The Notre Dame legend joined ESPN’s College GameDay, celebrated with Irish fans, and helped put a charitable spotlight on a memorable Notre Dame–Miami weekend.
There are certain people who can return to Notre Dame at any time, for any reason, and immediately make a special weekend even more memorable. Joe Montana is definitely one of them. And when you combine a Notre Dame legend, a little Guinness, ESPN’s College GameDay, a showdown with Miami, and a generous charitable donation, you’ve got the ingredients
for one pretty unforgettable Saturday in South Bend. Of course, it doesn’t hurt when the Fighting Irish finish the day with a victory over the No. 1 team in the country!
Before Notre Dame defeated Miami 31–24 on Saturday, November 7, Montana returned to South Bend as a Guinness ambassador for a weekend that celebrated football, friendship, tradition, and giving back. And judging by the photos Guinness shared with me, it looks like everyone had a wonderful time. Between the excitement surrounding College GameDay, the familiar faces returning to campus, and the opportunity to celebrate with fellow Irish fans, it was the kind of weekend that reminds us why Notre Dame football is about so much more than what happens between the sidelines.
A Familiar Face Returns to South Bend
For Notre Dame fans, Joe Montana needs very little introduction. Long before he became a four-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in NFL history, Montana was making memories in South Bend. He helped lead Notre Dame to the 1977 national championship, and his remarkable ability to remain calm under pressure became one of the defining characteristics of his football career. There was the famous comeback against Houston in the 1979 Cotton Bowl, when Montana helped rally the Irish to a 35–34 victory in bitterly cold conditions, and of course, there were all those unforgettable moments that followed with the San Francisco 49ers.
But no matter how many championships he won or how many legendary plays he made, Montana’s connection to Notre Dame has always remained part of his story. So when ESPN brought College GameDay to South Bend for the highly anticipated Notre Dame–Miami matchup, having Montana back on campus seemed especially fitting. This wasn’t just another football game, after all. It was Notre Dame against Miami, a rivalry that has produced some of the most memorable moments in college football history. And this time, the top-ranked Hurricanes were coming to town.
College GameDay, Pat McAfee, and a Little Guinness
Saturday morning brought the usual excitement surrounding ESPN’s College GameDay, which originated from Notre Dame’s Library Lawn. Montana was among several familiar faces taking part in the festivities, alongside fellow Notre Dame great Jerome Bettis. The broadcast also featured Irish head coach Marcus Freeman, women’s basketball star Hannah Hidalgo, and celebrity guest picker Jason Sudeikis. With thousands of fans gathered to celebrate one of the biggest games of the season, the atmosphere was everything you’d expect from a Notre Dame football weekend.
But Montana had something special to share. Appearing during Pat McAfee’s kicking segment, Montana presented McAfee with limited-edition Guinness x Notre Dame cans and announced a $200,000 donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, according to Guinness. That’s a pretty meaningful way to celebrate a football weekend, especially when you consider the important work the organization does to address hunger and food insecurity throughout the Chicago area.
I’ve always appreciated the way Notre Dame encourages its students, alumni, and supporters to look beyond themselves and find opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others. It’s one of the values that makes the university such a special place, and seeing a former Notre Dame student-athlete return to campus and participate in an effort that extends beyond the football field feels particularly fitting. Montana’s appearance wasn’t simply about celebrating the Fighting Irish or promoting a familiar Irish stout. It was also an opportunity to use the excitement surrounding one of college football’s biggest games to draw attention to an important cause.
A Kick Worth Celebrating
As if the morning needed any more excitement, Pat McAfee’s kicking challenge provided one of the day’s most entertaining moments. Notre Dame’s leprechaun mascot stepped up for a 33-yard field-goal attempt with a significant charitable contribution on the line. After missing the first attempt, the leprechaun connected on the second, generating a reported $500,000 donation to charity, with Montana, Guinness, and Coors Light among those involved in backing the prize.
