Indiana Fever's GM Talks Drafting Ochonwa

The Indiana Fever selected Notre Dame's Natalie Ochonwa with the ninth pick overall in Monday's WNBA Draft.  Ochonwa, who is scheduled to be operated on this Friday for a torn ACL, will miss the upcoming WNBA season.

You'll learn why the Fever still drafted Natalie -- in the article linked below:

LINK:  OCHONWA

Silver Stars Thrilled to Draft ND's Kayla McBride

Found this story today about Notre Dame's Kayla McBride and her third overall selection in this week's WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Silver Stars.  I'm very happy for her!

LINK:  THRILLED TO DRAFT MCBRIDE

Matt Farrell Makes it Official with Notre Dame!

Mike Brey announced today that Point Pleasant Beach, NJ point guard Matt Farrell had signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  Farrell joins Bonzie Colson and Martin Geben as the high school seniors who will make up the incoming recruiting class for the Irish.

LINK:  COACH BREY TALKS FARRELL

"Inside Look" at Notre Dame's Blue Gold Game

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media just released this "inside" look at Saturday's 85th Annual Blue Gold Game.  Enjoy!

LINK:  BLUE GOLD GAME

Notre Dame's Class of 2018 -- Top of the Class!

The University of Notre Dame received almost 18,000 applications for what is expected will be a class of approximately 2,000 students who will make up its Class of 2018. 

Do you have what it takes to be a Notre Dame student?  Take a look at this article...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S CLASS OF 2018

88 Notre Dame Students Receive ND Monogram

The University of Notre Dame passed on a 98 year-old tradition this evening -- the awarding of the MONOGRAM to its varsity student-athletes.

In the photo above (l to r), John Turner (Indianapolis, IN), Ronnie Stanley (Las Vegas, NV) and James Onwualu (St. Paul, MN) model their new look!

Atkins & Sherman Earn Invite to Portsmouth

Former Notre Dame basketball players; Eric Atkins and Garrick Sherman will join sixty-two of the top senior college basketball players in the country in New Hampshire tomorrow to play in the PORTSMOUTH INVITATIONAL in front of NBA scouts and general managers.

The sixty-four players have been divided into eight teams of eight players each -- the games start tomorrow run through Saturday.

Atkins is on a team called K&D Rounds Landscaping,  Sherman is on a team called the Portsmouth Sports Club.  Here's a link to their respective rosters:

LINK:  PORTSMOUTH INVITATIONAL

Five First Round WNBA Picks in Three Years!

Muffet's Notre Dame Fighting Irish can now claim five (5) first round WNBA Draft picks in the past three seasons!

• 2014:  (3) Kayla McBride, (9) Natalie Achonwa
• 2013:  (3) Skylar Diggins
• 2012:  (3) Devereaux Peters, (8) Natalie Novosel

The photo above shows the "five" WNBA Draft picks who were members of the 2012 Final Four Fighting Irish!

Natalie Achonwa Goes 9th Overall to Indiana!

Now, former Notre Dame women's basketball star Natalie Achonwa -- was just drafted ninth overall by the Indiana Fever in tonight's WNBA Draft!  Congratulations Natalie!

You have to be really happy for Natalie, who is awaiting ACL knee surgery...

LINK:  NATALIE ACHONWA GOES TO INDIANA!

Kayla McBride Goes 3rd Overall in WNBA Draft!

Now former Notre Dame All-American -- Kayla McBride, was just drafted third overall by the San Antonio Silver Stars in tonight's WNBA Draft.  Congratulations Kayla!

Kayla was joined by her Mom, Dad and Coach Muffet McGraw at the Draft.

LINK:  KAYLA GOES TO SAN ANTONIO!

WNBA Draft Tonight at 8 PM ET on ESPN2

Former Notre Dame women's basketball stars; Kayla McBride and Natalie Achonwa will find out this evening if they'll be playing in the WNBA this summer -- as their annual draft takes place on ESPN2 beginning at 8 PM ET.  

Here's a look at a MOCK DRAFT which has both players going in the first round -- sure hope that's the case for Natalie after her knee injury -- just click on the links below:

LINK:  NBA MOCK DRAFT

Media's Talkin' Notre Dame's Blue Gold Game

As we always do here at the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- I took a lap around the worldwide web to see what the media has to say about the 85th Annual Blue Gold Game at Notre Dame.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- ZAIRE INTERVIEW

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE -- JAYLON INTERVIEW

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

Stanford Fans Came Dressed as "Empty Seats"

This is the fan turnout in Palo Alto, CA today for Stanford's Spring Game -- looks like a "few hundred" friends and family members of the players...

