Notre Dame #1 AGAIN -- All-Time Winning %

Notre Dame's victory over BYU and Michigan's loss to Iowa -- put the Fighting Irish back on top of the All-Time Winning % in college football!  Here's the latest rankings:

LINK:  ALL TIME WINNING %

Notre Dame Seniors With Media After BYU

A number of Notre Dame football players met with the media after last night's game -- including a handful of seniors.  Enjoy!

LINK:  LAST HOME GAME

Seniors' Victory Lap of Notre Dame Stadium

The WNDU-TV cameras caught the "VICTORY LAP" of Notre Dame Stadium by the senior football players.  You'll also get a glimpse of the Utopo and Schwenke families' HAKA DANCE in the snow...

LINK:  THE VICTORY LAP

The Mornin' After Notre Dame's Win Over BYU

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the members of the media had to say about Notre Dame's 23 - 13 win over BYU.  Just click on the links below:

LINK:  SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

LINK:  SALT LAKE TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  SALT LAKE TRIBUNE #3

LINK:  DESERET NEWS

LINK:  DESERET NEWS #2

LINK:  PROVO DAILY HERALD

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- ERIC HANSEN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE -- AL LESAR

LINK:  NBC SPORTS -- KEITH ARNOLD

LINK:  ESPN'S NOTRE DAME BLOG

Good Night Notre Dame Stadium: Back in 2014!

Here's a picture of an empty snow covered Notre Dame Stadium after the Irish's 23 - 13 win over BYU tonight.

Coach Kelly Post Game Presser After BYU Win!

Here's Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly's post game press conference after the Irish's 23 - 13 win over BYU:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

ND's "Perfectly Balanced" WIN over BYU Today!

The Fighting Irish, an underdog to BYU, beat the Cougars 23 - 13 today in a game where Notre Dame rushed for 235 yards and passed for 235 yards...

Here's the quick media reaction and some on field interviews with the players:

LINK:  BENNET JACKSON INTERVIEW

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  PROVO DAILY HERALD

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

NBC Full Game Replay: ND 23 -- BYU 13

Watch the replay of today's game between BYU and Notre Dame.  Just click on the link below:

LINK:  FULL GAME REPLAY

Weather @ Notre Dame -- Four Hours to Kick-off

It is blowin' and snowin' here at Notre Dame today.  I sure hope we can dress warm enough to handle these conditions!

GAME DAY: The Media's Take on ND vs. BYU

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to check in on what the media pundits are saying about Notre Dame's game today against BYU.  Here's what I've found:

LINK:  PROVO DAILY HERALD

LINK:  DESERET NEWS

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  ESPN NOTRE DAME BLOG

LINK:  NBC'S INSIDE THE IRISH

The Snow is Falling at Notre Dame Stadium!

I remember a famous game a number of years ago (1992) in the snow at Notre Dame Stadium -- and an IRISH VICTORY over Penn State on Senior Day...  See video below.

Here we are 21 years later -- and Notre Dame is going to be playing in the snow on Senior Day as an underdog against BYU.  The weather teams are forecasting 2" to 4" of lake effect snow -- with winds gusting to 30 mph -- over the next 24 hours.

The snow flurries started a little over an hour ago here at Notre Dame -- and the wind is blowing big time.

Better bundle up!

LINK:  SNOW BOWL 1992

BYU Seeking A Season Defining Moment @ ND

Navy's head football coach said it best -- "for every Notre Dame opponent, it's their Super Bowl."

Folks, the BYU Cougars are playing in their Super Bowl tomorrow afternoon -- here's hoping our Fighting Irish match and exceed their intensity in this game!

Here's a Salt Lake Tribune story:


LINK:  DEFINING MOMENT

Watch the Notre Dame Pep Rally -- REPLAY!

The last Notre Dame Pep Rally of the 2013 football season was held tonight at the Compton Family Ice Arena.  Watch the last time for ND seniors -- click on the link below:

LINK:  WATCH THE PEP RALLY -- REPLAY

Coach Kelly Meets With Media After Practice

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media this evening after practice -- as they Irish wrap up their work for Saturday's game with BYU.   He also broke the news about Louis Nix's knee surgery today...

