Jaylon Smith: On Top of 30 Rockefeller Center

Thought you'd enjoy this photo of Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith. 

That's the Empire State Building in the near background and the new One World Trade Center in the far background.

Notre Dame Rings NYSE Opening Bell Today!

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and his three team captains; Zach Martin, T.J. Jones and Bennett Jackson rang the OPENING BELL at the New York Stock Exchange at 9:30 AM ET.  WATCH THE REPLAY RIGHT HERE!  Here's a photo of Coach Kelly with Rutgers Coach Flood at the NYSE, a photo of the three Irish captains and a photo of the ND contingent with Jack Swarbrick.

LINK:  OFFICIAL REPLAY FROM NYSE 

LINK:  BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO

LINK:  WATCH THE REPLAY RIGHT HERE!

Pinstripe Bowl: Day Three in New York City

The Fighting Irish spent Christmas Day in the Big Apple and New Jersey at the Jets Training Center -- as they prepare for Saturday's New Era Pinstripe Bowl.  (That's the Jet's GM John Idzik and Head Coach Rex Ryan with Coach Kelly) Check it out:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

ND Club of NYC -- Pinstripe Bowl Events!!!

If you're in Manhattan on Friday and Saturday -- the folks at the Notre Dame Club of New York City have a few events planned.  Here's the drill:

FRIDAY:

• 6 PM to 10 PM:  Pep Rally at the Public House -- Venue capacity limited.  Cheerleaders and member of the Band of the Fighting Irish.  Need a ticket for this!  See link below.

SATURDAY:

• 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM:  Breakfast at the Public House.  $20 a person.  Call the Public House and reserve a table -- 212.682.3710
• 11:00 AM:  Game Watch at Public House
• 11:00 AM:  Senior Alumni Game Watch at Slattery's Midtown (36th between Madison and 5th Avenue)
• 5:30 PM:  Post Game Mass at The Church of the Holy Innocents  (128 West 37th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues)

LINK:  NOTRE DAME CLUB OF NEW YORK CITY -- WEBSITE

If Anyone Ever Asks You; Why Notre Dame...?

Just send them a link to this story...

It's why Notre Dame has a seat at the BCS table with all of the conferences -- it's also why Notre Dame Football can remain independent.

WE SELL TICKETS -- WHERE EVER WE PLAY.  

LINK:  CAN'T SELL THEIR TICKETS

For Unto Us a Child is Born -- Merry Christmas!

You will want to watch this video of the University of Notre Dame's Chorale and Chamber Orchestra and their rehearsal performance of Handel Messiah's For Unto Us a Child is Born. 

Found this on the Daily Domer -- a site produced by our team at Notre Dame.

LINK:  FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN

LINK:  DAILY DOMER

FOX SPORTS: Regis Philbin vs. Justin Tuck

You'll want to watch this "game" on Fox Sports called "Notre Dame or Hunger Games."

LINK:  MUST SEE TV

Day 2 -- Notre Dame at the Pinstripe Bowl

If you'd like to see what Notre Dame was up to today in New York City -- click on the link below.  The photo above is of the TEAM DINNER this evening in Little Italy:

LINK:  NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL

Notre Dame @ NY Giants Training Center

The first New Era Pinstripe Bowl practice for the Fighting Irish -- on the "east coast" -- is going on right now at the New York Giants Training Center. 

Notre Dame's New Era Pinstripe Bowl Schedule

Here's what the Fighting Irish will be up to this week in New York City as they prepare for Saturday's New Era Pinstripe Bowl:

TUESDAY:

• Practice at the New York Giants Training Center
• Bus Tour of New York City
• Possible sneak peak at the movie "WOLF OF WALL STREET"

WEDNESDAY:

• Practice at the New York Jets Training Facility
• Santa Claus visits the team 
• The Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall

THURSDAY:

•  Coach Kelly and Team Captains to ring the OPENING BELL at the NYSE
•  Visit to the Observation Deck of the Empire State Building
•  Practice at the New York Giants Training Center
•  Team Welcome Reception at Yankee Stadium
•  First Press Conference

FRIDAY:

• Tour of the 9/11 Memorial
• Walk-through at Yankee Stadium
• Team Photo at Yankee Stadium
• Coach Kelly Press Conference

SATURDAY:

• Beat Rutgers!

Day One in New York City for Notre Dame

Here's the first report on Notre Dame's trip to NYC to play in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl -- enjoy!

LINK:  ND ARRIVES IN NYC

Photo: ND Football Players Visit Rock Center

Fighting Irish Football players (l to r) Bennett Jackson, Lo Wood, Chase Hounshell and John Turner pose for a photo in front of the 47' tall Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center.

