Notre Dame Fighting Irish

THE PERFORMING IRISH GUARD

This kilt-wearing squad is a key component of Notre Dame’s band. Each member of the guard stands more than eight feet tall when donning their bearskin shako. The all-male team is selected based on their individual marching ability, appearance and spirit.
Besides performing an Irish dance at halftime, the group participates in other game day activities. “We march in front of the band all the way to the stadium,” said Irish Guard member Rick Saxen during the 1998 Army game. “We form a buffer between the fans and the band to make sure nothing rowdy happens.”

A Notre Dame home victory sets up quite a celebration for the Irish Guard. “The victory clog is another tradition,” said Saxen. After every win the Irish Guard does a clog on the field after the game. It’s sort of a little dance.”

THE LEPRECHAUN

Have you ever wondered your lucky charms off by wondering whom that little green-dressed fella is that hangs out with Notre Dame’s cheerleaders? He’s known as the Notre Dame Leprechaun and serves as the Fighting Irish’s number one fan.

Since the mythical Leprechaun exhibits shyness and an ability to hide, there are many people who have little knowledge of what one is. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a leprechaun as a mischievous elf of Irish folklore.

Before the Notre Dame Leprechaun can take the field to cheer for the Irish, he must compete against other mascot hopefuls seeking to make their competitors green with envy. Candidates complete a week-long training period where they learn Leprechaun responsibilities.

Once the formal tryout is held, candidates participate in a formal interview process with the board of judges that includes university administration, coaches and alumni association members. Questions range from academic aptitude to why the individual wants to be the Leprechaun.

Once all questions are answered, the candidates jump into the Leprechaun uniform for the pep rally portion of the judging. After delivering a spirited speech to the crowd, the competing students must stand tall against a series of tough questions generated by area media members. The final phase places the candidates in a game situation where they are given a scenario and are judged on how they respond.

Despite the small stature of the typical Notre Dame Leprechaun, the mascot stands tall as a symbol for the school. “It’s truly an honor and I’m humbled to be able to represent the university,” said 1998 football Leprechaun Matthew Bozzelli.
“It’s been an absolute joy to represent such a wonderful family and to see in the faces of our alumni and fans what the Notre Dame spirit means to them. To me I’m the personification of that spirit and it’s an honor.”

“NOTRE DAME VICTORY MARCH”

Notre Dame’s fight song was honored as the nations best during the 1969 centennial celebration of college football. Two brothers who were Notre Dame graduates wrote the nationally recognized song nearly a century ago.

The song was copyrighted in 1908 and was first performed at the school on Easter Sunday in 1909. It was first heard at a Notre Dame athletic event 10 years later and has been heard countless numbers of times since.

While fans across the nation can undoubtedly hum and whistle the fight song with relative ease, only die-hard fans actually know the words. With the Fighting Irish Band playing the song nearly every football Saturday on national television, it seems fitting that the lyrics be provided.

Rally sons of Notre Dame:
Sing her glory and sound her fame,
Raise her Gold and Blue
And cheer with voices true:
Rah, rah, for Notre Dame
We will fight in every game,
Strong of heart and true to her name
We will ne’er forget her
And will cheer her ever
Loyal to Notre Dame
Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame,
Wake up the echoes cheering her name,
Send a volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky.
What though the odds be great or small
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to victory.