Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua compares first Notre playoff game to his favorite Irish memory
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame expects a memorable experience in the team's first playoff home game.
Tuesday the Athletic Director took the podium to address a handful of questions from local media. Primarily about Friday's game against Indiana University.
It's the first playoff game in Notre Dame Stadium and although there some adjustments made by the College Football Playoffs, Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua and his staff have prioritized making December 20th a home game.
IU fans received 3,500 tickets to Friday's game and unlike your typical seats for away teams, the Hoosiers have 1,500 seats in the lower bowl of the stadium.
Of the thousands of fans entering the House That Rockne Built, Notre Dame will make sure the Irish faithful's have rally towels to add to the experience.
"People always ask me, What's the best sporting event I've ever been to? I always have an easy number one. I graduated in the spring of 1993 and came back in the fall of 1993 for that great Florida State game with Charlie Ward. That's where my expectations are heading into Friday," Bevacqua said.
A lasting impression 31 years ago is what Bevacqua is craving, nine months into his tenure as the Athletic Director at Notre Dame.
"That type of atmosphere where it felt like the whole country was focused singularly on a sporting event and I think because we're the first game, because it's in Notre Dame Stadium, because it's going to be this great intrastate game on prime time on a Friday, I think it really has the chance to be a spectacular moment in sports and spectacular, hopefully, moment in Notre Dame sports history," Bevacqua added.
In Bevacqua's time as AD, he's already seen a National Championship for Men's Lacrosse. Recently, he managed to ink a contract extension with Football Head Coach Marcus Freeman. It's believed to be a four-year deal according to sources, but details are private. Next on Bevacqua's list, is winning a National Championship in football.
In three seasons, Freeman has a 30-9 overall record. Including a 10-game win streak this season. Now that the deal is done, both parties have one goal that aligns. It doesn't matter who the opponent is or what the format is for the College Football Playoffs.
It's never going to be perfect, but I think in this system, with conference changes, with all of the moving pieces, I think it's been a wonderful success," Bevacqua said.
People say, oh, did you expect to be the fifth, the sixth, the seventh seed? Honest to God, I'm not saying just saying this. I really didn't care, I just wanted to host a playoff game," Bevacqua added.