Former Notre Dame student-athlete Chris Watt -- left on a plane this morning from Chicago to start his new life as a professional football player in San Diego. Very happy for you Chris!
Saturday, May 10, 2014
San Diego Chargers: Photo of Chris Watt
Former Notre Dame student-athlete Chris Watt -- left on a plane this morning from Chicago to start his new life as a professional football player in San Diego. Very happy for you Chris!
Teams Signing ND Players to Free Agent Deals
Here's the list -- as the information becomes available -- of the former Notre Dame football players who sign free agent deals with NFL teams this evening. The first to agree to a deal was George Atkinson -- and he signed with his Dad's old team, the Oakland Raiders. Here's the list:
- George Atkinson III -- Oakland Raiders
- Dan Fox -- New York Giants
- Carlo Calabrese -- Cleveland Browns
- Tommy Rees -- Washington Redskins
- Kona Schwenke -- Kansas City Chiefs
- Mike Golic, Jr. -- New Orleans Saints
NFL Draft: Eight Notre Dame Players Selected!
After three long days -- the Fighting Irish ended up with eight former student-athletes drafted in the first six rounds of the 2014 NFL Draft -- the most since 1994!
The top photo is of the "luxury bus" that picked up Zack Martin at the Dallas airport to take him to the Cowboy's facility -- you're going to want to click on the "SLIDE SHOW" below...
Today -- Prince Shembo, Bennett Jackson and T.J. Jones joined their five teammates as NFL drafted players -- pretty awesome! Here's the detail on all eight players:
ZACK MARTIN -- Drafted 16th overall (1st Round) by the Dallas Cowboys
- Signing bonus: $5.3 million
- Projected value of first NFL contract: $9.6 million
- Introductory Press Conference: ZACK
- Zach's arrival to Dallas: SLIDE SHOW
STEPHON TUITT -- Drafted 46th overall (2nd Round) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signing bonus: $1.8 million
- Projected value of first NFL contract: $4.8 million
- Pittsburgh Steelers Press Conference: LINK
TROY NIKLAS -- Drafted 52nd overall (2nd Round) by the Arizona Cardinals
- Signing bonus: $1.4 million
- Projected value of first NFL contract: $4.2 million
- Arizona Cardinals Press Conference: LINK
LOUIS NIX III -- Drafted 83rd overall (3rd Round) by the Houston Texans
- Signing bonus: $630,000
- Projected value of first NFL contract: $2.9 million
- Houston Texans Press Conference: LINK
- Interview: IRISH CHOCOLATE
CHRIS WATT -- Drafted 89th overall (3rd Round) by the San Diego Chargers
- Signing bonus: $600,000
- Projected value of first NFL contract: $2.9 million
- San Diego Chargers Press Conference: LINK
PRINCE SHEMBO -- Drafted 139th overall (4th Round) by the Atlanta Falcons
- Signing bonus: $330,000
- Projected value of first NFL contract: $2.5 million
- Interview: PRINCE
BENNETT JACKSON -- Drafted 187th overall (6th Round) by the New York Giants
- Signing bonus: $121,000
- Projected value of first NFL contract: $2.3 million
- New York Giants Press Conference: LINK
T.J. JONES -- Drafted 189th overall (6th Round) by the Detroit Lions
- Signing bonus: $116,000
- Projected value of first NFL contract: $2.3 million
- Detroit Lions Press Conference: LINK
LINK: NOTRE DAME -- 2014 NFL DRAFT PICKS
ND Softball in ACC Championship Game Today!
The #20 ranked Fighting Irish made a remarkable comeback (from five runs down) to beat Virginia Tech yesterday in the ACC Championship Semi-finals to advance to today's Championship game against #4 ranked Florida State.
The game will be televised LIVE on ESPN2 beginning at 2 PM ET -- GO IRISH!
Here's a few highlights from yesterday's comeback win!
LINK: BIG WIN!
ND's New Field: A Baseball Field With No Dirt!
Folks, I'd never thought I'd see the day when you couldn't find a "spec of dirt" on a baseball field...
NONE.
Notre Dame baseball's new playing surface is made entirely from field turf, even the pitching mound! Here's a few of the photos I could find online of this "unique" -- beautiful field. The bottom photo was taken by Notre Dame's award winning photographer Matt Cashore -- which I'm sure you could buy at photos.nd.edu
Oh, by the way -- the Fighting Irish (behind the pitching of multi-sport star Pat Connaughton) beat #24 ranked Clemson 2 - 1 in the first game on their new playing surface.
