Notre Dame Launches New Website

The University of Notre Dame launched a new website late this evening -- and I have to admit, I'm not doing back flips over the new design.  Maybe the final design will be displayed tomorrow?  Here's a link:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S NEW WEBSITE

Notre Dame's David Ruffer Needs Our Votes!

Phil Steele is running a poll on his website today looking for fans to vote for the top place kicker in college football.  Notre Dame's David Ruffer is one of the kickers in the poll -- click here to vote for Ruffer:

LINK:  DAVID RUFFER -- VOTE FOR HIM!

Michael Floyd's Plea Agreement Today

University of Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd pleaded guilty today in St. Joseph County Court to one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.  Floyd was sentenced to one year of administrative probation which will require the following of him:

•  His driver's license will be suspended for 90 days -- meaning he can not drive a car
• After the 90 days are up he will be required to use an ignition interlock device in his car for six months which will monitor if there is alcohol on his breath.  If there is, the car will not start and Floyd will be in violation of his probation -- and I'm quite sure it will also signal the end of his football career at Notre Dame

Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune's story:


LINK:  FLOYD MAKES PLEA TODAY

USA Today Ranks ND #1 in Social Media

The folks at USA Today came out "today" with their ranking of the twenty best colleges in America for social media -- and the school on top....the University of Notre Dame!  Here's a link:

LINK:  TOP TWENTY SCHOOLS IN AMERICA FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Irish Legends Golf Classic -- Media Coverage

Lou Holtz, Ara Parseghian and Brian Kelly could be found today on the links in southwest Michigan for their annual Irish Legends Golf Classic.  ESPN's Mark May and Reece Davis were the hosts of this event -- here's a link to the media's coverage of the fun today:

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY #1

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY #2

T.J. Tynan Drafted by the NHL's Blue Jackets

Three University of Notre Dame hockey players were drafted yesterday in day two of the 2011 NHL Draft.  The first Irish student-athlete to hear his name called was T.J. Tynan in the third round, 66th player overall -- by the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Six picks later, Steven Fogarty was selected by the New York Rangers and in the fourth round the New York Islanders took Robbie Russo with the 95th pick.  Here's a link to the UND.COM story:

LINK:  THREE IRISH ICERS DRAFTED BY NHL TEAMS

Grand Valley Dedicates Building to Kelly Family

Notre Dame Football Coach Brian Kelly was in Allendale, MI yesterday -- the home of his first head football coaching gig -- for the dedication of the Kelly Family Sports Center on the campus of Grand Valley State University.  Here's a link to the news coverage:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 

LINK:  WZZM-TV GRAND RAPIDS

LINK:  GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

Irish Hoops Recruit Injured In Plane Crash

This is a sad story.  And, it's also a story you couldn't make up -- if you tried.

A plane crashed last night in northern Michigan -- killing Dr. Stephen Hatch and his wife Kim.  Dr. Hatch's son Austin -- a 6' - 6" basketball star who committed to Michigan over Notre Dame this past week -- was critically injured in the crash.

Here's the part of the story you just can't make up.  Eight years ago, Dr. Stephen Hatch was also flying a plane that crashed -- this crash killed his first wife Julie, daughter Lindsay and son Ian.  Dr. Hatch and Austin survived that crash.

Incredible.

Please say a prayer today for Austin.

Here are links to a few stories:

LINK:  PLANE CRASH

LINK:  AUSTIN HATCH & FAMILY

LINK:  AUSTIN'S HIGH SCHOOL COACH INTERVIEW

LINK:  AUSTIN'S CARING BRIDGE BLOG -- UPDATES

Brian Kelly in Grand Rapids Yesterday

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly was in Grand Rapids yesterday for the Irish Eyes Golf Outing at Thousand Oaks Golf Club.  While he was there to play some golf and raise some money for the Kelly Cares Foundation -- he also found time to meet with the media.  Here's the coverage:

LINK:  GRAND RAPIDS PRESS

Lemming & Eric Hansen Talk ND Recruiting

The University of Notre Dame football coaching staff is recruiting -- all of the time.  Recruiting expert Tom Lemming and the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen give their perspective of Notre Dame football's recruiting prospects in this article.  Here's the link:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL RECRUITING

Woo Leaving Notre Dame's Business School

The University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business is losing its long time leader -- Carolyn Woo.  Woo, who's led Mendoza since 1997 -- will be become CEO of Catholic Relief Services.

