What’s your favorite Notre Dame Football gameday tradition?
Notre Dame is even more special of a place on football gamedays, but what tradition makes it more special to you?
The Notre Dame Bagpipe Band leads the football team into the stadium before a NCAA football game against Navy at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Football gamedays at Notre Dame have a lore and a history to them that is second to none.
While many other schools across the country can make a strong argument that they have a better overall gameday than Notre Dame, the real beauty of it all is because of how these gamedays make its fans feel. There’s real emotion and a sense of camaraderie that trumps any type of measurable. Basically — we’re the best and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Basically. Every game on Notre Dame’s campus means there are dozens of traditions that happen in a certain order, and sometimes also simultaneously. There’s a lot to take in, a lot to do, and a lot of emotion to let out before toe finally meets leather.
In all fairness, I’m asking you the question, so I think I owe you an answer about my favorite gameday tradition. I feel like saying the tailgating lots is kind of like plucking the low-hanging fruit — but it’s not wrong if that’s your choice. For me though, and it’s one that I rarely get to see or experience anymore while covering Notre Dame home games, is the band taking the field.