God, Country, Notre Dame -- Happy Birthday!

Today marks the 237th birthday of the United States of America -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY U.S.A.!

To celebrate -- I'm bringing back one of my all-time favorite songs to the ND GO IRISH BLOG -- the Battle Hymn of the Republic:

LINK:  BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

Samardzija Third in National League in "K's"

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija is 3rd in the National League and 7th in Major League Baseball with 120 strikeouts in 113 innings pitched!  His 113 innings pitched is 7th most in the National League.

Jeff's 3.34 ERA is 23rd best in the National League and 35th best in Major League Baseball.

LINK:  MAJOR LEAGUE STRIKEOUT LEADERS

Domer John Sullivan -- Profiled in Grantland

The former sixth round draft pick out of Notre Dame is now considered "one of the best football players in the world..."

John Sullivan '07, has five years of NFL football under his belt with the Minnesota Vikings -- and he's now getting the recognition he's EARNED.  In this series called All-22 All-Star Team -- the writer selects the top 22 most under appreciated football players in the NFL.

Here is his story on John Sullivan:

LINK:  JOHN SULLIVAN -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

A "Green Roof" on Notre Dame's Morris Inn

The University of Notre Dame's official photographer, Matt Cashore (@mattcashore) -- just "tweeted" this photo of the "green" roof at the Morris Inn.  The Morris Inn has undergone a serious renovation since last October that is scheduled for completion by August 29th.

I had no idea this was growing on top of the Morris Inn roof!

Father Jenkins Visits Gettysburg Battlefield

150 years ago -- a Holy Cross priest by the name of Corby, stood on a rock overlooking the Gettysburg battlefield giving general absolution and blessing to Union and Confederate troops.

There were 51,112 casualties (dead, wounded and missing soldiers) -- from the three days of fighting.

Fr. William Corby, C.S.C. -- later went on to become the 3rd president of the University of Notre Dame.


LINK:  FR. JENKINS MASS AT GETTYSBURG

LINK:  FR. JENKINS' ADDRESS

An Interview With Notre Dame's Louis Nix III

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media sat down with Notre Dame defensive tackle Louis Nix to talk about a variety of subjects -- you're going to love this!

LINK:  IRISH CHOCOLATE

Ryan Harris and Alan Page -- MINN ND Club

Former Notre Dame All-American, NFL Hall of Famer and Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Alan Page '67, is seen in this photo "tweeted" by former IRISH offensive lineman and NFL veteran Ryan Harris '07.  The two IRISH stars were in attendance tonight at the Notre Dame Club of Minnesota's Page Scholarship event.

Domer Michael Garofola Got Another Rose!

Notre Dame alum Michael Garofola '02 just received ANOTHER ROSE tonight on ABC's The Bachelorette -- surviving to see another episode.  Next week's show takes place in Portugal...

LINK:  THE BACHELORETTE

OT: Freedom Isn't Free -- Coming Home!

Get the Kleenex handy...

LINK:  COMING HOME

Photo of the Day -- Notre Dame Joins ACC!

This photo was shot at NASDAQ's Times Square location this afternoon as the ACC rang the Closing Bell -- note all of the mascots from the Atlantic Coast Conference.  That's Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey standing next to the LEPRECHAUN!

"Largest TV Market in the Country" -- ACC

The Atlantic Coast Conference's news conference today from NASDAQ's Times Square location in New York City just finished.  ACC Commissioner Swofford welcomed the three new member institutions; University of Notre Dame (please note Mike Brey's ND shirt already has ACC on sleeve), University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University.  Key highlights:

• The newly constituted conference -- has the largest number of TV households of any conference in the country.
• In 2030, it's estimated that 55% of the United States' population will reside in the footprint of the Atlantic Coast Conference
• Translation -- if you want to do a TV negotiation with the ACC -- bring your wallet!

LINK:  JACK SWARBRICK TALKS ND'S MOVE TO ACC AND WHY

A Notre Dame Story: A Catholic Cop's Blog

I was just alerted to a story that appeared on a blog called ROMAN CATHOLIC COP -- about the blogger's time at the University of Notre Dame this past week.  Every year, Notre Dame hosts a conference for high school students called ND VISION CYM...

As you'll see -- this experience is for "grown-ups" to!

Thanks Jamie McAdams (Kansas City, MO) for sharing your story...


LINK:  ND VISION CYM

Life in the ACC Begins Today in New York City!

University of Notre Dame men's head basketball coach Mike Brey -- will be in Times Square this afternoon to ring the CLOSING BELL at NASDAQ -- with the Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference and coaches from other ACC schools.

