Today We're All Bulldogs! BEAT BC!

 

It's truly a "David vs. Goliath" battle tonight in Tampa, FL when #1 seed Boston College will take on Ferris State University in the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey National Championship game.  The game starts at 7 PM ET on ESPN2.

Now, I know it's not too difficult for Notre Dame fans to root against that school in Chestnut Hill.  Then for good measure, you add in the fact that my wife Susan and I and many of our family members are Ferris alums -- and, it becomes quite obvious who the Small / Doyle / Sweeney clan will be rooting for this evening.

To get the Ferris State faithful ready -- here's a sneak preview of head coach Bob Daniels' pre-game pep talk to the Bulldogs: 

LINK:  GREATEST PRE-GAME PEP TALK OF ALL TIME!

LINK:  ESPN GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  ESPN #2

GO BULLDOGS!

Notre Dame's Atkinson Brothers: ESPN Story

 

George and Josh Atkinson were the focus of an ESPN story yesterday.  Thought IRISH fans would enjoy reading about these two young men.

LINK:  THE BROTHERS ATKINSON

Irish Fans, Root for the Ferris Bulldogs Today!

This is OFF TOPIC I know -- but, the "Harvard of the North" (AKA) Ferris State University is playing today in the NCAA Frozen Four Semi-Finals against Union College.

Ferris, which is best known for its Pharmacy and Optometry schools -- also happens to be my alma mater.  So, at 4:30 PM ET today on ESPN -- you can be sure to know that I'll be rooting for the BULLDOGS -- and I'm asking the entire Notre Dame family to do the same!

Today we're all BULLDOGS!

LINK:  DETROIT FREE PRESS STORY

ESPN Does Muffet Wrong...

It's a shame that ESPN decided to take a Muffet McGraw comment last night about the great play of Brittney Griner -- OUT OF CONTEXT -- and make a story out of it.

Muffet McGraw is CLASS personified on and off the court.  ESPN did her wrong -- big time.

LINK:  MUFFET ISSUES STATEMENT

The Mornin' After a GREAT SEASON!

 

It is what it is...

We did not play our best game last night and Baylor was better.  However, that does not diminish the two-year run our women's basketball program has had.  INCREDIBLE!

Be sure the watch the ENTIRE highlights video below -- specifically Fraderica Miller's locker room interview.  Kind of puts into perspective the honor and privilege to wear the Notre Dame uniform.

LINK:  HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

The FINAL Story: What Could Go Wrong...

 

Folks, it wasn't the end we all had hoped for Muffet's gang...

The Baylor Bears proved to be too much to handle -- and our IRISH didn't do itself many favors.  Final score; 80 - 61.

Here's what went wrong for the good girls:

• Devereaux's foul trouble -- on the bench for 25 of the 40 minutes
• Natalie's tough night -- 0 for 11 from the field
• Foul disparity:  Irish had five players with 3 fouls or more -- Baylor, just two players with 3 or more
• Poor shooting -- Irish shot 35% from the field as a team
• And, Baylor's dominance on the boards and their MANY second chance points 

Our seniors; Fraderica Miller, Brittany Mallory, Natalie Novosel and Devereaux Peters graduate with 117 career wins -- most for any class in Notre Dame history.  

We're very proud of the BACK TO BACK National Runner-Up finishes for our women's basketball program.  CONGRATULATIONS!

Here's three links to videos taken from Purcell Pavillion -- where more than 1,000 Notre Dame fans (photo above) turned out tonight to cheer on the IRISH!

LINK:  NATIONAL ANTHEM -- NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

LINK:  PLAYER INTRODUCTIONS -- NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 

LINK:  ESPN GAME INTRO -- NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 

Notre Dame's NFL Pro Day: 27 NFL Teams

Nine "former" Notre Dame football players were on display today in front of scouts and general managers from 27 NFL teams -- as well as former Irish QB Jimmy Clausen who threw to his former teammates.  Rumor has it that Robert Blanton, Darius Fleming and Trevor Robinson turned some heads today with their performances.


