Golden Tate and Max Lachowecki at ESPYS

Former Notre Dame All-American Golden Tate was on the ESPYS stage last night when Max Lachowecki (Soccer) accepted the Capital One Cup for the Fighting Irish!

Here's a couple of links of Max Lachowecki in the 360 photo booth:

LINK:  MAX

LINK:  MAX II

ESPYS: Notre Dame Receives Capital One Cup

Here's the photo of the three Notre Dame student-athletes who were in attendance last night at the ESPYS to receive the Capital One Cup for the 2013-14 season.  It's the first time ever that Notre Dame has won this award!

Top photo L TO R:  Garrett McGrath (Fencing), Max Lachowecki (Soccer) and Steve O'Hara (Lacrosse)

ESPYS: Video Clip of Skylar Diggins & Drake

Skylar Diggins is everywhere...

Here she is making an appearance last night on the ESPYS -- see video linked below.  Apparently, Drake has a little crush on Skylar -- as you'll see in the Washington Post article linked below:

LINK:  SKYLAR

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

Mike Brey Called Out for Fashion Faux Pas

I'm sure Notre Dame's men's basketball head coach Mike Brey will get a laugh out of this story...

LINK:  CHANGING COLLEGE HOOPS FASHION

Must See TV Tonight: The ESPY'S at 9 PM ET

Four Notre Dame student-athletes will walk the red carpet and will be on camera tonight at ESPN's annual awards show -- The ESPY'S.  The show starts at 9 PM ET on ESPN.

Here's what's in store:

• Brianna Turner -- the #1 ranked high school women's basketball player, who's already enrolled at Notre Dame, was named Gatorade's National High School Athlete of the Year last night.  She'll be honored this evening during the ESPY'S
• And, these three Fighting Irish student-athletes (Max Lachowecki -- tennis, Garrett McGrath -- fencing and Steve O'Hara -- lacrosse) were selected to represent Notre Dame tonight as we receive the 2013-14 CAPITAL ONE CUP men's sports national title.  The first time ND has ever won this award!

Domer Named Gatorade's National HS AOY!

Brianna Turner was just named Gatorade's National High School Athlete of the Year tonight!!!

This makes "back to back" years for Notre Dame student-athletes receiving this award.  Last year Morgan Andrews (Notre Dame women's soccer) received this honor.  It's the third in five years for Notre Dame student-athletes -- as Skylar Diggins received this honor in 2009.

Turner, the nation's top women's high school basketball player was in Los Angeles tonight to receive the award.  Brianna is already enrolled at Notre Dame and will be counted on BIG TIME this season for Muffet's squad.

LINK:  HOUSTON CHRONICLE

LINK: HS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR!

LINK:  PRESS RELEASE FROM NOTRE DAME

Notre Dame Freshman's 8th Grade Letter to Self

Jonathan Bonner is one of Notre Dame's incoming freshman football players -- he's a DE / OLB recruit.  Today, Jonathan posted a letter on TWITTER that he wrote to himself in the 8th grade -- click on it above to enlarge!

As you'll see -- he was dreaming of going to Notre Dame four years ago...  Pretty special young man.

A Rainbow Over Notre Dame Today!

Got to love it!

If you follow @NotreDame on Twitter -- you will see photos like this...

Samardzija: A MLB All-Star Without a TEAM

Tonight's 2014 Major League All-Star Game from Minneapolis will feature a unique set of circumstances for former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija.

Jeff will be introduced as a National League All-Star before the game -- then he'll head over to the American League dugout to watch the game...

Here's the story:

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA'S ALL-STAR EXPERIENCE

The Next 55 Days Can't Get Here Fast Enough!

The #1 winningest college football team in the world (NOTRE DAME) plays the #2 winningest college football team in the world (Michigan) in only 55 days...

Found this video today on the web -- ARE YOU READY FOR THIS!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. MICHIGAN

A Domer Spends "Three Minutes in the Chair"

Domer Jimmy Small '08 spent some time prior to Saturday night's Indy Car Race at Iowa Speedway doing an interview with the local NBC affiliate:

LINK:  THREE MINUTES IN THE CHAIR

ESPN Calls on Notre Dame's Rudy to Explain...

I guess it makes perfect sense for ESPN to turn to a movie character associated with the university which graduates the most student-athletes in the world...

Even though they have a TV contract with the SEC.

LINK:  RUDY EXPLAINS

The $500,000 Notre Dame Alums Talk Victory

You'll enjoy watching this story about the Notre Dame alums who laced up their basketball shoes one more time...

