NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- The Fighting Irish are headed to Stanford this weekend, but first they got in a good meal.

Players who couldn't make it home spent the holiday at coaches' homes, which is no small task to cook for the football team.

Players and coaches say they're a family, but of course some players miss being home for the holiday, especially those who love Thanksgiving.

"Thanksgiving is a time for my whole family to come together,” said Irish Inside Linebacker Manti Te’o. “My extended family and we just had a big potluck.  We had the normal Thanksgiving meal, turkey, stuffing, but we also had local favorites family favorite foods."

The Irish will come together for a meeting, they will then head to Stanford on Friday.