ND NFL DRAFT Coverage: Harrison Smith

Former Notre Dame football captain, Harrison Smith will be anxiously awaiting the start to tomorrow's 2012 NFL DRAFT.  Smith "could" go in tomorrow night's First Round coverage on ESPN.  The New York media thinks the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants are considering Harrison. 

Here's a story that ran today in the New York Post:

LINK:  COULD HARRISON BE HEADED EAST?

ND NFL DRAFT Coverage: Darius Fleming

The Chicago Sun-Times published a story today about Notre Dame linebacker Darius Fleming and his plans and his family's plan for the 2012 NFL Draft which begins tomorrow.  Irish fans will enjoy this story. 

LINK:  DRAFT PLANS FOR THE FLEMING FAMILY

Armstrong Wins Big East with Playoff Birdie!

Notre Dame freshman Ashley Armstrong (Flossmoor, IL) won the Big East Women's Golf Championship with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff yesterday in Orlando at the Reunion Resort and Golf Club. 

Congratulations Ashley! 

Here's a link to her interview after her winning putt!

LINK:  BIG EAST CHAMPION

The Ultimate Domer Den -- Father Ted's!

Folks, the gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media earned the "GET" of the year in convincing Father Ted to give them access to his "Domer Den" on the 13th floor of the Hesburgh Library on the University of Notre Dame campus.

Father Ted, who turns 95 years-young next month (May 25) -- is the University of Notre Dame to many.  I had the honor two weeks ago to meet "one on one" with Fr. Ted in his "Domer Den."  After our discussion, I took this photo of him holding a miniature replica of the Golden Dome with my iPhone (sorry for the poor quality).

THIS IS A MUST SEE VIDEO!

LINK:  FATHER TED'S DOMER DEN

Another Prime Time Tilt for the Irish!

BRING IT ON!

It was announced today that ABC will be televising the Fighting Irish vs. the Spartans of Michigan State "under the lights" on Saturday, September 15 -- to a national TV audience.  It will be the first of three straight games when the IRISH will be playing in PRIME TIME.

LINK:  IRISH IN PRIME TIME

Why Not to Worry About Recruiting Rankings!

Folks, fifteen of the projected thirty-two First Round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft were rated a "THREE STAR or LOWER" by the high-school recruiting experts.  Think about that...

Here we are fretting over whether an eighteen year-old young man has two, three, four or five stars attached to his name -- when he's still a pup.  A lot happens the next four to five years in the maturation of a young man -- and we seem to forget that.

Photo above is of Jason Babin a "no-star" recruit who played at Western Michigan University and ended up being drafted in the First Round in 2004 and is a NFL Pro Bowl player for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here's that analysis by Sports Illustrated.

LINK:  AN EYE OPENER

Justin Tuck's Monogram Club Speech

Former University of Notre Dame football star and two-time Super Bowl Champion New York Giant Justin Tuck -- spoke at Friday night's Monogram Club's Blue Gold dinner.  You'll enjoy how he defines "special place..."

WOW!

LINK:  JUSTIN TUCK'S SPECIAL PLACE

Top 25 College Football Players in America

The Sporting News published a list yesterday of the top-25 college football players in the country.  You'll find one player on that list who wears a GOLD HELMET -- and you'll find six players from our opponent's this season.  Here's the list:

LINK: RANKING THE TOP COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN AMERICA

Holtz Talks Notre Dame @ Cotton Bowl HOF

Former Notre Dame head coach -- Lou Holtz was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame last Thursday and it didn't take long for the ESPN college football analyst to talk about his favorite school.  Enjoy the links:

LINK:  HOLTZ TALKS NOTRE DAME

NBC'S Alex Flanagan's ND Sideline Interviews

During Saturday's Notre Dame Blue Gold Game -- NBC's Alex Flanagan was roaming the sidelines interviewing a number of former IRISH football stars.  Here are those interviews:

LINK:  MIKE FLOYD & JONAS GRAY

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH

The Day After ND's Spring Game 2012

Took a lap around the worldwide web today to see what the media had to say about Notre Dame's 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game.  You'll also find game highlights from the good folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media.  Enjoy!

LINK:  BLUE GOLD GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #1

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #2

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #3

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

ESPN Shows its Bias Against ND -- AGAIN!

The gang in Bristol, CT were showing highlights today of Spring football games across the country.  All of the game clips they showed were positive HIGHLIGHTS -- except for one game...

ESPN chose to show Notre Dame QB's being intercepted twice -- before showing one Everett Golson TD pass. 

Not surprised.

