Rees, Shembo & Jackson Play Today at 4 PM ET

Former Notre Dame football players Tommy Rees, Prince Shembo and Bennett Jackson will be playing in the East West Shrine Game today at 4 PM ET on the NFL Network.  They will be playing for the WEST Team.

T.J. Jones was also invited to play in the game  -- unfortunately, the shoulder injury he sustained in the Rutgers game kept him at home this week.

Here's a couple of reports on how the three players have been doing in practice this week in front of the NFL scouts -- along with a link to the West Team roster:

LINK:  RATING THE PASSERS 

LINK:  SHEMBO AND JACKSON PRACTICE UPDATES

LINK:  WEST TEAM ROSTER

They're Not At Notre Dame Anymore...

Former Notre Dame football coaches Bob Diaco and Ernest Jones -- were "rebuked" by the University of Connecticut's president for comments made by Jones to the UCONN football team.

LINK:  TOUCHDOWN JESUS

OT: Lighting Strikes Christ Statue's Right Hand

A lighting strike this week in Rio de Janiero broke a finger of the right hand off their Christ the Redeemer statue.  Thought you'd enjoy what Father Omar, the Rector of the Shrine, had to say about this...

LINK:  LIGHTING DOES STRIKE TWICE

Golden Tate Talks Sunday's Game With 49ers

The former Notre Dame All-American is playing in his next "biggest game of his life" tomorrow evening (6:30 PM ET) when the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers in a game where the winner moves on to play in the Super Bowl XLVIII. 

Here's what he had to say to the media before practice.

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE

Must See: "Shipping Up To Boston" Tonight!

The Notre Dame hockey team's recent trip to Boston to play Boston College in historic Fenway Park was captured in a Fighting Irish Digital Media partnership with 3 Penny Films production called "Shipping Up To Boston" -- which will air this evening at 10 PM ET on the NBC Sports Network.

If you miss tonight's show -- the NBC Sports Network will "re-air" the show at these dates and times:

• January 23 at 1:30 AM ET
• January 29 at 12:30 AM ET
• February 8 at 10:30 PM ET

List of "The 50 Most Powerful Irish in America"

The 2014 list of the fifty most powerful Irish in America was just released by Irish Central and it includes a few names who have ties to the University of Notre Dame:

• #7  Don Keough -- the former President and COO of Coca-Cola is a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Notre Dame (pictured above)
• #23  Brian Kelly -- head football coach at the University of Notre Dame
• #39  Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. -- president of the University of Notre Dame

LINK:  MOST POWERFUL IRISH AMERICANS

Domer Henry Evans -- A Story You MUST SEE !

Notre Dame alum Henry Evans' '84, life forever changed on October 29, 2002.  He was stricken with a stroke-like attack that overnight made him mute and quadriplegic.

Yet, Henry wouldn't let that stop him from living...

You must see / hear Henry's TedX presentation.  THIS IS MUST SEE!

LINK:  HENRY EVANS

A Domer's New Line of Work -- After the NFL

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Chinedum Ndukwe '07, has a new career after playing football for the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Ndukwe launched a new real estate and investment firm this past year called Kinglsey Wells Enterprises, L.L.C. -- and he's just made his first investment in a Cincinnati building project. 

Here's the story:

LINK:  LIFE AFTER THE NFL

Louis Nix's South Bend Tribune Interview

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Louis "Irish Chocolate" Nix III spoke with the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen about his decision to sign early with an agent -- missing out on the IRISH's trip to New York City for the Pinstripe Bowl -- and what he's doing now...

LINK:  LOUIS NIX III

Coach Mike Brey's Hall of Fame Induction

Fans of Notre Dame's Mike Brey will enjoy his trip down "memory lane" as Coach returned to his alma mater last night to be inducted into the George Washington University Hall of Fame.  Enjoy!

LINK:  HALL OF FAME

"88 AND 1" Must See This Sunday on ESPN2

The folks at ESPN2 will air a show on Sunday night at 8 PM ET called "88 AND 1" -- a story about Notre Dame's 71 - 70 win over UCLA that broke the Bruin's 88 game winning streak...  I'll be curious to see if they also talk about the loss "before the streak" began -- another victory for the IRISH over UCLA.

88 AND 1 will be re-broadcast on ESPNU on the following dates/times:
·      Jan. 19 – 10 p.m. EST
·      Jan. 21 – 4 p.m. EST
·      Jan. 24 – 6 p.m. EST
·      Jan. 30 – 1 a.m. EST


Click on the link below to watch show's promotional trailer:

LINK:  88 AND 1

Updated Photos of Notre Dame's Basilica Floor

The University of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart is wrapping up the installation of a brand new "slate" floor this week.   The plan calls for the Basilica of the Sacred Heart to celebrate Mass again this Sunday -- can't wait to see the new floor and hear the new sound!

Watch VanGorder's Press Conference Replay

Notre Dame football's new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder will be formally introduced to the media this afternoon at 3 PM ET.  Here's a link to the PRESS CONFERENCE REPLAY if you'd like to watch!

LINK:  REPLAY PRESS CONFERENCE

Coach Kelly on Bill King Radio Show Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a guest this morning on the Bill King Radio Show.  He talked about a number of things -- namely, his plan to return to calling the plays on offense.  Here's the story:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Notre Dame Hires Brian VanGorder to Run "D"

The University of Notre Dame just announced that Brian VanGorder has been hired as their new Defensive Coordinator.  VanGorder comes to the Fighting Irish from the New York Jets where he was their linebacker's coach this past season.

Coach VanGorder first coached with and for Brian Kelly from 1989 to 1992 at Grand Valley.  Since then, VanGorder has served as the defensive coordinator at Georgia, the Atlanta Falcons and Auburn.

Here's a replay of Coach VanGorder's introductory news conference with Auburn back in 2012 -- along with a link to his accomplishments as a coach:

LINK:  BRIAN VANGORDER

LINK:  BRIAN VANGORDER WIKI

Two Domers Lead All NFL Rookie Jersey Sales!

WOW!

Dick's Sporting Goods has been tracking the sale of NFL jerseys for the past fifteen months -- and the top two selling jerseys among NFL rookies belong to #1:  Manti Te'o and #2 Tyler Eifert...

Think about that -- there were 254 players drafted by NFL teams last year -- and many more signed as free agents.  And, the top two on the sales list -- NOTRE DAME PLAYERS!

LINK:  JERSEY REPORT -- DICK'S SPORTING GOODS

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