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESS CONFERENCE

Let's Send These Seniors Out With a BIG WIN!

What though the odds be great or small...

I will have a lump in my throat around 3:15 PM ET this Saturday when more than 30 seniors run out of the Notre Dame Stadium tunnel onto the greatest platform in college sport -- to hug their parents. 

Here's a little "primer" for this game:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S SENIOR CLASS

Story Just Broke: Louis Nix Out for Season

Just when you thought the injury bug might have finally stopped biting the INJURED IRISH -- we get this news...

Notre Dame senior Louis Nix, III will undergo knee surgery for a meniscus tear -- as was just reported by WNDU-TV's Jeff Jeffers -- ending his senior season with the IRISH.

When it rains, it pours.

Louis met with the media this evening -- hours after his surgery -- click on the link below:

LINK:  LOUIS NIX

The "Inventor" of the Forward Pass -- NFL Films

Notre Dame fans will want to watch this -- a look at the history of the forward pass that leads to South Bend, IN...  MUST SEE!

LINK:  WHO INVENTED THE FORWARD PASS?

Former ND Student-Athlete Chris Badger Talks

The Salt Lake Tribune ran this video interview of former Notre Dame student-athlete Chris Badger who transferred to BYU this past summer.  The NCAA waived the year to sit out -- so Badger is playing for the Cougars and will this Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.

The young man handled this discussion quite well.

LINK:  CHRIS BADGER

Senior Week: Coach Kelly Talks to Media

It's a football season Tuesday at Notre Dame -- which means head football coach Brian Kelly meets with the media.  Click on the link below to watch the replay:

LINK:  COACH KELLY MEDIA CONFERENCE

Keough Hall Earns Trip to Notre Dame Stadium!

Can you imagine playing an intramural football game with the winner earning the opportunity to play the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME in the HOUSE THAT ROCK BUILT? 

Well, in 37 degree weather tonight "under the lights" at Notre Dame's Labar Practice Complex -- the Keough Hall Kangaroos beat Keenan Hall 16 - 13 to earn the honor of running out of the tunnel into fabled Notre Dame Stadium!

The Kangaroos were down 7 - 0 early in the 1st quarter when Keenan connected on a beautiful 45 yard TD catch and run -- see video below.  It was a big-time play -- Coach Kelly may want to take a look at #3 in the Keenan uniform!

In the second quarter, Keough got on the board on a five-yard TD run (see video below).  Instead of kicking an extra point, they went for two, missing a pass play -- but, they benefited from an interference call -- getting the ball at the one-yard line for a second shot.  This time the Kangaroos ran it in to take the lead (see video below) 8 - 7 -- a lead they would never relinquish!

In the third quarter, a pass interception by the Kangaroos set up a short field and Keough drove the ball down and ran it in for what turned out to be the WINNING SCORE.  The two point conversion was unsuccessful -- putting Keough up 14 - 7.

With seven minutes left in the game, Keough was on the verge of putting the game away, when they fumbled the ball away to Keenan on the one-yard line.  On the very next play -- Keough blitzed and tackled the Keenan ball carrier in the endzone for a safety!  This made the score 16 - 7 with six minutes to go.

Keenan Hall, never giving up - drove the length of the field and scored a TD on a two-yard pass with 30 seconds left to make the score 16 - 13.   The extra point was blocked by Keough -- leaving the Kangaroos a couple of snaps to run the clock out.

I have to admit I was rooting for the men in Keough Hall tonight.  Their starting 'nose tackle' Patrick Couch (Trinity High School - South Bend) is the son of one of my colleagues at Notre Dame.  Patrick had a huge QB sack in the first half!  I couldn't be happier for Patrick and the Couch family tonight.

Keough Hall will play the winner of the other "semi-final" game tonight between Alumni Hall and Carroll Hall -- this Sunday in Notre Dame Stadium.  Should be fun!

