Notre Dame's Morning MetLife Walk-Through

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are over at MetLife Stadium this morning -- getting a feel for the surroundings at MetLife Stadium.  Click on the video linked below:

LINK:  TEAM ARRIVAL AT METLIFE

LINK:  MORNING WALK-THROUGH

LINK:  VIDEO #2 FROM METLIFE

13 Super Bowl Facilities -- Notre Dame Football

There's college football and then there is Notre Dame Football...

The Fighting Irish will play tonight in MetLife Stadium -- one of 13 Super Bowl facilities to host the GOLD HELMETS of Notre Dame.

ND Live's Jac Collinsworth -- Syracuse Week

Notre Dame student Jac Collinsworth is chasing a career in the TV business.  You'll enjoy this.

Now, I have to admit I was shocked with how Frank Leahy's last name was pronounced...

LINK:  ND LIVE

Less Than 12 Hours to PRIME TIME for ND!

It's the first PRIME TIME -- national TV appearance EVER for the Syracuse Orange football program...

It's just another game under the bright lights for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Here's what the media has to say about tonight's game:

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  NEWS SENTINEL

LINK:  INDIANAPOLIS STAR

LINK:  NBC'S NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

Notre Dame's Endowment Grows 19.7% !!!

The University of Notre Dame's Investment Office produced a 19.7% gain for the Endowment over a 12 month period from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.  INCREDIBLE!

The University's Endowment as of June 30, 2014 -- $9.8 BILLION

LINK:  ENDOWMENT GROWTH

OT: The Ryder Cup's First Tee Shot -- WOW

There's nothing like the pressure of the first tee at the Ryder Cup.  Look at this photo from today's first tee at Gleneagles Resort PGA Centenary Course in Scotland -- WOW!

#20 Notre Dame Beats #2 Virginia Tech Tonight

The Fighting Irish women's soccer team traveled down to Blacksburg and beat the #2 ranked Hokies of Virginia Tech 2 - 0!!!

LINK:  BIG WIN FOR IRISH!

OT: South Bend's Mayor Returns Home Tonight

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg returned home tonight from a seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.  Here's the video proof!

That's Notre Dame professor Joe Buttigieg in the video welcoming his son home to town...

LINK:  MAYOR PETE BACK IN TOWN

Coach Brian Kelly Talks About Syracuse Today

The head coach of the Fighting Irish met with the media today for the last time leading up to Saturday night' PRIME TIME match-up with Syracuse.  Here's the story:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY

Syracuse Coach's First Time Encountering ND

Notre Dame fans will get a chuckle out of this...

Syracuse head football coach Scott Shafer recalls his time as an assistant, coaching a game at Notre Dame Stadium -- funny stuff:

LINK:  HOLTZ INTIMIDATING

Syracuse Head Coach Talks Notre Dame Today

Here's the latest from Syracuse head football coach Scott Shafer.  He met again with the media today to talk about Saturday's game against Notre Dame.

LINK:  SCOTT SHAFER

Sergio Brown Giving Back to Indianapolis

Former Fighting Irish football player Sergio Brown -- now with the Indianapolis Colts -- was hard at work today helping out those in need...

Louis Nix Placed on NFL's Injured Reserve List

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Louis Nix '14, was placed on the NFL's Injured Reserve List this morning by the Houston Texans -- effectively ending a rookie season that never started...

Nix had knee surgery during summer training camp.  Here's the story:

LINK:  NIX OUT FOR SEASON

Know Thy Opponent -- Syracuse Talks ND Game

Syracuse Head Coach Scott Shafer and Defensive Coordinator Chuck Bullough -- and a few players -- met with the media to talk about Saturday's game with our Fighting Irish....

LINK:  SYRACUSE VIDEO

Coach Brian Kelly's Tuesday Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media to talk about his Fighting Irish and Saturday's game with Syracuse at the Meadowlands.  Just click on the link below...

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

OT: Rickie Fowler's Ryder Cup USA Haircut!

It's become one of the great events in all of sport -- The Ryder Cup.

This year team USA has traveled to Scotland to take on Europe in golf's biennial grudge match.

To spice things up -- American Rickie Fowler cut his famous locks...

LINK:  FOWLER'S HAIR CUT

LINK:  GOLF MAGAZINE STORY

LINK:  STORY

A "Must Read" Notre Dame Magazine Story!

