Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Muffet's IRISH Move up to #2 in AP Rankings!


The Notre Dame women's basketball team's win on Saturday over then #1 UCONN has vaulted the IRISH to the #2 spot behind Baylor in the AP Poll -- yet the Coaches Poll still has UCONN ahead of ND -- go figure...

LINK:  WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS

Final College Football Rankings Just Released


The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame ended up being ranked #3 in the final USAToday Coaches Poll and #4 in the final AP Poll for the 2012 college football season.

From 'un-ranked' to the final game of the season.

CONGRATULATIONS IRISH!


LINK:  FINAL FOOTBALL POLLS

Big Road Win for Coach Brey's Fighting Irish!


The #16 ranked Notre Dame men's basketball team traveled to Cincinnati last night to take on the #13 Bearcats and beat them 66 - 60 -- a huge road win for the IRISH!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  CINCINNATI NEWSPAPER

The Mornin' After...


Yeah, we got hammered... 

Alabama was so dominant last night, they would have done the same thing to my other favorite football team -- the Detroit Lions.  (That's not saying much...)

Yet, I feel GREAT about our Notre Dame football program and the direction we're headed.

Here's why I'm excited:
  • We are a TOP TEN football program -- again -- and we're going to be for some time
  • We have a COACH who has proven he can build winning "CHAMPIONSHIP" programs
  • We have a QB who's going to be GREAT -- and will be a Heisman finalist before he's done
  • We have the most TALENT on our team since the days of Lou Holtz in the late 80's and early 90's -- combined with a coaching staff that can DEVELOP this talent
  • Everyone in our football program now knows -- WE CAN WIN -- and that is huge
  • The Notre Dame Family has been re-energized this season
  • And, we've been given a gift by the Alabama Crimson Tide -- EMBARRASSMENT -- a gift I believe will propel this team to a National Championship in the next three years.

What's also great is this -- the WORLD got to witness the power of the NOTRE DAME BRAND -- especially the "Y and Z" generations.  No other university can stir the hearts and souls of so many people around the globe.  It was fun to watch.

So what do we do now!
  1. Stay POSITIVE
  2. Remember where we've been and look FORWARD to where we're going
  3. And, be THANKFUL for all of the joy of these past 18 weeks -- it's been off the charts

I'd like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to Coach Kelly, his STAFF and to the 105 student-athletes who wore the GOLD HELMET last night in Sun Life Stadium -- you have AWAKEN THE ECHOES!

Remember -- it's only 235 days to kick-off of the 126th season of Notre Dame Football!


LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Monday, January 7, 2013

Photos From ND's Game Day Party in Miami!






These photos have been sent to me courtesy of Samantha Ruttura -- who received the free ticket to tonight's BCS National Championship game courtesy of the YP team.

George Will -- "Luck of the IRISH"


Just found this article written by George Will -- one of the more respected journalist's in America today...

LINK:  LUCK OF THE IRISH

Coach Elliott to Receive a Kidney Transplant!


Notre Dame football coach Bob Elliott was given the great news the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  The kidney is coming from his sister Betsy Stough -- you'll love how she told her brother Bob...

LINK:  KIDNEY TRANSPLANT FOR ND COACH

Lookout BAMA! -- HERE COME THE IRISH!



This is a 20' x 50' billboard that should be hanging at today's Game Day Party in Miami!


LINK:  NOTRE DAME AND ALABAMA -- FINAL PREPARATIONS

Miami's Hotel Intercontinental -- GO IRISH!

This video was sent to the ND GO IRISH BLOG by Fr. Ralph Haag, C.S.C. -- a Notre Dame priest who's down in South Florida for tonight's BCS National Championship game.

ESPN Feature -- "At Home With the Golics"


ESPN pushed out this story today on Mike Golic and his son's Mike Jr. and Jake at home for Christmas break -- before heading down to Florida for tonight's BCS National Championship game. 

Enjoy!

LINK:  THE GOLICS AT HOME

LINK:  JESSE PALMER TALKS MATCHUP

LINK:  DAVE POLLACK TALKS MATCHUP

Please Say a Prayer for Mirko Jurkovic Today


The former Notre Dame All-American football player is clinging on to life this morning after a 28 month battle with colon cancer. 

Mirko, an analyst for UND.COM sat with Jack Nolan -- just last week -- to talk about how HIS IRISH CAN BEAT BAMA tonight.

LINK:  MIRKO JURKOVIC -- TALKIN' IRISH FOOTBALL

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

Notre Dame vs. Alabama -- 11 Hours to Kick-off



The ND GO IRISH BLOG took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the "media experts" have to say about tonight's BCS National Championship game between Notre Dame and Alabama. 

Please remember this IRISH FANS -- most of the media has been wrong all season, why would they stop now?


