Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Roster spots are still available (through April 30) for the sixth annual Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp will be held June 25-29 on the Notre Dame campus.

 
Veterans Return To Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp

Unique event proves populat for sixth successive year; rosters spots available until April 30.

April 16, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - What is it that keeps bringing them back? Quite simply, the opportunity to live out football dreams on the hallowed turf of the University of Notre Dame is too much to resist for the returning veterans of the Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp.

A total of 26 veterans - classed as sophomores, juniors and seniors - will return to the sixth annual Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp, which will be held from June 25 to 29. Joining them will be seven four-year and five-year Alumni Lettermen, a group of old hands still gripped by the Fighting Irish spirit and though not actually playing, want to be there to cheer on their friends.

And the word is spreading. Already signed up as 2008 freshmen are 18 newcomers aged between 30 and 65 who will arrive in South Bend from as far away as California, Florida, Hawaii and Texas. The oldest 2008 Fantasy Camp participant, sophomore Artie Dumesnil from Terrytown, La., signs in at 72 years young, closely followed by 71-year-old junior Larry Leamy from Marshall, Mich.

The popular camps, which have been run successfully since 2003 by former Notre Dame quarterback Patrick Steenberge ('70-'71), offer Irish fans a chance to play football where legends have gone before them - at Notre Dame Stadium.

"I am so thankful for the five years that I was able to be a part of Fantasy Camp," said Robert Haberkorn, who has returned every summer to live out his fantasy of pulling on an Irish jersey to be coached by former Notre Dame players and coaches. "This is a wonderful experience, and the memories have been great."

Haberkorn is one of the seven returning fanatics who are now eligible to `audit' the camp, returning to Notre Dame as Alumni Lettermen, simply to savor the experience - yet again.

The Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp attendees will dress in official team apparel for four practices with instruction from current staff and former star players, have daily use of the varsity locker room in Notre Dame Stadium, and will dine in the Monogram Room, South Dining Hall, College Football Hall of Fame and Stadium Press Box.

The campers will be split into two teams and play a 60-minute flag game in the Stadium with authentic game jerseys and pants, listening as their names are called out by an announcer. The game day experience includes game officials, the stadium scoreboard, crowd noise music, a message from Sgt. Tim McCarthy, the football team photographer, and video footage of the whole unique experience.

Campers will meet and interact with some of the legends of Notre Dame Football, have a team meeting with head coach Charlie Weis, take home gifts such as an authentic home and away game jersey (with a choice of number) and pants, practice jersey, adidas cleats, cap, t-shirt, polo shirt, shorts, apparel bag, game video, team photo, and official Riddell Notre Dame gold helmet.

When bodies are weary after a day of practice, a single room is available in the historic Morris Inn on campus, with nightly hospitality and memorable stories shared by former players.

Among seven senior campers returning to experience the thrills of the Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp for a fourth time to are two players in their 60s, Dan Kindelt (62) from Woodland, Calif., and Dick Morehead (61) of Jacksonville, Fla.

Returning seniors:
Name	        Age	Hometown	State	#
Dan Kindelt	62	Woodland	CA	98
Mike Brennan	38	Ocala 	        FL	18
Dick Morehead	61	Jacksonville	FL	3
John Harris	38	Holmdel	        NJ	81
Mark Smith	48	Cleveland	TN	22
Chris Alley	43	Tazewell	VA	1
Chris Secreto	47	Kirkland	WA	6

The list of juniors includes one of the camp's five Indiana residents in 53-year-old Joe Hession from Carmel. The camp's true locals will be sophomores Steve Filbert and Dave Heatherson, who will travel the short distance to campus from South Bend and Gilbert respectively.

Junior Frank Bagatta Jr. will take part in the camp for a third year alongside his father Frank Sr., an Alumni Letterman. The family connection is proving a popular theme with other father and son pairings including sophomores Gene Faut Sr. (aged 66 from Tower Lakes, Ill.) and Gene Faut Jr. (aged 42 from Roselle, Ill.).

