Hi, I’m Matt.

It began with Miami in 1988.

I was a high school student when Notre Dame faced No. 1 Miami on October 15, 1988. I tuned in for a football game and came away with a goal. The intensity of that afternoon—and the belief Lou Holtz had built into his team—made Notre Dame feel like a place worth reaching for.

That game gave me an incentive to work harder in school. I wanted the opportunity to attend Notre Dame, and a few years later I did. At Notre Dame, I studied mechanical engineering. The work required software development and computer networking skills, which led me into a career in technology, largely in the Chicago area. It was also how I discovered the fledgling Internet—something experimental then that now forms the basis of daily life.

Along the way, I made lifelong friends who have since moved to every corner of the country and beyond. Time and distance changed where we live, but never what Notre Dame means to us or the bond we share.

The years since have included hundreds of Notre Dame games, both on campus and across the country. I became a season ticket holder and a member of the Knute Rockne Athletics Fund. More importantly, my connection to the Notre Dame family kept deepening—through friendships, traditions, road trips, tailgates, and the privilege of introducing new people to the place.

Why this guide exists

I know many people want to experience Notre Dame but have no idea where to begin. Official sources explain policies and schedules. This guide adds the human layer: how the weekend feels, where the stories live, what first-time visitors tend to miss, and how to arrive feeling like a welcomed guest rather than an outsider.

My goal is to reunite my friends and the wider Notre Dame family, rekindle the winning tradition and mindset of the Lou Holtz era, and ultimately cheer Notre Dame on to another National Championship.

This site is dedicated to growing the Notre Dame family by giving fans a generous, useful starting point—and in 2026, to honoring Lou Holtz, the coach whose example changed the course of my life.Matthew Owen · Creator, Irish Gameday Guide

“Unofficial ambassador” is the best description I know for the role. I do not represent or speak for the University. I simply want to help people experience its campus, football traditions, and culture of hospitality with context and respect.

Connect with me