All IRISH EYES are now on the NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP -- where the IRISH will be a #1 seed. The only unknown is will Notre Dame be ranked #2, #3 or #4 overall in the tournament. We'll find out Sunday.
LINK: POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
They Are & Will Be Champions -- NEXT!
All IRISH EYES are now on the NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP -- where the IRISH will be a #1 seed. The only unknown is will Notre Dame be ranked #2, #3 or #4 overall in the tournament. We'll find out Sunday.
LINK: POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Former Irish Football Star's New Coaching Gig
The former ND and NFL linebacker has been coaching football at the professional level (NFL Europe) and the high school level (Florida and Louisiana) since his playing days ended.
Maybe this will open up some "recruiting lanes" for the Fightin' Irish in Louisiana!
LINK: NEW HEAD COACH
Cooley Named Big East's Most Improved Player
LINK: COOLEY NAMED MOST IMPROVED
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Game ESPN Wanted: ND vs. UCONN III
Well, did we really have to play these games in Hartford these past few days?
Two of the top women's basketball teams in the country (NOTRE DAME vs. UCONN) will square off tomorrow night for the third time this season -- in what I'm going to call the "we don't want Baylor in the NCAA Semi-Finals" game.
The winner of tomorrow night's game is ensured at least a #2 or #3 overall seeding placement in the upcoming NCAA Women's Basketball Championship -- which means you won't see Baylor until the NCAA Championship game. Lose this game and you're probably going to be sitting in the #4 overall position -- which means you'll get Baylor in the Semi-Finals.
The IRISH have never won the Big East Tournament -- UCONN always does... Notre Dame has won the last three contests with UCONN -- can they make it four tomorrow night?
It's going to be a big-time game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM ET on ESPN!
LINK: IRISH ROLL OVER WVU
Do You Think Samardzija Made a Good Choice?
Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija chose baseball over football a few years ago. Well, today -- Samardzija signed a one-year contract with the Cubs for $2,640,000 - GUARANTEED money.
He's on the back end of a five-year $10.25 million deal he signed with the Cubs after graduating from ND. Samardzija is coming off a career best season where he went 8 - 4 with a 2.97 ERA as a reliever.
LINK: SIGNS TODAY WITH CUBS
LINK: FIGHTING FOR ROTATION SPOT
Photo of the Day: Notre Dame in NYC!
The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame men's basketball team just arrived in NYC tonight for Thursday's BIG EAST TOURNAMENT game -- this photo was just "tweeted" by the @und_video_crew
Championship BouND! IRISH beat WVU by 28!
Here's a link to the highlights from tonight's big win!
LINK: ND DOMINATES WVU
Lunardi Now Has ND a #6 Seed in NCAA
ESPN's chief "bracketologist" -- Joe Lunardi, has Mike Brey's Fighting Irish now a #6 seed -- heading into this week's Big East Tournament. If you'd like to see what Region and who he has Notre Dame playing in the first round -- click on the link below:
LINK: NCAA LATEST PREDICTIONS
Muffet's IRISH ON ESPNU TONIGHT at 6 PM ET!
Anyway, it's REVENGE NIGHT (tonight) for Muffet's IRISH as they take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. Irish fans will recall that the Mountaineers came into Purcell Pavillion last month and beat Notre Dame.
#25 West Virginia has a big, talented team -- it's going to be quite a game.
The winner will take on the winner of the St. John's vs. UCONN game (that follows) for the Big East Championship tomorrow night.
GOOD LUCK IRISH!
LINK: PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER WIN OVER DEPAUL
LINK: GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Sunday, March 4, 2012
30 Hours in the Life of ND's Purcell Pavillion
LINK: PURCELL PAVILLION - 30 HOURS
Happy Birthday -- KNUTE ROCKNE!
Happy Birthday to Knute Rockne -- born on this date March 4, 1888...
Coach Rockne would have been 124 years-old today!
Ironically, the man who put Notre Dame Football into the national conversation -- was born just 102 days after the University of Notre Dame played their first ever football game against the University of Michigan on November 23, 1887.
Who could have ever imagined a birth on this date in Voss, Norway -- 124 years ago and 3,857 miles away from the campus of the University of Notre Dame -- would have such an impact on the world of sport.
The University of Notre Dame will celebrate its 125th season of Notre Dame Football this fall.
LINK: REMEMBERING KNUTE ROCKNE
LINK: TODAY IN NOTRE DAME HISTORY
What Were You Doing at the Age of 28?
