Saturday, January 7, 2012

ND Beats Three Top 10 Teams in 5 HOURS!


"...WHAT THOUGH THE ODDS BE GREAT OR SMALL...."

It might have been the five greatest "non-football" hours in the 124-year history of Notre Dame Athletics.  See this UND.COM video highlighting this five-hour period!

At approximately 6:25 PM ET -- Muffet McGraw's Fighting Irish women's basketball team was beating #2 ranked UCONN in OT at Purcell Pavillion 74 - 67 -- snapping UCONN's 57 game Big East winning streak!

LINK:  ESPN RECAP

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS FROM UND.COM

Just a few minutes later -- in Louisville, KY -- Mike Brey's Fighting Irish men's basketball team was beating #10 ranked Louisville in DOUBLE OT 67 - 65 -- ND's first win in the state of Kentucky in 31 years!

LINK:  ESPN RECAP 

LINK:  COACH BREY PRESS CONFERENCE

And, at approximately 10:35 PM ET -- in Minneapolis, MI --  Jeff Jackson's Fighting Irish men's hockey team was beating #3 Minnesota 4 - 3 -- ND's first win over Minnesota in hockey in 32 years!

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE RECAP

I wonder if one school has ever beaten three top 10 teams in less than five hours -- with two wins in OT and two wins on the road!  A great evening to be a fan of the Fighting Irish!

WOW!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME VICTORY MARCH!

Amir Carlisle Leaves USC for Notre Dame!

Twelve months ago, Amir Carlisle chose the USC Trojans over the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  Today, it was announced that Amir has chosen to transfer to the University of Notre Dame!

Carlisle will have to sit out next season, but will have three years of eligibility left in a GOLD HELMET starting with the 2013 season.

Amir is a running back with slot receiver skills as well.  He ran for 90 yards in 10 carries, along with 2 catches for 31 yards and a TD in USC's game against Colorado.  Carlisle''s been clocked in 4.4 seconds in the 40 yard dash -- so he'll bring some "quick" to the Irish!


Amir -- welcome to the Notre Dame Family!

Here's a couple of links, the first to the South Bend Tribune story announcing the transfer and second a link to an interview of Amir before the 2011 season at USC.  You'll be very impressed with this young man -- who graduate from HS with a 4.07 GPA!

LINK:  AMIR CARLISLE TRANSFERS TO NOTRE DAME!

LINK:  AMIR CARLISLE INTERVIEW

Yeah, Notre Dame Can Play OT Basketball!

WOW!

Both Notre Dame's basketball teams were on the national TV stage today and they both beat higher ranked opponents in OT!!!

In the upset of the day in college basketball, Mike Brey's boys went into Louisville today and beat Rick Pittino's 10th ranked Cardinals 67 - 65 in DOUBLE OT!

And, in South Bend -- Muffet's #3 ranked Lady Irish beat #2 UCONN 74 - 67 in OT!

Here's some of the post game coverage of both games:

LINK:  IRISH UPSET LOUISVILLE IN DOUBLE OT!

LINK:  IRISH BEAT UCONN IN OT!

LINK:  COACH BREY POST GAME 

LINK:  NOTRE DAME LOCKER ROOM AFTER LOUISVILLE

LINK:  IRISH OVER UCONN HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  IRISH / UCONN POST GAME

Elijah Shumate Commits to ND -- LIVE on NBC!

Don Bosco Prep's Elijah Shumate just announced that he will be committing to the University of Notre Dame -- on LIVE TV -- during the US Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, TX.  Shumate, ranked as the #7 safety in the country by Rivals is expected to play that position for Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish.

ELIJAH -- welcome to the Notre Dame Family! 

Here's a link to a video of Elijah's commitment to Notre Dame on NBC, a link to highlights from his playing days at both Patterson Catholic & Don Bosco Prep.  Shumate transferred to Don Bosco after Patterson closed two years ago.  And, a video from Shumate at a NIKE camp:


LINK:  ELIJAH'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON NBC

LINK:  ELIJAH IS IRISH!

