Zaire Throws for 292 -- Offense Beats Defense

On a day when we learned that this was the last game in the 127 year history of Notre Dame football that the Fighting Irish would play on grass in South Bend -- Malik Zaire backed up his talk that he would be the starting QB come August 30th throwing 2 TD's and for almost 300 yards in the 85th Blue Gold Game.

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME

LINK:  BLUE GOLD GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  OKWARA INTERVIEW

LINK:  RUSSELL INTERVIEW

LINK:  NBC SPORTS STORY

What to Watch For: ND's 85th Blue Gold Game

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the experts are saying about Notre Dame's Blue Gold Game -- here's what I found:

LINK:  IRISH CENTRAL -- NBC SPORTS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Blue Gold Game on NBC Sports Network Today

I've received some emails wondering where to watch Notre Dame's Blue Gold Game today -- well it's on the NBC Sports Network and it begins LIVE at 12:30 PM ET. 

Game time temperature is expected to be 70 degrees!  Perfect weather for us fans!

Notre Dame Unveils "THE SHIRT 2014 " Today!

Just got back from the annual unveiling of THE SHIRT 2014 at the University of Notre Dame.  The photo above shows The Shirt Committee posing for a photo -- wearing The Shirt -- with the GOLD MEN.

LINK:  THE SHIRT PROMO VIDEO

LINK:  THE STORY BEHIND "THE SHIRT"

LINK:  BUY "THE SHIRT" RIGHT HERE!

Domer Talks About His Career at NASCAR

Jimmy Small '08, was interviewed by the show "CARS FOR A LIVING" where he was asked how he got his job and how he has moved up inside the NASCAR organization.

If you're looking for a career in sports marketing -- it's a worthwhile listen...

LINK:  WORKING AT NASCAR

Samardzija Tied for Ninth in NL with 1.29 ERA

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija is currently ninth in the National League with an ERA of 1.29 after his first two starts this season for the Chicago Cubs.

LINK:  ERA LEADERS

Cleveland Indians' Domer Leads MLB in Saves

Former Notre Dame pitcher John Axford, who led the National League in saves in 2011 -- is off to a fast start with his new team the Cleveland Indians!  Axford is "four for four" in save situations for Cleveland -- leading all of Major League Baseball!

LINK:  JOHN AXFORD

Coach Kelly Talks Saturday's Blue Gold Game

After today's practice OUTSIDE at the Labar Practice Complex -- Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media to talk about Saturday's game format and today's practice.  Enjoy!

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Notre Dame Returns Home from Final Four

Muffet's Fighting Irish returned home to the Notre Dame campus during the lunch hour.  The welcome included a "water cannon" salute at South Bend Regional Airport and a police escort back to Purcell Pavilion.  Here's a couple of short video clips of their return:

LINK:  WATER CANNON SALUTE

LINK:  POLICE ESCORT TO CAMPUS

Louis Nix -- Latest Video On NFL Draft Prep

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Louis Nix is the subject of this latest video over at CBS SPORTS...

LINK:  LOUIS NIX

The Mornin' After a Loss for the National Title...

Well, it doesn't feel any better this morning than it did at approximately 10:30 PM ET last night.

UCONN was the better team last night -- no question.  Now, would it have been different with Natalie Achonwa's leadership, size and tenacity along with her 20 points and 10 rebounds a game during the NCAA tournament?

It would have been fun to see their best against our best.

Notre Dame fans, we should be very proud of this team.  A season where the pundits barely had us ranked in the pre-season TOP TEN -- ended up with a fourth straight trip to the FINAL FOUR and the most single season wins in Notre Dame basketball history.

I took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to capture some of the post-game reaction from the FIGHTING IRISH's point of view -- just click on the links below:

LINK:  WSBT-TV

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

ESPN Coverage Begins at 7:30 PM ET Tonight

If you're not in Nashville watching the game in person -- you can begin your TV experience at 7:30 PM ET as ESPN tips off their pre-game coverage at that time.  The game should begin shortly after 8:30 PM ET -- also on ESPN.

Here's the latest coverage from Nashville:

LINK:  THE GAME IS WHAT MATTERS

How Notre Dame Wins the National Title Tonight

The "undefeated" meet tonight in Nashville for the National Championship.  The heavily favored 39 - 0 UCONN Huskies take on our 37 - 0 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  It's the first time in NCAA history that two undefeated teams have met for a women's basketball National Championship.  ESPN is loving this -- they are calling tonight's game "one of the most anticipated moments in women's sports history..."

The oddsmakers in Vegas have UCONN as a 7 point favorite.

Here's how we beat UCONN -- and it starts early -- before the second media timeout (eight minutes into the game);

• Kayla McBride and Jewell Loyd each hit two of the first four shots they take
• Notre Dame has five offensive rebounds leading to a minimum of 6 points -- conversely, UCONN doesn't have any "second chance points"
• One of UCONN's "big-three" of Stewart, Dolson or Mosqueda-Lewis has 2 fouls and sitting on the bench for the rest of the half.

Muffet made a major point at her press conference yesterday about the "lack of fouls called against UCONN this season."  Keep an eye out for this in the first half.  Notre Dame must get to the "bonus" free throws before UCONN.

LINK:  ESPN'S KEYS TO THE GAME

Digger Announces Retirement from ESPN

Richard "Digger" Phelps -- the winningest coach in Notre Dame basketball history -- announced his retirement from ESPN last night prior to the National Championship game.  Digger spent 20 years working for ESPN -- here's a link to his announcement and ESPN's tribute video:

LINK:  DIGGER'S GOOD-BYE

Geno Auriemma's "Shout Out" to Kayla McBride

UCONN Geno Auriemma brings up Kayla McBride in his post game press conference -- here's the link:

LINK:  AURIEMMA

Notre Dame's "Day Before the Final Dance"

The Fighting Irish awoke this morning to the task of defeating "the other" undefeated team in Tuesday's National Championship game.  This marks the third time in four years that Notre Dame is playing on the final day of the college basketball season...

THE THIRD TIME WILL BE THE CHARM!

Here's a replay of Notre Dame's media session today in Nashville -- Muffet has her game face on!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME

Maryland Coach Talks Loss to Notre Dame

Here's a link to a video from Maryland's post game press conference last night after their loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA Semi-Finals;

LINK:  MARYLAND TALKS

Fact: Best Rivalry in all of Women's Sports

It's UCONN vs. Notre Dame in women's basketball.

The two dominant players in their sport right now will make NCAA history tomorrow night when the "undefeated" teams square off for the National Championship.  It's the first time ever that two undefeated teams have met in a NCAA Championship basketball game.

What adds to this rivalry -- no love lost between the two coaches and teams...

LINK:  NO LOVE LOST

LINK:  RIVALRY

ND Football's "Strong & True" Tonight 6:30 PM

Notre Dame football fans -- this is must see TONIGHT at 6:30 PM ET -- on the NBC Sports Network!

LINK:  SNEAK PREVIEW

Sneak Preview: Muffet's Pre-Game Speech

After watching the ESPN "experts" not giving Notre Dame any chance at all to win Tuesday night's NCAA National Championship game against UCONN -- I found myself wondering what approach would Muffet take for her pre-game speech tomorrow night in Nashville.

Here's a sneak preview...

LINK:  WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS BE GREAT...