Junior Tim Kopp (aged 62 from Wrightsville, Pa.) so enjoyed his two years' experiences at Fantasy Camp that he invited his son Brian Kopp (aged 35 from Deatsville, Ala.) to enroll as a freshman in 2008.

Continuing the family theme, the roster also includes the Long brothers Tom (46, from Dallas, Texas) and Steve (44, from Highland Village, Texas), both in their first year.

Returning juniors:
Name	          Age	Hometown	State	#
Dan Rodden	  54	Buffalo	        IL	56
Joe Hession	  53	Carmel	        IN	5
Larry Leamy	  71	Marshall	MI	37
Frank Bagatta Jr. 23	Commack	        NY	9
Tim Kopp	  62	Wrightsville	PA	84

Who better than the returning sophomores, the Notre Dame enthusiasts who are returning for a second Fantasy Camp, to put the experience into perspective? "Words just can't describe it," insists Chris Cromer from Rome, Ga. "The kindness and hospitality of everyone involved with the camp was unbelievable."

Returning sophomores:
Name	        Age	Hometown	State	#
Tom Britz	67	Palm Springs	CA	89
Chris Cromer	37	Rome	        GA	47
Gene Faut, Jr.	42	Roselle	        IL	7
Gene Faut, Sr.	66	Tower Lakes	IL	26
Steve Filbert	59	South Bend	IN	14
Dan Heatherson	61	Granger	        IN	61
Michael Whelan	47	Evansville	IN	10
Artie Dumesnil	72	Terrytown	LA	3
Dave Libs	67	Buchanan	MI	58
Scott Litwiller	45	Tulsa	        OK	50
John O'Neill	40	Toronto	        ONT	21
Jeff Balitsos	36	Nashville	TN	34
Bran Pieroni	41	Chesapeake	VA	10

For the first time in 2008 the Fantasy Camp will welcome an Alumni Letterman class of veterans who have participated since the inaugural year, including 45-year-old Rob Johnson from Lititz, Pa. He says: "Every year I tell my wife this can't get any better and somehow it does thanks to the great job of Patrick and his team, but most importantly the new freshman coming in. We are a family and I am proud to be a part of it."

Alumni Lettermen:
Name	           Age	Hometown	State
Joe Colgan	   50	Chicago	        IL
Rick Peltz	   39	Indianapolis	IN
Keith Cross	   35	Holden	        MA
Robert Haberkorn   47	Cape Girardeau	MO
Frank Bagatta, Sr. 55	Smithtown	NY
Bart McGloin	   43	Wheatfield	NY
Rob Johnson	   45	Lititz	        PA

Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp Freshmen:
Name	        Age	Hometown	 State	#
Brian Kopp	35	Deatsville	 AL	82
Bud Johnson	54	Los Alamitos	 CA	3
Jim Lucchesi	65	San Francisco	 CA	32
Bill Robinson	60	Melbourne	 FL	41
Tim Sudduth	36	Atlanta	         GA	12
PT Brent	65	Honolulu	 HI	29
Dennis Fenn	58	Chicago	         IL	60
Charlie Ruffolo	30	Chicago	         IL	77
Stu Fortener	40	Overland Park	 KS	11
Serge Martinez	65	Crestwood	 KY	15
Bud Shearer	60	Hampstead	 MD	3
Nick Huber	55	Jackson	         MO	53
Bruce Calligaro	58	Ringwood	 NJ	10
Mark Thees	47	Toledo	         OH	13
Vance Fuller	54	York	         PA	8
Steve Long	44	Highland Village TX	50
Tom Long	46	Dallas	         TX	4

The unique Fantasy Camp experience costs $5490 and is the ideal gift for that father, son or husband who has everything else! For more information, visit the official Notre Dame Football Fantasy Camp web site at www.NDFootballFantasyCamp.com or contact Steenberge at (817) 219-7274.

-- ND --