The Latest Photo From Notre Dame Stadium

Here's what I learned, over the weekend, about the installation of the new Field Turf playing field at Notre Dame Stadium:

• The field -- will be practically FLAT.  There is only a "half of a percent" drop in elevation from midfield to sideline.
• They are currently placing a "rubber" layer over top of the stone -- photo above -- similar to what the Seattle Seahawks did when they installed Field Turf at Century Link Field.
• This is the last step before the new playing surface is installed.

College Football All-American to MLB All-Star

Just found this story this morning on former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija -- enjoy!

LINK:  ALL-AMERICAN TO ALL-STAR

Own a Unique Piece of Notre Dame History!

An auction selling windows from Notre Dame's Main Building (AKA "the Golden Dome") will take place this Wednesday.  The proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanities Women Build project.

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

A Few Tickets Left for 2014 Notre Dame Football

If you'd like to attend a Notre Dame Football game this season -- there are a few tickets left for the games with Rice, Northwestern and Louisville. 

SCHEDULE:

• August 30th -- RICE
• November 15th -- NORTHWESTERN
• November 30th -- LOUISVILLE

LINK:  BUY TICKETS HERE!

Domer Bruton -- The Denver Bronco Biker...

I just found this story on former Notre Dame football player David Bruton -- who's a team captain with the NFL's Denver Broncos...

David has a passion for his motorcycle -- you'll want to see this story.

LINK:  THE BRONCO BIKER

Our "Little Girl" Is Getting Married Today at ND!

In just less than eight hour from now (who's counting) I will have the great honor of walking our daughter Kara down the aisle at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart here at the University of Notre Dame.

I'll have three challenges to overcome:

1. Not crying
2. Not tripping
3. Letting her go...

I hope you'll join me in saying a prayer today for the future Conor & Kara Walsh.  We are thrilled to "officially" welcome Conor into our family -- he's a special young man from a fantastic family.  And today -- he's the luckiest man on the face of the earth.

That's a picture of the two of them yesterday inside Notre Dame Stadium...

MARRY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY!

LINK:  WEDDING STORY

Photo of Under Armour Shoes for ND Coaches

These are the custom "running shoes" that Under Armour has created for the Notre Dame coaching staff.

WOW!

The "Rumored" Shamrock Series Helmet & Uni

There was a post at the blog UNI-WATCH the other day from an individual who said he was at an Under Armour "photo shoot" for Notre Dame that had this year's Shamrock Series helmet and full uniform being worn by a model.

Now the poster said -- "we were not allowed to take pictures..." -- but, he went on to describe what the 2014 Notre Dame Shamrock Series helmet and uniform would look like.

So, a Notre Dame fan took the description and created the images above -- can't beat the Notre Dame fan base can you!  Please know I don't have a clue as to what this year's Shamrock Series helmet and uniform looks like -- but, like many of you -- I can't wait to see it!

Notre Dame Women's Hoops -- Under Armour

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish will practice in style with the new look practice gear that Under Armour is providing Notre Dame...

I like it!

New York Times Fashion Story on Skylar

The just named WNBA All-Star starter and former Notre Dame All-American is in the news again today...

Special thanks to Maureen Staub '78 (a double-Domer) for alerting me to this story.

LINK:  FASHIONISTA

Photo of Ricky Watters in ND Ceramics Class

He's got a Super Bowl Ring and Five Pro Bowls to his credit -- yet he's back "home" at Notre Dame to get that degree!

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!