Rainbow Over Notre Dame This Evening!!!

Just took these photos from our home in the "Triangle" area just a couple of blocks south of the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

OT: Catholic Identity in Question...

More than 1,200 Georgetown alumni, parents, faculty, etc., signed a petition to have "Catholic" removed from all references referring to the University in protest to "abuses of Catholic identity."

LINK:  A PETITION TO REMOVE CATHOLIC

LINK:  CANON LAW CASE AGAINST GEORGETOWN

Is Malik Zaire "The Guy" at QB for the IRISH

He's been on campus since January -- having enrolled at Notre Dame after graduating early from his high school in Ohio...

Malik Zaire is one of three scholarship QB's on the roster at the University of Notre Dame -- so, oddsmakers would say he has, at best, a "1 in 3" chance to be the replacement for Everett Golson come this September.

Here's a story that ran in today's South Bend Tribune on Malik and his chances to be THE GUY:

LINK:  MALIK ZAIRE

Notre Dame Parent Named Phoenix Coach

Jeff Hornacek, the proud parent of a Notre Dame grad (Ryan Hornacek '10) -- was named the 16th head coach in the history of the Phoenix Suns.  Hornacek played 14 years (his first six for Phoenix) in the NBA.

LINK:  HORNACEK NAMED SUNS HEAD COACH

Fr. Jenkins Accepts OSU President's Apology

An audio tape of Ohio State University president Gordon Gee's inflammatory comments pertaining to Notre Dame and Catholics was released today -- it's linked below.

The University of Notre Dame released a statement this afternoon that Fr. Jenkins has accepted Gordon Gee's apology (linked in Columbus Dispatch story below) for his remarks.


LINK:  OHIO STATE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS

LINK:  COLUMBUS DISPATCH STORY

Former Notre Dame Spokesman Passes

I never had the honor of meeting Dick Conklin...  Yet, I stare everyday at this quote that hangs in my office at Notre Dame:

"Notre Dame is a place nurtured by myth.  It really cannot be encompassed by the mind alone; much of its meaning is intuited.  It is a place sustained by taking seriously the impoderables.  And at the core of its culture is a belief in the transcendent, that the ultimate meaning of life is found just beyond where reason can take us.

But when Notre Dame people gather, they do not talk about their alma mater's transcendency any more than swimmers converse about water's buoyancy.  Notre Dame people tell stories."

-Dick Conklin '59, Associate Vice President for University Relations

The long-time spokesman for the University of Notre Dame, died yesterday at the age of 77.


LINK:  DICK CONKLIN

Skylar Diggins Rated #17 on "Hottest" List

Complex Magazine (never heard of it) just ranked "The 100 Hottest Women Right Now" in the world and former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins is 17th on that list!  Here's their rankings:


LINK:  SKYLAR RANKED #17

Manti Te'o Earning Respect From Veterans

Can't say this story surprises me...

LINK:  VETERAN PLAYERS RESPECT TE'O

A Full-Ride Scholarship to Notre Dame...

...and, it wasn't from Notre Dame's Athletic Department!

Hillsdale Academy's (Hillsdale, MI)  Shaley Albaugh will be a freshman this fall at the University of Notre Dame.  Shaley's the recipient of the QuestBridge Scholarship -- which will cover all of her college costs!

Here's her story:

LINK:  A FULL-RIDE TO NOTRE DAME

Coach Kelly Talks With ESPN About Golson

ESPN's Tom Rinaldi was on campus this afternoon to interview Coach Kelly about Everett Golson's dismissal from Notre Dame -- here's the interview.

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH RINALDI

Coach Kelly Talks With Media About Golson

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media, this afternoon, via a teleconference to discuss Everett Golson's dismissal from the university and what that means for the upcoming football season.

Here's the South Bend Tribune's recap of the conversation:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH MEDIA

Jeff Samardzija Two Hits White Sox Today

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija threw a two-hit shutout today against the cross-town Chicago White Sox -- for his third win of the season.

Samardzija struck out eight (8) while taking his ERA down to 2.85 on the season!

Jeff is now ranked second in the National League with 80 strikeouts! 

His ERA is 15th!

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA SHUTS OUT THE WHITE SOX!

More Notre Dame "High Heels" for Her!

I received an email from Tim Warth this weekend with a link to a photo of another pair of high heels designed for Notre Dame fans...  Thanks Tim!

Memorial Day -- God Country Notre Dame

Please take time today to watch this video of The Army Chorus singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" -- we have MANY to thank for the opportunity to live in the United States of America. 

LINK:  MEMORIAL DAY 2013

Everett Golson's Statement to ND Family

The former Notre Dame student-athlete released an apology today to the Notre Dame family -- here's what he had to say:

Dear Notre Dame Community,

I have been informed by the University of Notre Dame that due to my poor academic judgment that I have been suspended from the University for the 2013 Fall Term.  I take full responsibility for my poor choices and will do all that is asked of me to regain the trust of my family, friends, teammates, coaches and the entire Notre Dame community.

I chose to attend Notre Dame because of its mission to develop me both on and off the football field.

My parents and the community I grew up in have instilled values in me that have and will continue to allow me to be successful in the future.  There have been many lessons learned as I worked to become the starting quarterback at Notre Dame and each was a result of Coach Kelly's belief in me as an athlete and a person.

At this point, I understand how my integrity could be in question but I want to reassure my supporters that through this experience I will return a better student athlete as well as a better individual.

Lastly, I want to thank the University of Notre Dame for the opportunity already granted and also the opportunity going forth to regain my eligibility in the winter of 2014.

Thanks,


Everett Golson

Detroit Lions Beat Writers Talk Theo Riddick

Former Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick, a seventh round draft pick of Detroit Lions, has made a positive impression in their practices to date. 

Be sure to watch the video.

LINK:  BEAT WRITERS TALK RIDDICK

"Next Man In" @ QB for Notre Dame in 2013

I will not turn on ESPN's Sports Center for the next week -- that's a promise.

The breaking news last night that Everett Golson was no longer a student at the University of Notre Dame -- reverberated around the college football world...

Notre Dame fans are understandably in shock, disbelief -- and just maybe a little concerned (an understatement) about their Fighting Irish this morning.

NEWS FLASH:  We're going to be okay!

Coach Kelly and his staff have 98 DAYS to figure out how we WILL WIN this season with Tommy Rees at QB.  Don't forget -- Tommy Rees is 14 - 4 as a starter...  And, 2 - 0 as a reliever!

It's going to be an interesting few months -- isn't it!

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  IF YOU MUST -- ESPN'S REPORT

Everett Golson No Longer at Notre Dame

The story just broke here in South Bend in the past few minutes.  It was confirmed by the University's spokesman Dennis Brown.

Brutal news for our football program.

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY 

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Irish Baseball Plays for Big East Title Sunday

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish beat the Pitt Panthers in the bottom of the 10th in "walk-off" fashion 3 - 2, earning a spot in the Big East Championship game!  Win tomorrow and the IRISH are off to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.

Tomorrow's BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP game against UCONN will be televised LIVE on ESPNU -- beginning at NOON ET.   

Here's a link to a video of today's game highlights and interviews:

LINK:  OFF TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP!

Skylar Scores 15 in WNBA Opener for Shock

The Tulsa Shock kicked off the 2013 season this evening on the road in Atlanta where they lost to the Dream 98 - 81.

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins scored 15 points in her first regular season game in the WNBA.  However, she struggled with her shot going 4 for 13 -- and she had more turnovers (5) than assists (3).

You can catch Skylar on ESPN2 -- live on Memorial Day -- at 3:00 PM ET.


LINK:  GAME STORY