April 1, 2000
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Tickets are now on sale for the 71st annual Blue-Gold controlled football scrimmage, the culmination of the University of Notre Dame’s spring practice period.
The Blue-Gold scrimmage is set for 1:30 p.m. EST, Saturday, April 29, 2000, in Notre Dame Stadium.
The game is sponsored by the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley and helps raise funds for that organization’s scholarship fund. .
The game itself is a controlled, intrasquad contest for the 2000 Irish squad on the last of its 15 allotted days of practice this spring. Notre Dame began its spring drills today.
Following the Blue-Gold scrimmage, an autograph session will be held involving all members of the current Irish team.
Prior to the Blue-Gold contest, a flag football game will be held from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. involving Notre Dame football alumni. The Stadium will open at 11:00 a.m. EST.
General admission tickets in advance are $8 for adults and $6 for youths 16 and under. On game day tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for youths. Gold seats are $12 each. Group sales of 25 or more tickets are available at $5 per ticket. All Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross students are admitted free with identification. All parking is free of charge for that event.
Advance tickets can be purchased at the Joyce Center ticket office (on the second floor, enter Gate 1) from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets can be ordered by mail by writing Ticket Office, Joyce Center, Juniper Road, Notre Dame, IN 46556 (add $5 service charge per mail order). Phone orders are accepted using VISA, Mastercard or American Express by calling 219-631-7356 ($5 service charge per phone order).
Ticket orders should be received by Monday, April 17, to insure prompt mail delivery of tickets. Orders received the week of the game will be held at will call (east side of Stadium). Photo identification is required for pickup of any tickets at will call. Game day ticket sales at ticket windows on the east side of the Stadium begin at 9:00 a.m.
The Irish return 13 starters this spring (including punter Joey Hildbold), seven on offense and five on defense.
On offense, the returnees are Jim Jones and Mike Gandy at guard, Jordan Black and John Teasdale at tackle, Jabari Holloway at tight end, Tony Fisher at tailback and Joey Getherall at flanker.
Defensively, the starters back are tackle Anthony Weaver, end Grant Irons, inside linebacker Anthony Denman, outside linebacker Rocky Boiman and cornerback Clifford Jefferson.
With the graduation of record-setting quarterback starter Jarious Jackson, the Irish will head into 2000 with a new signalcaller under center. The top candidate for that job is junior Arnaz Battle.
The Irish open the 2000 schedule September 2 with a home game against Texas A&M. The first five opponents on the ’00 slate all are teams that played in bowl games in ’99 (A&M, followed by Nebraska, Purdue, Michigan State and Stanford).