Portnoy, who recently battled Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), blasted his opinion into the social media ether along with a photo of Jackson in his costume and three white leprechaun mascots.

Jackson wasn’t having it. “Like it or not, this guy right here is still one of your Notre Dame leprechauns!” he tweeted, along with a wink and a shamrock. “How about we use this negative energy to bring us together this season? See y’all next game. #GoIrish”

Notre Dame has had leprechaun mascots since 1965, when they replaced Irish terrier dogs. Three students were chosen as mascots, with Lynnette Wukie the third African American and first female chosen in the school’s history. Wukie wasn’t on the field for the season opener. The third, Conal Fagan, is the first from Northern Ireland.

Jackson, who said in April that he is “a walking pep rally,” met with Mike Brown, a 2001 graduate who was the first African American mascot, last year and discussed taking on the role.

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“He encouraged me to go for it,” Jackson said (via the Indianapolis Star). “When I finished talking with him, that vision I had of seeing myself on the field transformed from a vision to something that could be palpable.”

Jackson, a Madison, Ala., native who has appeared in theatrical productions at Notre Dame, told Cheddar U in a video clip posted Tuesday that he “saw just how much being the leprechaun was ingrained with performing” and added, “The tradition that Notre Dame has transcends … race, gender [and] class.”

For Jackson, the chance to be a mascot went beyond entertainment and embodying school spirit.

“Being a trailblazer to me,” he told Cheddar, “means shining a light so others can see the light they have inside themselves.”

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In an interview with WNDU-TV in May, Wukie pointed out that she and Jackson were “not changing tradition. We’re not breaking tradition. We’re just showing that the tradition of Notre Dame is for anyone and everyone that wants to go after it.”