Friday, August 23, 2024

Notre Dame Football's "Shamrock Shaped" Thigh Pad


Notre Dame Football's Adon Shuler -- a rising sophomore safety from New Jersey -- with a Shamrock shaped thigh pad...

I was alerted by a Notre Dame fan that the other thigh pad represents the "8-Ball" -- looks like Shuler has everything covered!
 

Domer Niko Kavadas' First MLB Hit a Home Run!

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Notre Dame Suspends Men's Program For One Year


Notre Dame's Athletics Director Pete Bevacqua let the members of the Men's Swimming team know that their sport has been suspended for one year --- in light of the findings of an internal investigation where it was determined the team had a widespread gambling issue...

This is coming off the heels of a Top Ten finish at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championship and the gold and silver Olympic medals of its star performer Chris Guiliano.

Here is Pete Bevacqua's statement:

"After receiving reports of possible misconduct on our men's swimming team, the University of Notre Dame engaged the law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP to conduct an in-depth review, which is now complete. The external review confirmed and expanded on our initial concerns about a deeply embedded team culture dismissive of Notre Dame's standards for student-athletes, including our expectation that they treat one another with dignity and respect. This independent, external review also documented numerous violations of NCAA rules prohibiting gambling on intercollegiate swimming and other athletic competitions despite clear and recurrent training provided to all our student-athletes by our Athletics Compliance staff about those rules. These findings are contrary to the University's values and all that we stand for in Notre Dame Athletics. In order to ensure that this behavior ends and to rebuild a culture of dignity, respect, and exemplary conduct, we have decided to suspend the men's swimming program for at least one academic year.

While individual conduct varied, the overwhelming cultural dynamic on the team necessitates a full suspension. We profoundly regret that the small number of team members who did not participate in the conduct, and those who were planning on joining the team this fall, will also suffer the consequences of this decision. We deeply value our responsibilities as educators and our commitment to our student-athletes, and will work with other University offices as appropriate to provide support to those affected by our decision. While we are certainly disappointed by the actions that led to the decision, we recognize that our students make mistakes, and our goal is to educate and support them to the best of our ability.

The coaching staff participated in and fully cooperated with all aspects of the external review. The review found that the staff was not aware of gambling or the scope and extent of other troubling behaviors because team members effectively concealed such behaviors from the coaches and staff through concerted efforts. According to the review, when the staff became aware of certain isolated incidents of unacceptable conduct, they treated them seriously and professionally. We appreciate the continued service of the staff to our women's swimming and diving programs and our men's diving program during these difficult times.

As stated at the launch of the review, we take seriously our obligation to foster a community of student-athletes who not only compete and perform at the highest level academically and athletically, but whose conduct reflects the University's values. We hope this decision sends a clear and unequivocal message reaffirming that commitment and expectation. And, as we do after any major action, we will continue to review our internal processes and reporting structures to ensure that we are doing all that we can to nurture a positive experience for all Notre Dame student-athletes. We will work even harder to provide a welcoming and safe community for all our students."

LINK:  STORY

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Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Here Come The Irish -- August 29 on Peacock

Domer Owusu-Koramoah Signs Three-Year Extension!


Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah just signed a three-year contract extension with the Cleveland Brown worth $39,000,000.  This new contract ($25 million is guaranteed) moves Owusu-Koramoa onto Notre Dame's all-time professional sports compensation list, just ahead of NFL Hall of Famer, Bryant Young:

  • Monty Williams:  $125,900,000 
  • Harrison Smith:  $122,735,243 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2026 
  • Quenton Nelson:  $118,010,393 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2026
  • Mike McGlinchey:  $116,981,966 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2026
  • Jeff Samardzija:  $116,341,666
  • Zack Martin:  $113,240,531 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2025
  • Ronnie Stanley:  $108,645,183 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2024
  • AJ Pollock:  $78,498,337
  • Anders Lee:  $66,044,038 -- guaranteed contract to 2025
  • Troy Murphy:  $66,000,000 
  • Kyle Rudolph:  $59,936,853 
  • Cole Kmet:  $59,161,763 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2027
  • Golden Tate:  $56,421,672
  • Stephon Tuitt:  $55,710,551
  • Brad Lidge:  $55,335,000 
  • Pat Connaughton:  $50,727,479 -- guaranteed contract to 2026
  • Kyle Palmieri:  $50,192,154 -- guaranteed contract to 2025
  • Bryan Rust:  $46,670,000 -- guaranteed contract to 2028 
  • Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah -- $45,416,217 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2028
  • Bryant Young:  $44,000,000
  • Justin Tuck:  $43,248,463 
  • Romeo Okwara:  $36,855,601
  • John Sullivan:  $35,800,027
  • Jerome Bettis:  $35,122,500
  • Ian Cole:  $35,049,694 -- guaranteed contract to 2025
  • Jeff Faine:  $34,456,892 
  • Will Fuller:  $34,246,582
  • Jaylon Smith:  $33,316,297 -- free agent
  • Joe Alt:  $33,160,944 -- guaranteed contract to 2027
  • Matt Carroll:  $29,537,032 
  • Tim Brown:  $28,432,686
  • Laphonso Ellis:  $27,939,000
  • Rocket Ismail:  $27,885,021
  • Tyler Eifert:  $26,310,317
  • Joe Montana:  $26,000,000 
  • Nick Martin:  $25,185,579 -- free agent
  • Steve Beuerlein:  $22,238,265 

 

LINK:  STORY

Can Notre Dame Football make the Playoffs?