The Notre Dame Club of Tallahassee, in collaboration with other organizations, is busy working to make the weekend a success for visiting students, alumni and fans alike.
“Downtown Tallahassee is a great area, and we’re excited to share it with the ND crowd,” Joe Hurd, a member of the class of 1982 and chairperson for the Notre Dame Club of Tallahassee, said. “We’re collaborating with the Notre Dame clubs in Miami and Jacksonville, as well as the local St. Thomas More Catholic Church to make the weekend a great experience for everyone.”
The club will begin its celebration Friday evening with a social gathering and pep rally near Tallahassee’s Adams Street Commons. Early online registration is encouraged to secure tickets.
The Commons also will be the site of Tallahassee’s Downtown Get Down, featuring a performance from a local band, food vendors and a block party atmosphere, according to the event website.
“There will be students and visitors not just from all over Florida, but from all over the country,” Hurd said. “There will be plenty of opportunities for networking and fun.”
The College GameDay broadcast will begin Saturday at 9 a.m. on the Langford Green, located just outside Doak Campbell Stadium.
“The rivalry will be fierce, and I am excited to be there to help cheer the Irish on to victory,” sophomore Maura Boston, who will be traveling to the game with the Notre Dame marching band, said.
On game day, the Notre Dame Clubs of Tallahassee and Miami will sponsor an all-day tailgating event at the Tallahassee Civic Center. The event will include a cash bar, games, raffles, a putting green event and more. At 4 p.m., a pre-game mass will be held at the local St. Thomas More Catholic Church. The bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee will preside.
“It was very important for us to include a liturgical aspect in the day,” Hurd said. “And the mass counts for your Sunday obligation.”
Hurd said there will be many viewing options available for those who do not have tickets.
“Nearly every tavern and restaurant around will have the game on, and we’re hosting an official watch party in the bar at the local Four Points Hotel," he said.
Some students attending the game are planning to extend the trip into fall break, renting houses and staying in Florida for the week.
“On Sunday after the game, my friends and I are driving to a little quaint beachside town a few hours away,” senior Alison Leddy said. “We'll be there for the rest of the break, relaxing and eating and soaking up the sun before the South Bend winter hits.”
Hurd recommended a number of visitor’s sites including the Tallahassee capitol buildings, the beaches at St. George Island located two hours to the south and Tallahassee’s Midtown and College Town areas.
