The Home of the Most Heisman Trophies!

In light of USC's decision yesterday to return Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy -- leaving USC with six Heisman Trophies -- does that now mean that Notre Dame is the only school with seven Heisman Trophy "winners?" The Heisman Trust is rumored to be meeting next week to decide just that. At the very least -- Notre Dame is, once again, the only college campus in America where you'll find seven Heisman trophies! I'd like to believe that USC's actions make it that much easier for the Heisman Trust to follow suit and rescind Bush's Heisman Trophy. Makes you wonder now if Bush and his family feel that the home and the other perks they received, was worth it. Here's a link to the story concerning USC removing the trophy as well as a second story discussing the Heisman Trust's plans:

USC RETURNS HEISMAN TROPHY

HEISMAN TRUST TO MEET

Who Takes Haden's Spot in the Booth?

With the news yesterday that Pat Haden, NBC color analyst, will be named the next Athletic Director at USC -- effective August 3rd -- there is an opening in the Notre Dame telecast booth. It's going to be interesting to see who NBC will select for this position. I would like to see a "pro Notre Dame" voice sitting alongside Tom Hammond. My top choices: Joe Theismann, Rocket Ismail, Jerome Bettis or Steve Beurlein. Here's a link to an article that lists many more prospects for the position:

WHO IS NEXT?

"I'm Done With Coaching"

These were the words of one Tyrone Willingham, who was recently interviewed by a Jacksonville newspaper. Many thought that was the case after his second season with the Irish. The 56 year-old former Notre Dame Head Coach hasn't been seen much since his firing from Washington. Ty says he "is retired" -- I'm guessing he's just playing a little more golf these days! Here's a link to the article:

WILLINGHAM DONE WITH COACHING?

ND Priest Named Holy Cross Superior General!

The Rev. Richard V. Warner, a 1962 grad of Notre Dame, has been named the 12th superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Warner will lead the worldwide ministries of Holy Cross from its headquarters in Rome. He takes on these duties this week. Congratulations Father Warner! Here's a link to a photo and news release on this apointment:

REV. RICHARD V. WARNER

Irish -- 66 to 1 Odds to Win BCS Championship

The "experts" in Las Vegas have spoken -- and they've placed the odds of Notre Dame winning the BCS Championship in 2011 at 66 to 1. This is according to the oddsmakers at online sportsbook Sports Interaction. Here is a link to their analysis of the Fighting Irish:

THE SPREAD

Theismann Finishes 16th -- Tolliver Wins

The American Century Championship -- a golf tournament played on the shores of Lake Tahoe -- annually brings together stars from the entertainment and sport communities. This made for TV event, had five "Notre Damers" in the field -- with Joe Theismann, Steve Beurlein, Jerome Bettis (pictured), Digger Phelps and Lou Holtz teeing it up. Theismann had the best finish, winding up 16th, while Beurlein finished 51st, Bettis 56th, Digger 72nd and Lou pulled out of the last round. Billy Joe Tolliver ran away from the field, setting a Stabelford Scoring record for the event and winning for the third time.

Theismann Tied for 13th!

Joe Theismann is the "low Notre Damer" at this week's American Century Golf Championship in Lake Tahoe. Theismann (pictured), in 13th place, is one of five athletes/coaches, playing in the tournament who have ties to the University of Notre Dame. Steve Beurlein, Jerome Bettis, Digger Phelps and Lou Holtz are the others. Beurlein is currently 51st, Bettis is 55th, Phelps (recovering from prostate cancer surgery) is 70th and Lou is in 78th place going into today's final round. You can watch the tournament live on NBC today from 3 PM to 6 PM EST.

LIVE LEADERBOARD

ND All Americans Differ on Independence

Former Notre Dame All American football players Joe Theismann and Gerry DiNardo were recently interviewed for a Detroit News article about Notre Dame's football independence. Theismann was very clear in his feelings about Notre Dame remaining independent -- "It would be a very sad day for me personally if Notre Dame were to join a conference." Not surprisingly, DiNardo toed the company line (DiNardo is a Big Ten Network analyst), saying "The reason I believe Notre Dame should be affiliated with a conference because it gives them a chance to be the best..." NOTE TO GERRY -- Notre Dame doesn't need to join the Big Ten or any conference for that matter -- "for the chance" to be the best!!! Here's a link to the article:

NOTRE DAME'S FOOTBALL INDEPENDENCE

A Domer (Who Can't Sing) to the Rescue!