Did Notre Dame Find a QB Today?

If you listened to Coach Kelly after Notre Dame's Blue Gold Game (link below) you would say -- NO.  However, if you polled the 51,000 people inside Notre Dame Stadium today I think they'd say the job belongs to Everett Golson!

And, if you're looking for a position that's stacked with talent -- look no further than the running back position where #3 running back George Atkinson, III ran for 124 yards on 15 carries.

Yet, the story of the day was the Notre Dame QB position.  Here were the stats for each of the QB's:

• Golson: 11-15 for 120 yards, 2 TD's and 25 yards rushing
• Rees:  7-14 for 84 yards, O TD's 1 yard rushing and 1 interception
• Hendrix:  59 yards passing and 12 yards rushing and 1 interception
• Kiel:  57 yards passing and 15 yards rushing and 1 interception

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  PLAYER INTERVIEWS

Blue Gold Game @ 1:30 PM ET Today!

Today's 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game will be televised today (for the second time ever) on the NBC SPORTS NETWORK.  The first play from scrimmage will take place just a few minutes at the 1:30 PM ET air time.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  NBC SPORTS CENTRAL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

The Best THE SHIRT Ever? Just Might Be!

Folks the 2012 THE SHIRT was just unveiled on the University of Notre Dame campus and I must say it's my all-time favorite!  The goal is to sell 200,000 and they expect to put a huge dent into that number this weekend. 

I've got to believe Golden Tate and Robert Hughes (photo above) - the two stars of THE SHIRT -- were quite thrilled with the honor.  Photo courtesy of ND GO IRISH BLOG regular, Travis Mather.

Here's where you can buy it online!

LINK:  BUY THE SHIRT!

LINK:  THE UNVEILING

Notre Dame Tight End Position in the News

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have had an incredible run of big-time talent at the Tight End position; Bavaro, Hunter, Fasano, Carlson, Rudolph, Eifert to name just a very few in the past few years.  Word on the street is the IRISH will be using "multiple tight ends" on the field this fall.  Here's what ESPN is reporting:


LINK:  ESPN BLOG STORY ON ND TIGHT ENDS

LINK:  ESPN VIDEO STORY

Photo of the Day: Who Said Bald Is Beautiful?

Didn't see this photo...  I couldn't pass this up!

The MAN in this photo is none other than Notre Dame alum, Timothy O'Connor,  AKA "OAK" -- who agreed to shave his head this week to raise money for childhood cancer research.  Thanks Timmy!

For those of you who don't know -- Timmy is the creative genius behind much of the packaging of the great digital work coming out of the Fighting Irish Digital Media team.  You'll see his handy work along with Eric Runyon and Philip Zastrow in the website linked below concerning the 125th Anniversary of Notre Dame Football:

LINK:  TIM O'CONNOR'S WORK

THE SHIRT: Tomorrow the World Will Know

It's the #1 selling item on any college campus in the world.  This T-SHIRT TRADITION started in 1990 and it's never looked back.


I'll never forget a call we received from our oldest son Jimmy five years ago this month "Dad, I'm on The Shirt!"  The Shirt 2007 -- carried for the first time ever -- photos of actual Notre Dame students inside the Notre Dame Monogram.  Jimmy, an Irish Guardsman's photo is the first you see on the bottom left of the Monogram (see below).  They "only" sold 135,000 shirts that year.

What's cool today is we still see people wearing The Shirt 2007 -- reminding us of that special moment for our son and our family...

Tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM ET -- THE SHIRT 2012 will be unveiled to a LIVE TV audience, the Band of the Fighting Irish, Glee Club, Coach Brian Kelly and other dignitaries.  ONLY NOTRE DAME.

Here's a link to a video of the 2010 unveiling of THE SHIRT:

LINK:  THE SHIRT

ND Football's "Patio Appreciation Party"

The Notre Dame football program hosted women, from all over campus yesterday. at a THANK YOU event on the patio outside of Coach Kelly's office.  Enjoy!

LINK:  PATIO APPRECIATION PARTY

ND Coach Elliott Featured in ESPN Story Today

I learned today that Notre Dame's safeties coach Bob Elliott's life was threatened in the late 90's with a rare blood disorder.  The more and more I read about Coach Elliott -- the more I'm impressed with this Coach Kelly hire.

See for yourself!

LINK:  COACH BOB ELLIOTT

A Tribute to "Uncle Blair" This Saturday...

Notre Dame freshman QB Gunner Kiel will wear the #5 his Uncle Blair Kiel wore as a four-year starter for the IRISH -- this Saturday in the 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium.

