Ian Williams to Sign Contract With San Fran!

University of Notre Dame defensive tackle Ian Williams "tweeted" this evening that he's agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49'ers -- who just happen to be run by "Domer" Jed York '03.  Williams should make if official tomorrow -- when undrafted free agents are expected to be able to sign contracts.  Congratulations Ian!


LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS TO THE 49'ERS

ESPN's Mark Schlabach Picks The Irish...

Mark Schlabach picked six teams to make a major move in college football this fall.  Fighting Irish fans will enjoy this story:

LINK:  IRISH ARE READY

Photo of the Day! -- Deontay Greenberry!

Notre Dame football "verbal" commitment -- Deontay Greenbery -- was in Orlando this weekend for the Gridiron Kings 7 - 7 Championship.  And, Deontay was representin' the IRISH!

Greenberry and his cousin Tee Shepherd (also a ND verbal commit) -- led the WEST to the Semi-Finals.

The Latest For Eight Irish NFL Hopefuls

The wait for Ian Williams, Darren Walls, Chris Stewart, Armando Allen, Robert Hughes, Brian Smith, Duval Kamara and Kerry Neal is almost over.  If the players sign the agreement tomorrow as expected -- teams will be able to sign their own free agents on Monday.  However, undrafted free agents will not be able to sign with their new teams until Tuesday.  The good news is this -- 23 UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS played in the 2011 NFL Pro Bowl.  Stay tuned!

Notre Dame Goes Solar Powered

The University of Notre Dame's Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering has placed solar panels on the roof of their building.  These unique solar panels are expected to meet the building's electricity demands.  The solar installation was free to the university.  This is the third building on campus with solar panels on its roof.  Here's a link to the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  GOING SOLAR

Gridiron Kings -- ND Recruits Featured In Story!

Deontay Greenberry and his cousin Tee Shepherd are both "verbally" committed to play football at the University of Notre Dame -- after their upcoming senior season.  Well, this weekend the Californians are in Orlando, FL joining two other "IRISH VERBALS" (Ronald Darby and C.J. Prosise) at the Gridiron Kings 7 on 7 tournament.  You'll enjoy this ESPN story.  The photo is of Tee Shepherd -- courtesy of ESPN.

LINK:  COUSINS LOOKING TO BE KINGS!

Poster Of The Day -- Mike Lee's ND Fight!

Here's the official promotional poster for Mike Lee's '09 seventh professional fight -- scheduled for Friday, September 16th at the University of Notre Dame's Purcell Pavillion.  Surprisingly, this will be the first professional fight ever at ND -- and it falls on the Michigan State football weekend.

I just wish Mike's opponent was the Michigan State football player who planted the flag at Notre Dame Stadium a few seasons ago!!!

Should sell-out soon!  I'll let you know when the tickets go on sale!!!

Manti Teo Talks With NBC!

Notre Dame fans will enjoy this interview of Manti Teo!  Click on the link below:

LINK:  WHEN TEO TALKS...

Mike Lee to Fight at ND's Purcell Pavillion

The University of Notre Dame's Purcell Pavillion will be hosting its first professional fight on Friday, September 16th when Mike Lee (Notre Dame's Class of 2009) will take the ring.  The next day, the Fighting Irish will be taking on the Michigan State Spartans at Notre Dame Stadium.  As soon as the tickets go on sale at the Notre Dame Ticket Office -- I'll provide a link here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

It's going to be great fun!!!

Domer Picked as a Navy Blue Angels' Pilot!

It's widely considered the highest profile pilot position in the world -- a Navy Blue Angels pilot -- and Navy Lt. John Hintz '02 (University of Notre Dame) was just selected to join this precision flying team!  Hintz joins a select group of pilots who have had the honor of wearing this uniform and flying the Blue Angels trademark blue and gold jet.  Congratulations John!  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  JOHN HINTZ A BLUE ANGEL! 

LINK:  BLUE ANGELS WEBSITE

LINK:  BLUE ANGELS PRESS RELEASE

Multiple Irish Players Named to Watch Lists

The talent returning to the Notre Dame football team is reflected in the number of Irish players named to the various "watch lists" of the national awards in college football.  The ten Notre Dame football players earning this recognition are as follows; Dayne Crist, Manti Teo, Darius Fleming, Braxston Cave, Harrison Smith, Michael Floyd, Zach Martin, David Ruffer, Cierre Wood and Tyler Eiffert:

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST

LINK:  MANTI TEO & DARIUS FLEMING

LINK:  BRAXSTON CAVE

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD

LINK:  ZACH MARTIN

LINK:  LOU GROZA

LINK:  CIERRE WOOD

LINK:  TYLER EIFFERT

Irish Begin 2011 Football Practice -- Aug 6th!

