OT: A "Gray" Colored Football Field for EMU

Don't adjust your television...

LINK:  EASTERN MICHIGAN'S NEW FIELD

Carlos Calabrese Awaits Call From NFL Teams

Former Notre Dame linebacker Carlos Calabrese is back home in New Jersey -- working out and awaiting a phone call from a NFL team.  Calabrese had a rookie tryout with the Cleveland Browns but they chose not to offer him a contract.

Here's the story:

LINK:  CALABRESE

Dan Fox Turning Heads in NY Giants Camp

Found this article this morning -- I sure hope this young man makes the New York "Football" Giants team!

LINK:  FOX

Missed This: Cardinals' Troy Niklas Injured

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Troy Niklas broke his right hand at practice (photo above) a couple of weeks ago...

LINK:  BROKEN HAND

Domer Besler -- Soccer's Hottest Commodity

Former Notre Dame All-American Matt Besler '09 is now the target of soccer clubs all over the world.  The defenseman played brilliantly for the US National Team at the 2014 World Cup and teams have taken notice.

Here's the story:

LINK:  BESLER

Samardzija Traded to First Place Athletics!

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has apparently been traded this evening from the Chicago Cubs to the first place Oakland Athletics.

LINK:  SHARK TRADED

Must Read Story About a Boy and Notre Dame

Notre Dame fans -- you're going to want to read this story...

That's wide receiver Corey Robinson (San Antonio, TX) and offensive lineman Steve Elmer (Midland, MI) in the photo above.

LINK:  HOW NOTRE DAME HELPED MY SON

Notre Dame Fans: Here's the Field Turf Story

I thought the Fighting Irish fan base would enjoy learning a little more about the new playing surface being installed inside Notre Dame Stadium. 

Here's the Field Turf promotional video followed by a short video that tells the story about how field turf drains water -- interesting stuff here...

LINK:  FIELD TURF PROMO VIDEO

LINK:  KEEPING THE SURFACE DRY

LINK:  COMPANY WEBSITE

OT: Baylor's New Stadium Field Turf Installation

As you can see in this photo -- the field turf is being laid directly over top of the stone surface -- here at Baylor's brand new football stadium.

A photo of the progress inside Notre Dame Stadium (see post) shows a stone covered playing surface -- the actual turf installation must not be far off!

Know Thy Opponent: First Look at Rice Owls

Here's a USA Today story on Notre Dame's first opponent of the 2014 season -- the Rice Owls.

Not many "top tier" college football programs schedule an opening game with a team coming off of a TEN WIN season -- yet, that's the case with the Irish home opener with Rice.  The Owls went 10 - 3 last season.

LINK:  RICE OWLS

This Is the Package Under Armour Is Using...

Over the past few days -- Under Armour has sent out a "gold" case out to influencers announcing the official start of their relationship with Notre Dame -- here is what it looks like.

Latest Photo Taken From Notre Dame Stadium

The new field turf installation keeps humming along inside Notre Dame Stadium.  As you can see a layer of stone now resides over top of the drainage system...

The first game against Rice is now only 59 days away!

Must Read Story: Domer Mark Green '89

Notre Dame fans will remember former student-athlete Mark Green '89, who played running back during the Holtz era for the Fighting Irish. 

His is a story the Notre Dame Football staff will want to share with a number of the top high school football players (and their families) in the country...

LINK:  MARK GREEN

Under Armour Market Cap Up $3.9 Billion!

On January 21, 2014 the University of Notre Dame and Under Armour announced the largest shoe and apparel contract in the history of collegiate athletics.  At the time -- Under Armour's market cap was $8.96 Billion.

Fast forward 164 days later...

Under Armour's market cap is now $12.89 Billion -- an increase of 43.5% since the Notre Dame announcement.

Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin a Notre Dame Fan

This photo was making the rounds on Twitter the last few days.  It shows former Notre Dame running back Vagas Ferguson with three young Fighting Irish fans...

Well, the young man in the Notre Dame sweatshirt on the left is none other than the head football coach for the Texas A&M Aggies -- Kevin Sumlin.

Sumlin grew up in Indiana...

ND Single Game Tickets Go On Sale July 10th

If you're looking to go to a Notre Dame Football game this season -- here's your last chance!

The un-sold single game tickets go on sale Thursday, July 10th at 6 PM ET -- click on the link below.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL TICKETS

Notre Dame Licensee Tag on Michigan Gear

You can't make this up -- either Adidas is trying to save money by recycling Notre Dame stuff -- or, merchandise isn't selling well in Ann Arbor and they needed a little help...

Someone is going to hear about this.

Shamrock Series Helmet Design -- TEASE!

Ryan Grooms and the Notre Dame Football Equipment staff know how to "tease" their audience.

Grooms "tweeted" this photo today -- obviously, the 2014 SHAMROCK SERIES HELMET has been designed and it's in this box.

You can follow Ryan on Twitter @NDFBEquipment

Notre Dame Football -- The Official Football

The Notre Dame Football Equipment staff is busy this week getting all of the Under Armour gear set-up for the upcoming season.  One of the shipments that arrived is the official Wilson Notre Dame footballs...

Got To Love These Notre Dame Football Shoes!

The Under Armour "effect" has come to Notre Dame...