ND-Army rivalry renewed in NYC

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Lincoln Center was picked as the site of Notre Dame’s pep rally, featuring the marching band and the leprechaun. A goal post now stands where Alex Rodriguez usually takes his hacks and another is planted in front of the outfield wall.

Notre Dame is playing in the Big Apple for the first time since 1969 and even though the only thing the Irish will be fighting for against Army in Yankee Stadium is bowl eligibility, it’s an event.

New York has always been a sort of home away from home for the Fighting Irish. There are more than 8,200 Notre Dame alumni in the metropolitan area and that’s not counting the so-called subway alumni, those New Yorkers who grew up rooting for the Irish without ever setting foot on the campus in South Bend, Ind.

So it makes perfect sense Notre Dame would play the first game at the Yankees’ two-year-old, $1.5 billion ballpark. It’s such a special occasion, the Irish will be wearing kelly green jerseys for the first time under coach Brian Kelly.

“I just think being in New York and having Notre Dame there is going to be a great thrill for everybody,” Kelly said. “I’ll be a little preoccupied.”

It’s the 50th game between Notre Dame and Army, and the 23rd time they have met in the Bronx, the last coming in 1969.

“It’s one of those iconic things — Notre Dame football, Army football, Yankee Stadium — that’s American sport,” Army coach Rich Ellerson said. “All three of those things on the same day? Wow, what a neat opportunity.”

The old Yankee Stadium was the site of some of the greatest Army-Notre Dame games, including the 1946 0-0 tie, dubbed the Game of the Century between the top-ranked Black Knights and No. 2 Fighting Irish.

The rivalry was a college football staple in the first half of the 20th century, but Army and Notre Dame have played sporadically since — with the Irish winning 13 straight since Army’s last win in 1958.