ESPN Coverage Begins at 7:30 PM ET Tonight

If you're not in Nashville watching the game in person -- you can begin your TV experience at 7:30 PM ET as ESPN tips off their pre-game coverage at that time.  The game should begin shortly after 8:30 PM ET -- also on ESPN.

Here's the latest coverage from Nashville:

LINK:  THE GAME IS WHAT MATTERS

How Notre Dame Wins the National Title Tonight

The "undefeated" meet tonight in Nashville for the National Championship.  The heavily favored 39 - 0 UCONN Huskies take on our 37 - 0 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  It's the first time in NCAA history that two undefeated teams have met for a women's basketball National Championship.  ESPN is loving this -- they are calling tonight's game "one of the most anticipated moments in women's sports history..."

The oddsmakers in Vegas have UCONN as a 7 point favorite.

Here's how we beat UCONN -- and it starts early -- before the second media timeout (eight minutes into the game);

• Kayla McBride and Jewell Loyd each hit two of the first four shots they take
• Notre Dame has five offensive rebounds leading to a minimum of 6 points -- conversely, UCONN doesn't have any "second chance points"
• One of UCONN's "big-three" of Stewart, Dolson or Mosqueda-Lewis has 2 fouls and sitting on the bench for the rest of the half.

Muffet made a major point at her press conference yesterday about the "lack of fouls called against UCONN this season."  Keep an eye out for this in the first half.  Notre Dame must get to the "bonus" free throws before UCONN.

LINK:  ESPN'S KEYS TO THE GAME

Digger Announces Retirement from ESPN

Richard "Digger" Phelps -- the winningest coach in Notre Dame basketball history -- announced his retirement from ESPN last night prior to the National Championship game.  Digger spent 20 years working for ESPN -- here's a link to his announcement and ESPN's tribute video:

LINK:  DIGGER'S GOOD-BYE

Geno Auriemma's "Shout Out" to Kayla McBride

UCONN Geno Auriemma brings up Kayla McBride in his post game press conference -- here's the link:

LINK:  AURIEMMA

Notre Dame's "Day Before the Final Dance"

The Fighting Irish awoke this morning to the task of defeating "the other" undefeated team in Tuesday's National Championship game.  This marks the third time in four years that Notre Dame is playing on the final day of the college basketball season...

THE THIRD TIME WILL BE THE CHARM!

Here's a replay of Notre Dame's media session today in Nashville -- Muffet has her game face on!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME

Maryland Coach Talks Loss to Notre Dame

Here's a link to a video from Maryland's post game press conference last night after their loss to Notre Dame in the NCAA Semi-Finals;

LINK:  MARYLAND TALKS

Fact: Best Rivalry in all of Women's Sports

It's UCONN vs. Notre Dame in women's basketball.

The two dominant players in their sport right now will make NCAA history tomorrow night when the "undefeated" teams square off for the National Championship.  It's the first time ever that two undefeated teams have met in a NCAA Championship basketball game.

What adds to this rivalry -- no love lost between the two coaches and teams...

LINK:  NO LOVE LOST

LINK:  RIVALRY

ND Football's "Strong & True" Tonight 6:30 PM

Notre Dame football fans -- this is must see TONIGHT at 6:30 PM ET -- on the NBC Sports Network!

LINK:  SNEAK PREVIEW

Sneak Preview: Muffet's Pre-Game Speech

After watching the ESPN "experts" not giving Notre Dame any chance at all to win Tuesday night's NCAA National Championship game against UCONN -- I found myself wondering what approach would Muffet take for her pre-game speech tomorrow night in Nashville.

Here's a sneak preview...

LINK:  WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS BE GREAT...

"Achonwa Who?" -- Notre Dame Rolls 87 - 61

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame played their first game in the FINAL FOUR without their injured senior captain and leading rebounder Natalie Achonwa (I wish we still had her in the line-up!) -- and all they did was OUTREBOUND Maryland by 29 REBOUNDS!

Folks, that's effort and coaching.  

Kayla McBride was FANTASTIC scoring 28 points while sitting the last four plus minutes on the bench -- resting for Tuesday night.  The "other" All-American Jewell Loyd scored 16 points and was tied for the team lead with 9 rebounds.

Yet, the player of the game for me was MARKISHA WRIGHT -- all "Keesh" did was score 12 points and grab 9 boards in 23 minutes of playing time. 

