May 5, 2000

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Defense ruled the day April 29 as three interception returns for touchdowns enabled the Blue squad to defeat the White unit by a touchdown in a flag football contest involving Notre Dame football alumni at Notre Dame Stadium.

D’Juan Francisco, a former Irish defensive back (1986-89) who now serves as director of alumni clubs and student programs for the University’s Alumni Association, accounted for the game-winning points with his runback late in the contest.

Earlier, John Covington (1990-93) ran a pair of interceptions back for scores for the Blue team to earn him the MVP award.

Approximately 50 former Irish player participated in the 11-on-11 flag football contest that was played prior to the current Notre Dame team’s final spring intrasquad scrimmage (more than 14,000 fans attended that event). Results from the flag football game will be evaluated in choosing the 45 to 50 players who will be selected to compete July 8 in Hamburg, Germany, in a charity game between Irish football alumni and the Hamburg Blue Devils.

Among those assisting in organizing the team are former safety Pat Eilers (1987-89) and former quarterback Pat Steeneberge (1970-71). Steeneberge and Terry Andrysiak (1984-87) may be pressed into additional duty at quarterback in the game in Germany after former Irish signalcaller Tony Rice (1987-89) tore his Achilles’ tendon in the flag game and was slated for surgery the following Monday.