Chris Watt Throws Out First Pitch for Padres

Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Chris Watt '13 -- now with the San Diego Chargers -- threw out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres' ball game at Petco Park.  Here's a link to the photo gallery:

LINK:  WATT'S PITCHING SKILLS

Fighting Alumni Play for $500 K Tomorrow!

A number of former Notre Dame basketball players "The Fighting Alumni" are playing tournament favorites "Team Barstool" in the championship game of The Basketball Tournament tomorrow night at 7 PM ET. 

The game -- which will be played at Boston University will be streamed live on Watch ESPN -- see game story linked below.

GO IRISH!

LINK:  FORMER IRISH STARS PLAYING FOR $500,000

Jerian Grant's Brother Taken in Second Round

Jerami Grant -- the younger brother of Notre Dame senior guard Jerian Grant -- was drafted 39th overall in the 2nd round of the 2014 NBA Draft tonight by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jerami left early for the NBA having just completed his sophomore season with the Syracuse Orange.  At one point (five months ago) he was considered a "top-ten pick" and he goes in the second round.

Big brother Jerian has returned to Notre Dame for his final season...

Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Brown's Book

Former Notre Dame All-American, Heisman Trophy winner and NFL great Tim Brown -- has just published a book entitled "The Making of a Man" -- his life story.

Here's a link to Tim's interview about the book -- along with a second link to where you can buy it!

LINK:  TIM BROWN INTERVIEW

LINK:  BUY IT HERE!

Photo of Irish Chocolate and Alex Flanagan

Former Notre Dame student-athlete and now Houston Texan -- Louis Nix '14 and former NBC / Notre Dame sideline reporter Alex Flanagan got together today to take this photo. 

Apparently, Irish Chocolate is down to 328 lbs.

Notre Dame Wins the Capital One Cup !!!

The University of Notre Dame has won the Capital One Cup for Men's Athletics for the 2013 - 2014 academic year!  This is according to a "tweet" last night from ND Athletics' John Heisler.

The Capital One Cup is awarded annually to each of the best men's and women's Division I college athletics programs in the country. Points toward the Capital One Cup are earned and tracked throughout the year based on final standings of NCAA Championships and final official coaches' polls. One winning men's and one winning women's program will be crowned after the completion of the final NCAA spring championships. Capital One will award a combined $400,000 in student-athlete scholarships and the Capital One Cup trophy to the winning schools at the ESPY awards in July. 

A huge accomplishment for our Athletics Department!

LINK:  CHAMPIONS!

Big ND Announcement: Turbo Research Facility

The University of Notre Dame -- in partnership with General Electric, City of South Bend, State of Indiana, Great Lakes Capital and Indiana Michigan Power -- announced the construction of a $36 million research facility for gas turbine engines.

The 43,000 square foot facility will be built in South Bend's Ignition Park -- see the story below:

LINK:  NEW RESEARCH FACILITY

Domer Huffer Wins First Pro Golf Tournament!

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Becca Huffer '12 won the Michigan Open yesterday -- birdieing the last two holes (after nearly a four hour rain delay) to finish with an 11-under score for the tournament.

This is the first professional win for the former Fighting Irish team captain.  CONGRATULATIONS BECCA!  Click on the link below -- you'll see Becca's interview after winning the tournament:

I want to thank ND GO IRISH BLOG regular and former CEO of the Michigan Section of the PGA of America -- Ken Devine for alerting me to Becca's win.
 

LINK:  DOMER WINS TOURNAMENT

Georgia Comes to Notre Dame Stadium in 2017

A "home and home" football series was announced today between the University of Georgia and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  The first game will be held at Notre Dame Stadium in 2017 -- marking only the second time in history that these two schools will meet in football -- they will meet again in Athens in 2019.

A more interesting stat is this -- the 2017 game at Notre Dame will be the first time in 52 years that Georgia plays a football game "north" of the MASON DIXON LINE...

Here's the latest photo of the new field turf installation going on right now inside Notre Dame Stadium.

Notre Dame / Under Armour: Midnight Madness

It's just a guess -- but I have to believe this is a first for a college campus -- a midnight apparel sale...

But, when you match Notre Dame with Under Armour -- it's only fitting that fans line up for a sale at the strike of midnight -- Tuesday, July 1st.

Only Notre Dame...

LINK:  MIDNIGHT MADNESS

OT: Photo of "Pure Michigan" Cloud

Only Mother Nature could pull this off...

Lions' Theo Riddick "Consensus MVP..."

Former Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick is being labeled "the consensus MVP of the off-season" for the Detroit Lions. 

Check these stories out:

LINK:  TEAM MVP

LINK:  LIONS INSIDER

T.J. Jones Undergoes Minor Shoulder Surgery

Notre Dame fans will remember T.J. Jones '14 playing through a shoulder injury much of last season -- that he re-injured during the bowl game at Yankee Stadium against Rutgers...

Well, the Detroit Lion wide receiver -- underwent what's being called "minor" surgery to repair an AC sprain.

See the story below:

LINK:  SHOULDER SURGERY

Notre Dame Picking the ACC: "A Smart Move"

NBC's Keith Arnold weighed in on a story written by Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel about the Big Ten's expansion plans -- and Notre Dame's decision to join up with the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Interesting read here...

LINK:  A SMART MOVE

Kelly Cares Gives Back to Grand Valley State

You have to like this story...

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui were back in the West Michigan area yesterday for a Kelly Cares Foundation golf event -- and as you'll see in the story linked below, it was time to give back to a community and a family that was good to them.

LINK:  GIFT TO GRAND VALLEY STATE

LINK:  STORY

Is This Why Samardzija Said No to Cubs Offer?

In eight starts this year at Chicago's Wrigley Field -- Samardzija has a 1.63 ERA.

Folks, in those eight starts -- he has a record of 1 - 3.

Last week is was reported that the former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver turned down an $85 million contract extension with the Cubs.  Think he wants to keep pitching at Wrigley in a Cubs uniform?

Last night Samardzija gave up one run in six innings (in a 6 - 1 Cub's loss) lowering his ERA to 2.53 on the season -- the 11th best ERA in all of Major League Baseball.

Sad fact:  Samardzija is one of only two starting pitchers -- among the top 30 with the lowest ERA in all of Major League Baseball -- with a losing record.

LINK:  SAME OLD STORY

See Rocket Ismail on ABC Tomorrow Night !!!

Former Notre Dame All-American Raghib "Rocket" Ismail will be joining the folks on the ABC TV show EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS -- tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 8:00 PM ET -- must see TV!

LINK:  TUNE-IN TEASER

July 4th -- "Under Armour Day" for ND Fans!

Just saw this today...

LINK:  UNDER ARMOUR AND ND

Photo of Golden Tate's Super Bowl Ring

183 diamonds make up the Super Bowl ring given to former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate.

Now, it might not be the most beautiful Super Bowl ring I've ever seen...

LINK:  GOLDEN'S SUPER RING

Chicago Blackhawks Returning to Notre Dame

The NHL's Chicago Blackhawks will make a return trip to the campus of the University of Notre Dame on Friday, September 19th to begin their 2014 training camp at the Compton Family Ice Arena.

Here's the story:

LINK:  BLACKHAWKS RETURN