Irish head coach Charlie Weis met the media on Sunday to discuss Saturday night's game at Penn State.

Blue-Gold Game Preview

April 20, 2007

The University of Notre Dame football team will conclude its 2007 spring practice schedule with the 78th Annual Blue-Gold Football Festival on Saturday, April 21. As always, Fighting Irish All-Access will be on the scene to bring you full coverage of Saturday’s events.

For an official preview of Saturday’s contest, take a look at the official game notes produced by the Notre Dame Sports Information Office.

For all the video updates compiled during the spring practice schedule – click here.

Fighting Irish All-Access will bring you exlcusive coverage of Saturday’s game, including a pre-game report from Jack Nolan (posted Saturday morning before kickoff), a complete highlight package, footage of Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz (the game’s honorary coaches) back on the Notre Dame Stadium sidelines, full coverage of the post-game press conference and player interviews – and a game wrap up feature with Jack Nolan and former Irish All-American Reggie Brooks.

Here are some helpful links for Irish fans planning to attend this weekend’s events….

Here are the pre-game activities planned for Saturday:
• A special VIP Brunch ticket offers fans a full day of activities with the Irish, including joining the squad for its pregame meal. The brunch will be held at 9:00 a.m. ET in the Joyce Center Fieldhouse (doors open at 8:15 a.m.). All those attending the brunch also will have access to an autograph session with the current players from 9:45-10:30 a.m. ET in the north dome.
• Then, VIP fans can sit in the gold chairback seats on the east side of the Stadium to enjoy their first look at the 2007 Irish. The VIP brunch is sponsored by South Bend Orthopaedic Associates.
• There will be approximately 100 seats available in the Notre Dame Stadium press box where fans can have the same view as media covering Irish football. Fans seated in the press box receive a game program, as well as the same press box lunch fare served to media (hot dogs, soup, popcorn, soft drinks). The press box is available any time after 11:00 a.m. ET.
• A free-to-all interactive fan fest will take place from 10:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. ET in the Joyce Center South parking lot.
• Former Notre Dame football players will take part in flag football game in Notre Dame Stadium at 11:30 a.m ET prior to the Blue-Gold contest.
• All former Irish football players will be invited back for the weekend.
• The Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley will hold a silent auction of sports memorabilia on Saturday morning in the Joyce Center Fieldhouse, in conjunction with the VIP brunch.

Legendary former University of Notre Dame head football coaches Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz will serve as coaches for the 2007 Blue-Gold Spring Football Festival, presented by Home Run Inn Pizza. Parseghian will coach one team and be assisted by two of his former assistants coaches, Brian Boulac and Joe Yonto. Former Irish great Ross Browner will serve as honorary captain for the team. Holtz will be assisted by Foge Fazio and Tony Yelovich who both served on Holtz’ staff. Tony Rice will be the honorary captain for the team coached by Holtz.

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Ara Parseghian returns to coach on the Notre Dame Stadium sidelines this weekend at the 78th Annual Blue-Gold Game.

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Parseghian coached Notre Dame from 1964-74, compiling a 95-17-4 record (.836 winning percentage). He helped lead the Irish to consensus national championships in 1966 and 1973 and was named national coach of the year in 1964. Currently retired and living part of the year in South Bend, Parseghian coached 39 players that received first-team All-America accolades during his tenure at Notre Dame and nine of his 11 teams finished the year ranked in the top 10 of the final Associated Press poll. He was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1980. Coach Parseghian was recently inducted In Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.

You can listen and view Coach Parseghian’s speech at his Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame Induction here – camera.gif

For a look back at Coach Parseghian’s career at Notre Dame, here are some selected items from the Fighting Irish All-Access library…

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Coach Holtz, shown here leaving the field after the Irish defeated Miami in 1988, returns to the Notre Dame Stadium sidelines this weekend for the 78th Annual Blue-Gold Game.

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Holtz served as Irish head coach from 1986-96, coached more games than any other Notre Dame head coach and is second to Knute Rockne in total victories. Holtz guided the Irish to a 100-30-2 record in his 11 seasons and helped Notre Dame claim its 11th consensus national championship in 1988. Now serving as an ESPN college football analyst, Holtz took the Irish to nine straight New Year’s Day bowl games from 1987-95 and coached Notre Dame to finishes of sixth or better in the final Associated Press poll in five seasons.

For a look back at Coach Holtz and his career at Notre Dame, here are some selected items from the Fighting Irish All-Access library…