Thursday, April 3, 2014

NFL Films: Louis Nix III "On The Clock"


The NFL has their new media darling -- Louis "Irish Chocolate" Nix...

LINK:  ON THE CLOCK

Seven Domers Drafted in This NFL Mock Draft


Here's a computer simulation of the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft that has seven former Notre Dame student-athletes being drafted by teams.  I won't ruin the surprise:

LINK:  NFL DRAFT

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Brianna Turner Named McDonald's Game MVP!


Notre Dame women's basketball's incoming Gatorade National Player of the Year, Brianna Turner -- played tonight in the McDonald's All-American game at Chicago's United Center with the top players in the country and she walked away with the game MVP!

Brianna is the second Notre Dame hoops recruit to receive this honor -- the first, a young lady named Skylar Diggins...

Brianna had a "double-double," scored the winning bucket for the West Team with 53 seconds left and then for good measure blocked a shot late in the game to ensure the victory!

Congratulations Brianna!

LINK:  ESPN GAME STORY

Notre Dame Football Assistant Coaches Talk


The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media caught up with a number of the Notre Dame football assistant coaches today;  Tony Alford, Kerry Cooks, Matt LaFleur and Mike Elston.  Enjoy!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL COACHES

Positive Weather Forecast for Blue Gold Game!


This is the current weather forecast from ACCU-WEATHER (as of Wednesday, April 9th) of what we can expect here at Notre Dame for the BLUE GOLD GAME.

LINK:  WEATHER FORECAST

Watch Turner & Westbeld Tonight on ESPNU


The McDonald's High School All-American game will be played tonight at 7:00 PM ET on ESPNU -- and Fighting Irish fans will want to keep an eye-on future Notre Dame student-athletes; Brianna Turner (on left) and Kathryn Westbeld (on right) seen in the photo above at the All-American banquet last night.

Brianna 6'-3" -- the Gatorade National Player of the Year will be playing for the West Squad and wearing uniform #11.  Kathryn 6'-2" -- will be playing for the East Squad.

LINK:  BRIANNA TURNER

LINK:  KATHRYN WESTBELD

Notre Dame Knows Their Final Four Opponent


The team that gave Notre Dame its most difficult test of the season -- the Maryland Terrapins (pictured above) -- beat the higher seeded Louisville Cardinals (in the Cards own gym) last night to advance to Sunday's Final Four game against our Fighting Irish.

These two teams last met January 27th in College Park, MD -- with the IRISH prevailing 87 - 83.  This is one of only two times this season where an opponent kept the deficit to under 10 points against the IRISH.  Natalie Achonwa scored 7 points and grabbed 3 rebounds in that game (playing only 21 minutes of the game) -- see box score below.

Here's the challenge -- Maryland has a big, talented line-up led by a 6'-2" All-American Alyssa Thomas who put up 29 points in the first game against our Irish.  Here's their starting line-up last night against Louisville:
  • Alicia DeVaughn:  6'-4"  -- scored 16 against ND
  • Brionna Jones:  6'-3" -- didn't start against ND -- but scored 6 off bench
  • Alyssa Thomas:  6'-2" -- scored 29 against ND
  • Lexie Brown:  5'-9" -- scored 9 points against ND
  • Katie Rutan:  5'-9" -- didn't score

LINK:  ESPN PREVIEW STORY

LINK:  BOX SCORE FROM FIRST GAME:  ND vs. MARYLAND

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Under Armour's Marketing to Notre Dame Fans


Folks, Under Armour will be a much different partner for the University of Notre Dame -- in a great way.  Here's a perfect example -- here we are, three months out from the start of their partnership with ND and Under Armour is soliciting fans to sign-up to be "in the know" as to what they're planning for Notre Dame.

I love it.

If you want to sign-up -- click on the link below:

LINK:  BE IN THE KNOW

Must See: Mike Brey's "April Fool's Day" Prank


Former Notre Dame student-athlete turned broadcaster Jordan Cornette was pranked today by his former head coach Mike Brey.  This is pretty good!

LINK:  APRIL FOOL'S PRANK

Loyd & McBride -- Must Lead the Irish Now...


With the serious knee injury (a torn ACL -- just reported by Notre Dame at 2:30 PM ET) to Natalie Achonwa -- Notre Dame's "do-it-all" All-American sophomore Jewell Loyd is going to have to replicate her effort last night where she took the game into her own hands.

And, Notre Dame's other All-American Kayla McBride needs to stay on the floor...

Here is a link to ESPN's Graham Hays story about last night's effort from the IRISH:

LINK:  ESPN STORY

The Mornin' After Notre Dame's Big Win!


