NYT Story: Notre Dame's "First Fighting Irish"

The New York Times published an opinion pieced today about the "Irish Brigade" who fought in the Civil War.  The author -- James Schmidt, wrote a book entitled "Notre Dame and the Civil War."

You'll enjoy this!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S FIRST FIGHTING IRISH

LINK:  BUY THE BOOK HERE

Looks Like a Win for Religious Freedom in U.S.

On May 21, 2012 -- the University of Notre Dame filed a lawsuit against the federal government's mandate to require contraception coverage.

Well, just fifteen minutes ago -- it was announced that the Obama administration is offering up new language which would "opt-out" Notre Dame and all other religious institutions from having to offer contraception coverage to employees.

The University of Notre Dame was one of five Catholic universities who filed suit against this mandate.  Here's the list:

• The University of Notre Dame
• The Catholic University of America
• Franciscan University of Steubenville
• University of St. Francis
• Ave Maria University

 
LINK:  MANDATE CHANGE

A Notre Dame Alum Interview -- from SPACE!

University of Notre Dame's Dennis Brown (AVP for Public Information and Communications) -- was given special access by NASA to interview Kevin Ford '82 -- Commander of the International Space Station while circling the earth.

Note the sign Kevin "slaps" when he goes to work every day!

You'll want to watch this!

LINK:  DOMER COMMANDER!

Dr. Carol Lally Shields -- A Notre Dame Woman!

You're going to want to watch this story about former Notre Dame student-athlete -- Dr. Carol Lally Shields '79...

LINK:  A NOTRE DAME WOMAN

Much Needed Win Last Night for Brey's Boys

 

The Fightin' Irish beat Villanova 65 - 60 last night in front of the home crowd at Purcell Pavilion.  Villanova -- one of the hottest teams in the country -- was coming off back to back wins over #3 Syracuse and #5 Louisville.  BIG WIN FOR THE IRISH!

Notre Dame is now 113 - 9 over the last 122 games played at Purcell Pavilion.

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  COACH BREY PRESS CONFERENCE

Western New York Radio Host Honored by ND

A radio show host in Jamestown, NY -- who never went to school at Notre Dame -- was honored this week by the Notre Dame Alumni Association for his loyalty and support of his favorite school.  A pretty cool story...

LINK:  HONORED BY NOTRE DAME

Athletes Using Deer-Antler Spray -- Really ???

Baltimore Raven's linebacker Ray Lewis and members of the Alabama football program were sold DEER ANTLER SPRAY (a performance enhancing agent) by a company called SWATS -- in a Sports Illustrated story that broke yesterday...

Never thought I'd be reporting about deer-antler spray...

LINK:  DEER-ANTLER SPRAY

LINK:  BAMA PLAYERS USING

Brian Kelly Talk at Super Bowl Media Day

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was credited today with the switch of a skinny high school sprinter into a Super Bowl starting offensive tackle -- after he had a little cry...

LINK:  ONE OF KELLY'S FORMER PLAYERS

Shamrock Placement on ND Hoops Jersey?

Here's a photo of the current WHITE HOME JERSEY for Notre Dame Women's Basketball (on the top) and here's a look at last year's WHITE HOME JERSEY (on the bottom) -- check out the placement of the shamrock above IRISH.  Could there be a potential SHAMROCK CONSPIRACY brewing in the media?

Just having some fun...

Notre Dame's #2 Lady Irish Beat #9 Tennessee!

Muffet McGraw's Fightin' Irish went into Knoxville tonight and beat the Lady Vols 77 - 67 -- for the first time in nine tries!  And, Skylar Diggins had her biggest scoring game in her college career -- knocking down 33 points!

The win makes Notre Dame the first school in women's college basketball history to beat UCONN and Tennessee in the same season -- for THREE STRAIGHT SEASONS!

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  BOX SCORE

Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins Profiled on ESPN

Skylar Diggins is the unquestioned leader of the #2 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  ESPNW's Graham Hays wrote a story about Skylar today -- here's the link:

LINK:  ADDING TO HER LEGACY

Muffet's #2 Fightin' Irish Take on #9 Lady Vols

It's the BIG MONDAY game on ESPN2 TONIGHT at 7 PM ET and it matches up our #2 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish against the #9 ranked Tennessee Volunteers -- in one of the marquee games of the season in women's college basketball.

