NBC's Keith Arnold Analyzes ND Recruiting

Notre Dame Central's Keith Arnold, posted a story today analyzing the football recruiting since Brian Kelly took over the reigns of the Fighting Irish program.  You'll enjoy his perspective:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL RECRUITING

Former Blue-Gray Sky Editor's Latest Work!

I just learned of this new annual publication by Maple Street Press called IRISH KICKOFF 2011 -- and it's produced by Pat Misch who authored the popular blog called Blue-Gray Sky.  If this magazine is half as good as Pat's work at BGS -- this is a must buy for Notre Dame fans.  Here's a link to their promotional website:

LINK:  IRISH KICKOFF 2011

Will the NCAA Buy This Domer's Story?

Former Notre Dame football player Gene Smith '77 -- who's best know these days as the embattled Athletic Director at that school in Columbus -- is doing his best these past few days defending the Ohio State University's "self imposed" sanctions in response to pending trouble with the NCAA.

Ohio State offered to "vacate" all of their victories last years and to go on probation for the next two years.  But, they would not give back any of their bowl money from last year's Sugar Bowl.
 
Here's some of the media coverage the past 24 hours on the troubles facing the Buckeyes -- you'll note the different perspectives:

LINK:  HOMETOWN PAPER -- COLUMBUS DISPATCH 

LINK:  HOME STATE PAPER -- CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER 

LINK:  FORBES

Notre Dame Comments on $2 Billion Campaign

The University of Notre Dame put the finishing touches on the seven year campaign entitled THE SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME this past month.  Well, it can best be summed up that there's plenty of SPIRIT in South Bend these days!

For the first time ever, an American college or university -- without a medical school -- has raised more than $2 billion in a seven year campaign.

WOW!

The Chicago Tribune reported on the significance of this achievement in the article linked below:

LINK:  $2 BILLION -- THE SPIRIT LIVES!

ND "Verbal" Commit Catches Winning TD!

University of Notre Dame football "verbal" commitment Justin Ferguson caught the game winning TD at THE OPENING a Nike sponsored football showcase in Beaverton, OR this weekend.  In fact, he caught both TD passes in his team's championship win!  Ferguson is rated the 11th best WR in the country by ESPNU.  Here's a link to the ESPN.COM story:

LINK:  FERGUSON CATCHES GAME WINNER!

Darby Leads Off USA's World Record Relay!

Notre Dame football "verbal" commit Ronald Darby ran the lead-off leg this afternoon for the United States of America in the Medley Relay at the 2011 World Youth Track & Field Championships in Lille, France.  The USA team beat the previous youth world record (set back in 2001) by nearly one second!  Here's a link to the video of the race -- ND fans will enjoy this!  The four members of Team USA"s world record setting relay (in the order they ran): Ronald Darby, Aldrich Bailey, Najee Glass and Arman Hall.

LINK:  DARBY LEADS OFF WORLD RECORD!

Darby Finishes Third @ World Championships!

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football "verbal" commit Ronald Darby finished third in the 200 Meters today at the 2011 IAAF World Youth Track & Field Championships in Lille, France!  Darby's time of 21.08 (the same exact time he ran in the Semi-Finals yesterday), though not his personal best, is still one of the fastest times in the world this year for high school sprinters.  As a point of reference, Usain Bolt (current world record holder in the 200 Meters) ran a 20.40 at this same event in 2003.


Darby's "reaction time" of 0.137 was the fastest among the eight sprinters in the Finals -- Coach Kelly will be glad to see this -- and one of the fastest reaction times at the World Championships!

Congratulations Ronald!  Here's a link to the official results along with a link to the PHOTO FINISH photo!

LINK:  DARBY THIRD IN THE WORLD!

LINK:  OFFICIAL PHOTO FINISH

Lee Wins Fight! -- Goes to 6 - 0 with KO!

Notre Dame alum Mike Lee '09 added to his undefeated streak as a professional last night with a KO in the third round of his fight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.  Lee probably thought the fight was over in the first when he knocked Mike Birthmark to the canvas with an overhand right to the head. Unfortunately for Birthmark, he got up!  It only took Lee two more rounds to finish off his opponent.  See the news coverage below.

Mike Lee's next fight is Friday, September 16th at the University of Notre Dame's Purcell Pavillion.  It will be the first professional fight on campus -- and it falls on the eve of the Irish's game with Michigan State.  Should be great fun!  Look for tickets soon at the Notre Dame Ticket Office.

LINK:  LEE WINS WITH KO!

Rockne's Irish Team Recruited a DE Yesterday

Former Notre Dame All-American Pete Duranko, who battled ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) since 2000, died last night.  A member of Notre Dame's 1966 National Championship team, Duranko later went on to a career in the NFL with the Denver Broncos.  He is survived by his wife of 43 years Janet and their two sons Greg and Nick.  RIP -- Mr. Duranko!

LINK:  PETE DURANKO -- A NOTRE DAME MAN

LINK:  DENVER POST STORY

LINK:  ALL THINGS BRONCOS

Darby Runs 21.08 @ World Championships!

University of Notre Dame football "verbal" commit Ronald Darby ran a 21.08 in his Semi-Final heat this afternoon at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France.  This places him as the second fastest qualifier going into tomorrow's Final Heat (six hundredths of a second behind the top qualifier from Jamaica).  Darby's Personal Best is 21.05 which he ran last month (fifth fastest among high school juniors in the country).  Here's a link to the results as well a link to the PHOTO FINISH of the race and the USA High School 200 Meter Rankings:

LINK:  WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS -- 200 METER SEMI-FINAL

LINK:  PHOTO FINISH -- 200 METER SEMI-FINAL 

LINK:  USA TRACK -- JUNIOR CLASS RANKINGS 200 METERS

Domer's First MLB Start for Red Sox Sunday!

