointing to heaven...

That gesture -- led to the disqualification of his relay team from the race they just won and they're now banned from Texas High School State Championships.  Click on the link to the TV news story below:

LINK:  WHAT ARE WE THINKING?

Manti to Wear #50 for the San Diego Chargers

It was initially reported that the Notre Dame All-American linebacker would wear uniform #51 for the San Diego Chargers -- well, not so fast my friends!

Manti will wear #50 for the "bolts."  "HAWAII 5-0..."

Here's Manti's new jersey:

LINK:  SNEAK PEAK AT MANTI'S NEW JERSEY

LINK:  BUY MANTI'S JERSEY -- RIGHT HERE!

Fighting Irish Xtra -- Must See for ND Fans!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media produced their weekly "Fighting Irish Xtra" today and it provides Notre Dame fans with a wonderful recap of all of the action from this weekend. 

A CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND FOR THE IRISH!

LINK:  FIGHTING IRISH XTRA