Saint Mary's students will be able to "shake down the thunder" along with three Notre Dame dorms as they co-host the football pep rally Friday before the final Irish home game, against Duke on Nov. 17.
Although the event is quickly approaching, planning has been in the works for months, said Emma Moore, a member of the Pep Rally Committee.
Last year, Saint Mary's had between 80 and 100 students at the event. This year, the committee is aiming for 200 to 260.
The committee consists of six members of the Board of Governance. Cassie Callon, Annie Davis and Cassie Quaglia - in addition to committee chair Courtney Kennedy - are the Executive Board members on the Committee, Kennedy said.
Members have all been working hard to make sure the student body is aware of the pep rally and to persuade a large number of students to attend, Kennedy said.
Between e-mails and committee members selling Saint Mary's version of The Shirt, she said, the campaign is going well.
"I don't think anyone on this campus is unaware that we're hosting," Kennedy said.
Kennedy, Moore and their committee are hoping that the shirt, which is slated to be unveiled the week of the pep rally, will create a larger draw for attendance this year.
"We just wanted it [The Shirt] to create a buzz and get the students excited [about the pep rally]," Kennedy said.
Although the only way to get the $5 shirt was to pre-order it without knowing what it looked like, Kennedy said she does not expect this to deter students from buying it.
"We didn't not tell people what it looks like because it's an ugly shirt," she said.
Kennedy was willing to provide a few hints: The committee had to get copyright permission from Notre Dame to make it, it is the same color green as the official Notre Dame shirt, and there will be an unveiling on Nov. 15 in the Student Center with special guests.
Students will receive a gift along with their shirts, she added. This gift is also a surprise.
The committee is asking students to meet somewhere on campus to walk to the Joyce Center as a group, Kennedy said. Also, she is asking students not to employ Saint Mary's cheers at the Joyce Center because students are there to support Notre Dame, Kennedy said.
"This doesn't mean there will be a complete lack of SMC cheering," she said. "We'll do Saint Mary's cheers on the walk over."
Saint Mary's cheerleading co-captain Jessica Brinker said cheerleaders will lead the cheers as the students walk.
"I'm excited," she said. "I think it's really nice to be included since we support Notre Dame football throughout the season."
