A Christmas Message from Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame's president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., released a Christmas message on Friday that is truly wonderful.

Enjoy!

LINK:  MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NOTRE DAME

Digger Reads "Grinch Who Stole Christmas"

Former Notre Dame basketball coach and ESPN's Digger Phelps "starred" today in a reading of the GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.

Phelps read the book to a large group of young FIGHTING IRISH fans with their parents (see link below).  Digger never misses an opportunity to serve Notre Dame...

Digger will be inducted next month into Notre Dame's RING OF HONOR.  A honor well deserved!

When he was done reading he received a gift of a framed photo from Notre Dame's big win -- 40 years ago next month -- over UCLA (photo above).   Digger told the crowd a story about the winning shot -- see the link below:

LINK:  DIGGER TALKS WIN OVER UCLA

LINK:  DIGGER AS THE GRINCH

Notre Dame to Play at "HOME" at Fenway Park

Only Notre Dame could play a "home" football game and would even think to play a home football game in Boston against Boston College...

Think about that.

Is there any other team in America that could pull that off?

This will be the first football game at Fenway Park in 47 years.

LINK:  FENWAY TO HOST HOME GAME FOR THE IRISH

LINK:  FIRST TIME IN 47 YEARS!

LINK:  YAHOO! SPORTS

Fighting Irish on ESPN2 Tonight vs. Ohio State

The Notre Dame men's basketball team is in NYC today to play the #3 ranked Buckeyes of Ohio State in the "world's most famous arena" -- Madison Square Garden.  The game tips-off at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  MIKE BREY TALKS OHIO STATE

LINK:  COLUMBUS DISPATCH

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

The Fighting Irish Will Travel in Style in NYC!

The Pinstripe Bowl has "wrapped" a few buses with a Notre Dame Football design -- in preparation for the Fighting Irish's arrival Monday evening in New York City.  I just wish they had used a photo of this year's team...

Notre Dame Released Football Schedule Today!

When you have an economic impact of $1 billion annually on the South Bend region -- and one of the big drivers of that are football weekend's -- the NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL schedule is BIG news.

Well, today at 11 AM ET -- Notre Dame's Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick held a press conference where he  released the 2014, 2015 and 2016 football schedules.

Watch the replay here...


LINK:  WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE RIGHT HERE!

LINK:  SWARBRICK INTERVIEW

Pinstripe Bowl: Kerry Cooks Talks Defense

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame held a practice today in preparation for the Pinstripe Bowl.  After practice, interim defensive coordinator Kerry Cooks met with Jack Nolan.  Enjoy!

LINK:  PRACTICE REPORT

Bob Diaco's Interview with Jim Rome Today...

Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator -- and now UCONN head football coach -- Bob Diaco, was a guest today on the Jim Rome Show.  Enjoy!

LINK:  BOB DIACO WITH ROME

ND's Stayer Center -- Made out of Gingerbread!

A few Notre Dame School of Architecture alums and their colleagues at Robert A.M. Stern Architects created this small scale replica of the STAYER CENTER FOR EXECUTIVE EDUCATION -- made out of gingerbread!  Just click on the photo to enlarge.

Robert A.M. Stern Architects is the architectural firm that designed the Stayer Center for Executive Education at the University of Notre Dame.

Every year the gang at Robert A.M. Stern Architects donates gingerbread houses to St. Luke’s hospital to help out with an organization called Children and Families First -- an organization that helps out families in financial crisis due to medical issues and other hardships.  They also get put on display in the Pediatric Unit, Oncology Ward, Radiation Unit and Physical Therapy Unit.  The people who worked on the Stayer Center gingerbread house are:

• Tony McConnell '06
• Mason Roberts '13
• Victor Marcelino
• Connie Osborn
• Stephanie Medel
• Georgina Harvey

Here's a few of the other DOMERS working at Stern:

• Melissa DelVecchio '94
• Jennifer Stone '98
• Christopher Heim '04
• Jonathan Kelly '08

Follow Skylar Diggins' Week in New York City!

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins was in New York City last week -- and, girl was she busy!  It started with her being named by the March of Dimes as Sportswoman of the Year -- and it went from there...

LINK:  SKYLAR'S NYC WEEK

LINK:  SKYLAR ON MSNBC'S "MORNING JOE"

Pinstripe Bowl: ND Football Practice Update

The Fighting Irish had another practice today in preparation for their December 28th date at Yankee Stadium to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.  Here's a link to the coverage:

LINK:  FOOTBALL PRACTICE REPORT

Teammates React to Everett Golson's Return

The folks at WNDU-TV caught up with a few Notre Dame football players to see what they thought about Everett Golson's return to school.  Here's the link below:

LINK:  PLAYER REACTION

A Hat Every New York IRISH Fan Must Have!

Look at this "Notre Dame" edition of a Yankee hat that New Era has created for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl! You can buy the hat at the link below:

LINK:  BUY THE ND HAT HERE!

Photo of the Day: Keough Interhall Champs!

Isn't this a wonderful photo!  The Keough Kangaroos beat Alumni Hall 12 - 0 in the Interhall Championship game at Notre Dame Stadium -- here's the team photo after the game.  Just click on the photo to enlarge!

National Championship Celebration Last Night!

The Fighting Irish Men's Soccer Team -- "aka" NATIONAL CHAMPIONS -- returned home to NOTRE DAME last night for a little welcome home party.

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media was in the room -- here's the video!

LINK:  NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Notre Dame Wins NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

The Fighting Irish Men's Soccer Team made history this afternoon -- winning the first ever National Championship in men's soccer and the 30th all-time in the history of Notre Dame athletics!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

Notre Dame beat Maryland 2 - 1 after coming back from a 1 goal deficit and the loss of one of its key players Vince Cicciarelli to a shoulder injury just minutes into the game.  Ironically, his replacement Leon Brown scored Notre Dame's first goal with just five minutes left in the first half.

Then with 30 minutes to go Andrew O'Malley (from nearby West Chester, PA) "headed in" the winning goal!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Harrison Smith Back in Vikings Line-up Today!

Former Notre Dame football captain Harrison Smith is back from injury today for the Minnesota Vikings.  Here's a video clip of head coach Leslie Frazier talking about Harrison's return:

LINK:  BACK IN THE LINE-UP

Great Notre Dame "Stocking Stuffer" Gift Idea!

Every Notre Dame fan should have one of these on their cell phone!  Click on the link below to buy it online:

LINK:  ND GOLD STANDARD PHONE CASE

What Do the Cubs Do With Samardzija?

There was some buzz yesterday on Twitter that former Notre Dame football All-American Jeff Samardzija had signed a $55 million contract extension with the Chicago Cubs...

It wasn't true.

The hard throwing Domer struck out 214 in 213.1 innings pitched this past season -- good for 4th most in the National League...

Does he sign a contract extension or, do they trade him away?

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA AND THE CUBS

Notre Dame Plays for National Championship!!!

We're less than seven hours away from the biggest men's soccer game in the 171 year history of the University of Notre Dame!

At 3 PM ET on ESPNU -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on the "turtles" from Maryland for a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!  They played two months ago in South Bend and it took 2 overtime periods for the game to end in a 1 - 1 tie.

It's a match-up of the two top players in the country; Patrick Mullins (Maryland) and Harrison Shipp (Notre Dame).  Mullins scored both goals in their win over Virginia in the semi-finals -- while Shipp assisted on both goals in Notre Dame's win over New Mexico.

IT'S GOING TO BE FUN!

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  MLS SOCCER SITE