Fr. Edward Frederick Sorin C.S.C., was only 28 years old when he and six Holy Cross brothers traveled thousands of miles from France to the wilderness of Northern Indiana and founded the University of Notre Dame du Lac.
Think about that...
LINK: FR. SORIN & HIS NOTRE DAME
ND's Sidney D'Mello -- Improving Learning
The University of Notre Dame's Sidney D'Mello (pictured) an Associate Professor of Psychology in the College of Arts and Letters and a couple of colleagues at M.I.T and the University of Memphis -- have created an 'emotion-sensing' computer software program that reacts to the cognitive and emotional states of students while studying.
It's called AutoTutor -- and this software has been tested on over 1,000 students who have seen an approximate ONE LETTER GRADE IMPROVEMENT!
Boy, could I have used this in college!!!
Here's a link to the story.
LINK: FIGHTING FOR LEARNING!
ND Women's Basketball @ Big East Tournament
The gang at UND.COM spent yesterday following Muffet's #3 ranked Fighting Irish around as they prepare for their 2nd Round Big East Women's Championship game -- today at 2:00 PM ET against DePaul -- on ESPNU. You'll see the Irish at breakfast, study hall, practice, film meeting, etc., -- ENJOY!
LINK: A DAY WITH THE IRISH!
LINK: DEPAUL PREVIEW
LINK: CURRENT RANKINGS
LINK: BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL -- OFFICIAL SITE
ND Football Walk On -- Wins Bengal Bouts!
LINK: BENGAL BOUTS
LINK: THE OBSERVER'S COVERAGE
Irish Eliminate the Buckeyes, On to Round 2!
Notre Dame hockey took out Ohio State last night -- with a 4 - 2 victory -- to move on to the 2nd round of the CCHA Playoffs. The Irish will play at either Michigan or Ferris State depending on the outcome of tonight's game between Bowling Green and Northern Michigan. Here are the scenarios:
- Northern Michigan wins -- Notre Dame travels to Big Rapids next weekend to take on Ferris State
- Bowling Green wins -- Notre Dame travels to Ann Arbor next weekend to take on Michigan
LINK: IRISH ELIMINATE BUCKEYES
LINK: SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Tim Brown -- Tells His Story...
Folks, Tim Brown is the epitome of a "NOTRE DAME MAN."
Tim was recently a featured speaker at a gathering of almost 2,000 men at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX. The former Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame -- shared a story about a moment in his life, that changed him forever. I believe you'll enjoy this:
LINK: TIM BROWN -- A NOTRE DAME MAN
Watch the Begal Bouts Finals LIVE @ 7 PM ET
Fight fans -- you're in for a treat. The folks at UND.COM have decided to broadcast TONIGHT'S BENGAL BOUTS FINALS -- LIVE! The action begins at 7 PM ET from the University of Notre Dame's Purcell Pavillion.
LINK: LIVE BROADCAST OF FINALS!
The Band CHICAGO Dedicates Tour to Paqui!
LINK: CHICAGO & PAQUI
Skylar Diggins: BIG EAST'S TOP PLAYER!
She got what she deserved...
Notre Dame's All-American LEADER -- Skylar Diggins -- was named the Big East Player of the Year yesterday in a ceremony in Hartford, CT. Diggins is the third Irish hoops star to win this award: Ruth Riley (2001) and Jacqueline Batteast (2005) are the other two. Here's a link to the press conference along with a BIG EAST TV interview and the South Bend Tribune story:
LINK: BIG EAST ANNOUNCEMENT -- PRESS CONFERENCE
LINK: SKYLAR DIGGINS BIG EAST TV INTERVIEW
LINK: SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE
First Pre-Season Poll: Irish Ranked #18
Athlon Sports routinely publishes the first pre-season college football poll and they didn't disappoint this year. Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish are ranked #18 in their poll -- that's the good news.
The not so good news. Here's how many opponents the IRISH will face this season in Athlon's Top-25:
- University of Southern California -- Ranked #2
- University of Oklahoma -- Ranked #5
- University of Michigan -- Ranked #7
- Michigan State University -- Ranked #14
LINK: IRISH RANKED #18
Irish Blank Buckeyes! -- CCHA Playoffs
Surprisingly, this was Notre Dame's first win ever against Ohio State in post season play -- the Irish were 0 - 4 prior to last night's victory.