Media Reaction to ND Players Drafted: Day Two
It's been twenty years since Notre Dame has had this many players taken in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.
Here's what the media is saying this morning about all five of Notre Dame's drafted student-athletes:
ZACK MARTIN -- Dallas Cowboys:
- LINK: RADIO INTERVIEW
STEPHON TUITT -- Pittsburgh Steelers:
- LINK: TEARS OF JOY
- LINK: PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE
- LINK: TRIBUNE REVIEW
TROY NIKLAS -- Arizona Cardinals:
- LINK: ARIZONA CENTRAL
- LINK: ARIZONA SPORTS
- LINK: ESPN
LOUIS NIX III -- Houston Texans:
- LINK: CBS SPORTS
- LINK: HOUSTON CHRONICLE
- LINK: ESPN
CHRIS WATT -- San Diego Chargers:
- LINK: FIRST INTERVIEW
- LINK: SB NATION
- LINK: UT-SAN DIEGO
The 2014 NFL Draft LIVE Beginning at NOON ET
The final day of the 2014 NFL Draft begins in less than 12 hours away -- with Round 4 scheduled to begin at NOON ET on ESPN and the NFL NETWORK. The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- tied with LSU with the most players drafted in the first three rounds -- have a number of players whose names could be called later today:
- T.J. Jones
- Prince Shembo
- Jackson Bennett
- Dan Fox
- Carlo Calabrese
- George Atkinson III
LINK: NOTRE DAME 2014 NFL DRAFT PICKS
Friday, May 9, 2014
Four Domers Selected on Day Two of NFL Draft
Stephon Tuitt, Troy Niklas, Louis Nix III and my man Chris Watt (pictured above) were drafted this evening in Rounds Two and Three of the 2014 NFL Draft --- congratulations!!!
When you add in First Round pick Zack Martin -- the Fighting Irish and the SEC's Louisiana State University are tied with the most players drafted in the first 3 rounds of the 2014 NFL Draft -- think about that!
Here's the detail on each former Notre Dame football star:
Stephon Tuitt:
- Selected #46 overall (Round 2) by the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Projected signing bonus: $1.8 million
- Projected four-year value of first NFL contract: $4.8 million
Troy Niklas:
- Selected #52 overall (Round 2) by the Arizona Cardinals
- Projected signing bonus: $1.4 million
- Projected four-year value of first NFL contract: $4.2 million
Louis Nix III:
- Selected #83 overall (Round 3) by the Houston Texans
- Projected signing bonus: $630,000
- Projected four-year value of first NFL contract: $2.9 million
Chris Watt:
- Selected #89 overall (Round 3) by the San Diego Chargers
- Projected signing bonus: $600,000
- Projected four-year value of first NFL contract: $2.9 million
ND Baseball's New Field on ESPNU Tonight!
The Fighting Irish baseball program has a new playing surface -- FIELD TURF -- and it will be unveiled on national TV tonight in a 7:30 PM ET game televised on ESPNU between Notre Dame and Clemson.
Notre Dame's multi-sport star -- Pat Connaughton will get the start for the IRISH.
LINK: GAME NOTES
Video Replay of Cowboys Calling Zack Martin
Thought you'd enjoy the replay of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, head coach Jason Garrett and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and their call to former Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin -- just prior to the official announcement that he's their first round selection -- 16th overall.
A pretty special moment for Zack and his family!
LINK: PHONE CALL TO ZACK MARTIN
Media Reaction to Cowboys Selecting Martin
Well, the media has forever labeled former Notre Dame offensive lineman Zack Martin as "the guy the Cowboys picked over Johnny Manziel" in the 2014 NFL Draft. I don't think Zack is going to spend much time concerning himself with this...
And, when he's a perennial Pro Bowler -- all will be forgotten.
Here's the media reaction this morning to the Dallas Cowboys selection of Zack Martin as the 16th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft:
LINK: DALLAS MORNING NEWS
LINK: ESPN DALLAS
LINK: CBS SPORTS
LINK: FORBES
NFL Draft Day Two -- Domers Expected to Go...
