Daniel Yi Wins His Fourth Heavyweight Crown !

The Bengal Bouts Heavyweight Champion is none other than Daniel Yi -- a four-time champion!  The 12th "four-time" champ in the 84 year history of the Bengal Bouts at Notre Dame!

That's Daniel Yi landing a right hook in the photo above in his 2012 Bengal Bouts championship!

The Observer (Notre Dame's student paper) published a nice story about Yi...  And, I captured some video from the fight on my iPhone -- click on the links below:

LINK:  DANIEL YI

LINK:  HEAVYWEIGHT INTRODUCTIONS & FIRST ROUND

LINK:  HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION -- ROUND TWO

LINK:  FOUR-TIME CHAMP!

ND's Bengal Bouts Today at 2 PM ET on ESPN3

The "FIGHTING IRISH" will live up to their name this afternoon in Purcell Pavilion as the Finals of the BENGAL BOUTS will begin at 2 PM ET.  If you can't make it to the University of Notre Dame campus to watch them live -- you can catch them on ESPN3.

Here's the list of the FINAL BOUTS in today's BENGAL BOUTS:

LINK:  FINAL BOUTS

Just click on the link below to watch the BENGAL BOUTS LIVE ON THE WEB:

LINK:  WATCH THE BENGAL BOUTS LIVE!

Nike Using Skylar Diggins All Over the World!

This photo was taken of poster featuring former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins in a Nike store in Tokyo, Japan.  It looks like she made a great business decision signing with Jay Z and Roc Nation.

The Ultimate "Statement" for a Notre Dame Fan!

So, you want to make a statement that you're a Notre Dame fan...

Notre Dame Recruit -- Texas State Finals MVP!

Brianna Turner (with ball in photo above) finished her high school basketball career last night -- with a "double-double" (17 points and 17 rebounds), a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, a FINALS MVP (that's Brianna holding her award in the photo above), and a win over MaxPreps #1 ranked team in women's high school basketball -- who was on a 105 game winning streak...

Turner, considered by many the #1 incoming women's college basketball recruit, will be wearing a Notre Dame jersey this fall!

Here's the media reaction this morning to Manvel's 58 to 53 win over Duncanville in the Texas 5A State Championship Final:

LINK:  HOUSTON CHRONICLE

LINK:  DALLAS MORNING NEWS

LINK:  THE CHRON

Brianna Turner Leads Manvel To First State Title

Notre Dame's top women's basketball recruit Brianna Turner (Manvel High School) just led her team tonight to their first ever STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!  Beating two time defending Texas 5A State Champion and MAXPREPS #1 ranked team in the country -- Duncanville 58 - 53!!!

In the process they broke Duncanville High School's 105 game winning streak!!!

Brianna -- who many think is the #1 incoming recruit in the country -- led her team with a "double-double" scoring 17 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.  She was also named PLAYER OF THE GAME for the State Championship Final!

CONGRATULATIONS BRIANNA!

Key game stat: four of the five Duncanville starters fouled out in this game -- I'm sure the locals will not be happy about this!

LINK:  BOX SCORE

Eleven Notre Dame Teams Ranked in Top 25 !!!

Took a look at the national rankings of all of the Notre Dame sports teams that are currently in season -- pretty impressive!

ELEVEN NOTRE DAME TEAMS ARE RANKED IN THE TOP-25!!!

• Women's Basketball:  #2 in the country
• Men's Fencing:  #3 in the country
• Women's Fencing:  #4 in the country
• Men's Tennis:  #10 in the country
• Men's Indoor Track & Field:  #10 in the country
• Men's Lacrosse:  #11 in the country
• Women's Lacrosse:  #12 in the country
• Men's Hockey:  #14 in the country
• Women's Softball:  #24 in the country
• Women's Swimming:  #24 in the country
• Women's Tennis:  #25 in the country
• Men's Swimming:  #26 in the country

FALL SPORTS -- FINAL RANKINGS

• Men's Soccer:  NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! 
• Women's Rowing:  #13 in the country
• Women's Soccer:  #14 in the country
• Men's Cross Country:  #19 in the country
• Men's Football:  #20 in the country
• Women's Cross Country:  #23 in the country

Notre Dame's Men's Lacrosse Beats #2 UNC!