Muffet's Fighting Irish Ranked #2 in AP Poll!

The just released AP Poll has Notre Dame ranked #2 in women's college basketball.  The 10 - 0 Fighting Irish are ranked behind the UCONN Huskies and just ahead of the Duke Blue Devils.  Here's the top-25:

LINK:  AP RANKINGS

Domer David Bruton With President Bush #41

Former Notre Dame student-athlete and now Denver Broncos safety David Bruton -- got the opportunity to meet President Bush Sr., while in Houston playing the Texans yesterday.  David's third from the left -- oh, yeah that's Peyton Manning on the right...

4 Notre Dame Players Accept Shrine Bowl Invite

Tommy Rees, T.J. Jones, Bennett Jackson and Prince Shembo have accepted invitations to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, January 18th at Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL.  Congratulations!

LINK:  SHRINE GAME WEBSITE

Pinstripe Bowl Preview -- Inside ND Football

Here's a first look at Notre Dame's game this Saturday against Rutgers in Yankee Stadium's New Era Pinstripe Bowl.  Click on the link below:

LINK:  INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

Photo of Bowl Gear for Notre Dame Football

Here's a great shot of the Football Equipment Room at Notre Dame -- getting the team ready for the Pinstripe Bowl.

Photo of Pinstripe Bowl Patch on ND Jerseys

Here's what the New Era Pinstripe Bowl patch looks like on Notre Dame's football jerseys.

New Adidas "Travel Shoes" for Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish will be wearing a new pair of shoes from Adidas for all of their team activities this week in NYC for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.  Here's a sneak peak of the shoes that were designed by the team!

Notre Dame's Delta 747 for Pinstripe Bowl Trip

The Fighting Irish have been delayed from flying South Bend for New York City and the New Era Pinstripe Bowl -- because of weather in the NYC area.  Here's a photo of the 747 that will be taking the team and official travel party -- along with the "first class accommodations" the players are experiencing on the plane -- that's ND football captain Bennett Jackson!

Yankee Stadium is Ready for Notre Dame !!!

Here's a photo from Notre Dame's endzone at Yankee Stadium in NYC.  The weather forecast for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl -- six days out -- looks like this:

LINK:  NEW YORK CITY WEATHER

Teddy Bear Toss @ University of Notre Dame

At halftime of today's Notre Dame women's basketball game at Purcell Pavilion -- fans tossed HUNDREDS OF STUFFED TEDDY BEARS onto the floor -- TOYS FOR TOTS. 

It was quite the scene -- watch the video!

LINK:  TEDDY BEAR TOSS

Anaya Jolie Sings Silent Night at Notre Dame

11 year-old singer songwriter Anaya Jolie (from South Bend) sang Silent Night at halftime of Notre Dame Women's basketball game against Central Michigan University.  You'll enjoy listening to this talented young lady.

Notre Dame won the game 106 - 72.

LINK:  ANAYA JOLIE

A Christmas Message from Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame's president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., released a Christmas message on Friday that is truly wonderful.

Enjoy!

LINK:  MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NOTRE DAME

Digger Reads "Grinch Who Stole Christmas"

Former Notre Dame basketball coach and ESPN's Digger Phelps "starred" today in a reading of the GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.

Phelps read the book to a large group of young FIGHTING IRISH fans with their parents (see link below).  Digger never misses an opportunity to serve Notre Dame...

Digger will be inducted next month into Notre Dame's RING OF HONOR.  A honor well deserved!

When he was done reading he received a gift of a framed photo from Notre Dame's big win -- 40 years ago next month -- over UCLA (photo above).   Digger told the crowd a story about the winning shot -- see the link below:

LINK:  DIGGER TALKS WIN OVER UCLA

LINK:  DIGGER AS THE GRINCH

Notre Dame to Play at "HOME" at Fenway Park

Only Notre Dame could play a "home" football game and would even think to play a home football game in Boston against Boston College...

Think about that.

Is there any other team in America that could pull that off?

This will be the first football game at Fenway Park in 47 years.

LINK:  FENWAY TO HOST HOME GAME FOR THE IRISH

LINK:  FIRST TIME IN 47 YEARS!

LINK:  YAHOO! SPORTS

Fighting Irish on ESPN2 Tonight vs. Ohio State

The Notre Dame men's basketball team is in NYC today to play the #3 ranked Buckeyes of Ohio State in the "world's most famous arena" -- Madison Square Garden.  The game tips-off at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2.  GO IRISH!

LINK:  MIKE BREY TALKS OHIO STATE

LINK:  COLUMBUS DISPATCH

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

The Fighting Irish Will Travel in Style in NYC!