Blanton and Fleming both ran 4.5 forty's and Robinson lifted 225 lbs. thirty-one (31) times!

I did a search on YouTube and found a number of videos from today's ND -- NFL PRO DAY, linked below:

LINK:  VIDEO OF WORKOUT

LINK:  NBC'S MIKE MAYOCK

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD

LINK:  JONAS GRAY

LINK:  DARIUS FLEMING

LINK:  TAYLOR DEVER

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN

Skylars' Last Blog Entry Before the BIG GAME!

The folks at ESPNW worked out an agreement with the University of Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins to post a blog during this NCAA Tournament run for the IRISH.  Last night -- Skylar posted a piece for the blog from her hotel room.  ENJOY!

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGIN'S BLOG

A Notre Dame STUDENT-Athlete is Special!

 

A story broke today that one of the top defensive backs in the upcoming NFL Draft scored a "4" on the Wonderlic Test.  The annual test given to top college football players to assess their intelligence.   

If you've never taken the Wonderlic before -- you should!  See the link below.

When I hear stories about players moving into the NFL who can't read, write or who score very poorly on the Wonderlic -- I think EXPLOITATION.

Universities should TEACH ALL of their students.

The photo above is of Chris Stewart '11, who was enrolled in Law School at Notre Dame -- and a starting offensive guard -- during his last season with the Fighting Irish.

LINK:  A SCORE OF 4 ON THE WONDERLIC TEST

LINK:  TAKE THE WONDERLIC TEST

FINAL FOUR: And Then There Were Two...

 

The road ends tonight in Denver.  There are 119 teams in Division I basketball and the two left standing are going to tip it off at 8:30 PM ET in front of a national TV audience on ESPN.

It's THE TEAM vs. THE INDIVIDUAL -- as the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on 6'-8" Brittney Griner and her 7'-4" wingspan...

It's the best TEAM (NOTRE DAME) in women's college basketball versus the best INDIVIDUAL (Griner) in women's college basketball.  I'll take a TEAM over an INDIVIDUAL every time...

We're less than TEN HOURS away from game time.  GO IRISH!

Here's a few links to the latest talk about tonight's National Championship game:

LINK:  DENVER POST #1

LINK:  DENVER POST #2

LINK:  DENVER POST #3

LINK:  DALLAS MORNING NEWS

LINK:  ESPN #1

LINK:  ESPN #2

LINK:  ESPN #3

LINK:  ESPN #4

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

FACT: Baylor Had Trouble Guarding the Irish

Folks, the story that hasn't been told is this -- Notre Dame went into Baylor's gym back in November and scored 81 points -- without Natalie Achonwa even scoring a point -- she only played 12 minutes, she wasn't in the main rotation back then.   

Unfortunately, the Irish gave up 94 that day...

Fact:  The IRISH scored the most points against Baylor this season -- no other team scored more than 68.   And, Notre Dame shot only 38% from the floor (only 3 - 18 from 3pt.) that night.

Fact:  The IRISH were within one point in the second half 56 -55 with 13 minutes to play -- only to see the Bears go on a 14 - 3 run to extend their lead by 12 points with 9 minutes to go.  A four-minute lapse by the IRISH cost them this game...

Fact:  The IRISH have played 24 games in 2012 and they have not given up more than 70 points in regulation time to any opponent.  The IRISH defense has vastly improved since November!

The "experts" have not been telling this story -- this is going to be a great game.  It's the most dominant offensive TEAM in women's basketball against the most dominant defensive INDIVIDUAL in women's basketball.

THE TEAM vs. THE INDIVIDUAL

Don't count out the IRISH!

HAVE FAITH!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  MUFFET'S MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Notre Dame Super Fan Wins Volvo!

