Only 43 Days to Notre Dame Football...

I can't wait!

Nine Notre Dame football players were named to "Watch Lists" for the various season ending awards.  Fighting Irish sophomore linebacker Jaylon Smith is on FIVE...

LINK:  WATCH LIST

Brady Quinn Attends NFL Films Boot Camp

Former Notre Dame All-American QB Brady Quinn attended an NFL Films boot camp for aspiring TV journalists a couple of weeks ago -- as you'll see in this Cleveland Plain Dealer story. 

I also learned that Quinn underwent back surgery this past November -- something I didn't know.

LINK:  CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER STORY

Manti Back Home for Event With Oregon QB

Former Notre Dame All-American Manti Te'o was back in Honolulu this week for an event at the Downtown Athletic Club with Oregon QB Marcus Mariota.  Here's a link to the news coverage:

LINK:  MANTI AND MARIOTA

Skylar Plays in Her First WNBA All-Star Game

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins was voted a starter in today's WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.  Tip-off time is set for 3:30 PM ET on ESPN.

Here is a link to Skylar talking about today's game and what she did to improve her game:

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS TALKS ALL-STAR GAME

Notre Dame's New Track & Field Head Coach

Alan Turner was just named the new head Track & Field coach at the University of Notre Dame.

Congratulations Alan!

LINK:  TURNER

Field Turf Additions -- Shipped to Notre Dame

The above photo was "tweeted" today by the gang at Field Turf.  Next stop -- Notre Dame Stadium!

The image below shows a "photo shopped" Notre Dame Stadium with the Field Turf installed -- courtesy of Dan Worthington.

Notre Dame Photos From ESPYS Last Night

Notre Dame soccer player Max Lachowecki (gray suit and bow tie) posted some photos last night on TWITTER:

1. Top photo:  Max with Lisa Leslie (WNBA) and Jennie Finch (USA Softball) along with Notre Dame student-athletes Garrett McGrath (fencing) and Steve O'Hara (lacrosse) backstage at the ESPYS
2. Middle photo:  Max with dance stars Jabbawockeez
3. Bottom photo:  Max with Notre Dame women's basketball's Brianna Turner on the ESPYS red carpet

ESPYS: Brianna Turner On the Red Carpet

Notre Dame student-athlete Brianna Turner was at the ESPYS last night for being named Gatorade's High School Athlete of the Year.  Turner, the nation's #1 ranked girl's high school basketball player this past season -- is already enrolled at Notre Dame this summer...

Click on the link below and see Brianna in the 360 photo booth at the ESPYS:

LINK:  PHOTO BOOTH

Golden Tate and Max Lachowecki at ESPYS

Former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate was on the ESPYS stage last night when Max Lachowecki (Soccer) accepted the Capital One Cup for the Fighting Irish!

Here's a couple of links of Max Lachowecki in the 360 photo booth:

LINK:  MAX

LINK:  MAX II

ESPYS: Notre Dame Receives Capital One Cup

Here's the photo of the three Notre Dame student-athletes who were in attendance last night at the ESPYS to receive the Capital One Cup for the 2013-14 season.  It's the first time ever that Notre Dame has won this award!

Top photo L TO R:  Garrett McGrath (Fencing), Max Lachowecki (Soccer) and Steve O'Hara (Lacrosse)

ESPYS: Video Clip of Skylar Diggins & Drake

Skylar Diggins is everywhere...

Here she is making an appearance last night on the ESPYS -- see video linked below.  Apparently, Drake has a little crush on Skylar -- as you'll see in the Washington Post article linked below:

LINK:  SKYLAR

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

Mike Brey Called Out for Fashion Faux Pas

I'm sure Notre Dame's men's basketball head coach Mike Brey will get a laugh out of this story...

LINK:  CHANGING COLLEGE HOOPS FASHION

Must See TV Tonight: The ESPY'S at 9 PM ET

Four Notre Dame student-athletes will walk the red carpet and will be on camera tonight at ESPN's annual awards show -- The ESPY'S.  The show starts at 9 PM ET on ESPN.

Here's what's in store:

• Brianna Turner -- the #1 ranked high school women's basketball player, who's already enrolled at Notre Dame, was named Gatorade's National High School Athlete of the Year last night.  She'll be honored this evening during the ESPY'S
• And, these three Fighting Irish student-athletes (Max Lachowecki -- tennis, Garrett McGrath -- fencing and Steve O'Hara -- lacrosse) were selected to represent Notre Dame tonight as we receive the 2013-14 CAPITAL ONE CUP men's sports national title.  The first time ND has ever won this award!

Domer Named Gatorade's National HS AOY!

Brianna Turner was just named Gatorade's National High School Athlete of the Year tonight!!!

This makes "back to back" years for Notre Dame student-athletes receiving this award.  Last year Morgan Andrews (Notre Dame women's soccer) received this honor.  It's the third in five years for Notre Dame student-athletes -- as Skylar Diggins received this honor in 2009.

Turner, the nation's top women's high school basketball player was in Los Angeles tonight to receive the award.  Brianna is already enrolled at Notre Dame and will be counted on BIG TIME this season for Muffet's squad.

LINK:  HOUSTON CHRONICLE

LINK: HS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR!

LINK:  PRESS RELEASE FROM NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Freshman's 8th Grade Letter to Self

Jonathan Bonner is one of Notre Dame's incoming freshman football players -- he's a DE / OLB recruit.  Today, Jonathan posted a letter on TWITTER that he wrote to himself in the 8th grade -- click on it above to enlarge!

As you'll see -- he was dreaming of going to Notre Dame four years ago...  Pretty special young man.

A Rainbow Over Notre Dame Today!

Got to love it!

If you follow @NotreDame on Twitter -- you will see photos like this...

Samardzija: A MLB All-Star Without a TEAM

Tonight's 2014 Major League All-Star Game from Minneapolis will feature a unique set of circumstances for former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija.

Jeff will be introduced as a National League All-Star before the game -- then he'll head over to the American League dugout to watch the game...

Here's the story:

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA'S ALL-STAR EXPERIENCE

The Next 55 Days Can't Get Here Fast Enough!

The #1 winningest college football team in the world (NOTRE DAME) plays the #2 winningest college football team in the world (Michigan) in only 55 days...

Found this video today on the web -- ARE YOU READY FOR THIS!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. MICHIGAN

A Domer Spends "Three Minutes in the Chair"

Domer Jimmy Small '08 spent some time prior to Saturday night's Indy Car Race at Iowa Speedway doing an interview with the local NBC affiliate:

LINK:  THREE MINUTES IN THE CHAIR

ESPN Calls on Notre Dame's Rudy to Explain...

I guess it makes perfect sense for ESPN to turn to a movie character associated with the university which graduates the most student-athletes in the world...

Even though they have a TV contract with the SEC.

LINK:  RUDY EXPLAINS