Notre Dame Ranked in Top Five in SI Poll

Well, I've seen two pre-season polls and this one is the most optimistic about Notre Dame's chances in 2013...

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S RANKINGS

Cierre Wood -- Houston Texans Rookie Camp

Looks like former Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood (#43) may have picked the best team for a "free agent" running back to make an NFL roster -- click on the links below from the Houston Texans rookie mini-camp this week:

LINK:  CIERRE WOOD

LINK:  AUSTIN CHRONICLE STORY

Tyler Eifert "Shines" at Bengals Rookie Camp

This will come as little surprise to Notre Dame fans...

The Cincinnati Bengals #1 pick Tyler Eifert -- put on a show at their Rookie Camp.  Sure wish he was still wearing a GOLD HELMET!  Here's a few of the stories below -- don't miss the Fort Wayne TV coverage that includes interviews with Eifert and John Goodman:

LINK:  EIFERT

LINK:  COACH LEWIS LOVES HIS ROOKIES

LINK:  EIFERT IMPRESSES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE TV STATION -- EIFERT AND GOODMAN

Not Surprised, a "Domer" Created Mother's Day

His name is Frank Hering and he proposed a "national day to honor Mother's" on February 7, 1904.  Hering played football at Notre Dame before graduating in 1889 with a Bachelors degree in English.  After graduation he taught English at ND while coaching basketball, baseball and track.  Here's the story about the "Father of Mother's Day."

The document above is the actual certificate -- that led to Mother's Day.

LINK:  ND GRAD CREATES MOTHER'S DAY!

A Notre Dame Fan Put This Video Together...

His name is Grant Broton -- and he put this great video together.  Can't wait 'til next season!

ENJOY!

LINK:  2012 NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

Notre Dame Glee Club Singing "Ave Maria"

Thought you'd enjoy these two videos of the Notre Dame Glee Club -- in the first video they sing "Ave Maria" and the second is their unique version of "Here Come The Irish."  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME GLEE CLUB

Photos of Theo Riddick at Lions Rookie Camp

Former Notre Dame running back / wide receiver Theo Riddick was in MOTOWN this past week starting his quest to wear a NFL uniform.

The Greatest Upset of All Time -- That Wasn't!

If you were watching Notre Dame's Men's Lacrosse NCAA Tournament game yesterday afternoon on ESPNU against the University of Detroit -- you heard the announcing crew at halftime and after the third quarter saying; "this will be the greatest upset of all-time in collegiate lacrosse..."

In NCAA Tournament history -- teams who scored ONE GOAL OR LESS in the first half were 0 - 52 -- Notre Dame was down 5 - 1 at halftime.

After three quarters the IRISH were down 7 - 3.

"What though the odds be great or small..."

You've got to watch this video!

LINK:  WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS

Happy Mother's Day From Notre Dame!

This is a sad Mother's Day for my brother Jay and me...

Our mom, Joan Small, left for heaven eleven months ago.  So we find ourselves this Sunday morning having to remember our mom and all of the things she did for us over our lifetime.  We do so with tears in our eyes...

I'm guessing the tears we'll leave us one day -- but never the memories.  Oh, how she loved Notre Dame...

Thank you mom for always giving us your best, for loving us every day -- we miss you dearly.

On this Mother's Day I'd like to share with you a blessing from the University of Notre Dame's Fr. Bill Lies, C.S.C. (and a few surprises).  Our team created this to share with the Notre Dame family everywhere.  I hope you'll enjoy this:

LINK:  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY FROM NOTRE DAME

Toughing It Out -- Just Like a Football Player

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija was the subject of a story by the folks at ESPN concerning a game he recently pitched against the Reds when he fielded a "come-backer" off the tip of a finger on his throwing hand...

You'll also gain some insight on why Jeff chose a career in baseball over football.

LINK:  HE MADE A GREAT CHOICE!

Joe Doyle '49 -- A Notre Dame Man -- RIP

I never had the honor of meeting Joe Doyle '49 -- but, I have always known of him...

Yesterday afternoon at the age of 92, Doyle died at South Bend's Memorial Hospital.    For thirty years -- from 1951 to his retirement in 1981 -- Doyle was the Sports Editor of the South Bend Tribune.  

In the photo above, Doyle is on the far left...

LINK:  JOE DOYLE REMEMBERED

Manti Te'o Post Practice Press Conference

So, the #38 pick in the 2013 NFL DRAFT has his own press conference after his Rookie Camp press conference with the San Diego Chargers...  Welcome to the life of Manti Te'o...

LINK:  MANTI'S FIRST POST PRACTICE PRESSER

Sports Illustrated Selects ND's Steve Elmer

The folks at Sports Illustrated selected their "Ten Most Impressive Early Enrollees" in college football and Notre Dame's Steve Elmer made the list!  Take a look:

That's Elemer #79 in the photo above...
 

LINK:  ELMER ONE OF THE BEST!

First Look -- Manti In His New Football Jersey

Here's what Manti Te'o looks like in his San Diego Chargers uniform today at rookie camp.


LINK:  FIRST DAY AS A NFL PLAYER

LINK:  "FELT LIKE A FRESHMAN"

LINK:  UT-SAN DIEGO NEWSPAPER STORY

OT: This Makes Me Quite Proud Today!

I was getting off of a plane at New York's Laguardia Airport on the morning of September 11, 2001 -- just twenty minutes or so before the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center. 

What transpired the next four days in New York City is something I'll never forget...

In the past few minutes -- I received an alert that the SPIRE atop ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER was being put in place -- making the building 1,776 feet tall...

Here's the video:

LINK:  MUST SEE!

Skylar Diggins Gets Five Stiches in Pro Debut

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins played her first game as professional today and she has a bloody lip, 9 points (3 for 11 from the floor) and a TECHNICAL FOUL to show for it...

The cut lip required five stitches to close the wound...

Diggins and her Tulsa Shock teammates played an exhibition game tonight against the Atlanta Dream losing 72 - 58 -- here's the game story:

LINK:  SKYLAR'S WNBA DEBUT -- TULSA WORLD

Manti Te'o Signs His NFL Rookie Contract!

The amount was not released -- but, you can assume it's not that much more than what last year's 38th pick in the NFL Draft signed for:

• Guaranteed money:  $2.4 million
• Four-year contract value (including guaranteed money):  $5.1 million

CONGRATULATIONS MANTI!

LINK:  MANTI SIGNS FIRST NFL CONTRACT

Heaven's Team Picked Up a Fullback Yesterday

Asaph Schwaap '10 lost his battle to non-Hodgkins Lymphoma yesterday at the age of 26.  He was diagnosed just a year ago...

The former Notre Dame football player called "ACE" by his friends and teammates -- led a life of 'giving back' to his community -- as you'll see in this story today in his hometown's newspaper:

LINK:  ASAPH SCHWAAP

John Goodman Talks Bengals Free Agent Deal

Former Notre Dame wide receiver John Goodman will be joining his old college and high school teammate Tyler Eifert in Cincinnati this weekend for the BENGALS Rookie Camp on Friday!

You'll enjoy this interview by a Fort Wayne TV station.

LINK:  TEAMMATES AGAIN...

Detroit Lions Running Back Coach Talks Theo!

Former Notre Dame football star Theo Riddick was the subject of conversation with the Detroit Lions' running back coach -- IRISH fans will enjoy this video:

I will never forget Theo Riddick's interview in the locker room after the National Championship game with Alabama -- I will always root for this young man!

LINK:  THEO RIDDICK -- DETROIT LIONS