ESPN Player Interviews After Blue Gold Game

 

ESPN's Matt Fortuna caught up with a couple of Notre Dame players after today's Blue Gold Game.  Just click on the links below to watch the interviews:

LINK:  KEIVARAE RUSSELL

LINK:  JOE SCHMIDT

Photo of the Day: Kyle Rudolph's Golf Grips

Minnesota Vikings' Kyle Rudolph is "reppin" his alma mater with these green and gold golf grips...

Notre Dame Football Players Back Home...

Notre Dame's Jack Nolan caught up with a number of the former Fighting Irish football players during today's Blue Gold Game:

LINK:  BACK HOME

Rockne is SMILING: ND's New Playing Surface

Folks, Notre Dame football (as far back as 80 years ago) was known for winning and for INNOVATION.  If synthetic playing surfaces had been around in Rockne's days -- Notre Dame would have been playing on it...

Well, that day has come.  After today's Blue Gold Game -- Notre Dame's Athletic Director announced that a synthetic playing surface would be installed in the "House that Rock Built."  Here's the announcement:

LINK:  NEW PLAYING SURFACE

LINK:  NBC'S INTERVIEW

LINK:  GOLSON ON FIELD TURF

LINK:  ESPN'S FORTUNA

Zaire Throws for 292 -- Offense Beats Defense

On a day when we learned that this was the last game in the 127 year history of Notre Dame football that the Fighting Irish would play on grass in South Bend -- Malik Zaire backed up his talk that he would be the starting QB come August 30th throwing 2 TD's and for almost 300 yards in the 85th Blue Gold Game.

LINK:  COACH KELLY POST GAME

LINK:  BLUE GOLD GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  OKWARA INTERVIEW

LINK:  RUSSELL INTERVIEW

LINK:  NBC SPORTS STORY

What to Watch For: ND's 85th Blue Gold Game

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the experts are saying about Notre Dame's Blue Gold Game -- here's what I found:

LINK:  IRISH CENTRAL -- NBC SPORTS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Blue Gold Game on NBC Sports Network Today

I've received some emails wondering where to watch Notre Dame's Blue Gold Game today -- well it's on the NBC Sports Network and it begins LIVE at 12:30 PM ET. 

Game time temperature is expected to be 70 degrees!  Perfect weather for us fans!

Notre Dame Unveils "THE SHIRT 2014 " Today!

Just got back from the annual unveiling of THE SHIRT 2014 at the University of Notre Dame.  The photo above shows The Shirt Committee posing for a photo -- wearing The Shirt -- with the GOLD MEN.

LINK:  THE SHIRT PROMO VIDEO

LINK:  THE STORY BEHIND "THE SHIRT"

LINK:  BUY "THE SHIRT" RIGHT HERE!

Domer Talks About His Career at NASCAR

Jimmy Small '08, was interviewed by the show "CARS FOR A LIVING" where he was asked how he got his job and how he has moved up inside the NASCAR organization.

If you're looking for a career in sports marketing -- it's a worthwhile listen...

LINK:  WORKING AT NASCAR

Samardzija Tied for Ninth in NL with 1.29 ERA

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija is currently ninth in the National League with an ERA of 1.29 after his first two starts this season for the Chicago Cubs.

LINK:  ERA LEADERS

Cleveland Indians' Domer Leads MLB in Saves

Former Notre Dame pitcher John Axford, who led the National League in saves in 2011 -- is off to a fast start with his new team the Cleveland Indians!  Axford is "four for four" in save situations for Cleveland -- leading all of Major League Baseball!

LINK:  JOHN AXFORD

Coach Kelly Talks Saturday's Blue Gold Game

After today's practice OUTSIDE at the Labar Practice Complex -- Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media to talk about Saturday's game format and today's practice.  Enjoy!

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Notre Dame Returns Home from Final Four

Muffet's Fighting Irish returned home to the Notre Dame campus during the lunch hour.  The welcome included a "water cannon" salute at South Bend Regional Airport and a police escort back to Purcell Pavilion.  Here's a couple of short video clips of their return:

LINK:  WATER CANNON SALUTE

LINK:  POLICE ESCORT TO CAMPUS

Louis Nix -- Latest Video On NFL Draft Prep

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Louis Nix is the subject of this latest video over at CBS SPORTS...

LINK:  LOUIS NIX

The Mornin' After a Loss for the National Title...

Well, it doesn't feel any better this morning than it did at approximately 10:30 PM ET last night.

