Sunday, March 15, 2015

Williams Talks ACC Championship Loss to Irish


North Carolina's Roy Williams met with the media after the Tar Heels 90 - 82 loss to Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament Championship game -- here's a brief excerpt from that press conference -- along with a link to the complete press conferences for both teams:

LINK:  ROY WILLIAMS

LINK:  BOTH PRESS CONFERENCES

On Court Reaction After ND's FIRST ACC Title!


Here's Jerian Grant, Mike Brey and others -- on court -- after Notre Dame's 90 - 82 win over North Carolina last night to win the ACC Basketball Tournament!

LINK:  JERIAN GRANT

LINK:  MIKE BREY

LINK:  BONZIE TAKES OVER INTERVIEW

Media Reaction the Mornin' After An ACC Title!


Oh what a night!

Isn't it great to see a Notre Dame team take on a challenge like this -- these last three days!  WOW!!!

Here's what the media saying this morning about Notre Dame's FIRST EVER conference title of any shape or size in its 110 year history of men's basketball.

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  RALEIGH SPORTS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

LINK:  RALEIGH SPORTS #2


Notre Dame's Post Game Press Conference


What a moment for Coach Brey, his staff, his players and the Notre Dame family!

Here's the post game press conference after winning the ACC Tournament Championship!

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Notre Dame Celebrates ACC CHAMPIONSHIP!


Here's what it looked like on the court after Notre Dame's 90 - 82 win over North Carolina for the ACC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP!

LINK:  VIDEO

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Pat Connaughton & Jerian Grant Post Game!


Got to love what these two seniors gave to Notre Dame basketball today! 

Here's what they had to say -- on court -- after the school's "FIRST EVER" conference tournament championship in men's basketball!

LINK:  PAT AND JERIAN

Media Reaction to ND's ACC Championship!


Here's the early media reaction to Notre Dame's ACC Tournament Championship win tonight over North Carolina -- the first ever conference title for a Notre Dame men's basketball team!

LINK:  CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  ASSOCIATED PRESS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Game Highlights: Notre Dame ACC Champs!!!


You will want to watch this -- great play-by-play by Jack Nolan -- CLASSIC!!!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Photos of the ACC TOURNAMENT CHAMPS!


Here are the photos and video -- below -- coming from Greensboro over the past few minutes!!!

LINK:  CUTTING DOWN THE NET!

Can You Believe It -- ACC CHAMPS !!!


Wow...

Never been so proud of a Notre Dame team in a long, long time.

The team no one gave a chance (ESPN) these last two nights -- beats DUKE and NORTH CAROLINA in their backyard -- winning the first ever Conference Tournament Championship in the 110 year history of Notre Dame men's basketball!!!

Now, I must admit when we were down 9 points in the second half -- I didn't think we'd be celebrating a win -- but, how good was that 24 - 2 RUN that QUIETED that Carolina crowd!

We'll be the best #3 Seed in the NCAA Tournament -- come get some!!!

LINK:  ESPN GAME RECAP

ACC Championship Game Tonight at 8:30 PM


The Fighting Irish will be taking on the Tar Heels tonight on ESPN in the ACC Tournament Championship game at 8:30 PM ET.

Here's what the media is saying...

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  SB NATION

LINK:  TAR HEEL BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

#4 Notre Dame vs. #7 Virginia on ESPNU


The Fighting Irish men's lacrosse team will be playing on ESPNU today at NOON ET -- tune in!

LINK:  GAME NOTES

ESPNW Names Jewell Loyd "Player of the Year"


Notre Dame All-American Jewell Loyd was just named PLAYER OF THE YEAR by ESPNW for women's college basketball.

Congratulations!

LINK:  JEWELL

Inside Look at Notre Dame's Win Over Duke


Fun to see -- and you've got to love Jack Nolan's radio call!!!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LOCKER ROOM

Domer Cooley Sets NBADL Rebound Record!


Former Notre Dame student-athlete Jack Cooley grabbed a NBADL record 29 rebounds last night -- while adding 27 points for the Idaho Stampede in their 129 - 116 win over the Los Angeles Defenders!

I guess they don't play defense in the NBADL...

LINK:  JACK COOLEY'S NIGHT

Coach K and Okafor Talk Loss to Notre Dame


Photo: Got to Love Fr. Jenkin's Reaction to Call


Notre Dame fans were feeling like they were "getting Duked" by the ACC officials late in the second half of last night's 74 -64 win.

The ESPN cameras caught Notre Dame president Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. reaction (in the background -- left of Coach Brey) to a crazy call when Duke's Justise Winslow ran right over Demetrius Jackson and the foul was called on Jackson...

Brey and Players Post Game Presser from ACC


Notre Dame shocked the ACC establishment and the folks from Bristol, CT -- who were hoping for a Duke vs. North Carolina ACC title game tonight.

NOT SO FAST MY FRIENDS...

