Game Day // News

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Navy Pep Rally Moved to Compton Family Ice Arena Posted: 30 Oct 2013 01:01 PM PDT The Notre Dame-Navy football pep rally Friday (Nov. 1) will move to the Compton Family Ice Arena on the University of Notre Dame campus. Doors will open at 5 p.m. EDT with the rally beginning at 5:45 p.m. Notre Dame students wearing Halloween costumes will be judged at the rally—with the winner awarded free books for the second semester by the Notre Dame football program. Also, a drawing will be held for Notre Dame students with the winner joining Irish head coach Brian Kelly and the Irish team as they run out of the tunnel into Notre Dame Stadium just prior to kickoff for the Notre Dame-Navy contest Saturday afternoon. This will be the first football pep rally held at Compton. The rink will be covered and as many as 2,000 students will be allowed on the floor directly in front of the stage. The facility itself seats just more than 5,000 spectators. The Notre Dame Marching Band, Leprechaun and cheerleaders will be in the house there to help cheer on the Irish. CFIA will also hold a post pep rally public skate. For more information click here. Come out and support Coach Kelly and the 2013 Fighting Irish as they get ready to take the field against Navy this Saturday.

Check Them Out: Irish Guard Inspection Posted: 30 Oct 2013 06:47 AM PDT Each home game Saturday the noise across campus grows as fans crowd Notre Dame to enjoy Game Day. No matter how loud campus becomes, there is one group that stays relatively silent…the Irish Guard. Visitors to campus often find this silent, stone-faced group quite intimidating. This means the Irish Guard are doing their job well, because that is precisely the point. The Irish Guard serve as the “bodyguards” to the Notre Dame Marching Band. They lead the Band through crowds and into Notre Dame Stadium, as well as venues they visit on road games. The Irish Guard wear a unique uniform complete with a kilt featuring the Notre Dame tartan, matching the capes worn by each band member, as well as a shako, a tall cylindrical cap reminiscent of those worn by different countries’ military throughout the 1800s and early part of the 1900s. When in full uniform, each Irish Guard stands seven feet or taller, as the minimum height requirement for an Irish Guard is 6’2". Another requirement of the Irish Guard is that they are not to laugh or smile when standing at attention, adding to their intimidating appearance. Each Saturday the Irish Guard are highlighted during the “Irish Guard Inspection” in front of Bond Hall just after the conclusion of the “Concert on the Steps”. During the Inspection, the Guard line up shoulder to shoulder and stand at attention. The captain of the Irish Guard inspects each of the guardsmen. Once their uniforms are presentable, the captain invites all former Irish Guard to come forward and inspect the current Irish Guard. At this point former guardsmen of all ages straighten shakos, ensure the Irish Guard are able to stay stone-faced, and offer encouragement Game Day. Once all of the guards have met the standards of each former Guard, the Irish Guard are dismissed and ready to lead the Band into the Stadium. Traditionally Inspection takes place one hour before kickoff in front of Bond Hall. It is free and open to the public. Come check out this tradition that is entirely unique to a Notre Dame Game Day.

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