Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football - Game Day Traditions

Game Day Traditions

See also: Band of the Fighting Irish

Due to its long and storied history, Notre Dame football boasts many traditions unique to Notre Dame. Some of these are:

  • On Monday evenings, prior to each game, the team's student members would paint all football helmets gold, using paint containing real gold dust. The gold particles that are used on the helmet were collected from the re-gilding on the Notre Dame dome in 2007. During the 2011 season, however, a new helmet paint scheme was introduced; while retaining the basic gold helmet and grey facemask look, the "new" gold is much more reflective than the "old"; there have already been several variations of this new "gold chrome" look, including "brick" and "fish-scale" texturing.
  • Prior to the start of the game, the team attends Mass in semi-formal attire at the Sacred Heart Basilica. At the conclusion of Mass, fans form a line from the chapel to the stadium, which the team walks through.
  • Coming out of the locker room, players slap the famous "Play Like a Champion Today" sign.
  • Between the third and fourth quarters of home games, the Notre Dame Marching Band plays the finale to the 1812 Overture, as the crowd reacts with synchronized waving of arms, with their fingers in the shape of a "K" for Kelly. ("W" for both Weis and Willingham and "L" for Lou Holtz)
  • Since 1961, Sergeant Tim McCarthy for the Indiana State Police has read out a driving safety announcement to the crowd during the fourth quarter. When Sergeant McCarthy begins his announcement, the crowd goes silent to hear his message, which invariably ends with a pun.
  • At the conclusion of every home game, the team turns to the student section to salute them by raising their helmets in the air. They do this after a win or after a loss. Then, the band plays the Alma Mater, "Notre Dame, Our Mother". Those who stay link arms and sing the lyrics.

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