Skylar Diggins On the Eastbay Catalog Cover!

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins -- as you can see above -- is on the cover of the Eastbay catalog.

Great Friends: Brian Kelly & Jeff Quinn

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and University at Buffalo head coach Jeff Quinn got together to talk a little football and their relationship.

Must see and must read!

LINK:  KELLY & QUINN

LINK:  BUFFALO NEWS STORY

Miami Herald: Nice Story on "Showman Tate"

Our man Golden Tate almost became "legend" for his fumble on the onside kick last night that gave New Orleans the ball back and the chance to tie the NFL Playoff game.  Thankfully for the former Notre Dame All-American the Seahawks won the game and they advance one step closer to the Super Bowl.

I found this Miami Herald story today about Golden -- you'll enjoy this!

LINK:  BRASH GOLDEN TATE

OT: Seahawks' "Fan Induced Earthquakes"

If you're tuned in to today's NFL Playoff Game on FOX between the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks you're sure to hear about the equipment inside Seattle's CenturyLink Field that measures earthquakes...

If you're going to the game -- dress for rain!

It's going to be noisy!

LINK:  EARTHQUAKES IN SEATTLE

Golden Tate & Seahawks Feeling Unnoticed

Former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate had some things to say about the pending return of Percy Harvin to the Seahawks for today's NFL Playoff game with the New Orleans Saints... 

He's always a good quote!

LINK:  TATE SPEAKS

First ACC Road Game Today for Brey's Irish

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The Notre Dame men's basketball team is in Atlanta, GA today to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.  Tip-off is scheduled for NOON ET.  Georgia Tech announced it was a sell-out (8,600 seating capacity) -- so it should be fun to see how the Fighting Irish handle an ACC crowd on the road.

The game will be televised on the ACC Network.  I have a link below to their affiliate stations around the country -- click on that link to see if the game will be televised in your area.  Along with a link of Coach Brey talking about today's game.

GO IRISH!

LINK:  COACH BREY -- GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  ACC NETWORK -- AFFILIATES

Manti Te'o "Moving On" in San Diego

Found this story in the New York Daily News about former Notre Dame All-American Manti Te'o and his rookie season with the San Diego Chargers.  The Chargers play some guy named Peyton and his Broncos this Sunday at 4:40 PM ET.

You'll enjoy this story!

LINK:  MOVING ON

Two Dads Celebrate Their Kids ND Acceptance

It's a moment I'll never forget -- learning one of your kids was accepted to the University of Notre Dame...

I found this blog post written by Rick Becker who's son Ben recently received his acceptance letter to Notre Dame's Class of 2018.  Rick writes about his joy that day and the joy of another future Notre Dame dad.

One of Ben's future classmates will be a young woman out of New Jersey by the name of Sarah Christie -- who just happens to be the daughter of Governor Chris Christie.

See the story below:


LINK:  NOTRE DAME ACCEPTANCE LETTER

Notre Dame Grad Student on Jeopardy Today

Marika Kuspa -- a grad student in Notre Dame's College of Science will be a contestant on Jeopardy today!  Click on the link below -- you'll find Marika's intro at the 46 second mark:

LINK:  MARIKA KUSPA ON JEOPARDY

George Atkinson III Files for 2014 NFL Draft

Notre Dame student-athlete George Atkinson III has decided to take his game to the National Football League.  Here's the story:

LINK:  ATKINSON OFF TO NFL

CNN Story: College Athletes' Reading Levels

CNN's Sara Ganim conducted an investigation of the reading levels of some of the athletes at a few of the top public colleges in the country.  Domer Bubba Cunningham '84 and '88, the Athletic Director at the University of North Carolina is interviewed.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  THEY CAN'T READ

TV Ratings Down for BCS Championship Game

Just further proof why college football needs Notre Dame...

You had the Heisman Trophy winner leading an undefeated Florida State team against the SEC Champion Auburn Tigers.

Yet, ESPN's overnight TV ratings for Florida State vs. Auburn were down from last year's game between Notre Dame and Alabama -- the all-time record.  That's a shocker when you consider 90% of the country was hunkered down in their homes watching TV because of the record cold weather...


LINK:   TV RATINGS DOWN FOR BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Notre Dame's Final Rankings Don't Add Up !!!