Her name is Lisa Kelly '93 and she's a die-hard Notre Dame fan and now the proud owner of a Volvo S60 -- courtesy of VOLVO after being named the BIGGEST FAN of the BIG EAST!  Here's a link to the video and Lisa' blog:

LINK:  BIG EAST'S BIGGEST FAN!

LINK:  LISA KELLY'S BLOG

ESPN Experts Give ND NO CHANCE Tomorrow!

If Notre Dame wasn't already in Denver -- the NCAA might have just given the National Championship last night to Baylor...

So says seven of the "experts" at ESPN who selected Baylor today to defeat the IRISH tomorrow night.

Ironically, this is the FOURTH time many of these experts have picked against Notre Dame this tournament.  First they thought California would beat the Irish, then it was Maryland, then it was UCONN and surprise, surprise now it is Baylor's turn to beat Muffet's girls.

Note to experts - BAYLOR has yet to meet the WILL of the IRISH.  They "will" tomorrow night.  It's going to be fun!

LINK:  ESPN EXPERTS PICK THE NATIONAL CHAMP

LINK:  ESPN PREVIEWS THE MATCHUP

Nineteen Days to the Blue Gold Game!

Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish held their first "April Practice" of the 2012 Spring Football season this morning (April 2) at the LaBar Practice Complex.  And, our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media were in attendance -- here's their report:

LINK:  FOOTBALL PRACTICE REPORT

The Rebound & Put-Back That Saved a Season!

 

This photo sequence will undoubtedly be framed in the Novosel household for the rest of time...

In the top photo -- Notre Dame senior Natalie "Nasty" Novosel -- is in position to grab an offensive rebound.  In the middle photo, Natalie is grabbing the rebound.  And, in the bottom photo, Natalie has already let loose of the shot off the backboard -- awaiting it to fall in.

Natalie made the put-back with 4.6 seconds left on the clock to put the game into OT!

The rebound and put-back that saved Notre Dame's season!

The Mornin' After Irish Win Over UCONN

Notre Dame fans all over the world had to wake up this morning with a smile on their face -- the guy in this photo, probably did not...

THE IRISH ADVANCE IN THE FINAL FOUR TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!

Muffet's Fightin' Irish decided it was so much fun beating Auriemma's gang last night -- that they thought "why not five more minutes of this!"

Here's the UND.COM coverage of the celebration "after the game" and a look around the worldwide web this morning, with what the media has to say about ND's big win:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME POST GAME CELEBRATION

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN #1

LINK:  ESPN #2

LINK:  ESPN #3

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #1

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #2

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT BLOG

LINK:  DENVER POST

LINK:  THE DAILY CAMPUS -- UCONN STUDENT NEWSPAPER

LINK:  THE OBSERVER -- NOTRE DAME STUDENT NEWSPAPER

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #3

LINK:  WNDU-TV

PHOTO OF THE DAY: IRISH ADVANCE!

This picture of Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins and Devereaux Peters -- says it all.

Brittany Mallory -- She's ALL IRISH!!!

She takes the toughest defensive assignment every night and she doesn't earn the national acclaim of her teammates -- yet, over a four minute span tonight -- Brittany Mallory was the greatest female basketball player on the planet!

I am so happy for Brittany and her family!

Notre Dame in National Championship Game!

It took 45 minutes -- but the IRISH are in the National Championship game for the second straight year!!!!

Notre Dame beat UCONN 83 - 75 behind Brittany Mallory and Skylar Diggin's heroics in OT!

It's the first time a Geno Auriemma UCONN team has ever lost three games to one team in the same season.  And, for the second straight year -- Muffet's Irish take out UCONN in the National Semi-Final.

That is FOUR WINS OVER UCONN IN THE LAST FIVE GAMES -- but who's counting!

(Photo above is of Natalie Novosel's rebound before her HUGE put-back bucket with 4 seconds left to take the game into overtime)

GREAT JOB IRISH!!!

