Spurrier Speaks to Notre Dame's Status...

The SEC had their big press junket last night and each of their football coaches took the podium to talk about the upcoming season -- and as you'll see in this story, a few other subjects as well.

The big news of the night came from Steve Spurrier, the head coach at South Carolina, who decided to take on our Fightin' Irish and their position "at the table with all of the conference commissioners.".  I'll let you read and see what he had to say:

LINK:  USA TODAY STORY

LINK:  ORLANDO SENTINEL STORY

LINK:  VIDEO OF SPURRIER

Domer Named Deloitte LLP Vice Chairman!

Former Notre Dame football co-captain, Byron Spruell '87 (he played offensive tackle for Lou Holtz in the late 80's) was just named vice chairman of Deloitte LLP, Central region managing principal and Chicago office managing principal. 

Congratulations Byron!

LINK:  SPRUELL JOINS "FIGHTING IRISH CLUB"

LINK:  OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Brady Quinn's 3rd & Goal Foundation

Seattle Seahawks QB and former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn '07, was the subject of a wonderful story today.  If you're a fan of Brady Quinn -- you'll want to read this!

LINK:  A PIVOTAL MOMENT

Looking for Notre Dame Football Tickets?

Pick up the phone JULY 23rd (beginning at 8:30 AM ET) and call the Notre Dame Ticket Office at 574.631.7356

Word on the street is you may still be able to buy a few tickets (face value) to the following games:

• August 31:  Temple
• September 21:  Michigan State
• October 5:  Arizona State @ Cowboys Stadium
• November 2:  Navy
• November 23:  BYU

Ian Williams Battling for Starting Spot -- 49ers

Former Notre Dame defensive tackle Ian Williams is in a battle right now with former LSU star Glen Dorsey for the starting nose tackle position in the San Francisco 49ers' "3-4" defense.  Here's the story:

LINK:  WILLIAMS BATTLING TO START

Domer Nominated Brigadier General

A former student manager for Lou Holtz -- Bryan Fenton '87, was nominated earlier this month by President Obama to become Brigadier General.  The career Special Forces officer is currently director of operations, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

LINK:  GREAT HONOR

LINK:  WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A BRIGADIER GENERAL

Notre Dame's New Adidas Football Shoes

Notre Dame Football Equipment Manager, Ryan Grooms -- "tweeted" this photo today of the Adidas shoes the IRISH will be wearing this season.  Over 700 pairs showed up today...

Notre Dame Football Cancer Bowling Benefit

A few members of the Notre Dame football team were at Mishawaka's "Strikes n' Spares" this Sunday morning to raise money for cancer research.  The gang at WNDU-TV tagged along and filed this story -- there is a second link to a story in the South Bend Tribune:

LINK:  FIGHTING CANCER

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Photo of Notre Dame's New Rugby Field

As you can see they're getting close to completing the work on a new "field turf" playing surface for Notre Dame's rugby teams and recreational sports.  It's located in an area just east and north of Stepan Center.

OT: Dick and Rick Hoyt -- A Love Story...

If you ever think you CAN'T -- you better watch this!  I know I'll be tuning in to Wednesday night's ESPY AWARDS on ESPN to see Dick and Rick receive the "Jimmy V Award."  Won't be a dry eye in the place.

LINK:  A STORY FOR THE AGES

LINK:  ESPY'S TO HONOR THE HOYT'S

Cajun Creole Food Coming to Notre Dame?

Word on the street and the South Bend Tribune is that YATS -- a Cajun Creole restaurant -- is in negotiations to set up shop at Eddy Street Commons. 

Their story is CAJUN. CREOLE. CRAZY.  Sounds like fun!

LINK:  CAJUN CREOLE AT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  YATS OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Melani Ismail in Concert -- Rocket's Wife

Former Notre Dame All-American Rocket Ismail is married to Melani Ismail -- who just happens to be an accomplished singer/songwriter and author...

Some of you may remember Melani from the VH1 show "Football Wives" which she starred in.

Melani and Rocket are the proud parents of four kids.

LINK:  MELANI IN CONCERT

Notre Dame to Face 13th Toughest Schedule

Phil Steele just came out with his analysis of the toughest schedules for the upcoming 2013 college football season and Notre Dame's opponents rank the #13 most difficult.  Here's a link:

LINK:  PHIL STEELE -- MOST DIFFICULT SCHEDULES

Alan Page's Kids Book Concerning His Pinky!

Former Notre Dame All-American, NFL Hall of Famer and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice -- Alan Page, recently wrote a children's book with his daughter...

The title "Alan and His Perfectly Pointy, Impossibly Perpendicular Pinky" -- speaks to a broken pinky finger from his days with the Minnesota Vikings.  (see the broken pinky finger in above photo)

Here's a link to a TV interview of Alan and his daughter Kamie:


LINK:  ALAN PAGE'S CHILDREN'S BOOK

Skylar Has a Professional Basketball First

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins led her Tulsa Shock in scoring last night in their loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.  It was the FIRST TIME in her WNBA career that she was her team's leading scorer.  Skylar finished with 19 points -- here's the story:

LINK:  SKYLAR LEADS SHOCK

ACE Celebrates 20 Years With National Tour

Keep an eye out this summer for this BUS -- which carries the name of every Catholic school in America.  Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) will be celebrating their twentieth anniversary with a national bus tour that will take it to more than 40 cities.

Here's a little more information:

LINK:  NATIONAL BUS TOUR

Everett Golson Story in The Sporting News

The Sporting News' Matt Hayes penned a nice story about former Notre Dame student-athlete Everett Golson -- it's a story all Irish fans should read!

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

Photo of the Day: Fitting the Irish Freshmen

Notre Dame Football's Equipment Manager -- Ryan Grooms "tweeted this photo" of the "practice helmets" he's preparing for the freshmen football players for the Fightin' Irish!

America's Most Famous Investor's SECRET!

You'll find this sign in the office of one Warren Buffet -- the world's third richest man...


LINK:  INVEST LIKE A CHAMPION

Three NFL Domers -- Travel to the UK

The Minnesota Vikings and the NFL sent three former Notre Dame football stars to the United Kingdom to promote their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this September at Wembley Stadium. 

Along the way -- John Sullivan, Kyle Rudolph and Harrison Smith learned a new game...

LINK:  THREE FORMER IRISH FOOTBALL STARS