Notre Dame goalie Steve Summerhays posted his second straight shutout and team captain Billy Mayday scored both goals as the Irish will attempt to eliminate the Buckeyes tonight. Here are links to UND.COM's coverage and the media's reaction:
LINK: IRISH WIN!
LINK: SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE
LINK: COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Adrian Dantley's Night "Back Home" @ ND!
Irish basketball great, Adrian Dantley -- was back on the University of Notre Dame campus last night to be honored with enshrinement in the "RING OF HONOR." The good folks at UND.COM covered the ceremony and Dantley's trip to the Irish locker room after Notre Dame's 75 - 69 win over Providence. You'll enjoy this:
LINK: ADRIAN'S NIGHT
LINK: ADRIAN DANTLEY VIDEO
Friday, March 2, 2012
Notre Dame Dean Heading to Yale University
Greg Sterling, the dean of the Graduate School at the University of Notre Dame was announced yesterday as the next dean of Yale University's Divinity School -- effective August 1st.
Sterling, who's also a Professor of Theology at ND, has authored three books and is in the process of finishing three more -- I wonder what he does in his spare time!
Here's a link to the story:
LINK: STERLING TO HEAD YALE SCHOOL
Notre Dame's Only HOF'er in Hoops!
He's the only former Notre Dame player to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
This is going to be a great night for Notre Dame basketball. Congratulations Adrian!
LINK: ADRIAN DANTLEY -- HOF VIDEO
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Bengal Bouts: Finals Saturday Night @ ND!
Twenty-four fighters (Notre Dame students) will battle, in twelve weight classes Saturday night at Purcell Pavillion, for the honor of calling themselves a BENGAL BOUTS CHAMPION. The good folks at UND.COM produced a feature today on Saturday night's championship! Here's the link:
LINK: BENGAL BOUTS -- CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
ND vs. Navy (IRELAND) Tickets On Sale NOW!
Tickets to the University of Notre Dame's football game in Ireland, against the Naval Academy on September 1st, went on sale today. Tickets are limited to 10 per person. Here's the link:
LINK: BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Notre Dame Early Enrollee Tee Shepard!
You might need a FACEBOOK account to watch this video. University of Notre Dame early enrollee -- TEE SHEPARD video taped himself in the GUG locker room doing his step drills. Thought you'd enjoy!
LINK: KEEP AN EYE ON THE FEET!
Notre Dame: Saving Africa's Elephants!
University of Notre Dame researchers have been studying the behavior of male and female elephants in the wild in Kenya. Research that hopefully will lead to saving a population that has dwindled from 700,000 in 1990 to 360,000 today. Here's the story.
LINK: SAVING ELEPHANTS
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Pawn Stars Places Value on Rockne Signature
A letter signed by legendary Notre Dame head football coach Knute Rockne was brought to the TV show Pawn Stars. The letter's date was March 13, 1931 -- eighteen days before he died. You'll enjoy the contents of the letter and the negotiation!
LINK: ROCKNE LETTER "NEGOTIATED" ON PAWN STARS
RJ Blanton: NFL Scouting Combine Diary
Former Notre Dame defensive back R.J. Blanton -- was asked by the folks at the Charlotte Observer to write a "diary" of his experiences at the NFL Scouting Combine.
It says a lot when a major newspaper in the middle of ACC / SEC country reaches out to a Notre Dame student-athlete for this assignment...
And, at the same time -- ol' R.J. turned in the THIRD FASTEST 20-yard shuttle drill amongst the top defensive backs in the country today!
Enjoy!
LINK: R.J. BLANTON DIARY -- DAY THREE
LINK: R.J. BLANTON DIARY -- DAY TWO
LINK: R.J. BLANTON DIARY -- DAY ONE
LINK: R.J. BLANTON -- COMBINE ANALYSIS
Harrison Smith: Good Day @ Scouting Combine
Here's what I've found for ND fans about Harrison's day with the NFL:
LINK: NFL NETWORK STORY (SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM)
LINK: HARRISON SMITH ANALYSIS
LINK: NFL BLOG
Bengal Bouts: Semi-Finals Tonight @ ND!
Knute Rockne started boxing at Notre Dame back in the 20's -- however, the Bengal Bouts got their 'official' start in 1931 on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. This 82 year-old tradition (which is uniquely Notre Dame) raises money for the Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh.
Tonight -- at the north dome of the Joyce Athletic Center -- members of the Notre Dame Boxing Club will square off in Semi-Final action for the right to compete for a Bengal Bouts Championship this Saturday night in the Purcell Pavillion.
