OT: Rose Bowl Replaces Field for BCS Game

A sod farm near Palm Springs, CA has been growing three grass football fields for the Rose Bowl the past few months.  The first was installed after the last UCLA home game in November -- for Wednesday's 100th Rose Bowl.  The second, was installed hours after Wednesday's game -- they actually placed the new turf -- over top of the old turf (see photo above) for Monday's BCS National Championship game.

The third field was grown -- as a back-up plan...

You have to read these stories.

LINK:  PERFECTION

LINK:  THE PERFECT FIELD

The Duke Blue Devils Come to Notre Dame

ACC Basketball begins tomorrow when "Coach K" brings his #7 ranked basketball program to Notre Dame for the first time in eighteen seasons.  Duke features arguably the #1 freshman in the country Jabarri Parker (photo above) out of Chicago's Simeon High School.  Should be quite a challenge for the Fighting Irish!

LINK:  COACH BREY TALKS DUKE

LINK:  HERALD-SUN STORY

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Revisiting; Notre Dame 17 -- Michigan State 13

Over the next few months if you run into any Michigan State fan or any college football fan who doesn't love our Fighting Irish -- you're sure to hear the following:

"Michigan State should not have lost to Notre Dame -- there were a number of bad calls made by the referees that led to ND's victory.  Michigan State got "HOMERED" by Notre Dame."

Well, it's time to COUNTER this misinformation with some FACTS from the game:

1. The referees who worked this game were from the Big Ten Conference.  Last I checked, Michigan State was still a member of the Big Ten Conference.  The Spartans brought their own officials with them to Notre Dame Stadium that day.
2. Michigan State's offense generated 254 yards of total offense in the game and scored only 13 points -- their lowest offensive output for the season and their lowest scoring game of the season. 
3. Both teams were called for a number of penalties; Michigan State had 10 penalties in the game for 115 yards -- Notre Dame had 8 penalties for 86 yards.   Please note:  MSU also had 10 penalties called on them by Big Ten officials (just a couple of weeks later) at a home game against Indiana.  They won that game 42 - 28.  Notre Dame's 86 penalty yards were the most against the IRISH all season!

ND the "Gold Standard" for Attendance Records

Just take a look at these attendance records as you watch the highlights of the majority of the bowl games this season and see all of the empty seats.  Notre Dame is truly the "gold standard" when it comes to drawing fans to games.  Take a look at these attendance records:

• New Era Pinstripe Bowl -- largest crowd ever (Notre Dame vs. Rutgers)
• Michigan Stadium -- largest crowd ever (Notre Dame vs. Michigan)
• Sun Life Stadium -- largest crowd ever (Notre Dame vs. Alabama)
• Hyundai Sun Bowl -- largest crowd ever (Notre Dame vs. Miami)
• Spartan Stadium -- largest crowd ever (Notre Dame vs. Michigan State)
• Los Angeles Coliseum -- largest crowd ever (Notre Dame vs. USC)
• Soldier Field -- largest crowd ever (Notre Dame vs. USC)
• LaVell Edward Stadium -- largest crowd ever (Notre Dame vs. BYU)
• Oklahoma Memorial Stadium -- largest crowd ever (Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma)

Skylar Diggins' in Nike Cross Fit TV Spot

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins has been cashing in on her hard work...

LINK:  NIKE CROSS-FIT TV SPOT

A Nice Video Profiling San Diego's Manti Te'o

The former Notre Dame All-American is featured in this video shot this past Sunday during San Diego's big win over Kansas City.  Enjoy!

LINK:  MANTI TE'O

Domer Hannah Storm -- Tournament of Roses

ABC's coverage of the 125th Tournament of Roses Parade will be hosted by Notre Dame alum Hannah Storm '83.  The show begins at 11 AM ET this morning!

LINK:  STORM TO HOST

A Slate Floor for Basilica of the Sacred Heart

The University of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart is getting a major makeover these next few weeks as a slate floor is being installed -- in replace of the carpet.  See the photos above.

Tyler Eifert's Two NFL TD's in 2013 Season

The former Notre Dame All-American had a very nice rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals -- reaching the end zone on two occasions.  Here's the video proof!

LINK:  vs.  DETROIT LIONS

LINK:  vs.  PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Golden Tate's Five NFL Touchdowns in 2013

Here's a video recap of the five times former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Golden Tate reached the end zone this season for the Seattle Seahawks during the 2013 season.  Here's hoping it will happen a few more times in the Playoffs.

LINK:  vs.  INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

LINK:  vs.  ATLANTA FALCONS

LINK:  vs.  ST. LOUIS RAMS

LINK:  vs.  ST. LOUIS RAMS

LINK:  vs.  ST. LOUIS RAMS

Replay of Michael Floyd's 5 TD Catches in 2013

Former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd caught five touchdown passes during the 2013 NFL season for the Arizona Cardinals.  Here's a video replay of every TD.