LINK:  ESPN POST GAME COVERAGE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE  

LINK:  NCAA POST GAME COVERAGE

Jimmy Clausen Returns Home for NFL Pro Day

Nine former Notre Dame football players will perform this Tuesday on campus -- in front of scouts from every team in the NFL -- at the NOTRE DAME NFL PRO DAY.

Word on the street is Jimmy Clausen has returned to campus to throw passes to his former teammates in front of the scouts.  Clausen just might be doing this for his own good as well -- hoping to get out of Carolina...

Here's the story:

LINK:  NFL PRO DAY @ NOTRE DAME

Third Photo "Tweeted" from Final Four!

 

The Irish will be in their home WHITE jerseys tonight signifying that the NCAA Tournament Committee had ranked Notre Dame as the #2 overall team.  Photo "tweeted" by @ndwbb

Video of Irish Departing Hotel for Game!

Here's some video just "tweeted" of the IRISH leaving their hotel for their FINAL FOUR game against that school from Storrs, CT. 

AWESOME!

LINK:  IRISH LEAVE FOR ARENA

Second Photo From the Final Four...

Fighting Irish Digital Media's Tim O'Connor (@oaknd1) just "tweeted" this photo from courtside at the NCAA Women's Final Four.

New Website for the University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame launched a new website this afternoon.  You'll want to check it out!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S NEW WEBSITE

First Photo From Final Four: Crowd @ Hotel!

As you can see in this photograph "tweeted" by Pete Byrne WSBT-TV -- Fighting Irish fans turned out in full force at the Team Hotel this afternoon to cheer on the IRISH before their ride to the arena!

2012 NFL Mock Draft: Michael Floyd Will Go...

 

The NFL Draft is just twenty-five (25) days away and as you would imagine -- there are many thoughts on how early Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Michael Floyd, will be drafted. 

He's picked as high as #7 to Jacksonville and as low as #22 to Cleveland -- here's a link to a number of mock drafts from some NFL experts:

LINK:  2012 NFL MOCK DRAFTS -- FIRST ROUND

Skylar Diggins -- ESPNW Blog from Final Four!

Skylar Diggins and her Fighting Irish teammates were looking fashionable at the Final Four's Mile-High Magic event Friday night.  And, this was the subject of Skylar's most recent blog post from Denver.

You'll also enjoy the story on the legend of Skylar's headband.

Enjoy!

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

LINK:  THE LEGEND OF THE HEADBAND

The Fighting Irish Play UCONN at 6:30 PM ET

For the eighth time in the last fourteen months -- our Notre Dame Fightin' Irish will be taking on UCONN @ the Women's NCAA Final Four for the right to play Tuesday night in the National Championship game!  The game tips-off at 6:30 PM ET on ESPN. 

I took a lap around the worldwide web to see what the "experts" have to say about today's big game -- click on the links below:

LINK:  UND.COM PREVIEW OF GAME

LINK:  CONNECTICUT POST

LINK:  ESPN GAME BREAKDOWN

LINK:  IRISH HAVE CHIP ON SHOULDER -- ESPN

LINK:  NBC CONNECTICUT

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

ND's Morris Inn Renovation -- Impressive!

 

Here's the Notre Dame Avenue perspective of what the University of Notre Dame's Morris Inn will look like come September of 2013.  The renovation will begin this November.  Here's some of the highlights:

• An increase from 92 guest rooms to 138 guest rooms
• Average room size grows from 240 square feet to 360 square feet
• A 300 seat ballroom on the north end of the Inn

Irish Recruit MVP of All-American Game Today!

Jewell Loyd, the highest rated incoming recruit to Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish basketball program was also in Denver today -- playing in the WBCA High School All-American game -- and she didn't disappoint!

Loyd was named the MVP -- leading her team to a 74 - 62 victory, scoring 18 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists!

A good omen for the IRISH!

Congratulations Jewell!