Kevin Corrigan's Fighting Irish traveled to Chapel Hill today to take on the #2 ranked North Carolina Tarheels -- and #11 Notre Dame beat them 11 - 10  !!!  The Irish were down 7 - 3 at halftime but rallied for the big win in their first ever ACC game!

Here are the highlights along with a link to photos of the game:

LINK:  ND BEATS UNC!

LINK:  PHOTO GALLERY -- ND vs. UNC

ND Hockey Beats #1 Boston College in OT!!!

Jeff Jackson's 14th ranked Fighting Irish traveled to Boston to take on the #1 team in college hockey tonight -- and they beat the Eagles of Boston College in OT 2 -1 !!!

It was a huge win for Notre Dame as they make a late run at a NCAA Tournament selection. 

The win also broke BC's nineteen game unbeaten streak!  Here's a replay of the winning goal and the game highlights:

LINK:  ND OT GAME WINNER

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Incoming ND Hoops Recruit -- McDonald's AA!

It's Notre Dame Women's Basketball day at the ND GO IRISH BLOG...

The second highest rated recruit in Muffet's 2014 recruiting class is Kathryn Westbeld from Fairmont, OH.  Westbeld was recently selected to play in the McDonald's All-American game along with fellow Irish commit Brianna Turner.

Here's a local Ohio TV station's news story on Kathryn's selection:

LINK:  A MCDONALD'S ALL-AMERICAN!

Video of ND Women's Hoop Recruit's Back Flip!

Notre Dame women's basketball will welcome point guard Mychal Johnson to the Fighting Irish this August.  Johnson, in a recent ESPN interview, was filmed doing a standing BACK FLIP!  She's going to be a great addition to our women's basketball program!

LINK:  BACK FLIP

ND Football and Golf Team Visit YMCA

The folks at WNDU-TV caught up with Jaylon Smith and Greg Bryant as they joined some fellow student-athletes from the Notre Dame football and men's golf teams at the South Bend YMCA yesterday...

Here's a link to their interviews:

LINK:  SMITH AND BRYANT

Muffet's #1 Recruit Takes on Winning Streak!

Brianna Turner -- arguably the #1 women's high school basketball recruit in America -- has one more high school game tonight before she heads to the University of Notre Dame...

And, what a game it is.

Turner and her Manvel HS teammates are taking on Duncanville HS -- one of the top ranked high school girls team in the country on a 105 game winning streak -- at 8:30 PM in the Texas Class 5A State Championship game.

Duncanville has won back-to-back state championships.

The two teams played earlier this season and Manvel lost to Duncanville 56 - 50 after leading 32 - 18 at halftime.  Should be a great game on the campus of the University of Texas!

Here's the media coverage:

LINK:  A FIRST FOR MANVEL

LINK:  DUNCANVILLE GOES FOR THREE-PEAT

LINK:  PREVIOUS MEETING

LINK:  HOUSTON TV STATION

Winter Workouts -- Notre Dame Football Style!

The Fighting Irish have been training this off-season (outdoors and indoors) as they get ready for the 2014 season opener against Rice -- 182 days from today!

Watch it right here!

LINK:  WINTER CONDITIONING

Coach Kelly's Spring Practice Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media, this morning, for the first time since National Signing Day to talk about the upcoming Spring Practice schedule and some position changes...

Here's a link to the replay:

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY PRESSER

Muffet McGraw Coaches Game #1,000 Tonight!

Notre Dame's Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw coached her 1,000th game tonight as her Fighting Irish "hung a hundred" on the Tarheels from North Carolina!  Final score:  #2 Notre Dame 100 -- #15 North Carolina 75. 

This was the eighth win this season for Notre Dame against a ranked opponent!  Notre Dame is now 28 - 0 on the season and have won 51 straight regular season games!!!

Muffet's career record:  742 - 258 -- with 654 of those wins coming during her 27 seasons at Notre Dame!

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

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  ASSOCIATED PRESS

Didn't Take NFL Long to Discover Louis Nix III

Former Notre Dame nose tackle Louis Nix III has been featured a number of times the past few days in stories created by the NFL Network...

