Celtic Women in South Bend This Evening...

Here's a couple members of Celtic Women being interviewed on local TV in South Bend.  They're performing a Christmas concert tonight at the Morris Performing Arts Center.

LINK:  WSBT-TV INTERVIEW

LINK:  VIDEO OF PERFORMANCE

Manti Te'o -- An "Every Down" NFL Linebacker!

For the first time in his NFL career -- Manti Te'o played all 74 defensive snaps -- never leaving the field...

LINK:  MANTI STAYS

Notre Dame Men's Hoops Moves Up to #16!!!

The surprise team in all of men's college basketball team has to be the FIGHTING IRISH of NOTRE DAME!

Notre Dame's great start has taken them from 'un-ranked' to now #16 in both major basketball polls.

LINK:  COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLLS

Suspect Captured In One of Notre Dame's Lakes

In the "you can't make this up" category...

A suspect, after fleeing Mishawaka police -- ended up in Saint Mary's Lake (just behind Notre Dame's Grotto) in water up to his neck a little after noon today -- before his capture and arrest.

The suspect, claimed to have a gun -- but no gun was found on him.

The Notre Dame campus was placed on "lock-down" during the chase.

You're going to want to read this story.

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY

LINK:  WSBT-TV STORY

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  FOX-28 STORY

LINK:  PHOTOS

MUST SEE: First Game at Notre Dame Stadium

Alliyah and Felisha, two friends and guests at South Bend's Center for the Homeless -- attended their first Notre Dame football game this Fall. 

You must see this!

LINK:  FIRST TIME FANS

In the ND Locker Room and On the Sidelines

Notre Dame fans -- if I told you I saw this coming, I'd be lying...

We have a basketball team!

LINK:  ND THUMPS PURDUE

Domer Highlights Today -- Week 16 in the NFL

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame were well represented today in the National Football League...

Former Irish QB Jimmy Clausen (that's Jimmy after the game kissing his fiance) threw two TD passes today in the Bears 20 - 14 loss to the Detroit Lions -- key fact:

These are the first TD passes thrown by a ND QB in the NFL in more than two years (the last was thrown by Brady Quinn for the Kansas City Chiefs on December 2, 2012).

Here's a look at some of the highlights today from a number of former Notre Dame student-athletes now in the National Football League:

LINK:  CLAUSEN HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  JIMMY "THE FIGHTIN' IRISH" CLAUSEN

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH INTERCEPTION

LINK:  JONAS GRAY -- GAME WINNER

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE'S GREAT CATCH

Brian Kelly's Post Practice Media Session

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today after the Fighting Irish's practice for the Music City Bowl.  Here's a link as to what he had to say:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

#21 Notre Dame Routs Purdue by 31 in Indy!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish are on a roll...

Purdue held an early lead -- then it was over.  As the Irish hammer the Boilermakers by the score of 94 - 63.  Here's the highlights:

LINK:  BIG WIN FOR ND

One Guess As To The "Game of the Year"

All I will say is it involved a penalty flag...

LINK:  GAME OF THE YEAR

Aerial Photo of Crossroads Construction at ND

If you lived in close proximity of the Notre Dame campus -- you've never seen so many dump trucks in all of your life...

Here's a look at the West side of the Stadium -- the East side looks similar.

Meet Notre Dame's "Rhodes Scholar"

Alex Coccia '14 was named a RHODES SCHOLAR...

LINK:  ALEX COCCIA

The #1 College Football Stadium Experience

The "House that Rock built" was just named the #1 College Football Stadium Experience by Stadium Journey Magazine...

LINK:  RANKINGS

LINK:  NOTRE DAME STADIUM -- REVIEW

Les Miles Talks About Notre Dame Game...

Les Miles was talking with reporters about the Music City Bowl game against Notre Dame -- got the sense he's not too worried about either Golson or Zaire...

LINK:  LES MILES

NBC Sports Network To Televise ECHOES 14

I don't think there is another football team on the planet whose annual awards show is aired on one of the national sports networks...  ONLY NOTRE DAME!

Be sure to tune-in this Saturday afternoon (December 20) at 1:30 PM ET to the NBC Sports Network to watch Skylar Diggins and Mike Mayock host ECHOES 14.

Long-Time Notre Dame Team Doctor Passes...

98 year-old Dr. Les Bodnar left for heaven this morning...

Bodnar served as Notre Dame Football's Team Doctor from Frank Leahy to Gerry Faust -- 35 years on the job -- while building his own private practice, South Bend Orthopedics.

He authored two books, served Joe Montana the legendary "chicken soup" in the Cotton Bowl game against Houston -- and worked the sidelines of four Notre Dame National Champions; 1949, 1966, 1973 and 1977.

He lived quite a life.

I want to thank ND GO IRISH BLOG regular Janet Geans for alerting me to this story.

LINK:  BODNAR OCTOBER INTERVIEW

LINK:  BUY HIS BOOK!

LSU Safety Talks Notre Dame QB Preparation

The MUSIC CITY BOWL is only 13 days away...

Here's LSU safety Ronald Martin talking about the Notre Dame QB's and how they're preparing for them.

LINK:  LSU PLAYER

Domer Jimmy Clausen Gets Sunday NFL Start

Word on the street is former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen will get his first NFL start (since 2010) when he leads the Chicago Bears against the first-place Detroit Lions this Sunday at Soldier Field.

Good luck Jimmy!

LINK:  BEARS BENCH CUTLER

LINK:  CLAUSEN CAREER STATS

Notre Dame Men's Hoops Now Ranked #21

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish have moved up in the polls to #21 in both the AP and Coaches Poll -- after the 20 point win over Florida State Saturday night.

Notre Dame is the "fifth" highest ranked team among the ACC schools.

LINK:  BASKETBALL POLLS

Coach Brian Kelly: "Both QB's Will Play..."

Well, I can't say I'm surprised...

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today after the Fighting Irish's third practice for the Music City Bowl game against LSU -- and he broke the news that both Everett Golson and Malik Zaire would play against the Tigers...

LINK:  COACH KELLY