LINK:  NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

LINK:  LOS ANGELS TIMES

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL 

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  TUSCALOOSA NEWS

LINK:  JACKSON COUNTY NEWSPAPER

LINK:  MIAMI HERALD 

LINK:  SUN-SENTINEL

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ESPN MATCHUPS

LINK:  COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATION BLOG

LINK:  THE SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  COMCAST SPORTS NET

LINK:  NBC SPORTS NETWORK

LINK:  ABC NEWS

LINK:  BLEACHER REPORT

LINK:  ASSOCIATED PRESS

LINK:  TAMPA BAY SBNATION

"Today is the Day -- We're Going to Win!!!"


These words were spoken by a football coach at a little school in the "middle of nowhere" -- but, they still resonate today -- nearly 80 years later...

What though the odds be great or small, Old Notre Dame will win over all!

GO IRISH -- BEAT BAMA!!!

LINK:  KNUTE ROCKNE'S SPEECH

Sunday, January 6, 2013

"Notre Dame Football is Back" -- WE KNOW IT!

Sports Illustrated's Michael Rosenberg penned this story today...

LINK:  "IT'S GOOD FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL..."

Notre Dame Fans Should Sleep Well Tonight!!!

Here's why:
  • Notre Dame's last four coaches who were in their THIRD SEASON and were playing for a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP -- won the TITLE!  Brian Kelly is in his third season.
  • There have been eight (8) BCS National Championship games where one head coach had no history of winning a BCS National Championship was up against a coach who had previously won one or more national titles.  The coach who had yet to win a national championship has won SEVEN TIMES!  Brian Kelly is playing in his first BCS title game -- Nick Saban has won three so far... 
  • And, Monday January 7th is the Feast Day for Saint Andre Bessette, C.S.C. Bessette is the first member of the Congregation of Holy Cross (the founders of the University of Notre Dame) to receive canonisation as a saint by the Catholic church.

BCS National Championship -- ND Day Five!

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media put together a recap of what's been going on these last five days in Miami!

LINK:  DAY FIVE REPORT

Notre Dame's BCS Championship Team Photo!


This looks like a NATIONAL CHAMPION to me!

Notre Dame Football - ONE DAY AWAY!


The Notre Dame Football equipment truck is ready to paint a "12" on its side!

ESPN Interviews of Notre Dame Players


Here's some interviews of a few members of the Fighting Irish football team by the gang at ESPN.  Click on the player's name below:

LINK:  CIERRE WOOD

LINK:  KEI VARAE RUSSELL

LINK:  STEPHON TUITT

LINK:  MIKE GOLIC JR.

The Day Before the BCS National Championship


The Fighting Irish made a visit to Joe DiMaggio's Children Hospital and Coach Kelly held his last session with the media before tomorrow night's BCS National Championship game with Alabama. 

This game can't come fast enough!

LINK:  FOOTBALL TEAM VISITS HOSPITAL

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

TV Coverage of Notre Dame's BCS Pep Rally

Took a lap around the web this morning to look into the coverage of Notre Dame's Pep Rally last night in Miami -- an event that drew more than 40,000 fans (Miami police estimate)!

Click on the links below to the UND.COM coverage along with the news report from WNDU-TV:

LINK:  REPLAY OF PEP RALLY

LINK:  WNDU-TV'S COVERAGE

Why Notre Dame is Back on Top! -- WSJ


The Wall Street Journal has been covering the Notre Dame story a lot these days -- and I like it!  Here's the latest:

LINK:  WHY NOTRE DAME IS BACK ON TOP

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Notre Dame Fans in Denmark -- Viewing Party !!!


I received an email today from Notre Dame fan Matt Schaefer who is trying to pull together a viewing party for this "Tuesday morning" at an Irish pub called Tir Na Nog in Aarhus, Denmark.

If you're interested in attending -- please reach out to Matt at: schaeffe1@grinnell.edu

GO IRISH!

LINK:  TIR NA NOG OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Notre Dame Currently a 9.5 Pt. Underdog...


Just took a look at what the VEGAS GUYS are saying about Monday night's BCS National Championship game -- and here's what I learned:
  • Notre Dame is still a 9.5 point underdog
  • 70% of the betting public is backing the Fighting Irish on the point spread

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. ALABAMA POINT SPREAD

Notre Dame is 20 - 2 Last Twenty-two Games!

Notre Dame is tied with Alabama and Oregon with the best regular season record over the last 22 games in college football's FBS division  -- think about that!

The IRISH, Crimson Tide and Ducks are all 20 - 2 over this span of games these past two seasons.

Thousands of Notre Dame Fans at Pep Rally


The Miami Police have never seen anything like this -- just look at this photo just "tweeted" from Notre Dame's Pep Rally at the BCS National Championship Pep Rally.

