Sports

Hope provides stiff challenge for Belles

The Belles will face their biggest challenge of the season thus far when they travel to take on No. 13 Hope this Friday.

Men's Soccer: Prime time

No. 12 Notre Dame faces its biggest test of the season so far — in the Big East opener, no less — when it hosts the defending national runner-up and No. 3-ranked Louisville on Saturday.

SMC Cross Country: SMC heads to MIAA Jamboree

After getting their feet wet at the highly competitive Calvin Invitational last weekend, the Belles dive headfirst into conference action Saturday as they travel to Angola, Ind., for the MIAA Jamboree.

SMC Soccer: Alma hands SMC tough shutout loss

A lone goal in the 54th minute proved to make the difference in Alma College's 1-0 win at Saint Mary's on Thursday evening. 

Women's Interhall: Breen-Philips hopes to bounce back against Farley

Breen-Phillips and Farley will face off in a game with bragging rights on the line for the rest of the season.

SMC Golf: Belles face strong competition

The Belles will be in action this weekend at the DePauw Small College Classic, a two-day tournament with a strong field that has four of the top 10 teams in the country.

Men's Tennis: Irish travel to separate tournaments

After opening their season at the Illini Invitational, the Irish squad will split up this weekend, with four players heading out to St. Helena, Calif., for the Napa Valley USTA/ITA Invitational and the rest of the squad competing in the Tom Fallon Invitational on campus.

ND Volleyball: Villanova and Georgetown to visit Notre Dame

After three straight wins — a streak during which they lost only one set — the Irish return home this weekend for a pair of Big East matchups.

Joseph: Baseball playoffs have inherent, large flaws (Sept. 26)

I love the Major League Baseball playoffs. I do. Pressure-packed games in front of packed stadiums with the game's ultimate prize on the line? That's great drama, and it's absolutely fun to watch. There's only one problem.

Blanton Island

They call it being on an island. No man's land. Responsibilities range from deflecting a pass to jamming a receiver to shedding a block to making an open-field tackle to intercepting the opposing quarterback. Candidates must possess a sub-4.5 40-yard dash time and a minimum 36-inch vertical.

Todd Graham a familiar face to Irish in his first year at Pitt

One of the biggest challenges first-year coaches face is installing their systems while preparing for unfamiliar opponents. Pittsburgh's Todd Graham, however, is intimately familiar with Notre Dame, as he coached Tulsa to one of the biggest upsets in Notre Dame history, when the Golden Hurricane defeated the Irish 28-27 in Notre Dame Stadium last year.

Farmer: After Anello and Ruffer, should a walk-on punt in 2011? (Sept. 23)

Catch the snap. Take a step or two. Drop the ball toward your foot, and boot the living daylights out of it.

Recruiting: Two prospects commit to Irish

Notre Dame added another playmaker to its recruiting class when South Carolina receiver Chris Brown committed to the Irish during his visit to campus during last weekend's game against Michigan State. While Brown was not highly ranked by many recruiting services, Irish recruiting expert Mike Frank said Brown's talent was evident from the intense interest he had drawn.

Irish tie for 9th at Golfweek Challenge

Golf tends to be a game of ups and downs, with titles often going to the player or team that finds its groove at the right time. Notre Dame showed signs of last year's Big East Championship-winning form at the Golfweek Conference Challenge in Wolcott, Colo., but in the end the team's inconsistency resulted in a ninth-place finish.

Staff Predictions: Pittsburgh

Allan Joseph

Saint Mary's falls to Hope and Olivet

The Belles fell to Olivet College and Hope College at the Ravines Golf Club in Saugatuck, Mich., on Wednesday.

TJ Jones carries the memory of his father on the field

Ever since he was a young boy, sophomore receiver TJ Jones has depended on his father as the rock in his life — spiritually, academically and athletically.

Masoud: Boxing devolution

Back in 688 B.C., two men pummeled each other in the face, without gloves, and for the first time the world accepted such violence as boxing.

Men's Interhall: Dawgs gain last minute advantage over the Manor

ND Volleyball: Leading the pack

1,000 kills and 1,000 digs later, senior outside hitter Kristen Dealy leads her teammates as one of the most accomplished players in Notre Dame history. Dealy became just the eighth player to eclipse the 1,000 mark in both categories for the Irish.