New England Patriots Sign Braxston Cave!

The former Notre Dame football player was released yesterday by the Browns and 24 hours later he's signed by the New England Patriots to their 53 man roster.  Time will tell if he remains on this list or is moved to the practice squad.  Congrats Braxston!

LINK:  CAVE SIGNED BY PATRIOTS

Tommy Rees #2 in QB Rating After Week 1

Notre Dame QB Tommy Rees has a QB rating of 239.0 after yesterday's opener against Temple.  His 349 yards passing (16 for 23) and 3 TD's was one of the best performances of the day!

Here's how this performance stacked up against all QB's in the FBS:

• Yards per attempt: 15.0 yards -- #1 in the country
• TD passes:  3 -- #9 in the country
• Total yards passing:  346 yards -- #12 in the country

 
LINK:  QB RATINGS -- RANKINGS

LINK:  YARDS PER ATTEMPT -- RANKINGS

LINK:  TOTAL YARDS PASSING -- RANKINGS

LINK:  TD PASSES -- RANKINGS

21 Wins in the Last 23 Regular Season Games

This is Notre Dame's record in their last 23 regular season games -- spanning the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons.  Not bad!

Notre Dame Opponents -- Coaches' Post Game

Here's how Notre Dame's NEXT FIVE opponents fared in their opening games this week -- along with a link to their coaches' post game press conferences or the media's take on their performance. 

GO IRISH!

LINK:  MICHIGAN 59 - CMU 9

LINK:  CINCINNATI 42 - PURDUE 7

LINK:  MICHIGAN STATE 26 - WMU 13

LINK:  OKLAHOMA 34 - LOUISIANA-MONROE 0

LINK:  USC 30 - HAWAII 13

Watch ND's IRISH CONNECTION

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media do a great job in covering all that is Notre Dame football...

You'll see a "surprise visitor" to the Notre Dame locker room who gives Coach Kelly the game ball from the 200th victory of his career.

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Philly Media Talkin' About Notre Dame's Win

The Philadelphia media and fanbase can be some of the most critical in sport.  So, I just had to take a look at what was being said this morning about Notre Dame's win over Temple.  The first link is the transcript from Temple Coach Matt Rhule's post-game press conference:

LINK:  TEMPLE HEAD COACH

LINK:  PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

LINK:  PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER #2

LINK:  NBC PHILADELPHIA

Notre Dame Players' Post Game Interviews

Here's what a few of the Notre Dame football players had to say about yesterday's opening win against the Temple Owls:

LINK:  DAN FOX

LINK:  AMIR CARLISLE

LINK:  TOMMY REES -- MATHIAS FARLEY -- T.J. JONES

The Mornin' After Notre Dame Beats Temple

As has become tradition here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- the morning after a Notre Dame football game -- I take a lap around the worldwide web to see what the media is saying about yesterday's game.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #1

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE #2

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  NBC NOTRE DAME CENTRAL #1

LINK:  NBC NOTRE DAME CENTRAL #2

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #3

Brian Kelly's Post Game Press Conference

Coach Kelly met with the media immediately after today's 28 - 6 win over the Temple Owls.  Here is what he had to say:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Slaughter, Golic, Cave -- All Cut by NFL Teams

While it was a good day for three of their Notre Dame teammates (see post below) -- Jamoris Slaughter, Mike Golic Jr., and Braxston Cave were cut from their NFL teams today.  Here's hoping they get picked up in the next few days by another NFL team.

The great news is each of them have a NOTRE DAME DEGREE!

Riddick, Wood and Motta Make NFL Rosters!

The #41 turned out to be a LUCKY NUMBER for three former Notre Dame football stars!  Theo Riddick, Cierre Wood and Zeke Motta -- all are wearing the uniform number 41-- and they will be again next weekend when the NFL kicks-off the 2013 season!

Congratulations!

Tough Day for Former ND QB's in the NFL...

Both Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen were released today from the Seahawks and Panthers respectively...  Hopefully, they'll be picked up by other teams in the next day or two...

I wonder what Coach Weis '79 must be thinking...


LINK:  QUINN RELEASED

LINK:  CLAUSEN RELEASED

Brady Hoke Talks Win Over Central Michigan

The Wolverines put up 59 points today in a rout over Central Michigan University -- a team expected to finish "next to last" this year in the Mid American Conference. 

Here's what Hoke and his QB had to say about their big win...

LINK:  MICHIGAN WINS BY 50

Swarbrick Announces Coach Kelly's Contract

Just minutes after Brian Kelly's Fightin' Irish delivered him career victory #200 -- Notre Dame's Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick announced they had finalized a new contract with the head football coach. 

IT'S A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION.

Congratulations Coach Kelly!

LINK:  ANNOUNCEMENT

Notre Dame Pays Tribute to Seamus Heaney

Seamus Heaney, the famous Irish poet and Nobel Prize winner, passed away yesterday at the age of 74.  Heaney, who received an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 2008, first visited campus back in 1995.  Notre Dame president Fr. John Jenkins C.S.C. -- offered the statement linked below...

LINK:  HEANEY

LINK:  IRISH TIMES

Great Proof That Stats Don't Score Points!

Here's a look at Notre Dame's offensive productions today as compared to Michigan's offensive production:

POINTS:

• Notre Dame:  28
• Michigan:  59

TOTAL OFFENSE:

• Notre Dame:  543 yards
• Michigan:  463 yards

RUSHING OFFENSE:

• Notre Dame:  188 yards
• Michigan:  242 yards

PASSING OFFENSE:

• Notre Dame:  355 yards
• Michigan:  221 yards

TURNOVERS:

• Notre Dame:  0
• Michigan:  3

Notre Dame Beats Temple 28 - 6 in Opener

It looked like a rout -- just three minutes into the game.  Notre Dame scored 14 points on six offensive plays to start the game...

And then -- as ol' Lindsey Nelson would say -- "let's pick up the action late in the 4th quarter..."

The good was this:

• No turnovers on offense
• No turnovers on offense
• No turnovers on offense

Now we can be quite sure that our next opponent "that school in Ann Arbor" will feel quite confident -- as will their fan base...  I suspect the gang in Vegas will make them the favorites.  I LIKE THIS!


LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  TROY NIKLAS INTERVIEW

LINK:  GAME STATS

Photo From Notre Dame Locker Room This AM

Notre Dame football's Dave Peloquin just "tweeted" this photo of the locker room this morning.  GO IRISH!

Notre Dame's Pep Rally Last Night

Thousands of Notre Dame fans descended on the South Quad last night in front of the Rockne Memorial to hold the first pep rally of the 2013 football season.  Here's the link:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PEP RALLY

Notre Dame vs. Temple -- Media Predictions

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the media "experts" are saying about today's game between our Fightin' Irish and the Owls from Temple.  Click on the links below:

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- HANSEN

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  NBC:  NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

LINK:  ESPN:  NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

LINK:  PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER #2

LINK:  PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER #3

LINK:  PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL

IT IS GAME DAY AT NOTRE DAME!

We've been waiting for this day ever since the IRISH walked off that field in Florida last January...

I've got the Notre Dame / Irish music pumping on all of the outdoor speakers, the Notre Dame flag is flying and I am ready!

To get you ready -- I've brought back a few classic videos that should get you fired up for today's game with Temple.  ENJOY and GO IRISH!

LINK:  BOB COSTAS INTRO -- NOTRE DAME vs. FLORIDA STATE

LINK:  ROCKET "BRAWL MIAMI"

LINK:  COACH KELLY "WE ARE ND"

ESPN Previews Notre Dame vs. Temple

Here it is -- ESPN blogger Matt Fortuna talks about Notre Dame's game with Temple tomorrow.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  PREVIEW -- NOTRE DAME vs. TEMPLE

Notre Dame Football Weather Forecast -- HOT!

Folks, it is hot here!  If you're going to the Pep Rally this evening -- be prepared for the high humidity and heat.  Sounds like we could be in for more of the same tomorrow with a possible thundershower in the morning.  Here's a link to live weather radar for South Bend:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME WEATHER RADAR

Fighting For South Bend -- Notre Dame...

The University of Notre Dame's award winning "Fighting For" TV spots that air on NBC every Saturday -- will run this TV spot tomorrow during halftime.  Enjoy!

LINK:  FIGHTING FOR -- MY HOMETOWN

ND FANS -- THIS IS A MUST HAVE APP!

If you haven't downloaded the 2013 Notre Dame Football App yet -- you are missing out!

I am not easily impressed -- but I must admit, I was blown away with the quality of this APP.  It is incredible!  And, it is FREE.

So, get out your iPad and download this now -- it's a MUST HAVE for every Notre Dame fan!

LINK:  VIDEO PROMO

NBC: The Secret to Brian Kelly's Success

Here it is -- for all the world to see!

LINK:  THE SECRET

Photo of ND Football's Travel Shoe for Players

Members of the Notre Dame football team designed this shoe with Adidas.  Photo was "tweeted" by @NDFBEquipment.

Domer's Dad -- Walk-Off Homer for Tigers!

Torri Hunter Sr. -- father of Notre Dame student-athlete Torii Hunter Jr., hit a dramatic two-out, two strike, three-run homer to propel the Tigers past the Oakland A's yesterday afternoon!  Here's a replay of the homer and his post-game interview:

LINK:  REPLAY OF WALK-OFF HOMER!

LINK:  POST-GAME INTERVIEW

Notre Dame Football -- FUN FACTS FRIDAY

Notre Dame Football's Media Relations team -- released their game notes this week and there a few fun facts to keep in mind as you watch Saturday's first meeting between our Fightin' Irish and the Temple Owls.  Here goes:

• If Notre Dame wins this game -- Coach Kelly will have his 200th career victory!
• Temple will be the 71st different opponent to visit Notre Dame Stadium -- ND is (57-12-1) in those games
• Temple is the 142 opponent to play Notre Dame in the 126 years of ND Football.  Notre Dame is (118-20-3) when facing an opponent for the first time!

LINK:  ADDITIONAL FUN FACTS

Cierre Wood Rushed For 106 Yards Tonight!

Former Notre Dame running back Cierre Wood rushed for 106 yards tonight against the Dallas Cowboys on just 16 carries!   And, for good measure -- he caught three passes for 29 yards more!

WOW!

LINK:  WOOD CONFIDENT

LINK:  STATS

Coach Kelly Meets With Media Tonight...

The Fightin' Irish held practice inside Notre Dame Stadium tonight -- as they prepare for Saturday's home opener.  After practice, Coach Kelly met with the media -- here's the link to the coverage:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESSER

Theo Riddick Scores Two TD's Tonight vs. Bills!

Former Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick scored two TD's tonight in the Detroit Lions exhibition win over the Buffalo Bills.  Riddick caught two passes for TD's and he also ran for 26 yards on six carries. 

Theo is in a big-time battle for a roster spot -- this had to help his chances...

LINK:  STATS

Wear Your College Colors Day -- FRIDAY!

Tomorrow is WEAR YOUR COLLEGE COLORS DAY around the country!  So, ND FANS -- wear your BLUE & GOLD tomorrow!

LINK:  WEAR YOUR COLLEGE COLORS

Photo of the Day! ND Law School T-Shirt Design

"Holding Opponents in CONTEMPT Since 1869."  This is perfect!

Hey Temple -- Are You Ready For This !!!

NBC's New Voice for Notre Dame Football

His name is Dan Hicks and his wife is none other than Hannah Storm '83 of ESPN fame.  Dan takes over for Tom Hammond -- officially this Saturday.  The folks at the Chicago Tribune recently caught up with Dan to talk about his new gig:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

It's a Big Stage for Temple and its New Coach

Matt Ruhle will run out of Notre Dame's famed tunnel as a head football coach for the first time in his career less than 72 hours from now.  Not a bad place to make your debut!  A Philadelphia Inquirer reporter penned this story on Ruhle's "opening act."

LINK:  THE FIRST TIME

Sports Illustrated Writers -- Not High on Irish

They picked their top FLOP team for 2013 and five out of seven picked our Fightin' Irish.  I trust Coach Kelly will bring this to his team's attention...

LINK:  PICKED TO FLOP

Temple Football Coach Press Conference Today

Temple's head football coach Matt Ruhle, met with the media today to talk about their football game Saturday with Notre Dame.  Here's what he had to say:

LINK:  MATT RUHLE

Temple Week -- Coach Kelly Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today -- as is customary on Tuesday of game week -- to talk about Temple.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  TEMPLE WEEK PRESS CONFERENCE

NBC's Mike Mayock Talks Notre Dame Football

With the Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame kicking-off the 2013 football season this Saturday -- the media is asking the question -- can the Irish repeat?

Mike Mayock is the "analyst" on NBC's TV coverage of Notre Dame football.  Here's a link to what Mayock thinks of ND's chances this season:

LINK:  MIKE MAYOCK ON ND

Strong & True: Building Bonds from NBC

Here's the replay of Saturday's NBC Sports Network's airing of "Strong & True:  Building Bonds" -- a look at Notre Dame Football.  Enjoy!

LINK:  BUILDING BONDS

Temple Owls -- Media Coverage Today

Took a look at what the Philadelphia media is saying about Temple and their game this Saturday with our Fightin' Irish -- click on the links below. 

This is the FIRST MEETING -- EVER -- on the football field between these two schools.

LINK:  PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

LINK:  ASSOCIATED PRESS

LINK:  PHILLY COM

Brian Kelly on the Dan Patrick Show Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly appeared on the Dan Patrick Radio Show today -- here's a link to the interview:

LINK:  COACH KELLY ON DAN PATRICK SHOW

Forbes: Notre Dame's Enduring Brand

A Forbes writer penned an interesting piece on what we can learn about an enduring brand from the University of Notre Dame.  Good stuff here...

LINK:  AN ENDURING BRAND

Excerpt from "UNBEATABLE" -- 1988 Team

"The last great college football season" -- is what you'll see on the cover of UNBEATABLE, a look back at Notre Dame's 1988 National Championship.

Jerry Barca '99 (pictured), a Notre Dame alum -- authored this look back at that magical season for the Fightin' Irish.  Here's a link to an excerpt from the book and a second link to where you can buy it!

LINK:  BOOK EXCERPT

LINK:  BUY THE BOOK HERE