Sunday, July 6, 2014

Trade Keeps Samardzija from All-Star Game!


It was just announced that Jeff Samardzija was selected to play for the National League in the upcoming All-Star game.  However, his trade from the Chicago Cubs to the Oakland A's will keep him out of the game...

I'm sure Cubs' fans are happy about this.

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA -- A TRADED ALL-STAR

Hey A's Fans It's: S-A-M-A-R-D-Z-I-J-A !!!


Got to love this sign hanging from the upper deck at Oakland's Coliseum today for Jeff Samardzija's first start for the A's...

The big trade looks pretty good right now!

Jeff pitched 7 innings giving up 1 run, 4 hits while striking out 5 in the A's 4-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays -- winning his American League debut.

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA WINS A'S DEBUT

A New Look for Jeff Samardzija in Oakland


His hair and mustache would have fit in nicely with the Oakland A's of yesteryear -- Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley, Coco Crisp, etc.

Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has found a new home with the Oakland Athletics -- after the big July 4th trade which sent him to the west coast from the Chicago Cubs.

Here's a photo of Jeff in the Oakland A's dugout last night -- along with photos of former A's; Crisp, Eckersley and Fingers.

Samardzija gets the start today for the A's in their game against the Toronto Blue Jays -- first pitch at 4:05 PM ET -- I'll have the results when the game is over.

LINK:  STARTING TODAY

Under Armour Displays at ND's Bookstore


I've been shopping at the Notre Dame Hammes Bookstore for as long as I can remember -- yet, I saw something I've never seen before in a display on this campus...

GOLD MANNEQUINS

Leave it to Under Armour to think of this -- brilliant!

Saturday, July 5, 2014

I Forgot the Plays Everett Golson Makes...


What a difference a QB who can run and throw in Brian Kelly's offense makes...

Prediction:  This will be the most dynamic offense at Notre Dame in the last 20 years!

Can't wait to see #5 back taking snaps for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish!

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

Notre Dame's Everett Golson At Elite 11 Camp


Notre Dame QB Everett Golson is out in Oregon this week to serve as a counselor for the Elite 11 QB camp. 

Here's a photo of Everett along with QB guru coach George Whitfield, Connor Cook (Michigan State QB) and David Webb (Texas Tech QB).

OT: A "Gray" Colored Football Field for EMU


Don't adjust your television...

LINK:  EASTERN MICHIGAN'S NEW FIELD

Carlos Calabrese Awaits Call From NFL Teams


Former Notre Dame linebacker Carlos Calabrese is back home in New Jersey -- working out and awaiting a phone call from a NFL team.  Calabrese had a rookie tryout with the Cleveland Browns but they chose not to offer him a contract.

Here's the story:

LINK:  CALABRESE

Dan Fox Turning Heads in NY Giants Camp

Found this article this morning -- I sure hope this young man makes the New York "Football" Giants team!

LINK:  FOX

Missed This: Cardinals' Troy Niklas Injured


Former Notre Dame student-athlete Troy Niklas broke his right hand at practice (photo above) a couple of weeks ago...

LINK:  BROKEN HAND

Domer Besler -- Soccer's Hottest Commodity

Former Notre Dame All-American Matt Besler '09 is now the target of soccer clubs all over the world.  The defenseman played brilliantly for the US National Team at the 2014 World Cup and teams have taken notice.

Here's the story:

LINK:  BESLER

Friday, July 4, 2014

Samardzija Traded to First Place Athletics!


Former Notre Dame All-American wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has apparently been traded this evening from the Chicago Cubs to the first place Oakland Athletics.

LINK:  SHARK TRADED

Must Read Story About a Boy and Notre Dame


Notre Dame fans -- you're going to want to read this story...

That's wide receiver Corey Robinson (San Antonio, TX) and offensive lineman Steve Elmer (Midland, MI) in the photo above.

LINK:  HOW NOTRE DAME HELPED MY SON

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Notre Dame Fans: Here's the Field Turf Story


I thought the Fighting Irish fan base would enjoy learning a little more about the new playing surface being installed inside Notre Dame Stadium. 

Here's the Field Turf promotional video followed by a short video that tells the story about how field turf drains water -- interesting stuff here...

LINK:  FIELD TURF PROMO VIDEO

LINK:  KEEPING THE SURFACE DRY

LINK:  COMPANY WEBSITE

OT: Baylor's New Stadium Field Turf Installation


As you can see in this photo -- the field turf is being laid directly over top of the stone surface -- here at Baylor's brand new football stadium.

A photo of the progress inside Notre Dame Stadium (see post) shows a stone covered playing surface -- the actual turf installation must not be far off!


Know Thy Opponent: First Look at Rice Owls


Here's a USA Today story on Notre Dame's first opponent of the 2014 season -- the Rice Owls.

Not many "top tier" college football programs schedule an opening game with a team coming off of a TEN WIN season -- yet, that's the case with the Irish home opener with Rice.  The Owls went 10 - 3 last season.

LINK:  RICE OWLS

This Is the Package Under Armour Is Using...


Over the past few days -- Under Armour has sent out a "gold" case out to influencers announcing the official start of their relationship with Notre Dame -- here is what it looks like.



Latest Photo Taken From Notre Dame Stadium


The new field turf installation keeps humming along inside Notre Dame Stadium.  As you can see a layer of stone now resides over top of the drainage system...

The first game against Rice is now only 59 days away!

Must Read Story: Domer Mark Green '89

Notre Dame fans will remember former student-athlete Mark Green '89, who played running back during the Holtz era for the Fighting Irish. 

His is a story the Notre Dame Football staff will want to share with a number of the top high school football players (and their families) in the country...

LINK:  MARK GREEN

Under Armour Market Cap Up $3.9 Billion!


On January 21, 2014 the University of Notre Dame and Under Armour announced the largest shoe and apparel contract in the history of collegiate athletics.  At the time -- Under Armour's market cap was $8.96 Billion.

Fast forward 164 days later...

Under Armour's market cap is now $12.89 Billion -- an increase of 43.5% since the Notre Dame announcement.