Senior Week a Wonderful Notre Dame Tradition!

Approximately 2,000 young men and women are about to begin their "LAST" weekend as students at the University of Notre Dame.  If they're like our oldest son Jimmy -- it's a bittersweet time in their lives.  You're excited to move on to that next challenge -- yet, you've just spent the greatest four years of your life in a place you don't want to say good-bye to.

One of the many things that makes the NOTRE DAME EXPERIENCE so special is SENIOR WEEK.  The gang at the OBSERVER caught up with the Class of 2012's president to talk about what they have been doing -- click on the link below:

LINK:  SENIOR WEEK AT NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame & Cleveland Clinic Partnership!

Two of the most respected "brands" in the world have struck a partnership.  The University of Notre Dame and the Cleveland Clinic have agreed to develop and market medical technology and innovations.

This is big news!

(Photo of Robert Bernhard, Notre Dame's VP for Research)

LINK:  CLEVELAND CLINIC & NOTRE DAME

I Will Always Root For This Notre Dame Man!

Dayne Crist, now the starting QB of the Kansas Jayhawks -- is back at Notre Dame with his classmates preparing for Sunday's 167th Commencement at the University of Notre Dame.  The folks at WSBT-TV caught up with Dayne -- you'll enjoy this story:

LINK:  DAYNE CRIST -- BACK AT ND

O'Brien Named Notre Dame's Valedictorian!

Michael J. O'Brien (the name's right out of central casting) will be standing in front of the University of Notre Dame's Class of 2012, as its valedictorian, at Sunday's 167th Commencement ceremonies.  He's graduating with a perfect 4.0 as a political science major from the College of Arts & Letters.  A finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship and Gates Cambridge Scholarship -- O'Brien is headed off to the University of Chicago Law School this fall.

Here's a couple of links with more information about Michael:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S VALEDICTORIAN

LINK:  Q&A WITH O'BRIEN

Add Ring Designer to Justin Tuck's Resume!

The New York Giants unveiled their SUPER BOWL RINGS today and former Notre Dame All-American Justin Tuck had a hand in its design.  The link below will lead you to more detail on the Giants' super ring:

LINK:  NEW YORK GIANTS SUPER BOWL RINGS

Michigan's Athletic Director Talks Notre Dame

That school in Ann Arbor's Athletic Director David Brandon met with the media yesterday and one of the questions he fielded had to do with the Notre Dame football series.  Brandon offered up a bit of news that I've never heard before about how long the commitment is to playing each other.

Click on the link below to find out!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME & MICHIGAN -- IT STARTED 125 YEARS AGO

One of the Top Surprises of the Spring!

When you play QB and wear THE NOTRE DAME GOLD HELMET -- you're in the national spotlight.  This time's it's Everett Golson's turn to get some love from the media.  Here's where CBS Sports Bruce Feldman ranks Everett's spring performance:

LINK:  ONE OF THE TOP TEN SURPRISES

Casper Makes 50 Domers in Hall of Fame!

Former Notre Dame great, Dave Casper was elected today into the College Football Hall of Fame!  The former IRISH tight end will be the 44th ND football player enshrined in the Hall of Fame to go along with six former Notre Dame head coaches.

The 50 Hall of Famers represent the most of any college in the country!

LINK:  GREEN BAY POST GAZETTE

Big Time Recruit for IRISH Basketball!

The word this week that Scott Martin was granted a sixth year by the NCAA was a huge RECRUITING win for the Fighting Irish!  Martin was a BIG part of ND's run last year in the Big East and will be a key part of what's going to be an exciting upcoming season for IRISH basketball.

Yesterday afternoon, Coach Brey and Scott Martin met with the media to talk about his sixth year -- see the link below.

LINK:  SCOTT MARTIN'S SIXTH!

Coach Kelly Trades His Infamous Visor...

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was the keynote speaker Saturday at Assumption College's 95th Commencement.  The former Assumption College student-athlete was also awarded an honorary degree in the process.  Here's a few links to the media coverage:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY BACK AT ASSUMPTION

LINK:  WORCESTER TELEGRAM

Big Weekend for IRISH Athletic Teams!

The Fighting Irish Men's Lacrosse team beat Yale (the hottest team in the country) by a convincing score of 13 - 7 -- advancing Notre Dame to an ELITE EIGHT game next Saturday with Virginia in the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships.  See a link to the highlights below.

