Once the music starts, Louis Nix III can't help but start moving to the beat.

"I love music," beamed the 6-foot-3, 326-pound sophomore nose guard when asked about the musical accompaniment added to Notre Dame's game-day presentation last week against USC.

"I love to bob my head. It gets me excited. I don't mind people getting loud because I'm a loud person too."

From Dropkick Murphys "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" prior to kickoffs to Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train" on key third down plays, a vibe was added to Notre Dame Stadium that Brian Kelly wants to continue.

"It was a great environment," Kelly said. "The stadium was electric and the fans were terrific. It's the kind of environment we want to create here."

"Electric" seemed to be the key word among the Irish players as well.

"The environment was electric to start with," said Irish captain Harrison Smith. "The fans were really into it. I don't think I've ever heard it get so loud and so frenzied."

Smith couldn't help but think of the end result last Saturday night as the Irish played uninspired football and lost by two touchdowns.

"We still didn't play well enough with all that, so I'm glad that the fans really accepted everything and had a great time," Smith said. "On the other end of that, we need to hold up our end of the bargain and make plays when they need to be made."

"The atmosphere was electric," added center Braxston Cave. "But if we can't get the job done, then none of that stuff really matters. We just have to continue to get better and do our thing and with the fans buying in, once it all comes together, it will be a special thing."

Nix couldn't believe his ears inside Notre Dame Stadium.

"It was the loudest I ever heard it," Nix said. "People have been messaging me and telling me how great it was. Students have been saying how great it was, how they were so surprised by it. The recruits said it was alive. I hope it continues. I hope everything stays the way it was because I love it."

Smith only has two more opportunities to experience the new and improved Notre Dame Stadium - today against Navy and three weeks from today against Boston College. But he sees a positive, long-term impact on the Irish.

"Any time you can get the fans more involved, I think that helps the home team," Smith said. "It can throw the other team off, the offense off, and it can swing the momentum so fast. I think that will really help the program in the future."