ND Launches Initiative for Global Development

The University of Notre Dame's Initiative for Global Development held its first day-long Forum on Global Development in Washington D.C. this past November.  U.S. Senators, Congressmen and other leaders met to talk about global issues in what turned out to be a lively exchange of ideas.

Here's a couple of links to check out -- the first a video on what the Initiative for Global Development is all about -- and a second link to a video from the Forum:

LINK:  GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

LINK:  FORUM ON GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

IMG Agency to Launch HS Football Team in FL

IMG Sports will be launching a high school football program at its Academy in Bradenton, FL -- and I can't think the high school football coaches in Florida and around the country can't be too excited about this.

IMG already has a tennis academy and golf academy at this location -- which attracts some of the top young talent in both sports from around the world.  What will it do for football?

Will these athletes be "one and done" in football -- since they will have spent four years working with "sports agents?"

This will be interesting.

LINK:  IMG TO LAUNCH A FOOTBALL FACTORY

LINK:  IMG NEWS RELEASE

Urban Meyer Can Walk if NCAA Violations...

Only at the Ohio State University...

The details were released today on the big contract the one-time Notre Dame football assistant signed with tOSU earlier this year.  One of the key points in Urban Meyer's contract was this -- "If further NCAA violations were to come to light in Buckeye land, Coach Meyer could walk away from the deal and Ohio State would still have to pay him $1.5 million for each year left in his contract..."

I wonder what happens if further NCAA violations come to light at the University of Florida?

LINK:  URBAN'S CONTRACT DETAILS

The Original Fighting Irish -- The Inspiration...

I met Revere La Noue two years ago while working on a project for the University of Notre Dame.  Revere, a former Notre Dame student-athlete, has taken his many talents and channeled them into a burgeoning art career from his Durham, NC gallery.

His work called "The Original Fighting Irish" -- is truly magical.  The folks at NBC captured the inspiration behind this work in the the video linked below.  If you're a fan of the FIGHTING IRISH this is a MUST SEE story!

In addition, I've added a link to Revere's Mascot Gallery -- where you can peruse his entire collection of work.  Enjoy!

LINK:  THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE ORIGINAL FIGHTING IRISH

LINK:  THE MASCOT GALLERY

Two Notre Dame Priests in Paris -- Michigan!

This morning at 8 AM ET -- two University of Notre Dame priests; Rev. Ralph Haag, C.S.C. and Rev. Bill Dailey, C.S.C. celebrated Father's Day Mass at St. Anne's in Paris, Michigan with our close family friend Rev. Loc Trinh.  (Top Photo L to R:  Fr. Loc, Fr. Ralph and Fr. Bill)

Domer to Domer: Bertrand Interviews Davonte

Former Notre Dame football player (and NFL star) Bertrand Berry interviewed Davonte Neal last night about his move to South Bend this weekend to start his IRISH career!

You'll love Bertrand's singing of the Victory March and this interview -- GOOD STUFF!  (That's Bertrand getting his biceps measured).

LINK:  SCROLL DOWN TO DAVONTE NEAL INTERVIEW

OT: Wallenda's Walk Across Niagara Falls

Nick Wallenda's 26 minute walk over Niagara Falls took place last night in front of a LIVE TV audience -- and I missed it!!!

I'm up at The Resorts of Tullymore spending time with my Dad for Father's Day and I brought a couple associates of mine along from the University of Notre Dame.  Our dinner conversation was so "engaging" last night we all completely forgot about Wallenda's walk...  Oh well, thanks for YOUTUBE!

Our youngest son Brady '14, attends Niagara University and our daughter Kara '10, attended St. Bonaventure University -- so our trips to see them in college have taken us to Niagara Falls many, many times these past six years or so.

If you haven't had the opportunity to see Niagara Falls -- it should be on your "bucket list."


LINK:  NICK WALLENDA'S WALK

Football 101: Notre Dame "Style"

More that 600 women participated in Notre Dame Football 101 this past Tuesday evening -- and as you'll see in the video there were thousands of smiles, laughs and dances...

Be sure to click on the photo of all of this fun!

LINK:  ONLY NOTRE DAME

Keeping Up With the Competition -- Big Money!

Don't look now but there's a new athletic facility coming to a town near you...

The folks at ESPN.COM just profiled 24 significant building projects taking place on college campuses that involve new and expanding athletic facilities.  Many of these projects involve Notre Dame opponents.

As they say -- college sports appears to be recession proof -- let's sure hope so!

Photo above is of that "school in southern California" who's getting a $110 million football facility...

LINK:  THE ARMS RACE IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS

National Champs in the Classroom -- Again!

The University of Notre Dame's student-athletes once again were named NATIONAL CHAMPIONS in the classroom -- with SEVENTEEN sports teams receiving 2012 Academic Progress Rate public recognition from the NCAA!  Here's the top five:

#1:  University of Notre Dame  (17)
#2:  Duke  (13)
#3:  Boston College  (10)
#3:  Northwestern  (10)
#3:  Stanford  (10)

LINK:  NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
 

Beth Cunningham, Back Home @ Notre Dame

Notre Dame women's hoop legend Beth Cunningham has come back home...

Cunningham, Notre Dame's all-time leading scorer and two time All American was the head women's coach at Virginia Commonwealth University the past nine seasons.  She's joining Muffet's staff as Associate Coach, working with wing players, conducting game strategy and scouting reports.

