One of the worst-kept secrets in the sport has become an official reality as it was announced at a press conference this afternoon that Notre Dame and Army will play at the new Yankee Stadium in 2010.
It will be the first college football game contested in the new digs and, needless to say, all involved are extremely proud of how the long-rumored match-up has become a reality.
“On behalf of organization, especially my Dad, I just want to say how excited we are about this game,” said Yankees general managing partner Hal Steinbrenner said of his father George. “My Dad, like many of us, is a great fan of college football. When we first floated this idea past him, he was ecstatic.”
Irish head coach Charlie Weis was equal parts excited and proud of the landmark game.
“We like to pride ourselves at Notre Dame for our actions on and off the field, and what better opponent could we pick,” Weis said. “I can’t say how proud Notre Dame is. We couldn’t be any more proud to play the first game (here) next November against such a high-class organization and opponent such as Army.”
Army athletic director was in the same boat as Weis and the younger Steinbrenner.
“We could not be more excited about bringing ‘big-time’ college football back to Yankee Stadium,” Anderson said. “I’d like to thank the Steinbrenner family and the entire New York Yankees organization for giving us the opportunity to play the first college football game at the new Yankee Stadium.
“I think it’s very fitting that one of the most historically significant rivalries in the history of college football, ushers the sport back to Yankee Stadium. At one time, the Army-Notre Dame game at Yankee Stadium was one of the most anticipated matchups in every college football season. We think this event will create the same type of excitement in college football circles.”
The game is slated to be played on November 20, although no start time has been scheduled as of yet.