Just took a look at the final college football polls released this morning -- the AP and USA Today Coaches Poll.  In the AP Poll Notre Dame is ranked #20, in the USA Today Poll Notre Dame is ranked #24.

Here's my frustration -- we deserved better...   The facts prove Notre Dame should have finished #18 in both polls -- at the very least.

In the AP Poll, #18 Texas A&M has four losses and they're ranked ahead of Notre Dame -- yet, they only have one victory all season against a Top-25 team in the final rankings and that's their bowl win over #23 Duke.  #19 USC has four losses and we beat them head to head...

Then you have the USA Today Coaches Poll -- where Notre Dame at #24 sits behind SIX teams who also have four losses:

• #18  Texas A&M (9-4)
• #19  USC (10-4)
• #20  Arizona State (9-4)
• #21  Wisconsin (9-4)
• #22  Duke (9-4)
• #23  Vanderbilt (9-4)
• #24  NOTRE DAME (9-4)

I've already addressed Texas A&M and their one win over a ranked team this season, and Notre Dame's head to head wins over USC and Arizona State...

Now, let's talk about Wisconsin, Duke and Vanderbilt... --

Wisconsin doesn't have a single win over a team ranked in the final Top-25 team this season.  And, they were beat by Arizona State -- who lost to Notre Dame.

Duke doesn't have a single win over a team ranked in the final Top-25 this season.

Vanderbilt doesn't have a single win over a team ranked in the final Top-25 this season.

And, NOTRE DAME HAS THREE WINS OVER TEAMS RANKED IN THE FINAL TOP-25 USA TODAY COACHES POLL:  #3 MICHIGAN STATE, #19 USC AND #20 ARIZONA STATE.

It doesn't add up.
 

LINK:  FINAL FOOTBALL POLLS

Only 284 Days Until Notre Dame Plays FSU !!!

I'm guessing the gang at ESPN's College GameDay already have this date circled on their calendar -- October 18, 2014 -- when Notre Dame travels to Tallahassee to take on the defending National Champions. 

It's been more than eleven years since the last time (and the first time) Notre Dame traveled to Doak Campbell Stadium to play Florida State -- remember that game?

See the link below:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS FLORIDA STATE

OT: Auburn Fan Has $50,000 Riding on Game

Mark Skiba's dad made a $100 bet for him in Las Vegas (January 30, 2013) on Auburn winning the National Championship.  The odds were 500 to 1 against this happening.

Think he's a little nervous today?

LINK:  AUBURN FAN COULD WIN BIG

Revisiting ND's Last Three National Titles !!!

As we await tonight's BCS National Championship game -- I thought the Notre Dame nation would enjoy a trip down memory lane.  Here's a look at the highlights of the Fighting Irish's last three National Championships in football.  Enjoy!

LINK:  1988 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- FIESTA BOWL

LINK:  1977 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- COTTON BOWL

LINK:  1973 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- SUGAR BOWL

Tuitt Tells Sports Illustrated He's Headed to NFL

Notre Dame student-athlete Stephon Tuitt told Sports Illustrated's Brian Hamilton that he is going to make himself eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft.  Here's the story:

LINK:  TUITT TO THE NFL

Must See: Coach Brey With Team After Duke !!!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media provide great coverage ALL THE TIME of our athletic teams here at the University of Notre Dame.  Yesterday's win over DUKE was no exception.  You must watch the locker room celebration.

LINK:  TEAM CELEBRATES WIN

The Media the Mornin' After Beating Duke

Took a lap around the web to see what the media had to say about Notre Dame's 79 - 77 win over #7 ranked Duke.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  ESPN COLLEGE BASKETBALL BLOG

LINK:  CBS SPORTS RECAP

LINK:  THE HERALD-SUN

LINK:  ASSOCIATED PRESS

LINK:  NEWS OBSERVER

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Mike Brey's Post Gamer Presser After Duke Win

Mike Brey's Notre Dame teams are now 13 - 6 against TOP TEN RANKED TEAMS when they play at Purcell Pavilion.  Duke was the latest top ten team added to the win total.

Word on the web this morning is -- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME DUKE'S "COACH K" HAS LOST A GAME TO A TEAM COACHED BY ONE OF HIS FORMER ASSISTANTS."

Here's what Coach Brey had to say after the game:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS DUKE