Now, it's on to Tuesday night and the Championship Final -- the third in four years for the Irish.  Let's hope THREE IS THE CHARM!

LINK:  ESPN COVERAGE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

The Latest on Notre Dame From the Final Four!

Here's what I'm finding on Twitter in the last few minutes:

LINK:  TEAM LEAVING HOTEL

LINK:  BAND / CHEERLEADERS / FANS AT HOTEL

Notre Dame's New Field Will Not Look Like This

The LA KISS kicked off their 2014 Arena Football League home season in front of a crowd of over 12,000 in what can only be characterized as "UNIQUE."  A "silver" playing surface combined with a sensory overload fan experience...

You have got to see this!

LINK:  ESPN VIDEO STORY

LINK:  FOX NEWS STORY

Know Thy Opponent: Michigan's Spring Game

154 days from today -- the Michigan Wolverines will roll into Notre Dame Stadium to take on the Fighting Irish for the last time in the foreseeable future.  Yesterday, the Wolverines held their Spring Game in Ann Arbor.

Here's a link to Coach Hoke's post game press conference with some commentary from a Michigan alum, turned sports writer, Drew Sharp:

LINK:  MICHIGAN'S SPRING GAME

MUST SEE! Notre Dame vs. FSU Rain Delay

The Notre Dame men's baseball team is in Tallahassee Florida this weekend to take on the #1 Florida State Seminoles.  Yesterday's game ended up being rained out -- but the Fighting Irish and Seminoles entertained the crowd while they waited out the rain...

FSU's Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winson (photo above) -- who the IRISH rocked for a couple of runs the night before -- got into the act...

LINK:  RAIN DELAY

Adidas Creates New Uniform for Notre Dame...

Here is the new baseball jersey designed by Adidas for Notre Dame.

Under Armour takes over July 1st...

Domer Dad Gets "SILVER SLUGGER" Award!

Torii Hunter Sr., father of Notre Dame wide receiver Torii Hunter, Jr. -- was given his "second" SILVER SLUGGER award (alongside Miguel Cabrera) before the Tiger's game against the Orioles on Friday.  The honor is given to the top three hitting outfielders in the American League from the 2013 season.

Hunter hit .304 with 17 homers and 84 RBI in 2013 at the age of 37!

Torii Sr. -- hit-less the first two games of the season -- has gone 5 for 8 since receiving the award with two home runs, a double and six rbi!

LINK:  TORII HUNTER SR. -- FRIDAY'S GAME

LINK:  TORII HUNTER SR. -- SATURDAY'S GAME

"Coach" Achonwa WIRED at the FINAL FOUR!

After listening to this -- I won't be surprised if Natalie Achonwa is on Muffet's coaching staff before too long...

Enjoy!

LINK:  ACHONWA

Kayla McBride & Jewell Loyd -- All Americans!

It's the first time in school history that Notre Dame has two players voted first team All-American!

Kayla McBride and Jewell Loyd were honored yesterday in Nashville for their selection to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-American first team.  Notre Dame's two selections to the team fell one short of UCONN's three...

Congratulations Kayla and Jewell!

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY

Know Thy Opponent: The Fighting Turtles of MD

The Maryland Terrapins gave Notre Dame all they could handle in a game in College Park in late January.  In that game the Fighting Irish blew a 22 point first half lead -- hanging on for a four point victory 87 - 83 -- the closest a team has come to beating Notre Dame this season.

In that game, Natalie Achonwa only played 21 minutes, scoring 7 points and grabbing 3 rebounds.

The Terrapins are bigger and probably more athletic than our IRISH -- it's going to be a tough test for Muffet's squad without Achnowa's 20 points and 10 boards per game in the NCAA Tournament.  Yet, I still like our chances!

Here's what I could find about Maryland -- just click on the links below:

LINK:  THOMAS LEADS TERPS

LINK:  PARTY CRASHERS

LINK:  FAMILIAR OPPONENTS

LINK:  MAJORING IN CHEMISTRY

ESPN Takes On: Who is Muffet McGraw?

"Back to Back" National Coach of the Year honors for Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw -- the third in her 27-year career leading the Fighting Irish -- and ESPN is asking the question; "Who is Muffet McGraw?"

You'll enjoy this!

LINK:  MUFFET MCGRAW