UCONN was the better team last night -- no question.  Now, would it have been different with Natalie Achonwa's leadership, size and tenacity along with her 20 points and 10 rebounds a game during the NCAA tournament?

It would have been fun to see their best against our best.

Notre Dame fans, we should be very proud of this team.  A season where the pundits barely had us ranked in the pre-season TOP TEN -- ended up with a fourth straight trip to the FINAL FOUR and the most single season wins in Notre Dame basketball history.

I took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to capture some of the post-game reaction from the FIGHTING IRISH's point of view -- just click on the links below:

LINK:  WSBT-TV

LINK:  WNDU-TV

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

ESPN Coverage Begins at 7:30 PM ET Tonight

If you're not in Nashville watching the game in person -- you can begin your TV experience at 7:30 PM ET as ESPN tips off their pre-game coverage at that time.  The game should begin shortly after 8:30 PM ET -- also on ESPN.

Here's the latest coverage from Nashville:

LINK:  THE GAME IS WHAT MATTERS

How Notre Dame Wins the National Title Tonight

The "undefeated" meet tonight in Nashville for the National Championship.  The heavily favored 39 - 0 UCONN Huskies take on our 37 - 0 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  It's the first time in NCAA history that two undefeated teams have met for a women's basketball National Championship.  ESPN is loving this -- they are calling tonight's game "one of the most anticipated moments in women's sports history..."

The oddsmakers in Vegas have UCONN as a 7 point favorite.

Here's how we beat UCONN -- and it starts early -- before the second media timeout (eight minutes into the game);

• Kayla McBride and Jewell Loyd each hit two of the first four shots they take
• Notre Dame has five offensive rebounds leading to a minimum of 6 points -- conversely, UCONN doesn't have any "second chance points"
• One of UCONN's "big-three" of Stewart, Dolson or Mosqueda-Lewis has 2 fouls and sitting on the bench for the rest of the half.

Muffet made a major point at her press conference yesterday about the "lack of fouls called against UCONN this season."  Keep an eye out for this in the first half.  Notre Dame must get to the "bonus" free throws before UCONN.

LINK:  ESPN'S KEYS TO THE GAME

Digger Announces Retirement from ESPN

Richard "Digger" Phelps -- the winningest coach in Notre Dame basketball history -- announced his retirement from ESPN last night prior to the National Championship game.  Digger spent 20 years working for ESPN -- here's a link to his announcement and ESPN's tribute video:

LINK:  DIGGER'S GOOD-BYE

Geno Auriemma's "Shout Out" to Kayla McBride

UCONN Geno Auriemma brings up Kayla McBride in his post game press conference -- here's the link:

LINK:  AURIEMMA

Notre Dame's "Day Before the Final Dance"

The Fighting Irish awoke this morning to the task of defeating "the other" undefeated team in Tuesday's National Championship game.  This marks the third time in four years that Notre Dame is playing on the final day of the college basketball season...

THE THIRD TIME WILL BE THE CHARM!

Here's a replay of Notre Dame's media session today in Nashville -- Muffet has her game face on!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME

Maryland Coach Talks Loss to Notre Dame

Here's a link to a video from Maryland's post game press conference last night after their loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA Semi-Finals;

LINK:  MARYLAND TALKS

Fact: Best Rivalry in all of Women's Sports

It's UCONN vs. Notre Dame in women's basketball.

The two dominant players in their sport right now will make NCAA history tomorrow night when the "undefeated" teams square off for the National Championship.  It's the first time ever that two undefeated teams have met in a NCAA Championship basketball game.

What adds to this rivalry -- no love lost between the two coaches and teams...

LINK:  NO LOVE LOST

LINK:  RIVALRY

ND Football's "Strong & True" Tonight 6:30 PM

Notre Dame football fans -- this is must see TONIGHT at 6:30 PM ET -- on the NBC Sports Network!

LINK:  SNEAK PREVIEW

Sneak Preview: Muffet's Pre-Game Speech

After watching the ESPN "experts" not giving Notre Dame any chance at all to win Tuesday night's NCAA National Championship game against UCONN -- I found myself wondering what approach would Muffet take for her pre-game speech tomorrow night in Nashville.

Here's a sneak preview...

LINK:  WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS BE GREAT...

"Achonwa Who?" -- Notre Dame Rolls 87 - 61

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame played their first game in the FINAL FOUR without their injured senior captain and leading rebounder Natalie Achonwa (I wish we still had her in the line-up!) -- and all they did was OUTREBOUND Maryland by 29 REBOUNDS!

Folks, that's effort and coaching.  

