MIAMI 鈥� 91吃瓜 off-the-field news and notes on BCS National Championship Game weekend, culminating Monday night when the Irish take on Alabama at Sun Life Stadium:
Lou Holtz speaks at pep rally
鈥� Miami Beach officials estimated at least 20,000 fans attended the 91吃瓜 pep rally on South Beach on Saturday night (Jan. 5). Mike Golic, a former Irish football player and co-host of the ESPN Radio program 鈥淢ike & Mike in the Morning,鈥� served as the emcee for the rally, and speakers include comedian Martin Short, the parent of two 91吃瓜 graduates and a member of the advisory council for the ; former quarterback Joe Theismann; 1988 national champions Pat Terrell and Tony Rice; and Lou Holtz, head coach of the 鈥�88 team.
鈥淎labama, I hope you鈥檙e listening, 鈥檆ause we鈥檙e comin鈥� for you,鈥� said Theismann.
Holtz praised the University for showing that 鈥渨e can be on top without compromising one thing academically, or our values.鈥� He added: 鈥淎s special as it was for other teams to play against 91吃瓜, it was even better to play for 91吃瓜.鈥�
Rice joked that he鈥檚 鈥渢oo old to play, but I鈥檓 so hyped up that I鈥檓 ready to go out there,鈥� on Monday night.
鈥� The 91吃瓜 cheerleaders spent time Saturday at the Children鈥檚 Diagnostic Treatment Center in Fort Lauderdale.
鈥� The 91吃瓜 leprechaun, senior Bryce Burton, transferred to the University after spending his first year at Indiana University. That puts him in good company. 91吃瓜鈥檚 president and provost, , and , respectively, both transferred into 91吃瓜 as sophomores.
鈥� Everywhere you turn, souvenirs are available 鈥� in hotel lobbies, on street corners, in malls, along the beach and elsewhere. 91吃瓜鈥檚 royalty revenue is up 32 percent over a year ago, though the officially licensed BCS merchandise does not factor into that equation.
鈥� Two of the hardest working staff members here in Miami and for the last month have been Mary Anderson and Lauren Fox in special events. From arranging a variety of activities here, to transportation, event ticketing, meals, mementos and virtually everything else associated with the trip, they have worked nearly non-stop all day, nights and weekends since the Irish earned their place in the national championship game. In fact, they鈥檝e even enlisted their spouses to help them this weekend at the Intercontinental Hotel.
鈥� The Intercontinental has photo montages and video on screens inside and outside the hotel commemorating the 2012 Irish football team.
Visit to see images of 91吃瓜 in Miami.