If you haven't been -- it's something you must see!
The action begins tonight at 6 PM ET. Saturday's Finals begin at 7 PM ET. Buy your tickets now!!!
LINK: BENGAL BOUTS HISTORY
Monday, February 27, 2012
IMPRESSIVE -- Irish Beat UCONN for TITLE!
The win - clinches sole possession of the BIG EAST regular season title for Notre Dame -- for the first time in school history!
That's THREE WINS in a row for the Fightin' Irish over UCONN.
CONGRATULATIONS!
LINK: GAME HIGHLIGHTS
LINK: ESPN RECAP
LINK: SKYLAR DIGGINS' INTERVIEW BEFORE GAME
Sunday Was a HUGE Day for Michael Floyd!
Folks, Michael Floyd's performance yesterday at the NFL SCOUTING COMBINE -- may prove to be a life-changer for this young man from the University of Notre Dame. Just as Coach Kelly and the University's decision to give him a "mulligan" was, this past season, after his DUI arrest.
Some draft experts think Michael may have worked his way up to a TOP TEN pick in May's 2012 NFL DRAFT. That would be worth $ MILLIONS to Michael -- with the new NFL Rookie Wage Scale in play.
The NFL Rookie Wage Scale -- which was passed last July, has capped the amount a team can pay a rookie over the first four years of their contract. Here's how the wage scale works:
- Top Ten Draft Picks: Will be paid the AVERAGE of the top ten "highest paid" players at their position.
- Picks 11 - 32: Will be paid the AVERAGE of the third to twenty-fifth "highest paid" players at their position.
Here's a link to a number of videos produced by the NFL Network yesterday of Michael's day in Indianapolis -- along with links to the media's reaction. I'm very happy for this Notre Dame Man and his MOM!
LINK: MICHAEL FLOYD -- NFL VIDEOS
LINK: SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
LINK: ESPN BLOG
It's Notre Dame Basketball Night on ESPN!
Looks like the programming folks in Bristol, CT have got their IRISH up!
Tonight, Notre Dame basketball fans will be treated to a "doubleheader" beginning at 7 PM ET, when Mike Brey's #20 Fightin' Irish will take on #11 Georgetown, on the road on ESPN. Notre Dame needs to win this game to remain in sole possession of third place in the Big East.
LINK: ND vs. GEORGETOWN GAME PREVIEW
Then at 9 PM ET, Muffet McGraw's #3 Fightin' Irish will take on #2 UCONN (also on the road) -- this game will air on ESPN2. With a win tonight -- Notre Dame will win their first "outright" Big East Women's Basketball Championship. Big game for the Irish!
You can't beat this for a night of television for NOTRE DAME FANS!
Then, if you're still awake around 11 PM -- you can switch over to FOX to see the finish to the DAYTONA 500 -- if the rain stops in Florida.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Big Changes Ahead For the BCS & Bowl Games
LINK: FEWER BOWLS & A PLAYOFF
Gunner Kiel -- Twitter Pic...
Notre Dame QB, Gunner Kiel "tweeted" this photo today of his locker name plate in the Guglielmino Athletics Complex. He'll be wearing uniform #1 when the Irish run into Notre Dame Stadium -- 55 DAYS FROM TODAY -- on April 21 for the Blue Gold Game.
Dave Duerson's Family Sues NFL for His Death
The family of former Notre Dame All-American Dave Duerson filed suit this past week against the National Football League claiming the NFL did not do enough to prevent or treat concussions that severely damaged their Dad's brain.
This is a sad story.
LINK: DUERSON FAMILY FILES LAWSUIT
Photo of the Day: Justin Tuck @ Daytona 500
Two-time Super Bowl Champion and former Notre Dame All-American, Justin Tuck '04 -- is seen here in a photo he "tweeted" this morning from Pit Lane at the Daytona 500. Justin is standing next to his teammate Osi Umenyiora.
Floyd Runs 4.42 at NFL Scouting Combine!
Notre Dame's Michael Floyd put on a show this morning running a 4.42 forty-yard dash in Indianapolis at the NFL's Scouting Combine. Here's a link to video of Michael's forty along with a link to his results and a Sporting News story where they're talking about Floyd possibly become a top ten pick now!
