SOUTH BEND, Ind. — At some point in the fourth quarter of home games, the Notre Dame marching band plays “Livin’ on a Prayer,” an ’80s rock anthem by Bon Jovi. The 10,000-plus green-shirted faithful in the student section sing along with the chorus: “Whoa, we’re halfway there. ...”

The song has been played by the band for years, but this season it has taken on a new life because Bon Jovi is one of their own — sort of. The walk-on freshman cornerback Jesse Bongiovi is the son of Jon Bon Jovi, the group’s frontman.

“Yeah, they play it every game,” Bongiovi responds to his teammates when they look his way during the fourth-quarter performance.

Several of his teammates can relate. The Notre Dame roster this season is unusually full of players with famous fathers.