NBC's Keith Arnold weighed in on a story written by Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandel about the Big Ten's expansion plans -- and Notre Dame's decision to join up with the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui were back in the West Michigan area yesterday for a Kelly Cares Foundation golf event -- and as you'll see in the story linked below, it was time to give back to a community and a family that was good to them.
In eight starts this year at Chicago's Wrigley Field -- Samardzija has a 1.63 ERA. Folks, in those eight starts -- he has a record of 1 - 3.
Last week is was reported that the former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver turned down an $85 million contract extension with the Cubs. Think he wants to keep pitching at Wrigley in a Cubs uniform?
Last night Samardzija gave up one run in six innings (in a 6 - 1 Cub's loss) lowering his ERA to 2.53 on the season -- the 11th best ERA in all of Major League Baseball.
Sad fact: Samardzija is one of only two starting pitchers -- among the top 30 with the lowest ERA in all of Major League Baseball -- with a losing record.
Former Notre Dame All-American Raghib "Rocket" Ismail will be joining the folks on the ABC TV show EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS -- tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 8:00 PM ET -- must see TV!
183 diamonds make up the Super Bowl ring given to former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate. Now, it might not be the most beautiful Super Bowl ring I've ever seen...
The NHL's Chicago Blackhawks will make a return trip to the campus of the University of Notre Dame on Friday, September 19th to begin their 2014 training camp at the Compton Family Ice Arena.
The USA vs. Portugal World Cup game begins at 6 PM ET -- though ESPN's coverage begins an hour earlier at 5 PM ET.
Former Notre Dame All-American Matt Besler (he wears uniform #5) is good to go tonight -- after being taken out at the 41 minute mark in the USA's 2 - 1 win over Ghana ten days ago because of a hamstring strain.
A win today over Portugal will mark the first time in 84 years that America would have won two games in the opening round of a World Cup...
Fighting Irish sophomore student-athlete Jordan Ferreira is seen here on the practice tee at this weeks US Open -- in a photo taken by Claire Blakey, wife of long-time USGA Rules Official Lew Blakey '54. Claire, thanks for sending the photo!
The Blakey's are down at Pinehurst this week for the Women's US Open.
Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver (turned major league baseball pitcher) Jeff Samardzija -- turned down a reported $85 million contract extension with the Chicago Cubs.
Looks like Jeff is heading to the trading block...
Former Notre Dame All-American Matt Besler '09 -- a starting "center back defender" on TEAM USA -- appears to be full go for Sunday's World Cup game against Portugal. The Domer was injured in the 41st minute of America's 2 - 1 win over Ghana.
Ironically, his replacement scored the winning goal!
Notre Dame two-sport star Pat Connaughton officially signed his contract with the Orioles and is now headed to Sarasota, FL to pitch for the Gulf Coast League Orioles.
Connaughton was taken in the 4th round by the Orioles in 2014 MLB Draft -- earlier this month -- earning a $428,000 bonus...
Pat will return to Notre Dame on July 30th to begin preparation for his senior season with Mike Brey's Fighting Irish. You'll enjoy the video of Pat being drafted by the Orioles -- and the video from last night's Oriole's game where Pat was introduced on the field during the game:
Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was at the Meijer's in Mishawaka this week with a couple of his "rising" sophomore football stars: Corey Robinson and Mike McGlinchey. Folks, McGlinchey is huge -- he should be the first guy off the bus wherever we play on the road next season...
You're going to want to watch this video of their appearance -- good fun:
All-time Notre Dame basketball great Ruth Riley -- announced her retirement today.
Riley, who made her two final free-throws in her Notre Dame career to win a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- played 13 years in the WNBA winning two championships in Detroit...
Former Notre Dame All-American Matt Besler '09 had to leave Team USA's fWorld Cup game last night against Ghana at the 41 minute mark do to a reported hamstring injury. Ironically, the American's winning goal came from his replacement John Brooks...
That's a photo of Matt (#5) heading the ball in last night's game.
Here's an update this morning on Besler's condidtion:
Former Notre Dame All-American Matt Besler '09 got the start tonight on defense for TEAM USA against Ghana at the 2014 World Cup. Besler led the IRISH to four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Matt's brother Nick is a current member of Notre Dame's national championship team.
