| The University of Notre Dame is one of two | | | | left to become the Commissioner of the |
| Catholic universities in the United States | | | | National Football League. By now college |
| that have a football team. The Notre Dame | | | | football was well established and fans all |
| football team has the nickname of the | | | | over the country cheered on the Notre Dame |
| Fighting Irish because it was mainly Irish | | | | team. Leahy coached the team for 11 seasons |
| Christian Brothers who were the teachers and | | | | and next to Rockne, he had the second highest |
| coaches at the university. The first football | | | | percentage of wins with 87 wins and four |
| team was developed in 1887 and played its | | | | national championships. |
| first game on November 23 of that year. It | | | | |
| lost this game to Michigan in a score of 8-0. | | | | When Terry Brennan took over from Leahy in |
| They didn actually win a game until the end | | | | 1954, one could easily see a pattern |
| of the season in 1888 when they delivered a | | | | developing in the coaches of the team. They |
| resounding defeat to Harvard Prep. During the | | | | were mainly former players with very little |
| seasons between 1889 and 1899, they continued | | | | coaching experience, which continued until |
| to play with statistics of 31 wins, 15 losses | | | | 1964. The appointment of Ara Parseghian |
| and 4 ties. During this time they steadily | | | | marked the beginning of a new era in the |
| developed a following and increased in | | | | football history of Notre Dame by hiring a |
| popularity. | | | | coach that had played for an opposing team |
| | | | and one with coaching experience. Once again, |
| When Jessie Harper took over the position of | | | | Notre Dame would start to dominate in college |
| head coach in 1913, Notre Dame confined its | | | | football. |
| games to playing games between colleges and | | | | |
| this marked the beginning of a longstanding | | | | Other famous coaches that led this team to |
| rivalry between Notre Dame and Army and | | | | success included Dan Devine, Gerry Faust, Lou |
| Michigan State. Harper remained as coach | | | | Holtz, Bob Davie, and Tyrone Willingham. |
| until 1917, when Knute Rockne took over the | | | | Charlie Weis took over as coach in 2005 and |
| position. Under Rockne, the team won five | | | | achieved a record of 9-3 and an appearance at |
| championships and the Rose Bowl in 1925. | | | | the Fiesta Bowl. During the 2006 season, the |
| Rockne enjoyed the highest percentage of wins | | | | team also had an excellent season but fell to |
| in college football history. The saying in | | | | many defeats during the 2007 season. |
| one for the Gipper?became the slogan of the | | | | |
| team during this time as well. George Gipp, | | | | It is easy to recognize the Notre Dame team |
| nicknamed the Gipper, was a player on the | | | | by its home jersey. The jersey is dark blue |
| team and died of strep throat. | | | | with white numbers outlined in gold. The |
| | | | interlocking letters, ND, are engraved at the |
| Heartley unk?Anderson took over as coach of | | | | base of the collar. The team away jersey is |
| the team from 1931 to 1940 and continued to | | | | white with blue numbers, still outlined in |
| bring the team to success. He was replaced by | | | | gold. Each jersey has the player surname |
| a former player, Frank Leahy, in 1940 when he | | | | across the back. |