The Fighting Irish will begin what many pundits believe will be one of the more promising football campaigns in South Bend in the last 15 years on August 6th!  Here's three key dates released today by ND:

1. Brian Kelly's Opening Press Conference:  August 5th 
2. First Practice:  August 6th
3. Media Day:  August 16th

ND Hoops Fans -- Check Out This New Website!

The Notre Dame women's basketball team just launched their own website -- thought you'd enjoy this!

I really like this!

LINK:  ND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SITE

ND's Aaron Lynch -- Getting Some Love!

The gang at ESPN.COM just came out with a list of ten incoming freshman stars ready to emerge in college football this fall.  University of Notre Dame freshman DE Aaron Lynch is on that list.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  AARON LYNCH -- ONE TO WATCH!

Tom Lemming Talkin' ND Football Recruiting

Football recruiting expert Tom Lemming spent some time with the folks at the South Bend Tribune to give his "two cents" on how Brian Kelly & Company are doing with recruiting.  Here's the link:

LINK:  ND FOOTBALL RECRUITING

Team USA's "Domer" -- World Cup Tomorrow!

Shannon Boxx '99 is a starting "central midfielder" for our Women's National Team in their match tomorrow with Japan for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup championship!  Shannon was a member of Notre Dame's 1995 National Championship team.

Boxx will be wearing #7 for the red, white and blue Sunday as the Americans go for their third world championship in women's soccer!  The fun begins at 2:30 PM ET on ESPN.  Here's a link to a UND.COM story on Shannon, a link to a recent interview and a link to a video profile of Shannon.  GO USA!

LINK:  ND'S TEAM USA STAR

LINK:  INTERVIEW WITH SHANNON BOXX

LINK:  TEAM USA VIDEO PROFILE OF SHANNON

USC Football Player a TMZ Subject -- Uh Oh!

Surgeon General's Warning:  You may not want your kids to click on this video link.

The folks at TMZ -- television's "gossip rag" equivalent -- caught up with USC running back Marc Tyler, who was out on the town with a couple of his buddies this past week in Los Angeles.  Tyler, who was a high school teammate of Jimmy Clausen's -- was a little "under the influence" during his cameo appearance on TMZ.  It's just a guess, but USC's AD Pat Haden might not be happy about this!

I kept looking for USC Head Coach Lane Kiffin in the background!  :)

It will be interesting to see if anything comes from this...

LINK:  USC RUNNING BACK ON TMZ

Domer's "Spouse" to Call ND's Opener on NBC!

NBC Sports' Dan Hicks -- who's married to Notre Dame alum Hannah Storm '83 (ESPN) -- announced today that he will be handling the "play by play" with Mike Mayock doing the "analysis" in the opener against the University of South Florida.  If you're like me -- a Notre Dame game without Tom Hammond at the microphone is a good thing!  Apparently Hammond has a conflict that weekend.

Golden Tate Taking Some Flap for "Tweet"

Former Notre Dame football star Golden Tate -- "tweeted" during the ESPY's the other night that he wondered why NASCAR's Jimmy Johnson was up for Male Athlete of the Year -- since NASCAR drivers can't be athletes...

Well, it didn't take long for Mr. Tate to take some heat.  Here's a link to the Yahoo! Sports story:

LINK:  TO TWEET OR NOT TO TWEET

Irish Still Looking For a Hockey Conference

Found this article today from the Kalamazoo Gazette -- where Western Michigan University's AD admits that she's been talking with Notre Dame about the changing landscape in college hockey.  Yesterday afternoon the National Collegiate Hockey Conference was unveiled with the announcement of six schools founding this conference:  University of North Dakota, University of Denver, Minnesota-Duluth, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Colorado College and Miami University.

Rumors persist that the Irish are talking with Hockey East and many believe that's where they'll end up.  Maybe with the WMU Broncos as a package deal?  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  IRISH HOCKEY'S FUTURE HOME