LINK:  ELIJAH AT NIKE CAMP

Ever Wonder Why a Player Might Not Pick ND?


It just might be the "money." 

Just wait 'til you see this video clip of Clemson's TE Dwayne Allen (after Wednesday's Orange Bowl) talk about why he's staying at Clemson -- versus leaving for the "money" of the NFL.

LINK:  SHOW ME THE MONEY

The NFL Can Wait! -- Tyler Eifert is all ND!


The University of Notre Dame's All-American TE, Tyler Eifert -- let everyone know yesterday that he would be returning for his senior season, bypassing the opportunity to go early to the NFL. 

Eifert, who caught 63 passes for 803 yards and 6 touchdowns, is Coach Kelly's second TEN STAR recruit this off season as he joins Manti Te'o in making the decision to wear the GOLD HELMET one more season! 

Here's a link to the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette's story about their hometown star:

LINK:  EIFERT RETURNS FOR SENIOR SEASON!

Today is a Big TV Day for Fans of Notre Dame


If you can pull it off -- it might not be a bad day to park yourself on the couch!

The fun begins at 1 PM ET when the Army All-American Bowl kicks off on NBC.  This game features a number of the top high school football players in the country and at least two players who will be donning the GOLD HELMET this September!

Here's what Notre Dame fans should be looking for:
  • KeiVarae Russell -- WEST Team, has already committed to the Fighting Irish.  Wearing #33 for the WEST offense, KeiVarae will play WR and maybe some RB.
  • Jarron Jones -- EAST Team, has already committed to the Fighting Irish.  Jones is another of the "long athletes" that Coach Kelly has been bringing to ND.  6'-7" and 295 lbs., Jarron was recruited to play DE, but don't be surprised if he ends up playing OT.  He will be wearing #74 today for the EAST defense.
  • Elijah Shumate -- EAST Team, will make his school choice during the game (during 4th quarter).  Notre Dame is a possibility, though in the past 24 hours, what seemed like a lock to ND, may have switched to Rutgers.  Stay tuned!  Shumate is wearing #26 for the EAST team and playing Outside LB in this game -- though he's being recruited as a safety.
  • Yuri Wright -- EAST Team, is considering Notre Dame though his life long dream has been to play for Michigan.  He and Shumate are high school teammates.  Wright will be wearing #12 for the EAST Team at the cornerback position.
  • Arik Armstead -- WEST Team, is considering Notre Dame as well as a number of other schools.  He's huge (6'-8" 280 lbs.) and he's athletic at the DE position.  Mike Brey has already offered Arik a spot on the basketball team -- as Armstead has let all of the school's know that he would like to play football and basketball in college.  He's wearing uniform #99 for the WEST.
  • Devin Fuller -- EAST Team, is being recruited heavily by Notre Dame.  He's considered one of the top athletes in the country and he wants to play QB in college.  In today's game he'll be wearing #18 for the EAST Team lining up as a starting WR. 

    At 4 PM ET turn your channel to CBS as Muffet McGraw's #3 ranked Fighting Irish will host "that school from Bristol" and their #2 ranked Huskies -- in one of the biggest games of the year in women's college basketball.  Purcell Pavillion is sold-out and will be rockin' today!  Earlier in the week, Muffet met with the media to talk about today's game with UCONN.  Here's a link:

    LINK:  MUFFET TALKS UCONN


    At 7 PM ET turn your channel to ESPNU as Mike Brey's Irish will be taking on Rick Pittino (ND PARENT) and his Louisville Cardinals.  Louisville is 13 - 2 and one of the better basketball teams in America.  This would be a huge win for the Irish!

    And, finally at 8 PM ET you can tune in to the Big Ten Network to watch Jeff Jackson's #3 ranked Fighting Irish take on the #5 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game.