Former Notre Dame National Champion, Super Bowl Champion and five-time NFL Pro Bowl running back -- Ricky Watters -- is back on campus attending classes today...
Ricky's wife Catherina Watters -- who's an attorney and sports agent -- "tweeted" this news today. A link to their family business (CHANG WATTERS) website is included below.
Watters left Notre Dame back in 1991 to play for the San Francisco 49ers -- without completing his degree.
In the past 24 hours -- the incoming student-athletes for Notre Dame's Class of 2018 began arriving on campus to begin their college career.
The photo above is of Notre Dame women's basketball recruits -- from left to right; Kathryn Westbeld, Brianna Turner and Mychal Johnson -- they're the #5 ranked recruiting class:
Incoming Notre Dame student-athlete Kari Bellville (Granger, IN) just received a sponsor's exemption to play in the Four Winds Invitational (a professional golf tournament) at Blackthorn Golf Club.
Bellville is fresh off her win at the Indiana State Junior Championship -- where she carded a 1-under par round of 71 on the final day to win by seven shots. See story below:
I wonder if Mike Golic Jr., knows the French language?
It was announced yesterday that the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes have signed former Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike Golic, Jr. to a contract.
Former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen met with the media for the first time yesterday since signing with the Chicago Bears -- here's a link to him talking about learning the Bear's offense:
Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco -- was a guest on a local Connecticut TV show this week, showing off his cooking skill. Click on the link below:
Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Chris Watt '13 is running with the starting unit at practice this week in San Diego. Here's a nice story about how Chris is progressing with the Chargers.
Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins led her Tulsa Shock teammates today with 21 points in their 72 - 57 win over the WNBA's New York Liberty.
On the season -- Skylar leads the Shock in the following categories:
Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the gang at Weekday SportsBeat this evening to talk about his Fighting Irish. Just click on the link below to listen to the show:
Notre Dame multi-sport star Pat Connaughton announced today that he's agreed to terms with the Baltimore Orioles that will allow him to play basketball this year for the Fighting Irish. Connaughton hasn't signed the contract.
A team made up of Notre Dame men's basketball alumni has made it to the championship game of The Basketball Tournament -- and the winning team receives $500,000! A field of 32 teams competed this weekend in Philadelphia -- The Fighting Alumni (that's the team's name) -- won four games -- earning a trip to the championship game.
Here's the twist -- the championship game is slated for June 28th -- to be held in a location voted on by fans. That's right -- the fans pick where the championship game is played! So, Notre Dame fans -- if you want to pick the destination, click on the link below and vote.
Here is the list of former Irish basketball stars on the team;
Notre Dame student-athlete Jewell Loyd '16, led Team USA to the FIBA 3x3 World Championship in Moscow, Russia yesterday afternoon. The Americans beat the Russians on their home court in the final game! (That's Jewell wearing #8 in the far right of the photo)
As you'll read in these news stories -- Jewell "dominated" on both ends of the court -- putting her in the conversation as one of the top players "ON THE PLANET."
Former Notre Dame All-American Jeff Samardzija won his second game yesterday for the Chicago Cubs as he pitched seven strong innings, striking out eight while giving up two earned runs. His stats on the season:
ERA: 2.54 -- seventh best in the National League
STRIKEOUTS: 75 -- tied for tenth best in the National League
INNINGS PITCHED: 85 -- sixth best in the National League
I apologize to the regulars of the ND GO IRISH BLOG! I've been "off the grid" the past few days in northern Michigan with my family -- our daughter Kara gets married next month and we took a few days to get away and spend some time with her.
One of the stories I was following was the Orioles taking Notre Dame two-sport star Pat Connaughton in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. See the story linked below.
The story just broke that the Chicago Bears have signed free agent Jimmy Clausen to a contract. The former Notre Dame QB is being brought in to back-up Jay Cutler. As more information becomes available -- we'll have it here.
Former two-time Notre Dame All-American QB, two-time Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl Champion and father of Fighting Irish offensive lineman Conor Hanratty -- Terry Hanratty -- is seen in this photo holding a couple of his Upper Deck Trading Cards from yesteryear...
Perry Dellelece '87, has organized a very special day for his alma mater in Canada.
This morning in downtown Toronto, Ontario -- a number of Notre Dame officials and alums rang the opening bell of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Here's a link to the video replay -- along with a link to the story from the Toronto Stock Exchange site: