Five old Notre Dame Football photos for a Friday — ALL the tailgates

Happy Friday everyone! I have access to thousands and thousands of Notre Dame Fighting Irish photos, and will never use a small fraction of those on this site. The thing is though — I want to, and I’m going to give it a solid shot as a way to bless the beginning of the weekend throughout the offseason.

In celebration of the return of tailgating at Notre Dame home games this season (and pretty much everywhere else as well) I’m blowing the top off of the 5 picture limit this week. I’m just going to pour as many tailgating pics from Gettys as I can (until I get bored).

Full disclosure though... there aren’t very many different games that are on file — which is sad. Perhaps we will create a little something this fall on One Foot Down to begin to archive the best fan photos from Irish tailgates. Perhaps.

Enjoy — and get ready for your own tailgating season!

Grid View

• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 11: Fans tailgate before a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan Wolverines on September 11, 2004 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Michigan 28-20. Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SETPEMBER 19: Fans tailgate in the parking lot before a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Michigan State Spartans on September 19, 2009 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
• SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 12: A Notre Dame fan tailgates with Army Black Knight fans in the Alamodome parking lot before the NCAA football game between the Army Black Knights and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on November 12, 2016 at the Alamodome, San Antonio, TX Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 12: Army Black Knights fans enjoying their tailgate in the Alamodome parking lot before the NCAA football game between the Army Black Knights and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on November 12, 2016 at the Alamodome, San Antonio, TX Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: A detailed view of the ESPN College Gameday Tailgate sign is seen outside of Notre Dame Stadium prior to game action during the college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: A general view of the Notre Dame stadium parking lot is seen where the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Michigan Wolverines fans tailgate prior to game action during the college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 04: Fans tailgate outside of Notre Dame Stadium before a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Purdue Boilermakers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 4, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 04: Fans tailgate outside of Notre Dame Stadium before a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Purdue Boilermakers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 4, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
• Notre Dame fans in tailgate party mode prior to the start of the BCS National Championship game between Notre Dame and Alabama at Sun Life Stadium on Monday, January 7, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
• MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 07: Fans tailgate before the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 30: A Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan throws a bean bag during a tailgate party prior to the start of the college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Miami Redhawks on September 30, 2017, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 30: A detailed view of several flags are seen being flown by a Notre Dame Fighting Irish tailgate tent prior to the start of the college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Miami Redhawks on September 30, 2017, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 12: Notre Dame fans stand ready for battle during the tailgate near the Alamodome before the NCAA football game between the Army Black Knights and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on November 12, 2016 at the Alamodome, San Antonio, TX Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• January 7 2013: Notre Dame fans tailgate prior to the Alabama Crimson Tide versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Discover BCS National Championship Game at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Photo by Doug Murray/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
•  SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: A skeleton dressed in a Notre Dame Fighting Irish uniform hangs from a tree as fans tailgate prior to the game against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17.   Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17.   Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17.   Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode playing a game of Jumbo Jenga prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans partake in tailgate party mode prior to game action during the NCAA football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 1, 2018 at Notre Dame Stadium, in South Bend, Indiana. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Michigan Wolverines by the score of 24-17. Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
• Oct 5, 2019; South Bend, IN, USA; Fans tailgate before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Bowling Green Falcons at Notre Dame Stadium.  Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports