Houston Astros teammates Roger Clemens and Brad Lidge deliver speeches at annual event.

Feb. 11, 2005

Roger Clemens gave plenty of credit to his closer, Brad Lidge, during his comments at the Notre Dame baseball team's Opening Night Dinner. An overflow Joyce Center Fieldhouse crowd of nearly 1,800 (some pictured above) eagerly awaited the arrival of keynote speakers Roger Clemens and Brad Lidge. New football coach Charlie Weis (right) visited with Irish baseball coach Paul Mainieri at a pre-dinner reception and later made some brief remarks to an excited crowd at the Opening Night Dinner.

The pre-dinner activities included the popular autograph session with the 30 players on the 2005 Notre Dame baseball team. Brad Lidge had the chance to meet with several fans - old and young - during the evening. Roger Clemens spoke fondly of Notre Dame and then quickly tried on the #22 jersey that was presented him by the Irish baseball program.

Head coach Paul Mainieri (center) and his assistants Terry Rooney (left) and David Grewe (right) were all smiles throughout the special night. Frank Eck - benefactor of Notre Dame's home ballpark - visits with football coach Charlie Weis during the night's festivities. Head coach Paul Mainieri (left) and the Joyce Center crowds now have been treated to Hall-of-Fame manager Tommy Lasorda, Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry, bestselling author John Grisham and seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens as keynote speakers for the first four Opening Night Dinners.

Brad Lidge - who developed from a 42nd-round high school draft pick into a 1st-rounder at Notre Dame - shared his success story and life lessons during his comments to the crowd. Former Notre Dame catcher and outgoing Indiana governor Joe Kernan made a special presentation to Irish head baseball coach Paul Mainieri, as he received the Sagamore of the Wabash (the state's highest honor granted to an Indiana citizen). in humor and moments of seriousness in his memorable comments to the Joyce Center crowd.

Brad Lidge was presented his framed Notre Dame jersey as a thank-you from the Irish baseball program. Roger Clemens and Brad Lidge were a great tandem during the unique Q&A session that ended the night's program, with attendees from all ages getting the chance to pose questions to the pair of Astros standouts.