Cappy Gagnon, who took over as director of stadium personnel for the 1996 season, says he bolstered the ranks of ushers, or "hosts," as he prefers to think of them, to get ready for the extra 20,000 "guests" they'll be shepherding in the 1997 season.
Even without the expansion, though, Notre Dame Stadium usually has about twice as many ushers as other stadiums. Gagnon says that's because of the perpetual sell-outs, the University's philosophy that you can never provide too much service, and because there's no shortage of people who want to be ushers.
Rank-and-file ushers who work where they can see the game -- about 60 percent of the total -- are volunteers. Ticket-takers and others who can't see the action are paid $6.75 an hour. Captains, who supervise the ushers in each section, make $50 a game. Managers, who oversee captains of four sections, get $100 a game.
Some changes the usher corps underwent in 1996:
--They changed hats. All but the supervisory personnel now wear gold ball caps. The previous ones were blue-and-gold conductor-style hats.
--They got more diverse. There were never any women ushers at Notre Dame Stadium before last season. Now there are about 40.
One thing that didn't change last season was the presence of usher Leo Pasman. Hired by Knute Rockne himself, he's been on duty every season Notre Dame Stadium has been open. Last year was his 67th.