The 2010 college football season will see the return of one of the sport’s oldest rivalries when Notre Dame plays Army at New Yankee Stadium on November 20. The nationally televised Saturday night game will be the 50th meeting of the two schools.
At the press conference announcing the event, Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis and Army head coach Rich Ellerson were both presented with Yankees home jerseys with the number 10, representing the year they will play.
Coach Weis said, “As a longtime Yankee fan, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity for Notre Dame to be a part of this event. I think this will be the kind of game that our players will remember long after it’s over.”
The Notre Dame–Army game will mark the first football game at New Yankee Stadium.
Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick said, “It’s fitting that a Notre Dame–Army game will be the first football event in this fabulous facility— and it’s also fitting that the 50th meeting in this great rivalry will take place in a venue with such great tradition for both programs.”
According to Lonn Tros, Yankees chief operating officer, the idea of football being played there was always on the table.
“In the planning and construction of this stadium, we had to make certain that the building was winterized, which it was. We are able to use this on a full-season basis, not just for baseball.”
Instead of the layout at old Yankee Stadium, where the football field was from first base to left-center, fans will view the field with the goal posts from home plate to center field.
Yankee Stadium hopes to host more Notre Dame–Army games, as well as other college football games. The NHL is also in talks to host future games there as well.
Notre Dame and Army have played at old Yankee Stadium 22 of the 49 times they have met. The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have had the most success in the rivalry with a record of 14–5–3 at Yankee Stadium and 37–8–4 overall.
The most memorable game between the two teams was the 1928 matchup at Yankee Stadium. During his halftime speech of a scoreless game, coach Knute Rockne gave his “Win one for the Gipper” speech. The “Gipper” referred to George Gipp, a former Notre Dame football player who had died a few years earlier at the age of 25.
The Notre Dame players took that speech to heart and won the game 12–6.
The speech was ingrained into American pop culture in the 1940 movie “Knute Rockne-All American.” Ronald Regan played Rockne and would later use that rally cry in his political campaigns.
Notre Dame is hoping to build on last season’s 7–6 record, including a 49–21 win against Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
In his first season as Army head coach, Rich Ellerson is hoping to get the program back on track. Army has not won more that three games in each of the past three seasons.
At the press conference announcing the event, Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis and Army head coach Rich Ellerson were both presented with Yankees home jerseys with the number 10, representing the year they will play.
Coach Weis said, “As a longtime Yankee fan, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity for Notre Dame to be a part of this event. I think this will be the kind of game that our players will remember long after it’s over.”
The Notre Dame–Army game will mark the first football game at New Yankee Stadium.
Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick said, “It’s fitting that a Notre Dame–Army game will be the first football event in this fabulous facility— and it’s also fitting that the 50th meeting in this great rivalry will take place in a venue with such great tradition for both programs.”
According to Lonn Tros, Yankees chief operating officer, the idea of football being played there was always on the table.
“In the planning and construction of this stadium, we had to make certain that the building was winterized, which it was. We are able to use this on a full-season basis, not just for baseball.”
Instead of the layout at old Yankee Stadium, where the football field was from first base to left-center, fans will view the field with the goal posts from home plate to center field.
Yankee Stadium hopes to host more Notre Dame–Army games, as well as other college football games. The NHL is also in talks to host future games there as well.
Rivalry History
Notre Dame and Army have played at old Yankee Stadium 22 of the 49 times they have met. The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have had the most success in the rivalry with a record of 14–5–3 at Yankee Stadium and 37–8–4 overall.
The most memorable game between the two teams was the 1928 matchup at Yankee Stadium. During his halftime speech of a scoreless game, coach Knute Rockne gave his “Win one for the Gipper” speech. The “Gipper” referred to George Gipp, a former Notre Dame football player who had died a few years earlier at the age of 25.
The Notre Dame players took that speech to heart and won the game 12–6.
The speech was ingrained into American pop culture in the 1940 movie “Knute Rockne-All American.” Ronald Regan played Rockne and would later use that rally cry in his political campaigns.
Notre Dame is hoping to build on last season’s 7–6 record, including a 49–21 win against Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
In his first season as Army head coach, Rich Ellerson is hoping to get the program back on track. Army has not won more that three games in each of the past three seasons.
