University of Notre Dame

Not to be confused with the University of Notre Dame Australia

Athletics

Notre Dame has its athletic teams known as the Fighting Irish. Exactly where and how Notre Dame's athletic nickname came to be never has been perfectly explained. One story suggests the moniker was born in 1899 with Notre Dame leading Northwestern 5-0 at halftime of a game in Evanston, Illinois. The Loras Football standout, Waldo, at tight-end began to chant, "Kill the Fighting Irish, kill the Fighting Irish," as the second half opened. Another tale has the nickname originating at halftime of the Notre Dame-Michigan game in 1909. With his team trailing, one Notre Dame player yelled to his teammates - who had names like Dolan, Kelly, Glynn, Duffy and Ryan - "What's the matter with you guys? You're all Irish and you're not fighting worth a lick." Notre Dame came back to win the game and the press, after overhearing the remark, reported the game as a victory for the "Fighting Irish."

Related Topics:
1899 - Northwestern - Evanston, Illinois - Michigan - 1909

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The most generally accepted explanation is that the press coined the nickname as a characterization of Notre Dame athletic teams, their never-say-die fighting spirit and the Irish qualities of grit, determination and tenacity. The term likely began as an abusive expression tauntingly directed toward the athletes from the small, private, Catholic institution. Notre Dame alumnus Francis Wallace popularized it in his New York Daily News columns in the 1920s. Another such example is that of Father Corby and the Irish Brigade of the American Civil War, dubbed "The Fighting Irish."

Related Topics:
Francis Wallace - New York Daily News

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The school has a comprehensive and nationally competitive Division I athletic program, but it is most famous for its football program. With twelve NCAA football championships, seven Heisman Trophy winners, and the most consensus All-Americans of any school, Notre Dame football is considered the most storied program in the history of college football. The school has many rivalries in football, the most famous ones being with USC and Michigan. The series bewtween Notre Dame and Boston College represents the only two historically-Catholic universities in the United States playing NCAA Division I-A football and has been dubbed the "Holy War." It was suspended by Notre Dame in 2004 after BC had won 5 of the previous 6 games, though Notre Dame leads the series 9-7. It is scheduled to resume in 2007. Other Notre Dame rivalries include those with Purdue, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, and Navy. Former rivalries include a very intense rivalry in the 1980s with Miami, and a rivalry with Penn State, which will be renewed in 2006 and 2007.

Related Topics:
Football - NCAA football championships - Heisman Trophy - USC - Michigan - Boston College - NCAA - Division I-A - Holy War - Purdue - Michigan State - Pittsburgh - Navy - 1980s - Miami - Penn State - 2006 - 2007

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Notre Dame is a member of the Big East Conference in all sports except for the following:

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• Football, in which it maintains its status as one of a small handful of Division I-A Independents.
• Men's lacrosse, which is not sponsored by the Big East, and instead competes in the Great Western Lacrosse League.
• Men's hockey, also not sponsored by the Big East, competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.

Dr. Kevin White is the current Director of Athletics at Notre Dame.

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