AP Voters Rank Notre Dame #25 in Today's Poll

The 8 - 4 Fighting Irish are ranked #25 in the Associated Press Poll released this morning.  Here's the rankings:

LINK: AP POLL

Rutgers Football Coach Talks Pinstripe Bowl

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights beat USF last night 31 - 6 to earn the spot to play against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in the Pinstripe Bowl.

In the post game press conference, head coach Kyle Flood let the media know they had accepted the invitation to play the Irish.  Click on the link below to watch his press conference:

LINK:  RUTGERS HEAD COACH

Notre Dame Men's Soccer -- Final Four Bound!

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are now two wins from a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

Notre Dame just beat Michigan State 2 - 1 to advance to the College Cup!

The Irish will now play the winner of the New Mexico v. Washington game next weekend in Philadelphia.  Ironically, the two other teams who've already qualified for the "final four" are from the ACC as well; Virginia and Maryland. 

Here's a link to the NCAA Tournament bracket, along with a link to the official site of the COLLEGE CUP:


LINK:  NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET

LINK:  COLLEGE CUP -- OFFICIAL SITE

Christmas Gift Idea: Notre Dame Shoes !!!

Saw these today in the Notre Dame Hammes Bookstore...  Here's where you can buy them online:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SHOES

Coach Kelly Talks Manti on Seth Davis Show

This is Part II of Brian Kelly's interview with Seth Davis -- it's one of the best interviews I've seen of Coach Kelly.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH SETH DAVIS

Brian Kelly's Appearance on Seth Davis Show

Here is a link to Brian Kelly's interview (Part 1) on the Seth Davis Show -- you'll enjoy this.  Davis touched on a number of issues with Coach Kelly that we haven't seen before.  Real good interview here:

LINK:  SETH DAVIS SHOW

Louis Nix is a SENIOR Leaving on Time!

I am going to jump on the soapbox for a couple of minutes this morning...

An ESPN story labels Notre Dame defensive lineman Louis Nix a "red-shirt junior" -- inferring that he's leaving school early for the NFL.

LOUIS NIX is a SENIOR.

Folks, Louis is a member of Notre Dame's Class of 2014 -- graduating a semester earlier than most of his classmates.  He's not leaving early, he's leaving on time.  He wasn't ready to play football as a freshman, so he didn't see the field.  But, he went to class...

We should celebrate him LEAVING ON TIME for the NFL!

NYC & Pinstripe Bowl -- Here Come the Irish!

While the Yankees were negotiating big contracts with Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann -- they also found time to convince the University of Notre Dame to bring their show to the Big Apple.

Word broke yesterday afternoon that the Fighting Irish would spend the holidays in New York City -- playing OUTDOORS in Yankee Stadium on December 28th in the fourth annual Pinstripe Bowl.  Here's the news stories:

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Domer Takes on U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Mike McNally '77 -- CEO of Skanska USA, Inc. was just awarded the U.S. Green Building Council Award for "Leadership in the Private Sector."

McNally was lauded for his decision to take on the American Chemistry Council's attempt to water down green building standards in the construction industry.  When the U.S. Chamber of Commerce started supporting the chemical industry's lobbying efforts -- McNally asked them to stop.  When they didn't he publicly pulled dropped Skanska's membership which gained a great deal of national attention to this issue...

Here's the story  on the award -- along with a video of Mike and a link to an op-ed piece Mike wrote in the Washington Post about about this situation.

LINK:  STORY

LINK:  VIDEO

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST -- OP ED

UPS Driver on Today Show -- Huge ND Fan!

NBC's Today Show produced a story on Tom Camp -- a 73 year-old UPS delivery man who has never missed a day of work or, had an accident while driving his BROWN TRUCK for 51 years!

Then to add to his story -- he's a huge NOTRE DAME FAN!

The Today Show sent out one of their correspondents to Livonia, MI to ride along with Tom.  You'll enjoy this story.  

I want to give a shout-out to John Sequerth (UPS Communications executive) who's a long-time friend and ND GO IRISH BLOG regular for alerting me to this story.  Thanks John!

LINK:  TOM CAMP -- UPS DRIVER / NOTRE DAME FAN

Coach Kelly's Interview with CNNSI Tuesday

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly has been making the rounds with the media the past 24 hours -- here's a clip from his interview with CNNSI:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Chuck Martin Introduced as Miami Head Coach

Former Notre Dame assistant football coach Chuck Martin was introduced today as the head football coach of the Miami Redhawks.  Here's a video replay of his introductory press conference:

LINK:  CHUCK MARTIN

TV Tonight: #4 Notre Dame vs. #10 Penn State

Muffet's Fighting Irish will make an appearance on the Big Ten Network this evening at 7:30 PM ET as they take on Penn State in the ACC / Big Ten Challenge.  Should be a good test, as Penn State is coming off "back to back" Big Ten Championships.  The Nittany Lions have only lost one game this season -- to #1 UCONN.

Fun fact -- Penn State is coached by Coquese Washington (photo above) '92, '97 --  former Associate Head Coach of the Irish and a "double domer."  Coquese earned a bachelors in history in 1992 and a law degree in 1997.


LINK:  PENN STATE TALKS TONIGHT'S GAME

Skylar Named "Sportswoman of the Year"

Just a few minutes ago in New York City -- former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins was honored by the March of Dimes as SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR!

Former Yankee great Mariano Rivera was named SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR.

Congratulations Skylar!

LINK:  NICE HONOR FOR SKYLAR

Brian Kelly on the Tim Brando Radio Show

Brian Kelly made the rounds with a number of the sports talk shows yesterday -- here is his interview with Tim Brando.  Coach Kelly talks about Everett Golson, bowl games, the ACC and this season.

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH TIM BRANDO

Brian Kelly's Appearance on Dan Patrick Show

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a guest today on the Dan Patrick Show -- just click on the link below:

LINK:  DAN PATRICK SHOW

Chuck Martin Named Miami (OH) Coach Today

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chuck Martin will be announced today as the next head football coach at Miami University (OH).  Congratulations Coach Martin!

Coach Martins' introductory press conference will be at 2:30 PM ET -- tomorrow.

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Notre Dame Working With ACC on Schedule...

The commitment Notre Dame made to play five football games a year against ACC opponents goes into effect next season.  As you might imagine, this has brought about some major challenges for the ND Athletic Department as they try to make this happen...

Sounds like a solution might be we only play four ACC teams next year -- in exchange for a season, in the next three that has six ACC teams on the schedule.  Here's the story:

LINK:  SCHEDULING CHALLENGES

Notre Dame Re-Files Lawsuit Against Mandate

The University of Notre Dame will re-file a lawsuit against the federal government today regarding the Obama administration's controversial contraceptive mandate.  Here's the story:

LINK:  NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER

OT: The Little Drummer Boy -- MUST SEE!

The a cappella group Pentatonix just released a music video of their unique rendition of The Little Drummer Boy -- a must see, must hear!

Pentatonix is the 2011 winner of NBC's The Sing Off -- an annual competition of the top a capella groups in the country.


LINK:  THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY