Oct. 30, 2003

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Former Notre Dame quarterback Tony Rice and former Irish tailback Lee Becton will sign autographs Saturday from 11 a.m.-noon (EST) in the Joyce Center Fieldhouse. Both men will be available to meet with visiting fans as part of the “Notre Dame Experience,” an interactive fan festival for each of the 2003 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 16th among all Irish players in the latter category. Rice also stands sixth in school history with 4,882 yards of total offense.

Becton was a four-year monogram winner at tailback for the Irish from 1991-94, starting in the Notre Dame backfield during his final two seasons. The Ernul, N.C., native is one of only 12 players in school history to rush for 2,000 yards in his career, finishing 12th on the Irish all-time charts with 2,029 yards on the ground. His best season came in 1993, when he rushed for 1,044 yards and six touchdowns, helping Notre Dame to an 11-1 record and a Cotton Bowl win over Texas A&M. The Irish were wildly successful during Becton’s career, posting a 37-10-2 (.776) record with two Cotton Bowl wins and a Sugar Bowl triumph.

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 returns to action Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (EST) against fifth-ranked Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium. That game will be televised nationally by NBC.

– ND –