School Sport

The Four Horsemen. The Golden Dome. Ara. Lou. Knute. Montana. Theismann. Wake Up The Echos. The words that describe the history and tradition that is Notre Dame football is endless and personal to each and every fan. Since the first team suited up in 1887 the Notre Dame football team has battled to 845 wins, 3rd all time. Those 845 wins have included 11 national championships and the 2nd best winning percentage among major college football teams all time. Seven Heisman Trophy winners have donned the blue and gold including greats Johnny Lujack, Angelo Bertelli , and Paul Horning (the only player to win the Heisman on a team with a losing record.) The tradition rich “house that Rockne built” know as Notre Dame Staduim has one of the best game day atmospheres in all of college football and seats 80,795 ND fans thanks to a 1997 expansion and renovation project.
The Notre Dame Victory March is the most famous march in all of college football. While fans sing to “Wake Up The Echos” and “Shake Down The Thunder” the Fighting Irish football teams play against traditional rivals USC, Navy, and Michigan. Games against USC come at various times on the schedule. Home games against USC take place toward the middle of season allowing USC not to have deal with the cold Indiana late season games. Away games traditionally take place the last weekend of the season. Following home games against any opponent, win or lose, the Notre Dame players congregate in front of the band and students, lock arms, and sing the alma mater “Notre Dame, Our Mother.” These traditions and the individuals who year after year take pride in them help make Notre Dame football one of the great institutions in past, present, and future of college football.