Final Four Sunday is Here for the Fighting Irish!

It's less than ten hours to tip-off of Notre Dame's national semi-final game tonight against Maryland -- the game will be televised on ESPN beginning at 6:30 PM ET. 

I took a lap around the worldwide-web to get you ready with all of the important "pre-tip" knowledge you'll need for tonight's game.  Just click on the links below:

GO IRISH!

LINK:  FINAL FOUR PRESSER

LINK:  PLAYER INTERVIEWS

LINK:  ESPN'S HAYS

LINK:  ESPN'S HAYS #2

LINK:  ESPN -- NOTRE DAME ADJUSTMENTS

Domer's First 100 Days on the Job in Iowa...

Notre Dame alum Jimmy Small '08, was the subject of this story about his first 100 days on the job at Iowa Speedway.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  FIRST 100 DAYS

Photo: Manti Te'o Back Home at Notre Dame

The ND GO IRISH BLOG was sent this photo by Notre Dame parent Patrick Paige (Ann Arbor, MI) of former Fighting Irish All-American Manti Te'o with some students in the lobby of the Morris Inn Thursday night.

(Photo l to r:  Oliver Silva, Meghan Maraghy, Manti Te'o, Katie Paige, Claire O'Neill and Mari Mendoza)

Everett Golson Interview Yesterday at ND

Notre Dame QB Everett Golson, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and linebacker Joe Schmidt met with the media yesterday afternoon -- just click on the link below to watch:

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

Muffet's Irish Have a Fun Friday at Final Four

It was a day where the Notre Dame Fighting Irish "dressed-up" and enjoyed the spoils of being one of four teams still playing college basketball this weekend in Nashville...

As always, Fighting Irish Digital Media was in attendance -- just click on the link below to enjoy!

LINK:  FINAL FOUR SALUTE

ND Alum: McDonald's All American Coach

Notre Dame alum Frank Allocco, the head basketball coach at prep powerhouse De La Salle High School in Concord, CA -- where he's won two state championships -- coached the West Team to a 105 - 102 win this week at the McDonald's All-American game at Chicago's United Center.  

Notre Dame football fans may remember Frank's days as a QB for Ara Parseghian -- and a member of the 1973 national championship team.  Allocco also played basketball for Digger Phelps while at ND.
 
Allocco, the National High School Coach of the Year (2000), California State Coach of the Year (2010 and 2011) and the National Catholic High School Coach of the Year (2012) agreed to publish a daily diary of his experience working with the best high school basketball players in America.  You'll find the links to the Diary below.

Allocco is the only high school coach in California state history to win a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP at two different schools! 

I want to thank one of my colleagues at Notre Dame, Craig Horvath -- for alerting me to this story!

LINK:  DAY 2

LINK:  DAY 3

LINK:  DAY 4

LINK:  DAY 5

Coach Kelly's Media Session After Practice

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media after today's practice.  Here's a link to the media session.

LINK:  COACH KELLY

ND's Business School -- FIVE-PEAT as #1 !!!!!

Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business was just named the #1 undergraduate business school in America for the FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR by BloombergBusinessWeek!

Just read the headline to the article -- linked below...

LINK:  FIVE-PEAT!

Friday Morning at the Final Four in Nashville

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what's being said about our Fighting Irish as they arrived in Nashville last night for their fourth straight FINAL FOUR.  Here's what I could find:

LINK:  ESPN PRIMER

LINK:  "EXPERT" PICKS

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  PURSUIT OF PROTECTION

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

Notre Dame Has Arrived at the FINAL FOUR!

The 36 - 0 Notre Dame Fighting Irish have arrived in Nashville this evening for the NCAA Final Four -- their fourth straight year!  Here's some photos "tweeted" by the Women's Final Four Twitter account along with a link to WATCHND's coverage of the Fighting Irish in Nashville:

LINK:  TEAM'S ARRIVAL

Muffet's "Tweet" Before Leaving for Final Four

"It's not about the cards you're dealt but how you play the hand. Just because we don't have an "ace" up our sleeve doesn't mean we're gonna fold." 

-- Muffet McGraw

Photos of Kathryn Westbeld: McDonald's Game

 

Incoming Notre Dame women's basketball recruit Kathryn Westbeld played in yesterday's McDonald's All-American game at Chicago's United Center.  Kathryn made the only shot she took and grabbed a couple of offensive rebounds in ten minutes of play.

