September 28, 2016 Notre Dame

Good evening everyone.  Today we arrived at the campus of Notre Dame University in South Bend Indiana.  The University was originally founded by Fr Edward Sorin in France.  Obviously the phrase "Fighting Irish" didn't originate with him.

The school occupies around 1200 acres, has an undergrad enrollment of around 8000 which has remained relatively stable from the 1960's until today.  The graduate school has about 4000 enrolled.

When we arrived at the welcome center, got a map and headed out the door, we caught a clue that it might be a big campus.

The main (Admin Building) can be seen from many locations on campus and can be identified by it's gold dome.

The inside of the dome has paintings of  religious characters.

We thought we would sneak into the Huddle food court to catch an ice cream bar.  No one even noticed the old people in the crowd.  There is plenty of diversity, however the first female student at Notre Dame wasn't allowed until 1972. 

The $200,000 granite mosaic mural was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Howard V. Phalin of Winnetka, Illinois.  It is titled Word of Life and is located on the southern main entrance to the Hesburgh Library.  Because it can be seen from the northern goalpost area of the football stadium the phrase Touchdown Jesus can often be heard when making reference to either the mural, or the scoring of a touchdown.

The team entrance to the stadium.

Grammie was seen today with a statue of the famous Knute Rockne.

Inside the Purcell Athletic Center lobby

 The basketball court.  There are 5 floors that are used during the year and completely cleaned each year.  Two of them are owned and used by the NCAA during playoff season.

 The multiuse Field House.  Today there was volleyball being played on the right side inside the blue curtain.  Instead of a Phys Ed requirement, dorms are encouraged to participate in intramural sports, necessitating the need for multiuse facilities.

 Looking close at the team entrance to the stadium, one might notice the shape of a football.  The stadium is ONLY used for ND football games, and not for practice.

 ND members of the Heisman Award club.  In 1956, Paul Hornung won with a 2-9 record???

 Words from George to Coach Rockne.

 The original Gipper

 Heading down to the field, it is a tradition that the player slaps the sign.

 Player entrance to the field.

 A view of the north end

 A lot of the wooden seats originate back to 1929.

 

Thanks for keeping an eye out for Grammie.