A team of eight Notre Dame Law School students won the 2013 Student Trial Advocacy National Competition this weekend in New Orleans! Team members: Brian Salvi, Shelia Prendergast, Michelle Pope, Kristian Weir, Brian Ellixson, Ted Koroshetz, Andrew Spica and Bryan Pasciak.
The IRISH were "undefeated" -- going 11- 0 in the Regional and National Finals.
Here were the other Law Schools that won their Regional Championship earning a trip to New Orleans for the National Championship:
It wasn't the ending she had worked for -- or, the ending we had hoped for...
Yet, I wake up this morning SMILING! Smiling for the efforts of a TEAM that no one expected could go this far. Smiling for a "leader" who willed her team to win after win this season and many during her career. And, smiling for a program that is "excellence" personified.
Thank you Skylar Diggins for sharing your talent with Notre Dame. You will never be forgotten.
Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija made his second start of the season for the Chicago Cubs today and he lasted 5 2/3 innings -- STRIKING OUT THIRTEEN in the process.
After two starts -- Jeff Samardzija leads all of Major League Baseball with 22 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched!
Unfortunately, he gave up a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to the Atlanta Braves before being pulled out of the game. The Cubs lost the game 5 - 1.
The University of Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins is authoring a BLOG during the NCAA Tournament for ESPNW. Here is her latest blog post along with an ESPN interview she gave on stage at the Final Four Salute Dinner:
Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw, Skylar Diggins and Kayla McBride met with the media today -- 30 hours prior to its PRIME TIME matchup with UCONN tomorrow night:
It's as if Notre Dame's three wins this year over UCONN never happened -- two took place on the road in the State of Connecticut...
Oh well, -- UCONN was favored in the previous three IRISH WINS!
Our Lady Irish spent their first full day in New Orleans yesterday at the FINAL FOUR -- with some practice, some interviews and a dress up "Welcome Party" for all of the teams. Our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media were in attendance -- take a look:
The University of Notre Dame has begun construction this week on a new road -- and the closing of a section of a current road (Douglas Road) -- that will be completed by mid-August.
The new access road to campus will sit right straight across from the intersection of the Indiana Toll Road (Exit 77) entrance/exit and 933 (Michigan Avenue). The new road will begin here and will wind its way to the western edge of Warren Golf Course - where it will reconnect to Douglas Road.
Seems like every media story I read has UCONN beating our Fightin' Irish on Sunday night in the National Semi-Final game...
They conveniently "throw away" the previous three wins this season by Notre Dame over Geno's team in this manner -- "if only for a missed shot here or... UCONN would have won these three previous meetings..."
The IRISH, on a 31 game winning streak -- THREE of them against UCONN -- are obviously wearing the Rodney Dangerfield masks on Bourbon Street this week...
It's unfortunate that this game isn't on Tuesday night for all of the marbles...
It's also a shame that the three wins already against UCONN this season -- don't mean anything if we don't beat them for a FOURTH TIME -- something I'm sure has never happened to a Geno Auriemma team in his tenure in Storrs.
So -- the media's pickin' UCONN over our IRISH -- big surprise.
The future of Notre Dame men's and women's basketball will be on display tonight in Chicago...
At 7 PM ET the McDonald's All-American Girls Game will be televised on ESPNU -- and it will feature two high school stars headed to South Bend to play for Muffet this fall;
#12 -- Taya Reimer; 6'-3" Forward playing for the East Team
#15 -- Lindsay Allan; 5'-8" Point Guard playing for the East Team
At 9:30 PM ET the McDonald's All-American Boys Game will be televised on ESPN -- and it will feature a high school star headed to South Bend to play for Mike Brey this fall:
#11 -- Demetrius Jackson; 6'-1" Point Guard playing for the East Team
That's Demetrius Jackson -- to the far right in the photo above -- holding his Skills Competition trophy.
As is the custom here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- we take a romp around the worldwide web to see what the media has to say about our Fightin' Irish the morning after a big win.
Here's the buzz after last night's victory over Duke to advance to a third straight FINAL FOUR:
Former Notre Dame hockey captain, Anders Lee -- scores a goal in his first NHL hockey game! Lee last played for the IRISH on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament -- here he is three days later on his sport's biggest stage... That's Anders on the left - seconds after scoring the goal!
Lee scores on a "wrister" in the 1st period of the New York Islander's game with the Winnipeg Jets. Catch Mom & Dad in the stands after his goal! You'll also want to catch the Islander's head coach reaction to all of the questions from the New York media about Anders Lee...
Here's a photo just "tweeted" by @NotreDameBand from the arena in Norfolk, VA -- site of tonight's battle between Notre Dame and Duke for a spot in the FINAL FOUR!
This photo was just "tweeted" seven minutes ago by @NotreDameBand -- as they play the VICTORY MARCH for the Fightin' Irish as they leave the hotel for tonight's game with Duke.
McDonald's All-American and future Notre Dame student-athlete, Demetrius Jackson -- won the McDonald's All-American Skills Competition last night.
Jackson, who will be playing for Mike Brey's Fighting Irish this next season -- was named a "CAPTAIN" for his East Team for Wednesday night's game. You can see Demetrius in action at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN -- Wednesday, April 3, 2013.
