First Practice Report From the Music City Bowl

The Fighting Irish held a practice this afternoon at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, TN -- as they prepare for the Music City Bowl game against LSU.

Here's the report from practice:

LINK:  PRACTICE & COACH KELLY

Notre Dame Practicing at Father Ryan High

Nashville's Father Ryan High School is hosting the "real" Fighting Irish for football practice these next few days -- leading up to next Tuesday's Music City Bowl.  Here's a couple of photographs from this afternoon's first practice session -- along with photos of the team's arrival at Nashville International Airport and the first team meeting...

Father Ryan High was founded in 1925 as the Nashville Catholic High School for Boys.

Golson & Zaire on Notre Dame QB Competition

Here's Notre Dame QBs Everett Golson and Malik Zaire -- talking about the competition:

LINK:  EVERETT GOLSON

LINK:  MALIK ZAIRE

Coming to a Shamrock Series Game Near You?

Got to love the creativity in the Under Armour All-America Game "gear" -- helmet, uniform, shoes, gloves and base layer -- the top high school players will be wearing next week in Orlando...

Can't wait to see what Under Armour will do for Notre Dame at next year's Shamrock Series Game -- with a year to plan.

Notre Dame Football Headed to Nashville Today

The Fighting Irish will be arriving in Nashville today for the Music City Bowl -- from all over the country.  The official travel party is boarding a Delta 747 this hour (photo above) in South Bend -- and the players will be arriving at Nashville International Airport on flights from their hometowns all morning long...

The IRISH will hold their first practice in Nashville today at 4:30 PM CT

Merry Christmas From Notre Dame!

Thought you'd enjoy hearing Katherine Jenkins and IL DIVO perform OH HOLY NIGHT -- one of my favorites!

Merry Christmas!!!

LINK:  OH HOLY NIGHT

OT: Pretty Cool Moment With Tennessee FB

Butch Jones -- who is a fellow Ferris State alumnus -- surprised a member of his Tennessee Volunteer football team with a great Christmas present...

LINK:  WATCH THIS

Who Doesn't Belong In This Photograph...?

The guy in the red jersey -- Aaron Lynch, who left Notre Dame after his freshman season...

Here he is posing for a photo of Notre Dame alumni playing in the NFL; Trevor Robinson, Ian Williams and Manti Te'o -- missing from the photo is Chris Watt who was injured earlier in the game...

Manti Te'o to 49er: "Find a New Joke..."

Former Notre Dame All-American Manti Te'o -- is tired of hearing about the "girlfriend..."

LINK:  FIND A NEW JOKE

Notre Dame Football Hires UCLA RB Alum...

Jonathan Franklin, who gained more than 4,000 yards for the UCLA Bruins -- has been hired by the Notre Dame Athletic Department to work with Student Welfare and Development...

LINK:  THE REAL GOLD HELMET

Zack Martin '13, Named to the NFL Pro Bowl!

Guess who is the only rookie offensive player named to the NFL Pro Bowl...

Former Notre Dame football captain and first round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys -- Zack Martin '13, was the lone offensive rookie named today to the NFL Pro Bowl!

And, the eighth Cowboy rookie of all-time to earn this honor -- and their first ever rookie offensive lineman.

Congratulations Zack!

LINK:  NFL PRO BOWL

USA Today Story On Under Armour's CEO

Kevin Plank had quite a year...

LINK:  USA TODAY STORY

Les Miles Meets With the Media After Practice

LSU head football coach Les Miles met with the media after Monday's practice.

He spoke on a variety of subjects; Christmas, Forbes's value of his football program, coaching vacancies and he even fielded a question about Notre Dame.  LSU will arrive a day after Notre Dame in Nashville...

You get the sense the local media thinks they will roll over the IRISH...

LINK:  LES MILES

Brian Kelly Previews Music City Bowl Game

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly sat down with Jack Nolan yesterday to talk about the Music City Bowl game against LSU...

LINK:  INSIDE NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

Celtic Women in South Bend This Evening...

Here's a couple members of Celtic Women being interviewed on local TV in South Bend.  They're performing a Christmas concert tonight at the Morris Performing Arts Center.

LINK:  WSBT-TV INTERVIEW

LINK:  VIDEO OF PERFORMANCE

Manti Te'o -- An "Every Down" NFL Linebacker!

For the first time in his NFL career -- Manti Te'o played all 74 defensive snaps -- never leaving the field...

LINK:  MANTI STAYS

Notre Dame Men's Hoops Moves Up to #16!!!

The surprise team in all of men's college basketball team has to be the FIGHTING IRISH of NOTRE DAME!

Notre Dame's great start has taken them from 'un-ranked' to now #16 in both major basketball polls.

LINK:  COLLEGE BASKETBALL POLLS

Suspect Captured In One of Notre Dame's Lakes

In the "you can't make this up" category...

A suspect, after fleeing Mishawaka police -- ended up in Saint Mary's Lake (just behind Notre Dame's Grotto) in water up to his neck a little after noon today -- before his capture and arrest.

The suspect, claimed to have a gun -- but no gun was found on him.

The Notre Dame campus was placed on "lock-down" during the chase.

You're going to want to read this story.

LINK:  WNDU-TV STORY

LINK:  WSBT-TV STORY

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE STORY

LINK:  FOX-28 STORY

LINK:  PHOTOS

MUST SEE: First Game at Notre Dame Stadium

Alliyah and Felisha, two friends and guests at South Bend's Center for the Homeless -- attended their first Notre Dame football game this Fall. 

You must see this!

LINK:  FIRST TIME FANS

In the ND Locker Room and On the Sidelines

Notre Dame fans -- if I told you I saw this coming, I'd be lying...

We have a basketball team!

LINK:  ND THUMPS PURDUE