Here's what Coach Mike Brey had to say along with Demetrius Jackson and Bonzie Colson after #9 Notre Dame beat #2 Duke 74 - 64 to earn a spot in tonight's ACC Championship game:

LINK:  COACH BREY & PLAYERS

Notre Dame's Next Women's Hoops Star...


Cunningham, Riley, Diggins, McBride, Loyd, Turner and now...

Arike Ogunbowale -- we better learn to spell her name. 

Well Arike (who will be wearing an Irish uniform this fall) set a Wisconsin state record tonight scoring 55 points in her team's OT SEMI-FINAL win in the state tournament.

LINK:  ARIKE'S BIG NIGHT

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Friday, March 13, 2015

Fighting Irish Beat Duke -- in Their Backyard!


How about that!!!

Notre Dame goes into Greensboro tonight in the ACC Semi-Finals and beats the #2 ranked Blue Devils -- FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS SEASON!

With the win -- Mike Brey continues to be the ONLY FORMER DUKE ASSISTANT to beat COACH K!

Folks, he's 3 - 1 in the matchups!!!

Also, the win places Mike Brey 2nd on Notre Dame's all-time career win list -- now 65 behind Digger Phelps.

NOW WE PLAY NORTH CAROLINA FOR A BANNER FOR PURCELL -- TOMORROW NIGHT!

LINK:  VIDEO REPLAY OF CONNAUGHTON'S BIG SHOT!

Thursday, March 12, 2015

"Jekyl & Hyde" IRISH Find a Way to Win...


It was a tale of two halfs...

There was a first half when Notre Dame made almost every shot they took -- building an 18 point lead at the half -- shooting 62.5%

Then, it got ugly...  I don't have the words or the stomach for what we witnessed the the second half.  All I will say is thank goodness for Steve Vasturia...

HEY, it's the first ACC Tournament win in Notre Dame Men's Basketball history -- and we're playing on Friday!

LINK:  SHOT OF THE GAME!

LINK:  BOX SCORE

It's Notre Dame vs. Miami Tonight on ESPN


Tip-off is scheduled for just after 9 PM ET tonight -- when #11 Notre Dame takes on "The U" in the Quarter-finals of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament in Greensboro, NC.

You can watch the game on ESPN.

Here's the latest coverage coming out of Greensboro as the Irish prepare for tonight's game:

LINK:  PAT CONNAUGHTON INTERVIEW

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Jerian Grant Named USA Today All-American!


I haven't been reporting on the ALL ACC honors that Jerian Grant has been receiving over the past week -- because I've been waiting for the bigger honors...

Like ALL-AMERICAN!

USA Today just released their five-man All-American team and Jerian Grant is one of the two guards to receive this honor!

LINK:  USA TODAY ALL-AMERICAN

Golic Jr., Fox and Wood: NFL Veteran Combine


Former Notre Dame student-athletes Mike Golic Jr., Dan Fox (photo above) and Cierre Wood will be in Phoenix March 22nd trying to impress the assembled scouts from each of the NFL teams -- at the first ever NFL VETERANS COMBINE.

Here's the story:

LINK:  NFL VETERAN'S COMBINE

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Domer Takes His "Ric Flair" to Jacksonville!


Former Notre Dame student-athlete Sergio Brown is apparently going to be signing a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars...

Sorry Colts fans!

LINK:  SERGIO HEADING TO JAX

Sporting News Ranks the Running Backs...


There is a Notre Dame student-athlete in the TOP 20...

LINK:  TOP RUNNING BACKS

Monday, March 9, 2015

Keivarae Russell -- Training for a Return to ND


Former Notre Dame student-athlete Keivarae Russell has been taking classes and working out as he hopes to return to South Bend to play for the Fighting Irish this Fall...

A few weeks ago he posted a video -- broad jumping 11' - 1" -- which would have placed him 3rd at last month's NFL Combine amongst defensive backs.

Well, the video he posted this past week (see below) shows him running "sub-4.4" 40 yard dashes -- which, would have also placed him 3rd at last month's NFL Combine amongst defensive backs.

LINK:  KEIVARAE'S 40 YARD DASH

Sunday, March 8, 2015

PHOTO: Coolest SKI HELMET of All-Time!


Notre Dame's Football Equipment Manager Ryan Grooms -- tweeted this photo today...

Notre Dame Hockey Puts UMASS Away 7 - 0 !!!


The Fighting Irish, coming off a 5 OT loss on Friday night -- beat UMASS last night 5 - 3 -- and they just finished off the Minutemen tonight in grand style 7 - 0!

The win, gives Notre Dame the series win 2 -1 -- and advances the IRISH to the next round of the Hockey East Tournament against UMass-Lowell next Friday night.

GO IRISH!

LINK:  GAME STATS

The IRISH Dominate ACC All-Tournament Team!


Notre Dame's Jewell Loyd and Brianna Turner were named to the ACC Tournament First Team and Taya Reimer and Madison Cable were named to the Second Team...