And then things got even more interesting when Notre Dame junior Michael Milano stepped up for his own attempt at McAfee’s kicking challenge. Like the leprechaun before him, Milano missed his first try, but his second kick sailed through the uprights, earning him a $1 million prize. Yes, you read that correctly. One million dollars! Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning at Notre Dame. Between the cheering fans, the celebrity appearances, and those remarkable kicks, College GameDay provided plenty of excitement before the Irish ever took the field.
From College GameDay to Pouring Pints
Following the broadcast, Montana traded the television cameras for something a little more relaxed. He made stops at Fiddler’s and O’Rourke’s in South Bend, where he poured pints of Guinness and celebrated with Notre Dame fans ahead of the evening’s game. And if you’ve ever spent a football weekend in South Bend, you know there’s something special about the atmosphere when the Irish are preparing for a big matchup.
The excitement isn’t confined to Notre Dame Stadium. It spills into the restaurants, bars, sidewalks, and practically every gathering place around town. Old friends reconnect, alumni reminisce, and families celebrate traditions that have been passed down for generations. There are plenty of familiar faces, a whole lot of navy and gold, and conversations that inevitably turn to favorite games, legendary players, and what the Irish need to do to win that afternoon.
And on this particular Saturday, a few lucky fans got to enjoy a pint poured by Joe Montana himself. Not exactly your average bartender!
One of the photographs Guinness shared with me shows Montana behind the bar, smiling as he holds two freshly poured pints. It’s a fun image, and I think it captures something important about weekends like this. For all the attention surrounding rankings, rivalries, and championships, college football is also about the relationships and shared experiences that bring people together. Sometimes the memories we treasure most aren’t made inside the stadium at all. They’re made over a conversation, a laugh, or a pint with friends long before kickoff.
The Irish Give Everyone Another Reason to Celebrate
Of course, the weekend’s biggest event was still waiting. Notre Dame entered Saturday’s game knowing just how important a victory over Miami would be. The Hurricanes arrived in South Bend ranked No. 1 in the country, and the Irish were looking to strengthen their College Football Playoff hopes. With so much history between these two programs, there was already plenty of anticipation surrounding the matchup, but the national rankings added another layer of excitement.
And for much of the evening, Notre Dame looked determined to make a statement. Quarterback CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Irish build a 24–3 lead. Miami wasn’t finished, however, and the Hurricanes fought their way back into the game, narrowing the margin and giving Notre Dame fans a few anxious moments before the final whistle. But the Irish held on, securing a 31–24 victory over the nation’s top-ranked team and adding another memorable chapter to one of college football’s most storied rivalries.
I’d say that was worth raising a glass!
More Than Just a Football Weekend
When I first received the photos and information about Montana’s return to South Bend, I was immediately drawn to the images. There’s the excitement of College GameDay, with fans cheering and cameras capturing the moment. There’s Montana enjoying the festivities with other familiar faces, and there’s that wonderful photograph of one of Notre Dame’s most famous former quarterbacks standing behind a bar, pouring Guinness for fans. They’re the kinds of images that make you smile, especially if you’ve ever experienced the magic of a football Saturday in South Bend.
But the more I thought about the weekend, the more I appreciated the charitable component of the celebration. As much as we love the touchdowns, the rivalries, and the victories, the Notre Dame experience has always represented something bigger than football. It’s about community, tradition, friendship, and finding ways to make a positive difference in the lives of others. And while the $200,000 donation announced during Montana’s appearance may not have generated the same headlines as the million-dollar field goal or the victory over Miami, its potential impact on families facing food insecurity is something worth celebrating.
Montana’s return to South Bend brought together so many of the things that make Notre Dame special: the excitement of a major football matchup, the nostalgia of seeing a legendary player back on campus, the joy of celebrating with fellow Irish fans, and an opportunity to support people who need a helping hand. And then, to top it all off, Notre Dame went out and beat Miami.
I’d call that a pretty successful homecoming weekend.
Here’s to Joe Montana, the Fighting Irish, and the reminder that sometimes the best victories happen far beyond the football field.
Go Irish! ☘️
Photos and event information provided courtesy of Guinness. ESPN College GameDay photograph credited to Joshua R. Gateley / ESPN Images.
