Notre Dame's Path to #1 All-Time Winning %

Folks, with little to do on a non-ND football weekend, I thought I'd work on a "math problem" for our Irish.  As many of you may know, our football team's woes over the past twenty seasons has dropped us behind that school in Ann Arbor in "ALL-TIME WINNING PERCENTAGE."

We can reclaim that title this season!  Here's how we get that done:

Current All-Time Winning Percentage as of October 16, 2011:

1. Michigan:  .73522%
2. NOTRE DAME:  .73232%

Now, here's what we need to happen yet this season.  Michigan needs to lose 4 of their next 5 games.  Here's how that happens:

• Purdue at Michigan -- Michigan wins
• Michigan at Iowa -- Iowa wins
• Michigan at Illinois -- Illinois wins
• Nebraska at Michigan -- Nebraska wins
• Ohio State at Michigan -- Ohio State wins

And, the Irish win all of their last six games!

Here's what the All-Time Winning % will look like at the end of the 2011 regular season:

1. NOTRE DAME:  .73367%
2. Michigan:  .73306%

Look Who's the Projected #2 Pick in NFL Draft

Looks like Mr. Michael Floyd made a "GREAT DECISION" to hang around for his senior season at Notre Dame.  Here's a look at The Sporting News updated mock 2012 NFL Draft.

LINK:  FLOYD A PROJECTED TOP PICK

Domer Bubba Cunningham to UNC as AD?

There are rumors flying around the internet this evening that Bubba Cunningham '84 & '88 is the top candidate to become the next Athletic Director at the University of North Carolina.  Cunningham, the AD at Tulsa, was also rumored to be moving to Kansas University in the past year...

LINK:  CUNNINGHAM TO CHAPEL HILL

Trick Shot Monday -- ND Football Team Fun!

You can't describe this -- you just have to watch it...

LINK:  TRICK SHOT MONDAY

Lou & Beth Holtz -- Leading the ND Family

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular, Diego Ybarra alerted me to this collaboration between Lou & Beth Holtz and the University of Notre Dame.  It's an effort to raise money to assist Notre Dame researchers in the efforts to find a cure for cancer.  Here's the link:

LINK:  LOU & BETH HOLTZ

Stephon Tuitt -- A Lesson Learned

Notre Dame football freshman Stephon Tuitt "overslept" one morning two weeks ago and it cost him a trip to Purdue to play against the Boilermakers.  Matt Fortuna, ESPN's Notre Dame beat writer caught up with Tuitt to ask him about this learning experience.  Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  LEARNING THE HARD WAY

Coach Kelly With Mike & MIKE -- Friday Morn'

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was in Bristol CT this evening spending time with Lou Holtz and Mark May on the College Football Live set -- and he'll be back tomorrow morning as a guest 'on-set' at the Mike & MIKE Show in the morning (7:45 AM ET).  Rumor has it that Coach Kelly will stick around and be a guest on Colin Cowherd's show later in the morning.  Be sure to tune in to ESPN RADIO or ESPN2!

LINK:  COACH KELLY ON MIKE & MIKE

Phil Steele Projects Notre Dame to Fiesta Bowl

College football guru Phil Steele came out today with his picks for the upcoming bowl game season.  Steele has the Irish playing Boise State -- won't the folks at ESPN love that! -- in the Fiesta Bowl on January 5th.  Here's a link to his projections:

LINK:  IRISH OFF TO FIESTA?

Media Day for the Notre Dame Basketball Teams

Muffet McGraw and Mike Brey "tag teamed" the media today as they trotted out the 2011 - 2012 editions of their respective basketball programs.  Trust me -- Notre Dame Basketball is back -- it's going to be a fun season for both teams!  Here's a link to the media coverage:

LINK:  MUFFET McGRAW -- MEDIA DAY

LINK:  ND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL -- PLAYER INTERVIEWS

LINK:  MIKE BREY -- MEDIA DAY

LINK:  ND MEN'S BASKETBALL -- PLAYER INTERVIEWS

Double Domer Stars in ESPN's The Dotted Line

Eugene Lee, President and CEO of etl Associates, Inc -- who has a couple of degrees from Notre Dame -- starred today in an ESPN Films movie called "The Dotted Line."

