NDGIB: The 62nd Largest City in America!

At 9:16 PM ET this evening -- a Notre Dame fan from Chicago, IL became UNIQUE "RESIDENT" #300,000 here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

To put this in perspective -- there are only 61 cities in the USA who have a population of more than 300,000.

Here's a list of the next five largest "population centers" in America:

1. Santa Ana, CA -- 324,538
2. St. Louis, MO -- 319,924
3. Pittsburgh, PA -- 305,704
4. Corpus Christi, TX -- 305,215
5. Riverside, CA -- 303,871
6. ND GO IRISH BLOG -- 300,000
7. Cincinnati, OH -- 296,943

Thank you for making the ND GO IRISH BLOG your NOTRE DAME HOMETOWN on the web!

Notre Dame's Fr. Bill Dailey on MSNBC...

The University of Notre Dame's Rev. Bill Dailey, C.S.C., was a guest on MSNBC's Up With Chris Hayes show Sunday morning.

Fr. Bill was asked to weigh in on the "subject of the day" in Washington D.C. -- the Obama administrations proposed "compromise" to force Catholic institutions to offer contraceptive services to employees.

You're going to enjoy Fr. Bill's debate with the folks at MSNBC.

In addition, twenty-five members of the University of Notre Dame faculty -- led by the university’s top ethics expert, and including some of the school’s most eminent scholars -- have signed a statement declaring that President Barack Obama’s latest version of his administration’s mandate that all health insurance plans in the United States must cover sterilizations and all FDA-approved contraceptives, including those that cause abortions, is “a grave violation of religious freedom and cannot stand."

Here's the links:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME ON MSNBC

LINK:  NOTRE DAME STANDS UP TO OBAMA

Mike Brey's Irish Finally Crack the Top 25!

The folks at CBSSPORTS.com came out with their updated Top-25 ranking this morning and the Irish have gone from being unranked to #18 in the country.  The CBS SPORTS poll is the first published each week. Here's a link to their ranking:

LINK:  IRISH RANKED IN TOP 25

Inside Notre Dame Basketball

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media are doing a bang-up job this season covering Notre Dame Athletics.  Here's their show Inside Notre Dame Basketball (Jack Nolan & Coach Brey).  Enjoy!

LINK:  INSIDE ND BASKETBALL #9

Whitney Houston Performing @ Notre Dame

The stunning news last night that Whitney Houston's life ended in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel -- left me a little numb.  I have to admit I found myself watching her performance of "I Look To You" on YOUTUBE, too many times to count last night -- see link below.

The University of Notre Dame has a small connection to Whitney.  Back in 1987, Houston performed "Didn't We Almost Have It All," inside Notre Dame Stadium, during the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics.  Here's the link:

LINK:  WHITNEY HOUSTON SINGS AT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  I LOOK TO YOU

Notre Dame Raises $204,682 for Research!

The #2 ranked Notre Dame women's basketball team's 21 game winning streak ended today, in the final 4 seconds, when West Virginia knocked down two clutch free throws to win 65 - 63.  Gutsy win for the Mountaineers.

Notre Dame announced during the second half -- that their PINK ZONE efforts raised $204,682 for breast cancer research -- most ever raised by our women's college basketball program!

Today's PINK ZONE halftime show honored hundreds of breast cancer survivors -- who ringed the Notre Dame basketball floor as Cathy Richardson sang her famous rendition of "Here Come the Irish" and Tim Stop performed a song he wrote for Haley Scott DeMaria's movie;  "Two Miles From Home" -- called "With All Your Heart Believe."

Not a dry-eye in the house...

LINK:  HERE COME THE IRISH -- PERFORMED BY CATHY RICHARDSON

LINK:  TIM STOP PERFORMS "WITH ALL YOUR HEART BELIEVE"

LINK:  NEWS STORY ON HALEY SCOTT'S MOVIE

Notre Dame on ESPNU Today at 3:30 PM ET

Muffet McGraw's #2 ranked Fighting Irish will take the court this afternoon at 3:30 PM ET to play the West Virginia Mountaineers.  Today will also mark the fourth annual PINK ZONE game for the Irish -- as ND joins the effort to raise funds for breast cancer research.  ESPNU will televise the game -- tip-off set for 3:30 PM ET. 

Notre Dame women's basketball has annually raised the most money for breast cancer awareness -- having raised more than $130,000 last season alone!

Where Are They Now? -- Rick Mirer

He was the local "golden boy" from Goshen, IN who came to Notre Dame with great fanfare.  His senior season at Goshen High School was one for the record books (3,973 yards and 30 TD's) the 2nd most in national prep history. 

Rick Mirer '93, left ND as a three-year starter at QB -- and the school record holder for most points scored running and throwing (350 pts.).  Mirer was the #2 overall draft pick (1993 NFL Draft) of the Seattle Seahawks.  Rick threw for 50 TD passes and ran for 9 more in his twelve-year NFL career.

Recently, the Notre Dame Alumni Association caught up with Rick in San Diego, CA -- where he's the owner/operator of Mirror Wine Company.  You'll enjoy this story!

LINK:  ND'S GOLDEN BOY

"SUPER" Performances by ND Football Stars!

Eight of the last Ten SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS have had at least one Notre Dame football player on its roster.  Of the 46 SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS all-time:  32 have had at least one former ND star on their roster.

Think about that.

36 former Notre Dame football stars have won at least one SUPER BOWL RING.

