The Shirt 2009: Golden is thy Fame
Each year, the Fighting Irish face odds both great and small. Despite these obstacles, the fans, students, and alumni of Notre Dame always believe their team will ultimately march onward to victory. Such undying support has given Notre Dame a tradition of football excellence that transcends the legacy of any single player, coach, game, or season. Furthermore, it has instilled in the Notre Dame community a desire to defend all that is Notre Dame. The design of The Shirt 2009 captures the fanatical devotion of the Notre Dame football faithful and illustrates the need to fight in defense of Notre Dame.
Rise and Strike
Taken from the song "Hike, Notre Dame," Rise and Strike is a call to action. It commands the Notre Dame community to Rise and Strike our opponents, and it demands that we fight with force and ferocity. These three simple words urge both fans and players to wake up echoes and shake down thunder. Rise and Strike explains that there is no room for weakness or doubt in the Notre Dame community—only maximum effort is acceptable. » more
Defend Our Honor
A call that goes unheeded, a call without an answer, is pointless. There needs to be an answer to the call of Rise and Strike—and the back of The Shirt 2009 is the answer to that call. Why must we Rise and Strike? To Defend Our Honor. When the Fighting Irish put on their uniforms, they must fight in such a way that, win or lose, makes us all proud to be a part of Notre Dame.» more
Celebrating 20 Years
On the front of The Shirt 2009, in honor of the Twentieth Anniversary of The Shirt Project, the year 2009 has been broken into 20—for the twenty years of The Shirt Project, and 09—for The Shirt 2009: the latest incarnation of a timeless gameday tradition. The back design references a famous third-quarter goal-line stand against Penn State in the Snow Bowl of 1992, serving as a tribute to the countless football players who have defended the honor of Notre Dame in years past. Throughout the design, both the type and the images have been graphically distressed. This symbolizes the old but enduring legacy of Notre Dame football as created by Notre Dame's loyal sons and daughters.» more