Lee, a sports agent, was featured in this film about the role an agent plays in the sports industry.  If you haven't seen the film -- you'll want to!  Special thanks to ND GO IRISH BLOG contributor Mike Doyle for alerting me to Lee's relationship with Notre Dame!  

Here is a link to Lee's company website and a link to his promotional video:

LINK:  ETL ASSOCIATES

LINK:  LEE'S "SIZZLE REEL"

Irish Football Intern Succumbs to Leukemia

Xavier Murphy '11, a member of Brian Kelly's football staff these past two seasons (intern / senior manager) died today from complications associated with leukemia.  Murphy was diagnosed just four weeks ago -- after complaining of back pain to the Notre Dame training staff.  Very, very sad.

Please say a prayer today for Xavier and his family.

LINK:  XAVIER MURPHY

Bye Week -- Notre Dame Football Update

Here's the latest on Notre Dame football, Tuesday during their bye week -- as the Irish gear up for USC next Saturday in prime time.  Coaches are out on the road recruiting...

LINK:  COACH KELLY MEDIA SESSION

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

Brady Quinn Taking Some Flack...

Former Notre Dame All American QB Brady Quinn -- who's languishing on the bench in Denver is taking some heat in the Mile High City for leaving to be at his girlfriend's side for her surgery.  Quinn is dating USA elite gymnast Alicia Sacramone (pictured) -- who tore her Achilles tendon in Tokyo preparing for the World Championships.  Here's a link to the story...

LINK:  THE BEST BOYFRIEND

ND's Student Newspaper -- Air Force Recap

The Observer, the University of Notre Dame's award winning student newspaper, runs a recap of the Irish football game every week and I thought you'd like to see it.  You'll enjoy the perspective!

LINK:  THE OBSERVER

Tune In Tonight to ISD's POWER HOUR @ 7 PM

Notre Dame football fans will enjoy Mike Frank's Irish Sports Daily Power Hour which airs each Monday night during the Irish football season at 7 PM ET.  Here's a link to the show:

LINK:  IRISH SPORTS DAILY'S -- POWER HOUR

Irish Connection -- This Is Really Good Stuff!

Notre Dame fans -- you need to watch this show that the gang at UND.COM has been producing this season.  It's called IRISH CONNECTION and it takes you INSIDE ND FOOTBALL.  Click on the link below.

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Photo of the Day -- ND Students Recruiting!

Found this photo this evening -- two ND students seeking the commitment of Florida HS athlete Nelson Agholar -- who was on campus this weekend for his official visit...  Got to love it!

Robert Hughes -- ESPN's "The Dotted Line"

Former Notre Dame running back Robert Hughes is featured in ESPN Film's "The Dotted Line" which airs this Tuesday at 8 PM ET.

Just wanted to give the ND Nation a "heads up" on this.

If you're observant, you'll see a ND class ring in the "tune in" promotion that ESPN is currently running -- it belongs to sports agent Eugene Lee who's a "Double Domer."

LINK:  ROBERT HUGHES IN ESPN MOVIE

"JUST WIN BABY" -- Al Davis

Yesterday the NFL lost one of its most controversial yet most transformational characters in its history -- Al Davis.  Now, I'll never forgive Al Davis from keeping Jon Gruden from taking the Notre Dame football coaching job a number of years ago -- a fact that has never been officially confirmed, but I believe to be true.  

Former Notre Dame Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Brown made a statement in a 2009 radio interview, that I'd like to believe he regrets to this day -- "Al Davis hated African American players from Notre Dame..." (see the link below).  

The aforementioned points about Al Davis and Notre Dame could have a lot to do with the fact that Davis was an assistant coach at USC, early in his career...

If you're a fan of speeches, like me -- click on this link below.  Al Davis "presented" more people for introduction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame than anyone else -- you're about to see why...


LINK:  AL DAVIS' HALL OF FAME INTRODUCTION FOR JOHN MADDEN 

LINK:  TIM BROWN ON AL DAVIS & NOTRE DAME

NBC Replay of Notre Dame's Win over Air Force

Here is NBC's full game replay of Notre Dame's 59 - 33 win over Air Force on Saturday.  The Irish played their finest first half of offensive football in a long, long time -- it was a PERFECT half.  Here's the link:

LINK:  FULL GAME REPLAY OF NOTRE DAME OVER AIR FORCE