Former Notre Dame Spokesman Passes

I never had the honor of meeting Dick Conklin...  Yet, I stare everyday at this quote that hangs in my office at Notre Dame:

"Notre Dame is a place nurtured by myth.  It really cannot be encompassed by the mind alone; much of its meaning is intuited.  It is a place sustained by taking seriously the impoderables.  And at the core of its culture is a belief in the transcendent, that the ultimate meaning of life is found just beyond where reason can take us.

But when Notre Dame people gather, they do not talk about their alma mater's transcendency any more than swimmers converse about water's buoyancy.  Notre Dame people tell stories."

-Dick Conklin '59, Associate Vice President for University Relations

The long-time spokesman for the University of Notre Dame, died yesterday at the age of 77.


LINK:  DICK CONKLIN

Skylar Diggins Rated #17 on "Hottest" List

Complex Magazine (never heard of it) just ranked "The 100 Hottest Women Right Now" in the world and former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins is 17th on that list!  Here's their rankings:


LINK:  SKYLAR RANKED #17

Manti Te'o Earning Respect From Veterans

Can't say this story surprises me...

LINK:  VETERAN PLAYERS RESPECT TE'O

A Full-Ride Scholarship to Notre Dame...

...and, it wasn't from Notre Dame's Athletic Department!

Hillsdale Academy's (Hillsdale, MI)  Shaley Albaugh will be a freshman this fall at the University of Notre Dame.  Shaley's the recipient of the QuestBridge Scholarship -- which will cover all of her college costs!

Here's her story:

LINK:  A FULL-RIDE TO NOTRE DAME

Coach Kelly Talks With ESPN About Golson

ESPN's Tom Rinaldi was on campus this afternoon to interview Coach Kelly about Everett Golson's dismissal from Notre Dame -- here's the interview.

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH RINALDI

Coach Kelly Talks With Media About Golson

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media, this afternoon, via a teleconference to discuss Everett Golson's dismissal from the university and what that means for the upcoming football season.

Here's the South Bend Tribune's recap of the conversation:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

Jeff Samardzija Two Hits White Sox Today

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija threw a two-hit shutout today against the cross-town Chicago White Sox -- for his third win of the season.

Samardzija struck out eight (8) while taking his ERA down to 2.85 on the season!

Jeff is now ranked second in the National League with 80 strikeouts! 

His ERA is 15th!

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA SHUTS OUT THE WHITE SOX!

More Notre Dame "High Heels" for Her!

I received an email from Tim Warth this weekend with a link to a photo of another pair of high heels designed for Notre Dame fans...  Thanks Tim!

Memorial Day -- God Country Notre Dame

Please take time today to watch this video of The Army Chorus singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" -- we have MANY to thank for the opportunity to live in the United States of America. 

LINK:  MEMORIAL DAY 2013

Everett Golson's Statement to ND Family

The former Notre Dame student-athlete released an apology today to the Notre Dame family -- here's what he had to say:

Dear Notre Dame Community,

I have been informed by the University of Notre Dame that due to my poor academic judgment that I have been suspended from the University for the 2013 Fall Term.  I take full responsibility for my poor choices and will do all that is asked of me to regain the trust of my family, friends, teammates, coaches and the entire Notre Dame community.

I chose to attend Notre Dame because of its mission to develop me both on and off the football field.

My parents and the community I grew up in have instilled values in me that have and will continue to allow me to be successful in the future.  There have been many lessons learned as I worked to become the starting quarterback at Notre Dame and each was a result of Coach Kelly's belief in me as an athlete and a person.

At this point, I understand how my integrity could be in question but I want to reassure my supporters that through this experience I will return a better student athlete as well as a better individual.

Lastly, I want to thank the University of Notre Dame for the opportunity already granted and also the opportunity going forth to regain my eligibility in the winter of 2014.

Thanks,


Everett Golson

Detroit Lions Beat Writers Talk Theo Riddick

Former Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick, a seventh round draft pick of Detroit Lions, has made a positive impression in their practices to date. 

Be sure to watch the video.

LINK:  BEAT WRITERS TALK RIDDICK

"Next Man In" @ QB for Notre Dame in 2013

I will not turn on ESPN's Sports Center for the next week -- that's a promise.

The breaking news last night that Everett Golson was no longer a student at the University of Notre Dame -- reverberated around the college football world...

Notre Dame fans are understandably in shock, disbelief -- and just maybe a little concerned (an understatement) about their Fighting Irish this morning.

NEWS FLASH:  We're going to be okay!

Coach Kelly and his staff have 98 DAYS to figure out how we WILL WIN this season with Tommy Rees at QB.  Don't forget -- Tommy Rees is 14 - 4 as a starter...  And, 2 - 0 as a reliever!

It's going to be an interesting few months -- isn't it!

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  IF YOU MUST -- ESPN'S REPORT

Everett Golson No Longer at Notre Dame

The story just broke here in South Bend in the past few minutes.  It was confirmed by the University's spokesman Dennis Brown.

Brutal news for our football program.

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY 

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Irish Baseball Plays for Big East Title Sunday

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish beat the Pitt Panthers in the bottom of the 10th in "walk-off" fashion 3 - 2, earning a spot in the Big East Championship game!  Win tomorrow and the IRISH are off to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.

Tomorrow's BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP game against UCONN will be televised LIVE on ESPNU -- beginning at NOON ET.   

Here's a link to a video of today's game highlights and interviews:

LINK:  OFF TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP!

Skylar Scores 15 in WNBA Opener for Shock

The Tulsa Shock kicked off the 2013 season this evening on the road in Atlanta where they lost to the Dream 98 - 81.

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins scored 15 points in her first regular season game in the WNBA.  However, she struggled with her shot going 4 for 13 -- and she had more turnovers (5) than assists (3).

You can catch Skylar on ESPN2 -- live on Memorial Day -- at 3:00 PM ET.


LINK:  GAME STORY

Notre Dame Volleyball's "European Vacation"

What a trip...

The photo above is of the "John Lennon Wall" in Prague -- one of the sites the IRISH have taken in when they're not beating their opponents on the court!  Notre Dame is 2-0 so far, on their European Tour.  Here's a link to their blog -- you'll enjoy keeping up with their travels:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Must See Photo -- Notre Dame's New Holder

Found this photo on  Irish Sports Daily -- a site I've subscribed to for a few years now...

It's being attributed to Michael Deeb -- an incoming freshman linebacker for the Fightin' Irish!  Got to love it!

Fr. Ted Hesburgh -- 96 Years Young Today!

Fr. Ted Hesburgh, C.S.C., President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame -- was born 96 years ago today.  Happy Birthday Fr. Ted!

The video below was shot last year of Fr. Ted giving a tour of his office atop the Hesburgh Library.  Enjoy!

LINK:  FR. TED HESBURGH

The Notre Dame Victory March in Spain!

The "world-famous" Notre Dame Glee Club is on tour this week in Spain (and wouldn't you know it) they found time to sing the greatest of all fight songs -- the NOTRE DAME VICTORY MARCH on the streets of Toledo, Spain -- as caught by a Notre Dame alum who just happened to be walking by... 

Only Notre Dame!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME VICTORY MARCH

A New "Awareness" for ND Teams and Fans

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted today an "above normal Atlantic hurricane season this June - November...

Notre Dame's move to the Atlantic Coast Conference will bring weather forecasts like this -- more into play for our teams and fans.

LINK:  ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON