Dec. 29, 2005

The University of Notre Dame football team enjoyed a third full day in Scottsdale, Ariz., preparing for the showdown with Ohio State in the 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Monday, Jan. 2, 2006. The day was filled with team meetings, a press conference and another solid practice at Scottsdale Community College.

Friday will be the official media day for the 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Irish will get their first look at Sun Devil Stadium when the whole team turns out for the media day festivities, starting at 9:30 a.m. (www.und.com will have a full recap of the day's events, including a comprehensive photo gallery).

An inside look at Notre Dame's practice locker room that the team is using this week at Scottsdale Community College. While not nearly as spacious or opulent as the team's locker room in the Guglielmino Athletics Complex or Notre Dame Stadium, the Fiesta Bowl and Scottsdale Community College have developed a more than adequate facility for the team to utilize this week. A picture of the exterior of the locker room area at Scottsdale Community College. You can see the famous Camelback Mountain in the background of the photo. The Irish arrive at Scottsdale Community College to continue preparations for the 2006 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Irish practiced from 1:45 - 3:50 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29.

A lucky fan gets a football signed by Irish head coach Charlie Weis before practice begins. Hopefully, the unnamed fan knows how lucky he/she is, as Coach Weis had just a few extra minutes to spare before practice on Thursday. Offensive lineman (from left to right) Dan Santucci, James Bent and Bob Morton run through the team's warm up exercises before practice. The Irish practiced in shells on Thursday after experiencing a full-pad practice on Wednesday. Assistant defensive back/head special teams coach Brian Polian (left) and assistant head coach (defense)/defensive back coach Bill Lewis loosen up their arms while the team stretches before practice. Both Polian and Lewis will run the defensive back corps through a series of individual drills during Notre Dame's two-hour workout.

A large majority of the team's defensive game plan for the Fiesta Bowl will be developed by defensive coordinator Rick Minter. Coach Minter broke out his trademark hat to keep the Arizona sun out of his eyes for Thursday's practice. Defensive line coach Jappy Oliver (left), Coach Weis and Coach Minter go over some last minute details before practice began on Wednesday. The team gathers together for Coach Weis' last-minute instructions before practice officially begins. The stretching and warm up exercises are done, now it is time to go to work. Following the pattern from Wednesday's practice, the Irish began Thursday's workout with a spirited special teams session.

Scottsdale Community College has done an outstanding job preparing its facility for use by the Fighting Irish this week.

Photos by Alan Wasielewski