LINK:  KEOUGH'S PRE-GAME PEP TALK

LINK:  KEENAN'S 45 YARD TD

LINK:  KEOUGH'S FIRST TD

LINK:  KEOUGH'S TWO-POINT CONVERSION

No Respect: BYU Favored Over Notre Dame

The bookies in Vegas have picked Brigham Young as the favorites - AT NOTRE DAME STADIUM -- this Saturday.   The Cougars are 7 - 3 on the season, just like our Fighting Irish.

I guess this must be the reason BYU is favored to beat Notre Dame:

• Brigham Young's wins over current Top 25 teams:  ZERO
• Notre Dame's wins over current Top 25 teams:  THREE

BYU's losses were to Virginia (2 - 8), Utah (4 - 6) and Wisconsin (8 - 2).  Only Wisconsin has a winning record among the three.

Notre Dame's losses were to Michigan (7 - 3), Oklahoma (8 - 2) and Pittsburgh (5 - 5).

No respect.

Buddhist Monks Creating Sand Mandala @ ND

Seven Tibetan Buddhist monks are currently at work on the campus of the University of Notre Dame creating a peace sand mandala.  If you're not aware of what a "sand madala" is -- here you go:

• The painting with colored sands is considered the most unique and exquisite of all artistic traditions of Buddhism. This Tibetan art form is called dul-tson-kuyil-khor, which means “mandala of colored powders.” The sand mandala represents many things, including the cycle of life – creation, beauty of existence and its impermanence, and finally, the return to the natural world for creation again.   

You can watch them create the PEACE SAND MANDALA -- LIVE by clicking on the link below.  It will take the MONKS FOUR DAYS to complete their work.  They will be working from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM the next four days -- check in on it live.


LINK:  CHECK IN ON THEIR PROGRESS -- RIGHT HERE

OT: Photo of NASCAR Tire Explosion Yesterday

This is an incredible photo of the TIRE being blown off the back of Paul Menard's Chevrolet at yesterday's NASCAR race at Homestead.  Click on the link below for the video of the explosion:

LINK:  NASCAR TIRE EXPLOSION

Big Time Winds Slam into South Bend Today

Here's video I took of the strong winds that slammed into South Bend this afternoon.  There are currently 36,000 homes without power in the Michiana area.

LINK:  OUTAGE MAP

No BCS Team Has Beat More Top 25 Teams!

Notre Dame has beaten three top twenty-five teams in the country -- no other college football program has beaten more top teams this season:

• Notre Dame 17 -- #13 Michigan State 13
• Notre Dame 37 -- #19 Arizona State 35
• Notre Dame 14 -- #23 USC 10

LINK:  TOP TWENTY RANKINGS

Michael Floyd's Best Game in the NFL!

Former Notre Dame All-American Michael Floyd had his best day in the NFL today -- catching six passes for 193 yards and a TD!

Here's the replay of the 91-yard TD catch!

LINK:  TD CATCH!

Notre Dame Engineering Students Helping Out

Notre Dame students in the College of Engineering spent their Saturday in a couple of parks in South Bend cleaning up debris along the river.  Here's the WNDU-TV story:

LINK:  CLEANING UP SOUTH BEND

The Pinstripe Bowl Will Be an Option for ND

With West Virginia and TCU both losing yesterday -- the BIG 12 conference, not to be confused with another big twelve conference of teams in the midwest -- will not have enough teams who will be bowl eligible...

Thus, the BIG 12's automatic spot at the PINSTRIPE BOWL on December 28th will be up for grabs.  You can bet the folks at Yankee Stadium (the site of the Pinstripe Bowl) will come looking for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame...

LINK:  PINSTRIPE BOWL TICKET INFORMATION

Our Dog Muffet's Tribute to Skylar Diggins

My wife Susan created an Adidas "headband" in honor of Skylar Diggin's RING OF HONOR induction ceremony today for our Sheltie puppy -- named Muffet McGraw...

Yeah, we're nuts...

