Minnesota Vikings: Bookend IRISH Tight Ends!

Former Notre Dame football star John Carlson -- returned "home" today when he signed a five-year $25 million contract ($11 million guaranteed) with the Minnesota Vikings.

Carlson, who's played the last four seasons in Seattle with the Seahawks -- will be joining another former Notre Dame TE star on the Vikings roster, by the name of Kyle Rudolph.

LINK:  JOHN CARLSON -- A VIKING!

Charlie's Still Thinking About Notre Dame...

Found this article on Kansas Jayhawks head football coach Charlie Weis '78 -- who you'll see just can't stop thinking about his time in South Bend.  Here's the link below:

LINK:  CHARLIE'S NEW HOME

Notre Dame Business School Among Top 25!

The U.S. News & World Report released their rankings today of the business "grad" schools in America and the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business's MBA program was ranked #25!

Last year the IRISH were ranked #37 in this ranking -- drawing the notice of the U.S. News & World Report's editorial staff as the "most improved business school."  Congratulations!

The University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business -- undergraduate program -- has been voted #1 in the country by U.S. News & World Report for the past two years!

LINK:  U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

LINK:  ND #25

The Irish React to #1 Seed and Their Bracket

The good folks at UND.COM and Fighting Irish Digital Media were at Purcell Pavillion last night as Notre Dame awaited word on where they would be seeded and who they would play in the upcoming 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship.  You'll enjoy their coverage!  (Where is ND selling those green Adidas jackets?)

LINK:  MUFFET McGRAW

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

LINK:  DEVEREAUX PETERS

LINK:  NATALIE NOVOSEL

LINK:  BRITTANY MALLORY

Muffet's IRISH a #1 NCAA Seed -- Play Sunday!

The Notre Dame women's basketball team received a #2 overall ranking from the NCAA -- meaning they don't have to face Baylor until the National Championship game!  Now, the "experts" at ESPN are not so complimentary of our IRISH (see below) -- which I think is GREAT!

Let's prove them wrong!

The fun begins this Sunday at Purcell Pavillion at 2:30 PM ET -- when the Irish will play #16 Liberty.  The winner of that game will face the winner of California vs. Iowa -- Tuesday night at Purcell.

GO IRISH!

LINK:  WOMEN'S NCAA BRACKET

LINK:  THE EXPERTS ARE NOT KIND TO OUR IRISH!

Irish Baseball Defeat #11 LSU on the Road!

In front of more than 10,000 fans yesterday in Baton Rouge, LA -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame defeated perennial national power LSU, 7 -1.  (photo of LSU's Alex Box Stadium)

LSU had won eight in a row -- before ND Sean Fitzgerald (Sophomore) threw eight strong innings only giving up one run.  BIG WIN FOR THE IRISH!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  BATON ROUGE NEWSPAPER STORY

LINK:  SEAN FITZGERALD INTERVIEW

LINK:  ND HEAD COACH MIK AOKI -- INTERVIEW

Notre Dame Tracked Thursday's Solar Storm

I learned something today...

The University of Notre Dame has 64 "detectors" in a field the size of two football fields on the north end of campus -- to track the effects from the sun (Cosmic Ray Astrophysics).  It's called Project GRAND -- Gamma Ray Astrophysics at Notre Dame. (photo above)

If you'd like to learn more -- here's a story from the South Bend Tribune -- and a link to the Project GRAND site...


LINK:  TRACKING THE SOLAR SPACE

LINK:  ND'S PROJECT GRAND

Irish to Play Xavier Friday in Greensboro, NC

The "committee" gave the IRISH a #7 seed -- what I would have expected after losing three of our last four games...

To pile on -- our "friends" at ESPN just published a BPI ranking that said Notre Dame was the highest rated seed who "did not deserve to be in the field of 68 teams."  Ironically, Xavier -- ND's first round opponent was the next highest seeded team on that list...

Oh well, let's beat XAVIER Friday night and then let's go play Duke (in their backyard) and beat them on Sunday!

LINK:  SOUTH REGION -- BRACKET

LINK:  COACH BREY -- SELECTION SUNDAY SHOW

LINK:  JACK COOLEY -- SELECTION SUNDAY SHOW

OT: Bonnies Win the Atlantic 10, On to NCAA!

Our daughter Kara chose to attend St. Bonaventure University -- over the University of Notre Dame -- six years ago, last month -- not that I remember that moment...

Ever since that day -- another school in the "middle of nowhere" -- captured a piece of our family's heart.  So, it's with great joy that I write this blog post about the BONNIES big win today over Xavier to win the Atlantic 10 Championship -- but more importantly, a trip to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship!  

CONGRATULATIONS ST. BONA and CONGRATULATIONS KARA!!!

LINK:  THE BONNIES ARE DANCING!

P.S.  Kara, your DAD will still be rooting for the IRISH if they play the Bonnies in the NCAA!  :)

Sister of Irish Football Player -- Softball Star!

Makenzie Heggie -- younger sister of Notre Dame football player Bruce Heggie -- hit HOME RUNS IN NINE CONSECUTIVE GAMES!

Makenzie is hitting .596 with 21 extra base hits in Mount Dora HS's first 14 games this season.

Here's a link to the Orlando Sentinel story below.  (Now we need to work on Bruce Heggie, Sr. to get rid of that Seminole shirt!!!)