Gunner was assigned uniform #1 this spring -- but, in honor of Uncle Blair (who died a couple of weeks ago) Kiel will run out onto Notre Dame Stadium for the first time in a GOLD HELMET wearing the number five.  A nice tribute to the Kiel family.

Great Notre Dame Stories: Launched Today!

Notre Dame football fans -- you're going to want to click on the link below.  The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media started their journey (THIS AFTERNOON) to tell 125 great stories -- as part of their 125th Anniversary of Notre Dame Football celebration.

If you click on the link below you'll see three stories -- the first is a story about how and why Notre Dame made the decision to begin flying the football team around the country.  The second story is about the "first game of the century" -- the 1935 game between Notre Dame and Ohio State.  And, the third story is about Notre Dame's upset of then undefeated and #1 ranked Pitt Panthers in 1982.

The fun starts at the link below:

LINK:  THREE GREAT NOTRE DAME STORIES

Photo of the Day: St. Baldrick's Event @ ND

The University of Notre Dame's now "annual" St. Baldrick's Foundation event to fund childhood cancer research took place today at LaFortune.  And, as you can see in the above photo -- the Notre Dame Football team was in the chairs with their classmates cutting off their hair for charity.

LINK:  UND.COM VIDEO FEATURE

LINK:  ST. BALDRICK'S WEBSITE

Last Spring Practice for Notre Dame Football

Today was the 14th and last practice of the 2012 Spring Football season as the IRISH get ready for Saturday's 83rd annual BLUE GOLD GAME.  Coach Kelly announced that Saturday's game will be an Offense vs. Defense scrimmage with the following scoring system:

• Defense will score 7 points if it "turns over" the Offense on the "defensive" side of the 50
• Defense will score 3 points if it "turns over" the Offense on the "offensive" side of the 50
• Defense will score 4 points if it "stops" the Offense on the "defensive" side of the 50
• Defense will score 2 points if it "stops" the Offense on the "offensive" side of the 50
• Defense will score 1 point if it "holds" the Offense to a field goal
• Offense will score like they usually do in a regular game

Here's a link to the UND.COM coverage from today:

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH THE MEDIA

LINK:  LOUIS NIX INTERVIEW

LINK:  DAVARIS DANIELS & GEORGE ATKINSON INTERVIEW

Intercollegiate Robotics Football This Friday!

Notre Dame fans -- if you're coming to campus this weekend for the BLUE GOLD GAME -- here's something you can see that truly is a NOTRE DAME FIRST!

The University of Notre Dame Robotics Team will be taking on the Polar Bears from Ohio Northern in the first-ever Intercollegiate Mechatronic Blue Gold Football Game.  The kick-off is scheduled for 7 PM ET at the Stepan Center on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.

Here's Coach Kelly talkin' about Friday's big game!

LINK:  FIRST INTERCOLLEGIATE ROBOTIC FOOTBALL GAME!

Men's Basketball -- Celebrates a Great Season!

I received an email from ND GO IRISH BLOG newcomer Kelly Hoferth telling me that I wasn't paying enough attention to the Men's Basketball Team.  She went on to ask why I didn't post the link to AN EVENING WITH THE IRISH.  So, to keep Kelly happy -- here's that link!

LINK:  AN EVENING WITH THE IRISH

9 AM ET Kickoff for FIGHTING IRISH in Ireland

It was announced today that the 125th Anniversary season of Notre Dame Football will kick-off at 2 PM in Dublin, Ireland -- that's 9 AM ET in South Bend and 6 AM PT in California -- on Saturday, September 1st.  

AN IRISH WAKE-UP CALL for the Notre Dame Family!

The Notre Dame vs. Navy game will be televised by CBS with Vern Lundquist and Gary Danielson calling the action. 

IRISH fans who make the trek to Ireland for the game might like the fact that there are 69 bars inside Dublin's Aviva Stadium that can "pour a pint in less than 4 seconds..."

Here's a couple of videos of the stadium:

LINK:  TOUR OF AVIVA STADIUM

LINK:  AERIAL VIDEO OF AVIVA STADIUM

Notre Dame to Award Eleven Honorary Degrees!

 

The list includes a television exec, mathematician, an archbishop, lawyer, soft-drink CEO, oilman, a provincial superior, university president, former ND dean, a humanitarian and a former Irish athlete. 

Here's the official release from the University of Notre Dame of the individuals to receive an Honorary Degree at the 2012 Commencement:

LINK:  HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS -- UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

ND's Bill Scholl '79 Hired as Ball State AD!