Kayla McBride was FANTASTIC scoring 28 points while sitting the last four plus minutes on the bench -- resting for Tuesday night.  The "other" All-American Jewell Loyd scored 16 points and was tied for the team lead with 9 rebounds.

Yet, the player of the game for me was MARKISHA WRIGHT -- all "Keesh" did was score 12 points and grab 9 boards in 23 minutes of playing time. 

Now, it's on to Tuesday night and the Championship Final -- the third in four years for the Irish.  Let's hope THREE IS THE CHARM!

LINK:  ESPN COVERAGE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

The Latest on Notre Dame From the Final Four!

Here's what I'm finding on Twitter in the last few minutes:

LINK:  TEAM LEAVING HOTEL

LINK:  BAND / CHEERLEADERS / FANS AT HOTEL

Notre Dame's New Field Will Not Look Like This

The LA KISS kicked off their 2014 Arena Football League home season in front of a crowd of over 12,000 in what can only be characterized as "UNIQUE."  A "silver" playing surface combined with a sensory overload fan experience...

You have got to see this!

LINK:  ESPN VIDEO STORY

LINK:  FOX NEWS STORY

Know Thy Opponent: Michigan's Spring Game

154 days from today -- the Michigan Wolverines will roll into Notre Dame Stadium to take on the Fighting Irish for the last time in the foreseeable future.  Yesterday, the Wolverines held their Spring Game in Ann Arbor.

Here's a link to Coach Hoke's post game press conference with some commentary from a Michigan alum, turned sports writer, Drew Sharp:

LINK:  MICHIGAN'S SPRING GAME

MUST SEE! Notre Dame vs. FSU Rain Delay

The Notre Dame men's baseball team is in Tallahassee Florida this weekend to take on the #1 Florida State Seminoles.  Yesterday's game ended up being rained out -- but the Fighting Irish and Seminoles entertained the crowd while they waited out the rain...

FSU's Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winson (photo above) -- who the IRISH rocked for a couple of runs the night before -- got into the act...

LINK:  RAIN DELAY

Adidas Creates New Uniform for Notre Dame...

Here is the new baseball jersey designed by Adidas for Notre Dame.

Under Armour takes over July 1st...

Domer Dad Gets "SILVER SLUGGER" Award!

Torii Hunter Sr., father of Notre Dame wide receiver Torii Hunter, Jr. -- was given his "second" SILVER SLUGGER award (alongside Miguel Cabrera) before the Tiger's game against the Orioles on Friday.  The honor is given to the top three hitting outfielders in the American League from the 2013 season.

Hunter hit .304 with 17 homers and 84 RBI in 2013 at the age of 37!

Torii Sr. -- hit-less the first two games of the season -- has gone 5 for 8 since receiving the award with two home runs, a double and six rbi!

LINK:  TORII HUNTER SR. -- FRIDAY'S GAME

LINK:  TORII HUNTER SR. -- SATURDAY'S GAME

"Coach" Achonwa WIRED at the FINAL FOUR!

After listening to this -- I won't be surprised if Natalie Achonwa is on Muffet's coaching staff before too long...

Enjoy!

LINK:  ACHONWA

Kayla McBride & Jewell Loyd -- All Americans!

It's the first time in school history that Notre Dame has two players voted first team All-American!

Kayla McBride and Jewell Loyd were honored yesterday in Nashville for their selection to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-American first team.  Notre Dame's two selections to the team fell one short of UCONN's three...

Congratulations Kayla and Jewell!

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY

Know Thy Opponent: The Fighting Turtles of MD

The Maryland Terrapins gave Notre Dame all they could handle in a game in College Park in late January.  In that game the Fighting Irish blew a 22 point first half lead -- hanging on for a four point victory 87 - 83 -- the closest a team has come to beating Notre Dame this season.

In that game, Natalie Achonwa only played 21 minutes, scoring 7 points and grabbing 3 rebounds.

The Terrapins are bigger and probably more athletic than our IRISH -- it's going to be a tough test for Muffet's squad without Achnowa's 20 points and 10 boards per game in the NCAA Tournament.  Yet, I still like our chances!

Here's what I could find about Maryland -- just click on the links below:

LINK:  THOMAS LEADS TERPS

LINK:  PARTY CRASHERS

LINK:  FAMILIAR OPPONENTS

LINK:  MAJORING IN CHEMISTRY

ESPN Takes On: Who is Muffet McGraw?

"Back to Back" National Coach of the Year honors for Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw -- the third in her 27-year career leading the Fighting Irish -- and ESPN is asking the question; "Who is Muffet McGraw?"

You'll enjoy this!

LINK:  MUFFET MCGRAW