http://youtu.be/X37sSI8AVq4 Fighting Irish. Today, these words evoke fields of play -- a perhaps too-easy association that the commercials are designed to moderate. But the origin of the phrase is decidedly more martial and springs from the field of battle. For "Fighting Irish" is the monicker under which scores of men, including the poet Joyce Kilmer who made the phrase famous, died. This year, this championship season, it is fitting to explore from whence The Fighting Irish came. I am ...
History
Good Fridays w/Padre: Sing-Along
Even though it’s Advent, a time of sober preparation, and finals, a time of wailing and gnashing of teeth, people are already becoming sentimental and excited about Christmas. Maybe not Alabama students, since Tuscaloosa proudly calls itself Druid City (in which case we wish them a happy Winter Solstice). Even though it’s traditional to give presents on the Feast of the Nativity, the gift we are all hoping for won’t come until January 7. We’ll just pretend that there were actually four Magi ...
Happy Birthday, Notre Dame
It's easy to forget in the swirling maelstrom of awesomeness that have been the last two days, but a long, long time ago, before Twitter, and before HLS was a glint in Biscuit's eye, Fr. Sorin did something rather special. On this date, back in 1842, he and his brothers took snow-covered acreage and called it L'Université de Notre Dame du Lac. It is thus fitting that we pause and acknowledge this anniversary, one that forms a trinity of significant anniversaries this magnificent year: the ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: CHARGE!
How perfect it is for the long victory march to arrive at this place, at this time, with these men! How fitting to face the fiercest foe, the blackest blight of the dark decade now left behind! Twelve is an ancient number of perfection – and perfect the Fighting Irish will be, as no other team in the land! With one more struggle, with one more heroic charge, with one more win Notre Dame will have climbed to the summit of an undefeated season. But one enemy stands in the way – and let him! ...
Irish Blogger Gathering: USC Week
I asked questions of the UND Blog this week for IBG, and you can see my answer's to Subway Domer's questions over at his place. I have so many emotions about this weekend that I don't know where to start. I am nervous and fired up. I am excited and I dread. I am sober and I'm drunk. You get the picture. Regardless, I am ready for victory. If you'll be at the game, email us, we'll have a beer. GO IRISH. With no further ado, S&T's answers to my questions: 1. On Saturday night ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Orders
The two teams are matched, if only in one regard. They have deacons, and we have deacons. “Deacon” is one of the Holy Orders. “Holy Orders” is not what a waiter says when serving a party of 46 – it is the Sacrament of ordaining ministers for the Church. Only men. Just like college football. Since we are dealing with the Church, there is a complex hierarchy. Just like college football. Let’s examine all the Holy Orders and observe some other parallels between our pastime (Church) and our ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Wordplay
There will only ever be one Michigan. This is neither good nor bad. Someone had to be first, and it was our northern neighbor. That is in the very nature of a rival. The word comes from the Latin rivus, meaning river. A rivalry is weighted with the sense of an unquenchable competitiveness natural to two neighbors who use the same river, who oppose each other from opposite banks with a fast-flowing waterway forever coursing between and dividing them. Michigan, we would say, is the ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Sports&Letters
When I started this Indiana adventure, my boss, Fr. Basil Moreau, required that I send regular written reports back to France. I suppose he wanted to keep tabs on his personnel, because it wasn’t like he was spending one thin franc on the whole project. Anyway, I dutifully dispatched informative missives across the Atlantic on a regular basis. These days, the current administration seems to enjoy peddling excerpts of my letters like a jilted mistress. Since we’re in a big anniversary year, I ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Clash of Civilizations
A lot of chins are wagging and ink is being spilled making comparisons between our lads and the Michigan State thugs squad in advance of tomorrow night’s game. Both teams have two wins and no losses. Both are working with quarterbacks who were brand-spanking-new at the start of this season. And both are among the top 20 teams in the country (with Michigan State being number 10, if you believe those witchdoctors, which I do not). Taking the long view, as I am wont to do, there really is no ...
Good Fridays w/Padre: Destinations
“I’m not a big fan of playing football games in Ireland. I’d rather play them right here. It’s going to be a great trip for our alums and all those that follow us. It’s going to be great for Ireland and we’re pleased about that. But as it relates to the game of football, I’d rather not travel six hours to go play.” -Thus Spake Kelly- I certainly agree that it would be nice to play all of our games in our Stadium. But let’s be practical – after the first six back-to-back matches of an ...