Folks, this is quite a story...

LINK:  KICKER'S POST GAME VISIT TO GROTTO

Michigan Pulls Coca-Cola Free Ticket Promo

 

The story broke earlier today that you could buy two bottles of Coca-Cola  and receive TWO free tickets to the Minnesota vs. Michigan football game this Saturday in Ann Arbor...

Two Michigan football tickets typically cost $150 and Coca-Cola will give them to you FREE for a $3 purchase -- quite a deal!

Well, in the last few minutes -- the University of Michigan's Athletic Department released the statement above...

LINK:  M-LIVE STORY

LINK:  NBC STORY

Trick Shot Monday from Coach Kelly's Balcony

The most difficult Trick Shot Monday in the history of Notre Dame Football -- took place earlier today...

LINK:  TRICK SHOT MONDAY

Knute Rockne's South Bend Home for Sale

Knute Rockne's home in South Bend is going up for sale -- with an asking price of $500,000.  The home, built in 1929, was the site of Rockne's wake after his death from a plane crash in 1931.

Here's the details:

LINK:  HOME FOR SALE

New Wall Art for Notre Dame Women's Hoops!

Visitors to the Women's Basketball office at the University of Notre Dame are now greeted by this in the lobby.

Got to love it -- where Champions come to play!

Notre Dame Now #8 in Football Power Rankings

ESPN's College Football Power Rankings have the Notre Dame Fighting Irish up to #8 this week -- click on the link below:

LINK:  FOOTBALL POWER RANKINGS

Notre Dame Moves Up to #8 in Coaches Poll

Well, in just a little more than two weeks time -- our Fighting Irish have moved up from #16 in the college football rankings to #8...

LINK:  LATEST RANKING

OT: FSU Head Coach's Prepared Statement

After #1 Florida State's thrilling OT win last night over Clemson -- head coach Jimbo Fisher read a prepared statement.  He strayed a little from the script when he made this declaration at the 1:14 mark of the press conference:

"When your players misstep, you balance education, which we do a lot more than anybody in America, as much as anybody in America..."

Now I must admit, I don't know what "balance education" means -- but, I trust Coach Fisher wasn't referring to the graduation rate of his football players at Florida State University -- this is from the NCAA and a recent University of Pennsylvania study:

• Florida State -- all football players:  55% graduation rate
• Florida State -- black male football players:  37% graduation rate

LINK:  COACH FISHER PRESSER

LINK:  STORY ON BLACK ATHLETES' GRADUATION RATES

PHOTO: The End of Michigan's Game vs. Utah

A long thunderstorm delay combined with a lackluster performance by the Wolverines -- led Michigan fans to head home by the "tens of thousands" with almost 8 minutes left in the game...

Domer Dad Has Sixth Straight Multi-Hit Game!

Torii Hunter Sr., Detroit Tiger outfielder and father of Notre Dame student-athlete Torri Jr., had his sixth straight game where he had two or more hits!!!  The first time in his career!

Torri's first hit was a home run -- his 17th of the season -- as the Tigers beat Kansas City 3 - 2 to take a 2 1/2 game lead with 8 games left in the season.  Detroit's "magic number" is now 6 games!

LINK:  DOMER DAD'S HOMER!

OT: The Best QB You've Never Heard About?

Since the Fighting Irish aren't playing today -- I'm driving up to Big Rapids, MI to see "my" Ferris State Bulldogs take on "Brian Kelly's" Grand Valley State Lakers tonight in a battle for the "Anchor-Bone" Trophy.

The Bulldogs -- ranked #16 in the country, NCAA Division II -- are led by a 6'-4" 241 lb. "bulldozer" of a QB named Jason Vander Laan.  The junior is a favorite to win Division II's "Heisman Trophy" -- the HARLAN HILL TROPHY -- coming off a sophomore season where he had these crazy stats:

• 1,607 yards rushing -- ALL-TIME RECORD FOR A QB IN DIV. II
• 1,493 yards passing
• 29 TDs -- 13 passing / 16 rushing

You're going to want to watch his highlight reel!

LINK:  JASON VANDER LAAN -- HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  STORY

Justin & Lauran Tuck -- Their R.U.S.H. Initiative

Former Notre Dame defensive end Justin Tuck and his wife Lauran have a charity by the name of R.U.S.H. which stands for:  Read, Understand, Succeed and Hope for Literacy.  Here's what they were up to this week in Oakland...

