Sept. 5, 2002

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For years, the Joyce Center Fieldhouse has been the “pregame meeting place” for several thousand University of Notre Dame alumni prior to Irish home football games. In an effort to add to this tradition, the Notre Dame Athletics Department is providing an interactive fan experience for each of the 2002 home football games. The “Notre Dame Experience” will combine the Notre Dame Alumni Association Hospitality Center with interactive inflatables, photo booths, autograph sessions, Notre Dame football trivia and stage activities.

Saturday’s debut of the “Notre Dame Experience” will be highlighted by appearances from former Irish gridiron greats Tony Rice (’89) and Bobby Brown (’99). Both players will be available to sign autographs for visiting fans, with Rice going from 10-11 a.m. (EST) and Brown following from 11 a.m.-noon (EST).

Gates to the Joyce Center Fieldhouse will open three hours prior to kickoff and will remain open until one hour after the game ends. Admission is free for all “Notre Dame Experience” events.

Notre Dame (1-0), which is ranked 23rd in the most recent Associated Press poll and 24th in the latest ESPN/USA Today coaches’ survey, returns to action at noon (EST) Saturday for its home opener against Purdue at Notre Dame Stadium. That game will be televised nationally by NBC.

— ND —