Muffet's Fightin' Irish face their toughest test so far in the NCAA Tournament tonight, when they take on the fifth ranked Duke Blue Devils. The game will be televised on ESPN beginning at 7 PM ET. The winner advances to next Saturday night's FINAL FOUR game in New Orleans against UCONN.
Tonight's game will serve as a "sneak preview" of what Notre Dame can expect next season when we join the Atlantic Coast Conference -- Duke (pictured above) won the ACC Tournament.
Here's a link to yesterday's press conference and a couple of links to previews of tonight's game:
Former Notre Dame All-American football star Jeff Samardzija made his OPENING DAY pitching debut for the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park in Pittsburgh against the Pirates -- and boy did he have a game!
Notre Dame hockey captain, Anders Lee is off to the NHL...
The IRISH junior center -- a sixth round draft pick of the New York Islanders back in 2009 -- signed a two-year deal this morning and is already practicing with the team. Lee is expected to be in uniform this week (possibly tomorrow night) and getting some ice time.
But, the door has been opened WIDE to that coveted National Championship!
The #5 seeded Louisville Cardinals pulled off the upset of ALL-TIME in women's college basketball last night when they hit 16 three-pointers in their 82-81 win over what was thought to be "unbeatable" Baylor!
WOW!
So, here's what's ahead for the IRISH:
Tuesday night -- we play #2 seed DUKE, a tough opponent -- win that game...
And, we play UCONN for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- yeah, it's a game early -- but this will be the game! Can the IRISH BEAT UCONN FOUR TIMES in the same season?
Get past UCONN and you're probably looking at TENNESSEE or GEORGIA in the "second National Championship game."
Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins scored 27 points today (22 in the first half) to become the ALL TIME LEADING SCORER in Irish women's hoops history -- as ND rolls over Kansas 93 - 63.
2,323 career points!
Notre Dame now moves on to a game Tuesday night against Duke for a third straight trip to the FINAL FOUR!
The #2 ranked Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame take on the 'un-ranked' Kansas Jayhawks in a SWEET SIXTEEN game today in Norfolk, VA.
Skylar Diggins and Kayla McBride met with the media yesterday to talk about today's game -- see the link below and along with a link to a game preview:
FYI: Skylar Diggins is 26 pts. away from Notre Dame's all-time scoring record!
Our team here in the Notre Dame Development Office videotaped the Voices of Faith gospel choir a few weeks ago. This choir is a "student run" group. Enjoy!
Mike DeCicco '49, died of congestive heart failure yesterday, at the age of 85. Coach DeCicco's fencing teams won FIVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS during his 34-year coaching tenure at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame begins play in the NCAA Tournament today -- down the Toll Road in Toledo, OH. The #1 seeded Fightin' Irish (CCHA Champions) will be taking on the WCHA Champions from St. Cloud State.
There isn't any national TV coverage today -- everyone can watch it on ESPNU (tomorrow) at Noon ET. Those who have access to WHME-TV 46 can watch it LIVE today beginning at 1:30 PM ET.
Here's the stat of the day -- Notre Dame a #1 seed is 2 - 4 against teams in the NCAA Tournament. St. Cloud State a #4 seed is 9-7-1 against teams in the NCAA Tournament. We have our hands full today!
Here is the media coverage this week from Fighting Irish Digital Media:
The #1 seeded and #2 ranked Notre Dame Fightin' Irish take on the Kansas Jayhawks -- for the first time ever -- in a SWEET SIXTEEN game Easter Sunday in Norfolk, VA. The Jayhawks become the 197th different opponent in the history of women's basketball at Notre Dame.
The Jayhawks are 20 - 13 on the season and are led by Monica Engelman who is averaging 18 points a game in the tournament. They start two 6'-3" forwards -- so they'll have a slight height advantage on the IRISH. Here's what the Lawrence, KS media has to say about today's game:
This morning around 10:45 AM ET -- Katie Paige, a senior at Ann Arbor Pioneer HS -- signed her "acceptance letter" to attend the University of Notre Dame. Katie chose to sign the letter at the Grotto. A special moment!
That's Katie's dad Patrick -- proudly standing with a member of Notre Dame's Class of 2017.
Matt Besler '09, earned his "stars and stripes" this past Tuesday night when he played all ninety minutes for TEAM USA (his first start for USA in a World Cup Qualifier) in America's 0 - 0 tie with Mexico at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City.
Besler, an All-American with the IRISH -- is the first Notre Dame student-athlete to ever play in a World Cup qualifier for any nation. Justin Morrow '10, is also a member of TEAM USA but he's yet to see the field in a World Cup Qualifier.
Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today after the Wednesday morning practice. During the session with the media he announced the transfer of a couple of players and confirmed the injuries to Chase Hounshell and Amir Carlisle.
Former Notre Dame QB and Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana -- was just inducted into the California Hall of Fame. Here's a link to an interview of Joe at the event. The photo above shows Montana (on the left) with fellow Hall of Fame inductee Warren Beatty.
The University of Notre Dame hosted a PRO DAY today for NFL Scouts to check in on former members of the Irish football program as they prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.
THE STORY OF THE DAY: The forty heard round the world! What a difference a tenth of a second means for Manti -- could be millions...