Skylar Diggins "Home Forever" at Notre Dame

Skylar finished her talk at the RING OF HONOR ceremony today with these words -- after seeing her banner hanging from the rafters;  "I never wanted to leave this place -- and now, I never will."

Here is a video of the ceremony along with Skylar's speech.  Enjoy!

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS

LINK:  THE VIDEO FROM MY SEAT

Notre Dame Says THANK YOU to Skylar Today!

Skylar is only six months removed from wearing a cap and gown inside Notre Dame Stadium -- leaving behind a four-year career that few have matched in the history of college sports.

Today, before Notre Dame's game against Valparaiso -- Skylar Diggins will be inducted into the RING OF HONOR.

I can't wait...

LINK:  SKYLAR'S DAY

Trent Dilfer's Daughter Maddie -- Signs NLI!

The Notre Dame women's volleyball program announced the signing today of four high school volleyball stars today -- three who earned Under Armour All-American honors.  Including the daughter of former NFL Super Bowl winning QB Trent Dilfer -- Maddie Dilfer.  (photo above)

• Maddie Dilfer (Saratoga, CA) -- 5'-11"
• Sam Fry (Cincinnati, OH)  -- 6'-2"
• Sydney Kuhn (Wichita, KS) -- 6'-2"
• Maddie Plumlee (Raleigh, NC)-- 6'-1" 

LINK:  OFFICIAL RELEASE

The "American Ride" Rolls into Notre Dame!

BYUtv's Stan Ellsworth rode his Harley Davidson to the campus of the University of Notre Dame to shoot an episode of his TV show "American Ride."  Irish fans will enjoy this -- MUST SEE TV!

LINK:  STAN ELLSWORTH VISITS NOTRE DAME

$43,000 to Attend Joe Montana's QB Camp

Former Notre Dame and San Francisco QB Joe Montana has agreed to sell a personal "three-hour" QB school for six people for $43,000 -- through a company called "Ifonly."

Here's the FOX NEWS STORY:

LINK:  JOE MONTANA

First Major ACC Honor for Notre Dame Student!

Harry Shipp, a senior forward out of Lake Forest, IL was named Offensive Player of the Year today for the Atlantic Coast Conference!  Shipp has 24 points on the season -- leading the Irish in scoring and the #1 ranking in the country!

In addition, Notre Dame head soccer coach Bobby Clarke was named the ACC Coach of the Year! 

Not a bad start for the Fighting Irish in the ACC!

LINK:  SHIPP AND CLARKE AWARDS!

America's Top HS Women's Player Picks ND!

The consensus #1 player in the country -- Brianna Turner (photo above) out of Pearland, TX leads a three-person recruiting class picked #3 in the country -- that will further stock the talent shelf for the Notre Dame Women's Basketball program:

• Turner, a 6'-3" forward WHO CAN DUNK A BASKETBALL -- is a huge get for Notre Dame!  She was recruited by every program in the country.  See her highlight video below.  

• Mychal Johnson, a 5'-8" guard out of St. Joseph HS, Huntington WV -- was the first to commit to Muffet.  She's good with the ball and off the ball.  A huge get for Notre Dame!  See her highlight video below.

• Kathryn Westbeld, a 6'-2" forward out of Fairmont HS in Kettering, OH is considered the #21 ranked player in the country by MaxPreps.  Another huge get for Notre Dame! See her highlight video below.

Here is some more information:

LINK:  MUFFET TALKS RECRUITS

LINK:  OFFICIAL RELEASE

LINK:  BRIANNA TURNER HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  MYCHAL JOHNSON HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  KATHRYN WESTBELD HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame Hoops Signs Two Forwards Today

Mike Brey announced the signing of two high school basketball stars today to National Letters of Intent.  Martin Geben (photo above) a 6'-9" power forward from Lithuania (via St. Marita Goretti HS -- Hagerstown, MD) and Bonzie Colson, Jr., a 6'-6" forward out of St. Andrew's School in Barrington, RI.

Here's the media coverage:

LINK:  BREY SIGNS TWO!

