Football weekends at Notre Dame can be exciting yet frantic times. There seems to be too many activities but too little time. The good news is that informed fans can easily have a fun-filled weekend complete with food, music, and even a football game between two nationally ranked teams.

Friday

As Friday classes let out, many students rush back to their dorms or off-campus apartments to take part in Forties at Four. This tradition involves consuming one or two 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor. Popular brands include Mickey's, Colt 45 and Cobra. Although scattered throughout campus, Forties is especially popular in Morrissey and Knott. Many dorms claim they "invented" Forties at Four, but legend has it that the first Forties took place in infamous Flanner Tower.

Forties at Four is often pushed back to 5:30 p.m. because of classes. This fact made Knott freshman Ben Gilfillian wonder "if people are just trying to come up with an excuse to drink a forty before dinner." He did maintain that `it's a good enough excuse for me.'"

Sophomore Christian Suarez, a self-described "Forties lover" said that Forties at Four's sole purpose "is just to get drunk and act stupid at the dining hall and pep rally." Suarez said he was, on several occasions, "too drunk to even eat."

The pep rally is the next stop for Irish fans and campus visitors. While the pep rally is usually held in the Joyce Center before games, this weekend's matchup is far from the usual game. The pep rally has been moved to Notre Dame Stadium to accommodate the thousands of people expected to attend. The stadium gates open at 6 p.m., and the pep rally starts at 6:30 p.m. Usually, the pep rally features a special guest speaker and a speech by a football player. The speeches have a wide range, from the "spirit of Notre Dame" speech to the "we're going to kick their a—" tirade made famous by former defensive lineman Bob Golic.

The pep rally also features performances by the band and pom squad. Alumnus Kevin Dewan said that the pep rally "is great because the band and speakers get everyone ready for the game and you can really feel the enthusiasm of the Irish fans. It's pretty amazing."

Fans leaving the pep rally should stop outside the south gate to see a unique Notre Dame tradition. Behind the gates near the stadium tunnel, the football managers paint the helmets for Saturday's game. In the shadow of Touchdown Jesus, the football managers coat the helmets with a fresh layer of paint containing 24-carat gold. "Now we know where the thirty grand a year in tuition goes," laughed student Ann Marie Dillhoff.

For fans looking for a good time after the game, South Bend's various bars have special events on football game weekends. CJ's Pub will host a tent party from 11 a.m. until midnight. Many apartment complexes like Turtle Creek and Lafayette host enormous keg parties later in the evening. Because Nebraska is without question the biggest game on the Irish schedule, there will be no shortage of parties on Friday night.

Saturday morning

For many Irish fans — especially students — Saturday mornings mean tailgating. Loud music, cheap beer and all the bratwurst anyone can handle are the staples of a Notre Dame tailgate. Tailgating participants range from a first-time freshman shotgunning Natty Light to the great boxer Muhammad Ali.

"I look forward to tailgating almost more than the game," said sophomore Kevin Heffernan. "Last year I didn't even make it to the Michigan State game."

To the seasoned tailgate addict, the RV section is the `Promised Land'. These hard-core fans drive their Winnebagoes from all over America, rumbling into the parking lot on Friday morning to secure the choicest parking spots. They always have the best food and the best beer. More importantly, the RV crowd is very generous to poor Notre Dame students who could never afford such high quality food and drink.

For students and fans tailgating without permits, the soccer fields across Edison are popular. Tailgaters gather beneath the enormous radio tower in the middle of the field and party all morning, testing their stomachs with multiple burgers and multiple beers.

"After walking through that field, I couldn't believe there was any alcohol left in South Bend," observed self-proclaimed tailgating expert Brian Ford.

Although everyone has their own personal idea of what makes an ideal tailgater, most Irish fans would agree that the keys to success are lots of food, lots of friends and lots of beer. Hardly just an excuse to drink before noon, sophomore Adam Harrison described tailgating as "a cultural experience."

Tailgating is not the only event on-campus on Saturday morning. The Notre Dame Glee Club performs at 11:30 a.m. in the Joyce Center. The marching band snakes its way through campus during the morning and finally ends with a concert on the steps of Bond Hall an hour prior to game.

The informed fan should follow the band for a while, if only to see the Irish Guard abuse an unwitting Nebraska fan that makes the mistake of blocking the band's path.

After the Game

After the game, the only thing on a fan's mind is food. In this key decision, there are many options. Grape Road features every chain restaurant known to man, from Chili's to Friday's to Outback Steakhouse. However, no restaurant in the area around Notre Dame will accept reservations anytime on football weekends, and 1 1/2-hour waits are common for more popular establishments. Also, fans should expect slow service.

For people that don't want to fight the Grape Road crowd, tailgating after the game is a popular option. These die-hards simply fire up their grills again and re-open the beer coolers.

They have the advantage of avoiding the mad rush leaving the stadium parking lot after the game.

The dining halls offer a `candlelight buffet' after the game. It is free for students as part of their meal plan, and everyone else can eat for $11.95. The buffet does showcase the best food the dining hall will offer all year, but reviews are mixed. "It's still the dining hall," sophomore Becky Luckett said.

For the religious football fan, Siegfried Hall hosts a Mass 30 minutes after the game. Signs advertising the service guarantee that it has "a short homily, air conditioning and friendly people."

Hall resident Tim Comte agrees. "It's only like 30 minutes," he said. "They just get you out of there quick."

Sunday

Football Sundays are the relaxing part of the weekend. Students generally study, taking a breather after a wild few days. A trip to the bookstore is a good idea for parents or visitors wishing to pick up anything Domer related.

"Who wouldn't want a Notre Dame dog collar or official Fighting Irish macaroni!" said Laurie Hohberger, a regular visitor to the bookstore.

As the fans return home and the students return to the rigors of academia, the campus again becomes quiet.

But that next football game weekend — and another chance to tailgate — is just around the corner when Purdue visits on Sept. 16.

"In the fall at Notre Dame, there's only thing that matters — tailgating," said Matt Wilkerson. "Oh, and football's pretty cool too."

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