Notre Dame Plays FSU for ACC Title on ESPN

The #2 ranked Fighting Irish take on the #7 ranked Seminoles of Florida State today at 1 PM ET on ESPN for the ACC Tournament Championship trophy.

These two teams played back on January 2nd -- with the IRISH winning a close one 74 - 68 -- this is going to be a difficult test for Muffet's gang...

Here's the Florida State coach and players talking about today's game with ND:

LINK:  FLORIDA STATE

Notre Dame Helmet Design Concepts -- WOW!

A design team called Empire Graphics produced a couple of Notre Dame helmet concepts and put them out on Twitter...

Got to tell you -- I love them both.

Maybe we could convince Under Armour and Hydro Graphics to design a green helmet like this for the Shamrock Series game at Fenway Park against Boston College -- a "Green Monster" version...

What do you think?

Muffet's Irish on ESPNU Today at NOON ET

The #2 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on the #16 Duke Blue Devils at NOON ET today in the ACC Tournament Semi-Finals.

The game will be televised on ESPNU.

To get you ready for today's game -- click on the link below:

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

Muffet's Irish Avenge Only ACC Loss in History

The Fighting Irish are in Greensboro, NC this weekend playing in the ACC Tournament...

Yesterday afternoon Notre Dame beat Miami (highlights below) 77 - 61 to avenge their loss to the Hurricanes back on January 8th -- the only loss the IRISH have experienced in ACC play.

The win -- moves Notre Dame to the ACC Tourney Semi-Finals today at NOON ET against #16 Duke.  The game will be televised on ESPNU.

LINK:  ND BEATS MIAMI 

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

The Longest College Hockey Game in History!

The Compton Family Ice Arena played host last night -- and this morning -- to a 5 OT Hockey East Tournament game between UMASS and our Fighting Irish.

In the end -- a goal by UMASS with 8 minutes and 18 seconds left (1:24 AM ET) of the fifth overtime period -- gave the Minutemen a 4 - 3 win over Notre Dame.  The good news -- it's a best of three series -- so even though they played more than two games of hockey last night, it only counts one...

Notre Dame freshman goalie Cal Petersen set a NCAA record with 87 saves -- in the losing effort.

The two teams are back at it tonight at 7:05 ET.

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Nice Story on Domer / Chargers' Chris Watt '13

Chris Watt, a former Notre Dame student-athlete -- and now a rookie starting center for the NFL's Chargers -- is the subject of nice story in a San Diego newspaper...

It should be noted -- Chris never played a down at center in his career -- and, here he is a starter (as a rookie) at that position in the National Football League.

LINK:  CHRIS WATT

Replay: Fr. Ted's Memorial Tribute -- MUST SEE

It was a magical night at Notre Dame...

If you have not seen the Memorial Tribute to Fr. Ted -- or, want to see it again -- here's your chance. 

The list of speakers included; President Jimmy Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, '75, Senator Joe Donnelly '77, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Lou Holtz, etc.

LINK:  MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

Domer Zack Martin Gets Pranked by Teammate

This is really funny...

Former Notre Dame student-athlete and now NFL All-Pro offensive lineman -- Zack Martin '13, was pranked by his Dallas Cowboy teammate Travis Frederick and a couple of radio guys.

You'll get a kick out of this!

LINK:  PRANK

Video: Father Ted's Funeral Mass Wednesday

The Funeral Mass for Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., was held yesterday afternoon at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. 

LINK:  FR. TED'S FUNERAL

PHOTO: Fr. Ted's "Last Ride" With Marty Ogren

 

It was only fitting, that Marty Ogren who for nearly 40 years has been Fr. Ted's personal "driver" wherever he went -- and who now serves as Notre Dame's Associate Director, Warehouse, Delivery & Transportation...

Drove the hearse carrying Fr. Ted to his final resting place at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Highlights from Memorial Tribute to Fr. Ted

It was truly an incredible evening inside Notre Dame's Purcell Pavilion Wednesday night.  You had a former U.S. President, First Lady and Secretary of State -- a current U.S. Senator and two former Senators -- a Hall of Fame Football coach -- and a Cardinal on stage...

Here's some of the highlights from last night:

LINK:  FR. TED MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

Replay of Fr. Ted's Wake Service Tuesday Night

The Holy Cross Congregation held a Wake for Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. Tuesday night at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

You're going to want to watch Fr. Malloy's tribute to Fr. Ted...

Here's a link to that service:

LINK:  FR. TED'S WAKE

A Photo Gallery from Fr. Ted Tribute Tonight

The South Bend Tribune's Robert Franklin can take a picture...