10 former ND football players have won "multiple" Super Bowl Rings:

• Mark Bavaro, New York Giants
• Rocky Bleier, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Nick Buoniconti, Miami Dolphins
• Eric Dorsey, New York Giants
• David Givens, New England Patriots
• Terry Hanratty, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Bob Kuechenberg, Miami Dolphins
• Joe Montana, San Francisco 49'ers
• Steve Sylvester, Oakland Raiders
• Justin Tuck, New York Giants

Not too shabby!

Latest Out of Washington D.C. for Catholics

The Catholic Bishops and the University of Notre Dame have responded to the proposed "alterations" to the Obama administration's demand that Catholic institutions offer and pay for contraceptive coverage for employees.  Suffice to say -- more needs to be done.  Here's the latest:

LINK:  FATHER JENKIN'S LATEST RESPONSE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LAW PROFESSOR'S RESPONSE

LINK:  WALL STREET JOURNAL STORY

LINK:  CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY

LINK:  FOX NEWS STORY

The Beat Goes On! Irish Over Depaul!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish are now (at 2:28 PM ET) TIED FOR SECOND in the Big East with Marquette!

The latest victim -- the DePaul Blue Demons -- who gave the Irish all they wanted today.  Yet, the Irish prevailed 84 - 76 behind 22 POINTS from both Jack Cooley and Jerian Grant -- earning their sixth straight win.  Notre Dame is now 17 - 8 on the season and 9 - 3 in the Big East.

LINK:  BIG EAST GAME STATS

LINK:  COACH BREY -- POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  POST GAME -- IRISH LOCKER ROOM

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame vs. Navy -- Football in Ireland

Heard this week on campus that tickets (NOT TIED TO TRAVEL PACKAGES) for the Notre Dame vs. Navy game in Dublin, will go on sale on March 1st at the Navy Athletics site.  This is a 'home' game for the Naval Academy -- so, they will have the majority of tickets for sale.  Presently, ND fans can buy "travel packages" from Anthony Travel that include football tickets. 

So, my advice -- get to the NAVAL ACADEMY sports site at 12:01 AM on March 1st.  Here's a link to their ticket site:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. NAVY IN IRELAND -- TICKET SITE

Meet Brian Kelly's New Coaching Staff @ ND!

The nine (9) assistant coaches who will make up Coach Brian Kelly's football staff -- and will lead the 125th football team in the history of the University of Notre Dame -- met with the media today.  You'll enjoy hearing from the three new coaches -- and the coaches returning who are coaching new position groups.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY'S NOTRE DAME COACHING STAFF

Coach Kelly Meets With the Media Today

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today for the first time since National Signing Day to talk about the changes made in his coaching staff.  Three new coaches and some new assignments for the returning staff -- were all officially announced today.  Here's the video:

LINK:  COACH BRIAN KELLY WITH MEDIA

Looks Like Obama Administration Will Cave...

There's breaking news right now that the Obama administration will "likely compromise" on law regarding religiously affiliated employers to provide contraceptive coverage.  Stay tuned.

LINK:  THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE

Sports Illustrated Ranks the Irish #11!

The folks at CNNSI.com published their weekly Power Rankings and our Fighting Irish are ranked #11 in the country.  Can you believe it!

Here's a link to the rankings: 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL POWER RANKINGS

The Mornin' After a Big Win in Morgantown!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish won another Big East road game last night -- not an easy thing to do!

The 55 - 51 win over West Virginia was the fifth straight win for the Irish and put them in sole possession of third place in the Big East Conference -- behind Syracuse and Marquette -- two teams the IRISH have already beat!

Here's a link to UND.COM's post game coverage -- along with what the media around the country are saying this morning about our Fighting Irish:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  COACH BREY POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  CHARLESTON (WV) GAZETTE 

LINK:  WHEELING (WV) INTELLIGENCER

LINK:  THE OBSERVER

LINK:  DAILY ATHENAEUM (WV)

LINK:  CHARLESTON (WV) GAZETTE #2

Five Straight Wins! -- The IRISH Win @ WV!

Can you believe it!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish go into Morgantown tonight and beat West Virginia 55 - 51, to move into sole possession of 3rd place in the Big East Conference.

The team many of us gave up on in December -- is now one of the hottest teams in America.  FIVE STRAIGHT BIG EAST WINS!  Road wins @Louisville, @UCONN, @ Seton Hall and @West Virginia.

Looks like the IRISH will earn a spot in the NCAA tournament -- never in my wildest dreams did I believe this was possible...

WOW!

LINK:  BOX SCORE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

WE ARE THE WARRIORS! -- Must See ND FANS!

I linked this video this past season -- good stuff!  We are the Warriors of Notre Dame!

LINK:  WE ARE THE WARRIORS

The Prince of Wales & Notre Dame

Now, we're going to need to work with Prince Charles on how to properly pronounce NOTRE DAME (see video linked below) -- or, maybe we should learn from him?  They did invent the English language -- didn't they?

However, it's pretty cool to see the Brit's "royal family" engaged with the University of Notre Dame.

This past month, the Patronage Award was presented to his Royal Higness Charles, Prince of Wales through the Richard H. Driehaus Prize at the University of Notre Dame during a ceremony at St. Jame's Palace in London

The Patronage Award (the first of its kind) is a one-time honor to recognize the Prince’s tireless commitment to traditional architecture and sustainable urban design.  A bronze miniature of the Tower of the Winds along with a check for $150,000 was given to Prince Charles and his foundation.

Here's a link to Prince Charles acceptance speech at this Notre Dame event:

LINK:  A ROYAL MOMENT FOR NOTRE DAME