Under Woo's leadership - the Mendoza College of Business has become the #1 ranked undergraduate business school in America.  Here's a link to the stories:

LINK:  WOO-ED AWAY!

LINK:  NEW CEO 

The ND Throwback Jersey -- Order Now!

The Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore is now taking orders for the replica "throwback" jersey that the Irish are wearing in the night game September 10th against Michigan.

It's important to note that this is a "REPLICA" -- it is not the authentic game jersey the Irish will wear.  If you see the photo of the actual jersey (link below) -- you'll see the difference. 

Here's a link to order one -- along with a link to the first photo made available of the game jersey Notre Dame will wear:

LINK:  BUY THE ND THROWBACK

LINK:  FIRST PHOTO OF OFFICIAL ND THROWBACK

Vote For ND's Melissa Henderson - ESPY Award

University of Notre Dame "rising" senior -- Melissa Henderson is one of five college athletes nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Female College Athlete.  Henderson and her Irish teammates won the NCAA National Championship this season.  Here's a link to vote for Melissa:

LINK:  MELISSA HENDERSON -- VOTE FOR HER!

Domer Named Head Golf Coach at Michigan

Chris Witten '02, has been named the Head Golf Coach at the University of Michigan.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  WITTEN NAMED THAT SCHOOL IN ANN ARBOR'S GOLF COACH

Cierre Wood -- Training Video

The South Bend Tribune must have a "travel budget" these days as one of their writers traveled to Oxnard, CA to spend the early morning with Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood.  You'll enjoy watching this unique drill:

LINK:  CIERRE WOOD

Notre Dame's "Night Shoes" for Michigan!

This photo was "tweeted" by Notre Dame Football's equipment manager.  Thought you'd enjoy seeing what the Irish will be wearing on their feet -- under the lights for the first time at Michigan Stadium.

Hansbrough & Scott Go Undrafted -- NBA

Notre Dame seniors Ben Hansbrough and Carleton Scott -- learned this evening that their road to playing in the NBA just got a little longer.  Unfortunately, the two were not among the sixty players selected tonight by NBA teams in the 2011 NBA Draft.  Makes you wonder who was advising Carleton Scott to leave early -- with one year of eligibility left at ND!

Here's a link to the NBA Draft Board:

LINK:  2011 NBA DRAFT RESULTS

Rockne's Irish Recruited An OLB Today

I've been avoiding commenting on this story since I learned about it six hours ago...

Former Notre Dame OLB Andre Jones -- who's the father of current Irish WR Tailer "TJ" Jones -- died this morning from a brain aneurysm.  Only 42 years young -- Andre was a member of Notre Dame's 1988 National Championship team. 

I remember feeling so much joy for Andre Jones and his family when word got out that TJ had decided to commit to Dad's school.  For Andre to then see his son run out of that tunnel with the gold helmet on -- and to see him play in his first game as a freshman starter -- wearing "their #7"  --  what a special time for this family.

My prayers and I'm sure the prayers of the entire Notre Dame Family go out to Andre's wife Michelle and their five kids tonight -- what a loss...

LINK:  ANDRE JONES

LINK:  LIKE FATHER -- LIKE SON

Notre Dame Dominates Big Ten Awards Show!

I kid you not!

The Big Ten Network (BTN) held their fourth annual Awards Show last night and of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- yeah, the irrelevant school in the Midwest -- dominated the awards given  in football.

The BTN gave away six awards last night for Big Ten Football -- and three of the awards involved the University of Notre Dame.  It's obvious -- the Big Ten's measuring stick is Notre Dame:

• Most Dominating Performance:  Dennard Robinson against Notre Dame
• Best Finish:  Michigan State's overtime win over Notre Dame
• Most Courageous Performance:  Mark Dantonio -- suffering heart attack after game with Notre Dame

Here's a link to the Big Ten Network story:

LINK:  ND DOMINATES BIG TEN AWARDS!

Notre Dame's Next Big Man on Campus!

Garrick Sherman, the former Michigan State big man -- just completed his transfer to the University of Notre Dame by enrolling into summer session.  The folks at UND.COM caught up with Garrick today -- here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  GARRICK SHERMAN -- NOTRE DAME'S NEXT BIG MAN!