LINK: MICHAEL FLOYD -- SCOUTING COMBINE FORTY
LINK: TRACK MICHAEL'S RESULTS AT THE COMBINE
LINK: SPORTING NEWS STORY
ND a #4 Seed -- NCAA BRACKETOLOGY
ESPN's NCAA Basketball Tournament selection "guru" has Mike Brey's Notre Dame Fightin' Irish a #4 seed playing Northwestern or Texas in the First Round of next month's MARCH MADNESS.
If you'd like to see where he has the IRISH playing -- click on the link below.
LINK: ND A NUMBER FOUR SEED
You Have to Feel Good About Chris Salvi...
Chris Salvi WAS a "walk on" football player at the University of Notre Dame the past four seasons. He paid more than $200,000 for the honor to wear the GOLD HELMET.
Well, it was announced this week that Chris has earned a FULL SCHOLARSHIP ($55,000) for a year of GRAD SCHOOL and a fifth year of competition with the Fightin' Irish.
CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS!
Here's the story:
LINK: CHRIS SALVI -- SCHOLARSHIP
Underwater Seismic Guns in the Great Lakes!
Chadderton and crew will be using "seismic guns" to clear rusty crayfish and round gobies (photo above) from spawning reefs in the Grand Traverse Bay where they eat fish eggs. These seismic guns are a little 'over my head' -- so, you'll want to read the South Bend Tribune story.
LINK: SEISMIC GUNS IN THE GREAT LAKES
West Virginia Prof Wins Notre Dame Prize!
The University of Notre Dame's 2012 Sullivan Prize was awarded yesterday to Mark Brazaitis, director of the Creative Writing Program at West Virginia University -- for his collection of stories called "The Incurables."
Brazaitis wins some cash -- but more importantly his stories will be published by the University of Notre Dame Press.
LINK: WVU PROFESSOR WINS ND AWARD
Saturday, February 25, 2012
NBA Slam Dunk Contest: Orlando Wooridge!
Unfortunately for Orlando, he competed that year against Dr. J and Dominique Wilkins -- two of the all-time great dunkers.
Here's what the SLAM DUNK contest looked like 28 years ago -- no props, just dunks...
LINK: ORLANDO WOOLRIDGE
Dever Finishes Fourth in Three-Cone Drill
The University of Notre Dame's Taylor Dever is one of six DOMERS down in Indianapolis this weekend performing in front of all 32 NFL Teams at their annual SCOUTING COMBINE. Showing off his athletic ability -- Taylor finished fourth in the three-cone drill. Here's Taylor's results in the other tests:
- 40 yard dash: 5.49 seconds
- Bench Press: 18 reps
- Vertical: 28 inches
- 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.9 seconds
LINK: TOP OL PERFORMERS
LINK: TAYLOR DEVER -- SATURDAY RESULTS
Champions -- Notre Dame Women's Basketball
The Bulls made it a game -- but, the #3 ranked IRISH were too much in the end -- winning 80 - 68 to clinch at least a share of the Big East Conference Championship (the second in school history).
CONGRATULATIONS!
LINK: GAME HIGHLIGHTS
LINK: POST GAME PRESSER
Senior Day! -- IRISH Women's Basketball
Muffet's four person senior class (Photo L to R: Devereaux Peters, Fraderica Miller, Natalie Novosel and Brittany Mallory) are playing their last "regular season" game at Purcell Pavillion today. Irish fans can watch this game and the ceremony that follows -- LIVE on the web. Game starts at 2 PM ET!
LINK: SENIORS' LAST REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME
IRISH -- the Rodney Dangerfield of Basketball
What's it going to take for the media to give our FIGHTING IRISH the respect they have earned?
- Only one team in America has FIVE WINS over top-20 ranked teams (at the time they played): #20 Notre Dame
- #17 Louisville, who Notre Dame beat at Louisville -- and is in seventh place in the Big East (ND is in third) is ranked AHEAD of #20 Notre Dame
- #10 Marquette, who Notre Dame beat -- and like Notre Dame has three losses in the Big East -- is ranked ahead of #20 Notre Dame
- #9 Georgetown, who is in fourth place in the Big East -- is ranked AHEAD of the third place team in the Big East #20 Notre Dame
- #11 Michigan, #13 Baylor and #15 Florida State -- all THIRD PLACE teams (like Notre Dame) in their respective conferences are all ranked AHEAD of #20 Notre Dame. Yet, Notre Dame plays in what is widely regarded as the BEST CONFERENCE in basketball...
Media bias (?) you be the judge. Just keep WINNING -- the media will have no choice but to give the IRISH the respect they deserve.
LINK: AP TOP 20 POLL
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