The ND GO IRISH BLOG's Newest Staffer...

My daughter Kara and son-in-law Conor -- adopted a puppy named "Bailey" five weeks ago...

Well, tonight -- Bailey offered up some help as I was updating the ND GO IRISH BLOG.

Nashville NBC Reporter: "LSU Fans Go Home"

WOW -- this isn't going over well with the LSU crowd in Nashville for the Music City Bowl...

LINK:  LOCAL NBC REPORTER

Second Practice Report: Music City Bowl

Here's a look at DAY #2 from Nashville as Notre Dame gets ready for Tuesday's Music City Bowl game against Louisiana State University...

LINK:  PRACTICE #2

Saturday Night Fun at the Music City Bowl!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the LSU Tigers are on the General Jackson Showboat having dinner tonight -- here's some of the fun going on...

Notre Dame's "Hot Chicken Wing Eating Team" won the Music City Bowl Championship -- devouring 25 wings to 19 for LSU -- see photos above.

LINK:  SONG WRITING COMPETITION

LINK:  HOT CHICKEN WING EATING COMPETITION

New Under Armour Shoe for Notre Dame FB!

The Fighting Irish will be wearing these new "kicks" for Tuesday's Music City Bowl game...

The Les Miles Show: Music City Bowl Edition

LSU's Les Miles held his radio show last night -- as his team gets ready to take on Notre Dame this Tuesday afternoon in the Music City Bowl...

Please note -- it's a radio show -- you won't see any video.

LINK:  LES MILES SHOW

Brian Kelly Media Session #1 -- Music City Bowl

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media last night after their first practice at Nashville's Father Ryan High School as the Fighting Irish prepare for Tuesday's Music City Bowl.

LINK:  COACH KELLY

First Practice Report From the Music City Bowl

The Fighting Irish held a practice this afternoon at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, TN -- as they prepare for the Music City Bowl game against LSU.

Here's the report from practice:

LINK:  PRACTICE & COACH KELLY

Notre Dame Practicing at Father Ryan High

Nashville's Father Ryan High School is hosting the "real" Fighting Irish for football practice these next few days -- leading up to next Tuesday's Music City Bowl.  Here's a couple of photographs from this afternoon's first practice session -- along with photos of the team's arrival at Nashville International Airport and the first team meeting...

Father Ryan High was founded in 1925 as the Nashville Catholic High School for Boys.

Golson & Zaire on Notre Dame QB Competition

Here's Notre Dame QBs Everett Golson and Malik Zaire -- talking about the competition:

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

LINK:  MALIK ZAIRE

Coming to a Shamrock Series Game Near You?

Got to love the creativity in the Under Armour All-America Game "gear" -- helmet, uniform, shoes, gloves and base layer -- the top high school players will be wearing next week in Orlando...

Can't wait to see what Under Armour will do for Notre Dame at next year's Shamrock Series Game -- with a year to plan.

Notre Dame Football Headed to Nashville Today

The Fighting Irish will be arriving in Nashville today for the Music City Bowl -- from all over the country.  The official travel party is boarding a Delta 747 this hour (photo above) in South Bend -- and the players will be arriving at Nashville International Airport on flights from their hometowns all morning long...

The IRISH will hold their first practice in Nashville today at 4:30 PM CT

Merry Christmas From Notre Dame!

Thought you'd enjoy hearing Katherine Jenkins and IL DIVO perform OH HOLY NIGHT -- one of my favorites!

Merry Christmas!!!

LINK:  OH HOLY NIGHT

OT: Pretty Cool Moment With Tennessee FB

Butch Jones -- who is a fellow Ferris State alumnus -- surprised a member of his Tennessee Volunteer football team with a great Christmas present...

LINK:  WATCH THIS

Who Doesn't Belong In This Photograph...?

The guy in the red jersey -- Aaron Lynch, who left Notre Dame after his freshman season...

Here he is posing for a photo of Notre Dame alumni playing in the NFL; Trevor Robinson, Ian Williams and Manti Te'o -- missing from the photo is Chris Watt who was injured earlier in the game...

Manti Te'o to 49er: "Find a New Joke..."

Former Notre Dame All-American Manti Te'o -- is tired of hearing about the "girlfriend..."

LINK:  FIND A NEW JOKE

Notre Dame Football Hires UCLA RB Alum...

Jonathan Franklin, who gained more than 4,000 yards for the UCLA Bruins -- has been hired by the Notre Dame Athletic Department to work with Student Welfare and Development...

LINK:  THE REAL GOLD HELMET

Zack Martin '13, Named to the NFL Pro Bowl!

Guess who is the only rookie offensive player named to the NFL Pro Bowl...

Former Notre Dame football captain and first round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys -- Zack Martin '13, was the lone offensive rookie named today to the NFL Pro Bowl!

And, the eighth Cowboy rookie of all-time to earn this honor -- and their first ever rookie offensive lineman.

Congratulations Zack!

LINK:  NFL PRO BOWL

USA Today Story On Under Armour's CEO

Kevin Plank had quite a year...

LINK:  USA TODAY STORY

Les Miles Meets With the Media After Practice

LSU head football coach Les Miles met with the media after Monday's practice.

He spoke on a variety of subjects; Christmas, Forbes's value of his football program, coaching vacancies and he even fielded a question about Notre Dame.  LSU will arrive a day after Notre Dame in Nashville...

You get the sense the local media thinks they will roll over the IRISH...

LINK:  LES MILES