The lore of the Fighting Irish dates back to 1842 when a young French priest, Father Edward Sorin, used $310 to start the University of Notre Dame du Lac in three log buildings in Indiana.
It’s a football tradition that includes the story of ultimate underdog Rudy, the Four Horsemen and the famous words of George Gipp, “Win just one for the Gipper.”
And so it was, with the luck of the Irish, that I was able to purchase a friend’s tickets to the recent Notre Dame-Air Force game as a Christmas present for my husband, and myself.
Even with tickets in hand, there are still plenty of logistics to work out when it comes to attending a Notre Dame game. Already by July, hotels were booked and airfares were sky high.
What my friend had said about Notre Dame football was obviously correct.
“It’s a three-day event unlike anything you’ve ever experienced in the Big 8, the Big 12, the NFL, or the AFL.” Two days before Saturday’s kickoff, we arrived at our hotel, greeted by a receptionist wearing a pink Notre Dame jersey. She presented us with a bag of gifts including Notre Dame stationery, football banners and campus maps.
As we explored the 1,250acre campus, we encountered many of the traditions that lead up to kickoff. There’s the midnight drummer’s circle at the Main Building, the devout kneeling in reverence in the Grotto, and the rush through the tunnel, the same fabled walk that every Irish player has taken for the past 80 years.
Fans wave and cheer as the football players in suits and ties are driven across campus to be introduced at a pep rally. The entire team attends Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, then players move through applauding crowds to the stadium.
“If you could find a way to bottle the Notre Dame spirit, you could light up the universe,” former Irish quarterback Joe Theisman said.
Led by three drum majors, and closely followed by the Irish Guard, 10 6-foot-2 collegians dressed in Irish kilts of Notre Dame plaid emerge from the south tunnel, leading the way for the Band of the Fighting Irish.
Next there was an Air Force B-2 bomber passing over the field.
The whistles blow and play begins with 120 Notre Dame players donning their helmets, freshly painted and dusted in gold, replicating the golden dome that tops the University’s Administration building.
Notre Dame is one of four independent collegiate football teams that opted out of joining a conference and remains independent. For 21 consecutive years, they have had a contract with NBC Sports to broadcast home games. The partnership has been valuable for both the university and the network.
Revenue from the contract has provided millions of dollars in financial aid to Notre Dame’s students.
On this day, Notre Dame dominated, beating Air Force 59-33. The teams’ combined total of 92 points was the most in Notre Dame Stadium history.
After the game, players joined arms with students and fans to sing the Alma Mater, and then raced to the Air Force side to serenade their opponents.
Perhaps alum Regis Philbin sums up the whole experience best.
“There’s a feeling of goodness at Notre Dame, not to be seen in any other part of the world.”
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