LINK:  FIGHTING ALUMNI

The Latest Photo From Notre Dame Stadium

Here's what I learned, over the weekend, about the installation of the new Field Turf playing field at Notre Dame Stadium:

• The field -- will be practically FLAT.  There is only a "half of a percent" drop in elevation from midfield to sideline.
• They are currently placing a "rubber" layer over top of the stone -- photo above -- similar to what the Seattle Seahawks did when they installed Field Turf at Century Link Field.
• This is the last step before the new playing surface is installed.

College Football All-American to MLB All-Star

Just found this story this morning on former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija -- enjoy!

LINK:  ALL-AMERICAN TO ALL-STAR

Own a Unique Piece of Notre Dame History!

An auction selling windows from Notre Dame's Main Building (AKA "the Golden Dome") will take place this Wednesday.  The proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanities Women Build project.

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

A Few Tickets Left for 2014 Notre Dame Football

If you'd like to attend a Notre Dame Football game this season -- there are a few tickets left for the games with Rice, Northwestern and Louisville. 

SCHEDULE:

• August 30th -- RICE
• November 15th -- NORTHWESTERN
• November 30th -- LOUISVILLE

LINK:  BUY TICKETS HERE!

Domer Bruton -- The Denver Bronco Biker...

I just found this story on former Notre Dame football player David Bruton -- who's a team captain with the NFL's Denver Broncos...

David has a passion for his motorcycle -- you'll want to see this story.

LINK:  THE BRONCO BIKER

Our "Little Girl" Is Getting Married Today at ND!

In just less than eight hour from now (who's counting) I will have the great honor of walking our daughter Kara down the aisle at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart here at the University of Notre Dame.

I'll have three challenges to overcome:

1. Not crying
2. Not tripping
3. Letting her go...

I hope you'll join me in saying a prayer today for the future Conor & Kara Walsh.  We are thrilled to "officially" welcome Conor into our family -- he's a special young man from a fantastic family.  And today -- he's the luckiest man on the face of the earth.

That's a picture of the two of them yesterday inside Notre Dame Stadium...

MARRY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY!

LINK:  WEDDING STORY

Photo of Under Armour Shoes for ND Coaches

These are the custom "running shoes" that Under Armour has created for the Notre Dame coaching staff.

WOW!

The "Rumored" Shamrock Series Helmet & Uni

There was a post at the blog UNI-WATCH the other day from an individual who said he was at an Under Armour "photo shoot" for Notre Dame that had this year's Shamrock Series helmet and full uniform being worn by a model.

Now the poster said -- "we were not allowed to take pictures..." -- but, he went on to describe what the 2014 Notre Dame Shamrock Series helmet and uniform would look like.

So, a Notre Dame fan took the description and created the images above -- can't beat the Notre Dame fan base can you!  Please know I don't have a clue as to what this year's Shamrock Series helmet and uniform looks like -- but, like many of you -- I can't wait to see it!

Notre Dame Women's Hoops -- Under Armour

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish will practice in style with the new look practice gear that Under Armour is providing Notre Dame...

I like it!

New York Times Fashion Story on Skylar

The just named WNBA All-Star starter and former Notre Dame All-American is in the news again today...

Special thanks to Maureen Staub '78 (a double-Domer) for alerting me to this story.

LINK:  FASHIONISTA

Photo of Ricky Watters in ND Ceramics Class

He's got a Super Bowl Ring and Five Pro Bowls to his credit -- yet he's back "home" at Notre Dame to get that degree!

NBC's New Notre Dame Sideline Reporter

NBC announced yesterday that Kathryn Tappen will be Alex Flanagan's replacement as the sideline reporter for Notre Dame Football this season.

Tappen will also be working NBC's NHL Live and Football Night in America...

Tappen, a former All-American track runner at Rutgers University, is married to former NHL hockey player Jay Leach. 

You'll find a link to Kathryn's interview of Will Ferrell below...

Welcome Kathryn!

LINK:  FERRELL INTERVIEW

LINK:  NBC ANNOUNCEMENT

Latest Video From Inside Notre Dame Stadium

As you will see -- the sub-surface for the Field Turf installation at Notre Dame Stadium looks to be complete -- now it's time to start laying down the field...

LINK:  FIELD TURF TIME LAPSE

Notre Dame Football Tickets: On Sale Thursday

If you're still looking to go to a Notre Dame Football game this season -- tomorrow's your chance!

Beginning at 6 PM ET -- Thursday, July 10th -- single game tickets go on sale at UND.COM only!