The Fighting Irish are FINAL FOUR bound for the fourth straight year!  They will play the winner of tonight's Maryland vs. Louisville game this Sunday in Nashville.

Now, we wait until we hear the results of what looked to be a very serious knee injury to Notre Dame senior Natalie Achonwa.  You'll see a video linked below (ESPN COVERAGE) where Natalie was interviewed after the game.

LINK:  ESPN COVERAGE

LINK:  POST GAME CELEBRATION 

LINK:  MUFFET POST GAME 

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Monday, March 31, 2014

Five Domers on MLB OPENING DAY Rosters!


Major League Baseball is officially back today -- and five former Notre Dame student-athletes are on major league rosters;  Jeff Samardzija (Cubs), David Phelps (Yankees), John Axford (Indians), Jeff Manship (Phillies) and A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks).

Samardzija made history this afternoon for the Cubs.  He pitched seven scoreless innings against the Pirates today -- yet the Cubs lost 1 - 0 in ten innings.  Samardzija is the first Chicago Cubs pitcher to throw "back to back" scoreless starts on Opening Day in 80 years!

To learn more about each of these former Irish stars -- click on their name below:

LINK:  JEFF SAMARDZIJA -- PITCHER

LINK:  DAVID PHELPS -- PITCHER

LINK:  JOHN AXFORD -- PITCHER

LINK:  JEFF MANSHIP -- PITCHER

LINK:  A.J. POLLOCK -- OUTFIELDER

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Samardzija's Opening Day Start Tomorrow!

Former Notre Dame All-American Jeff Samardzija takes the mound tomorrow for his second straight Opening Day start for the Chicago Cubs -- and ironically it happens again at PNC Park in Pittsburgh against the Pirates.

First pitch is thrown at 1:05 PM ET -- here's some stories about Jeff's start tomorrow:

LINK:  2ND STRAIGHT OPENER

LINK:  CSN CHICAGO

HBO's Real Sports: Graduating College Athletes


Bryant Gumbel's Real Sports on HBO produced a story this past week on what a number of universities have been doing to graduate their student-athletes -- namely; University of North Carolina, University of Michigan, University of Oklahoma, Baylor University, Iowa State University and the University of Memphis.

If you get the chance -- go to HBO and watch the entire show.  It's an eye-opener...  Plus, there is a second link here to an article I found in a North Carolina newspaper about this HBO story:

LINK:  TRAILER

LINK:  NEWS OBSERVER

NCAA Regionals: ND Met With the Media Today


Muffet and her Fighting Irish met with the media today to talk about tomorrow night's game against Baylor for a trip to Nashville and the FINAL FOUR.  Here's the replay:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME NCAA PRESSER

FIGHTING FOR LIFE: The Bobby Russell Story



Notre Dame fans are going to want to watch this story...

LINK:  BOBBY RUSSELL

Up Next: Odyssey and the Baylor Bears


She's only 42 points away from setting the all-time points record for a single season for women's college basketball...

Standing in Odyseey's Sims way is the defense of Jewell Loyd, Kayla McBride and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Here is what the media has to say about tomorrow night's NCAA Regional Final between Notre Dame (35 - 0) and the Baylor Bears (32 - 4).  The fun begins at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.

LINK:  ESPNW -- CHARLIE CREME

LINK:  ESPN'S LOBO & LAWSON

LINK:  ESPN'S WHITE & MOWINS

Saturday, March 29, 2014

ND's Post Game Press Conference Today

The Fighting Irish met with the media after today's 89 - 72 win over Oklahoma State.  Here is the replay of the press conference:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

Mike Brey Stars in Northwestern Mutual TV Spot

Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey is featured in a Northwestern Mutual TV commercial that's airing during the NCAA tournament.  Just click on the link below to watch:

LINK:  MIKE BREY

Elite Eight Bound -- IRISH Beat Cowgirls 89 - 72


Notre Dame, with a quick 14 - 0 run, took control of the game early and they never trailed in a seventeen point win over Oklahoma State this afternoon.  The win puts the Fighting Irish into the NCAA Regional Final on Monday night against Baylor -- the last team to beat Notre Dame at Purcell Pavilion.

Here are the highlights and a few early media reports on today's game:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS FROM ND

LINK:  ESPN RECAP

LINK:  THE OKLAHOMAN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Coach Kelly Met With Media Today at ND


Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today after Spring practice #8.  He updated the media on Jarret Grace's surgery and the status of his team...