How Lindsay Allen didn't get named to one of those two teams -- I'll never know.

Jewell received the ACC Tournament's Most Outstanding Player award -- see photo above.

ACC CHAMPS - TWO IN A ROW for the IRISH!


Muffet's Fighting Irish beat the Florida State Seminoles 71 - 58 to win BACK TO BACK ACC Tournament Championships -- in their first two years in this conference.

STAT OF THE DAY:  Florida State was the only team in all of college basketball (Men & Women) to outrebound every opponent this season -- until today!  The Fighting Irish outrebounded the Seminoles 40 - 27!

The IRISH are now 31 - 2 and a lock to get a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and I'm guessing the #2 seed overall, behind UCONN.

Jewell Loyd was named the ACC Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Now, it's time to rest -- wait for next week's announcement on the NCAA Tournament.

LINK:  LOYD LAYUP

From Foster Care to the Fighting Irish...


Demetrius Jackson's life-story was told this week in Sports Illustrated...

LINK:  JACKSON

Domer Gray "Mayor" of St. Patrick's Day Parade


Former Notre Dame student-athlete and now Super Bowl Champion -- Jonas Gray -- was the MAYOR of yesterday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Cape Cod, MA. 

See the story below:

LINK:  JONAS GRAY

Connaughton & Grant -- Go Out Victorious!


It was senior night at Purcell Pavilion yesterday as Pat Connaughton and Jerian Grant suited up for the last time in a home jersey for the Fighting Irish...

Notre Dame beat Clemson 81 - 67 -- giving the Irish a 26 - 5 regular season record and the MOST WINS IN THE REGULAR SEASON IN SCHOOL HISTORY!

Here's a few game highlights and Coach Brey after the game:

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Former ND Assistant's -- 2nd Spring at UCONN


Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco -- met with the media yesterday after the UCONN Huskies' first Spring practice...

LINK:  DIACO

LINK:  DIACO #2

Notre Dame Plays FSU for ACC Title on ESPN


The #2 ranked Fighting Irish take on the #7 ranked Seminoles of Florida State today at 1 PM ET on ESPN for the ACC Tournament Championship trophy.

These two teams played back on January 2nd -- with the IRISH winning a close one 74 - 68 -- this is going to be a difficult test for Muffet's gang...

Here's the Florida State coach and players talking about today's game with ND:

LINK:  FLORIDA STATE

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Notre Dame Helmet Design Concepts -- WOW!


A design team called Empire Graphics produced a couple of Notre Dame helmet concepts and put them out on Twitter...

Got to tell you -- I love them both.

Maybe we could convince Under Armour and Hydro Graphics to design a green helmet like this for the Shamrock Series game at Fenway Park against Boston College -- a "Green Monster" version...

What do you think?

Muffet's Irish on ESPNU Today at NOON ET


The #2 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on the #16 Duke Blue Devils at NOON ET today in the ACC Tournament Semi-Finals.

The game will be televised on ESPNU.

To get you ready for today's game -- click on the link below:

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

Muffet's Irish Avenge Only ACC Loss in History


The Fighting Irish are in Greensboro, NC this weekend playing in the ACC Tournament...

Yesterday afternoon Notre Dame beat Miami (highlights below) 77 - 61 to avenge their loss to the Hurricanes back on January 8th -- the only loss the IRISH have experienced in ACC play.

The win -- moves Notre Dame to the ACC Tourney Semi-Finals today at NOON ET against #16 Duke.  The game will be televised on ESPNU.

LINK:  ND BEATS MIAMI 

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE


The Longest College Hockey Game in History!


The Compton Family Ice Arena played host last night -- and this morning -- to a 5 OT Hockey East Tournament game between UMASS and our Fighting Irish.

In the end -- a goal by UMASS with 8 minutes and 18 seconds left (1:24 AM ET) of the fifth overtime period -- gave the Minutemen a 4 - 3 win over Notre Dame.  The good news -- it's a best of three series -- so even though they played more than two games of hockey last night, it only counts one...

Notre Dame freshman goalie Cal Petersen set a NCAA record with 87 saves -- in the losing effort.

The two teams are back at it tonight at 7:05 ET.

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, March 6, 2015

Nice Story on Domer / Chargers' Chris Watt '13


Chris Watt, a former Notre Dame student-athlete -- and now a rookie starting center for the NFL's Chargers -- is the subject of nice story in a San Diego newspaper...

It should be noted -- Chris never played a down at center in his career -- and, here he is a starter (as a rookie) at that position in the National Football League.

LINK:  CHRIS WATT

Replay: Fr. Ted's Memorial Tribute -- MUST SEE


It was a magical night at Notre Dame...

If you have not seen the Memorial Tribute to Fr. Ted -- or, want to see it again -- here's your chance. 

The list of speakers included; President Jimmy Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, '75, Senator Joe Donnelly '77, Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Lou Holtz, etc.

LINK:  MEMORIAL TRIBUTE