Gunner Kiel Talks Freshman Season @ ND


Notre Dame's highly recruited Gunner Kiel was taking in the scene today at Sun Life Stadium when a reporter from the Chicago Tribune got him on camera for a quick interview.  Click on the link below.

LINK:  GUNNER KIEL

Brady Quinn in Miami Talkin' to UND.COM

Former Notre Dame All-American QB Brady Quinn is down in South Florida this weekend to see his Fightin' Irish play in the BCS National Championship game. 

Here's an interview he gave to the gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media:

LINK:  BRADY QUINN

Lou Holtz Speaking at ND BCS Pep Rally


The Notre Dame Family has gathered in South Beach tonight for a Saturday night National Championship Pep Rally.  Here's a photo of former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz (on the big screen) firing up the crowd!

LINK:  LOU BEFORE THE ND BCS PEP RALLY

Photo of the Day: FIVE OUT OF SIX!!!


The reaction on the floor and in the stands -- says it all.  #5 Notre Dame beats #1 and unbeaten UCONN on the road tonight!

Dick Vitale Just "Tweeted" This Photo...



Dickie V is in South Beach with the Notre Dame Family!  Pep Rally to start at 7 PM ET.

Notre Dame Beats #1 UCONN !!!


Muffet's Lady Irish just beat #1 ranked UCONN 73 - 72 on the road -- the fifth win for ND over the Huskies in their last six meetings!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT STORY

LINK:  STORY

LINK:  BOX SCORE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME OVER #1 UCONN

Notre Dame's Adam Sargent's Story





The University of Notre Dame's Associate Director for Academic Services is Adam Sargent -- what many don't know is his story...


LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S SARGENT

Domer "Super Mario" Lucia World Champion!


Fighting Irish Hockey's Mario Lucia and his USA Hockey teammates won the World Hockey Junior Championships today in Russia!

LINK:  USA WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Trick Shot Monday -- Notre Dame BCS Style


Well, I guess we can count on another ESPN produced "Trick Shot Monday" segment to air sometime Monday before the BCS National Championship game!

LINK:  VIDEO OF TRICK SHOT MONDAY

Notre Dame Hits the Beach - BCS Style!


Got to love this sand sculpture!

Notre Dame's BCS Media Day -- Today


Here's a link to coverage of this morning Media Day for Notre Dame at the BCS National Championship game.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY'S INTERVIEW

LINK:  UND.COM'S COVERAGE

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S MEDIA DAY

Photo of National Championship Trophy




This was just "tweeted" from Media Day at the BCS National Championship.

Photo of the Day: ND BCS End Zone Paint


The folks are finishing up the end zone painting at Sun Life Stadium for Monday night's BCS National Championship game.  As you can see -- NOTRE DAME will be spelled out in GOLD against a BLUE field.

ESPN Video Story on ND's Defensive Line


A couple of ESPN college football guys talked last night about Notre Dame's defensive line.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  ND DEFENSIVE LINE

Friday, January 4, 2013

The Golic Family Encounters Two Bama Fans



A camera crew followed the Golic family to a local CT restaurant where they ran across a couple of young ladies from Alabama -- you'll have to watch the video to learn the rest...

LINK:  THE GOLICS -- OUT TO EAT

Notre Dame BCS Championship: Day Three


The Fighting Irish just put a finish on DAY THREE in South Florida preparing for Monday Night's BCS National Championship -- and our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media were there every step of the way!

LINK:  ND BCS REPORT -- DAY THREE RECAP

LINK:  ND BCS REPORT -- PRACTICE

LINK:  MEDIA SESSION -- CHUCK MARTIN & EVERETT GOLSON

Great Story in Miami Herald on Manti Te'o


Just ran across this story in the Miami Herald about Notre Dame's All-American linebacker Manti Te'o.  ND fans will enjoy this story:

LINK:  MANTI -- "LIFE IS ABOUT ONES YOU LOVE"

Notre Dame's "Holy Line" -- Wall Street Journal


Of all places -- the Wall Street Journal's Kevin Helliker pens a piece on the Catholic character of the University of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame fans will want to read this. 

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S HOLY LINE

Nicholas Sparks' Guest Editorial @ the WSJ


Former Notre Dame student-athlete turned mega writing star -- Nicholas Sparks '88 -- penned a piece yesterday for the Wall Street Journal about his alma mater's football team. 

Enjoy!

LINK:  NICHOLAS SPARKS ON HIS IRISH

Notre Dame BCS Blog -- Day Two Update


Fighting Irish Digital Media's Josh Flynt '11, is in South Florida with the team and he's blogging an update each day.  Here's his recap of Day Two of Notre Dame's preparation for next Monday's BCS National Championship game:

LINK:  ND'S BCS BLOG