LINK:  OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Old Man Winter Appears at Notre Dame Today

You've got to love the talent of Notre Dame's official photographer Matt Cashore.  Look at this picture today!

"Billboard Bibbs" Bests Coach Alford's Record

Notre Dame's running backs coach Tony Alford, who played football for Colorado State University, saw his 24 year-old single game rushing record of 310 yards broken this past Saturday!

Coach Alford -- always the class act -- picked up the phone, after receiving permission from CSU, to congratulate "Billboard" Kapri Bibbs (pictured above) who gained 312 yards in the Rams 38 - 17 win over Nevada.

LINK:  ALFORD'S RECORD GOES DOWN!

Brian Kelly's Press Conference Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media to talk about Saturday night's performance against Pittsburgh, plans for this bye week and a look ahead to BYU.  Here's a link:

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESSER

Big Win for Muffet's Lady Irish Over #18 MSU

The #6 ranked Fighting Irish didn't play their best game last night -- yet, it was good enough to beat Michigan State 81 - 62.  MSU returned their top six players from last year's NCAA Tournament team -- so it was a good early test for Notre Dame.  Here's what Muffet had to say after the game:

LINK:  MUFFET PRESSER

God, Country, Notre Dame

Happy Veterans Day to all our heroes!  Thank you so much for the sacrifices you and your families have made for all of us in America. 

Here's a video of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flying over Notre Dame Stadium at the end of the Band of the Fighting Irish playing our National Anthem.

LINK:  BLUE ANGELS' FLY-OVER

Brian Kelly's Post Game Presser After Pitt Loss

You can see it in his face and in his voice -- Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly is at a loss for how the Irish played last night:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

We Gave a Game Away Tonight in Pittsburgh

Three turnovers (one in the end zone and two in the fourth quarter), two huge penalties on third down that led to two Pitt touchdowns and the ejection of Stephon Tuitt.  Then for good measure, add in a mental lapse on a fumble that could have led to a TD for our defense...

Not a film our "Injured Irish" will want to look at on Monday.

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS / LOW-LIGHTS

Getting Heinz Field Ready for the Fighting Irish

America's #1 football road show -- the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- gets set up for tonight's prime time clash with the Pitt Panthers.  The lockerroom is ready and so are sidelines with heated benches...

Duquesne Hosts Notre Dame Football Today...

The Fighting Irish worked out today at Duquesne University as they await tonight's clash with the Pitt Panthers.  Here's a photo of the field...

Swarbrick Talks Stadium Expansion and Turf...

These are the three questions on the minds of most Notre Dame football fans -- beyond how the team's doing and what recruits are we going to sign:

• Will Notre Dame move forward with plans to expand the football stadium?
• Will Notre Dame replace the grass with field turf?
• Will we see a "jumbotron" in the stadium?

Well, the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen gets his chance to ask Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick these questions and a few more:

LINK:  SWARBRICK

This Didn't Take Long -- ND's First ACC Title!

The #1 ranked Fighting Irish men's soccer team clinched Notre Dame's first Atlantic Coast Conference Championship last night with a 2 - 0 win over Pittsburgh.  Congratulations!

LINK:  FIRST ACC TITLE!

Prime Time PRIMER: Notre Dame vs. Pitt

In about twelve hours from now, our #23 ranked Fighting Irish will play their FIFTH game in PRIME TIME this season -- no other college football team can make that claim -- as they take on the 4 - 4 ranked Pitt Panthers at Heinz Field

When was the last time a 4 - 4 team hosted a nationally televised game in PRIME TIME? 

Here's the latest buzz in the media about tonight's game:

LINK:  PITTSBURGH POST GAZETTE

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO

LINK:  NBC'S INSIDE THE IRISH

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Notre Dame Hockey Fans Celebrate Big Win!

The #3 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame knocked off previously unbeaten and #1 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers 4 - 1 last night at Compton Ice Arena.  Here's a video of the sold-out crowd of 5,022 celebrating Notre Dame's fourth goal!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS #1