The New View From Notre Dame's Tunnel

Is this awesome or what!!!

Got to Love Mike's Lee's Boxing Trunks!

Found these photos of "undefeated" pro boxer Mike Lee '09 from his Friday night fight in Chicago!  His boxing trunks are off the charts!

LINK:  LEE GOES 13-0!

Jerian Grant Returns "Home" to Notre Dame

Here's a three-part feature on Jerian Grant's return to Notre Dame for his senior season.  Click on the links below:

LINK:  JERIAN -- PART 1

LINK:  JERIAN -- PART 2

LINK:  JERIAN -- PART 3

Skylar Shares Workout Secrets With Oprah!

The former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins offered some tips on working out in the August issue of Oprah Magazine...

The Tulsa Shock announced today that Skylar set their all-time single season scoring record with her 560 points -- with eight games left to play!

LINK:  SKYLAR WITH OPRAH

Football Tickets Tough to Sell in Ann Arbor

Here's what happens when your home schedule looks like this:

• Appalachian State
• Miami of Ohio
• Utah
• Minnesota
• Penn State
• Indiana
• Maryland

Your Athletic Director seeks approval to set off fireworks after the games to entice fans to buy tickets. 

LINK:  MICHIGAN TICKET CHALLENGE

ND's "Left Side" Making a Mark in NFL Camps

Former Notre Dame offensive lineman Chris Watt '13, was taking first team reps at the Chargers' training camp -- there's a link to the story below -- as was his more famous running mate Zack Martin '13, who's turning heads at the Cowboys' camp.

Chris wears #65 for the Chargers.  Zack wears #70 for the Cowboys.

LINK:  CHRIS WATT

LINK:  ZACK MARTIN

LINK:  VIDEO OF PRACTICE -- CHRIS IS #65 / MANTI #50

Interesting Take: Will ND Help or Hurt ACC?

A couple of writers at ESPN tackled the question -- "Will Notre Dame help or hurt the ACC this season?"  It's an interesting read...

LINK:  ND & THE ACC

Notre Dame Talked With Georgia's Dooley...

About coaching the Fighting Irish after Dan Devine stepped down.

Vince Dooley -- the long time coach and AD at Georgia "prayed" for the IRISH as a young boy in Mobile, AL.  Notre Dame fans will enjoy this South Bend Tribune story.

LINK:  DOOLEY & NOTRE DAME

Latest Photo of Notre Dame Stadium Field Turf

It looks magnificent!

The "eighteen" endzone lines are in -- all pointing at the GOLDEN DOME -- with each set at an angle of 42 degrees -- to signify Notre Dame's founding in 1842.

Just click on the photo to enlarge.

Latest Photo of Notre Dame Coaches UA Gear

The Notre Dame football coaches returned to campus today to get ready for the 2014 season -- here's what was awaiting them in their locker room at the Guglielmino Athletics Complex.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Grooms @NDFBEquipment

Is This the Biggest NFL Contract in ND HIstory?

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Kyle Rudolph signed a $36.5 million contract extension yesterday with the Minnesota Vikings.   See the video interview below. 

The amount just might be the biggest ever signed by a former Notre Dame football player in the NFL.  Here's the top three that I've tracked down...

1. Kyle Rudolph:  $36.5 million
2. Golden Tate:  $31 million
3. Justin Tuck:  $30 million

If you know of bigger NFL deals signed by former ND football stars -- send me an email at jim.small@ndgoirish.com

LINK:  RUDOLPH TALKS $36.5 MILLION

Brady Quinn Joins Fox Sports College FB Team

Former Notre Dame All-American Brady Quinn has apparently signed a contract to be a color analyst on Fox Sports' college football telecasts this fall. 

Congrats Brady!

LINK:  BRADY'S BROADCAST BOOT CAMP

End Zone Stripes Are In -- Notre Dame Stadium

Drove by the Rockne Gate at Notre Dame Stadium -- this afternoon -- and took this photo.  I could see the diaganol stripes in the endzone are in place -- unfortunately, this photo does not do it justice.

From outside the tunnel gate -- the field looks awesome!

Here's the latest photo from inside Notre Dame Stadium -- much better!