LINK:  THE TUCK'S

Jerome Bettis Making A Difference in Pittsburgh

Former Notre Dame running back Jerome Bettis continues to do his adopted home of Pittsburgh -- right.  Here's what he's up to now...

That's Jerome above giving Ed Stack (Chairman of Dick's Sporting Goods) his Jerome Bettis Humanitarian Award.

LINK:  JEROME BETTIS

Domer Jake Golic Talks ND Reunion This Week

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Jake Golic was asked about this Saturday's game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Miami Redhawks -- a game featuring many former players and coaches with ties to the Fighting Irish...

LINK:  JAKE GOLIC

Unique Insurance Plan for College Playoff Fans

I received an email from former Notre Dame quarterback Steve Beurlein the other day -- alerting me to a new company called TickAssure! that he's associated with...

Here's how it works -- you can buy a TickAssure! Ticket Protection Plan for your favorite team (THE FIGHTING IRISH).  Then, when Notre Dame advances to the college football playoff semifinals and championship game, purchase your game tickets from a National Association of Ticket Broker-member.

TickAssure! will then refund you the difference of the cost of the tickets you purchased and the face value of those tickets --- up to $2,000 a ticket for the National Championship game or $750 a ticket for the Semi-Final game.

As of 7:45 PM ET this evening - here was the cost of a TickAssure policy for Notre Dame tickets:

• $122.27 for the SEMI-FINAL GAME
• $160.43 for the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

PLEASE NOTE -- TICKASSURE! IS NOT ASSOCIATED, NOR IS IT ENDORSED -- BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

LINK:  TICKASSURE!

Brady Quinn's Broadcasting Debut for Fox

Former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn made his broadcasting debut this past Saturday night in Texas...

Quinn did the "analysis" work alongside Tim Brando in Fox's college football telecast of TCU'S 30 - 7 win over Minnesota.

Here's the story:

LINK:  QUINN IN BROADCAST BOOTH

Zack Martin '13 Earning Praise from Cowboys!

Former Notre Dame offensive tackle Zack Martin is turning heads with the Dallas Cowboys -- the right guard is earning high praise from teammates and coaches alike.  Click on the links below:

LINK:  MARTIN IS BETTER...

LINK:  MEDIA INTERVIEW

The Minnesota Vikings' "Emerging Star"

A nice story about former Notre Dame Football Captain Harrison Smith who's becoming quite a player for the Minnesota Vikings.

"One of the best in the game..."

I missed reporting on his 81 yard interception TD return -- see the video link below -- analysis provided for former Notre Dame linebacker Pete Berchich:

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH

LINK:  INTERCEPTION RETURN FOR TD

NFL Domers Bruton & Watt Visit Schools Today

A couple of former Fighting Irish student-athletes were visiting schools today (on their day off) representing their NFL teams -- and always Notre Dame.  The Denver Broncos David Bruton visited Aurora West College Prep Academy and the Charger's Chris Watt visited the King-Chavez Academy of Excellence in San Diego.

Not surprised these NFL teams select Domers for gigs like this!

Just click on the links below to learn more about Bruton's and Watt's respective visits to these two schools:

LINK:  DAVID BRUTON'S SCHOOL VISIT

LINK:  CHRIS WATT'S SCHOOL VISIT

Alabama Fan Scarborough Praises Notre Dame

The crew at NBC's The Mornin' Joe spent a great deal of time today talking about how the NFL has handled the Ray Rice matter...

Joe Scarborough -- host of the show and admitted diehard Alabama fan -- threw a huge compliment this morning to the University of Notre Dame during the discussion.

Click on the link below and fast forward the video to around the 8:45 mark...

LINK:  BAMA FAN -- SHOWS ND SOME RESPECT

Domer Hannah Storm Reacts to NFL / Ray Rice

Notre Dame alumna Hannah Storm '83, spoke out on the air this week about the NFL and their handling of the Ray Rice situation...

MUST SEE!

LINK:  HANNAH STORM

Dan Fox Put on New York Giants Active Roster!

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Dan Fox was placed on the New York Giants 53 man roster today!!!  This is great news for the 'un-drafted' free agent!

Very happy for Dan!

