Traditions

Notre Dame is a university steeped in both history and tradition. A small sample of the everyday traditions includes:

  • No one is sure exactly how this nickname originated. Some believe it started in 1899 when Wildcats fans began chanting “Kill the Fighting Irish!” at a game. Some say it was coined in the 1920s by ND alumnus Francis Wallace in his column for the New York Daily News. In any case, though, everyone agrees that it is a perfect characterization for the athletic teams’ grit, determination, and tenacity.

  • SYR stands for “Screw Your Roommate,” a term that was once used to refer to the tradition of setting up your roommate with a terrible person for your hall dance.