University of Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly will again be the featured speaker at the annual kick-off celebration and unveiling ceremony for The Shirt 2011, to be held Friday (April 15) from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore. Shirts will be available for purchase immediately after the 5:45 p.m. unveiling.
The event also will feature appearances by Notre Dame Stadium announcer and former WSBT-TV news anchor Mike Collins; Associate Vice President for University Relations, Chuck Lennon, who has served for 30 years as the executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association, from which he will retire in June; and Tim McCarthy, a former sergeant with the Indiana State Police known for his safety announcements in Notre Dame Stadium.
Notre Dame’s Glee Club, Marching Band, cheerleaders, leprechaun, Pom Squad, Bagpipe Band, Irish Dance Team, Swing Club, First Class Steppers, Harmonia, and Project Fresh also will join the fanfare.
Notre Dame students have been wearing The Shirt to football games since 1990 to unite in support of their team. Over time, other members of the Notre Dame community, and subsequently the general public, also have adopted the tradition. More than 153,000 shirts were sold in last year’s $500,000 campaign. The project has raised more than $6.5 million for student organizations and to aid students facing extraordinary medical conditions.
The Shirt again will sell for $15, and a limited number will be available at the bookstore beginning April 15 in conjunction with the Blue-Gold football game, which will be played April 16. More information on The Shirt 2011 is available here.
Contact: Lauren Marzouca, president, The Shirt 2011, 570-991-1030, theshirt@nd.edu