Domer's Dad's Band -- National Champions!

OTN Speedwagon, the company rock band of Ciena Corporation, won the Fortune Magazine Corporate Battle of the Bands at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH on Saturday night.

Notre Dame parent Bob Rodio (that's Bob holding the Platinum record the band received for winning the competition) plays bass guitar in the band. Bob’s son Michael graduated from Notre Dame in 2012 with a music degree.

OTN Speedwagon was voted the best company band in America by a panel of veteran musicians, including Liberty DeVitto (drummer for Billy Joel), Rob Arthur (keyboards for Peter Frampton), Jeff Carlisi (guitarist for .38 Special) and Ricky Byrd (guitarist for Joan Jett and the Black Hearts). Antoinette Folett, the editor-in-chief of Making Music, rounded out the judges’ panel.

Two of Bob’s co-workers took home individual honors at the Rock Hall: Saxophonist Steve Darflinger won “best horn player” and Paul Bullock won “best guitarist.”

Oh, and get this—OTN Speedwagon earned their spot on a wild-card bid, after a different panel of judges chose not to advance the band from the Nashville regional competition. Not sure what those judges were thinking…the “real deal” judges knew who could really play!

LINK:  BEHIND THE SCENES

LINK:  BAND PERFORMING EARLIER THIS YEAR

Adidas vs. Nike -- Helmet & Uniform War...

The Irish unveiled their "all white" jersey and pants -- with their chrome shamrocked helmets that they'll be wearing in Saturday night's game, earlier this summer...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S SHAMROCK SERIES GEAR

Well, the Sun Devils of Arizona State will be sporting this look in Texas.

I know which looks better to me!

Notre Dame's "3" Shamrock Series Helmets

Here's a couple of photos "tweeted" by Notre Dame Football Equipment Manager Ryan Grooms -- of the football helmets the Fighting Irish have wore at the last two Shamrock Series games and the helmet they will be wearing Saturday night in Arlington, TX.

Roof to be Closed @ AT&T Stadium Saturday

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will be playing a "home game" this Saturday night in Texas...

The annual Shamrock Series game will pit the Arizona State Sun Devils versus our Irish in a game in the newly named AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.  Just this afternoon the decision was made to close the roof for the game since the forecast is calling for a 30% chance of rain.

Here's a few links to video tours of the world's biggest football stadium...

LINK:  AT&T STADIUM TOUR

LINK:  VIP TOUR

LINK:  FOX SPORTS TOUR

LINK:  OFFICIAL TOUR VIDEOS

Tyler Eifert's Blog Post on "Made-Man"

Former Notre Dame All-American and Cincinnati tight end Tyler Eifert -- was asked to write a post on a blog called MADE MAN.  Here's a link:

LINK:  TYLER EIFERT

Good Morning America @ Notre Dame Tuesday!

The folks from ABC'S Good Morning America will be on the campus of the University of Notre Dame tomorrow morning -- beginning at 6:20 AM ET -- to promote the kick-off of BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

You should see LIVE REPORTS from Notre Dame between 8 AM ET and 9 AM ET

If you'd like to participate, they will be shooting in front of the Hesburgh Library "AKA Touchdown Jesus" -- so where your pink!  Coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui will be just a couple of the guests scheduled to appear.

LINK:  GOOD MORNING AMERICA -- FROM NOTRE DAME

Stoops Ask Photographer for Special Photo

Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops posed for a photograph on the field of Notre Dame Stadium yesterday with his wife and mother...

A special moment for his Irish Catholic family.

LINK:  A SPECIAL MOMENT

Kiffin Fired Last Night After 62 - 41 Loss !!!

Story just broke -- Pat Haden fired Lane Kiffin last night...

LINK:  ESPN STORY

LINK:  LA TIMES STORY

399 Football Games @ Notre Dame Stadium !!!

Stanley Weber (Tiffin, OH) -- who is 89 years young -- was in the stands at Notre Dame Stadium yesterday for the 399th football game in his life-time!  He has every single ticket stub from those 399 games...

