NBC's New Notre Dame Sideline Reporter

NBC announced yesterday that Kathryn Tappen will be Alex Flanagan's replacement as the sideline reporter for Notre Dame Football this season.

Tappen will also be working NBC's NHL Live and Football Night in America...

Tappen, a former All-American track runner at Rutgers University, is married to former NHL hockey player Jay Leach. 

You'll find a link to Kathryn's interview of Will Ferrell below...

Welcome Kathryn!

LINK:  FERRELL INTERVIEW

LINK:  NBC ANNOUNCEMENT

Latest Video From Inside Notre Dame Stadium

As you will see -- the sub-surface for the Field Turf installation at Notre Dame Stadium looks to be complete -- now it's time to start laying down the field...

LINK:  FIELD TURF TIME LAPSE

Notre Dame Football Tickets: On Sale Thursday

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

Beginning at 6 PM ET -- Thursday, July 10th -- single game tickets go on sale at UND.COM only!

Beginning at 8:30 AM ET -- Friday, July 11th -- you can buy them by calling the Notre Dame Ticket Office (574-631-7356) -- or, by visiting the Ticket Office in person.

Here are the games that still have tickets available for sale:

• Rice
• Northwestern
• Louisville
• Purdue  (Lucas Oil Stadium -- Indianapolis)
• Stanford

LINK:  BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE HERE!

Will Jimmy Clausen Stick With the Bears?

Former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen is one of three QB's on the Chicago Bears' roster -- looking to earn the "back-up" role to Jay Cutler this fall.  Here's the latest from Chicago on the QB battle:

LINK:  CLAUSEN IN A BATTLE

Domer Turner a Finalist For Gatorade Award

Incoming Notre Dame student-athlete Brianna Turner (she's already enrolled in the Summer Semester at ND) is a finalist for the Gatorade Athlete of the Year which will be announced July 15th in Los Angeles at the ESPYS.

Brianna is the #1 ranked incoming women's college basketball player, the MVP of the most recent McDonald's All American Game and the reigning Gatorade Women's High School Basketball Player of the Year.

Here's the story:

LINK:  BRIANNA

Trade Keeps Samardzija from All-Star Game!

It was just announced that Jeff Samardzija was selected to play for the National League in the upcoming All-Star game.  However, his trade from the Chicago Cubs to the Oakland A's will keep him out of the game...

I'm sure Cubs' fans are happy about this.

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA -- A TRADED ALL-STAR

Hey A's Fans It's: S-A-M-A-R-D-Z-I-J-A !!!

Got to love this sign hanging from the upper deck at Oakland's Coliseum today for Jeff Samardzija's first start for the A's...

The big trade looks pretty good right now!

Jeff pitched 7 innings giving up 1 run, 4 hits while striking out 5 in the A's 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays -- winning his American League debut.

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA WINS A'S DEBUT

A New Look for Jeff Samardzija in Oakland

His hair and mustache would have fit in nicely with the Oakland A's of yesteryear -- Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley, Coco Crisp, etc.

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has found a new home with the Oakland Athletics -- after the big July 4th trade which sent him to the west coast from the Chicago Cubs.

Here's a photo of Jeff in the Oakland A's dugout last night -- along with photos of former A's; Crisp, Eckersley and Fingers.

Samardzija gets the start today for the A's in their game against the Toronto Blue Jays -- first pitch at 4:05 PM ET -- I'll have the results when the game is over.

LINK:  STARTING TODAY

Under Armour Displays at ND's Bookstore

I've been shopping at the Notre Dame Hammes Bookstore for as long as I can remember -- yet, I saw something I've never seen before in a display on this campus...

GOLD MANNEQUINS

Leave it to Under Armour to think of this -- brilliant!

I Forgot the Plays Everett Golson Makes...

What a difference a QB who can run and throw in Brian Kelly's offense makes...

Prediction:  This will be the most dynamic offense at Notre Dame in the last 20 years!

Can't wait to see #5 back taking snaps for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish!

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

Notre Dame's Everett Golson At Elite 11 Camp

Notre Dame QB Everett Golson is out in Oregon this week to serve as a counselor for the Elite 11 QB camp. 

Here's a photo of Everett along with QB guru coach George Whitfield, Connor Cook (Michigan State QB) and David Webb (Texas Tech QB).

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!