Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Friday Luncheons Eliminated; Pep Rally Sites Announced A long-standing staple of a home football weekend at Notre Dame has come to an end. The university announced in August that it will no longer have its Friday noon football kickoff luncheons. The event would feature the Fighting Irish head coach as the speaker and at least one player also available. Its popular- ity was at its peak during the Lou Holtz era (1986-96) with his entertaining witticism or insight, but that was also the pre-Internet era. In a press release the school indicated that, "increased access in recent years to Notre Dame football players and coaches, including via multiple digital media options, has resulted in declining attendance at the luncheons." Meanwhile, despite the major construction taking place outside Notre Dame Stadium for the $400 million Campus Crossroads project, there will still be access for fans on the home football Fridays. The north tunnel is available for entrance from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ET, except when the visiting team schedules a walk through, and fans are permitted to walk field level in the north end zone for views and photo opportunities. Finally, the Friday night pep rallies will feature various locations throughout the season: • Texas (Sept. 4) — outside the Rockne Memorial Building • Georgia Tech (Sept. 18) — Purcell Pavilion • Massachusetts (Sept. 25) — Compton Family Ice Arena • Navy (Oct. 9) — Joyce Center Field House (north dome) • USC (Oct. 16) — Hesburgh Library mall • Wake Forest (Nov. 13) — TBD There is no admission charge and there are no tickets required for the pep rallies, which begin at 6 p.m. ET. UNDER THE DOME SHOWTIME TO CHRONICLE 2015 NOTRE DAME SEASON College football coaches often preach about eliminating any form of distrac- tion during the season. Nevertheless, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and the university have The Friday night pep rallies will feature various campus locations throughout the season, and there is no admission charge and there are no tickets required. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA