Notre Dame Wins Big East Championship!

The Notre Dame women's softball team beat #9 Louisville today 3 - 1 to win their 14th and LAST BIG EAST REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP!

Here's a link to the highlights from today's game:

LINK:  BIG EAST CHAMPS!

Kapron Lewis-Moore Signs 4 Year Contract

The former Notre Dame defensive end and TEAM CAPTAIN signed a four year contract on Friday with the Baltimore Ravens.  As you'll see in the story linked below -- the Ravens seem intent on giving Kap a year to rehab his injured knee...

LINK:  KAPRON LEWIS-MOORE

Zeke Motta @ Atlanta Falcons Rookie Camp

Former Notre Dame safety Zeke Motta -- was interviewed today after this weekend's Rookie Camp with the Atlanta Falcons.  Motta, the 244th player taken in the NFL draft felt quite good about his showing these past two days -- click on the link below.  In the video -- you'll see Zeke wearing #41.

LINK:  MOTTA AT ROOKIE CAMP

Skylar Diggins' New NIKE Shoes...

Didn't take NIKE long to sign Skylar Diggins to an endorsement deal...

Skylar Meets With the Media Today in Tulsa

The Tulsa Shock rolled out their #1 Draft Pick today for the local media and the Notre Dame All-American did not disappoint!  Here's the media coverage of Skylar Diggins day in Tulsa, Oklahoma:

LINK:  TULSA WORLD STORY

OT: GOLDEN SOUL Is My Derby Pick Today!

With a name like this -- Notre Dame fans have to be rooting for GOLDEN SOUL today in the 139th renewal of the Kentucky Derby!  Post time is 6:24 PM ET today on NBC.

Now please know this -- I don't know one thing about horse racing!

LINK:  GOLDEN SOUL'S TRAINER

IRISH Softball on ESPNU -- Twice Today!

The 39 - 11 Fightin' Irish women's softball team, will be taking on #9 ranked Louisville in a doubleheader today at Notre Dame's Melissa Cook Stadium.  Both teams come in with identical 17 - 2 records in the BIG EAST -- the winner takes home the conference regular season title!

ESPNU will be televising the entire DOUBLEHEADER -- beginning at 4:00 PM ET today!

LINK:  GO IRISH!

Notre Dame Names its 2013 Valedictorian

Mallory Meter from Beverly Hills, MI -- my old home state -- was named the Class of 2013's valedictorian this week!  The psychology major earned a "PERFECT" 4.0 during her four years here at Notre Dame...

As you'll see below, Mallory did more than just study.

Congratulations Mallory!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S VALEDICTORIAN

Skylar Diggins Talks About Her Years @ ND

Fans of Skylar Diggins will enjoy this video of her reminiscing about her four years at the University of Notre Dame.  It's a must see!

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

Where Are They Now -- Joe Brockington

Notre Dame football fans will remember the name Joe Brockington...

Brockington has a new career that brought him home to Notre Dame today.  Click on these news stories -- along with a link to a demo video of Joe at work:

LINK:  TRAINING POLICE DOGS

LINK:  WNDU-TV -- BROCKINGTON

LINK:  ABC-57 -- BROCKINGTON

Coach Kelly Visits Cowboys Stadium Today

University of Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly traveled to Dallas, TX today to meet with alumni and to take a tour of Cowboys Stadium -- where the IRISH will play a 'home' game this October 5th against Arizona State.

LINK:  ESPN STORY

New Football Facemasks for Notre Dame?

These photos were "tweeted" today by a company claiming that Notre Dame will be using these new GOLD facemasks this season...

Notre Dame To Consider Expansion @ Stadium

The University of Notre Dame announced today that it would be exploring the idea of adding buildings around the exterior of Notre Dame Stadium that would accommodate academic/learning space and serve as a hub for student life...

Looks awesome doesn't it!

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Notre Dame Man Killed in Afghanistan...

Reid Nishizuka '05, was killed in an air crash this past Saturday near Kandahar Airfield.  The 30 year-old Nishizuka was a graduate of the ROTC program at Notre Dame.

LINK:  DOMER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

Notre Dame's "Muddy Sunday"

I found this photo taken by Notre Dame photographer Barbara Johnston at the DAILY DOMER -- it is shot taken this Sunday on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  It was MUDDY SUNDAY -- meaning, we're going to play volleyball in a MUD PIT...  A Notre Dame student tradition.

Notre Dame Ranked #10 in ESPN Football Poll

Well, it's still 123 days until the 2013 college football season kicks off in Notre Dame Stadium for our Fightin' Irish -- yet, ESPN just came out with their first PRE-SEASON POLL after Spring practice...

You'll find two ND opponents ranked ahead of the IRISH and two ranked behind.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  T0P-25 RANKINGS

Notre Dame's Fr. Bill Dailey on "The Moment"

The Rector of Stanford Hall and a visiting associate professor in the Notre Dame Law School -- Fr. Bill Dailey, C.S.C. -- made a cameo appearance on the upcoming NBC Show "The Moment."

The Moment will air May 3rd on the USA Network at 11 PM ET -- with a show shot at Notre Dame -- former NFL QB Kurt Warner (photo on left) hosts the show...

Fans of Rudy will see some symmetry with this clip from THE MOMENT:


LINK:  FR. DAILEY ON THE MOMENT

Taylor Swift Posing With ND's Leprechaun

Notre Dame's latest Leprechaun (Johnny Romano) -- apparently slipped past security "undercover" to get this photo with Taylor Swift.

Taylor's brother Austin is a student at Notre Dame...

LINK:  ND'S LEPRECHAUN

Video of Manti Te'o & Robby Toma Parade!

The folks in Hawaii threw a WELCOME HOME PARADE and party yesterday for a couple of Notre Dame football players who grew up on the North Shore of Oahu -- Manti Te'o and Robby Toma...

Unfortunately, Manti was in San Diego -- meeting with the media -- yet, the hometown crowd still celebrated -- check out the links below:

LINK:  WELCOME HOME PARADE

LINK:  KITV.COM

LINK:  PHOTO GALLERY FROM PARADE

Coach Brian Kelly at the 2013 NFL Draft...

University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly sat down with the NFL DRAFT "XTRA" crew to talk about Tyler Eifert and Manti Te'o -- you'll enjoy this...

IT'S A "MUST SEE" FOR EVERY FIVE STAR'S PARENTS!

LINK:  COACH KELLY

The San Diego Media's Take on Manti Te'o

Apparently the San Diego Chargers aren't accustomed to 14 TV cameras at press conferences... 

Manti Te'o met with the media yesterday in San Diego -- here are a few of the stories:

LINK:  U-T SAN DIEGO NEWS

LINK:  KFMB-TV -- CBS SAN DIEGO

LINK:  NBC-TV -- SAN DIEGO

LINK:  NBC-TV -- SAN DIEGO #2

Notre Dame Players Signing Free Agent Deals

There were five former Notre Dame football players "UN-DRAFTED" who signed free agent contracts with NFL Teams yesterday and today -- here's the list:

• Braxston Cave -- Cleveland Browns
• Mike Golic, Jr. -- Pittsburgh Steelers
• Cierre Wood -- Houston Texans
• Dayne Crist -- Kansas City Chiefs
• John Goodman -- Cincinnati Bengals

In addition, players who have not signed a free agent deal will be invited to Rookie Camp to compete for a roster spot -- here's that list:

• Robby Toma -- Baltimore Ravens
• Jordan Cowart -- Washington Redskins
• Ben Turk -- Houston Texans 
• Chris Salvi -- Chicago Bears

LINK:  LIST OF UN-DRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNINGS BY NFL TEAM

Six Notre Dame Players Go In 2013 NFL Draft

The Fightin' Irish had SIX players taken in the 2013 NFL Draft;  Tyler Eifert (#21 -- Bengals), Manti Te'o (#38 -- Chargers), Jamoris Slaughter (#175 -- Browns), Theo Riddick (#199 -- Lions), Kapron Lewis-Moore (#200 -- Ravens) and Zeke Motta (#244 -- Falcons).

Cierre Wood -- who still had a year of eligibility left, not drafted.

I suspect we'll soon learn about a few more of the seniors signing "free-agent" contracts in the next 24 hours...

CONGRATULATIONS!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PLAYERS DRAFTED

San Diego Chargers Welcome Manti Te'o

Manti Te'o took a "red-eye" flight into San Diego this morning to meet with the Chargers and the local media.  Here's the first interview with the gang at CHARGERS.COM -- along with a link to a photo gallery of his arrival and his first press conference as a Charger:

Manti will be wearing uniform #51 for the San Diego Chargers...
 

LINK:  MANTI TE'O IN SAN DIEGO

LINK:  PHOTO GALLERY OF MANTI'S ARRIVAL 

LINK:  MANTI'S FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE

San Diego Chargers -- TALK ABOUT MANTI

Minutes after being drafted by the San Diego Chargers -- Manti spoke with the folks at CHARGER.COM on a number of subjects -- and the Charger's GM Tom Telesco and Head Coach Mike McCoy met with the media:

LINK:  CHARGER'S PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Alex Flanagan's Manti Interview -- MUST SEE

NBC and the NFL NETWORK's Alex Flanagan made a trip to Hawaii to interview Manti Te'o -- this is a MUST WATCH story...

LINK:  MANTI TEO INTERVIEW

Manti Talks With Media After Charger Selection

If Manti Te'o had to go in the second round of the 2013NFL Draft -- he couldn't have ended up in a better place to play football for a young man from Hawaii!

I love this photo of Manti's family...

The San Diego Chargers selected Manti with the 38th pick -- and soon after he met with the Hawaiian media -- here's a link:

LINK:  MANTI TALKS ABOUT CHARGERS

Tyler Eifert -- Spends the Day in Cincinnati

The former Notre Dame All-American tight end and the #21 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft -- spent the day in Cincinnati with his new team.  As you'll see -- he'll be wearing #85 for the Bengals -- formerly worn by "Chad Ochocinco".

LINK:  TYLER EIFERT IN CINCI

LINK:  EIFERT ARRIVES IN CINCINNATI

Photos of Manti Te'o Draft Celebration Party

This shirt could become a HUGE SELLER -- I know I'd buy one if Notre Dame were to license it!

Coach Kelly at NFL Draft Talks Manti Te'o

The folks at the NFL Network interviewed Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly right after San Diego selected the Irish All-American with the #38 pick.  Here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  COACH KELLY ON MANTI GOING TO CHARGERS

Te'o & Toma Welcome Home Parade Saturday

Former Notre Dame football players Manti Te'o and Robby Toma will be honored with a PARADE this Saturday by the city of Honolulu.  Here are the details:

LINK:  PARADE SATURDAY FOR MANTI & ROBBY

Video of Manti Te'o & Family Celebrating Pick!

The local Hawaiian TV stations had cameras rolling on Manti and his parents when it was announced that Te'o would be taking his talents to San Diego!  Great moment for this family -- even though it came 22 hours late...

The top photo above shows Manti Te'o taking the phone call from the San Diego Chargers...
 

LINK:  VIDEO OF TE'O  FAMILY REACTION

LINK:  KITV-ABC

Manti Te'o Drafted by the San Diego Chargers!

The wait is finally over for the most decorated defensive player in college football history...

Notre Dame All-American Manti Te'o was just drafted #38 overall in the Second Round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers -- who traded up to get him.

Congratulations Manti!


LINK:  SAN DIEGO SELECTS MANTI

LINK:  SAN DIEGO ABC-TV

Mel Kiper Talks Manti Te'o Not Being Drafted

ESPN's NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper was on the Mike & MIKE show this morning...

One of the subjects was Manti Te'o -- here's what he had to say -- along with these other guests on today's show;  Eric Mangini, Bill Polian and John Clayton.


LINK:  KIPER ON TE'O

LINK:  MANGINI ON TE'O

LINK:  POLIAN ON TE'O

LINK:  CLAYTON ON TE'O

The Next Longest Day in the Life of Manti Te'o

Folks, I just can't believe (check that, I don't want to believe) there are 32 football players in America better for a NFL franchise than Manti Te'o.

It had to be a long night in Hawaii for Manti and his family and today can't be much better.  Hopefully, his phone rang last night or early this morning from a NFL GM who told him "we'll be drafting you at ---."

Here's the latest on Manti:


LINK:  NFL NETWORK 

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  BUSINESS INSIDER

LINK:  AOL SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  CBS-TV -- DC

Tyler Eifert Goes to CINCINNATI in NFL Draft

Notre Dame All-American tight end Tyler Eifert was just drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals  -- as the #21 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.  Tyler is the 64th player in the 126 year history of Notre Dame football to be drafted in the First Round of the NFL Draft.

