Justin Tuck Leading By Example in Oakland

Former Notre Dame All-American and Super Bowl Champion Justin Tuck is getting used to his new surroundings in Oakland. 

See the story linked below:

LINK:  TUCK

Troy Niklas Finally Hits the Practice Field in AZ

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Troy Niklas has been dealing with a couple of injuries ever since being drafted in the 2nd round of this year's NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

Well, he finally hit the field this week -- albeit a little rusty...

As you can see in the photo above -- Troy is wearing a protective soft-cast over his healing broken right hand.

LINK:  NIKLAS PRACTICING

Detroit Lions Are Raving About Golden Tate

They're calling him the "best #2 wide receiver" ever to line-up opposite Calvin "Megatron" Johnson in Detroit...

I was surprised to hear that Golden was such a good "route runner."  It was one of his knocks when he first got to the NFL a few years ago.

LINK:  BIG DAYS FOR GOLDEN?

Nice Story About the Cardinals' Michael Floyd

Is this the year former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd becomes a dominant force in the National Football League?  The folks in Arizona think so...

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD

Notre Dame Alumna Swims English Channel!

Sara Marley '90, completed the 21 mile swim in 13 hours and 50 minutes!!!

Here's the story!

LINK:  ENGLISH CHANNEL SWIM

LINK:  BLOOMBERG NEWS STORY

Notre Dame Design Element for Under Armour?

If you look closely at the "numbers" and shoulder stripes -- inside the design -- it appears the designers at Under Armour are picking up the ceiling of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart (top photo) in the look they've created for the women's soccer jerseys...

This is just a guess.

We never saw anything like this from Adidas.

Local News Coverage: Field Turf Install Done!

Here's a few of the local news reports from South Bend TV outlets -- as they were let inside Notre Dame Stadium today to see the completed installation of Field Turf.   Only a few "minor" touch-ups before the opening game on August 30th!

It looks fantastic!

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY

LINK:  WSBT-TV STORY

LINK:  ABC 57 -- STORY

Notre Dame Soccer's New Under Armour Jersey

They will be the "best dressed" team in college soccer!

Take close notice to all of the detail:

• The collar:  God, Country, Notre Dame
• The numbers and shoulder stripes  Looks like they may have picked up a design cue from the ceiling of the Basilica

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Notre Dame Soccer's New Under Armour Shoes

They're getting cooler all the time!

The New View From Notre Dame's Tunnel

Is this awesome or what!!!

Got to Love Mike's Lee's Boxing Trunks!

Found these photos of "undefeated" pro boxer Mike Lee '09 from his Friday night fight in Chicago!  His boxing trunks are off the charts!

LINK:  LEE GOES 13-0!

Jerian Grant Returns "Home" to Notre Dame

Here's a three-part feature on Jerian Grant's return to Notre Dame for his senior season.  Click on the links below:

LINK:  JERIAN -- PART 1

LINK:  JERIAN -- PART 2

LINK:  JERIAN -- PART 3

Skylar Shares Workout Secrets With Oprah!

The former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins offered some tips on working out in the August issue of Oprah Magazine...

The Tulsa Shock announced today that Skylar set their all-time single season scoring record with her 560 points -- with eight games left to play!

LINK:  SKYLAR WITH OPRAH

Football Tickets Tough to Sell in Ann Arbor

Here's what happens when your home schedule looks like this:

• Appalachian State
• Miami of Ohio
• Utah
• Minnesota
• Penn State
• Indiana
• Maryland

Your Athletic Director seeks approval to set off fireworks after the games to entice fans to buy tickets. 

LINK:  MICHIGAN TICKET CHALLENGE

ND's "Left Side" Making a Mark in NFL Camps

Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Chris Watt '13, was taking first team reps at the Chargers' training camp -- there's a link to the story below -- as was his more famous running mate Zack Martin '13, who's turning heads at the Cowboys' camp.

Chris wears #65 for the Chargers.  Zack wears #70 for the Cowboys.

LINK:  CHRIS WATT

LINK:  ZACK MARTIN

LINK:  VIDEO OF PRACTICE -- CHRIS IS #65 / MANTI #50

Interesting Take: Will ND Help or Hurt ACC?

A couple of writers at ESPN tackled the question -- "Will Notre Dame help or hurt the ACC this season?"  It's an interesting read...

LINK:  ND & THE ACC

Notre Dame Talked With Georgia's Dooley...

About coaching the Fighting Irish after Dan Devine stepped down.

Vince Dooley -- the long time coach and AD at Georgia "prayed" for the IRISH as a young boy in Mobile, AL.  Notre Dame fans will enjoy this South Bend Tribune story.

LINK:  DOOLEY & NOTRE DAME

Latest Photo of Notre Dame Stadium Field Turf

It looks magnificent!

The "eighteen" endzone lines are in -- all pointing at the GOLDEN DOME -- with each set at an angle of 42 degrees -- to signify Notre Dame's founding in 1842.

Just click on the photo to enlarge.

Latest Photo of Notre Dame Coaches UA Gear

The Notre Dame football coaches returned to campus today to get ready for the 2014 season -- here's what was awaiting them in their locker room at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Grooms @NDFBEquipment

Is This the Biggest NFL Contract in ND HIstory?

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Kyle Rudolph signed a $36.5 million contract extension yesterday with the Minnesota Vikings.   See the video interview below. 

The amount just might be the biggest ever signed by a former Notre Dame football player in the NFL.  Here's the top three that I've tracked down...

1. Kyle Rudolph:  $36.5 million
2. Golden Tate:  $31 million
3. Justin Tuck:  $30 million

If you know of bigger NFL deals signed by former ND football stars -- send me an email at jim.small@ndgoirish.com

LINK:  RUDOLPH TALKS $36.5 MILLION