The ACC Digital Network will provide LIVE COVERAGE TODAY -- here's the schedule:

• 2 PM ET:  LIVE PRESS CONFERENCE
• 3:45 PM ET:  CLOSING BELL CEREMONY BEGINS AT NASDAQ

LINK: WATCH IT ALL LIVE -- RIGHT HERE!

LINK:  MIKE BREY TALKS ACC MOVE

Notre Dame History Lesson at Cedar Point!

100 Years ago this very summer -- the forward pass was "perfected" -- on the beach at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH...

The then Notre Dame student-athletes -- Knute Rockne and Gus Dorais -- worked on implementing the forward pass that summer while working as life guards at Cedar Point.

This past Friday -- the GREAT GRANDSONS of Knute Rockne and Gus Dorais -- went back to that very beach to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of their great-grandfathers creation!

That's Michael Rockne on the left and Charles Dorais on the right -- alongside Cedar Point General Manager John Hildebrandt -- who just happens to be a Notre Dame grad.  Pretty cool scene!

P.S:  Did you notice how the jerseys read 1913...


LINK:  STORY ABOUT CEDAR POINT BEACH & FORWARD PASS

Looking For a Home to Rent for ND Football?

If you're looking for a home to rent on Notre Dame football weekends -- three ND alums seem to have cornered the market.  

Since 2006, RENT LIKE A CHAMPION has been offering up more than 150 homes to rent for Irish football fans in the South Bend community -- here's a link to their website:

LINK:  RENT LIKE A CHAMPION

"Future" Domer Petersen Drafted by Buffalo

The 2013 NHL Draft is taking place -- as I write this story -- and incoming Notre Dame student-athlete  Cal Petersen (goalie) was just taken in the fifth round by the Buffalo Sabres!  Here's the bio on Petersen:

• CALVIN PETERSEN -- TAKEN #129 OVERALL BY BUFFALO

Manti Te'o -- No Joke to San Diego Chargers

Former Notre Dame All-American Manti Te'o is adjusting quite well to life in the NFL and his teammates in San Diego have taken notice.  Color me not surprised.

LINK:  TE'O NO JOKE

Abromaitis & Cooley to Join Celtics & Grizzlies

Notre Dame basketball players Tim Abromaitis and Jack Cooley have accepted invitations to join the NBA rosters of the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies respectively -- for their annual Summer League games.

The Pro Summer League takes place in Orlando from July 7th to the 12th -- the Celtics are one of 10 NBA teams in that league. The NBA Summer League takes place in Las Vegas from July 12th to the 22nd -- the Grizzlies are one of 22 NBA teams in that league.


LINK:  ABROMAITIS -- TO PLAY FOR CELTICS

LINK:  COOLEY -- TO PLAY FOR GRIZZLIES

The BIG EAST Run Ends This Sunday for ND

The gang at Fightin' Irish Digital Media put together a retrospective of Notre Dame's time in the Big East Conference.  This relationship ends this Sunday - as Notre Dame becomes members of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday.

Notre Dame leaves with 126 Big East Conference Championships over the 18 year relationship...

LINK:  A LOOK BACK AT THE BIG EAST

Incoming ND Student Named Scholar Athlete

Caitlin Murphy '17 -- was just named one of twenty (20) scholar athletes by the Chicago Tribune this past weekend.  Murphy, who will be enrolling at the University of Notre Dame in August -- earned a 4.49 GPA on a 4.0 scale at Mount Carmel High School -- while excelling on the school's cross country and soccer teams.

Caitlin, who finished 7th in her class of 342, plans to enroll in Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business.

Congratulations Caitlin!

LINK:  MURPHY -- CHICAGO TRIBUNE SCHOLAR ATHLETE!

Michigan to Charge BIG TIME for ND Tickets

Kind of interesting that the Notre Dame game is priced more expensive than the Ohio State game -- in the University of Michigan's plan to unveil "dynamic" ticket pricing for home football games.

Can't think the Big Ten Commissioner likes to see this!

Just goes to show you the power of the Notre Dame brand -- and why Athletic Director's want the IRISH on their football schedule...
 

LINK:  MICHIGAN'S DYNAMIC TICKET PRICING

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" -- DOMER

Notre Dame student-athlete Devin Butler has taken care of his "older" brother for the past five years -- ever since he was shot five times and left paralyzed...

It's a story that I'm glad USA Today has shared with the world.

LINK:  TAKING CARE OF FAMILY

The Highest Ranking African American in NFL!

Is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame!

Kevin Warren '90, an alum of Notre Dame's Law School, is Vice President of Legal Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer of the Minnesota Vikings.  He is the highest ranking African American on the business side for a team in the National Football League!   Kevin has worked fifteen years in the NFL -- the last nine with the Vikings.