Jimmy Small, ND Class of 2008, joined NASCAR's Series Operations group just a couple of weeks after his Graduation from Notre Dame. ( That's him pictured at a recent NASCAR race with Kevin James and Adam Sandler). Well, last night Jimmy was at Gateway International Raceway -- five miles outside of St. Louis, MO. -- working the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race. One of his "pre-race" duties for NASCAR is to ensure that the Driver Introductions, Invocation, National Anthem and the "Drivers Start Your Engine" command are performed on time for the television broadcast. Last night, the National Anthem was to be performed on an electric guitar (sans the singing) by a well known lead singer of a rock band. The rock star is standing on stage, with his guitar, awaiting the signal from Jimmy to start. It's three minutes and counting until the National Anthem is to be performed -- AND THE POWER GOES OUT. The rock star can't play his electric guitar! Jimmy runs up to him -- and tells him "You're going to have to sing the National Anthem!" The response; "Dude, I can't -- I don't know all of the words." Well, Jimmy immediately yells into his headset "WE NEED A NATIONAL ANTHEM SINGER NOW!" Within seconds a Gateway International Raceway representative says "We have an ex-cheerleader on staff who can sing, we'll find her." Looks like the crisis has been avoided -- until he hears over the headset: "She can't sing -- she doesn't know all the words." It's now less than two minutes before the National Anthem is to be performed on live television and Jimmy makes the snap decision; I KNOW ALL THE WORDS -- I'LL SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM! Mind you, his only singing experience, since his third-grade choir's Christmas concert at St. Patrick Elementary, is with his buddies on GUITAR HERO -- trust me, he can't sing! So, he informs everyone that he'll sing the National Anthem. He jumps up on stage and grabs a portable battery powered microphone -- and gets ready to sing. As he tells it; "I am shaking like you can't believe -- yet, I'm thinking this is going to be a story that will be told for years and years..." He's literally FIVE SECONDS away from becoming YOUTUBE legend for the worst rendition of the National Anthem in the history of this great country -- when the POWER COMES BACK ON! However, it's already been announced "and now, singing the National Anthem, from NASCAR, Jimmy Small..." Thankfully, Jimmy gets a signal that the power is back and he immediately waves for the "rock star" to jump back on stage to take Jimmy's place -- and he plays the National Anthem on his electric guitar without a problem. CRISIS AVOIDED! For those of you watching the race live on the SPEED CHANNEL last night - you never saw this, because they run the live broadcast on a slight delay. It allows them to edit language and other things they don't want to air on live television. If you were watching the race, you also know that the power went back out -- right after the National Anthem and never came back on -- forcing NASCAR to reschedule the race to this afternoon at 1:30 PM EST. Here's hoping the "rock star" will come back and perform the National Anthem again today - keeping Jimmy away from the microphone! I guess the lesson here is we need to teach the National Anthem in all of our schools in America! FYI: In the spirit of "full disclosure" -- Jimmy is the oldest son of this blogger!

Notre Dame Chemists Receive $5.5 Million Grant

Dr. Mayland Chang, a researcher in the University of Notre Dame's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry received a $5.5 million grant to develop drugs designed to fight serious bacterial infections. The National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded the grant to Chang. The research team includes three other researchers at Notre Dame and a researcher in Spain. Here's a link to Dr. Chang's biography:

DR. MAYLAND CHANG -- NOTRE DAME

Tim Brown - College Football Hall of Fame!

Former Notre Dame All American and Heisman Trophy winner -- Tim Brown, will be coming home this weekend to South Bend for his enshrinement into the College Football Hall of Fame. Brown will become the 49th Notre Dame Football player to be so honored -- the most of any school in the country. The festivities begin tomorrow -- so if you're in the South Bend area, think about attending a few of them. Here's a link to the schedule:

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION SCHEDULE

ESPN Classic to Air "Game of the Century"

The infamous "Game of the Century -- the 10 - 10 Tie" between Notre Dame and Michigan State, in 1966, will be commemorated with a special two hour show on ESPN Classic -- Tuesday, July 20th from 4 PM to 6 PM EST. MSU's Bubba Smith and Notre Dame's Rocky Bleier will be commentating and the entire second half will be shown. If you can't see it - be sure to TIVO or RECORD it.

