Aaron Lynch Commits to Notre Dame!

One of the top defensive ends in the country -- Aaron Lynch (Cape Coral, FL) gave his verbal commitment to Notre Dame this morning!  Lynch, who put on a show this past Saturday rushing the QB at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl -- will "enroll early" at ND -- meaning he'll begin classes this next Tuesday.  Lynch, is the second All-American to commit to Notre Dame in as many days -- joining U.S. Army All-American teammate Ishaq Williams who committed yesterday.  Those who follow recruiting know that Lynch had committed to Notre Dame back in July -- only to "de-commit" in November to commit to Florida State.  Aaron had a change of heart during his week of practice leading up to the U.S. Army All-American game -- and Irish fans are glad he did!  A HUGE two days for the Notre Dame football program.  See a link below to a highlight video of Aaron's senior season and a link to the South Bend Tribune story.  Welcome "back" home Aaron!

LINK:  AARON LYNCH -- HIGHLIGHT VIDEO 

LINK:  SBT:  LYNCH COMMITS AGAIN TO IRISH!

ND's Randy Waldrum Named Coach of the Year!

University of Notre Dame's women's soccer coach -- Randy Waldrum, was named last night as the NSCAA/Mondo National Coach of the Year!  It's the third year in a row that Randy has received a national coaching honor.  In 2008, he was named the FieldTurf Division I National Coach of the Year -- and, in 2009, he was selected as the Soccer America Division I National Coach of the Year.  Coach Waldrum led the Fighting Irish this season to their second National Championship in his twelve year career at Notre Dame.  Randy's overall record at Notre Dame is 253-36-11 -- a .862 winning percentage!  Here's a link to the UND.COM story.  Congratulations Coach Waldrum!!!

LINK:  UND.COM -- NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR!

Notre Dame Scientist's Discovery!

Notre Dame scientist and Bayer Professor of Engineering -- Hsueh-Chia “Chia” Chang is developing a portable device that can rapidly pinpoint pathogens, toxins and other harmful substances in fluids, ranging from blood and saliva, to water from lakes and streams.  This device has the real potential to supplant certain conventional technologies in the areas of homeland security, environmental safety and medical diagnostics.  Chia is teaming up with F3 -- a company that has leased laboratory space at Notre Dame's Innovation Park -- to take this product to market.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story about this exciting development:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME SCIENTIST'S DISCOVERY!

Three Irish Commits Named to TEAM USA!

Three high school football All-Americans -- who've given their "verbal" commitment to Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have been selected to play in the Team USA vs. The World football game on February 2nd in Austin, TX.  George Atkinson (WR - California), Matt Hegarty (OL - New Mexico) and Stephon Tuitt (DE - Georgia) will be wearing the 'red-white and blue."  Here's a link to Team USA's roster:

LINK:  THREE ND RECRUITS -- ON TEAM USA ROSTER

Ishaq Williams Selects Notre Dame!

U.S. Army All-American -- Ishaq (E-Shock) Williams from Brooklyn, NY -- surprised many with his commitment this morning to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  Williams had scheduled an "official visit" to Penn State University today -- but an "early morning" visit (4:30 AM) to the William's home from Notre Dame's Defensive Coordiator, Bob Diaco -- triggered a quick change in plans!  Ishaq, a 6'-6" 230 lb. OLB will enroll early -- meaning he'll be in class this next Tuesday at Notre Dame and will participate in Spring Practice with the Irish.  This is a major "recruiting win" for Notre Dame!  Here's a link to a New York Post story on Ishaq's commitment -- YOU'LL LOVE THIS STORY! -- and a link to highlight video from his junior season in high school.

LINK:  NEW YORK POST STORY

LINK:  ISHAQ WILLIAMS -- HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

Ten Best College Football Coaches -- All Time

A blog called "Best Universities Online" posted their list of the ten greatest college football coaches of all time.  Now, having looked at the list -- I'm betting the author of the list hails from "south of the Mason-Dixon line."  Two former Notre Dame coaching greats made the top ten -- you'll have to click here to find who?:

LINK:  TOP TEN COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHES OF ALL TIME

Three Domers Drafted Today -- MLS Draft!