LINK:  JOB INTERVIEW

Notre Dame's Campus Crossroads Project...

Here is a Notre Dame Law School alum's perspective of the University's plans to incorporate academic and student focused space into the footprint of Notre Dame Stadium.

The University of Notre Dame's VP, Office of Public Affairs & Communications -- Paul Browne, authored this VIEWPOINT in today's Observer (Notre Dame's student run daily newspaper).  I thought you'd enjoy reading this.

LINK:  CAMPUS CROSSROADS PROJECT

Coach Brey Wins Game #300 at Notre Dame!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame beat Georgia Tech tonight by the score of 65 - 62 as the "Wrambling Wreck" missed a flurry of three pointers in the closing seconds!

The win put Coach Brey's career record at Notre Dame to 300 wins and 156 losses in his 14th season in South Bend.  Here's how Coach Brey stacks up on the all-time win list at ND:

1. Digger Phelps:  393 - 197
2. George Keogan:  327 - 97
3. Mike Brey:  300 - 156

If you missed the game -- click on the link below to the full game replay:

LINK:  GAME REPLAY

Notre Dame Players -- NFL Combine Results

The 2014 NFL Scouting Combine came to an end this afternoon in Indianapolis with the defensive backs going through their paces.  Here's a look back at the work product of the nine former Notre Dame football players at the Combine -- overall it was quite outstanding!

Just click on the player's name to see the details of their performance at the NFL SCOUTING COMBINE -- please note that Chris Watt did not run a 40 yard dash in Indy this past weekend.  However, they have a "phantom" time for him on his profile.  Just goes to prove you can't trust the internet!!!  :)

LINK:  GEORGE ATKINSON III

LINK:  ZACK MARTIN

LINK:  BENNETT JACKSON

LINK:  T.J. JONES

LINK:  TROY NIKLAS

LINK:  LOUIS NIX III

LINK:  PRINCE SHEMBO

LINK:  STEPHON TUITT

LINK:  CHRIS WATT

Replay of Nix's 40 Yard Dash -- NFL Combine

"Irish Chocolate" strutted his stuff today in front of NFL scouts in Indianapolis.  Here is the NFL Network's replay of Louis' 40 yard dash.  His official time was 5.42 seconds.

LINK:  LOUIS NIX'S 40

Louis Nix's Broad Jump Replay -- NFL Combine

Louis will never hear the end of this from his buddies at Notre Dame and I'm sure his future NFL teammates...  Click on the link below:

LINK:  REPLAY OF BROAD JUMP

Louis Nix III Meets With the NFL Media Today

Irish Chocolate met with the assembled media today at the NFL SCOUTING COMBINE.  You're going to want to watch this...

LINK:  IRISH CHOCOLATE GOES NFL

40 Yard Times: ND Players at NFL Combine

The NFL Scouting Combine rolls on this morning from Indianapolis with the offensive lineman running their 40 yard dash times.  You'll find all the 40 times for the nine former Notre Dame student-athletes updated below -- as they run them over the next few days:

• Zack Martin:  did not run
• Chris Watt:  did not run
• Troy Niklas:  did not run
• Prince Shembo:  4.71 seconds
• T.J. Jones:  4.48 seconds
• George Atkinson III:  4.48 seconds (T-6th fastest at position)
• Bennett Jackson:  4.51 seconds
• Louis Nix:  5.42 seconds
• Stephon Tuitt:  did not run

ACC Regular Season Champs -- 50 Straight!!!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame jumped off to a 20 - 2 start in front of a full-house and a national TV audience on ESPN as they cruised to a 81 - 70 win over #7 Duke.   The win clinched the ACC Championship for the regular season in Notre Dame's first season!

For those that are counting, that's 27 - 0 on the season and FIFTY STRAIGHT REGULAR SEASON WINS!

Notre Dame All-American Kayla McBride poured in a career-high 31 points to lead the IRISH!

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  GAME RECAP

Muffet's #2 IRISH vs. #7 Duke on ESPN Today!

The undefeated Fighting Irish of Notre Dame play the Duke Blue Devils today on ESPN -- 1 PM ET tip-off! 

A win today and the IRISH will have won 50 straight regular season games!