Sheahan Impresses Red Wings' Top Execs!

Former University of Notre Dame Hockey Player, Riley Sheahan spent the past three days in a new uniform (pictured). Sheahan joined a number of the Detroit Red Wings top prospects at a three-day camp in the Detroit area. Sheahan, the Wing's #1 draft pick, didn't disappoint -- as you'll learn if you click on this Detroit Free Press article:

SHEAHAN IMPRESSES WINGS

Desert to Dome!

University of Notre Dame's Dean of their College of Science -- Greg Crawford and his wife Renate (pictured) are going to ride their bikes from Tuscon, AZ to Notre Dame, IN this summer. The ride -- dubbed; "Desert to Dome" -- begins on July 24th and it celebrates the Ara Parseghian Family Medical Foundation and the University of Notre Dame's partnership to find treatment options for Niemann-Pick Type C -- a rare and deadly disease that primarily strikes children. Former ND Football Coach Ara Parseghian's family has lost three children to Neimann-Pick. The 2,200 mile bike ride will end on the Notre Dame campus -- some time in August. Good Luck to the Crawford's! Here's a link to a video Notre Dame created to promote this event and a link to Dean Crawford's BLOG -- where you can track what they're doing to prepare for the ride:

DESERT TO DOME

DEAN CRAWFORD'S BLOG

Here's a Video of Coach Kelly talking with Students

I missed this video of Coach Kelly meeting with students at Notre Dame on April 27th. I thought it was quite good -- especially the answer to the question: "Have you spoken with any of the previous Notre Dame Head Coaches?" Here's a link:

COACH KELLY WITH NOTRE DAME STUDENTS

"A Man of the People"

ESPN Journalist Wes Morgan was in Grand Rapids, MI with Coach Kelly this past Friday -- as he joined the Notre Dame Club of Grand Rapids for their 27th Annual Golf & Scholarship Invitational at Centennial Country Club. Kelly played golf in the afternoon and then he spoke at the dinner that evening. Here's a link to Morgan's ESPN Blog article:

A MAN OF THE PEOPLE

ND Football Announcer -- Next USC AD?

There are strong rumors on the internet that Pat Haden, NBC color analyst for their Notre Dame Football telecasts is the leading candidate to replace embattled USC AD, Mike Garrett. Haden is a former QB at USC and Rhodes Scholar. Although he chose to play for USC over the Irish, Haden readily admits that his mother wanted him to go to Notre Dame and always lights a candle in her memory at the Grotto whenever he is on campus. Pat is currently a member of USC's Board of Trustees.

Muffet McGraw -- Basketball Hall of Fame!

It was announced today that University of Notre Dame Women's Basketball Coach -- Muffet McGraw will be enshrined in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame next year. Muffet, who led the Irish to their only National Championship in 2001, has won more than 600 games as a head coach. Congratulations Muffet!

HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCEMENT

ND Icer -- YouTube Sensation!

Riley Sheahan, first round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings -- and former Irish Hockey player -- performed his stick handling magic for the YOUTUBE cameras as a 15 year-old. Here's a link to the story and video on the Detroit Red Wings' official website:

PUCK HANDLING TO A NEW LEVEL

Is Brian Kelly Playing in Lake Tahoe Tournament?

It's been rumored for weeks that Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly accepted an invitation to play in the 21st American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe. Yet, his name isn't on the 'official' list of participants -- even though they promote the fact that he's playing in the event for the first time this year. This is the "made for TV" golf tournament that is made up of former athletes, coaches and actors -- who play in what's called a modified Stableford Scoring Format. Each double eagle, eagle, birdie, par, bogey or double bogey has an assigned point total. The player who scores the most points -- wins the tournament. The event runs from July 13th to the 18th on the shores of Lake Tahoe at Edgewood Tahoe. NBC televises the action -- former Notre Dame greats; Jerome Bettis, Lou Holtz, Digger Phelps and Joe Theismann have committed to play. You'll also have the opportunity to see Charles Barkley swing a golf club (pictured). Once we learn if Coach Kelly is officially playing -- we'll post it on the blog. Here's a link to the tournament's website:

AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP AT LAKE TAHOE