Ball State University announced today the hiring of Bill Scholl '79 as their new Athletic Director.  Scholl, the former Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Notre Dame, leaves the IRISH after serving 23 years in its athletic department.  Congratulations Bill!

LINK:  BALL STATE HIRES ND ALUM

LINK:  THE STAR PRESS

Notre Dame QB Update...

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media interviewed the Notre Dame football coaching staff about the QB position at ND -- and the players themselves...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME QUARTERBACK POSITION

Natalive Novosel Selected Eighth Overall!

The University of Notre Dame's Natalie Novosel -- who looks quite sharp in her new hair style -- was selected eighth overall today in the 2012 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics.  Natalie is just the third player EVER in ND Women's basketball history to be drafted in the top ten!  Congratulations Natalie!

LINK:  WNBA DRAFT COVERAGE

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST STORY 

LINK:  ESPNW STORY 

LINK:  WNDU STORY

Devereaux Peters Goes Third Overall in Draft!

The WNBA held their 2012 Draft today and University of Notre Dame senior Devereaux Peters went third overall to the Minnesota Lynx.  The highest ever draft position for a ND women's basketball player!  Congratulations Devereaux!  Here's a link to the coverage:

LINK:  VIDEO OF DRAFT SELECTION

LINK:  WNBA DRAFT COVERAGE

LINK:  PIONEER PRESS COVERAGE 

LINK:  WNBA Q&A WITH DEVEREAUX 

LINK:  WNDU STORY

Final Week of Spring Practice @ Notre Dame!

The 83rd Annual Blue Gold Game is just five days away and I've got my fingers crossed that the weather man will cooperate!  Here's a link to a couple of video segments coming from today's practice and Saturdays -- thought you would enjoy.

LINK:  MONDAY'S PRACTICE VIDEO

LINK  SATURDAY'S PRACTICE VIDEO

ND Alum Kuczora '05 Ordained a Priest!

It was a special afternoon yesterday at the University of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart -- when Matt Kuczora (ND Class of 2005) was ordained a Holy Cross Priest. 

The two hour Liturgy of Ordination to the Presbyterate was a special experience for all who attended.  I caught a little video outside of the Basilica as "Fr. Matt" blessed his brothers in the priesthood -- see link below.

Father Kuczora will celebrate his first Mass, a Mass of Thanksgiving, today at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at 11:45 AM ET.  If you'd like to watch the mass online -- LIVE -- click on the link below.

Nothing like stepping up into the "big leagues" on your second day on the job! 


LINK:  ORDINATION TO THE PRESBYTERATE 

LINK:  WATCH FR. KUCZORA'S FIRST MASS -- LIVE RIGHT HERE!

Celebrating a Championship Season & Class

Muffet's Fightin' Irish held their season ending celebration this past week -- and the Big East Champions and National Championship Finalists went out in style.  Notre Dame's four graduating seniors each took a turn at the podium, you'll enjoy what they had to say.

I encourage you to watch all of the videos linked below -- it's MUST SEE -- the parents' video will make you cry!

LINK:  SEASON HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

LINK:  SENIOR PARENTS' VIDEO -- TISSUE ALERT!

LINK:  NATALIE NOVOSEL VIDEO

LINK:  FRADERCIA MILLER VIDEO

LINK:  DEVEREAUX PETERS VIDEO

LINK:  BRITTANY MALLORY VIDEO

ND Women's Softball -- Striking Out Cancer!

It's a special weekend in South Bend -- the Notre Dame women's softball program is honoring their coach's six-year old daughter Tatum Gumpf, who was diagnosed with leukemia two years ago.  All proceeds from their STRIKE OUT CANCER series with Syracuse this weekend -- will go to the Memorial Children's Hospital Pediatric Oncology Clinic.

The great news -- Tatum (pictured) is on her way to a full recovery.  GO TATUM & GO IRISH!

LINK:  STRIKE OUT CANCER

Two of the Top Football Games in 2012...

Yahoo! Sports ranked the top 12 non-conference college football games for the upcoming 2012 season and two of their top four matchups -- involve the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame.  Any thoughts on what two games their most looking forward to?  You might be surprised...

LINK:  TOP NON-CONFERENCE GAMES IN 2012

ND Fans, We Need to Vote for Kevin Randall!

University of Notre Dame senior Kevin Randall -- a captain on the Fighting Irish Men's Lacrosse Team is up for the Lowe's Senior Class Award.  He needs our VOTE -- so please click on the link below!

LINK:  VOTE FOR KEVIN RANDALL!

Notre Dame Back @ Football Practice Today!