LINK:  COACH KELLY

ND Football Spring Practice #8 Video Highlghts


Here's what Notre Dame football was up to today -- inside -- the Loftus Complex.  The gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media was in attendance -- so we have this report!

LINK:  PRACTICE VIDEO

Notre Dame Hockey on ESPNU at 9 PM ET


The NCAA Hockey Tournament begins tonight for Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish and you can watch it LIVE on ESPNU beginning at 9 PM ET.  Yesterday afternoon Notre Dame met with the media to talk about St. Cloud State -- click on the link below to watch a replay of the press conference:

LINK:  PRESSER

Notre Dame on ESPN Today at 2:35 PM ET

Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish are playing at home today in the SWEET SIXTEEN against Oklahoma State on ESPN -- the game tips off at 2:35 PM ET.  Here's what the media has to say about this afternoon's game:

LINK:  THE OKLAHOMAN

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  ESPN

Photo of Louis "Irish Chocolate" Nix on Skates!


Louis Nix III is a good sport.  Last night the former Notre Dame student-athlete participated in the Relay For Life cancer fundraising event at Compton Ice Arena.  As you'll see the 340 lb. defensive lineman painted his face, grew some colorful ears and put on some ice skates!

Friday, March 28, 2014

ESPN "Experts" Pick Winner of ND vs. OSU


Notre Dame plays Oklahoma State in a Sweet Sixteen basketball game Saturday on ESPN at Purcell Pavilion.  Four ESPN basketball pundits picked their winners of each of the games Saturday and Sunday.  Click on the link below to find out how they see the IRISH doing:

LINK:  PICKIN' THE WINNERS

Notre Dame Hockey Begins NCAA Tourney Run


Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish are in St. Paul, MN this weekend to play their first NCAA Hockey National Championship tournament game tomorrow night against St. Cloud State.  Here's a preview of tomorrow night's game:

LINK:  ND HOCKEY

Muffet's Irish Met With the Media Today


The Fighting Irish are "HOME" this weekend to play in the NCAA's SWEET SIXTEEN.  First up, a game against Oklahoma State tomorrow at 2:30 PM ET.  The media met with Notre Dame this afternoon -- here's a link to the press conference:

Photo above of the new floor installed for the NCAA Tournament.

LINK:  PLAYERS

LINK:  COACH MCGRAW

Six ND Freshmen Met With the Media Today


I challenge you to find six better interviews from any other freshman football class in America.  The Notre Dame student-athlete -- they're different.

LINK:  IMPRESSIVE

MUST SEE! -- NOTRE DAME DAY TEASER


The University of Notre Dame will be celebrating NOTRE DAME DAY this coming April 27th.  Here's a promotional video to tease you to join-in!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME DAY

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Slam Magazine Interview of Incoming Hoopster


Mychal Johnson an incoming Notre Dame hoops recruit from West Virginia was interviewed yesterday by Slam Magazine.  Johnson and her teammates just won their FOURTH STRAIGHT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP (six in a row for the school!) -- you'll enjoy this interview.

Fans of Kansas' freshman basketball sensation Andrew Wiggins might be surprised to learn that he was Mychal's date to the prom her junior year.

LINK:  SLAM MAGAZINE

Incoming Notre Dame QB Talks With Media


DeShone Kizer from Toledo Central Catholic High School has big plans for his future at Notre Dame.  Click on the story linked below:

LINK:  DESHONE KIZER

Joe Montana Seeded as #1 NFL QB of All-Time


Former Notre Dame QB Joe Montana is seeded as the "greatest NFL QB of All-Time" -- and as you'll see in the story -- arguably the greatest NFL player of all-time!  See the story and bracket linked below:

LINK:  MONTANA #1

LINK:  NFL BRACKETOLOGY

Brady Quinn Heading to the Detroit Lions?

Former Notre Dame All-American QB Brady Quinn is rumored to be a candidate to become Matthew Stafford's back-up with the Detoit Lions.

If Quinn were to head to Motown -- he would become the fourth former Notre Dame football player on the Lions' roster -- joining; Golden Tate, Theo Riddick and Joe Fauria (who played two years at ND before transferring to UCLA).

Here's the story:

LINK:  BRADY QUINN TO LIONS

Is He the Best Corner in College Football?


Notre Dame "junior to be" KeiVarae Russell has 26 career starts in his first two seasons wearing the GOLD HELMET -- the most of anyone in our football program right now...

Russell has lofty ambitions -- see this South Bend Tribune story.

LINK:  KEIVARAE RUSSELL

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Photo of Skylar Diggins in VOGUE Magazine!


