Good Fridays w/Padre: Last Hurrah

May 10, 2013 by

HLS EFS CSC Uconn

Send three volleys of cheers on high for our Seniors! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hooray! As final exams end today, so begins your last week at Notre Dame. Be proud. Be gracious. Be generous. Be humble. But above all, be happy! For you have achieved something great. And you have achieved it together. When you arrived here as a herd of freshmen in 2009, did you think that in your Senior year you would see your classmates lead your football team to an undefeated season and a #1 ranking? Probably not. And so you have learned something – you have learned to believe. You see, we use football not just as a diversion, we use it as a teaching device. That’s the only way to be #1 on the field and #1 where we are now…graduation.

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Filed Under: History, Looking Back on What's to Come, ND Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Blue-Gold Game Photo Journal

April 25, 2013 by

It just so happened that Notre Dame’s spring football game took place the same weekend that I needed to make a trip up to campus to do some final work on my upcoming book on Notre Dame football (Echoes After the Whistle: The Men We Became). Funny how that worked out, now isn’t it? Here is my photo journal of my weekend back on campus!

My weekend started out on Thursday with a day of research in Notre Dame Archives sifting through decades of Notre Dame football photographs. It was a lovely walk down memory lane for me, along with some bitter sweet memories of those who are no longer with us, but I was able to get my work done with time to spare!

Notre Dame Archives

Notre Dame Archives

Notre Dame Archives

Notre Dame Archives

Then I made a side trip to the second floor of the library for a little editing work on the manuscript. Oh the hours that I’ve spent in this building! Look familiar Miss Quinn?

Second Floor - Hesburgh Library

Second Floor – Hesburgh Library

Thursday night I caught up with friends, regrouped, and got ready for another hectic day. Friday got off to a busy start with a photo shoot on campus for the upcoming book.

(Photo Credit: Lynne Gilbert)

(Photo Credit: Lynne Gilbert)

Then I got the chance to meet USA Network’s “The Moment” star Vince Moiso and his lovely family.

USA Network's Vince Moiso from "The Moment"

USA Network’s Vince Moiso from “The Moment”

And producer Charlie Ebersol …

USA Network producer, Charlie Ebersol

USA Network producer, Charlie Ebersol

Followed by a delightful 45 minute conversation with Notre Dame head photographer, Matt Cashore.

My best pal Lynne and Matt Cashore!

My best pal Lynne and Matt Cashore!

Quick outfit change and off to the Alumni Football Dinner we go!

Football Alumni Dinner

Football Alumni Dinner

At my table I got to sit with current football players Austin Collinsworth and Ben Councell. A pair of delightful young men that I am proud to call Notre Dame men.

Ben Councell and Austin Collinsworth, oh and me!

Ben Councell and Austin Collinsworth, oh and me!

At the table next to me was my best pal and classmate, Irv Smith, sitting with Big Lou, Louis Nix III.

Louis Nix III and Irv Smith. (Photo Credit: Lynne Gilbert)

Louis Nix III and Irv Smith. (Photo Credit: Lynne Gilbert)

Dinner was awesome. The keynote speakers included TJ Jones, Bennett Jackson, Kyle Rudolph and head coach Brian Kelly. I am so very proud of these young men, especially TJ Jones. He has really stepped up, not only as a true Notre Dame man, but as the man of his house since the passing of his father, Andre. God bless you TJ!

TJ Jones

TJ Jones

I had the chance to catch up with one of my Dad’s classmates, Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte. What a truly wonderful man.

Heisman Trophy winner, John Huarte

Heisman Trophy winner, John Huarte

And I also had the chance to catch up with my classmate, Irv Smith. It seems like not a day has passed since we were in school!

Irv Smith

Irv Smith

Following dinner I had the opportunity to go to a reception in the stadium which included a tour of the locker room and a chance to touch the “Play Like A Champion Today” sign. Yep, I could die right now a very happy girl!

The Notre Dame locker room!

The Notre Dame locker room!

Cindy and I in the locker room!

See, Notre Dame and St. Mary's girls can get along!

See, Notre Dame and St. Mary’s girls can get along!

The sign!!

Play Like a Champion Today

Play Like a Champion Today

All this and I’m not even to the game yet! Saturday was another bright and early day! First stop, the TNNDN tailgate and some time with classmate Oscar McBride.

Oscar McBride

Oscar McBride

Then a quick stop to the monogram lunch to catch up with a few more friends …

Oscar McBride, Kapron Lewis Moore, Irv Smith

Oscar McBride, Kapron Lewis Moore, Irv Smith

And …

Former teammates Irv Smith, Lee Becton and Oscar McBride

Former teammates Irv Smith, Lee Becton and Oscar McBride

Game time and I had the honor of being down on the field with some of my pals. You could not have asked for better football weather … sunny, crisp air, blue sky … perfect.

2013 Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game

2013 Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game

On the sideline with the boys …

Irv Smith and Oscar McBride

Irv Smith and Oscar McBride

Tight End U …

Wide Receiver Bobby Brown and Tight Ends: Irv Smith, Kyle Rudolph, Oscar McBride

Wide Receiver Bobby Brown and Tight Ends: Irv Smith, Kyle Rudolph, Oscar McBride

THE moment of the game? Manti Te’o coming over to hug my friend Lynne … Amazing. The Notre Dame family is truly just that … family.

This says it all ... Notre Dame is family. (Photo Credit: Matt Cashore)

This says it all … Notre Dame is family. (Photo Credit: Matt Cashore)

It was a truly amazing weekend. I love my Notre Dame family more than words can express, and I have absolutely no complaints when football is part of my weekend schedule. Now I am just more in need for football season to get here.

My Notre Dame ladies!

My Notre Dame ladies!

How many days until Temple?

Sigh.

Cheers!

Filed Under: ND Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NFL Combine: Eifert Impresses, Te’o Disappoints

February 26, 2013 by

Ah, the NFL combine — the place where tenths of a second in a 40 yard dash and a couple of inches on a vertical jump can translated into millions of dollars. Truth be told, I think it is one of the more overrated and overhyped events the NFL does, but there is no doubt that the combine is a place in which draft fortunes can be made.

Eight Notre Dame football stars took to Indianapolis to try and boost their draft fortunes and their results are after the jump.

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Filed Under: ND Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Good Fridays w/Padre: Sing-Along

December 7, 2012 by

Even though it’s Advent, a time of sober preparation, and finals, a time of wailing and gnashing of teeth, people are already becoming sentimental and excited about Christmas.  Maybe not Alabama students, since Tuscaloosa proudly calls itself Druid City (in which case we wish them a happy Winter Solstice).  Even though it’s traditional to give presents on the Feast of the Nativity, the gift we are all hoping for won’t come until January 7.  We’ll just pretend that there were actually four Magi bearing gold, frankincense, myrrh, and cut glass. [Read more...]

Filed Under: History, ND Football, Our Opponents Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s Official: Notre Dame and Alabama in BCS Title Game

December 3, 2012 by

In perhaps EPSN’s most anti-climatic BCS reveal show ever, Notre Dame and Alabama received their official invites to the BCS National Title game.

At HLS, this now means we start the process of breaking down as much Alabama information as possible for the next month as well as bracing for some newfound SEC visitors that happen to stumble upon us. For now though, less enjoy some reactions from Brian Kelly and the players in celebration of this great moment.

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Filed Under: ND Football Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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