Saturday, January 19, 2013

In His Own Words -- Manti Te'o Talks...

Notre Dame All-American linebacker Manti Te'o met with ESPN's Jeremy Schaap last night for two and a half hours to tell his story.  He would not agree to do this interview on camera.

LINK:  SCHAAP NARRATIVE

LINK:  TRANSCRIPT

Friday, January 18, 2013

New Jersey's Governor Christie at Notre Dame


This photo was taken today of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie visiting the Notre Dame women's basketball practice.   He's in town for tomorrow night's game between Rutgers and the IRISH - where the University of Notre Dame will be presenting a check to Governor Christie to assist families in New Jersey impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

A Woman Comes Forward to Defend Manti Te'o

ESPN's Shelley Smith just broke this story in the past hour -- that there were three people involved in the hoax played on Manti Te'o.   And, the informant (who did not want to be identified) said "Manti had no knowledge this was a hoax..."

 You'll want to see watch this:

LINK:  LATEST INFORMATION ON HOAX

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Manti's Uncle Defends His Nephew


It's been almost thirty hours since the story broke that Manti Te'o's girlfriend did not exist -- that a cruel hoax had been played on the Notre Dame All-American..

This afternoon -- an Uncle of Manti's granted a radio interview -- you'll find this quite enlightening:

LINK:  MANTI TE'O'S UNCLE -- RADIO INTERVIEW

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Notre Dame News Conference -- Manti Te'o


The University of Notre Dame's Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick addressed the media this evening over the Manti Te'o situation. 

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  MANTI TE'O -- OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Great Story on the Daily Domer: "ND's Brother"


The young man's name is Sam Grewe -- and his special relationship with the Notre Dame football team has not been shared publicly...

Until now. 

You're going to want to know this story!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S SPECIAL PLAYER

LINK:  NEWS STORY

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

11 Year-Old ND Fan a Guest on Ellen Show


Caroline Pla of Doylestown, PA is an 11 year-old young lady who loves to play football -- who is all over the national news because she's been banned from playing CYO football by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia...

Well, today she was a guest on the Ellen Degeneres Show and she received a huge surprise from her favorite college football team -- the FIGHTING IRISH of NOTRE DAME!

LINK:  VIDEO OF CAROLINE'S APPEARANCE ON ELLEN

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FAN ON ELLEN


"Sad Irish Fan" -- Fighting Leukemia for Charity

His name is Dan Tudesco '06 -- a Notre Dame alum who was caught on camera showing his despair on NATIONAL TV during the BCS National Championship game...

He became YOUTUBE LEGEND as "Sad Irish Fan."

You're going to love what Dan and his friends have done to turn his new found celebrity into a FORCE FOR GOOD -- great story!

LINK:  SAD IRISH FAN

LINK:  OFFICIAL WEBSITE -- MUST SEE!

Former ND Football Player Takes Job With Bills


Former Notre Dame football captain and 2nd round NFL Draft pick -- Anthony Weaver '03, was named the new defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills -- having served as the assistant defensive line coach the past two seasons with the New York Jets.

Congratulations Anthony!

LINK:  ANTHONY WEAVER TO BILLS

Monday, January 14, 2013

The Domer Behind BLEACHER REPORT...


His name is David Finocchio and he's a 2005 graduate of the University of Notre Dame.  Finocchio (third from left in photo) and two pals created BLEACHER REPORT -- a wildly successful sports storytelling site they sold to Turner Sports for $200 million last year!

Here is David's story:

LINK:  A DOMER'S VIEW FROM THE BLEACHERS

Tommy Rees -- "I'm a Notre Dame Guy..."

The folks at WNDU-TV caught up with Notre Dame QB Tommy Rees to ask him about his future playing plans...

You'll have to watch this interview to find out what he had to say:

LINK:  TOMMY REES

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Thank You YP Team for Trip to BCS NC Game!

My son Jimmy '08, was a recipient of a ticket to the BCS National Championship game from the gang at YP.  Jimmy used the YP -- Local Search & Gas Prices App for the eleven hour drive from Charlotte, NC to Miami Beach.  He used the local search feature to find the highest rated places to eat in the South Beach area and the gas prices feature to find the cheapest gas along the way -- both proved to be quite handy...

Here's a last look at some photos Jimmy took on his trip to the BCS National Championship.





Golden Tate Scores NFL Playoff TD Today!


Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Golden Tate -- scored a TD this afternoon in the Seattle Seahawks' last second loss to the Atlanta Falcons.  Golden caught six balls for 103 yards including the 29 yard TD catch and run.  Here's a link to the video:

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE'S PLAYOFF TD

Coach Kelly's Walter Camp Award Speech...


The University of Notre Dame's Brian Kelly was honored last night at the annual Walter Camp Awards dinner on the campus of Yale University.  Here's a link to ESPN3's coverage of Brian Kelly's Coach of the Year remarks:

LINK:  COACH OF THE YEAR

The Mornin' After News Broke of Kelly's Return


Took a lap around the worldwide web to check on what is being said in the media -- the morning after the University of Notre Dame announced that Brian Kelly would continue as head coach of the Fighting Irish.  Click on the links below:

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  ESPN'S NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL BLOG

LINK:  COMCAST SPORTS NET PHILADELPHIA

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Coach Brian Kelly to Remain at Notre Dame !!!


In what can be best described as a "frustrating few days" for the Notre Dame Family -- an official statement was just released that said Coach Kelly would continue coaching the Fighting Irish -- bypassing a potential opportunity to coach in the NFL.

Most should find Jack Swarbrick's comments about the process -- surprising -- based on all of the speculation these past 72 hours or so...

I trust Notre Dame fans will be relieved with this news.