Here's some of the photos he took this evening at the Memorial Tribute to Fr. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

Thanks Rob!!!

LINK:  PHOTO GALLERY

Rick Pitino Gives HIGH PRAISE to Notre Dame

"Out of all of the teams we've scouted this season, including Kentucky, we felt Notre Dame would be our most difficult game..."

LINK:  PITINO POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Notre Dame Beats Louisville 71 - 59!

On a night on the Notre Dame campus where we celebrated the great life of Her favorite son Fr. Ted -- the #12 Fighting Irish traveled down to Louisville to beat the #16 ranked team in the country...

A great road win!

Here's some of the best video of the night -- along with a link to the GAME RECAP from ESPN:

LINK:  JACKSON THREE-POINTER

LINK:  COLSON JUMPER

LINK:  CONNAUGHTON DUNK

LINK:  GRANT THREE-POINTER

LINK:  GAME RECAP

My "One on One" Meeting With Father Ted

I had the great fortune to have a "one-on-one" meeting with Fr. Ted Hesburgh, C.S.C., in his legendary office atop the building that carries his name.  An experience I will never forget...

Here's the story:

I had been employed about two months at the University of Notre Dame (March 2012) when I was approached by a colleague of mine, Linda Costas.  Linda works in the HR Department for the University -- Linda and her significant other Digger Phelps, had a very close relationship with Fr. Ted.

Linda asked me if I'd like to meet with Fr. Ted -- a wonderful gesture on her part -- I jumped at the chance.  So, Linda arranges for me to get on Fr. Ted's schedule -- Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 2:30 PM ET.

Now, let's fast forward a few weeks to Tuesday, April 10, 2012 -- another colleague of mine, Fr. Ralph Haag, C.S.C., asks me late that afternoon "what are you bringing for Fr. Ted to bless tomorrow?"

I had never given this a single thought -- I was thinking only about meeting Fr. Ted and the questions I would ask.  To this day, I am forever grateful to Fr. Ralph for putting that thought in my head.

That night after work, I ran over to the Notre Dame Hammes Bookstore looking for items I could have Fr. Ted bless.  At the time we were building a new home just a couple blocks from campus, so I thought I'd buy something that I could prominently display in the house -- and, I'd buy something I could have on me every day...

I purchased a small replica of the Main Building's "Golden Dome" -- and a necklace with a medal of Our Lady.

THE DAY OF MY MEETING WITH FATHER TED

The big day finally arrives -- I get to work early, so I can write a little bio about myself.  Linda told me I needed to hand my bio to Fr. Ted's assistant Melanie Chapleau when I arrived -- so she could read it to Fr. Ted before our meeting.

I also heard this from a colleague that morning -- "you should expect your meeting with Fr. Ted will last no more than ten minutes, he'll tell you when time's up and say good-bye..."

So, now I'm worried...

I've got ten minutes to ask this great man -- as much as I can.  Now, I've lived a lucky life -- working closely with some of the biggest names in the sports and corporate world throughout my career.  Being in the company of "celebrity" had never fazed me.

But, this was different...

It's Fr. Ted Hesburgh, "Mr. Notre Dame", "the man who has had the ear of every U.S. President since Eisenhower", "Mr. Guinness Book of World Records holder for most honorary degrees", "the man who locked arms with Martin Luther King," etc.

So, I decide I better prepare a list of questions for Fr. Ted (in order of importance) because my time could be limited.  It should be noted I had never done this before in my career -- and I've never since...

I was also under the assumption that Fr. Ted couldn't see because he was suffering from Macular Degeneration -- a disease that left my late-Grandma Doyle blind for many years before she too passed away at the age of 97 in 2011.  So, I felt safe carrying in a piece of paper to the meeting with these questions, without Fr. Ted knowing.

Well, that plan soon changed.

I arrive at exactly 2:21 PM ET to Fr. Ted's office on the 13th floor of this iconic building named in his honor.   I immediately received a warm greeting from his long-time assistant Melanie Chapleau.  Melanie tells me "Fr. Ted is being interviewed by a TV crew and he should just be a couple more minutes..."

So, I grab a seat in the waiting area and begin checking out all of the memorabilia on the tables and walls.

Minutes later a side door to this office suite opens up and here comes Fr. Ted -- using the aid of a walker -- walking right past me.  And, without the help of anyone he deftly maneuvers a left, right and left turn into his office...

"HE CAN SEE!" -- is what I'm thinking to myself.  I panic (just a little) because I don't want Fr. Ted to see I had prepared a list of questions.  I figured if he saw it, he might make this a TEN SECOND MEETING...

