The Pinstripe Bowl Will Be an Option for ND

With West Virginia and TCU both losing yesterday -- the BIG 12 conference, not to be confused with another big twelve conference of teams in the midwest -- will not have enough teams who will be bowl eligible...

Thus, the BIG 12's automatic spot at the PINSTRIPE BOWL on December 28th will be up for grabs.  You can bet the folks at Yankee Stadium (the site of the Pinstripe Bowl) will come looking for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame...

LINK:  PINSTRIPE BOWL TICKET INFORMATION

Our Dog Muffet's Tribute to Skylar Diggins

My wife Susan created an Adidas "headband" in honor of Skylar Diggin's RING OF HONOR induction ceremony today for our Sheltie puppy -- named Muffet McGraw...

Yeah, we're nuts...

Skylar Diggins "Home Forever" at Notre Dame

Skylar finished her talk at the RING OF HONOR ceremony today with these words -- after seeing her banner hanging from the rafters;  "I never wanted to leave this place -- and now, I never will."

Here is a video of the ceremony along with Skylar's speech.  Enjoy!

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

LINK:  THE VIDEO FROM MY SEAT

Notre Dame Says THANK YOU to Skylar Today!

Skylar is only six months removed from wearing a cap and gown inside Notre Dame Stadium -- leaving behind a four-year career that few have matched in the history of college sports.

Today, before Notre Dame's game against Valparaiso -- Skylar Diggins will be inducted into the RING OF HONOR.

I can't wait...

LINK:  SKYLAR'S DAY

Trent Dilfer's Daughter Maddie -- Signs NLI!

The Notre Dame women's volleyball program announced the signing today of four high school volleyball stars today -- three who earned Under Armour All-American honors.  Including the daughter of former NFL Super Bowl winning QB Trent Dilfer -- Maddie Dilfer.  (photo above)

• Maddie Dilfer (Saratoga, CA) -- 5'-11"
• Sam Fry (Cincinnati, OH)  -- 6'-2"
• Sydney Kuhn (Wichita, KS) -- 6'-2"
• Maddie Plumlee (Raleigh, NC)-- 6'-1" 

LINK:  OFFICIAL RELEASE

The "American Ride" Rolls into Notre Dame!

BYUtv's Stan Ellsworth rode his Harley Davidson to the campus of the University of Notre Dame to shoot an episode of his TV show "American Ride."  Irish fans will enjoy this -- MUST SEE TV!

LINK:  STAN ELLSWORTH VISITS NOTRE DAME

$43,000 to Attend Joe Montana's QB Camp

Former Notre Dame and San Francisco QB Joe Montana has agreed to sell a personal "three-hour" QB school for six people for $43,000 -- through a company called "Ifonly."

Here's the FOX NEWS STORY:

LINK:  JOE MONTANA

First Major ACC Honor for Notre Dame Student!

Harry Shipp, a senior forward out of Lake Forest, IL was named Offensive Player of the Year today for the Atlantic Coast Conference!  Shipp has 24 points on the season -- leading the Irish in scoring and the #1 ranking in the country!

In addition, Notre Dame head soccer coach Bobby Clarke was named the ACC Coach of the Year! 

Not a bad start for the Fighting Irish in the ACC!

LINK:  SHIPP AND CLARKE AWARDS!

America's Top HS Women's Player Picks ND!

The consensus #1 player in the country -- Brianna Turner (photo above) out of Pearland, TX leads a three-person recruiting class picked #3 in the country -- that will further stock the talent shelf for the Notre Dame Women's Basketball program:

• Turner, a 6'-3" forward WHO CAN DUNK A BASKETBALL -- is a huge get for Notre Dame!  She was recruited by every program in the country.  See her highlight video below.  

• Mychal Johnson, a 5'-8" guard out of St. Joseph HS, Huntington WV -- was the first to commit to Muffet.  She's good with the ball and off the ball.  A huge get for Notre Dame!  See her highlight video below.

• Kathryn Westbeld, a 6'-2" forward out of Fairmont HS in Kettering, OH is considered the #21 ranked player in the country by MaxPreps.  Another huge get for Notre Dame! See her highlight video below.

Here is some more information:

LINK:  MUFFET TALKS RECRUITS

LINK:  OFFICIAL RELEASE

LINK:  BRIANNA TURNER HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  MYCHAL JOHNSON HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  KATHRYN WESTBELD HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame Hoops Signs Two Forwards Today

Mike Brey announced the signing of two high school basketball stars today to National Letters of Intent.  Martin Geben (photo above) a 6'-9" power forward from Lithuania (via St. Marita Goretti HS -- Hagerstown, MD) and Bonzie Colson, Jr., a 6'-6" forward out of St. Andrew's School in Barrington, RI.

Here's the media coverage:

LINK:  BREY SIGNS TWO!

LINK:  OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Old Man Winter Appears at Notre Dame Today

You've got to love the talent of Notre Dame's official photographer Matt Cashore.  Look at this picture today!

"Billboard Bibbs" Bests Coach Alford's Record

Notre Dame's running backs coach Tony Alford, who played football for Colorado State University, saw his 24 year-old single game rushing record of 310 yards broken this past Saturday!

Coach Alford -- always the class act -- picked up the phone, after receiving permission from CSU, to congratulate "Billboard" Kapri Bibbs (pictured above) who gained 312 yards in the Rams 38 - 17 win over Nevada.

LINK:  ALFORD'S RECORD GOES DOWN!

Brian Kelly's Press Conference Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media to talk about Saturday night's performance against Pittsburgh, plans for this bye week and a look ahead to BYU.  Here's a link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESSER

Big Win for Muffet's Lady Irish Over #18 MSU

The #6 ranked Fighting Irish didn't play their best game last night -- yet, it was good enough to beat Michigan State 81 - 62.  MSU returned their top six players from last year's NCAA Tournament team -- so it was a good early test for Notre Dame.  Here's what Muffet had to say after the game:

LINK:  MUFFET PRESSER

God, Country, Notre Dame

Happy Veterans Day to all our heroes!  Thank you so much for the sacrifices you and your families have made for all of us in America. 

Here's a video of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flying over Notre Dame Stadium at the end of the Band of the Fighting Irish playing our National Anthem.

LINK:  BLUE ANGELS' FLY-OVER

Brian Kelly's Post Game Presser After Pitt Loss

You can see it in his face and in his voice -- Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly is at a loss for how the Irish played last night:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

We Gave a Game Away Tonight in Pittsburgh

Three turnovers (one in the end zone and two in the fourth quarter), two huge penalties on third down that led to two Pitt touchdowns and the ejection of Stephon Tuitt.  Then for good measure, add in a mental lapse on a fumble that could have led to a TD for our defense...

Not a film our "Injured Irish" will want to look at on Monday.

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS / LOW-LIGHTS

Getting Heinz Field Ready for the Fighting Irish

America's #1 football road show -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- gets set up for tonight's prime time clash with the Pitt Panthers.  The lockerroom is ready and so are sidelines with heated benches...

Duquesne Hosts Notre Dame Football Today...

The Fighting Irish worked out today at Duquesne University as they await tonight's clash with the Pitt Panthers.  Here's a photo of the field...

Swarbrick Talks Stadium Expansion and Turf...

These are the three questions on the minds of most Notre Dame football fans -- beyond how the team's doing and what recruits are we going to sign:

• Will Notre Dame move forward with plans to expand the football stadium?
• Will Notre Dame replace the grass with field turf?
• Will we see a "jumbotron" in the stadium?

Well, the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen gets his chance to ask Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick these questions and a few more:

LINK:  SWARBRICK