OT: SNL's "Deflategate" Parody Last Night

The funny folks at 30 Rock did their thing last night with the "deflategate" controversy surrounding the New England Patriots...

Pretty funny stuff:

LINK:  SNL'S "DEFLATEGATE"

Notre Dame's Auguste Talks Return to Team

The Chicago Tribune interviewed Zach Auguste at practice about his return to the Fighting Irish:

LINK:  ZACH AUGUSTE

Domer Koyack Scores TD in Senior Bowl Game

Notre Dame tight-end Ben Koyack caught two passes for 19 yards and a TD in yesterday's Senior Bowl played in Mobile, AL.  Here's a replay of the TD -- along with a second link to a story earlier this week about Koyack in the Chicago Tribune.

Nothing like that Notre Dame GOLD HELMET at these all-star games...

LINK:  BEN KOYACK TD

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

NC State Coach Gott Talks Notre Dame Game

Here's what North Carolina State's head basketball coach has to say about their game today at 6:30 PM ET on ESPNU against our #8 ranked Fighting Irish:

LINK:  COACH GOTT

Notre Dame Game Televised on ESPNU Today

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish travel to Raleigh, NC today to take on the North Carolina State Wolfpack -- the first time Notre Dame has played there in 32 years!   

The game is sold-out -- 15,000 fans -- plenty of red in the stands!

The Wolfpack are 13 - 7 on the season with wins over Duke, Tennessee and Florida State -- this is not going to be easy today.

The game tips-off at 6:30 PM ET on ESPNU -- GO IRISH!

LINK:  RALEIGH NEWSPAPER

LINK:  GAME NOTES

Lions Expect Even More From Golden in 2015!

Domer Golden Tate will be playing in his first NFL Pro Bowl game tomorrow -- after leading the Detroit Lions in catches (99) and yards (1,331) this season.

Here's what Lions' head coach Jim Caldwell had to say about the former Notre Dame All-American:

LINK:  LIONS TALK GOLDEN TATE

LINK:  CAREER STATS

OT: Jim Harbaugh's Michigan 7-Year Contract

Ever wonder what a coaching contract looks like for a big-time football program?

Here's your chance to look at a copy of the seven-year contract Jim Harbaugh signed with the University of Michigan.  As you'll see in the story -- and in the contract -- Harbaugh is guaranteed more than $5.7 million a year.

And, he can buy out his contract -- for a lot less than I expected.

LINK:  STORY ABOUT CONTRACT

LINK:  ACTUAL CONTRACT

MUST SEE: The Collinsworth Brothers at ND

You are going to want to watch this HBO feature about Cris and Holly Collinsworth's two Notre Dame Men.

Pretty awesome family.

LINK:  HBO'S COLLINSWORTH BOYS

Skylar Diggin's Feature in Self Magazine

Former Notre Dame All-American and WNBA star Skylar Diggins is once again in the media...

Here's the story:

LINK:  SKYLAR

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