As this is going on inside my head -- Melanie gets up from her chair (with my BIO in hand) and tells me "I need a couple of minutes with Fr. Ted and then he'll be ready for you."

Well, I quickly take a look at my long list of questions -- try to commit them to memory -- and I fold up the sheet and slide it into my suit coat pocket.

Melanie soon appears around the corner and says "Fr. Ted is ready for you Jim..."

I stand up and begin walking that same path Fr. Ted had just handled with great ease.  I turn the corner and here's an open door with Fr. Ted sitting behind his desk, lit cigar in hand -- looking right at me -- with this big window over his left shoulder with the most beautiful view of the Golden Dome that I had ever seen.

I walk towards Fr. Ted, and as I'm doing so, he finds a way to get to his feet to shake my hand.  A chair had been set up for me -- also behind his desk.  I sit down and he asks me to move it closer -- I do as I'm told and I'm sitting no more than 3 feet away from Fr. Ted (in a constant cloud of cigar smoke) when we start our conversation.

Fr. Ted immediately starts asking me questions about my family, then he moves to asking me questions about Notre Dame.  It was minutes before, I could ask my first question -- and surprisingly, this is what I asked him -- and it wasn't on my sheet:

"Fr. Ted, I didn't think you could see, but I just saw you walk right into your office with no problem -- so you can see?"

He then, in great detail, explained what vision he had (it was very little) in each of his eyes, which led to a conversation about my Grandma Doyle who also suffered from Macular Degeneration.  It's probably safe to assume not many have led with or, even asked Fr. Ted that question before -- yet, he was gracious and very thorough with his answer. (yeah, I'm an idiot)

This led into my prepared questions about his "quest to break the record for fastest flight in an aircraft" -- "accepting women at Notre Dame", "what he hopes for Notre Dame," "what advice he would give me for my time at Notre Dame," etc,.

I can't accurately recall all that Fr. Ted said that day -- so I won't try -- but, I can say it was a moment in time I will take with me forever.  I do know that our conversation extended well beyond TEN MINUTES that day -- in fact, I was worried about how long it was going...

As I got up to leave -- I almost forgot to ask Fr. Ted to bless my Golden Dome and necklace/medal.  When I asked, he said "sure -- place it right here" as he pointed at a little panel that slid out from under his desk.  I set the items where I was asked and Fr. Ted placed his hands over them and said a prayer of blessing.

Fr. Ted then stood up again -- not an easy thing for him to do -- and asked "can I give you a blessing?" 

I moved towards him -- he placed a hand on my head -- and he gave me his blessing.  A wonderful moment for me.  When Fr. Ted completed his blessing -- I asked if I could give him a hug and we embraced, tears in my eyes...

As I got to the door to leave -- I remembered I wanted one last thing -- a photo of Fr. Ted holding that Golden Dome.

I turned back, asked Fr. Ted if he didn't mind posing for a quick photo holding the dome and he agreed -- the proof is above.

I'll never forget this day for the rest of my life.

Thank you FATHER TED -- you were a gift to the world.

A "Classy Exit" by Notre Dame's Matt Hegarty

Notre Dame student-athlete Matt Hegarty '15, announced today that he would be playing football elsewhere this fall...

That's Matt in his #77 jersey, celebrating with his teammates after December's Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl win over LSU.

LINK:  MATT HEGARTY

Knute Rockne Would Have Turned 127 Today

Notre Dame all-time coaching great Knute Rockne would have celebrated his 127th birthday today.

Rockne was born on this day in 1888 in Voss, Norway.

Happy Birthday!

LINK:  ROCKNE WIKI

Flags in Indiana at "Half-Staff" Today for Fr. Ted

Indiana's Governor Mike Pence ordered all flags in the State of Indiana be flown at half staff today in honor of Fr. Ted.

LINK:  STORY

Fr. Ted's Memorial Tribute: Today at 7:30 PM ET

Notre Dame's Purcell Pavilion will be packed tonight for a Memorial Tribute to Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.  If you don't have a CREDENTIAL -- you can watch it LIVE online and on local TV in the South Bend area.

The list of speakers include:

• Former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter
• Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice '75
• Senator Joe Donnelly '77 & '81
• Former Senators Alan Simpson & Harris Wofford
• Cardinal Theodore McCarrick
• Lou Holtz
• Indiana Governor Mike Pence

There were a few tickets still available this morning -- they are FREE -- to tonight's Memorial Tribute.  You can pick them up at the Murnane Ticket Office at Purcell Pavilion.

LINK:  WATCH IT LIVE -- 7:30 PM ET -- RIGHT HERE