Beginning at 8:30 AM ET -- Friday, July 11th -- you can buy them by calling the Notre Dame Ticket Office (574-631-7356) -- or, by visiting the Ticket Office in person.

Here are the games that still have tickets available for sale:

• Rice
• Northwestern
• Louisville
• Purdue  (Lucas Oil Stadium -- Indianapolis)
• Stanford

LINK:  BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE HERE!

Will Jimmy Clausen Stick With the Bears?

Former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen is one of three QB's on the Chicago Bears' roster -- looking to earn the "back-up" role to Jay Cutler this fall.  Here's the latest from Chicago on the QB battle:

LINK:  CLAUSEN IN A BATTLE

Domer Turner a Finalist For Gatorade Award

Incoming Notre Dame student-athlete Brianna Turner (she's already enrolled in the Summer Semester at ND) is a finalist for the Gatorade Athlete of the Year which will be announced July 15th in Los Angeles at the ESPYS.

Brianna is the #1 ranked incoming women's college basketball player, the MVP of the most recent McDonald's All American Game and the reigning Gatorade Women's High School Basketball Player of the Year.

Here's the story:

LINK:  BRIANNA

Trade Keeps Samardzija from All-Star Game!

It was just announced that Jeff Samardzija was selected to play for the National League in the upcoming All-Star game.  However, his trade from the Chicago Cubs to the Oakland A's will keep him out of the game...

I'm sure Cubs' fans are happy about this.

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA -- A TRADED ALL-STAR

Hey A's Fans It's: S-A-M-A-R-D-Z-I-J-A !!!

Got to love this sign hanging from the upper deck at Oakland's Coliseum today for Jeff Samardzija's first start for the A's...

The big trade looks pretty good right now!

Jeff pitched 7 innings giving up 1 run, 4 hits while striking out 5 in the A's 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays -- winning his American League debut.

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA WINS A'S DEBUT

A New Look for Jeff Samardzija in Oakland

His hair and mustache would have fit in nicely with the Oakland A's of yesteryear -- Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley, Coco Crisp, etc.

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has found a new home with the Oakland Athletics -- after the big July 4th trade which sent him to the west coast from the Chicago Cubs.

Here's a photo of Jeff in the Oakland A's dugout last night -- along with photos of former A's; Crisp, Eckersley and Fingers.

Samardzija gets the start today for the A's in their game against the Toronto Blue Jays -- first pitch at 4:05 PM ET -- I'll have the results when the game is over.

LINK:  STARTING TODAY

Under Armour Displays at ND's Bookstore

I've been shopping at the Notre Dame Hammes Bookstore for as long as I can remember -- yet, I saw something I've never seen before in a display on this campus...

GOLD MANNEQUINS

Leave it to Under Armour to think of this -- brilliant!

I Forgot the Plays Everett Golson Makes...

What a difference a QB who can run and throw in Brian Kelly's offense makes...

Prediction:  This will be the most dynamic offense at Notre Dame in the last 20 years!

Can't wait to see #5 back taking snaps for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish!

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

Notre Dame's Everett Golson At Elite 11 Camp

Notre Dame QB Everett Golson is out in Oregon this week to serve as a counselor for the Elite 11 QB camp. 

Here's a photo of Everett along with QB guru coach George Whitfield, Connor Cook (Michigan State QB) and David Webb (Texas Tech QB).

OT: A "Gray" Colored Football Field for EMU

Don't adjust your television...

LINK:  EASTERN MICHIGAN'S NEW FIELD

Carlos Calabrese Awaits Call From NFL Teams

Former Notre Dame linebacker Carlos Calabrese is back home in New Jersey -- working out and awaiting a phone call from a NFL team.  Calabrese had a rookie tryout with the Cleveland Browns but they chose not to offer him a contract.

Here's the story:

LINK:  CALABRESE

Dan Fox Turning Heads in NY Giants Camp

Found this article this morning -- I sure hope this young man makes the New York "Football" Giants team!

LINK:  FOX

Missed This: Cardinals' Troy Niklas Injured

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Troy Niklas broke his right hand at practice (photo above) a couple of weeks ago...

LINK:  BROKEN HAND

Domer Besler -- Soccer's Hottest Commodity

Former Notre Dame All-American Matt Besler '09 is now the target of soccer clubs all over the world.  The defenseman played brilliantly for the US National Team at the 2014 World Cup and teams have taken notice.

Here's the story:

LINK:  BESLER

Samardzija Traded to First Place Athletics!

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has apparently been traded this evening from the Chicago Cubs to the first place Oakland Athletics.

LINK:  SHARK TRADED