Three members of the Notre Dame men's soccer team were drafted today in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft; Jeff Brovsky (Lakewood, CO), Bilal Duckett (Peachtree City, GA) and Steven Perry (Edmund, OK).  Brovsky and Duckett were selected by the Vancouver Whitecaps and Perry was taken by the New England Revolution.  Congratulations!  Here's a link to the MLS' website and a link to the UND.COM story:

LINK:  MLS SUPERDRAFT WEBSITE 

LINK:  UND.COM -- THREE IRISH TAKEN IN MLS DRAFT!

Coach Kelly Getting Some Props!

A website called Business Insider -- published a story today about an area they believe Notre Dame head football coach "excels" at.  I'll "tease" you with that -- and direct you to the story linked below.  Special thanks to ND GO IRISH BLOG regular; Dr. Jim Clancy for tracking down this story:


LINK:  BUSINESS INSIDER:  BRIAN KELLY EXCELS

Odds to Win 2012 BCS National Championship

Well, the gang in "Vegas" wasted no time in publishing their betting odds as to who will win the 2011-2012 BCS National Championship -- and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are at 30 to 1.  Here's a list of some of the school's on Notre Dame's schedule next year -- and their odds of winning the BCS National Championship -- along with a link below to odds on a number of the BCS teams.  Oklahoma is the early favorite at 7 to 2.

• South Florida:  100 to 1
• Boston College: 150 to 1
• Michigan:  75 to 1
• Michigan State:  40 to 1
• Pittsburgh:  100 to 1
• Stanford:  25 to 1

LINK:  ODDS TO WIN 2011-2012 BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

America's Top Recruit -- Commits to Irish!

This young man's name is no stranger to Notre Dame fans - he's Michael Floyd.  Today, the Irish wide receiver announced that he would be RETURNING to Notre Dame for his senior season!!!  Floyd, already the career TD reception leader in ND history -- made the decision to bypass the NFL to stay in school.  Isn't this GREAT NEWS!  Here's a link to statements made today by Coach Kelly and Michael Floyd about his decision to return to the Irish football team - and two additional ESPN stories about Floyd choosing ND over the NFL -- along with a video tribute to Michael, showing every TD catch in his career:

LINK:  KELLY AND FLOYD -- STATEMENTS

LINK:  ESPN STORY ON FLOYD STAYING AT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATION BLOG -- STORY ON FLOYD

LINK:  VIDEO TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL FLOYD

First Football Polls for 2011 -- Irish Ranked!

Well, it didn't take long for a number of the "experts" to start making their predictions for the pre-season Top-Twenty college football teams -- and the IRISH are getting some respect!  Here are links to the first polls out for 2011:




LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE POLL

LINK:  NATIONALCHAMPS.NET POLL

LINK:  BLEACHER REPORT POLL

LINK:  ORLANDO SENTINEL POLL 

LINK:  SB NATION POLL

Notre Dame Finishes 19th in Sagarin Rankings!

USA Today just released Jeff Sagarin's (photo) last ranking of the 2010 college football season and our Fighting Irish finished 19th!  Here's a link to his computer ranking system for college football -- don't ask me how to explain what he does -- and a link to story that USA Today ran about this guy named "Sagarin."

LINK:  SAGARIN'S FINAL RANKINGS 

LINK:  WHO IS THIS GUY NAMED SAGARIN?

Texas Following Notre Dame's Lead...

A story broke yesterday that the University of Texas was close to finalizing a deal with ESPN to create their own TV network.  What's surprising to me is that's it's taken 20 years for another school to follow Notre Dame's lead.  The Irish have had their own "TV Network" since 1991.  Just think about that...  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  TEXAS AND ESPN IN NEGOTIATIONS

Oregon WR -- To Honor Declan Tonight!

The ND GO IRISH BLOG posted a story about Oregon's D. J. Davis's tribute to Declan Sullivan a month ago (see link below).  Well, tonight -- on college football's biggest stage -- Oregon wide receiver; D. J. Davis, will once again, be wearing a photo of Declan on his belt.  Here is a story in USA Today that talks about D. J.'s plans for the BCS Championship game:



LINK:  OREGON WR -- HONORS DECLAN SULLIVAN

LINK:  USA TODAY -- DUCK'S DAVIS HONORS ND STUDENT

Irish Hoops on ESPN2 Tonight vs. Marquette!

