Notre Dame Leprechaun The Notre Dame leprechaun is the mascot of the Fighting Irish sports club at the University of Notre Dame , USA . He appears at athletic events , most notably at football games . It was designed by noted sports artist Theodore W . Drake in 1964 for US $ 50 . Irish tradition . The Fighting Irish logo features a side view of The Leprechaun with his fists up , ready to battle anyone that comes his way . The live version is a student , chosen annually at tryouts , dressed in a cutaway green suit and Irish country hat . The Leprechaun brandishes a shillelagh and aggressively leads cheers and interacts with the crowd , supposedly bringing magical powers and good luck to the Notre Dame team . The Leprechaun is drawn in the shape of Ireland . The Leprechaun was not always the official mascot of Notre Dame . For years , the team was represented by a series of Irish terrier dogs . The first , named Brick Top Shuan - Rhu , was donated by Charles Otis of Cleveland and presented to football head coach Knute Rockne the weekend of the Notre Dame - Pennsylvania game November 8 , 1930 . A number of terriers later took the role of the school mascot , which usually took the name Clashmore Mike . The Clashmore Mike mascot last made an appearance on the cover of the " 1963 Notre Dame Football Dope Book " with coach Hugh Devore and captain Bob Lehmann . The Leprechaun was named the official mascot in 1965 , when the Leprechaun was registered as an official university mark . However , earlier , in 1961 , John Brandt from Elyria , Ohio became the first man to don the uniform and appear with Clashmore Mike at a home game against Oklahoma . Brandt served as the Leprechaun until 1963 . The Leprechaun for the 2011 - 2012 academic year was Mike George . Senior Bryce Burton is the leprechaun for the 2012 football season . Campus figure . The Leprechaun can be seen around campus on football game weekends as he acts as the MC of Friday night pep rallies , makes several appearances at tailgates before games , and leads the band as it marches to Notre Dame Stadium . During games , he shakes down the thunder by leading the traditional cheers of the student section , dancing his signature Irish Jig , and intimidating opposing mascots . Along with the cheerleaders , The Leprechaun also acts as a foremost ambassador for the University of Notre Dame as the Fighting Irish travel across the nation . He engages in several community service initiatives , makes public appearances , and promotes good will wherever he travels . The Leprechaun also leads the raucous student section at Fighting Irish varsity athletic events , which is aptly named " The Leprechaun Legion . " This fiercely loyal contingency of diehards is known to inspire fear in the hearts of all opposing players , earning them consistent rankings as one of the top student cheering sections , especially in NCAA basketball . Tryouts . Tryouts to become The Leprechaun take place over a grueling month long process each spring . Prospect leprechauns are presented with several mental and physical challenges that only true leprechauns are capable of completing until the field is narrowed down to under ten finalists . During the final round of tryouts , each contestant must lead a 5 minute mock pep rally , answer questions during an interview with a local media personality , respond to a game situation , answer Notre Dame trivia , dance Notre Dame ' s version of the Irish Jig , and complete 50 pushups . A panel of judges then interviews each candidate in private before making the final decision . Despite popular belief , there are no strict requirements for becoming the leprechaun . Notre Dame students of any height are eligible to try out regardless of their ability to grow a beard . The overall " look " of candidates does weigh into the decision , however , and more often than not a dashingly handsome young man with the exceptional ability to grow a chinstrap beard will be chosen . Candidates must also prove that they seek to become the leprechaun for the right reasons , and they must truly have a special love for the tradition and spirit of Notre Dame in their hearts .