LINK:  FOX

Must Read: Story on Notre Dame's Coach Alford

Tony Alford is about as genuine as they come...

I just ran across this wonderful story on the UND.COM site about Coach Alford -- it's a must read!

LINK:  ALL FOR FAMILY

Irish Connection: Overcoming Adversity Part I

The first two games for the Fighting Irish this season offered zero adversity for our football team...

That changed in the 2nd quarter of Saturday night's game with Purdue.  An ejection, multiple injuries and two TD's for the Boilermakers put the IRISH behind on the scoreboard for the first time this season.

Here's an "insider's look...

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

Is a NFL Gig in the Future for this Domer?

Condoleezza Rice's '75, name is being thrown around as a possible candidate to come in to replace embattled NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

See the story:

LINK:  COMMISSIONER CONDI?

Notre Dame Ranked #10 in Ranking of Colleges

A story ran in USA Today last week (a ND GO IRISH BLOG regular in Utica, NY by the name of Peter Karl '75 -- President of the Notre Dame Club of Mohawk Valley -- reminded me that I missed this!) that ranked the University of Notre Dame as the 10th best college in America!

Peter, thanks for keeping me on my toes!

Here's the story:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME #10

Comparing Notre Dame's 2014 Season vs. 2012

FIRST QUARTER OF SEASON -- REPORT CARD:  I thought I'd take a look at how the 3 - 0 Fighting Irish of 2014 -- compared to the 3 - 0 Notre Dame team in 2012 -- enjoy!

Report Card Highlights:

• The 2014 offense has scored 19 MORE POINTS over the first three games
• The 2012 defense game up ONE LESS point over the first three games
• The 2014 team is beating teams by 5 MORE POINTS per game
• Each team averaged 100 MORE YARDS in offense than the opposition
• The 2014 team has had FEWER TURNOVERS and FORCED MORE TURNOVERS

2012 FIRST THREE GAMES:

• Notre Dame 50 -- Navy 10
• Notre Dame 20 -- Purdue 17
• Notre Dame 20 -- #10 Michigan State 3

-Total Points on offense:  90
-Total Points allowed on defense:  30
-Average margin of victory:  20 points per game
-Offensive Turnovers: 2
-Defensive Forced Turnovers: 7
-Total Yards Per Game:  388.7
-Total Yards Allowed Per Game:  288.7


2014 FIRST THREE GAMES: 

• Notre Dame:  48 -- Rice 17
• Notre Dame:  31 -- Michigan 0
• Notre Dame;  30 -- Purdue 14

-Total Points on offense:  109
-Total Points allowed on defense:  31
-Average margin of victory:  25.3 points per game
-Offensive Turnovers:  1
-Defensive Forced Turnovers:  9
-Total Yards Per Game:  418
-Total Allowed Yards Per Game: 318.3

49ers Domer Reunion -- Montana & Watters

The San Francisco 49ers are playing a Sunday Night NFL game tonight vs. the Chicago Bears -- and a couple of former Fighting Irish stars who've won a few Super Bowl rings in the Bay area were seen here on the sidelines...

Meet Chris Watt -- San Diego Chargers Feature

What's this "Hillary Duff" secret crush stuff...???

LINK:  CHRIS WATT

Just Passed 900,000 UNIQUE FOLLOWERS!!!

At 4:56 PM ET a Notre Dame fan from Kingston, MA became unique follower number 900,000 at the ND GO IRISH BLOG!

When I launched this blog in January of 2010 -- I never dreamed this big...  Thanks for making the ND GO IRISH BLOG one of your daily sources for positive Notre Dame news.

As has become the custom at the ND GO IRISH BLOG when we hit major milestones -- we compare the unique follower base to the populations of the largest cities in the USA.

If the ND GO IRISH BLOG was a city -- it would be the 11th largest city in America!

• #8:  San Diego, CA -- 1,355,896
• #9:  Dallas, TX -- 1,257,676
• #10:  San Jose, CA -- 998,537
• #11:  ND GO IRISH BLOG -- 900,000
• #12:  Austin, TX -- 885,400

Coach Kelly's Purdue Postgame Media Session

Here's the replay of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly's postgame press conference after the Fighting Irish's 30 - 14 win over Purdue.

Please note - the audio does not work until the ONE MINUTE MARK...

LINK:  COACH KELLY