Lou Holtz Rockne Heritage Blue-Gold Game Speech

Since Knute Rockne was at the helm, the Fighting Irish have evolved to become one of the top all-around collegiate sports programs in the nation. It is the challenge of sustaining that success--and particularly, finding the means to fund those undertakings--that faces the University today.

Simply put, we want it all. We want Notre Dame Athletics to continue to be a source of revenue for the University, but we also want to be the home of the model intercollegiate athletics program, the best in every way. We want to be the unsurpassed leader in academic performance and fiscal responsibility. We want to do it the right way, the Notre Dame way, which demands the highest level of integrity on and off the field.

Most of all, we want to continue offering our student-athletes a transforming educational experience, one that combines intellectual rigor, athletic excellence, and an emphasis on spirituality and moral values. And we want to extend this opportunity based exclusively on a young person's talent and desire, not on his or her financial resources.

Give a Gift and Leave a Legacy

To that end, the Rockne Heritage Fund was created in 2002 to galvanize alumni, parents, and friends of Notre Dame to fund expendable scholarships for student-athletes.

Football Ticket Lottery

Irish Legends members, Pat and Patty Calhoun enjoy the view from the sidelines during the Director's Circle recognition weekend.

All contributions to the Rockne Heritage Fund are credited toward eligibility in the football ticket lottery.

Irish Legends

"Rockne Heritage Fund members provided scholarships for us, making a Notre Dame education and the pursuit of national championships possible. Thanks to those generous alumni, parents, and friends, we will be well-prepared to graduate and serve as leaders within our communities. We pledge to follow your example of generosity and give back to the University we love so much. Thank you for 'giving a gift and leaving a legacy'!" - Student-Athlete Advisory Council

Donors who contribute to the Rockne Heritage Fund at the $5,000, $10,000 giving levels and beyond in a calendar year qualify for an Irish Legends membership in the Director's Circle.