Maybe this is why the Vikings have FIVE DOMERS on their roster right now;  John Sullivan, Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph, John Carlson and RJ Blanton...

Warren is busy these days building one of the NEXT BIG THINGS in the National Football League -- must be fun!

Here's a story that ran in The Sports Business Journal last year on Kevin -- along with a link to his bio on the Minnesota Vikings site.  Congratulations Kevin!

LINK:  SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL

LINK:  KEVIN WARREN'S BIO

Domer Named After Stanley Cup -- Has Two!

Stanley Bowman '95, was named after the STANLEY CUP -- by his dad, hockey legend, Scotty Bowman.

Earlier this week, Stan's Chicago Blachkawks won their second Stanley Cup in the past four years.  The Notre Dame alum is getting plenty of credit for his team's success -- and rightly so.

Here's some of the stories on Stan's work these past couple of days:

LINK:  USA TODAY

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO

LINK:  CANADIAN PRESS

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

NBA Draft Tonight -- Cooley in Round #2?

Former Notre Dame basketball player Jack Cooley will learn this evening if his route to the NBA will come via the NBA DRAFT or FREE AGENCY.  A few of the "experts" see Cooley as a potential late second round pick. 

Only 60 players will be drafted tonight -- the fun begins at 7 PM ET on ESPN. 

Here's the analysis I could find on Cooley's draft status:


LINK:  JACK COOLEY -- LATE SECOND ROUND

LINK:  PRE-DRAFT WORKOUT VIDEO WITH UTAH JAZZ

LINK:  DRAFT EXPRESS -- COOLEY RANKED #80

LINK:  NBA DRAFT.NET

LINK:  NBA DRAFT ANALYSIS

Photos of Notre Dame Rookies at NFL HOF

 

 Tyler Eifert - Bengals

 

Jamoris Slaughter (2nd from right) - Browns

 

Manti Te'o - Chargers

Three former members of the Fightin' Irish football team were in Canton, OH today visiting the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- as part of a four-day NFL Orientation Camp for rookies:

• TYLER EIFERT -- Cincinnati Bengals
• MANTI TE'O -- San Diego Chargers
• JAMORIS SLAUGHTER -- Cleveland Brown

Look Who Was at Notre Dame's Practice Gym

None other than one of the 50 GREATEST NBA PLAYERS OF ALL-TIME -- who just happens to be the father of Notre Dame student-athlete Corey Robinson (football player)...

David Robinson is seen in this photo (taken last night) working with one of the players on the IRISH (looks like it might be Zach Auguste).

Pretty cool experience for the Fightin' Irish hoops team!  The photo was "tweeted" by @NDMBB.

USC Announces Extension with Notre Dame

Well, you can count on a football game through the year 2023 between USC and Notre Dame -- as announced today by the Trojans.  This continues a football series that began in 1926.

Notre Dame leads the series 44 - 35 - 5.

Glad to see this.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. U.S.C.

OT: Wimbledon Says "NO" to NIKE'S Sole

Roger Federer was told by Wimbledon officials yesterday that his orange bottomed shoes would no longer be allowed on their courts...  Yes, this is true!

LINK:  NIKE'S SOLE -- NOT AT WIMBLEDON

Four Domers Win Gold at Pan Am Games!

The University of Notre Dame's fencing team is annually one of the top collegiate programs in the country -- and its student-athletes continually shine in competitions against the best in the world.

This week's PAN AM GAMES in Cartenga, Columbia saw four athletes with ties to Notre Dame win GOLD MEDALS!  See the story below.  (The photo above is of Lee Kiefer, Notre Dame Sophomore -- who won four individual GOLD MEDALS -- on the victory stand!)

LINK:  GOLDEN DOMERS

Huddle Qualifies for World Championships!

A 10-time All-American at the University of Notre Dame -- Molly Huddle '07, -- finished second at the U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Championships Sunday in the 5,000 Meters to earn her a spot on TEAM USA at the World Championships this August in Moscow, Russia.

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Mary Saxer '09 -- a two-time All-American pole vaulter -- finished a disappointing 4th for the second straight year at the U.S. Championships.  Only the top three go to the World Championships...


LINK:  HUDDLE QUALIFIES FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Vegas: College Football Win Totals for 2013

The first "over and under" win totals were released by a Sports Book for 19 college football teams -- and our Fightin' Irish have a number of teams on the upcoming 2013 schedule with BIG PROJECTED WIN TOTALS:

• Arizona State:  9.5 wins
• Michigan:  9.5 wins
• USC:  10.5 wins
• Oklahoma:  9.5 wins

To see where they project Notre Dame -- click on the link below:


LINK:  WIN TOTALS PROJECTIONS

Domer Named to Senior White House Post

Katie Beirne '98, was just named Deputy Director of Communications for the White House.  Here's a story in Vogue (April, 2012) on Katie along with a story about her new digs in the West Wing. 