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media caught up with Beth -- here's the link:

LINK:  CUNNINGHAM'S BACK HOME

Notre Dame's at the BCS Table in Chicago!

Notre Dame Athletic Director, Jack Swarbrick was in Chicago today meeting with his peers in the BCS to talk about a Playoff system for college football.  Speculation has run rampant that the IRISH might be forced to give up its independence to ensure it could play for a national championship...

After today's meeting, Swarbrick was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune -- and the tone was quite positive as you'll see in the story linked below:

LINK:  WILL INDEPENDENCE BE AN OPTION!

Domer Vaulting for U.S. Olympic Team Spot!

Mary Saxer, a 2009 graduate of the University of Notre Dame will be competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials later this month for a spot on the 2012 United States Olympic Team -- and she's got a great shot!

Saxer's a pole vaulter and she's just "inches" away from a height that has MEDALED at the last Olympic games.

Keep an eye out for Mary's name when NBC broadcasts their coverage of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials between June 22 and July 1.

LINK:  SHE COULD BE AN OLYMPIAN

Tuck's Latest Facemask Fashion Statement!

Former Notre Dame All-American Justin Tuck will be wearing a new facemask this upcoming NFL season (see photo above) with the New York Giants.  Tuck is trying to avoid offensive lineman grabbing his mask and twisting it - causing injury to his neck.  It's pretty cool!

LINK:  TUCK'S NEW FACEMASK

"Irish Chocolate" Goes Grocery Shopping...

Notre Dame's Louis Nix "Irish Chocolate," Sheldon Day and Kendall Moore went shopping for groceries and surprise, surprise -- a video was shot of this experience...

I will admit right now -- I want Louis Nix to make it big in LIFE!

Enjoy this video -- you will smile, I promise!

LINK:  SHOPPING WITH BIG LOU

Vegas Favors the Irish in All But Three Games!

The Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas unveiled its 111 Games of the Year in College Football in 2012 and ten of the games included our Fighting Irish.  Here's a list of the games and the opening point spreads -- see below.  

Based on this, the "Vegas Gang" has ND going 9 - 3 this season against the toughest schedule in college football.

GAMES THE IRISH ARE FAVORED:

• Navy -- Irish a 13.5 point favorite
• Michigan -- Irish a 1 point favorite
• Miami --  Irish a 9.5 point favorite
• Stanford -- Irish a 5 point favorite
• Boston College -- Irish a 12 point favorite
• BYU -- Irish are a 9 point favorite
• Pitt -- Irish are a 12.5 point favorite

GAMES THE IRISH ARE NOT FAVORED:

• Michigan State -- Irish are a 3.5 point underdog
• Oklahoma -- Irish are a 12.5 point underdog
• USC -- Irish are a 13 point underdog

GAMES WITH POINT SPREADS NOT RELEASED YET:

• Purdue
• Wake Forest

LINK:  GOLDEN NUGGET'S GAMES OF THE YEAR

OT: Proof You Don't Mess With Mother Nature!

Folks, four days ago THREE FEET OF HAIL fell in Denver the other day on a 90 degree day (top photo).  In the past 24 hours TWENTY INCHES OF RAIN fell in the Florida Panhandle area -- and currently in the Fort Collins, CO area -- 22 SQUARE MILES OF FIRE...

Notre Dame's Connection to the Triple Crown

The news the past 36 hours centered on "I'll Have Another" and his retirement from the sport, quelling his quest to win horse racing's TRIPLE CROWN at Belmont Park yesterday afternoon.

The University of Notre Dame has a connection to the TRIPLE CROWN as well -- the triple crown in baseball that is.

Forty-five years ago, Carl Yastrezmski (who before signing with the Boston Red Sox was a student-athlete at the University of Notre Dame) won the triple crown in baseball!  Yaz led the American League in 1967 in home runs (44), runs batted in (121) and batting average (.326) -- the last time it's been done MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL!

FACT:  There have been FIFTEEN TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS in the 143 years of Major League Baseball -- and there have been ELEVEN TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS in the 137 years of horse racing in America. (Cover on right of Affirmed winning the last Triple Crown in horse racing in 1978)

LINK:  YAZ TRIBUTE VIDEO


LINK:  AFFIRMED TRIBUTE VIDEO

Fake Classes for North Carolina Athletes!

It's going to be interesting to see how the NCAA responds to the latest news out of North Carolina...

It's now being reported by The News Observer that academic advisors assigned to the  University of North Carolina's athletic department are under criminal investigation for enrolling athletes into classes that did not exist.   

The four-year investigation has led so far to the resignation of the Tar Heels football coach (Butch Davis) and retirement of athletic director Dick Baddour.

"Double Domer" Bubba Cunningham '84 and '88 (pictured above), who accepted the Athletic Director's job at North Carolina this past October, has walked into a mess...

Here's a link to the story:

LINK;  TAR HEEL TROUBLE

Update: Day 18 of Dean Crawford's Bike Ride!

Notre Dame's dean of the College of Science -- Greg Crawford is pedaling through the state of Nebraska today on his bike ride from Boston, MA to Pebble Beach, CA.  The purpose of Greg's journey is to raise awareness for Niemann-Pick Type C disease.

As you'll see in his blog entries from the past couple of days he's run into some bike trouble.

LINK:  DAY 18 OF THE ROAD TO DISCOVERY