Sports

Men's Basketball: Irish outlast Cardinals in 2 OT road win

LOUISVILLE – Notre Dame's 67-65 double overtime victory Saturday over No. 10 Louisville ended one undesirable streak, while continuing one absurd trend.

Legendary Irish hockey coach dies

Charles W. "Lefty" Smith Jr., the University's first varsity hockey coach and longest-tenured employee until retiring as facilities manager of the Loftus Sports Center a month ago, died of natural causes at his home in South Bend on Tuesday. He was 81.

Men's Basketball: Irish remain winless on road

CINCINNATI – Notre Dame's road woes continued Wednesday night. From the opening possession Cincinnati led the Irish, with a lead peaking at 17 points late in the second half. Atrocious three-point shooting complemented poor shooting overall as the Irish fell 71-55.

Second half collapse costs ND bowl victory

ORLANDO – Thanks to 18 unanswered Florida State points, Notre Dame's season ended with an 18-14 loss in the Champ Sports Bowl on Thursday night.

Irish ready for Florida State after month off

When the Irish take the field Thursday at the Champs Sports Bowl, 31 days will have passed between Notre Dame's loss to Stanford on Nov. 26 and its final contest of the season. Coupled with exceptional weather and numerous tourist attractions, an extended break from football activities can derail a team's focus.

Owens: Predictable matchup, unlikely location (Dec. 27)

It would have been completely rational for someone to predict Notre Dame and Florida State as bowl opponents during the preseason. Heck, each team would've gladly signed up for this matchup, though no one expected it to come in the Champs Sports Bowl instead of a BCS game.

A Notre Dame man'

UPDATE: Crist announced Thursday he would be attending Kansas next year to play under former Notre Dame coach and newly hired Kansas coach Charlie Weis. Weis recruited Crist to Notre Dame.

Gastelum: NHL conference realignment good for fans (Dec. 8)

Still slogging its way through the effects of the 2004 lockout, the NHL did something right. It has nothing to do with this season, nor does it have to do with who will hoist the Cup in June.

Men's Basketball: Notre Dame looks to bounce back vs. Maine

After dropping four of their last five games, the Irish return to Purcell Pavilion today desperate for a win against Maine.

SMC Basketball: Belles rally but fall short to Hope

Saint Mary's hopes of winning consecutive conference games went out the window Wednesday, as the Belles fell to No. 15 Hope 74-56.

Fencing: Irish elite head to Kansas City

The defending champion fencing squad will be back in action Friday in the United States Fencing Association's North American Cup in Kansas City, Missouri.

Hockey: Irish look to end three-game skid

Heading into their three-week long break for final exams and the holidays, the No. 7 Irish hope to give themselves an early Christmas present when they take on No. 10/9 Ferris St. in a home-and-home series this weekend.

ND Women's Basketball: Big East Blowout

In the 37th meeting between No. 3 Notre Dame and Marquette, the Irish turned in one of the best performances in the matchup's history Wednesday with a 95-42 win over Marquette at the Purcell Pavilion.

ND Women's Basketball: Big East beginnings

No other team in the country has played Notre Dame as many times as Marquette, and the Irish are on a 17-game win streak at home against the Golden Eagles. They will meet on Irish territory Wednesday at the Purcell Pavilion for both teams' Big East Conference opener.

SMC Swimming and Diving: Team changes site of winter training to Ariz.

The Belles are off to Arizona State for their annual winter training trip to focus on swimming without the stress of school. Saint Mary's will work on team building and both in-water and non-water conditioning at the neutral site from Dec. 28 to Jan 5.

Monardo: Ocean Race shows the progression of sailing (Dec. 7)

Children grow up imagining the great successes they will have in their sporting careers. They knock down game-winning three pointers over invisible defenders as the buzzer sounds in their heads, hit series-clinching home runs off their dads' pitches in the bottom of the ninth inning with two strikes and two outs and evade nonexistent tacklers en route to fantastic touchdowns in their backyards.

SMC Basketball: Belles look for second MIAA win

Saint Mary's will try to start a win streak in the MIAA when they play No. 15 Hope College tonight. The Belles won their first MIAA game 72-50 against Alma College at home Saturday.

Men's Swimming and Diving: Irish ready for Copa Coqui

For the third Winter Break in a row, the Irish will train and compete at the CopaCoqui collegiate swim meet in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Jan. 6.

ND Track and Field: Irish pass on holiday meet, will have month off

NFLondon

We've all heard the familiar refrains about globalization in our classes at Notre Dame. We've been told the movements toward a global world will affect business, communication and culture. I've learned first-hand it also affects sports, and that has led me to a conclusion that will be unsettling to many — the NFL is no longer just America's game.