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One of Notre Dame's great gameday traditions is the hitting of the
"Play Like Champions Today" sign as they exit the locker room.
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University of Notre Dame's
"Play Like a Champion Today" Tradition
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The slogan "Play Like a Champion Today" is an inspirational message that has
belonged in Notre Dame athletic history since before the 1900s. However, it
wasn't until Lou Holtz had a wooden sign made featuring that phrase that the
Fighting Irish gameday tradition was born.
The painted blue and gold wooden sign is located at a stairwell leading out of
the Notre Dame locker room. As player's exit the locker room to take the field,
each player hits the sign as a reminder for each player to give his very best on
that football Saturday. It also serves to help players to remember that they
came to Notre Dame to be champions.
Former Irish Head Coach summed up his thoughts about the sign tradition in a
2004 article written by Greg Touney.
"Regardless of the won-loss record, regardless of the problems you have,
when you walk out on that field you have an obligation to your teammates and
the fans to play the best of your ability - to play like a champion and to think like
a champion."
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