Notre Dame's baseball team clinched a spot in the Big East Tournament (beginning May 23 in Clearwater, FL) with a series win over Rutgers this weekend. 

And, the IRISH Women's Rowing team won their NINTH CONSECUTIVE Big East Championship this weekend on Mercer Lake in Windsor, NJ.

LINK:  IRISH BEAT YALE BULLDOGS IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

LINK:  BIG EAST ROWING CHAMPIONSHIP -- RESULTS

IRISH vs. Yale Today on ESPNU @ 5:15 PM ET

Notre Dame's #1 ranked defense in the country will be taking on the Ivy League Champion Yale Bulldog's today in their first round game of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse National Championship tournament.  The game will be televised on ESPNU beginning at 5:15 PM ET.

Yale comes into today's game on a nine game winning streak.  Going to be a great game!

It's a HOME GAME for the #4 seeded IRISH - so, if you're looking for something to do on a beautiful Mother's Day -- head to campus!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

As a salute to my three favorite Mom's today; Joan Small, Margaret Manhard and Susan Small -- and all of the Mother's in the Notre Dame Family -- please click on the link below.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME OUR MOTHER

Chris Brown's 200 Meter Run 2012 State Meet

Notre Dame Football recruit Chris Brown (wide receiver) competed this weekend in the 2012 South Carolina State Track & Field Championships -- see the link below to the video of his race in the 200 meters.

I'm quite sure Brown's not very happy with the results -- since he's run faster, jumped higher and farther before.  The great news is this -- he can now set his sites on wearing the GOLD HELMET!

Chris Brown's 2012 State Meet Results:

• 100 Meters:  10.81 -- 2nd place
• 200 Meters:  21.60 -- 2nd place
• High Jump:  6' - 6" -- 2nd place
• Triple Jump:  49' - 05" -- State Champion

LINK:  200 METERS -- CHRIS BROWN  (ADVANCE VIDEO TO 42:30 MARK)

Brian Kelly Goes Back Home to Danvers, MA

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was back home Thursday night in Danvers, MA -- speaking at St. John Prep's Alumni Foundation event.  Before the fun -- Coach Kelly met with the media.  Here's some of the coverage:

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  BOSTON HERALD

LINK:  SALEM NEWS

Does Anyone Know Why Floyd Picked #15?

ND GO IRISH BLOG regular "Tom Badguy" asked a great question today -- why did former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd choose jersey #15 to wear in the NFL?  I can't find anything on Michael Floyd's number selection.  Anyone know?

LINK:  BUY MICHAEL FLOYD'S JERSEY

Michael Floyd Looks Different in a White Helmet

Former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd, participated in his inaugural rookie mini-camp yesterday with the Arizona Cardinals -- here's a few links to the media reports.  FYI -- I prefer the GOLD HELMET on Michael and the #3!

LINK:  VIDEO OF FLOYD 

LINK:  HIS FIRST NFL PRACTICE

LINK:  THE REPUBLIC

LINK:  ARIZONA CARDINALS SITE

NCAA Gives Scott Martin a 6th Year With IRISH!

Word broke this evening that Notre Dame senior Scott Martin has been granted a sixth year of eligibility -- making next year's Fighting Irish that much better today!  After teammate Tim Abromaitis got turned down last month on his request for a sixth year -- I wasn't feeling too good about this...

GREAT NEWS for Notre Dame basketball!

LINK:  SCOTT MARTIN TAKES THE SIXTH!

LINK:  SCOTT MARTIN INTERVIEW

LINK:  MIKE BREY INTERVIEW

Notre Dame's Latest "Two Sports" Star

Notre Dame fans are going to enjoy watching this video of Brittany Mallory and the story of her joining the IRISH Women's Lacrosse team after the Final Four.  You'll get a kick out of seeing Mallory "going to the goal" and destroying anything in her path!

LINK:  SHE'S THE FIGHTING IRISH!

Will This Book Be "Ghost" Written?

Former Ohio State University QB Terrelle Pryor, met with the folks at ESPN to talk about his mistakes in Buckeye land -- and he let the world know he'll tell the full story "whenever I write my book..."

Maybe he should have told the NCAA the $20,000 to $40,000 -- he's rumored to have received from signing autographs -- was an "advance" for his book!

LINK:  IN THE BOOK