Brian Kelly Has the Most 2015 NFL Pro Bowlers

Quite a distinction for Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly.

Grantland Story: Can Jerian Lead the Irish...

The Grantland folks are very talented storytellers...

Here's a story penned by Adam Doster about Jerian Grant and the Fighting Irish.  A good read:

LINK:  GO PAST MARCH?

Domer Fleming Finally Gets His Super Chance

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Darius Fleming is finally healthy and will be running out of the tunnel in Phoenix for Super Bowl XLIX with the favored New England Patriots.

That's Darius #58 in the photo above recovering a key fumble in Sunday's AFC Championship game.

Darius and teammate Jonas Gary are the only Notre Dame alums playing in next week's Super Bowl...

LINK:  DARIUS FLEMING

Notre Dame's "Momma Bettis" Fighting Cancer

Gladys Bettis, mother of all-time great Notre Dame running back Jerome Bettis and former Campbell Soup TV commercial star -- is in a battle with breast cancer.

Here's the story:

LINK:  THE BUS' MOM

Chicago Tribune: Weis & Cutler a Perfect Match

It's been rumored that former Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis '78, is being interviewed by the Chicago Bears for their open Offensive Coordinator position...

Well, the Chicago Tribune's Steve Rosenbloom thinks Charlie would be just what's needed to handle Jay Cutler.

LINK:  WEIS & CUTLER

Under Armour / Notre Dame: Happy Anniversary

It was a year ago this very morning that Notre Dame's Jack Swarbrick and Under Armour's Kevin Plank stood at a podium (see link below) to announce the "most valuable shoe and apparel contract in college sports history."

In the 365 days since, Under Armour's "market cap" has increased dramatically.  Take a look at the growth:

• January 21, 2014:  $8.96 billion
• January 21, 2015:  $13.99 billion 

Under Armour's "market cap" has grown 56.1% -- since the announcement of the Notre Dame relationship.

Happy Anniversary to the Under Armour shareholders!

LINK:  ANNOUNCEMENT

Domer Charlie Weis Interviewing With Bears?

Word on the street is Notre Dame alum and former football coach Charlie Weis '78 -- is interviewing for the Offensive Coordinator's role with the Chicago Bears. 

Here's the story:

LINK:  WEIS TO BEARS?

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