ND to Host a Number of Big Time Recruits!

The South Bend Tribune did a nice job today outlining ND's recruiting plans for this weekend -- here's a link to a couple of stories:

LINK:  OFFICIAL & UNOFFICIAL VISITORS -- THIS WEEKEND!

LINK:  TOP RECRUIT IN COUNTRY

I've Always Wanted ND to Have One of These!

The University of Notre Dame football program received a "present today' -- and it's well over due!  I've always wanted the Fighting Irish to paint up a truck to promote ND Football -- and they finally did!  I suspect we'll see a model of the truck for sale in the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore -- before too long!  Here's a link to the UND.COM feature on the truck:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME EQUIPMENT TRUCK

Football Weekend @ Notre Dame!

Just got back from spending this evening on the University of Notre Dame campus.  Took a group from work down to "America's Holy Land" to take in the Band of the Fighting Irish, the Irish Green, South Dining Hall for dinner and the Pep Rally.

Having been to a number of Pep Rally's in my day -- I must admit not feeling the LOVE at this rally.  Sure hope there's more excitement tomorrow in Notre Dame Stadium!  Here's links to a number of the gatherings on campus today:

LINK:  DILLON HALL PEP RALLY 

LINK:  FRIDAY'S QB LUNCHEON 

LINK:  COACH WARRINER -- QB LUNCHEON

LINK:  BRAXSTON CAVE & TREVOR ROBINSON

LINK:  KEITH ARNOLD -- USF GAME PREVIEW

An Enhanced Experience @ Rock's House!

The University of Notre Dame has teamed up with CENTERPLATE, the hospitality partner of choice to many of the largest athletic and entertainment venues in the country -- to enhance the gameday experience for Irish football fans.  Well, more than 80,000 of us will be the judge of that this weekend!  Here's a link to a release that speaks to what's planned:

LINK:  SOMETHING NEW AT NOTRE DAME STADIUM

Coach Kelly's Last Presser Before USF Game

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media for the last time today before Saturday's 3:30 PM kick-off with the University of South Florida.  Today was "PERFECT PRACTICE THURSDAY" for the Irish football program.  Here's the link:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY PRESSER

Diaco Picked the 20th Best Def. Coordinator

Rivals came out today with their ranking of the top coordinators in college football.  On the defensive side of the ball they ranked the top 20 coordinators -- our man Diaco was picked at #20.  Charley Molnar, our offensive coordinator was not ranked.  Only one of our opponents had coordinators picked in the top 20 and that was the school in Ann Arbor.  Their offensive coordinator (Borgess) was ranked #10 and their defensive coordinator (Mattison) was ranked #5.  Here's a link to the lists:

LINK:  RIVALS TOP 20 COORDINATORS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Brian Kelly on Mike & MIKE Thursday Morning!

Irish fans, rumor has it that Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly will be a guest Thursday (tomorrow) morning at 7:15 AM ET on ESPN2's Mike & MIKE!  If you can't catch the show on TV, you can always listen to the interview on the ESPN radio!

Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY WITH GOLIC

Dayne Crist, Manti Teo & Harrison Smith

Three of Notre Dame football's "leaders" met with the media today to take their questions about the game this Saturday against the University of South Florida.  ND fans will be proud of these three!  Here's the links:

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST INTERVIEW

LINK:  MANTI TEO & HARRISON SMITH INTERVIEWS

Brian Kelly's Media Session Today!

Coach Kelly took questions from the assembled media after practice today -- as the Irish get ready for their opening game this Saturday!  Here's a link to Coach Kelly's media session:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Irish Projected to Play in FIESTA -- SI.COM

Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel has the Fighting Irish slotted to play Wisconsin in the Fiesta Bowl on January 2nd.  That wouldn't be a bad thing!  Here's a link to his bowl predictions:

LINK:  IRISH TO FIESTA BOWL

A Notre Dame Book for Civil War History Buffs!

Jim Schmidt is a Civil War expert -- who has a real job as a chemist in a biotech company in Houston, TX.  For the past fifteen years or so Jim has been consumed with the Civil War -- writing article after article, and a couple of books on this subject before his publishing of "Notre Dame and the Civil War."

Here's what Jim learned, from his research for this book, about Notre Dame and the Civil War:   

"While many institutions of higher education made great sacrifices during the Civil War, few can boast of the dedication and effort made by the University of Notre Dame. For four years, Notre Dame gave freely of its faculty and students as soldiers, sent its Holy Cross priests to the camps and battlefields as chaplains and dispatched its sisters to the hospitals as nurses. 

