An estimated 400 fans filled Mater Dei high school’s Levecke Center Friday evening, Nov. 25, in advance of the Thanksgiving-weekend Notre Dame-USC rivalry game at the L.A. Coliseum.
The Notre Dame Club of Orange County (NDCOC) staged the event. Former Mater Dei and Notre Dame football star linebacker and team captain Joe Schmidt emcee’d the activities. Another Mater Dei and Notre Dame star, Eric Patton, joined in cheering on the crowd, as did former fighting Irish players Rhema McKnight and Oscar McBride. Also pumping up the fans, and especially popular with youngsters, were the Notre Dame cheerleaders and the school’s famous and iconic leprechaun mascot. This was the NDCOC’s first time to hold the popular event on the school’s campus.