LINK:  LITTLE SISTER IS A PLAYER

Selection Sunday: Who Will the IRISH Play?

There will be two Notre Dame basketball teams sitting in front of TV sets tonight and tomorrow night at Purcell Pavillion -- awaiting their fate...

The fun begins for the MEN at 6:00 PM ET -- tonight on CBS -- when they will reveal the 68 tournament teams, their regions, seeds and first round games.  You can watch the IRISH's Selection Sunday show at the link below.

LINK:  WATCH UND.COM'S LIVE COVERAGE AT 5:30 PM ET

The WOMEN will have to wait until tomorrow at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN -- when their 64 team field will be revealed.  ND does know they will play their first and second round games at Purcell Pavillion - they just don't know who yet.

Tebow Who? -- Bronco Fans Now Want Peyton

You have to love sports fans -- especially Denver Broncos fans.  Two days ago they wanted Tim Tebow as their QB for life...

LINK:  DENVER NBC TV

LINK:  DENVER POST

Remember to "Spring Ahead" Your Clocks!

Please remember tonight's the night we move our "CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR" here in America!

ESPN's Lunardi: Notre Dame Now a #5 Seed

ESPN's Joe Lunardi -- their "bracketologist" -- came out with his latest NCAA Tournament bracket and he has the IRISH a #5 seed.  We'll know for sure tomorrow night after 6 PM ET.

LINK:  IRISH A #5 SEED

New Adidas Hoops Jersey -- UNDEFEATED!

Adidas debuted a new NEON JERSEY for three of their schools;  Baylor, Cincinnati and Louisville -- just in time for "March Madness."

And, wouldn't you know -- all three of those schools are currently UNDEFEATED in their new Adidas jerseys -- each team beating HIGHER RANKED opponents in the new gear.

While I've seen many stories "with not so positive comments" about this new look.  I have to admit -- I like it! 

In fact, I think it would have been fun to see Adidas create a NEON GOLD jersey for the IRISH.

NEXT YEAR!

Irish Track Relay Team: NATIONAL CHAMPS!

For the first time in the 169 year history of the University of Notre Dame -- a FIGHTIN' IRISH Track & Field Team won an INDOOR RELAY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

The relay team of Jonathan Shawel (SENIOR -- Placentia, CA), Chris Giesting (FRESHMAN -- Batesville, IN), Randall Babb (SENIOR -- Wheaton, IL) and Jeremy Rae (JUNIOR -- Fort Erie, ONT) took first place last night in the DISTANCE MEDLEY RELAY at the NCAA INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS!
 

• Jonathan Shawel ran the lead-off leg: 1,200 meters
• Chris Giesting ran the second leg:  1,600 meters
• Randall Babb ran the third leg:  800 meters
• Jeremy Rae ran the anchor leg:  Mile

What I found amazing was the top four teams in the Championship Final -- after running that many laps -- all finished within ONE SECOND of each other.  Had to be an exciting race!   

(Photo above is of Jeremy Rae's reaction crossing the finish line and becoming a NATIONAL CHAMPION -- 2012 NCAA Men's Indoor Track & Field Championships)

LINK:  IRISH WIN NATIONAL TITLE!

LINK:  NCAA RESULTS

Coach Brey -- Keeping It Positive After Loss...

 

Seven minutes into last night's game, it looked like we were going to be able to handle Louisville on one of the big stages in sport -- Madison Square Garden.

The Irish were leading 15 - 9 with the ball -- and then it all went wrong.  Thirteen minutes later the IRISH had only scored two points (free throws) and the game was over at halftime...

Now we wait until Sunday night to see where Notre Dame will be seeded, where and when we will play next -- and WHO.

LINK:  COACH BREY POST GAME

Former Irish Hoopster Zach Hillesland's BLOG

Zach Hillesland was a student-athlete here at the University of Notre Dame from 2005 - 2009.  Ever since Zach's senior season at ND -- he's been blogging for the New York Times.

Yesterday, Zach penned an outstanding blog piece for the New York Times about Mike Brey and this year's edition of the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame.

You'll love Zach's ability to tell a story!

LINK:  THE CONSTANT IN NOTRE DAME BASKETBALL

The IRISH WIN -- Atkins Hits Clutch Shot!

 

In a game that never wanted to end -- FINALLY ENDED in OT, with the longest final second in the history of college basketball...

And, in the YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP department...  Notre Dame was apparently a 2.5 or 3.0 favorite over USF.  So, the IRISH are up by two points with ONE SECOND left in the game.  All Notre Dame has to to is inbound the ball and the game is over.

Not so fast my friends...

Standing on the sideline, Scott Martin throws the pass across court to Pat Connaughton who catches the ball and is fouled with ONE TENTH OF A SECOND ON THE CLOCK.  He's awarded two free throws -- makes them both -- and the IRISH win by FOUR POINTS.  So, in a matter of one-tenth of a second -- bettors all over the world went from WINNER to LOSER.

That's why you don't bet!!!

It wasn't a pretty win -- but, from here on out -- any win is a GREAT WIN!  The IRISH will play tonight at 9 PM ET against LOUISVILLE in the Semi-Finals of the Big East Tournament.  ESPN will televise the game.

LINK:  LOCKER ROOM CELEBRATION

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Photo of the Day: Four Former Irish Stars

Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph, Michael Floyd and Jimmy Clausen are seen here posing at a photo shoot.  Can't make out if they're promoting a product or not...