Sept. 18, 2001

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Fans attending the Notre Dame-Michigan State football game Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium can expect a heightened security presence in and around the stadium.

“We’ve had a comprehensive security plan in effect for many years for home football games,” says University director of athletics Kevin White.

“However, the events of the last week have caused us to strengthen the plan even further.”

Among new measures now in effect are:

Notre Dame Stadium will be placed in a lockdown mode on Friday of each home football weekend. The Friday stadium tours on football weekends have been discontinued until further notice.

The stadium will be swept prior to the opening of gates to the public.

All bags and packages brought into the stadium will be subject to search. No cans, bottles or alcohol are allowed in the stadium. Spectators can speed their entry process into the stadium by leaving packages behind.

There will be a heightened police and security presence at the main entrance gates and throughout areas surrounding Notre Dame Stadium. The current security force includes 85 uniformed city, county and campus police in the stadium as well as 800 ushers.

The University is consulting with an expert in emergency response planning as well as with local FBI agents and other security experts around the country.

There will be enhanced radio communication between each stadium gate and security and police officers working at the stadium.

The University is working with the Federal Aviation Administration in an attempt to restrict air traffic around the stadium on gamedays.

In addition, additional security personnel will be stationed at all Notre Dame

Olympic sports events as well as Friday pep rallies.

“We’ve taken significant measures in the past to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance at our football games, and we expect our fans to feel secure at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday,” says Rex Rakow, University director of security/police.

“We also would ask all persons in attendance Saturday to take some responsibility for their own security. We would ask everybody to report anything they see out of the ordinary to an usher, police or other security personnel.”

Media inquiries should be directed to Rex Rakow, University director of security/police, at 219-631-8338.