No. 12 Syracuse (8-2, 5-2 Atlantic Coast) travels to Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon to take on No. 3 Notre Dame (10-0). Here’s 10 fun facts you need to know about the Fighting Irish before the game:

1. Marshmallow Mayhem

Before the final home game of every season, the seniors sneak multiple bags of marshmallows into Notre Dame stadium. Throughout the game, they throw them at one another in the student section. Thousands and thousands of marshmallows fly through the air. The origin of this tradition is unknown.

2. Find a new staircase

As is tradition, students are not allowed to walk up the main staircase of the Main Building on campus until they graduate. There are other staircases they can use. Graduation is typically celebrated with many pictures from the staircase as students walk up the steps for the first time.

3. Shrek conspiracy

People have theorized that the movie Shrek is based on parts of the Notre Dame campus. The rumor is that the Notre Dame graduates who helped write the movie threw in tributes to their alma mater. For example, Lord “Farquaad” sounds like the “Far Quad,” a spot on the Notre Dame campus. The kingdom of “Dulac” is supposedly named after the school’s student handbook, “du Lac.” The castle from the movie also looks similar to the Hesburgh Library on campus.

4. Presidential Priest

John J. Cavanaugh was Notre Dame’s President from 1946-1952. He was also a close personal friend and the informal chaplain of the Kennedy family. Father John was a close confidant of the nation’s first Catholic President. He officiated multiple family weddings, helped Kennedy campaign and served at Kennedy’s funeral. Father John died in 1979.

5. Not always lucky

Notre Dame’s current mascot is a leprechaun, but that hasn’t always been the case. Currently, students have to tryout to become the mascot. They dress up in a green suit and wear an Irish country hat. Before the leprechaun, Irish terrier dogs represented the school. In 1960, the idea of a cheering leprechaun was introduced. By 1965, it was the official mascot.

6. Who wants Bama?

Since the beginning of the poll era in 1936, only one school has more championships than Notre Dame’s eight — Alabama. The Crimson Tide have 12. Notre Dame won recognized national championships in 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977 and 1988. The Fighting Irish are currently in their longest title drought ever.

7. Love Superstitions

There are two notable marriage superstitions on the Notre Dame campus. If two people kiss under the Lyons Arch, it’s supposed to lead to marriage. The second is a figure eight walk around both St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s lakes, while holding hands.

8. Bookstore Basketball

The Notre Dame Bookstore Basketball tournament is the largest 5-on-5 outdoor tournament in the world. Over 500 teams compete in this student-run tournament which has both an open division and a women’s division. Some teams take it seriously, while others dress up in costumes and play. The two month event is held in March and April, rain or shine.

9. Golden Domes

Notre Dame’s football attire wouldn’t be complete without the “golden dome” helmets. The story is that real gold flakes from the golden dome that tops the main building on campus are used in the paint for the helmets. The school has worn exclusively these golden helmets since the 1950s, until Saturday. They are wearing navy blue helmets with the Notre Dame logo sitting on a pinstripe background.

10. Rudy was offsides

The 1993 film “Rudy” is known as an iconic sports film. It tells the story of Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger who overcame many obstacles to play for Notre Dame. The final moments of the movie, Rudy finally gets to play and records a sack. Or did he? Many have examined this play closely and concluded that Rudy was lined up in the neutral zone and should have been flagged offside. The sack would not have counted.

Published on November 16, 2018 at 11:53 am

Contact Anthony: amdabbun@syr.edu | @AnthonyDabbundo