This week a Notre Dame legend and icon passed away. Coach Ara Parseghian entered into eternal rest. Coach Parseghian was a two-time National Champion coach during his tenure at Notre Dame. He won his second National Championship when I was a mere 1.5 years old. Though I never got a chance to watch Coach Parseghian do his thing on the field at Notre Dame, there are many stories that make him a legend. Coach Parseghian is linked to the “Holy Trinity” along with Coach Knute Rockne and Coach Frank Leahy.
(Guest post by George Bashura.)
Photo Credit: Notre Dame Football
Traits of Excellence
Coach Kelly announced to the team Wednesday morning, during practice at Culver Academy, that Coach Parseghian passed away. While addressing the team, Coach Kelly brings up a quote from Coach Parseghian that is actually in the team’s locker room. “The pride and tradition of Notre Dame will not be left to the weak, the timid, or the non-committed.” This quote is kind of a foundation in which Coach Kelly is trying to build on this team. Coach Kelly keeps talking about “Traits of Excellence.” Coach also goes onto quote Coach Ara again “my teams never had a breaking point, we broke our opponents.”
“ARA”
Sometimes a team needs something to play for, a purpose, something to drive them to the next level. With Coach Parseghian’s passing, maybe the team can dig a little deeper, and find that little something extra and if they can figure out a way to play for the legend and icon of Notre Dame Coach Ara Parseghian. Coach Kelly told the team “ARA” is going on the front of our helmets for this season. This is a reminder of Coach Parseghian’s impact on Notre Dame Football.
Rest in peace, Coach Parseghian, and look down upon this team and guide them to victory.
Team 129, #PlayForAra
Coach Parseghian and George Bashura at Hammes Bookstore Georgia Tech weekend 2015.
Her Loyal ... Daughter
Lisa Kelly is a multidimensional marketing professional. She has over two decades of marketing experience and earned a bachelor of business administration and marketing from the University of Notre Dame (Class of 1993 ... Siegfried Hall!). She is a Digital Publishing Manager by day and by night is writing her third book, a continuation of "Echoes From the End Zone: The Men We Became" and its sequel "The Men We Became: MORE Echoes From the End Zone." In 2012, Lisa was crowned the "Biggest Fan of the Big East" in a blogging and social media contest, representing Notre Dame.
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Nice work George, well said.
Thank you