ND Player Updates -- First Day of Training Camp

A number of Notre Dame football players suited up for the first day of NFL Training Camp with their respective teams today.  Here's what I could find on a number of former Fighting Irish football stars -- as you'll see, an alarming number of them were placed on the NFL's "PUP List."

That Notre Dame degree is so, so important!

LINK:  CHRIS WATT -- SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  LOUIS NIX -- HOUSTON TEXANS

LINK:  STEPHON TUITT -- PITTSBURGH STEELERS

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE & T.J. JONES -- DETROIT LIONS

LINK:  PRINCE SHEMBO -- ATLANTA FALCONS

LINK:  ZEKE MOTTA -- ATLANTA FALCONS

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN -- CHICAGO BEARS

LINK:  THEO RIDDICK -- DETROIT LIONS

LINK:  JOHN CARLSON & TROY NIKLAS -- ARIZONA CARDINALS

LINK:  KAPRON LEWIS-MOORE -- BALTIMORE RAVENS

LINK:  SERGIO BROWN -- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

LINK:  ZACK MARTIN -- DALLAS COWBOYS

LINK:  DAVID BRUTON -- DENVER BRONCOS

LINK:  BENNETT JACKSON -- NEW YORK GIANTS

LINK:  ROBERT HUGHES -- ARIZONA CARDINALS

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

LINK:  MANTI TEO -- SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

LINK:  ANTHONY FASANO -- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Aerial Photo of Notre Dame Stadium Field Turf

My understanding is these were taken by Joe Raymond -- South Bend Tribune free-lance photographer

Notre Dame Coaches' Under Armour Gear

The Fighting Irish football staff will return to the Guglielmino Athletics Complex next Monday as they gear up for the start of fall training camp on August 3rd -- the day players report.

Here's a photo of their new gear from Under Armour -- awaiting their arrival.

The photo was "tweeted" today by Ryan Grooms @NDFBEquipment

The "PRIME TIME" Fighting Irish of Notre Dame

Folks, it looks like seven of Notre Dame's football games this season will be televised in "prime time" on Saturday nights this fall.  I don't think any team has ever had this much prime time TV coverage in one season before...

Only Notre Dame!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. NAVY IN PRIME TIME

The ND Monogram is in Place at the Stadium!

Here's the latest photos from the installation of Field Turf at Notre Dame Stadium.

They are moving fast!

Coach Kelly & Staff Visits Under Armour Today

The Notre Dame Football staff made the trek to Maryland today to visit the folks at Under Armour.  Here's a couple of photos "tweeted" by Coach Kelly...

The Field Turf is Down at Notre Dame Stadium

Here's the photo from today!  Next up -- the sidelines!!!

OT: Stained Glass at Charlie Finley's Old Home

I attended a meeting today at the former home of Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley (a Notre Dame fan) in La Porte, IN -- here's some of the stained glass Charlie had installed...

Domer Storm Interviews Under Armour CEO

You're going to want to watch this interview Notre Dame alum Hannah Storm '83, conducted with Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank.

This is must see!

LINK:  KEVIN PLANK

Fantasy Baseball's "Most Traded Player"

Is a former Notre Dame wide receiver...

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA

Another Photo of Field Turf Installation at ND

Notre Dame Stadium is going to look really nice when they are done!

Ricky Watters Jr. -- Performing in South Bend

Just learned of this tonight -- Ricky Watters Jr., son of former Notre Dame running back and Super Bowl Champion Ricky Watters will be performing in downtown South Bend at Fiddler's Hearth this Wednesday night at 9:30 PM ET.

Ricky is only 13 years-old...

See him being interviewed below -- along with a couple of his recent performances and a music video where Ricky's Dad wears his Notre Dame jersey:

LINK:  RICKY WATTERS, JR. INTERVIEW

LINK:  SINGING BRUNO MARS "IT WILL RAIN"

LINK:  SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

LINK:  MUSIC VIDEO

Notre Dame Under Armour Soccer Cleats !!!

The Under Armour folks are at it again for Notre Dame -- here's a look at the women's soccer shoes...

Field Turf Being Installed Today at Notre Dame

Here it is -- the south endzone of Notre Dame Stadium has the first strip of Field Turf installed.

I you look closely you can see the slight 1/2% grade in elevation...

The bottom photo shows the "cutting in" of hash marks and numbers prior to placing in the turf.

ND's Campus Architect -- Video Chat Thursday

Folks, if you'd like to hear from one of the key people behind the "most beautiful campus" in America -- this Thursday's your chance!

Over the next five years -- the University will be adding at least ten more buildings to this campus -- this is your chance to get an "insider's perspective" as to what is planned!

Doug Marsh, Notre Dame's University Architect will be participating in an online chat this Thursday from NOON ET to 1 PM ET.  Only 100 spots are available -- so you need to register ASAP!

It's free and open to anyone!

LINK:  REGISTER HERE!

The Highest Valued Ticket in College Football

Notre Dame...

And, it's not even close.  The folks at Forbes did some research on the price of tickets being sold in "secondary markets" for the 2014 football season and the most valued college football ticket is to see the University of Notre Dame play.

You'll be surprised who's ranked and who's not...

LINK:  FORBES RANKING

Domer Mike Lee '09 Fights in Chicago Friday!

Notre Dame alum Mike Lee '09, is back in the ring this Friday night in an ESPN Friday Night Fights at Chicago's UIC Pavilion.  This will be the "undefeated" Lee's (11 - 0) first fight since his six-round TKO of previously undefeated Peter Lawson in April.

If you're looking for something to do Friday night in Chicago -- head over and watch Mike's fight -- my understanding is 20% of the proceeds from this bout will be donated to Notre Dame.

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES STORY

LINK:  BUY TICKETS HERE

A Great Story About Two Domers' Tribute...

Former Notre Dame football player Asaph Schwapp died from non-Hodgkin lymphoma (May 2013) at the age of 26...

Two of his former teammates and a few other Notre Dame alums decided to take on a TRIATHALON in his honor in San Francisco.  It's called the "Escape From Alacatraz" Triathalon and Mike Aello and Evan Sharpley competed for the memory of their friend.

You're going to want to read this story:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Domer Dad Bon Jovi Still Looking to Buy Bills

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi -- father of Notre Dame student-athlete Jesse Bongiovi -- is still seeking to purchase the NFL's Buffalo Bills.  Here's the latest:

In the photo above note the Notre Dame Leprechaun on Bon Jovi's guitar...

LINK:  BON JOVI

Skylar Scores 27 in 2014 WNBA All-Star Game

The former Notre Dame All-American put on quite a show last night in Phoenix -- leading her West team in scoring with 27 in their 125 - 124 OT loss to the East team in the 2014 WNBA All-Star game.  Here's the story:

LINK:  SKYLAR

LINK:  ESPN