Enjoy it. Embrace it. Love it. It goes by too quickly. Savor every minute of it. Soak it in, whether it’s an amazing win or a soul crushing loss. I had an absolutely CRAPPY run at ND when I was there (1994-98), with the best season being the one where I was overseas as an exchange student. I loved every minute–sure, I hated the losses, but I loved being a part of it all. Enjoy it. Make memories. They will be some of the best of your life.

You could be writing my story except my first visit to campus was my interview in Oct. 1966.

That and being a member of what you aptly named “the best damn band in the country” kept me out of a lot of your game day traditions.

I will be there tomorrow, will raise a toast to you at our tailgate, and cheer the boys on to victory.

My grandfather died of a stroke on the Monday after a attending a tremendous ND football weekend in 1970. He told my father (ND ’54) and uncle (ND ’52) “you can go to any school you want, as long as it’s Notre Dame.”

Live it up, my friend. I cant comment from a student perspective because I’m a lowly Subway Alumn, but the football weekends I’ve experienced are everything and more that people say they are. Even without having the perspective of “hey, I remember when we did ____ that one year the night before the game in our hall…” it’s still a magical environment. Lou Holtz said it so poignantly, (paraphrased)”If you’ve never been a part of Notre Dame, you cant explain what Notre Dame is. If you have, no words can describe it either.”

Although my first ND game experience predates yours by just a few years 😉 I deeply enjoyed reading your post. I can tell you that the feelings you describe are the same feelings I had for my first game (get ready for it tkirish 93). I can tell you that the really neat thing about it is that you can come back 36 years after your last game as an undergrad (as I did last year) and you feel like you’re home.

That’s what it’s all about. We’re all part of the Notre Dame family, and it NEVER, NEVER gets old.

I’ll be there this year for the USC game. For those of you going to the USF game, cheer your heads off and bring us home a winner. All over the world, ND alums (actual and subway) will be with you in spirit.

Go Irish!

College football is a game. It’s not life and death, this is true. However, for some it’s a life fulfilling experience. We are all fortunate to be a part of the Notre Dame family and Saturdays in South Bend. 3:30 PM on Saturday will again fill my heart with joy and this is why. Love thee, Notre Dame.

Well done, Go Irish, Beat Bulls!