Tommy Hawkins Returns "Home" to Notre Dame

One of the all-time great Notre Dame people Tommy Hawkins -- was honored this past weekend with membership in the NOTRE DAME BASKETBALL RING OF HONOR.

Here's a recap of "The Hawk's" visit HOME -- you'll want to watch this -- see link below.

I must admit I had tears in my eyes during his acceptance speech Saturday:

LINK:  TOMMY HAWKINS

Tennessee Coach & Players Talk Loss to ND

Here is Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick along with her players -- with the media -- after their 88 - 77 loss to the Fighting Irish tonight...

LINK:  COACH WARLICK

LINK:  PLAYERS

Muffet & Players Post Game Presser After Win

Notre Dame women's head basketball coach Muffet McGraw met with the media tonight after her #6 Fighting Irish beat #5 Tennessee 88 - 77.

Jewell Loyd and Taya Reimer were also asked questions by the media.

Here's what they had to say:

LINK:  MUFFET PRESSER

OT: My Cousin Dropped a "Quadruple Double"

Tara Lierman, a senior at Holt High School (MI) -- earlier this week recorded a rare "quadruple double" -- scoring 28 points, dishing out 12 assists, grabbing 11 rebounds and 10 steals...  That's her in the photo above -- #10.

In a game three days later she throws in another 28 points, 8 assists and 5 steals.  Tara has already committed to playing college soccer at Grand Valley State -- a huge get for the Lakers!

She's up for the Lansing State Journal's "ATHLETE OF THE WEEK."  Tara's a big Notre Dame fan -- you can vote for her at the link below:

LINK:  TARA LIERMAN

List of ND Opponents Losing Players to NFL

Here's the list of 2015 Notre Dame football opponents who are losing players "early" to the NFL Draft:

• USC:  4 players
• Stanford:  2 players
• Clemson:  1 player
• Texas:  1 player
• UMass:  1 player

#6 Notre Dame's BIG Win Over #5 Tennessee

Jewell Loyd was the best women's basketball player on the PLANET tonight...

• 34 Points
• 5 Rebounds
• 4 Assists

And, Lindsay Allen and Jewell Loyd served notice that they just might be the best back court in the country.

As #6 ND beat #5 Tennessee tonight 88 - 77 in front of a national TV audience - in a game the Volunteers were looking to "dominate" the Fighting Irish.  This was Notre Dame's 6th win this season over a top-25 team.  A win that will help the Fighting Irish at NCAA Tournament seeding time.

It was a battle between the #4 scoring offense in the country -- Notre Dame -- vs. the #8 scoring defense in the country -- Tennessee.  THE OFFENSE WON.

The Irish came into the game averaging 85.4 points a game, Tennessee came in allowing only 51.8 points a game.

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN GAME RECAP

Had to Share This On Martin Luther King Day

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Sergio Brown -- who now plays for the Indianapolis Colts -- just posted this photo and comments on his Instagram account.

Thought you'd enjoy its content on a day like today.

sergiobrown38 1 hour ago · God's country
The Rev. Theodore M Hesburgh, C.S.C., president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. linking hands in solidarity during a civil rights rally at Soldier Field in Chicago in 1964. The University of Notre Dame has a long-standing commitment to diversity and social justice. We recognize that an academic community must be diverse in gender, race and ethnicity, country of origin, socio-economic group, and religion to be a community rich in perspectives, learning, and culture. The variegated texture of Notre Dame prepares graduates to live and work in a world that is global in reach and diverse in composition. So proud and glad #ND chose me to be a part of something special they told us it's a life long deal, not just 4 yrs. They taught us to think for ourselves, challenge beliefs and to love. #WeAreND #MLK

Notre Dame Women -- "Wearin' of the Green"

It's BIG MONDAY on ESPN2 tonight and the eyes of the women's college basketball world will be on Notre Dame, IN as the #6 Fighting Irish host #5 Tennessee in a game that will probably play a role in the "seedings" for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The Fighting Irish will be wearin' the GREEN tonight from Under Armour!

Rare Air: Only Two Top Ten Hoops Teams!

There's only two college athletic programs in the country who can make this claim today -- two teams ranked among the TOP TEN in college basketball! 

Notre Dame and Louisville.

LINK:  MEN'S BASKETBALL -- AP POLL

LINK:  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL -- AP POLL

Notre Dame Men's Basketball Cracks TOP TEN!