Here's the media notes:

LINK:  MEDIA NOTES

Emma Reaney Sets New American Record!

WOW!!!

Notre Dame junior Emma Reaney set a new American, NCAA and U.S. Open record time tonight in the 200 Breast of 2:04.34 at the Atlantic Coast Championships.  The previous record was set in 2012 by Breeja Larson of Texas A&M.

This is an incredible feat!!!

LINK:  ACC INTERVIEW

LINK:  REANEY FASTEST AMERICAN OF ALL-TIME!

Pope Installs Notre Dame Alum a Cardinal

Pope Francis installed nineteen Cardinals today, including University of Notre Dame alum Archbishop Kelvin Edward Felix, in a consistory ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica.  Cardinal Felix earned a masters degree in 1969 from Notre Dame.

LINK:  POPE FRANCIS APPOINTS 19

LINK:  CARDINAL FELIX

White Sox Player & Notre Dame's Grotto...

Matt Davidson who should be the Chicago White Sox's third baseman this April -- played the 2010 season for the South Bend Silverhawks.  He recently admitted when he struggled that season he made the trek to the Notre Dame campus to seek solace at the Grotto.

Here's the story:

LINK:  THE GROTTO

Seattle Seahawks GM: "Golden Tate #1 Priority"

Former Notre Dame All-American and now Super Bowl Champion Golden Tate is a free agent -- but, word on the street is he's wiling to accept less from the Seahawks to stay in Seattle...

Here's the story:

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE

Bench Press Results: ND Players NFL Combine

We will keep track of all of the Bench Press totals for the nine former Notre Dame student-athletes at the NFL Scouting Combine.  Here are the number of times they bench pressed 225 lbs:

• Stephon Tuitt:  31 reps -- 6th best among DL
• Chris Watt:  29 reps -- 11th best among OL
• Zack Martin:  29 reps -- 11th best among OL
• Troy Niklas:  27 reps -- 4th best among OL
• Prince Shembo:  26 reps -- 6th best among LB's
• George Atkinson III:  19 reps
• Louis Nix:  did not lift
• Bennett Jackson:  13 reps
• T.J. Jones: did not lift

Chris Watt's NFL Scouting Combine Presser

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Chris Watt '13 met with the media yesterday at the NFL Scouting Combine.  You'll hear him talk about a possible position switch in the NFL.

LINK:  CHRIS WATT

Troy Niklas Begins His NFL Scouting Combine

First up today for former Notre Dame student-athlete Troy Niklas at the NFL Scouting Combine was the Bench Press and he finished fourth among the Tight Ends with 27 reps of 225 lbs.  Here were some of his other measurables:

• Height:  6'-6"
• Arm Length:  34 1/8"
• Weight:  270 lbs.

LINK:  TROY NIKLAS

Zack Martin "Will Impress With Intangibles"

The NFL Scouting Combine will be dominating the ND GO IRISH BLOG for the next five days as nine former Notre Dame student-athletes will be looking to impress the NFL scouts in Indianapolis. 

Here's a story that features Notre Dame offensive tackle Zack Martin as one of "five" who will "impress with intangibles:"

LINK:  ZACK MARTIN

NFL Network Feature on "Irish Chocolate"

He's one of a kind...

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Louis Nix III had the NFL NETWORK cameras following him as he prepares for this weekend's NFL SCOUTING COMBINE.

You're going to want to watch this!

LINK:  IRISH CHOCOLATE

Update: Under Armour's Stock Performance...

When Notre Dame's announced that they had agreed to a ten-year agreement with Under Armour -- that included a stock option -- Under Armour's stock was at $81.95 a share.  30 days later the stock has increased to $107.06 a share at today's close.  A 31% increase in the value of this company!

Bottom Line:  Under Armour's market cap has gone up more than $2.3 Billion since the Notre Dame deal was announced thirty days ago!

Here was Under Armour's CEO Kevin Plank talking about their deal with Notre Dame on CNBC -- click on the link below:

LINK:  KEVIN PLANK ON CNBC

LINK:  UNDER ARMOUR MARKET-CAP

Florida Gators' Starting Safety Transfers to ND!