LINK:  vs.  JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

LINK:  vs.  ATLANTA FALCONS

LINK:  vs.  PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

LINK:  vs.  SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

LINK:  vs.  SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Regular Season Stats for ND Stars in the NFL

Took a look today at the 2013 season stats of every former Notre Dame football player in the NFL.  These are the players on active, injured reserve and practice squads.  A few former Irish stars had great individual seasons:

• Justin Tuck's 11 sacks were 8th best among defensive lineman!
• Michael Floyd's 91 yard TD catch was second longest in the NFL this season!
• Michael Floyd's 1,041 yards receiving was 23rd among wide receivers!
• Golden Tate's 898 yards receiving was 31st among wide receivers!
• Tyler Eifert's 61 yard TD catch was the fifth longest for TE's in the NFL this season!

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Michael Floyd -- 65 catches -- 1,041 yards --  5 TD's 
• Golden Tate -- 64 catches -- 898 yards -- 5 TD's
• Tyler Eifert -- 39 catches -- 445 yards -- 2 TD's
• Justin Tuck -- 63 tackles -- 11 sacks -- 1 INT
• Anthony Fasano -- 23 catches -- 200 yards -- 3 TD's
• Kyle Rudolph -- 30 catches -- 313 yards -- 3 TD's
• Jon Carlson -- 32 catches -- 344 yards -- 1 TD
• Manti Te'o -- 60 tackles
• Robert Blanton -- 60 tackles
• Harrison Smith -- 58 tackles -- 2 INT's

PLAYOFF TEAMS:

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE -- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

LINK:  ANTHONY FASANO -- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

LINK:  TYLER EIFERT -- CINCINNATI BENGALS

LINK:  MANTI TE'O -- SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

LINK:  SERGIO BROWN -- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

LINK:  TREVOR ROBINSON -- CINCINNATI BENGALS

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

LINK:  DAVID BRUTON -- DENVER BRONCOS

LINK:  J.J. JANSEN -- CAROLINA PANTHERS

LINK:  BRAXSTON CAVE -- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 

LINK:  DARIUS FLEMING -- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS


NON-PLAYOFF TEAMS:

LINK:  ROBERT BLANTON -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  JON CARLSON -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  JOHN SULLIVAN -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD -- ARIZONA CARDINALS 

LINK:  JONAS GRAY -- BALTIMORE RAVENS

LINK:  RYAN HARRIS -- HOUSTON TEXANS

LINK:  ROBERT HUGHES -- ARIZONA CARDINALS

LINK:  DEREK LANDRI -- TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

LINK:  KAPRON LEWIS-MOORE -- BALTIMORE RAVENS

LINK:  ZEKE MOTTA -- ATLANTA FALCONS

LINK:  ERIC OLSEN -- PITTSBURGH STEELERS

LINK:  BRADY QUINN -- ST. LOUIS RAMS

LINK:  THEO RIDDICK -- DETROIT LIONS

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK -- NEW YORK GIANTS

LINK:  DARRIN WALLS -- NEW YORK JETS

LINK:  SAM YOUNG -- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Why NYC Cheers Notre Dame's Fighting Irish

This piece was written for the New York Post by the University of Notre Dame's Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications -- Paul Browne.  You'll want to read this.  That's Paul Browne in the photo above.

LINK:  WHY NYC CHEERS...

The Winningest Football Program of All-Time!!!

126 years of football and it came down to Notre Dame beating Rutgers in New York City and a Michigan loss to Kansas State in Tempe, AZ -- over a span of 11 hours...

NOTRE DAME IS ONCE AGAIN -- the WINNINGEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAM OF ALL-TIME!

LINK:  RANKING BY ALL-TIME WINNING %

Pinstripe Bowl Trophy Presentation to ND

Here's a replay of the New Era Pinstripe Bowl trophy presentation to Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  TROPHY PRESENTATION

Notre Dame's Sideline View of Pinstripe Bowl

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media caught a number of key plays in the game from a sideline camera - and some post game fun.  Enjoy!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Coach Brian Kelly Post Game Presser

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media after Notre Dame's 29 - 16 win over Rutgers today in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.  Here's the replay:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Media Reaction to Notre Dame's Bowl Win

Took a quick lap around the web to see what the media members are saying about Notre Dame's 29 - 16 win this afternoon over Rutgers in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.   Just click on the links below:

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  NEW JERSEY STAR LEDGER

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  NEW YORK POST

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

IRISH "Double Up" Rutgers in Every Category

Well, almost every category -- except for the scoreboard...

FIRST DOWNS:

• Notre Dame:  31
• Rutgers:  16

RUSHING YARDS:

• Notre Dame:  175 yards
• Rutgers:  80 yards

PASSING YARDS:

• Notre Dame:  319 yards
• Rutgers:  156 yards

TOTAL YARDS:

• Notre Dame:  494 yards
• Rutgers:  236 yards

PENALTIES / PENALTY YARDS:

• Notre Dame:  8 for 69 yards
• Rutgers:  3 for 33 yards

TIME OF POSSESSION:

• Notre Dame:  38:16 minutes 
• Rutgers:  21:44 minutes

TURNOVERS:

• Notre Dame:  1
• Rutgers:  4

Notre Dame Wins New Era Pinstripe Bowl !!!

It wasn't pretty -- it hasn't been all season...

Yet, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame finished the 2013 season with a record of 9 - 4 -- good enough to end up in the TOP-25 -- after beating Rutgers 29 - 16.

Notre Dame's Zach Martin was named game MVP -- so happy for him!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN GAME RECAP