Oct. 28, 2008
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – A little more than one week remains before the Notre Dame women’s basketball team opens its 2008-09 season with an exhibition game vs. Gannon (Nov. 5, 7 p.m. ET at the Joyce Center). Here’s a look at some of the promotions and special events that are in the works for the upcoming Irish women’s basketball season (please also visit the official Notre Dame women’s basketball promotions page for all the latest information and updates throughout the season):
Teddy Bear Toss (Nov. 29 vs. Michigan State)
During the past three seasons, we have donated over 3,000 stuffed animals to Toys-for-Tots through the Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are invited to bring a stuffed animal to the game and during halftime, everyone will be encouraged to toss their stuffed animal on to the court, where they will be collected by local U.S. Marines for distributions through Toys-for-Tots.
Take a Kid to the Game Day/Pack the House (Dec. 7 vs. Purdue)
During the past two seasons, we have allowed over 6,000 underprivileged kids to come to one of the biggest games of the year. The CW 25 Network and Notre Dame women’s basketball season ticket holders purchase tickets to donate to this special cause.
10-Ton Food Drive Challenge (Dec. 20 vs. Loyola-Chicago)
Get into the holiday spirit as the Irish attempt to collect 10 tons of food for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
WBCA Pink Zone presented by Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (Feb. 8 vs. DePaul)
The Irish are excited to participate in the WBCA’s Pink Zone initiative for breast cancer awareness and research. Our goal is to raise $50,000 this season in support of this nationwide breast cancer initiative. Help the Fighting Irish fight breast cancer all season long through any or all of the following events:
- Open Practice and Tip-off Luncheon – At the SOLD OUT Open Practice and Luncheon on October 19th, the Irish raised $3,311.
- 3-Pointer Challenge Pledge – Last year, the Irish made 90 3-pointers. You can pledge an amount to donate for every 3-pointer made during home, away, and post-season games. We will update you throughout the season on the total number of 3-pointers made. Pick-up a pledge card at the Gate 10 Marketing Table at each home game.
- Pink Zone Challenge – The Irish women’s basketball team has challenged the Top 20 teams in attendance to see who can raise the most money for breast cancer awareness and research. Help us beat Tennessee, LSU, New Mexico and some of the other attendance leaders in this special challenge.
- Hammes Bookstore and Varsity Shop T-Shirt Sales – “Irish Believe” pink t-shirts will be on sale in the Hammes Bookstore and in the Varsity Shop. Proceeds from the sales of the t-shirt will go to breast cancer awareness and research.
- Beanie Bears and Calendars – Notre Dame women’s basketball will be collecting a $5 donation per calendar and beanie bear distributed.
- Brittany and Becca’s Class – Sophomores Brittany Mallory and Becca Bruszewski are currently taking a management class taught by Chuck Lennon, Irish women’s basketball season ticket holder and Executive Director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Brittany and Becca’s class will be at the December 7th game against Purdue to kick-off the Pink Zone initiative.
- Game Day – The game on February 8th will be filled with pink. The players will be dressed in white, pink and navy uniforms, the first 2,000 fans will receive a FREE pink Irish t-shirt compliments of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center and pink pom-poms, balloons and posters will fill the crowd, while breast cancer survivors will be recognized on the court during halftime. What’s more, should Notre Dame sell out this game, the Irish will donate an additional $10,000 to the Pink Zone initiative.
Proceeds from the Pink Zone breast cancer initiative will go to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, as well as three local charities — Women’s Task Force, Young Survivors Group and Secret Sisters Society. For more information on the WBCA Pink Zone, visit wbca.org.
Heroes Night (Feb. 11 vs. Louisville)
Notre Dame women’s basketball salutes those who defend and protect us. Join us to recognize our military and local heroes. All military, firemen, policemen and paramedics and their family will receive admission for ONLY $3.
Halftime Shows
For the second straight year, Notre Dame women’s basketball has been voted “#1 Family Entertainment” and “#1 Place to Take the Kids in Michiana” by the readers of the South Bend Tribune. This season, there will be even more excitement during the game, including Bucket Boys, Red Panda, Chicago Sky Drumline and the Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team.
Big Mac Challenge
Back for a second season is the wildly-popular “Big Mac Challenge,” in which all fans in attendance will receive a coupon for a free Big Mac each time Notre Dame scores at least 88 points in a game. Last year, the Irish reached that mark eight times, with sophomore Brittany Mallory connecting on the all-important “Big Mac Basket” a team-high four times.
Player Sections
For the third season, sections of the Joyce Center will be adopting two players to cheer for all season long. Last season, there was a tie between Erica Williamson/Becca Bruszewski and Devereaux Peters/Melissa D’Amico. Each section received a pizza party with the entire team and emceed by the players.
The 2008-09 season promises to be a thrilling one for Irish fans, with seven monogram winners, including three starters, returning from last year’s squad that advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 and was ranked among the top 15 teams in the nation virtually the entire season. In addition, a talented group of four incoming freshmen will add spice to this year’s roster and should give head coach Muffet McGraw and her staff plenty to work with for the upcoming campaign.
Single-game tickets for the 2008-09 Irish women’s basketball season are priced at $8 (adults) and $5 for both youths (21-and-under) and seniors (55-and-older). Students from Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross are admitted free to all Notre Dame regular-season home games when presenting their student ID, while groups of 20 persons or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate ($3 each).
Also back by popular demand this year is the Notre Dame women’s basketball “Triple Threat Pack,” a $15 ticket offer that allows fans the opportunity to obtain tickets for any three regular-season games of their choosing at one low price. What’s more, season ticket packages remain on sale for the entire 14-game Irish women’s basketball schedule (including the Nov. 5 exhibition game vs. Gannon), at a cost of $58 each for individuals and $46 for full-time Notre Dame faculty and staff. In addition, four-ticket “Fan Packs” are available for purchase at $162 (individuals) and $130 (Notre Dame faculty/staff).
These ticket prices are not applicable to the NCAA Tournament first- and second-round games that will be played at the Joyce Center on March 22 & 24, 2009. Fans may purchase a separate three-game (two session) ticket book for this year’s NCAA Tournament games at a cost of $32 (adults) or $22 (youths).
Tickets for all Notre Dame women’s basketball games may be purchased through the Irish Athletics Ticket Office by visiting the second floor ticket windows at the Joyce Center (enter via Gate 1) or calling (574) 631-7356 during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET). Fans also may buy tickets at any time of the day or night by on-line to the tickets page of the official Notre Dame athletics web site (www.UND.com).
— ND —