Photo of ND Football Motorcade to South Bend

After this evening's Pep Rally the Fighting Irish jumped aboard three buses for their trip downtown to the Double Tree Hotel -- their Friday night headquarters...  Note the police escort.

Photos From Tonight's Notre Dame Pep Rally

Here's the view of tonight's Pep Rally in South Quad -- note the new Under Armour gear for the Notre Dame cheerleaders.

LINK:  VIDEO

Houston Chronicle Coverage of Rice Owls FB

Took a visit to the Houston Chronicle site to see what they're reporting about their "home team" Rice Owls and their game with our Fighting Irish tomorrow -- here's what I found:

LINK:  HOUSTON CHRONICLE

LINK:  HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Forecast: Can the New Field Turf Handle Rain?

We're going to learn tomorrow if Notre Dame Stadium's new Field Turf surface can handle rain -- maybe lots of it...

Rice vs. Notre Dame is scheduled to kick-off at 3:42 PM ET.

Here's the latest forecast -- click on the link below:

LINK:  RADAR

OT: Under Armour Did the Naval Academy Right

I really like this helmet, uniform combination created by Under Armour for the Naval Academy. 

Notice the player's rank on the shoulder boards and pants (bars).

SHARP!

LINK:  UNDER ARMOUR & NAVY

Brian Kelly Met With Media After Practice Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today after practice to talk about Saturday's game with Rice (and some other news concerning the team).  This is the last time he'll speak with the press until after the game:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY WITH MEDIA

MUST SEE: Notre Dame's 30-Second TV Spot

Folks, this was all done by our team in University Communications at the University of Notre Dame -- in house!

BRAVO!!!

LINK:  MUST SEE

Watch LIVE: Brian Kelly Radio Show 7 PM ET

The Brian Kelly Radio Show returns to the worldwide web this evening beginning at 7 PM ET.  You can watch it LIVE -- right here at the link below:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY RADIO SHOW

Dan Patrick Interviews Brian Kelly Today

I have to admit I always enjoy the interview approach Dan Patrick takes with Brian Kelly -- he asks questions we don't normally hear...

You'll see that in this interview today.  Enjoy!

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY INTERVIEW

Notre Dame to Move Forward on Stadium Work

The University of Notre Dame just announced that they will move forward with the Campus Crossroads Project -- beginning immediately after the last home game this season.

The projected 33-month construction project will bring academic and student life facilities to the heart of Notre Dame's campus.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME ANNOUNCEMENT

LINK:  CAMPUS CROSSROADS SITE

Notre Dame NFL Rookies Survive Roster Cuts

The NFL required each of their teams to cut down their rosters to 75 players yesterday -- as they lead into the last games of the exhibition season tonight.

The next cut (the final cut) -- which will happen by this Saturday at 4 PM ET -- will reduce the rosters to 53 players.

Here's how Notre Dame's NFL Rookies are doing: the eight players drafted in the 2014 Draft are still collecting an NFL pay-check as are two free agents; Dan Fox and George Atkinson III.

LINK:  ZACK MARTIN -- COWBOYS -- 75 MAN ROSTER 

LINK:  STEPHON TUITT -- STEELERS -- 75 MAN ROSTER

LINK:  TROY NIKLAS -- CARDINALS -- 75 MAN ROSTER

LINK:  LOUIS NIX -- TEXANS -- 75 MAN ROSTER

LINK:  CHRIS WATT -- CHARGERS -- 75 MAN ROSTER

LINK:  PRINCE SHEMBO -- 75 MAN ROSTER

LINK:  T.J. JONES -- RESERVE PUP LIST

LINK:  BENNETT JACKSON -- GIANTS -- 75 MAN ROSTER

LINK:  DAN FOX -- GIANTS -- 75 MAN ROSTER

LINK:  GEORGE ATKINSON -- RAIDERS -- 75 MAN ROSTER

Back to FOX Broadcast Booth for Brady Quinn

The Miami Dolphins QB tryout ended yesterday for former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn.  Quinn was given a two-week look by the Phins to try to win the back-up QB position...

However, not all is bad for Brady -- he can now return to FOX SPORTS where they have a broadcasting gig for him.

LINK:  QUINN RELEASED

Current Weather Forecast for Saturday's Game

Here's what the weather team at WNDU-TV is currently forecasting for this weekend's weather for Rice vs. Notre Dame...

Skylar Named WNBA's Most Improved Player

Her sophomore season as a professional has been one for the record books.

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins was just named the WNBA's Most Improved Player.  Skylar received 29 of the 38 votes from a panel of national and local sportswriters and broadcasters.

Skylar averaged 20.1 points for game this season -- after averaging 8.5 points per game last year.  In the process she set the Shock's single season scoring record.  She also led the team in assists, steals and minutes played.

Diggins led the entire WNBA in minutes played per game, she was 2nd overall in points per game and finished 4th in assists.  Way to go Skylar!!!

LINK:  ANNOUNCEMENT

Rice Owls Head Coach Talks Notre Dame Game

The Rice Owls head football coach Dave Bailiff met with the media to talk about his team and Saturday's game against our Fighting Irish:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

Local News Stories on Notre Dame FB Players

Took a lap around the worldwide web and found a couple of stories in local newspapers about two members of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame's defensive line.  Just click on their names below to read their story:

LINK:  JARRON JONES

LINK:  ANDREW TRUMBETTI

Rice Week: Coach Kelly's Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today to discuss Saturday's game against the Rice Owls -- the first game of the 2014 season.

Here's a link to the press conference -- click on the link below to watch:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Reflection: "A College Bound Son..."

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Rick Becker penned a piece the other day about dropping off his son Friday at the University of Notre Dame.  Rick's son Ben is a member of the Class of 2018.

Rick, who has a gift for the written word, passed along a blog post (last night) he had written a few weeks ago as he contemplated sending his oldest off to college.  Enjoy!

LINK:  QUESTIONS FOR THE COLLEGE BOUND

Maybe USC's Josh Shaw Didn't Rescue Boy

University of Southern California defensive back Josh Shaw claimed to have jumped out of a two-story window Saturday night -- onto concrete -- and then crawled into a swimming pool to save his 7 year-old nephew from drowning.

Shaw, a fifth-year senior for the Trojans, suffered injuries to both ankles and is lost indefinitely to the team.

Well, the story breaking in the past hour is -- this may not be true -- see story linked below.

LINK:  RESCUE ???

LINK:  LAPD UPDATE

ND Players & Students to Stand for Alma Mater

The Observer is reporting leaders of the Notre Dame football team met with Student Government last night to inform them that the "team and student body" would stand together after EVERY home game going forward -- not just after wins.

Here's the story:

LINK:  STANDING FOR THE ALMA MATER 

LINK:  ALMA MATER