University of Notre Dame - Dome Yearbook

“Legendary Heroes " It was the success of Knute Rockne ' s Notre Dame football teams - plus the legendary coach ' s own personal building blueprint - that prompted the addition of the original Notre Dame Stadium to the University ' s athletic plant back in 1930. The Irish first played their games on Carrier Field, then located just north of the current stadium site. But as the University ' s national football rq^utation expanded, thanks to the coaching of Rockne, the need for a new home for the Irish was voiced since no more than 30,000 fans could squeeze into the Cartier facility. " " Though Rockne had a chance to coach in the new facility only in its initial season of use, he took a personal hand in its design. The sod from Cartier Field was transplanted into the new Stadium, but Rockne insisted on its use for football only. He kept the area between the field and the stands small to keep sideline guests, as he called them, to a minimum - and he personally supervised the parking and traffic system that remained much the same until the 21,150-seat addition in 1997. " " Since that 1930 opening, the Irish have compiled an impressive " 284-84-5 (.768) " mark in Notre Dame Stadium. During 25 of those seasons the Irish did not lose at home. " " The spirit that was imbued by the Rockne era - and has been sustained by seven Heisman Trophy winners and dozens more Ail-Americans who have competed on that turf - has changed little in more than seven decades of football at Notre Dame Stadium. " " For all the legendary players and memorable moments it has hosted on its bluegrass turf over the past " 373 games, " Notre Dame Stadium has unquestionably developed a lore all its own. " Fii-dshirig its 74th year " of service to Irish football, the stadium continues to be one of the most recognizable and revered structures in the world of sport. " -Taken from " Notre Dame vStadium has Legendary History, " University of Notre Dame College ^Sports website 008 A 1921 iH 1995 HB^ B^^^^^ BSH^^^B ^■■- ' W ' ccp H ' r^i m 10 ^^^ " ^ 1963 Photo amnesy of Samuel Sanchez ^^^^^^^^M OpeniriLg ”