For fans, many of whom consider themselves to be unofficial “subway alumni,” an autumn visit to South Bend, Indiana to see the Fightin’ Irish play football at Notre Dame is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The pageantry of the game itself – played out on the field where college football legends like Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy and Ara Parseghian coached and seven Heisman Trophy winners played for Notre Dame – is the main attraction. The band, the cheerleaders, the spectacle of the student section rocking in unison and – oh yeah, the action on the field – is everything you’d imagine it to be.
But there’s so much more to see and do on a three-day football weekend. Put on your most comfortable walking shoes and move fast. You don’t want to miss a thing.
Friday
Visit the Bookstore
The Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore is at the south end of campus, adjacent to the Eck Visitors’ Center. Every article of clothing imaginable, and a seemingly endless supply of souvenirs, is available. Pick up the annual version of “The Shirt” worn by students, with proceeds going to charity. But buy on Friday so you can wear on Saturday and not have to carry bags around on game day.
Go to the Pep Rally
Friday night at 6:00pm, the arena in the Joyce Center is packed to the rafters with students and fans. The cheering and the band are deafening, the guest speakers are always a surprise, and the whole thing is designed, of course, to get everyone pumped up. Admission is free on a first-come basis.
You don’t have to be Catholic to appreciate the serenity and setting of this stone replica of the famed grotto at Lourdes, France. It is probably the most revered place on campus – with hundreds of devotional votive candles ablaze. It’ll be your last moment of quiet before a hectic day.
Buy a Brat
Dorms, clubs and social organizations grill up burgers and hot dogs all across campus on a college football game day. The steak sandwiches outside the Knights of Columbus Hall are in particularly high demand, but for the full Midwestern college football flavor – buy a grilled bratwurst and slather on the mustard.
Mix religion and sports
You’ve heard of Touchdown Jesus, the library building mural of Christ with outstretched arms which towers over Notre Dame Stadium’s north end zone. But be sure to ask directions to the statuary football icons – First Down Moses and Fair Catch Corby.
March with the band
The Band of the Fightin’ Irish, America’s “oldest band in the land,” steps off from the front of the Administration Building under the famed Golden Dome precisely 45 minutes before kick-off, with thousands of fans lining the route to the stadium and falling in to march behind them. Over the course of your weekend, try to keep track of how many times you hear the familiar Notre Dame Fight Song. Bet you lose count!
Sunday
Go to Mass
The 10:00am Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the center of campus is affectionately known to students as “Smells and Bells.” It’s a majestic standing-room-only ceremony that features a full liturgical choir. Linger after the service to see the amazing art, the intricate stained glass, and the ornate Bernini altar located in the Lady Chapel at the rear of the sanctuary.
Before your weekend ends, relive the excitement – and the glory of games gone by – at the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown South Bend. From the multi-story Hall of Honor to the outdoor Gridiron Plaza, the Hall of Fame offers a unique look at the history of the game and those who played it.