LINK:  LOYD NAMED MVP OF ALL-AMERICAN GAME

LINK:  DENVER POST STORY

LINK:  JEWELL LOYD -- ABC NEWS STORY

Photo of the Day: Final Four Court in Denver

My brother Jay, who resides in the Denver area -- made the trek downtown this afternoon to catch the FINAL FOUR festivities in the Mile High City. 

He took this photo of the court -- which features the snow covered Rockies in the foreground...

Eighty-One Years Ago Today: Rockne's Death

March 31, 1931 -- in a Kansas cornfield, a plane went down killing legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne and seven others.  Rockne, only 43 years old at the time, had just visited his two sons in Kansas and was on his way to the west coast to participate in the production of the movie "The Spirit of Notre Dame."

What's not often discussed is Coach Rockne left the ND Football team in the middle of a nineteen game winning streak -- having gone undefeated his last two seasons as head coach (1929 and 1930) winning "back to back" National Championships.

The season after Coach Rockne's death (1931), the Irish extended the unbeaten streak to 27 straight games before losing the last two games to USC (who was visiting ND for the first time ever) and Army at Yankee Stadium.

LINK:  KNUTE ROCKNE ALL-AMERICAN -- MOVIE TRALER

The "FUN" for the Fighting Irish at Final Four!

Muffet's Fighting Irish spent the last couple of days in Denver preparing for tomorrow's contest with UCONN -- while still finding some time to look great in their dresses at a Final Four event Friday night.  You'll enjoy these stories from the gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media:

LINK:  FRIDAY NIGHT EVENT

LINK:  MUFFET'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  IRISH PLAYERS' PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  SATURDAY @ THE FINAL FOUR

Ballroom Dancing Competition @ Notre Dame

This morning at 8:00 AM ET -- on the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- college dance teams from all over the Midwest were competing in a ballroom dancing competition (IRISH DANCESPORT GALA) inside South Dining Hall.

I must admit I did not know ballroom dancing had become a "sport" on college campuses -- so I had to take a little video from my iPhone and do a little research.  Pretty cool!

LINK:  IRISH DANCESPORT

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S COMPETITION TEAM

Notre Dame #4 Dream School for Parents

The Princeton Review released its list of the top ten "dream schools" for PARENTS and the University of Notre Dame was #4 on the list!  Special thanks to Cappy Gagnon '66 for bringing this to my attention.  Here's the top ten:

1. Stanford University
2. Princeton University
3. Harvard University
4. University of Notre Dame
5. Massachusetts of Technology
6. University of Pennsylvania
7. Cornell University
8. Duke University
9. Yale University
10. University of Southern California

LINK:  TOP TEN DREAM SCHOOLS

Notre Dame Arrives in Denver for Final Four!

Muffet's Fightin' Irish arrived in Denver for Sunday afternoon's "re-match" with the UCONN Huskies and the folks at UND.COM were along for the ride.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME ARRIVES IN DENVER

Jeff Samardzjia Named a Starter for the Cubs!

The Chicago Cubs named their starting rotation this afternoon and former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzjia is their #3 starter!

Jeff has had a quality spring training for the Cubbies -- culminating in six scoreless innings yesterday and the news today he's moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation!  Here's a link to the coverage:

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

LINK:  MLB

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

ESPN Hoops Experts Talks Irish vs. UCONN

Here is a podcast of Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli who chatted today on ESPN RADIO about the upcoming Women's NCAA Final Four.  Specifically, the IRISH and UCONN meeting for the eighth time in the last sixteen months -- this Sunday afternoon.

LINK:  ESPN FINAL FOUR PREVIEW PODCAST

Muffet's IRISH Leave ND Today for Denver!

They're the best dressed team in women's college basketball -- as you'll see in the video below...

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame departed campus today for their flight today to Denver for the 2012 Women's NCAA Final Four!  The gang at UND.COM caught up with the team as they were leaving town.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  FINAL FOUR BOUND!

