Brian Boulac to Retire after 40 Years of Work at Notre Dame

Brian Boulac came to the University of Notre Dame in 1959 and has not looked back since! After playing football, earning a bachelor's degree, earning a master's degree, coaching football, winning a national championship, helping jumpstart softball and working as an administrator in the Athletic department, Coach Boulac has announced his retirement from the University.

Words cannot describe what Brian has meant to our softball program and many of our softball players. He helped bring the softball program to Varsity Status and worked diligently with Joe Speybroeck and Liz Miller to recruit with minimal scholarships and build a softball field.

My personal favorite story of Brian Boulac was when he accepted the James E. Armstrong Award for Distinguished Service to the University in 2006. When giving his acceptance speech he told stories of both coaching football and softball. I believe the direct quote was something like this: "Of all my years of coaching, there is one truth I know. I would much rather coach and deal with 85 men rathern than 9 women any day of the week!". He really did love us at heart!!!

More info on Coach Boulac's retirement can be found on our website at:

http://www.und.com/genrel/082609aac.html

Please feel free to comment on this post and share any of your Coach Boulac stories!!!

Football Season Pep Rallies

Due to construction at the Joyce Center, the look and location of Pep Rallies will be different this football season. The Joyce Center south dome has been completely shut down since graduation and an entire gutting is taking place. The newly renovated arena is slated to open mid-october.

Looks like our Alumni Weekend (Boston College Weekend) Pep Rally will not be in the Joyce Center. Let me know if you still are interested in tickets!

Below is the information on each Pep Rally:

NEVADA - The traditional season-opening Dillon Hall Pep Rally (usually held Thursday before the game) will be moved to 6:30pm on Friday, September 4th. Head Coach Charlie Weis, the team and the Band will be in attendance.

MICHIGAN STATE - Rally will be held outdoors in the new hospitality village at the Irish Green (south of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center) at 6:30pm. No Football Team or Band will be in attendance.

WASHINGTON - Rally will be held outdoors in the new hospitality village at the Irish Green (south of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center) at 6:30pm. No Football Team or Band will be in attendance.

USC - 6:30pm - Location TBD - Possibly the Stadium. Head Coach Charlie Weis, the football team and the Band will be in attendance.

BOSTON COLLEGE - Rally will be held outdoors in the new hospitality village at the Irish Green (south of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center) at 6:30pm. No Football Team or Band will be in attendance.

NAVY - Rally will be held outdoors in the new hospitality village at the Irish Green (south of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center) at 6:30pm. No Football Team or Band will be in attendance.

UCONN - Pep Rally will be held in the new Purcell Pavilion - the newly renovated basketball arena at 6:30pm. Head Coach Charlie Weis, the football team and the Band will be in attendance.

Campus Construction Update - Alumni Stadium

The new home of Men's and Women's Soccer is almost finished!! With completion within a month away, the new stadium dedicated soley to Men's and Women's Soccer will open this fall. Alumni Stadium is a $5.7 million dollar project and will include a new natural grass field, new locker rooms, new bathrooms and concessions. The stadium is located in the heart of the athletic side of campus just east of the Joyce Center (located where the old hospitality tents used to be for football tailgating).

East of Alumni Staidum will be Arlotta Stadium, the new facility for men's and women's lacrosse. Arlotta stadium looks like it is about a month or two behind construction schedule from Alumni Stadium but shoult be finished shortly. The stadium is almost identical in look to Alumni Stadium. Also included at Arlotta will be a artifical field turf playing surface, locker rooms, filming rooms, concessions/restrooms and a grass berm for seating on the opposite side of the stands and home benches.

Check out some pictures of Alumni Stadium and Arlotta Stadium!!

Main Entrance of Alumni Stadium

A somewhat obstructed view of the grass soccer field and Arlotta Stadium just East of Alumni Stadium.

Side View of Alumni Stadium. If you look closely you can also see the new football stairway towers (for filming) they put up at the football practice facility.

Another View of the Natural Grass Field and Home/Visiting Team bench at Alumni Stadium. Home and Visiting bench will sit oppostie of the stands.

Side view of Alumni Staidum.