25 best college football fan atmospheres
By Nick Villano
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Sometimes, traditions do last. There are statues on most college campuses, but nothing beats Touchdown Jesus and First Down Moses. Notre Dame’s campus is just different. Walking around on a Friday before game day makes every day feel like a perfectly crisp fall. The pep rally starts Friday at six, and the celebration lasts right through kickoff some weekends.
The map of the campus is extremely large, so hitting everything is almost impossible. South Bend might be worth a week off if you’re only going once. The architecture on campus is amazing. Even if you’re not religious, one must marvel at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Grotto is also a must-visit for everyone going to campus, even if it’s just for one day.
The sound of music and the smell of grills burning starts bright and early. The food in and around Notre Dame is surprisingly great. The pizza at Rocco’s will even have New Yorkers agreeing it’s acceptable (which is a lot from New Yorkers and their pizza). Fiddler’s Hearth is an Irish Pub at Notre Dame. Is there anything better? The stout pours here are taught by a family of Celts, so perfect is expected.
The midnight drummer’s circle is an age-old tradition that is a must. It’s going to cause some sleepy eyes for game day, but fans didn’t come here to sleep anyway. The Notre Dame Drumline actually comes out at midnight for the rally before home games in front of the main building on campus.
Game day is extra exciting, with traditions like the leprechaun walking the cheerleaders down to the stadium, doing a jig to “The Rakes of Mallow”, and there are plenty of pushups for each touchdown scored. Win or lose, head back down to Touchdown Jesus for a celebration of the team.