That's Stanley on the left with his great-nephew Joe Fretz.  Joe and Stanley make the three-hour drive from Tiffin to Notre Dame -- every home game Saturday morning. Stanley and Joe's season tickets are in the front row of Section 1 -- on the east side of the TUNNEL entrance.  My wife Susan and I sit a row behind them...

Stanley has missed only one home football game since the 1950 season because he was hospitalized with an aneuyrsm.  The game -- Notre Dame vs. Georgia Tech in 1975 when some walk-on named "Rudy" sacked a QB.

His first game at Notre Dame Stadium -- was November 22, 1941.  Frank Leahy was in his first year coaching the IRISH and Stanley saw Notre Dame beat USC 20 - 18.   The Irish went undefeated that season.

Ironically, Stanley's 400th game in Notre Dame Stadium will be October 19th against USC!

Stanley and his wife Anna are the proud parents of Tom Weber, a member of Notre Dame's Class of 1966.  Anna stopped coming to games with Stanley eight years ago because she didn't like the long walk "up and down the steps" to and from their seats.  They have been married 70 years!

This man has had a "front row seat" to college football history -- imagine the stories he can tell.  I'm looking forward to shaking Stanley's hand and asking to have my picture taken with him at game #400.  Pretty incredible.

Coach Kelly Post Game Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media after today's 35 - 21 loss to Oklahoma.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY

Jerome Bettis With Notre Dame Leprechaun

Jerome Bettis was back "home" today at Notre Dame Stadium...

Post Game Player Interviews After ND Loss

Here's some video interviews courtesy of the gang at IRISH SPORTS DAILY:

LINK:  TOMMY REES

LINK:  T.J. JONES

LINK:  BENNETT JACKSON

Game Highlights: Oklahoma 35 -- ND 21

Here are the highlights from today's game between Oklahoma and Notre Dame:

LINK:  NBC GAME  HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  UND GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Quick Media Reaction to Oklahoma's Win...

Two quick touchdowns by Oklahoma in the first three minutes of the game was too much for Notre Dame to come back from.  As the Irish fall to 3-2 this season.  Here's what the media is saying about the game:

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  NORMAN TRANSCRIPT

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

Coach Kelly Post Game with NBC's Flanagan

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly on the field with NBC's Alex Flanagan -- right after today's 35 - 21 loss to Oklahoma.

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH ALEX

YES, IT IS GAME DAY @ NOTRE DAME!

...and what a beautiful day for a football game!  Not a cloud in the sky -- the perfect setting to beat Oklahoma! 

Took a lap around the world-wide web to see what the media experts are saying about today's game -- click on the links below:

LINK:  NORMAN TRANSCRIPT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

Setting Up for the Notre Dame Football Team!

This is a "vine" created by the Notre Dame Football Equipment staff.  It shows them preparing the Notre Dame Stadium Locker Room for the Fighting Irish. 

Note the "two-way" tape on the shoulder pads to keep the opposition from grabbing the ND jerseys...

LINK:  GETTING READY FOR THE FIGHTING IRISH

Irish Women's Soccer Now 10 - 1 on Season!

Five straight wins for the Fighting Irish -- including 4 straight in the Atlantic Coast Conference -- has put Randy Waldrum's squad ranked #5 in the nation! 

Last night, Notre Dame took on #21 Maryland and the Irish rolled -- beating them 5 - 0!  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  IRISH BEAT MARYLAND

LINK:  WOMEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER RANKINGS

Brian Kelly's Last Media Chat Before Oklahoma

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media last night for the last time before Saturday's game with Oklahoma.  Here's the link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

Notre Dame's Impact on Michiana: $1.2 Billion!

The University of Notre Dame just released the results of a comprehensive economic study they typically commission every five years.  And, the area's largest employer rolled out a HUGE story!

$1,167,000,000 -- is the annual economic impact Notre Dame has on the area!

Here's the story from the South Bend Tribune:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S IMPACT