Five Domers on MLB OPENING DAY Rosters!

Major League Baseball is officially back today -- and five former Notre Dame student-athletes are on major league rosters;  Jeff Samardzija (Cubs), David Phelps (Yankees), John Axford (Indians), Jeff Manship (Phillies) and A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks).

Samardzija made history this afternoon for the Cubs.  He pitched seven scoreless innings against the Pirates today -- yet the Cubs lost 1 - 0 in ten innings.  Samardzija is the first Chicago Cubs pitcher to throw "back to back" scoreless starts on Opening Day in 80 years!

To learn more about each of these former Irish stars -- click on their name below:

LINK:  JEFF SAMARDZIJA -- PITCHER

LINK:  DAVID PHELPS -- PITCHER

LINK:  JOHN AXFORD -- PITCHER

LINK:  JEFF MANSHIP -- PITCHER

LINK:  A.J. POLLOCK -- OUTFIELDER

Samardzija's Opening Day Start Tomorrow!

Former Notre Dame All-American Jeff Samardzija takes the mound tomorrow for his second straight Opening Day start for the Chicago Cubs -- and ironically it happens again at PNC Park in Pittsburgh against the Pirates.

First pitch is thrown at 1:05 PM ET -- here's some stories about Jeff's start tomorrow:

LINK:  2ND STRAIGHT OPENER

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO

HBO's Real Sports: Graduating College Athletes

Bryant Gumbel's Real Sports on HBO produced a story this past week on what a number of universities have been doing to graduate their student-athletes -- namely; University of North Carolina, University of Michigan, University of Oklahoma, Baylor University, Iowa State University and the University of Memphis.

If you get the chance -- go to HBO and watch the entire show.  It's an eye-opener...  Plus, there is a second link here to an article I found in a North Carolina newspaper about this HBO story:

LINK:  TRAILER

LINK:  NEWS OBSERVER

NCAA Regionals: ND Met With the Media Today

Muffet and her Fighting Irish met with the media today to talk about tomorrow night's game against Baylor for a trip to Nashville and the FINAL FOUR.  Here's the replay:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME NCAA PRESSER

FIGHTING FOR LIFE: The Bobby Russell Story

Notre Dame fans are going to want to watch this story...

LINK:  BOBBY RUSSELL

Up Next: Odyssey and the Baylor Bears

She's only 42 points away from setting the all-time points record for a single season for women's college basketball...

Standing in Odyseey's Sims way is the defense of Jewell Loyd, Kayla McBride and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Here is what the media has to say about tomorrow night's NCAA Regional Final between Notre Dame (35 - 0) and the Baylor Bears (32 - 4).  The fun begins at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.

LINK:  ESPNW -- CHARLIE CREME

LINK:  ESPN'S LOBO & LAWSON

LINK:  ESPN'S WHITE & MOWINS

ND's Post Game Press Conference Today

The Fighting Irish met with the media after today's 89 - 72 win over Oklahoma State.  Here is the replay of the press conference:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

Mike Brey Stars in Northwestern Mutual TV Spot

Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey is featured in a Northwestern Mutual TV commercial that's airing during the NCAA tournament.  Just click on the link below to watch:

LINK:  MIKE BREY

Elite Eight Bound -- IRISH Beat Cowgirls 89 - 72

Notre Dame, with a quick 14 - 0 run, took control of the game early and they never trailed in a seventeen point win over Oklahoma State this afternoon.  The win puts the Fighting Irish into the NCAA Regional Final on Monday night against Baylor -- the last team to beat Notre Dame at Purcell Pavilion.

Here are the highlights and a few early media reports on today's game:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS FROM ND

LINK:  ESPN RECAP

LINK:  THE OKLAHOMAN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Coach Kelly Met With Media Today at ND

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today after Spring practice #8.  He updated the media on Jarret Grace's surgery and the status of his team...

LINK:  COACH KELLY

ND Football Spring Practice #8 Video Highlghts

Here's what Notre Dame football was up to today -- inside -- the Loftus Complex.  The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media was in attendance -- so we have this report!

LINK:  PRACTICE VIDEO

Notre Dame Hockey on ESPNU at 9 PM ET

The NCAA Hockey Tournament begins tonight for Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish and you can watch it LIVE on ESPNU beginning at 9 PM ET.  Yesterday afternoon Notre Dame met with the media to talk about St. Cloud State -- click on the link below to watch a replay of the press conference:

LINK:  PRESSER

Notre Dame on ESPN Today at 2:35 PM ET

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish are playing at home today in the SWEET SIXTEEN against Oklahoma State on ESPN -- the game tips off at 2:35 PM ET.  Here's what the media has to say about this afternoon's game:

LINK:  THE OKLAHOMAN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

Photo of Louis "Irish Chocolate" Nix on Skates!

Louis Nix III is a good sport.  Last night the former Notre Dame student-athlete participated in the Relay For Life cancer fundraising event at Compton Ice Arena.  As you'll see the 340 lb. defensive lineman painted his face, grew some colorful ears and put on some ice skates!

ESPN "Experts" Pick Winner of ND vs. OSU

Notre Dame plays Oklahoma State in a Sweet Sixteen basketball game Saturday on ESPN at Purcell Pavilion.  Four ESPN basketball pundits picked their winners of each of the games Saturday and Sunday.  Click on the link below to find out how they see the IRISH doing:

LINK:  PICKIN' THE WINNERS

Notre Dame Hockey Begins NCAA Tourney Run

Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish are in St. Paul, MN this weekend to play their first NCAA Hockey National Championship tournament game tomorrow night against St. Cloud State.  Here's a preview of tomorrow night's game:

LINK:  ND HOCKEY

Muffet's Irish Met With the Media Today

The Fighting Irish are "HOME" this weekend to play in the NCAA's SWEET SIXTEEN.  First up, a game against Oklahoma State tomorrow at 2:30 PM ET.  The media met with Notre Dame this afternoon -- here's a link to the press conference:

Photo above of the new floor installed for the NCAA Tournament.

LINK:  PLAYERS

LINK:  COACH MCGRAW

Six ND Freshmen Met With the Media Today

I challenge you to find six better interviews from any other freshman football class in America.  The Notre Dame student-athlete -- they're different.

LINK:  IMPRESSIVE

MUST SEE! -- NOTRE DAME DAY TEASER

The University of Notre Dame will be celebrating NOTRE DAME DAY this coming April 27th.  Here's a promotional video to tease you to join-in!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME DAY

Slam Magazine Interview of Incoming Hoopster

Mychal Johnson an incoming Notre Dame hoops recruit from West Virginia was interviewed yesterday by Slam Magazine.  Johnson and her teammates just won their FOURTH STRAIGHT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP (six in a row for the school!) -- you'll enjoy this interview.

Fans of Kansas' freshman basketball sensation Andrew Wiggins might be surprised to learn that he was Mychal's date to the prom her junior year.

LINK:  SLAM MAGAZINE