The pageantry of halftime, though no longer captured in most television broadcasts, has remained popular with the fans.

On September 22 at Notre Dame's home opener against Michigan State University, which also was the first competition for both schools since the tragic events of September 11, there were many visible signs at halftime that even the football world had changed.

The Michigan State band played an American tribute, and everyone in Notre Dame stadium stood and applauded their rival band's rendition of "God Bless America."

Notre Dame's band, which is billed as "American's first marching band," also played a special patriotic program and formed an outline of the continental United States.

At the conclusion of the halftime show, the entire crowd stood as both bands, standing in a formation that alternated members from each school, played a solemn arrangement of "Amazing Grace."

It was a halftime reminder that the games on the gridiron are just that -- games.