School: University of Notre Dame
Team: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Location: South Bend, IN
Conference: Independent
Stadium: Notre Dame Stadium (Capacity: 80,795)
Long thought of as the preeminent college football program for decades, Notre Dame football is as steeped in history as any single program in any single college sport. Notre Dame Stadium therefore, is somewhat of a mecca of college football. About as plain as a field can look with slanted lines in the end zone and no lettering elsewhere, seeing a game at Notre Dame is a must for any college football fan. From Rockne, to Leahy, to Parseghian, college football’s history was built here.
The Weekend
Travel: I’ll be upfront here: this one is not easy. Apologies to my friends in Indiana, but South Bend is quite literally the definition of the middle of nowhere. Two hours from Chicago and three hours from Indianapolis, it’s somewhat of a pick your poison deal. If ever there were a party bus situation in your future, this might be the time to do it.
Lodging: If you choose to stay in South Bend rather than one of the major cities, note that Notre Dame’s campus is northeast of downtown South Bend so situate yourself accordingly. There is an Embassy Suites right on the edge of campus that is walking distance from the stadium.
Local Food: While northern Indiana may not scream exquisite local delicacies, that does not mean there isn’t good food. Give Rocco’s Restaurant a try – good pizza and very close to campus.
Local Drink: With no Greek life, bars in South Bend are the way to go. Most places here, fittingly, are Irish Pubs that scream college debauchery. Try the Linebacker Lounge (aka the Backer) which sits right across from campus and about a 20 minute walk from the stadium.
The Tailgate
If you love tailgating in fields around a stadium then Notre Dame tailgating is for you. The largest lots sit just south of the stadium and open at 8am on gameday. Cars line up and fans begin grilling, drinking, and playing football outside the stadium. Take a trip over to Touchdown Jesus (technically the Word of Life Mural) before heading into the game, which is about a five minute walk from the stadium.
Unique Tradition
What can you say about a school that has as many well known traditions as they do championships (13 if we are counting). Hard to choose just one, but I’ll highlight a tradition that maybe you haven’t heard of: the Player Walk. Notre Dame football players and coaches walk from the Guglielmino Complex to the Library (where Touchdown Jesus is), then down the Library complex and into the stadium. They are surrounded by fans cheering on their Irish and it’s quite a sight to see.
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