Here's the story behind the end-zone stripes at Notre Dame Stadium.  There are nine stripes in each endzone -- totaling 18.  They are each set at an angle of 42 degrees -- all pointing towards Notre Dame's iconic Golden Dome.  

They signify the year 1842 -- the year the University of Notre Dame du Lac was founded.

 

SBT's Lesar Talks ND Football Independence

A group called CINESPORT -- never heard of them -- interviewed the South Bend Tribune's Al Lesar about the future of Notre Dame's football independence.  Here's a link to the video interview:

LINK:  INDEPENDENCE

OT: Nike's "Passing of the Baton" to Rory

You've got to hand it to Nike -- they "just do it..."

LINK:  NIKE

Justin Tuck's New Start With Oakland Raiders

The Mercury News caught up with former Notre Dame All-American Justin Tuck as he gets ready for his first Training Camp with the Oakland Raiders...

The photo above is of Tuck's distinctive face mask -- now on the "silver and black" helmet of the Raiders.

LINK:  TUCK

Harrison Smith Predicts How Many Irish Wins!

Former Notre Dame football captain Harrison Smith was interviewed walking into Vikings Training Camp the other day and he was asked a question about how many wins will our Fighting Irish have this season...

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH

Story on the Pittsburgh Steelers' Stephon Tuitt

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Stephon Tuitt is featured in this article about the Steelers' defensive line...

LINK:  TUITT

Coach Kelly Hosts FB Camp in Washington D.C.

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was in Washington D.C. this week hosting a football camp at St. Johns College High School.

The folks at the Washington Times caught up with Coach Kelly for a quick interview...

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Photo of Kona Schwenke at KC Chiefs Practice

Here's a photo of Kona Schwenke (#93) today at the Kansas City Chiefs practice today...

Michael Floyd "One of the Top 25 Players..."

Under the age of 25 in the NFL...

So says the gang at ESPN -- click on the link below:

LINK:  MICHAEL FLOYD

Field Turf's Notre Dame Promotion Video

I'm going to take a guess that they don't do this often for their Field Turf installations...

LINK:  FIELD TURF PROMO VIDEO

The Five Best End Zone Paint Schemes...

You'll be surprised who's number #1 in this list of the "five most creative end zone paint schemes."

Now, you also must consider the source...

LINK:  END ZONE PAINT SCHEMES

ND Player Updates -- First Day of Training Camp

A number of Notre Dame football players suited up for the first day of NFL Training Camp with their respective teams today.  Here's what I could find on a number of former Fighting Irish football stars -- as you'll see, an alarming number of them were placed on the NFL's "PUP List."

That Notre Dame degree is so, so important!

LINK:  CHRIS WATT -- SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

LINK:  KYLE RUDOLPH -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  LOUIS NIX -- HOUSTON TEXANS

LINK:  STEPHON TUITT -- PITTSBURGH STEELERS

LINK:  GOLDEN TATE & T.J. JONES -- DETROIT LIONS

LINK:  PRINCE SHEMBO -- ATLANTA FALCONS

LINK:  ZEKE MOTTA -- ATLANTA FALCONS

LINK:  HARRISON SMITH -- MINNESOTA VIKINGS

LINK:  JIMMY CLAUSEN -- CHICAGO BEARS

LINK:  THEO RIDDICK -- DETROIT LIONS

LINK:  JOHN CARLSON & TROY NIKLAS -- ARIZONA CARDINALS

LINK:  KAPRON LEWIS-MOORE -- BALTIMORE RAVENS

LINK:  SERGIO BROWN -- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

LINK:  ZACK MARTIN -- DALLAS COWBOYS

LINK:  DAVID BRUTON -- DENVER BRONCOS

LINK:  BENNETT JACKSON -- NEW YORK GIANTS

LINK:  ROBERT HUGHES -- ARIZONA CARDINALS

LINK:  IAN WILLIAMS -- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

LINK:  MANTI TEO -- SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

LINK:  ANTHONY FASANO -- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Aerial Photo of Notre Dame Stadium Field Turf

My understanding is these were taken by Joe Raymond -- South Bend Tribune free-lance photographer

Notre Dame Coaches' Under Armour Gear

The Fighting Irish football staff will return to the Guglielmino Athletics Complex next Monday as they gear up for the start of fall training camp on August 3rd -- the day players report.

