April 11, 2001
Meadowlands, N.J. – The Notre Dame football team will open the 2002 season against Maryland on Sunday, August 25, in Kickoff Classic XX at Giants Stadium.
“We’re thrilled to be coming to the Meadowlands once again in 2002,” Notre Dame Athletics Director Kevin White said.
“Notre Dame has had a long history of playing at Giants Stadium, including the Kickoff Classic in 1989. It’s a great opportunity for us to play in front of many fans and alumni on the East Coast – and it is a strong matchup against a team in Maryland.”
“Maryland is honored to be selected for this premier collegiate football event,” Maryland Athletic Director Deborah A. Yow said.
“To face Notre Dame for the first time in our university’s history only adds to what should be a landmark event for our program. With a sizable alumni base within a three-hour radius of the Meadowlands, the Terps will be supported by thousands of fans. And, the national television exposure will be a plus to our recruiting efforts.”
This will mark the second appearance for Notre Dame in the Kickoff Classic and the first for Maryland. Notre Dame defeated Virginia, 36-13, in the 1989 game. Notre Dame has a 9-0 record at Giants Stadium, most recently a 28-27 win over Army on October 14, 1995. Maryland will be facing Notre Dame in football for the first time in the 2002 Kickoff Classic.
“The 2002 Kickoff Classic captures the essential character of our college football tradition with a match-up of the country’s leading intercollegiate athletic programs,” NJSEA President and CEO James A. DiEleuterio, Jr. said. “We look forward to hosting the student-athletes, coaches, families and fans of these two great schools.”
Two teams that played in the Kickoff Classic have gone on to win the national championship — Florida State in 1993 and Nebraska in 1994. In addition, five defending national champions have appeared in the Classic — Penn State (1983), Miami (1984), Brigham Young (1985), Notre Dame (1989) and Georgia Tech (1991).
The Kickoff Classic is managed by the NJSEA under the auspices of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Beneficiaries of the game are the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, the American Football Coaches Association, NACDA, the Independent College Fund of New Jersey and the John McLendon Memorial Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Fund.
Ticket information for the 2002 game will be released at a later date.
2002 Notre Dame Football Schedule
Aug. 25 Kickoff Classic XX (Giants Stadium, Meadowlands, N.J.)
vs. Maryland
Sept. 7 PURDUE
Sept. 14 MICHIGAN
Sept. 21 at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.)
Oct. 5 STANFORD
Oct. 12 PITTSBURGH
Oct. 19 at Air Force (Colorado Springs, Col.)
Oct. 26 at Florida State (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Nov. 2 BOSTON COLLEGE
Nov. 9 vs. Navy (Site TBA)
Nov. 23 RUTGERS
Nov. 30 at USC