To make the night more special -- Tennessee will be unveiling a banner for Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt -- who retired last season.  Their building will be rocking!

Muffet has never beaten Tennessee in Knoxville -- going 0 - 8 against the Volunteers in their building.  Let's hope that changes tonight!

Kyle Rudolph Named MVP of NFL PRO BOWL!

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Kyle Rudolph was named MVP of the NFL's PRO BOWL last night in Honolulu!  Rudolph, in his second season with the Minnesota Vikings, caught five passes for 122 yards and a TD -- in what could be the last NFL PRO BOWL ever played...

Here's a link to the story:

LINK:  RUDOLPH NAMED MVP

LINK:  VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame Leads Right to Life March on D.C.

More than 700 Notre Dame students, faculty and staff were in Washington D.C. on Friday to lead thousands who were marching on our nation's Capital to support a RIGHT TO LIFE.  Here's some news coverage from WNDU-TV:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LEADS MARCH ON WASHINGTON D.C.

Value of a Notre Dame Degree -- Ranked #9

Bloomberg Businessweek just released its ranking of the value of a college education -- the "return on investment" -- from more than 800 colleges and universities in America.

And, the University of Notre Dame is ranked #9 !!!

LINK:  MOST VALUABLE COLLEGE DEGREES

Adidas "Adjusts" Notre Dame's Black Jersey

This photo was just "tweeted" by @ndmbb from the locker room down in Tampa, FL -- where the IRISH will play South Florida today.  I like the change to the black jersey!

Skylar Diggins Goes for 2,000 Points Today!

At approximately 2:03 PM ET this afternoon -- Skylar Diggins scored the 2,000th point in her illustrious career at the University of Notre Dame.

Skylar is now the 4th Irish women's basketball star to reach that milestone.  Here's the all-time scoring list at Notre Dame:

• Beth Cunningham:  2,322 points
• Katryna Gaither:  2,126 points
• Ruth Riley:  2,072 points
• Skylar Diggins:  2,020 points

With the potential for as many as 20 more games this season -- Skylar COULD leave as the ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER.  Here's a video of the basket that took her over the 2,000 point mark:

LINK:  SKYLAR'S 2K

Tim Brown & Jerome Bettis -- Finalists Again...

Seventeen former NFL stars are left in the selection process for the NFL HALL OF FAME -- and you'll find THREE NOTRE DAME ALUMS among the finalists -- hoping to join 10 former DOMERS already enshrined:

• Tim Brown -- 9 time Pro-Bowl selection, retired #3 all-time in NFL TD catches
• Jerome Bettis -- 6 time Pro-Bowl selection, retired #6 all-time in NFL rushing yards
• Eddie DeBartolo, Jr. -- won 5 Super Bowl Championships as owner of 49ers

LINK:  NFL VIDEO ON HALL OF FAME FINALISTS

Another #1 Ranking for Notre Dame !!!

A ranking of the most beautiful cathedrals on American college campuses was just released -- and the University of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart received the #1 ranking!  Here's a list of the top 30 ranked "on-campus" cathedrals -- along with a link to a video tour of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

LINK:  TOP 30 COLLEGE CATHEDRALS

LINK:  TOUR THE BASILICA OF THE SACRED HEART

Katie Couric Talks After Manti Te'o Interview

The gang at WSBT-TV here in South Bend just released a discussion that took place between Katie Couric and local TV anchor Jennifer Copeland -- after her taping of the Manti interview.  See link below. 

I, like many of you -- are just minutes removed from watching the interview.  Here was the best "take-a-way" that I hope members of the media will allow to sink-in for minute.  And, it came from Manti's dad Brian -- who said this about his son:  

"He's a 21 year-old kid, trying to be a man..."


LINK:  KATIE COURIC TALKS MANTI TE'O

LINK:  EXCERPTS FROM KATIE COURIC'S INTERVIEW OF MANTI