Here's a photo of their new gear from Under Armour -- awaiting their arrival.

The photo was "tweeted" today by Ryan Grooms @NDFBEquipment

The "PRIME TIME" Fighting Irish of Notre Dame

Folks, it looks like seven of Notre Dame's football games this season will be televised in "prime time" on Saturday nights this fall.  I don't think any team has ever had this much prime time TV coverage in one season before...

Only Notre Dame!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. NAVY IN PRIME TIME

The ND Monogram is in Place at the Stadium!

Here's the latest photos from the installation of Field Turf at Notre Dame Stadium.

They are moving fast!

Coach Kelly & Staff Visits Under Armour Today

The Notre Dame Football staff made the trek to Maryland today to visit the folks at Under Armour.  Here's a couple of photos "tweeted" by Coach Kelly...

The Field Turf is Down at Notre Dame Stadium

Here's the photo from today!  Next up -- the sidelines!!!

OT: Stained Glass at Charlie Finley's Old Home

I attended a meeting today at the former home of Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley (a Notre Dame fan) in La Porte, IN -- here's some of the stained glass Charlie had installed...

Domer Storm Interviews Under Armour CEO

You're going to want to watch this interview Notre Dame alum Hannah Storm '83, conducted with Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank.

This is must see!

LINK:  KEVIN PLANK

Fantasy Baseball's "Most Traded Player"

Is a former Notre Dame wide receiver...

LINK:  SAMARDZIJA

Another Photo of Field Turf Installation at ND

Notre Dame Stadium is going to look really nice when they are done!

Ricky Watters Jr. -- Performing in South Bend

Just learned of this tonight -- Ricky Watters Jr., son of former Notre Dame running back and Super Bowl Champion Ricky Watters will be performing in downtown South Bend at Fiddler's Hearth this Wednesday night at 9:30 PM ET.

Ricky is only 13 years-old...

See him being interviewed below -- along with a couple of his recent performances and a music video where Ricky's Dad wears his Notre Dame jersey:

LINK:  RICKY WATTERS, JR. INTERVIEW

LINK:  SINGING BRUNO MARS "IT WILL RAIN"

LINK:  SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

LINK:  MUSIC VIDEO

Notre Dame Under Armour Soccer Cleats !!!

The Under Armour folks are at it again for Notre Dame -- here's a look at the women's soccer shoes...

Field Turf Being Installed Today at Notre Dame

Here it is -- the south endzone of Notre Dame Stadium has the first strip of Field Turf installed.

I you look closely you can see the slight 1/2% grade in elevation...

The bottom photo shows the "cutting in" of hash marks and numbers prior to placing in the turf.

ND's Campus Architect -- Video Chat Thursday

Folks, if you'd like to hear from one of the key people behind the "most beautiful campus" in America -- this Thursday's your chance!

Over the next five years -- the University will be adding at least ten more buildings to this campus -- this is your chance to get an "insider's perspective" as to what is planned!

Doug Marsh, Notre Dame's University Architect will be participating in an online chat this Thursday from NOON ET to 1 PM ET.  Only 100 spots are available -- so you need to register ASAP!

It's free and open to anyone!

LINK:  REGISTER HERE!

The Highest Valued Ticket in College Football

Notre Dame...

And, it's not even close.  The folks at Forbes did some research on the price of tickets being sold in "secondary markets" for the 2014 football season and the most valued college football ticket is to see the University of Notre Dame play.

You'll be surprised who's ranked and who's not...

LINK:  FORBES RANKING

Domer Mike Lee '09 Fights in Chicago Friday!

Notre Dame alum Mike Lee '09, is back in the ring this Friday night in an ESPN Friday Night Fights at Chicago's UIC Pavilion.  This will be the "undefeated" Lee's (11 - 0) first fight since his six-round TKO of previously undefeated Peter Lawson in April.

If you're looking for something to do Friday night in Chicago -- head over and watch Mike's fight -- my understanding is 20% of the proceeds from this bout will be donated to Notre Dame.

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES STORY

LINK:  BUY TICKETS HERE