Congratulations Katie!

LINK:  VOGUE PROFILE

LINK:  APPOINTMENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE

70 Years of Priesthood for ND's "Father Ted"

Seventy years ago yesterday (June 24, 1943) the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., celebrated his ordination into the priesthood.  During that time he has celebrated mass 25,550 times.  You'll enjoy this ND.EDU story on Father Ted's 70th anniversary:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S FATHER TED

Digger Phelps' Battle with Bladder Cancer

Looks like Digger is winning this game!  Here's the South Bend Tribune story:

LINK:  DIGGER'S BATTLE

The Domer Got A Rose -- Bachelorette 2013

Michael Garofola's run on ABC's The Bachelorette continues for another week.  Garofola '02, was on a "three person" date in Germany -- where one would remain in the competition and one would not...

Michael got that rose.

LINK:  THE BACHELORETTE

GQ Magazine: Run By Two DOMERS!

I learned something today -- the venerable men's fashion magazine GQ -- is led by two Notre Dame alums; editor-in-chief Jim Nelson '85, and deputy editor Michael Hainey '86.  That's the two of them in the photo (Nelson on left, Hainey on the right) at a release party for Hainey's book -- see second linked story below.

Here's a story that ran last year in Notre Dame Magazine on the two alums:

LINK:  GQ MAGAZINE'S TOP DOMERS

LINK:  MICHAEL HAINEY'S BOOK

LINK:  BUY HAINEY'S BOOK HERE

OT: Shark Week TV Spot -- A MUST SEE!

This TV spot promoting SHARK WEEK on the Discovery Channel is a classic...

LINK:  A BAD WEEK TO BE A SEAL

Hannah & Friends -- Celebrates 10 Years!

The head football coach of the Kansas Jayhawks, Charlie Weis '78 -- was in Kansas City this past week with a number of his former Notre Dame players to raise money for his Hannah & Friends charity. 

You'll want to read this story.

LINK:  HANNAH & FRIENDS

Zeke Motta -- Carving Out a Spot in Atlanta

Former Notre Dame safety, Zeke Motta -- is the feature of a story yesterday from USA Today's Dale Zanine...

Looks like Zeke is holding his own with the Atlanta Falcons!

LINK:  MOTTA AND THE FALCONS

Only Three Weeks to "Summer in the City"

The Notre Dame Alumni Association will be hosting their "second annual" SUMMER IN THE CITY the weekend of July 12 - 14 in the city of Chicago.  Those who attended last year -- HAD A BLAST!

This is something all Notre Dame alumni, parents and friends should attend!

Here's the schedule:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S SUMMER IN THE CITY

Notre Dame's Louis Nix Celebration Dance!

One of the Miami Heat's biggest fans (literally) wears a GOLD HELMET and now the #1...

Louis Nix, as only he can, broke out a victory dance the other night to celebrate the Miami Heat's NBA Championship.  Once again -- an Irish Chocolate classic:

LINK:  LOUIS NIX VICTORY DANCE

Coach Kelly "Cookin" at Meijer's Yesterday!

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was at Meijer's in Mishawaka (Grape Road) last night to talk about nutrition -- and he brought the team's Nutritionist with him -- watch the video below:

LINK:  COACH KELLY COOKIN'

"The Picture of Purpose" -- 49 Years Ago...

On June 21, 1964 -- the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, CSC, drove to Chicago's Soldier Field -- from his office at the University of Notre Dame -- to take part in a civil rights rally that day.  This famous photo was taken of "Father Ted" and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Soon You May Smell Like Notre Dame ???

Word on the street (no mention of this in South Bend, yet) is that Notre Dame will be partnering with The Cloudbreak Group to create a PERFUME (no cologne?) for the Fightin' Irish!

The New York Yankees launched a branded Perfume this past year (see photo above) -- with the same company -- STAY TUNED!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME PERFUME

Coach Elliott -- The Fighting Irish Spirit!

University of Notre Dame football coach Bob Elliott has had quite a battle on his hands -- off the football field -- these past few years.  The South Bend Tribune's Al Lesar caught up with Coach Elliott -- you'll enjoy this story!

LINK:  COACH ELLIOTT

Former ND Football Player's Apparel Line

Chris Yura, a former Notre Dame student-athlete (fullback on the football team) -- has designed a "sustainable" line of clothing licensed by the University of Notre Dame.  Yura's company name is SUSTAIN U -- here's a link to their website:

LINK:  OFFICIAL WEBSITE 

LINK:  CHRIS' BIO