ESPN college football analyst and former University of Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz will be the featured speaker at the annual kick-off celebration and unveiling ceremony for The Shirt 2009, to be held April 17 (Friday) from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore. Shirts will be available for purchase immediately after the 6 p.m. unveiling.
As coach from 1986 to 1996, Holtz guided his teams to an overall record of 100-32-2. He holds the Irish record for most games coached and is second only to Knute Rockne in total victories. He led Notre Dame to the 1988 national championship and remains 11th on the NCAA all-time win list for Division I-A coaches.
Former WSBT-TV news anchor Mike Collins will emcee the event, and Notre Dame’s Glee Club, marching band, cheerleaders, leprechaun, pom squad, bagpipe band and Irish dance team 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 135,000 shirts were sold in last year’s $600,000 campaign. The project, sponsored by Notre Dame students and alumni, has raised more than $6 million for student organizations and to aid students in need.
The Shirt again will sell for $15, and a limited number will be available at the bookstore beginning April 17 in conjunction with the Blue-Gold football game, which will be played April 18.
More information is available on the Web at http://theshirt.nd.edu.