LINK:  COACH KELLY TO REMAIN AT NOTRE DAME

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CBS SPORTS' -- JACK SWARBRICK COMMENTS

LINK:  NBC SPORTS' -- NOTRE DAME CENTRAL 

LINK:  WNDU-TV BREAKING NEWS

Walter Camp Awards Dinner Tonight...

University of Notre Dame's Brian Kelly and Manti Te'o will be receiving their Walter Camp Awards this evening at Yale University Commons in New Haven, CT.

The event begins at 5 PM and I suspect with all of the speculation surrounding Coach Kelly --- the ESPN gang will be covering this...

WATCH IT LIVE RIGHT NOW!

LINK:  WALTER CAMP AWARDS DINNER -- LIVE!

Notre Dame Athletic Success -- Impressive !!!


It's been quite a Fall Semester for the University of Notre Dame's student-athletes.  Take a look at the rankings of the Fighting Irish teams that were in action:
  • Football -- as high as #1 / finished #3
  • Hockey -- currently #2
  • Women's Basketball -- currently #2
  • Men's Soccer -- as high as #3 / finished #8
  • Women's Soccer -- finished #13
  • Women's Golf -- finished #14
  • Men's Basketball -- currently #16
  • Men's Swimming -- currently #18
  • Women's Swimming -- currently #20
  • Women's Volleyball -- as high as #25 

Friday, January 11, 2013

Why Notre Dame Has a Seat At the BCS Table


There was an ESPN writer who at one time worked for Sports Illustrated -- who took the University of Notre Dame to task early last fall for their influence over the college football industry...

Well, here's some "fun facts" that the NCAA and BCS Committee are staring at that might just answer those critics who wonder why Notre Dame has earned the respect it has...

BOWL ATTENDANCE:
  • For the first time, since they started tracking this in 2005 -- average bowl game attendance dipped below 50,000 
  • Yet, the last three bowl games that Notre Dame has played in -- the IRISH have set attendance records in all three:  Hyundai Sun Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl and Sun Life Stadium

TV VIEWERSHIP: 
  • No other school played in more of the Top 25 televised football games this season than Notre Dame.
 
 

The Skylar Diggins Interview -- A MUST SEE!

Kate Sullivan '02, interviewed Skylar Diggins for the Notre Dame Athletic Department -- the All-American has evolved into an "iconic" figure in the college sports landscape.  You'll enjoy this candid conversation.

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

Riddick & Motta to Play in Shrine Game


Notre Dame senior football players Theo Riddick and Zeke Motta have accepted invitations to play in the 88th Annual East West Shrine Game -- an All-Star game for college seniors played next Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

They will be playing on the WEST Team.

The game will be held Saturday, January 19th -- 4 PM ET -- with television coverage coming from the NFL Network.

LINK:  EAST WEST SHRINE GAME

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Notre Dame Finishes #1 in Colley Matrix Poll

The Fighting Irish finished #1 in the season's final computer poll from Colley Matrix -- because of their strength of schedule over Alabama.

Kind of puts a damper on the validity of the computer polls -- doesn't it...

Ironically, the creator of this poll is employed at the University of Alabama -- Huntsville.  His name is Wes Colley (photo), Senior Research Scientist at The Center for Modeling, Simulation and Analysis.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME #1

LINK:  WES COLLEY BIO

"Kelly the Talking Robot" -- Autism Research


The University of Notre Dame's research in Autism was profiled last night on the PBS NewsHour -- good work going on here!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S AUTISM RESEARCH

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Heaven's Team Picked Up a Notre Dame Man


Former Notre Dame All-American Mirko Jurkovic passed away this afternoon at 5:50 PM  ET -- losing a 28 month battle to colon cancer.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal..."

LINK:  TRIBUTE TO MARKO JURKOVIC

LINK:  ESPN CHICAGO

Only 101 Days to Blue Gold Game...


Notre Dame Football's 83rd annual Blue Gold Game will be held on Saturday, April 20th.

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR'S BLUE GOLD GAME

This Didn't Take Long, Odds to Win NC in 2013


The Vegas odds makers came out yesterday with their picks to win the BCS National Championship in 2013.  And, our IRISH are in the 8th position.  Here's the top TWENTY:

  • Alabama:  5 to 1
  • Oregon:  8 to 1
  • Ohio State:  17 to 2
  • LSU:  12 to 1
  • Texas A&M:  12 to 1
  • Florida:  14 to 1
  • Florida State:  14 to 1
  • NOTRE DAME:  22 to 1
  • Clemson:  22 to 1
  • Louisville:  22 to 1
  • Miami:  25 to 1
  • Oklahoma:  25 to 1
  • South Carolina:  25 to 1
  • Georgia:  28 to 1
  • Nebraska:  28 to 1
  • Stanford:  30 to 1
  • Texas:  30 to 1
  • Michigan:  33 to 1
  • USC:  33 to 1
  • Oklahoma State:  40 to 1

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

From Near Death to Wearing ND's Gold Helmet

Arturo Martinez is a Notre Dame football player -- a walk-on defensive lineman -- who at the age of 14 had STAGE IV HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA.

You're going to want to know his story...

LINK:  ARTURO MARTINEZ

I Will Never Forget This Interview...


After last night's game -- Theo Riddick was interviewed in the Notre Dame locker room.  You'll want to fast forward this WNDU-TV report to the 1:37 mark.

I will always root for this young man.

LINK:  THEO RIDDICK

Notre Dame Priest Honored by CCUSA !!!


The University of Notre Dame's Vice President for Mission Engagement and Church Affairs -- Rev. Bill Lies, C.S.C. -- will be honored this Saturday with the "Keep the Dream Alive Award" from Catholic Charities USA!   

Congratulations to Fr. Bill !!!

LINK:  SIGNIFICANT AWARD FOR ND PRIEST

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