Head football coach Brian Kelly made it official this afternoon -- Cody Riggs will be transferring to the University of Notre Dame upon his graduation from the University of Florida.  Griggs, who has started 26 games during his time in Gainesville -- has a fifth year of eligibility that will be spent wearing a GOLD HELMET this Fall as a Notre Dame grad student!

Here are some of the stories about Rigg's transfer:

LINK:  ESPN STORY

LINK:  YAHOO! SPORTS STORY

LINK:  GATOR SPORTS

ND Men's Tennis Beats #12 Florida 4 - 0 !!!

Ryan Sachire's 16th ranked Fighting Irish are making quite an impression on the top ranked tennis programs in the country.  In the past few weeks Notre Dame has four wins over teams ranked in the Top-20! 

In less than 24 hours (this weekend) they beat the #9 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs and the 12th ranked Florida Gators at the ITA National Indoor Championships.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME BEATS FLORIDA

LINK:  MEN'S COLLEGE TENNIS RANKINGS

Skylar Diggins' SI Swimsuit Issue Photo Shoot!

Former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins can now add another line to her resume -- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model.  Diggins (in the photo above) is included in the 2014 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Here's a link to Skylar's SI photo shoot:

LINK:  SKYLAR'S PHOTO SHOOT

Former ND Staffer Resigns From Diaco's Staff

Ernest Jones, a former member of Brian Kelly's staff at Notre Dame has resigned from his coaching position at UCONN.  Here's the story:

LINK:  JONES RESIGNATION

#5 Notre Dame Routs Jacksonville 19 - 7 !!!

Notre Dame's Men's Lacrosse team hammered the Dolphins of Jacksonville University 19 - 7 tonight on the NBC Sports Network.  The fifth ranked Fighting Irish were in complete control.  Impressive win!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

First Ever ACC Road Win for ND Men's Hoops!

Mike Brey's Fighting Irish won their first ever Atlantic Coast Conference game this evening at Boston College as Notre Dame won 73 - 69 to go 15 - 12 on the season. 

Congrats!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  BOSTON HERALD

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S FIRST!

Notre Dame Lacrosse on NBCSN at 7 PM ET

Kevin Corrigan's #5 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame kick off their 2014 season on the NBC Sports Network this evening at 7 PM ET.  They are playing Jacksonville University. 

Click on the link below for media notes:

LINK:  LACROSSE BEGINS SEASON TONIGHT

Mike Brey's Irish on ESPNU at 6 PM ET Today!

The Fighting Irish are on the east coast playing the Boston College Eagles tonight at 6 PM ET on ESPNU.  Notre Dame is 13 - 12 with an OT win already over BC who is 6 - 18 on the season.

Mike Brey is looking for his first win on the road versus an ACC foe.  Here's a link to the media notes for tonight's game:

LINK:  MEDIA NOTES

Sachire's IRISH Beat #9 Mississippi State

The #16 Notre Dame's Men's Tennis team now has three wins over ranked opponents!  Tonight, the Fighting Irish beat the #9 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs 4 - 1 at the ITA National Indoor Championships!!!

This comes on the heels of their match last night against #1 Virginia -- where the Irish became the first team to score points on the Cavaliers this season -- losing 4 - 2.

The IRISH are now 8 - 2 on the season!

Opening Day: Fighting Irish Beat #24 FAU

Mik Aoki's Notre Dame baseball team played their first game of the season today in sunny Florida and the IRISH beat #24 ranked Florida Atlantic University 9 - 2!

Big win for Notre Dame!

LINK:  GAME STORY

Chris Watt and Zack Martin Posing at IMG !!!

The former "left side" of the Notre Dame offensive line has been training in Bradenton, FL the past six weeks at the IMG ACADEMY -- getting ready for next Saturday's NFL SCOUTING COMBINE in Indianapolis.

That's Zack and Chris in the photo above -- 2nd and 3rd from the left on the back row...

OT: Mother Nature's Antarctica Ice Show!

This photo wasn't taken in Lake Huron -- it was taken in Antarctica!  It just goes to prove you can't trust everything you read on FACEBOOK!  Thanks for all of the ND GO IRISH BLOG followers who set me straight!

It's still INCREDIBLE!