“Welcome to Notre Dame.” Our last home game is upon us (que lots of tears). Let’s make this GameDay the best of one, yet. The first and probably most important tip is to BRING LAYERS (and a good attitude) because it’s South Bend. It could be 75 degrees or it could be -10 degrees, we are never really sure, so come prepared!  

 

If you aren’t big into lines and fighting the masses for all that swaggy Notre Dame Under Armour apparel, then I would recommend coming to campus on the Thursday before the game. If you can take off work on Friday and are willing to pay for another night at one of the fine South Bend/Mishawaka hotels. Trust me, the bookstore is heavenly on Thursdays and you get your pick of all the sizes and have no lines. What more could you want!?

 

GameDay weekend officially starts on FRIDAY (FRI-YAY) and there is a ton of things happening on campus.

The first place to visit is the stadium for a tour. Reserve your spot now! The tours starts at  10AM and the last slot is at 5PM. I would recommend the earliest one to ensure enough time to visit the rest of the places on this list.

 

Next, if you did not get to go to the bookstore on Thursday, GO TO THE BOOKSTORE. I’d advise checking both the Hammes bookstore and the Eddy Street bookstore because they have slight variations in apparel. Remember: buy something GREEN. It may not be our primary color but you can’t deny that a stadium decked out in green looks much better than a stadium filled with navy or gold (actually gold would be really cool, but it always turns out a bit more burnt mustard than gold)

Now it is time to tour campus. If you are starting at the bookstore on campus walk over to the middle of the street in front of the Morris in and look towards the dome. (You’re welcome, I just created your next instagram picture).

 

On God Quad, I’d recommend walking down the sidewalks in between the trees with the benches on the side. It’s quite magical. At the end of the walk you will see the Basilica and the Dome (Main Building). Que another photo-op.

 

Then visit the Grotto. Light a candle for an Irish victory and any of your loved ones who need a little Irish blessing.

 

If you are up for a nice (read: long) stroll. Go visit Carroll Hall, which hangs a Go Irish banner that the boys repainted this year. Disclaimer: its so big it took two weeks to dry.

 

Then a nice stroll around the lakes to see the University’s last standing element of the Stations of the Cross. It is just past the curve and on the left once you pass Carroll Hall. It’s off the beaten path from campus but a highly recommended area.

 

If you keep walking around the lakes you will eventually come to an opening in the trees where you can see the dome and the basilica, aka every postcard you have seen that shows the lake and the basilica, dome or both is from this spot. Another gram worth picture.

After that you have to visit a student staple. NORTH QUAD. North Quad on Friday’s of home game weekends is one of the happiest and busiest places on campus with students. Zahm Hall hangs the Here Come the Irish banner along with a constant pandora playlist blasting out onto the quad. You never really know what type of music you will get, but always entertaining. You may even get to hear a recording of the chem/orgo lecture {that most students probably missed}.

 

Go grab yourself a sandwich at the most visited subway in America in the student center (La Fun/ La Fortune). And make your way back to the Dome to see the Trumpets under the Dome. It’s such a special experience. Out of anything on Friday, this is my DO NOT MISS.

 

Now its time for the PEP RALLY!! Head on over to the Joyce to see some students embarrass themselves while participating in the competitions and hear from a few of the football players.

Sleep is for the weak, so meet in front of the Dome for Drummers Circle at Midnight. This gets me so hyped up and emotional.

 

Places to eat on Friday:

Reservations: Corndance, La Salle Grille, The Mark, Parisi’s Italian Restaurant, Bruno’s Pizza, Rocco’s Pizza, Legends at Notre Dame, Ruth’s Chris

Casual Dining: O’Rourkes Public House, Blaze Pizza, Yats, Barbici, Brothers, McAlister’s, Cheddars

 

* Feel free to attend either the hockey game or men’s basketball game on Friday at 7:30 too. Both are a great prelude to what you will see in Notre Dame stadium on Saturday.

 

WOO its finally Gameday! (Saturday):

 

Player walk @1:15pm in front of the Guglielmino to the stadium.

 

Walk around the tailgates, even if you don’t know anyone, shoot them a “Go Irish!” and I’m sure they will invite you for some beers and a burger.

 

Marching Band March out @2:40pm. The Band of the Fighting Irish is America’s first university band. And I think they are also the best!

 

GAMETIME! Learn the words to the Victory March and our kick off cheer. Make sure you stay until the end of the game because the Alma Mater is still giving me chills after I have experienced it countless times.

The game is over and you are probably starving, grab a meal at South Dining Hall or any of the places I have mentioned above.

Want to celebrate an Irish victory? The Linebacker is infamous to Notre Dame. Another fun scene is CJ’S Pub (they are also famous for their giant burgers so come early and eat some food), Finnies Next Door is a new bar in South Bend, try and stop by there. They have a golden dome on top of their bar and a jumbotron that replicates the one in Purcell Pavilion.

 

 

Sunday:

If you are Catholic or not a mass in the Basilica at 10AM is something to experience.

 

After a long and busy weekend its finally time to treat yourself to brunch. My recommendations: Uptown Kitchen, Le Peep, Original Pancake House, The Mark, O’Rourkes.

Finally, if you didn’t have enough Notre Dame sports over the weekend the Women’s Basketball team plays at 1:15 in Purcell Pavilion.

Safe travels home and hope you all come back to the greatest University on the planet sometime soon!