FAQ
Why does The Shirt have a new color every year?
The tradition of changing the color of The Shirt each year has been around since 1990 when two shirts were produced (a green shirt for the Michigan game and a navy shirt for the Miami game). The span of 2002-2004 marked the only multi-year period when The Shirt remained the same color (green). The Shirt has most commonly been shades of blue and green, with a few exceptions. The color of The Shirt remains confidential until the unveiling in April.
Who designs The Shirt?
The shirt is designed by the undergraduate graphic designers of The Shirt Committee along with the help and guidance of the other members of the committee, who are also undergrads. After a design concept is created, the vendor selected to manufacture The Shirt offers support from their graphic designers to refine the art.
How do you decide what appears on The Shirt?
In November, a student committee is appointed to coordinate all aspects of The Shirt. After a shirt color is decided, the committee works for weeks to find a theme and associated pictures to include on The Shirt. Each year the committee attempts to identify a central theme for the upcoming football season. Traditional sources of theme inspiration for the committee include the Victory March, the Alma Mater, and other Notre Dame songs; however, some shirts have featured famous quotes or custom themes.
What does The Shirt benefit?
Beyond bringing unity to the student body and the stadium, all profits of The Shirt support Notre Dame students. In general, half of the revenue supports student clubs, organizations, and residence halls. The other half of the profits is directed to The Shirt Charity Fund, which helps students who face catastrophic accidents or illnesses, and the Rector Fund, a program which provides funding for students to take part in campus life activities that they cannot afford to pay for on their own, such as textbooks, football tickets, and service trips. More information can be found here.
How long has there been a Shirt?
The Shirt 2013 will mark the 24th year of fundraiser and the 25th shirt. 1990 featured two shirts: a green shirt for the September 15 Michigan game, followed by a navy blue shirt for the October 20 Miami game. More information about The Shirt's history can be found here.
Which have been the most popular shirts?
Every April at the Unveiling Ceremony for The Shirt, fans are overheard debating about their favorite shirts. A variety of factors comprise opinions, including: shirt color, front design, back design, overall theme, success of the football season, and fit. When looking at quantities of shirts sold, the most popular have been:
2011 165,000 Cheer Cheer For Old Notre Dame (collegiate royal)
2006 163,000 Tradition (navy blue)
2010 152,000 We Are the Fighting Irish (Irish green)
2007 139,000 Together As One (dark green)
2008 137,000 Wake Up the Echoes (navy blue)
2009 136,000 Rise and Strike (old gold)
Where can The Shirt be purchased?
One of the unique aspects of The Shirt is that sales are restricted to the Notre Dame campus. As such, you will not find The Shirt in malls or retail apparel stores. The Shirt is available exclusively from the University of Notre Dame at the following locations:
Notre Dame Bookstore at Eddy Street Commons
Notre Dame Bookstore Downtown Chicago
Online at: ndcatalog.com
LaFortune Student Center Information Desk & Box Office
You will also find The Shirt sold at select student-run concession stands on gameday.
Will you run out of The Shirt?
Fans are encouraged to purchase their Shirt early in the season to get their preferred size. In recent years, popular sizes of The Shirt have sold out before the last few home games. The Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore even provides pre-orders before it is unveiled on ndcatalog.com.
What sizes do you offer?
Sizes offered include:
Toddler: 2T, 3T, 4T, 5T
Youth: Small, Medium, Large, XL
Adult: Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL, XXXL
Do you offer women’s cut shirts?
Unfortunately, no. The Shirt is only available in unisex cuts.
How can I purchase shirts from past years?
Every spring the previous year’s shirt is “retired” and no longer made available for sale. In keeping with the tradition of The Shirt, past shirts are not re-printed or re-sold. Fans seeking past shirts have found the best luck on sites such as eBay.
What is the “Unveiling Ceremony”?
On the Friday afternoon, a festival is held on the front lawn of the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore on campus which features free food, student entertainment (Glee Club, Band, Irish Dance Team , etc.), inflatable attractions for children, trivia contests, guest speakers, and of course, the unveiling of The Shirt. Attendance for the event has reached more than 2,000 guests in recent years, and all Notre Dame fans are invited to attend this free event. 20,000 Shirts are typically sold during the weekend of the unveiling.
When will The Shirt 2013 be on sale?
The official date for the Unveiling Ceremony is Friday, April 19th, 2013. Everyone will be able to purchase a Shirt at the conclusion of the unveiling.