Here's a few MOCK DRAFTS of this evening's Round Two that has Stephon Tuitt and Louis Nix III being selected -- see below.
The telecast on ESPN and the NFL NETWORK begins at 7:00 PM ET tonight!
LINK: ROUND TWO -- MOCK DRAFT -- USA TODAY
LINK: ROUND TWO -- MOCK DRAFT -- NFL NETWORK
LINK: ROUND TWO -- MOCK DRAFT -- CBS SPORTS
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Zack Martin Goes 16th Overall to the Cowboys!
Former Notre Dame offensive tackle and team captain Zack Martin -- was just drafted 16th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Zack is the 64th Notre Dame football player all-time to be drafted in the NFL's First Round.
Picked at this position -- Zack should receive a signing bonus in the neighborhood of $5.3 million with a total compensation package of $9.6 million over his first four-year contract with the Cowboys...
Congratulations Zack!
LINK: OFF TO THE COWBOYS !
LINK: BUY ZACK'S JERSEY HERE
Three Domers Still in First Round Mock Drafts
Zack Martin, Louis Nix III and Stephon Tuitt are among the forty college football stars who are in the discussion to go among the 32 picks of tonight's First Round of the 2014 NFL Draft. The fun begins at 8 PM ET on ESPN and the NFL NETWORK.
Here's a look at NFL NETWORK guys and their latest mock drafts.
LINK: LATEST MOCK DRAFTS
Expect Zack Martin to Go in First Round Tonight
The 2014 NFL Draft begins tonight at 8 PM ET on ESPN and the NFL NETWORK -- and sometime between 10 PM ET and 11 PM ET -- former Notre Dame offensive tackle Zack Martin will know what football helmet we'll be wearing this Fall.
Here's a story about Zack Martin in the Indianapolis Star:
LINK: ZACK MARTIN
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Less Than 21 Hours to the 2014 NFL Draft
The ever changing NFL "Mock Drafts" -- still have a couple of Notre Dame players going in tomorrow night's PRIME TIME coverage of the First Round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Zach Martin seems to be a lock -- Louis Nix, could be...
The fun begins at 8 PM ET (Thursday) on the NFL Network and ESPN -- here's the latest mock drafts at the NFL.COM site:
LINK: LATEST MOCK DRAFTS
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Skylar Diggins Drops 30 on San Antonio Today!
The former Notre Dame All-American is off to a fantastic start in the WNBA preseason -- scoring 30 points today (making two free throws in the last 2.3 seconds) to lead the Tulsa Shock to a 76 - 75 win over the San Antonio Stars.
Oh what a difference a year makes -- in the Shock's two pre-season games, Skylar is averaging 27.5 points per game -- she averaged just 8.5 points per game as a rookie...
The other former Notre Dame All-American in this game was Kayla McBride -- who made her first start and she responded with a team high 17 points for the Stars. Congrats Kayla!
LINK: GAME STORY
Domer Dad Torii Hunter Sr. Shows Off His Pants
The starting right fielder for the Detroit Tigers -- and father to Notre Dame student-athlete Torii Hunter Jr. -- is seen in this photo wearing his Zubaz pants with his teammates. That's Torii Hunter Sr. -- with the big smile -- on the right.
Jeff Samardzija: You Can't Make This Stuff Up!
How can you have seven starts -- fifty innings pitched -- have an ERA of 1.62 (second best in all of Major League Baseball) and have a winning record of 0 and 3?
You play for the Chicago Cubs...
Last night -- the former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver throws nine SCORELESS innings, giving up three hits while striking out seven. Yet, he doesn't get a decision in the Cubs 3 - 1 loss to the White Sox in 12 innings.
Samardzija's on pace to become the first starter in history to pitch in the MLB All-Star game without a win...
LINK: SAMARDZIJA INTERVIEW -- AFTER THE GAME
LINK: SAMARDZIJA'S OVER THE SHOULDER CATCH
LINK: CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY
Monday, May 5, 2014
Five Draft Experts PIck the NFL's First Round
Two former Notre Dame football stars are among the college players that these "five" CBS SPORTS writers are projecting will go in Thursday night's First Round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
What's disappointing to me is the two players who left early from Notre Dame (Tuitt and Niklas) -- are no where to be found in the first round of these five mock drafts. Here's hoping that they will be "first round surprises."
LINK: MOCK DRAFTS
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