Skylar Diggins, the former Notre Dame All-American, is the most photographed woman in sport right now.  Here she is featured in the current issue of Vogue.

LINK:  SKYLAR IN THE MEDIA

Video From Today's ND Spring Football Practice


The Fighting Irish were back indoors this morning for Spring Practice #6 for Notre Dame Football.  Here's the video captured by the gang at Fighting Irish Digital Media.

LINK:  PRACTICE REPORT

Video of Notre Dame Coaches -- COACHING


Notre Dame fans will enjoy the "inside" access from this video of the Notre Dame coaches "coaching-up" their players.  Enjoy!

LINK:  COACHING

Coach VanGorder Interview After Practice Today

Notre Dame's new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder was interviewed after practice today -- you'll enjoy his comments along with a peak at a new drill we haven't seen before...

LINK:  BRIAN VANGORDER

Louis Nix Showing off His "Six Pack"


I am telling you -- Louis Nix will have a TV gig before too long...

LINK:  LOUIS NIX

Labor Union for Northwestern Football Players


This afternoon, the National Labor Relations Board approved that football players at Northwestern University qualify as "employees"-- thus, they can "unionize."

I trust this also allows the IRS to come after each of these "employees" to pay income tax on the value of their "income" -- AKA scholarships.

LINK:  UNION?

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Notre Dame Football: Tune-In Tease


The NBC Sports Network will air a documentary film April 7th @ 6:30 PM ET on Notre Dame Spring Football.  You can catch a quick glimpse of the film -- right here...

LINK:  STRONG AND TRUE

Know Thy Opponent: Oklahoma State Cowgirls


Muffet's Fighting Irish play #5 seed Oklahoma State this Saturday in the "Sweet-Sixteen" at Notre Dame's Purcell Pavilion.  Here's some "fun facts" about the Cowgirls:
  • Oklahoma State has won their two games in the NCAA Tournament -- but they came into the tournament having lost seven of their last thirteen games.
  • Oklahoma State and Notre Dame have one common opponent in Michigan State.  The Cowgirls beat MSU 63 - 57 -- Notre Dame beat the Spartans 81 - 62.
  • Oklahoma State finished third in the Big 12 behind Baylor and West Virginia.
  • Oklahoma State is led by guard/forward Brittney Martin (pictured above) who scored 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in their win over Purdue and point guard Tiffany Bias who will garner some All-American mentions (Bias sprained her ankle in the game against Purdue)
  • Oklahoma State starts:  LaShawn Jones (6'-3"),  Kendra Scuttles (6'-1"),  Liz Donohoe (6'-0"), Brittney Martin (6'-0") and Tiffany Bias (5'-6")

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS OF OKLAHOMA STATE OVER PURDUE

Arizona State Coach Talks About Muffet's Irish

The Arizona State Sun Devils' head coach Charli Turner Thorne spoke with the media after her team became victim #34 for the undefeated Fighting Irish last night.  Here's what she had to say:

LINK:  AZ CENTRAL STORY

Notre Dame Roommates Battle for National Title


Can you imagine having to face your roommate for a NCAA National Championship?

It happened this past weekend when Notre Dame roommates Lee Keifer and Madison Zeiss faced each other for the NCAA Title in the Foil.  Keifer (Versailles, KY) , who won this event at as a freshman -- did it again as a sophomore, beating her close friend and junior roommate Zeiss (Los Angeles, CA).

Here's the story:

LINK:  ROOMMATES

Monday, March 24, 2014

Sweet-Sixteen Bound! ND Over Arizona State!


It wasn't easy and it wasn't particularly pretty -- but the Fighting Irish are now 34 - 0 on the season after overcoming a tough first half to pull away to beat Arizona State 84 - 67 to earn a trip back "home" to play a "Sweet-Sixteen" game at Purcell Pavilion!

Here are the game highlights:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN RECAP

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Robert Morris Hoops Coach Talks Notre Dame


Muffet's Fighting Irish won their first round NCAA Tournament game yesterday afternoon over an out matched Robert Morris team 93 - 42.  After the game -- RM's Coach Bustaglia talked about Notre Dame and his team...

LINK:  COACH INTERVIEW

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Spring Practice #5 Report From Notre Dame!


The Notre Dame football coaches clinic is going on in South Bend this weekend and those in attendance were treated to a first-hand look this morning at the Fighting Irish.  Here's the video recap of today's practice -- followed by a link to Coach Kelly's post practice media session:

Jaylon Smith #9 flashes his athletic talent in the photo above!

LINK:  PRACTICE REPORT

LINK:  COACH KELLY PRESSER