LINK:  BOX SCORE

NFL Films: Louis Nix III "On The Clock"

The NFL has their new media darling -- Louis "Irish Chocolate" Nix...

LINK:  ON THE CLOCK

Seven Domers Drafted in This NFL Mock Draft

Here's a computer simulation of the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft that has seven former Notre Dame student-athletes being drafted by teams.  I won't ruin the surprise:

LINK:  NFL DRAFT

Brianna Turner Named McDonald's Game MVP!

Notre Dame women's basketball's incoming Gatorade National Player of the Year, Brianna Turner -- played tonight in the McDonald's All-American game at Chicago's United Center with the top players in the country and she walked away with the game MVP!

Brianna is the second Notre Dame hoops recruit to receive this honor -- the first, a young lady named Skylar Diggins...

Brianna had a "double-double," scored the winning bucket for the West Team with 53 seconds left and then for good measure blocked a shot late in the game to ensure the victory!

Congratulations Brianna!

LINK:  ESPN GAME STORY

Notre Dame Football Assistant Coaches Talk

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media caught up with a number of the Notre Dame football assistant coaches today;  Tony Alford, Kerry Cooks, Matt LaFleur and Mike Elston.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL COACHES

Positive Weather Forecast for Blue Gold Game!

This is the current weather forecast from ACCU-WEATHER (as of Wednesday, April 9th) of what we can expect here at Notre Dame for the BLUE GOLD GAME.

LINK:  WEATHER FORECAST

Watch Turner & Westbeld Tonight on ESPNU

The McDonald's High School All-American game will be played tonight at 7:00 PM ET on ESPNU -- and Fighting Irish fans will want to keep an eye-on future Notre Dame student-athletes; Brianna Turner (on left) and Kathryn Westbeld (on right) seen in the photo above at the All-American banquet last night.

Brianna 6'-3" -- the Gatorade National Player of the Year will be playing for the West Squad and wearing uniform #11.  Kathryn 6'-2" -- will be playing for the East Squad.

LINK:  BRIANNA TURNER

LINK:  KATHRYN WESTBELD

Notre Dame Knows Their Final Four Opponent

The team that gave Notre Dame its most difficult test of the season -- the Maryland Terrapins (pictured above) -- beat the higher seeded Louisville Cardinals (in the Cards own gym) last night to advance to Sunday's Final Four game against our Fighting Irish.

These two teams last met January 27th in College Park, MD -- with the IRISH prevailing 87 - 83.  This is one of only two times this season where an opponent kept the deficit to under 10 points against the IRISH.  Natalie Achonwa scored 7 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in that game (playing only 21 minutes of the game) -- see box score below.

Here's the challenge -- Maryland has a big, talented line-up led by a 6'-2" All-American Alyssa Thomas who put up 29 points in the first game against our Irish.  Here's their starting line-up last night against Louisville:

• Alicia DeVaughn:  6'-4"  -- scored 16 against ND
• Brionna Jones:  6'-3" -- didn't start against ND -- but scored 6 off bench
• Alyssa Thomas:  6'-2" -- scored 29 against ND
• Lexie Brown:  5'-9" -- scored 9 points against ND
• Katie Rutan:  5'-9" -- didn't score

LINK:  ESPN PREVIEW STORY

LINK:  BOX SCORE FROM FIRST GAME:  ND vs. MARYLAND

Under Armour's Marketing to Notre Dame Fans

Folks, Under Armour will be a much different partner for the University of Notre Dame -- in a great way.  Here's a perfect example -- here we are, three months out from the start of their partnership with ND and Under Armour is soliciting fans to sign-up to be "in the know" as to what they're planning for Notre Dame.

I love it.

If you want to sign-up -- click on the link below:

LINK:  BE IN THE KNOW

Must See: Mike Brey's "April Fool's Day" Prank

Former Notre Dame student-athlete turned broadcaster Jordan Cornette was pranked today by his former head coach Mike Brey.  This is pretty good!

LINK:  APRIL FOOL'S PRANK

Loyd & McBride -- Must Lead the Irish Now...

With the serious knee injury (a torn ACL -- just reported by Notre Dame at 2:30 PM ET) to Natalie Achonwa -- Notre Dame's "do-it-all" All-American sophomore Jewell Loyd is going to have to replicate her effort last night where she took the game into her own hands.

And, Notre Dame's other All-American Kayla McBride needs to stay on the floor...

Here is a link to ESPN's Graham Hays story about last night's effort from the IRISH:

LINK:  ESPN STORY

The Mornin' After Notre Dame's Big Win!

The Fighting Irish are FINAL FOUR bound for the fourth straight year!  They will play the winner of tonight's Maryland vs. Louisville game this Sunday in Nashville.

Now, we wait until we hear the results of what looked to be a very serious knee injury to Notre Dame senior Natalie Achonwa.  You'll see a video linked below (ESPN COVERAGE) where Natalie was interviewed after the game.

LINK:  ESPN COVERAGE

LINK:  POST GAME CELEBRATION 

LINK:  MUFFET POST GAME 

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Five Domers on MLB OPENING DAY Rosters!

Major League Baseball is officially back today -- and five former Notre Dame student-athletes are on major league rosters;  Jeff Samardzija (Cubs), David Phelps (Yankees), John Axford (Indians), Jeff Manship (Phillies) and A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks).

Samardzija made history this afternoon for the Cubs.  He pitched seven scoreless innings against the Pirates today -- yet the Cubs lost 1 - 0 in ten innings.  Samardzija is the first Chicago Cubs pitcher to throw "back to back" scoreless starts on Opening Day in 80 years!

To learn more about each of these former Irish stars -- click on their name below:

LINK:  JEFF SAMARDZIJA -- PITCHER

LINK:  DAVID PHELPS -- PITCHER

LINK:  JOHN AXFORD -- PITCHER

LINK:  JEFF MANSHIP -- PITCHER

LINK:  A.J. POLLOCK -- OUTFIELDER

Samardzija's Opening Day Start Tomorrow!

Former Notre Dame All-American Jeff Samardzija takes the mound tomorrow for his second straight Opening Day start for the Chicago Cubs -- and ironically it happens again at PNC Park in Pittsburgh against the Pirates.

First pitch is thrown at 1:05 PM ET -- here's some stories about Jeff's start tomorrow:

LINK:  2ND STRAIGHT OPENER

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO

HBO's Real Sports: Graduating College Athletes

Bryant Gumbel's Real Sports on HBO produced a story this past week on what a number of universities have been doing to graduate their student-athletes -- namely; University of North Carolina, University of Michigan, University of Oklahoma, Baylor University, Iowa State University and the University of Memphis.

If you get the chance -- go to HBO and watch the entire show.  It's an eye-opener...  Plus, there is a second link here to an article I found in a North Carolina newspaper about this HBO story:

LINK:  TRAILER

LINK:  NEWS OBSERVER

NCAA Regionals: ND Met With the Media Today

Muffet and her Fighting Irish met with the media today to talk about tomorrow night's game against Baylor for a trip to Nashville and the FINAL FOUR.  Here's the replay:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME NCAA PRESSER

FIGHTING FOR LIFE: The Bobby Russell Story

Notre Dame fans are going to want to watch this story...

LINK:  BOBBY RUSSELL

Up Next: Odyssey and the Baylor Bears

She's only 42 points away from setting the all-time points record for a single season for women's college basketball...

Standing in Odyseey's Sims way is the defense of Jewell Loyd, Kayla McBride and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Here is what the media has to say about tomorrow night's NCAA Regional Final between Notre Dame (35 - 0) and the Baylor Bears (32 - 4).  The fun begins at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.

LINK:  ESPNW -- CHARLIE CREME

LINK:  ESPN'S LOBO & LAWSON

LINK:  ESPN'S WHITE & MOWINS

ND's Post Game Press Conference Today

The Fighting Irish met with the media after today's 89 - 72 win over Oklahoma State.  Here is the replay of the press conference:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

Mike Brey Stars in Northwestern Mutual TV Spot

Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey is featured in a Northwestern Mutual TV commercial that's airing during the NCAA tournament.  Just click on the link below to watch:

LINK:  MIKE BREY

Elite Eight Bound -- IRISH Beat Cowgirls 89 - 72

Notre Dame, with a quick 14 - 0 run, took control of the game early and they never trailed in a seventeen point win over Oklahoma State this afternoon.  The win puts the Fighting Irish into the NCAA Regional Final on Monday night against Baylor -- the last team to beat Notre Dame at Purcell Pavilion.