It was practice #10 and the Fighting Irish were back on the field after a long Easter break for the team.  The folks at UND.COM featured the outside receivers in this report -- you'll enjoy!

LINK:  SPRING PRACTICE #10 AT NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Magazine's Fashion Issue...

Kerry Temple & company broke from "tradition" this month to publish a FASHION issue (for the first time) of Notre Dame magazine -- THANK YOU! Great stories, great photography -- a FUN issue!

If you're a fan of Notre Dame and not a subscriber -- you're missing out.  It's the finest college magazine in the world.  Here's a link to their site:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME MAGAZINE

The Fourth Toughest Schedule in College FB!

Notre Dame's 2012 football schedule has been ranked as one of the toughest in all of college football by college football guru Phil Steele.  Here's a link to his rankings.  Special thanks to ND GO IRISH BLOG regular and my uncle R.J. Doyle -- for bringing this to my attention!

LINK:  PHIL STEELE RANKINGS

A Star in the Making! ND's Scott Booker...

RecruIting guru Tom Lemming was interviewed this week by the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen -- and he was asked about the recruiting prowess of Notre Dame football assistant coach Scott Booker.  Irish fans will enjoy what he had to say:

LINK:  A STAR IN THE MAKING

Can You Win a National Championship Clean?

 

With the breaking story today that Baylor's women's basketball team (men as well) is under investigation for recruiting violations and you look back at most of the recent National Championship teams or runners-up; USC, Auburn, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon, UCONN, Kentucky, etc., (football and basketball) -- it seems like the constant is this -- they ALL break the rules...

Kind of sad isn't it -- especially if you're a program that makes an effort to do the right thing.

Case in point -- I witnessed something I found kind of odd a couple of weeks ago on the University of Notre Dame campus.

A football assistant coach stopped his car on the edge of campus and out hopped a four-star recruit with his parents and I watch them hug and say good-bye.  And, then the parents and recruit "walk across the street (Angela / Edison) to their hotel (Fairfield Inn & Suites) -- apparently there must be a rule that says you can't transport recruits off campus during an unofficial visit.  

Would it have been a big-deal for that coach to drive another 75 feet across the road to the hotel and drop them off?  Probably not if you're at an institution that doesn't follow the rules -- or makes its own.  Obviously, this coach was doing the right thing -- per the NCAA and Notre Dame.


Remember, they say "character" is best defined as what you do when no one is watching you.

LINK:  BAYLOR UNDER INVESTIGATION

Former Notre Dame QB Blair Kiel -- RIP

Blair Kiel, who started at QB for the IRISH in 1980 as a freshman -- passed away today at the age of 50.  Kiel, one of the very few to ever be a four-year starter at QB for Notre Dame -- went on to play seven season in the NFL for Tampa Bay, Indianapolis and Green Bay.

Blair's nephew Gunner Kiel, is a member of the ND football program.  A sad day for the Kiel family.  A life lost way too soon.

LINK:  BLAIR KIEL RIP

Jeff Samardzija Pitches Cubs to First Win!

The former two-star IRISH standout started his first game in seventeen months today at Wrigley and Cub fans everywhere are probably wondering WHY!

Samardzija pitched 8 2/3 innings allowing three runs on four hits (with eight strikeouts) -- as the Cubs win their first game of the 2012 season 4 - 3 over the Washington Nationals.

LINK:  FORMER IRISH STAR LEADS CUBS TO FIRST WIN!

Easter Mass -- Live From Notre Dame!

Easter Mass from the University of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart can be seen live this morning at 10:00 AM ET and again at 11:45 AM ET.  Photo courtesy of Matt Cashore and ND Photoshelter.

LINK:  WATCH EASTER MASS -- LIVE AT 10 AM ET

LINK:  WATCH EASTER MASS -- LIVE AT 11:45 AM ET

The Shark Gets His First Start Today for Cubs!

Former Notre Dame All-American football player Jeff Samardzija makes his first start for the Cubs since September 2010 today at Wrigley Field against the Washington Nationals.

The Cubs are 0 - 2 after two games -- one of four teams in the National League who haven't won a game yet this season.

Jeff is coming off a very positive spring earning a spot in the Cubbies starting rotation.  Good luck SHARK!

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  ESPN BLOG

ESPN Sport Science Tests Michael Floyd

 

Irish football fans -- you'll enjoy this!  The good folks at Sport Science did some "testing" of former Notre Dame football star Michael Floyd.  Here you go!  Special thanks to "converted" ND fan, Travis Mather for alerting me to this story:

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD ON SPORT SCIENCE