The Pinstripe Bowl has "wrapped" a few buses with a Notre Dame Football design -- in preparation for the Fighting Irish's arrival Monday evening in New York City.  I just wish they had used a photo of this year's team...

Notre Dame Released Football Schedule Today!

When you have an economic impact of $1 billion annually on the South Bend region -- and one of the big drivers of that are football weekend's -- the NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL schedule is BIG news.

Well, today at 11 AM ET -- Notre Dame's Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick held a press conference where he  released the 2014, 2015 and 2016 football schedules.

Watch the replay here...


LINK:  WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE RIGHT HERE!

LINK:  SWARBRICK INTERVIEW

Pinstripe Bowl: Kerry Cooks Talks Defense

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame held a practice today in preparation for the Pinstripe Bowl.  After practice, interim defensive coordinator Kerry Cooks met with Jack Nolan.  Enjoy!

LINK:  PRACTICE REPORT

Bob Diaco's Interview with Jim Rome Today...

Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator -- and now UCONN head football coach -- Bob Diaco, was a guest today on the Jim Rome Show.  Enjoy!

LINK:  BOB DIACO WITH ROME

ND's Stayer Center -- Made out of Gingerbread!

A few Notre Dame School of Architecture alums and their colleagues at Robert A.M. Stern Architects created this small scale replica of the STAYER CENTER FOR EXECUTIVE EDUCATION -- made out of gingerbread!  Just click on the photo to enlarge.

Robert A.M. Stern Architects is the architectural firm that designed the Stayer Center for Executive Education at the University of Notre Dame.

Every year the gang at Robert A.M. Stern Architects donates gingerbread houses to St. Luke’s hospital to help out with an organization called Children and Families First -- an organization that helps out families in financial crisis due to medical issues and other hardships.  They also get put on display in the Pediatric Unit, Oncology Ward, Radiation Unit and Physical Therapy Unit.  The people who worked on the Stayer Center gingerbread house are:

• Tony McConnell '06
• Mason Roberts '13
• Victor Marcelino
• Connie Osborn
• Stephanie Medel
• Georgina Harvey

Here's a few of the other DOMERS working at Stern:

• Melissa DelVecchio '94
• Jennifer Stone '98
• Christopher Heim '04
• Jonathan Kelly '08

Follow Skylar Diggins' Week in New York City!

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins was in New York City last week -- and, girl was she busy!  It started with her being named by the March of Dimes as Sportswoman of the Year -- and it went from there...

LINK:  SKYLAR'S NYC WEEK

LINK:  SKYLAR ON MSNBC'S "MORNING JOE"

Pinstripe Bowl: ND Football Practice Update

The Fighting Irish had another practice today in preparation for their December 28th date at Yankee Stadium to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.  Here's a link to the coverage:

LINK:  FOOTBALL PRACTICE REPORT

Teammates React to Everett Golson's Return

The folks at WNDU-TV caught up with a few Notre Dame football players to see what they thought about Everett Golson's return to school.  Here's the link below:

LINK:  PLAYER REACTION

A Hat Every New York IRISH Fan Must Have!

Look at this "Notre Dame" edition of a Yankee hat that New Era has created for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl! You can buy the hat at the link below:

LINK:  BUY THE ND HAT HERE!

Photo of the Day: Keough Interhall Champs!

Isn't this a wonderful photo!  The Keough Kangaroos beat Alumni Hall 12 - 0 in the Interhall Championship game at Notre Dame Stadium -- here's the team photo after the game.  Just click on the photo to enlarge!

National Championship Celebration Last Night!

The Fighting Irish Men's Soccer Team -- "aka" NATIONAL CHAMPIONS -- returned home to NOTRE DAME last night for a little welcome home party.

The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media was in the room -- here's the video!

LINK:  NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Notre Dame Wins NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

The Fighting Irish Men's Soccer Team made history this afternoon -- winning the first ever National Championship in men's soccer and the 30th all-time in the history of Notre Dame athletics!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

Notre Dame beat Maryland 2 - 1 after coming back from a 1 goal deficit and the loss of one of its key players Vince Cicciarelli to a shoulder injury just minutes into the game.  Ironically, his replacement Leon Brown scored Notre Dame's first goal with just five minutes left in the first half.

Then with 30 minutes to go Andrew O'Malley (from nearby West Chester, PA) "headed in" the winning goal!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Harrison Smith Back in Vikings Line-up Today!

Former Notre Dame football captain Harrison Smith is back from injury today for the Minnesota Vikings.  Here's a video clip of head coach Leslie Frazier talking about Harrison's return:

LINK:  BACK IN THE LINE-UP