Here are the highlights and a few early media reports on today's game:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS FROM ND

LINK:  ESPN RECAP

LINK:  THE OKLAHOMAN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Coach Kelly Met With Media Today at ND

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today after Spring practice #8.  He updated the media on Jarret Grace's surgery and the status of his team...

LINK:  COACH KELLY

ND Football Spring Practice #8 Video Highlghts

Here's what Notre Dame football was up to today -- inside -- the Loftus Complex.  The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media was in attendance -- so we have this report!

LINK:  PRACTICE VIDEO

Notre Dame Hockey on ESPNU at 9 PM ET

The NCAA Hockey Tournament begins tonight for Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish and you can watch it LIVE on ESPNU beginning at 9 PM ET.  Yesterday afternoon Notre Dame met with the media to talk about St. Cloud State -- click on the link below to watch a replay of the press conference:

LINK:  PRESSER

Notre Dame on ESPN Today at 2:35 PM ET

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish are playing at home today in the SWEET SIXTEEN against Oklahoma State on ESPN -- the game tips off at 2:35 PM ET.  Here's what the media has to say about this afternoon's game:

LINK:  THE OKLAHOMAN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

Photo of Louis "Irish Chocolate" Nix on Skates!

Louis Nix III is a good sport.  Last night the former Notre Dame student-athlete participated in the Relay For Life cancer fundraising event at Compton Ice Arena.  As you'll see the 340 lb. defensive lineman painted his face, grew some colorful ears and put on some ice skates!

ESPN "Experts" Pick Winner of ND vs. OSU

Notre Dame plays Oklahoma State in a Sweet Sixteen basketball game Saturday on ESPN at Purcell Pavilion.  Four ESPN basketball pundits picked their winners of each of the games Saturday and Sunday.  Click on the link below to find out how they see the IRISH doing:

LINK:  PICKIN' THE WINNERS

Notre Dame Hockey Begins NCAA Tourney Run

Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish are in St. Paul, MN this weekend to play their first NCAA Hockey National Championship tournament game tomorrow night against St. Cloud State.  Here's a preview of tomorrow night's game:

LINK:  ND HOCKEY

Muffet's Irish Met With the Media Today

The Fighting Irish are "HOME" this weekend to play in the NCAA's SWEET SIXTEEN.  First up, a game against Oklahoma State tomorrow at 2:30 PM ET.  The media met with Notre Dame this afternoon -- here's a link to the press conference:

Photo above of the new floor installed for the NCAA Tournament.

LINK:  PLAYERS

LINK:  COACH MCGRAW

Six ND Freshmen Met With the Media Today

I challenge you to find six better interviews from any other freshman football class in America.  The Notre Dame student-athlete -- they're different.

LINK:  IMPRESSIVE

MUST SEE! -- NOTRE DAME DAY TEASER

The University of Notre Dame will be celebrating NOTRE DAME DAY this coming April 27th.  Here's a promotional video to tease you to join-in!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME DAY

Slam Magazine Interview of Incoming Hoopster

Mychal Johnson an incoming Notre Dame hoops recruit from West Virginia was interviewed yesterday by Slam Magazine.  Johnson and her teammates just won their FOURTH STRAIGHT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP (six in a row for the school!) -- you'll enjoy this interview.

Fans of Kansas' freshman basketball sensation Andrew Wiggins might be surprised to learn that he was Mychal's date to the prom her junior year.

LINK:  SLAM MAGAZINE

Incoming Notre Dame QB Talks With Media

DeShone Kizer from Toledo Central Catholic High School has big plans for his future at Notre Dame.  Click on the story linked below:

LINK:  DESHONE KIZER

Joe Montana Seeded as #1 NFL QB of All-Time

Former Notre Dame QB Joe Montana is seeded as the "greatest NFL QB of All-Time" -- and as you'll see in the story -- arguably the greatest NFL player of all-time!  See the story and bracket linked below:

LINK:  MONTANA #1

LINK:  NFL BRACKETOLOGY