(L) South Florida

The Tunnel

Notre Dame Stadium’s tunnel is open to the Field Level on Football Fridays.

Bowl Trophy

On display at the top of the Tunnel ramp was the 2010 Sun Bowl Trophy from ND’s 33-13 dismantling of Miami.

Dillon Hall Pep Rally

The men of Dillon Hall continued their long-running Dillon Hall Pep Rally tradition on South Quad. The event, long held on the Thursday before the first game, was moved to Friday and designated the official kickoff pep rally starting last season.

The Team at the Pep Rally

Head Coach Brian Kelly addressed the crowd at the Dillon Hall Pep Rally with the members of the 2011 Irish Football squad.

May I have your attention, please?

Notre Dame celebrity Ofc. Tim McCarthy of the Indiana State Police, whose voice is more familiar than his visage continued another long-running tradition by addressing the assembled masses at the Dillon Pep Rally.

A New Walking Route

In an update to an old tradition, the Player Walk on game day took a new route for the USF game. Buses took the Irish team from team mass at the Basilica to the Gug for a last team meeting before game time. Then the team walked to the library and down the crowded Library Quad through the assembled Irish Fans.

Fly-over

Two fighters streak over ND stadium during the pre-game festivities.

March Out

The nation’s first University Band takes the field.

Heeeeeeeeeeere Come the Irish!

The Irish take the field.

Gloves

Bennet Jackson shows off Adidas’ new Leprechaun adorned football gloves.

Beth Holtz

The wife of National Championship head coach Lou Holtz was honored on the field during the game. Mrs. Holtz’s son, and Notre Dame graduate Skip Holtz was the head coach of the USF Bulls.

…and the Thunder Rolls. And the Thunder Rolls.

The big story of the day was the mandatory evacuation of Notre Dame Stadium for the first and second times in history as lightening chased both teams into the locker room and fans into the concourses and nearby buildings. All told, the game featured over two hours of rain delay.

Student Section 1812 Overture

The ND Student body salutes the team with “very familiar” ending to the 1812 overture by a Russian composer who’s name I will almost certainly misspell, and as such, will not attempt.