Though far from the battlefields, the war was ever-present on campus, as Notre Dame witnessed fisticuffs among the student body, provided a home to the children of a famous general, responded to political harassment and tried to keep at least some of its community from the fray. 

At war's end, a proud Notre Dame welcomed back several bona fide war heroes and became home to a unique veterans' organization."

This looks like a book Notre Dame fans will love!  Here's a link to where you can buy "Notre Dame and the Civil War" online:

LINK:  BUY THE BOOK!

Mike Lee Training Video -- Must See!

University of Notre Dame boxing champion Mike Lee '09 is featured in this interview that shows him training for a fight -- you're going to love this! 

Word broke this week that fellow ND alum, Regis Philbin is going to be the "MC" of Mike's next professional fight -- which just happens to be on the University of Notre Dame campus, September 16th.  Mike is fighting on the Michigan State football weekend, the first professional fight ever at ND! 

Here's a link to the video and a link to where you can buy tickets for Mike's fight!

LINK:  MIKE LEE VIDEO

LINK:  BUY TICKETS HERE TO MIKE'S FIGHT AT ND ON SEPTEMBER 16TH!

Coach Kelly's USF Press Conference

Coach Kelly met with the media today to talk about Saturday's game against the University of South Florida.  Thanks to the gang at UND.COM for keeping us fans on top of what's going on with the IRISH!

LINK:  COACH KELLY'S PRESSER

Photo of the Day! -- It's a Mystery...???

Notre Dame Head Football Coach Brian Kelly just "re-tweeted" this photo with the caption "SPECIAL DELIVERY ON ITS WAY."

Are we talkin' new FOOTBALL JERSEYS for the Irish home opener?  What's your idea on what is so special?

LINK:  MYSTERY SOLVED!

The Size of the Athletes Committing to ND!

This evening Jarron Jones, a 6'-7" - 308 lb. defensive end out of the Rochester, NY area committed to play football next fall for the University of Notre Dame.  Jones had originally committed to play for Penn State before changing this mind.  Jones joins a list of long, athletic and huge athletes that Brian Kelly & Company has recruited to ND over the past 12 months.  Just think how these kids are going to look in a couple of years walking off the bus at USC!  Here's the list:

• Aaron Lynch -- 6'-6" 270 lbs.
• Tony Springman -- 6'-7" 290 lbs.
• Ishaq Williams -- 6'5" 255 lbs.
• Stephon Tuitt -- 6'-6" 290 lbs.
• Ben Councell -- 6'-5" 230 lbs.
• Brad Carrico -- 6'-5" 290 lbs. 
• Connor Hanratty -- 6'-5" 315 lbs.
• Ben Koyack -- 6'-5" 253 lbs.
• Troy Niklas -- 6'-7" 250 lbs.
• Chase Hounshell -- 6'-5" 275 lbs.
• Jordan Prestwood -- 6'-5" 287 lbs.
• Jarron Jones -- 6'-7" 308 lbs.
• Taylor Decker -- 6'-8" 313 lbs.
• Mark Harrell -- 6'-5" 270 lbs.

LINK:  JARRON JONES COMMITMENT STORY

LINK:  JARRON JONES HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

UND.COM'S ND GameDay Primer!

Get ready for Skip Holtz's University of South Florida Bulls by watching UND.COM's 2011 Football Primer!  Just don't do it late at night, or you might not be able to go to sleep!  GO IRISH -- BEAT DA BULLS!

LINK:  2011 ND FOOTBALL PRIMER

Coach Kelly's Tuesday Presser -- Live at NOON!

Notre Dame fans -- if you live on the East Coast -- here's your lunchtime entertainment on Tuesday!  Coach Kelly will be meeting with the media on Tuesday (tomorrow) live at NOON ET.  Here's the link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE -- HERE LIVE!

ND Dad -- Dick Vitale Meets Pope Benedict XVI

Just saw Dick Vitale "tweet" about meeting Pope Benedict XVI -- here's a link to the story:

LINK:  VITALE SPEECHLESS

Sports Illustrated Recognizes Aaron Lynch

The folks at SI.COM picked their "Freshman 15" -- fifteen freshmen who will make an impact this fall.  Well, to no surprise to Irish fans -- our #19 Aaron Lynch is on that list.  Here's the story:

LINK:  THE FRESHMAN 15

Lou Goes Back to East Liverpool High School!

Former Notre Dame football coaching legend and College Hall of Fame member Lou Holtz -- spent a day earlier this month at his old high school in East Liverpool, OH talking to their football team.  Holtz graduated from East Liverpool 57 years ago...  Here's a couple of links to the news coverage -- note what he's wearing!

LINK:  LOU HOLTZ GOES HOME

LINK:  LOU'S BACK IN LIVERPOOL