Nov. 10, 2004

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Three former University of Notre Dame football greats — quarterback Tony Rice, split end Derrick Mayes and tailback Allen Pinkett — will sign autographs Saturday from 11:00 a.m.-noon (ET) in the Joyce Center Fieldhouse. All three men will be available to meet with visiting fans as part of the “Notre Dame Experience,” an interactive fan festival for each of the 2004 home football games. The “Notre Dame Experience” combines the Notre Dame Alumni Association Hospitality Center with interactive inflatables, photo booths, autograph sessions, Notre Dame football trivia and stage activities.

Rice was one of the cornerstones on Notre Dame’s 1988 national championship team which went 12-0 and defeated West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. He holds the school records for rushing yardage by a quarterback in a season (884 in 1989) and a career (1,921), ranking 17th among all Irish players in the latter category. Rice also stands sixth in school history with 4,882 yards of total offense.

Mayes starred at Notre Dame from 1992-95, helping the Irish to a stellar 36-10-2 (.771) record, a pair of finishes in the national top four, and victories over Texas A&M in the 1993 and 1994 Cotton Bowls. In 1995, the Indianapolis native was a second-team All-America pick by Football News and a third-team Associated Press All-America selection. Mayes still holds school records for touchdown receptions in a season (11) and a career (22), as well as career receiving yards (2,512).

Pinkett, who currently serves as the color analyst on Westwood One’s radio broadcasts of Notre Dame football, is the school’s second all-time leading rusher, amassing 4,131 yards during his brilliant career from 1982-85. He still owns school records for career rushing attempts (889) and rushing touchdowns (49), and he led the Irish in rushing for three consecutive seasons from 1983-85. His 1,394-yard effort in 1983 remains the second-highest single-season total in school history. Also in 1983, Pinkett earned second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press and United Press International, and first-team plaudits from The Sporting News and Football News.

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.

No. 24 Notre Dame (6-3) plays its final home game of the 2004 season Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (ET) against Pittsburgh at Notre Dame Stadium. That game will be televised nationally by NBC.

— ND —