Kyle Weiland was drafted by the Boston Red Sox out of the University of Notre Dame in 2008.  Three years later, the 24 year-old "Domer" will be getting his first major league start tomorrow against the Baltimore Orioles -- replacing John Lester who was put on the disabled list this week.  Here's a link to a few stories about Kyle's first start!

LINK:  MLB.COM STORY

LINK:  BOSTON GLOBE

LINK:  BOSTON HERALD

Mike Lee '09 Fights Tonight -- Watch it Live!

Notre Dame alum Mike Lee '09, enters the ring tonight for the sixth time as a professional at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.  The fight will be streamed LIVE on the web at TOPRANK.COM @ 9 PM ET tonight!!! 

The Atlantic published a nice story yesterday about Mike Lee and his impact on the boxing world -- as did the Orange County Register -- see the links below.  And, there's a link to Mike's interview in Los Angeles earlier this week -- talking about his fight tonight and his fight September 16th at Notre Dame!

LINK:  THE ATLANTIC -- MIKE LEE STORY

LINK:  ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER -- MIKE LEE STORY

LINK:  MIKE LEE INTERVIEW

LINK:  WATCH THE MIKE LEE FIGHT LIVE HERE AT 9 PM ET

Photo of the Day -- David Perkins' Hair Cut!

Notre Dame "verbal" commit -- David Perkins, let the folks know at Nike's "The Opening" football showcase that his "HEAD IS COMMITTED to the IRISH!"  Click on the photo to enlarge

Irish Verbal Commits -- Making Some Noise!

Five future Fighting Irish football players are putting their athletic talents on display this week in Oregon at Nike's "The Opening" showcase.  David Perkins (IN), Justin Ferguson (FL), Mark Harrell (NC),  Deontay Greenberry (CA) and Tee Shepherd (CA) -- are the five and you'll enjoy ESPN.COM's story about the Irish recruits and you'll see them in the video linked below as well.  (L to R:  Tee Shepherd, David Perkins, Justin Ferguson, Mark Harrell and Deontay Greenberry up front)

LINK:  HERE COME THE IRISH

LINK:  THE OPENING -- THE VIDEO

Darby Finishes Fourth at World Championships

Notre Dame football "verbal" commit, Ronald Darby is in Lille, France this week representing the United States of America at the IAAF World Youth Championships.  Yesterday Ronald ran the 100 Meters, finishing in 4th place in the Championship Final with a time of 10.61 -- see the link to the video below!

This morning, Darby won his heat in the 200 Meters with a time of 21.50 -- which advances him to the Semi-Finals tomorrow -- the Championship FINAL for the 200 Meters is Sunday.

The official results are linked below - as well as the PHOTO FINISH of Darby's 100 Meter Final and 200 Meter heat -- COOL PHOTOS!

LINK:  VIDEO OF 100 METER FINAL

LINK:  DARBY FINISHES FOURTH

LINK:  PHOTO FINISH OF 100 METERS

LINK:  200 METERS PRELIMS

LINK:  PHOTO FINISH OF 200 METERS

Notre Dame Football Ticket Lottery Results

Notre Dame football fans who entered the lottery this year for football tickets can find out if they have tickets by clicking on the link below.  Notre Dame will ask you for your "number" -- which was on your Lottery Ticket application -- to access this information.  If by chance you didn't write down your number (like me) you have two additional options:  look at your Notre Dame Magazine mailing label and take the numbers listed there (use only two of the zeros in front of your number) or, you can contact the Notre Dame Ticket Office at 574.631.7356

LINK:  ND FOOTBALL TICKET LOTTERY

USA Today Article -- Michael Floyd

The USA Today sports staff published a story today about Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd.  Didn't really learn much new, but it's always nice to read someone say nice things about the team's upcoming season.  Here's the link:

LINK:  USA TODAY STORY

90 Year Old Receives Notre Dame Degree!

Augustus Francis "Gus" Stuhldreher, who turned 90 years old last week, received an honorary bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame -- after leaving ND for World War II more than a half-century ago.

Notre Dame football fans will recognize the last name as one of the legendary "Four Horsemen" -- Gus wasn't one of the famous four -- that was first cousin Harry Stuhldreher.  This is a wonderful story written by the Akron Beacon Journal -- you'll want to read it!

LINK:  STUHLDREHER FINALLY GETS HIS DEGREE!

Mike Lee Fights Saturday Night @ 9 PM ET!

To get you ready for Notre Dame alum Mike Lee's sixth professional fight I've found two videos Irish fans will enjoy watching.  Video #1 is how Mike is introduced in the ring.  Video #2 is Mike's third round TKO -- both took place in the Dallas Cowboy's billion home in Texas.

Mike's fight Saturday will be streamed LIVE for FREE at TOPRANK.COM -- beginning at 9 PM ET.  See the link below to the site:

LINK:  MIKE LEE'S FIGHT INTRODUCTION

LINK:  MIKE LEE'S THIRD ROUND TKO!


LINK:  WATCH MIKE'S FIGHT -- LIVE -- 9 PM ET ON SATURDAY!

ND Football Tickets Go On Sale -- July 27th!

I've received some emails from Notre Dame fans asking me when the un-sold football tickets go on sale for the upcoming season -- well the date is Wednesday July 27th @ 8:30 AM ET.  To buy tickets you'll need to call the Notre Dame Ticket Office at this number:  574-631-7356

News broke this afternoon that the USC game and Michigan away game ticket requests rank among the 25 best of all time.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  LOTTERY TICKET RESULTS ONLINE!