The 17 - 2 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are ranked #8 in the AP Poll and #9 today in the Coaches Poll!

LINK:  AP POLL

LINK:  USA TODAY COACHES POLL
 

HBO Real Sports: DOMER Dad Collinsworth

This Tuesday (January 20) at 10 PM ET -- Bryant Gumble's REAL SPORTS will be doing a feature on NBC's Cris Collinsworth -- father of two Notre Dame sons; Austin and Jac.

Here's a sneak preview:

LINK:  COLLINSWORTH

#5 Tennessee vs. #6 Notre Dame on ESPN2

If you're looking for some good TV tonight -- Muffet's Fighting Irish will be taking on the Tennessee Volunteers at 7 PM ET on ESPN2.

Should be fun!


LINK:  TENNESSEE COACH TALKING NOTRE DAME

Domer Golden Tate Earns Ticket to Pro Bowl!

Former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate finally received the phone call he should have received weeks ago -- he's headed to Phoenix to play in the NFL's Pro Bowl game.

Golden led the Lions with 99 catches and 1,331 yards receiving.

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE -- NFL PRO BOWL

Brian Kelly's Biggest Recruiting Trip of the Year

The folks at Fox Sports recount Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly's trip to Las Vegas and Indianapolis during the NCAA mandated recruiting "quiet period."

Interesting to learn that Notre Dame is purchasing "loss of value" insurance coverage for players willing to stay another year.

It landed the Fighting Irish two "FIVE STAR" recruits who will see "early" playing time next season...

LINK:  RECRUITING TRIP

Irish Hockey's Jeff Jackson Gets Win #400 !!!

Notre Dame hockey's Jeff Jackson just recorded his 400th career win as a head coach as the Fighting Irish beat UCONN 6 -1.

Congratulations Coach Jackson!

Ric Flair Weighs In On Domer's Impersonation

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Sergio Brown -- has earned the respect of Ric Flair with his Indianapolis Colts locker room impression...

Have to admit, I never thought there would be a Ric Flair post on the ND GO IRISH BLOG.

LINK:  RIC FLAIR

Notre Dame Basketball: ACC & NCAA Ranking

A 17 - 2 start to the 2014 - 2014 season for Notre Dame -- and a #12 ranking -- has turned the heads of many in the college basketball world.  Here's how the IRISH stack up in the ACC and the NCAA in a number of statistical categories:


ACC -- 15 TEAMS:

• 2nd place in the league -- "half game out of first"
• Field Goal % -- 1st in the ACC
• 3 Point Field Goals Made -- 1st in the ACC 
• Points Per Game -- 2nd in the ACC
• Free Throw % -- 2nd in the ACC
• 3 Point Field Goal % -- 2nd in the ACC
• Turnover Per Game (Fewest) -- 2nd in the ACC
• Jerian Grant is 2nd in the ACC in assists per game
• Zach Auguste is 2nd in the ACC in field goal percentage
• Demetrius Jackson is 4th in the ACC in steals per game

NCAA -- 351 TEAMS:

• Field Goal % -- 2nd in the country
• Points per game -- 12th in the country
• 3 Point Field Goal % -- 17th in the country
• 3 Point Field Goals Per Game -- 18th in the country
• Assists Per Game -- 29th in the country

A "Fighting Irish" Family -- A Must Read Story

Many of you may remember the name Brian Hardin -- he's the former Director of Football Media Relations at the University of Notre Dame...

Brian, left ND for a job at Ball State University -- as its Deputy Athletics Director -- two year's ago this month.

This is a story about the Hardin family -- a "FIGHTING IRISH" family -- and their journey to bring their infant son Bennett home.

You are going to want to read this:

LINK:  THE LONG WAY HOME

Mike Brey With Media After Big Win Over Miami!

Here is Coach Mike Brey with the media today after Notre Dame's 75 - 70 win over Miami.  Here he is in the locker room:

LINK:  COACH BREY

Go Inside the Notre Dame Locker Room Today

The #12 ranked Fighting Irish continue to impress!  Today it was a big win over a Miami Hurricanes team that had yet to lose on the road this season...

That's Fr. Ralph Haag, C.S.C., -- Rector at St. Ed's Hall -- in the black clerics with his back to the camera.

Here's Coach Brey with his team -- at halftime and after -- as the IRISH roll over Miami!

LINK:  INSIDE THE IRISH