Feb. 10, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Another Notre Dame football legend has agreed to appear at the 2011 Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp. Former Fighting Irish running back Jerome Bettis will serve as a guest coach at this year’s camp along with former Notre Dame quarterback Joe Theismann.
The Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp will be directed by Irish head coach Brian Kelly, as well as his entire Notre Dame coaching staff, current Irish players and plenty of other Notre Dame legends. They will provide daily hands-on instruction and interaction. They also will share priceless personal experiences from their time under the Golden Dome and in the NFL.
Camp dates are Tuesday, May 31, through Saturday, June 4, 2011. Participants will stay at the Fairfield Inn & Suites located across the street from campus and adjacent to the new Eddy Street Commons, and mere steps from the shadow of Notre Dame Stadium.
Bettis retired from the NFL following the 2005 season after leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl LX victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Bettis finished his remarkable NFL career as one of the all-time greatest `big backs,’ finishing fifth on the NFL rushing list with 13,662 yards. A six-time Pro Bowl selection and the 1996 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, “The Bus” played for the Irish from 1991-93.
At Notre Dame, Bettis finished his career with 1,912 rushing yards (5.7 yards per carry), and caught 32 passes for 429 yards (13.4 yards per reception). He was the MVP of the 1992 Sugar Bowl when he rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Irish to a 39-28 upset of #3 Florida.
The Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp allows fans to develop a personal and active association with all of the Irish football facilities – including Notre Dame Stadium, Guglielmino Athletics Complex, Isban Auditorium, Haggar Varsity Fitness Center, Morse Recruiting Lounge, LaBar Practice Complex, Monogram Room, Naimoli Family Club Room in Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center, Schivarelli Alumni Players’ Lounge, Basilica of the Sacred Heart and many other notable facilities around the historic campus.
Fans will become a Notre Dame football player. They will go through all the practices, training tables and meetings during the week. On Blue/Gold game day, they will dress in the Notre Dame Stadium locker room donning authentic ND gear head to toe – from the famous gold helmets to adidas cleats. After mass and the traditional pre-game speech, participants will slap the “Play Like A Champion” sign and sprint out of the tunnel onto the field at Notre Dame Stadium in front of family, friends and fans.
Campers will be provided with all practice and game apparel, as well as other Notre Dame memorabilia and gifts, including a team photo and keepsake DVD from the Blue-Gold Fantasy Football Game to relive the memories.
Cost for this year’s camp is $4,495. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Notre Dame Monogram Club. The Notre Dame Monogram Club provides support to current student-athletes and engages both former and current student-athletes in service, scholarship, support, recognition and fellowship and to maintain the rich tradition and legacy of Notre Dame Athletics.
Interested parties can register by clicking www.anthonytravel.com/notredame/football-fantasy-camp/ or direct questions to Chad Klunder, Director of Football Operations, Phone: 574-631-8643 — Email: cklunder@nd.edu.
-ND-