The #21 pick last year signed a four-year contract worth $8,170,000 -- not sure how much of this was guaranteed.

Congratulations Tyler!


LINK:  CINCINNATI BENGALS -- OFFICIAL WEBSITE

2013 NFL DRAFT -- First Round Begins at 8 ET

Welcome to the "next" longest day of Manti Te'o's life...

In about 14 hours from now, Manti Te'o will learn if he's a "multi-millionaire" and what city he'll call home -- or, maybe not...

It's the 2013 NFL Draft and it will dominate the MEDIA's attention over the next 96 hours.  Notre Dame fans will be tuning in to ESPN tonight at 8 PM ET to see if we will have DOMER #64 and DOMER #65 join the ranks of former Irish football players taken in the NFL Draft's First Round.

Tyler Eifert appears to be a LOCK to go in the first round -- Te'o is on the bubble...

Notre Dame is THIRD All-Time in players drafted in the first round (63).  We trail that school in Los Angeles (77) and that school in Columbus (67)...

Here is a look at a few of the latest MOCK DRAFTS:


LINK:  PETER KING -- SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  MIKE MAYOCK -- NFL.COM

LINK:  GARY MYERS -- NEW YORK DAILY

NFL Draft's First Round -- Thursday Night!

24 hours from the start of the 2013 NFL Draft -- and the ND GO IRISH BLOG took a lap around the worldwide web this evening to see what's being said about Thursday night's FIRST ROUND.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  NEW YORK DAILY NEWS -- MOCK DRAFT

LINK:  FORBES

LINK:  NEW YORK DAILY NEWS -- MANTI TO GIANTS?

LINK:  PHILLY INQUIRER

Jon Bon Jovi's Son to Walk-on @ Notre Dame

Add another "famous Dad" to the Notre Dame football roster...

The New York Daily News published this story today about Jesse Bongiovi's plans to try and walk-on to the Notre Dame football program this fall.  If Jesse makes the team -- Jon Bon Jovi will join this list of famous Dad's who will be cheering on the IRISH this fall:

• Chris Collinsworth -- former college and NFL football player -- now a TV analyst with NBC
• George Atkinson -- former NFL football star
• David Robinson -- NBA Hall of Famer
• Torri Hunter -- outfielder, Detroit Tigers
• Terry Hanratty -- ND football star and NFL QB
• Philip Daniels -- former NFL football star

LINK:  BON JOVI'S SON GOING TO NOTRE DAME

Skylar Diggins Says Good-bye to Notre Dame

The All-American girl from South Bend said good-bye tonight to a Notre Dame that will never forget how she represented HER.  The team's season ending Banquet was held in the Joyce Center and Skylar Diggins had her chance to thank the Notre Dame family for the last time...

Here's a link to WNDU-TV's coverage of tonight's celebration along with a link to Skylar's speech:

LINK:  SKYLAR'S SPEECH

LINK:  SKYLAR'S FINAL FARWELL

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

Notre Dame Engineering Students Give Back

Austin Rousselow -- a 2-year-old young man from the South Bend area who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, was given a HUMVEE that he could drive -- that was created by students in Notre Dame's College of Engineering...

A wonderful story -- click on the link below:

LINK:  A FANCY RIDE!

Notre Dame Parent -- Detroit Tigers' Closer?

Martin Short -- the proud parent of two DOMERS -- announced today that he has signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers...

LINK:  YOU MUST SEE THIS

Notre Dame Women's Golf -- Big East Champs!

Three of Notre Dame's five team members -- BROKE PAR -- in today's final round!

So much for pressure...

It was the fifth and FINAL Big East Championship for the Women's golf program -- as they will be heading off to the ACC next season.  The ACC better watch out -- the three women who broke par today are freshmen;  Lindsey Weaver (Arizona) and Talia Campbell (Texas) and sophomore Ashley Armstrong (Illinois)...

Weaver and Campbell finished up the tournament at SIX UNDER PAR and were the Co-Medalists!  A record low score for the Big East Women's Golf Championship!!!

LINK:  BIG EAST TOURNAMENT CENTRAL