June 20, 2005
NOTRE DAME, In. – The third-annual Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp is set to welcome 51 participants to campus for five days of an authentic Irish football experience. The camp will run from June 29-July 3 and host representatives of 22 states, England and Canada with an average age of 48 years.
Participants will arrive on campus on Wednesday, June 29, and be treated to a reception and welcome dinner that evening in Notre Dame’s storied Monogram Room. Over the next two days, the group will be put through a routine much like that of an actual Notre Dame football player, including dressing in the locker room, two practices per day and a series of team meetings. Thursday night will feature a tour and tailgate party at the College Football Hall of Fame, and the group will dine at the University Club on Friday, July 1.
The first three days of the camp all lead up to the culminating event – a flag football game in Notre Dame Stadium. Campers will follow the same routine as a Notre Dame football player on that day, from morning mass to touching the “Play Like A Champion Today” sign to running out of the stadium’s famous tunnel.
In order to help further authenticate the Notre Dame football experience, a group of former monogram winners and current Irish coaches has been assembled to lead and instruct the camp’s participants.
1953 Heisman winner John Lattner headlines the group of former Irish players that will be returning to coach the camp, and he will be joined by the likes of Bob Crable, the school’s all-time leading tackler, Mark Green, leading rusher on the 1988 national championship team, and Blair Kiel, starting quarterback for the Irish from 1980-83.
Four members of the current Irish coaching staff – offensive coordinator and running backs coach Mike Haywood, defensive line coach Jappy Oliver and director of personnel development Ron Powlus. Haywood and Powlus are both also former Notre Dame players. Quarterbacks coach Peter Vaas, returning for his second Fantasy Camp, will provide a welcome address on Wednesday, and head coach Charlie Weis will meet with the group during their stay.
Several of this year’s campers will be making a return trip to the Notre Dame campus. A dozen participants are making their second appearance, while Robert Haberkorn (Cape Girardeau, Mo.), Bob Johnson (Lititz, Pa.) and John Thomas (Dallas, Pa.) will be making their third appearance in as many years.
For more information on Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp, Patrick Steenberge, former Irish quarterback and current president of Global Football, at patrick@globalfootball.com or at (817) 219-7274.