LINK:  ESPN PREVIEW OF GAME

A Couple of Domers Getting a New Start!

Charlie Weis '78 and Dayne Crist '12 on the football practice for the first time in Lawrence, KS yesterday.    I will be rooting for both this season!

The Day After a Final Four Performance!

Took a lap around the worldwide web this evening to see what the "experts" are now saying about Muffet's IRISH.  What a difference an 80 - 49 point beat down of Maryland makes...

Here's what I found along with a link to UND.COM's coverage of the IRISH in their post game celebration and media session.

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  POST GAME CELEBRATION

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND NEWSPAPER

LINK:  RALEIGH OBSERVER

LINK:  ESPN COVERAGE

LINK:  WSBT - TV

LINK:  WSBT-TV #2

Practice #5 -- The Notre Dame Quarterbacks!

The Fighting Irish held practice #5 this morning and the folks at UND.COM pointed their cameras at the four competing for the starting QB position...

ENJOY!

LINK:  THE NOTRE DAME QB

Photo of the Day: OFF TO DENVER!

 

This photo says it all...  Kayla McBride with a little souvenir!

A CLINIC -- IRISH WIN by 31 Over Maryland!

Folks, the women's basketball experts at ESPN -- four out of five of them picked Maryland over Notre Dame...

Girl, do I hope they pick UCONN over the IRISH!!!!

Tonight was one of the most dominating performances of all-time in NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY of a #2 seed -- as the IRISH win by 31 points over Maryland 80 - 49!

Skylar Diggins -- think she wasn't motivated by the "DOUBTERS" -- led the Irish with a TRIPLE DOUBLE; 22 pts., 10 rebounds, 11 assists and then 5 steals for good measure.  DOMINANCE!

NOTRE DAME OUTSCORED THEIR TWO OPPONENTS IN THE RALEIGH REGIONAL BY A COMBINED 75 POINTS -- think about that...

DENVER -- HERE COME THE IRISH!

The Irish will play Sunday night at 6 PM ET on ESPN against a school from Storrs, CT.  Should be fun!

LINK:  VIDEO OF IRISH DOING THE JIG!

LINK:  GAME BOX SCORE

Photo of the Day: First Photo From Raleigh!

This photo was just "tweeted" by Peter Byrne at WSBT-TV -- of the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame huddling up before they begin warm-ups for their Regional Final in Raleigh, NC against Maryland.  Tip-off scheduled for 9:12 PM ET on ESPN.  Looks like an empty building doesn't it...

Walk-Off Three Run Homer: Irish Win Opener!

 

The Notre Dame women's softball team beat the Broncos of Western Michigan University in their home opener this evening with a two-out, WALK-OFF -- THREE RUN HOME RUN by Amy Buntin!

The IRISH trailed WMU 3 - 0 going into their last at bats...

A home run, triple, walk, fielder's choice (which the runner beat out) and another HOME RUN and the IRISH score five in the bottom of the seventh and it's game over!

This was my first-ever women's college softball game.  I walked in during the fifth-inning thinking they played nine innings...  I have to admit I had no idea the three-run homer was a walk-off until I saw the Broncos walk off the field.

I want to give a shout-out to Tom Lux '78 -- who was kind enough to give me some inside scoop on the Irish softball program.  Tom and his wife Anna are the proud parents of former Irish softball star Christine Lux '10 and junior first baseman Kathryn Lux '13.

Notre Dame Plays for Final Four Tonight!

 

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame will play for the final spot in the Women's Final Four tonight when they tip-off at 9 PM ET against the Maryland Terrapins on ESPN.  The "experts" are all picking Maryland to beat the IRISH tonight -- I DON'T THINK SO!

Here's a link to UND.COM's preview of tonight's game.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. MARYLAND

LINK:  SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF RALEIGH REGIONAL