Mike Brey's 14-2 and now #9 (RPI) ranked Fighting Irish -- travel to Milwaukee tonight to take on the Marquette Warriors in front of a national TV audience on ESPN2's BIG MONDAY.  The game tips off at 7 PM EST -- just before the BCS National Championship game.  Marquette is 11-5 on the season and 2-1 in the Big East -- should be a very good game!  GO IRISH!  Here are links to this morning's South Bend Tribune and Milwaukee Journal stories about the game:


LINK:  SBT:  IRISH PLAY MARQUETTE

LINK:  MILWAUKEE JOURNAL STORY

Notre Dame Alum -- Releases First Book!

Timothy Ward '09 -- a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame and owner of his own business called Athletic Reveloution -- has released a book entitled "The Theory of Fat Loss."  Ward, who lives in Mobile, AL -- began as a personal trainer at the age of 18 and graduated from Notre Dame in 3 years at the age of 20.  Here's a link to his blog -- it's quite good -- along with a link to where you can buy his book.  Congratulations Timothy!!!


LINK:  TIMOTHY WARD'S BLOG

LINK:  BUY HIS BOOK -- RIGHT HERE!

NEW FEATURE -- Live Web Cams @ ND!

The ND GO IRISH BLOG has added a new feature to the blog this morning -- links to the live webcams located around the University of Notre Dame campus!

This is in response to the large number of ND fans who took advantage of the links we provided to the webcams -- in a story yesterday about the SNOW STORM at Notre Dame.

All you have to do -- is look to the right hand column of the ND GO IRISH BLOG and you'll find a section entitled:  LIVE WEBCAMS @ NOTRE DAME.  Just click on the link to the webcam view of campus you prefer -- any time of the day -- and you'll have a LIVE look at the University of Notre Dame.  Enjoy!

LINK:  LIVE WEBCAM VIEW OF DOME & BASILICA

PHOTO OF THE DAY: ND's New Recruits!

This photo is courtesy of Mike Frank's Irish Sports Daily -- and it was taken at the U.S. Army All-American game yesterday in San Antonio, TX.  From left to right you have:  George Atkinson III (WR --California), Stephon Tuitt (DE -- Georgia) and Matt Hegarty (OL -- New Mexico).

For all of you "recruiting" nuts -- these next three weeks are going to be crazy leading up to National Signing Day on February 3rd.  If you'd like to keep track of this stuff -- like I do -- you should consider subscribing to a couple of the sites that provide this information for Notre Dame fans.  You won't regret it!  Here are the links:

LINK:  IRISH ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  IRISH SPORTS DAILY

Big Weekend For TOP RANKED Irish Teams!

The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish had a number of big wins -- and a very close loss -- over this "winter" weekend.  Many of the Irish teams were in action; the 14th ranked men's basketball team, the 12th ranked women's basketball team,  the 11th ranked hockey team and the men and women track & field teams kicked off their indoor season.  Here are links to stories on each of the teams' results over the past two days:

LINK:  MEN'S BASKETBALL -- BIG WIN OVER ST. JOHN'S 

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY -- IRISH OVER ST. JOHN'S

LINK:  WOMEN'S BASKETBALL -- IRISH LOSE TO UCONN

LINK:  SBT STORY:  TOUGH LOSS TO UCONN

LINK:  HOCKEY -- IRISH ON A ROLL!

LINK:  SBT STORY:  WEEKEND SWEEP FOR IRISH!

LINK:  TRACK & FIELD -- WINS 17 EVENTS!

Irish Alums Score 3 TD's in NFL Playoff Game

Former Notre Dame football stars; Julius Jones and John Carlson scored a combined three touchdowns in the Seahawks stunning 41-36 win over the Saints yesterday afternoon in the NFL Playoffs.  The 7-9 Seahawks -- who most everyone felt didn't belong in the NFL postseason -- knocked off the defending Super Bowl Champions!  Carlson, had two touchdown catches (11 yards and 7 yards) for the Seahawks and Jones had a 5 yard TD run for the Saints.  In addition, former Irish star Golden Tate, had a catch for five yards for the victorious Seahawks.  The "only downside" to the Seahawks victory yesterday -- Pete Caroll...   Here's a link to a video of the Seahawks post game celebration -- watch it, if you must!

LINK:  SEAHAWKS POST GAME CELEBRATION