Hometown Sports: The Life of a Notre Dame Fan

Since the day I was born, I was taught to “Praise Thee Notre Dame” through and through. Despite not having grown up in Indiana — but rather in a small town an hour south of Springfield, IL. called Carlinville — my passion for Notre Dame and their football team has been unwavering.  

My love stems to my dad over 40 years ago, when he attended law school there. Today, he still holds the university in the highest esteem and proudly wears his class ring every day. 

My dad passed his university pride on to me and my three siblings. Notre Dame became a symbol of the values and identities my family holds dearest — our Irish heritage and Catholic background. 

Alongside these values came a love of sports, especially Notre Dame football. My siblings and I learned the fight song and cheers and rep “The Shirt” — famously in blue and gold and the occasional green — as often as we could. “The Shirt” is a tradition of Notre Dame used as a fundraiser for student organizations through exclusive, new-design-each-year shirts to be worn for the season. 

My parents pulled me and my siblings out of school early on Fridays to begin the six-hour long drive to South Bend for the weekend. Though the journey was long and the car was crammed, I loved every minute of it. The ride was all worth it when I caught a glimpse of the famous Golden Dome.

This tradition continued throughout my childhood as we tried to attend at least one game a year.  

Four years ago, my sister decided she’d be attending Notre Dame for undergrad, and our family’s connection to the school took a new shape. It was no longer just about my dad’s history, but now my sister’s. When she joined the marching band as a trumpet, football season meant so much more. 

Not only was it a time to witness the team in action, but to celebrate and support my sister as a vital member of game day. It meant following the band around to all their game-day events to see her in her uniform and eventually watch her march into the famous Notre Dame Stadium. 

During my lifetime, Notre Dame football hasn’t seen too much success. A few bowl game victories here and there to keep the historic fame of the program but nothing too major. 

Although their success has been limited and the program has seen major changes, Notre Dame has found a leader for this new era of football in head coach Marcus Freeman. 

This year, the Fighting Irish opened their season against Texas A&M Aug. 31, ending in a 23-13 win. The next weekend was the home-opener against Northern Illinois University. 

Notre Dame lost the game 16-14, and many said their season was over. As a fan, seeing the time run out on the clock after the blocked field goal attempt, my heart sank and, for a second, I gave into the thought of “this team is going to choke.” Historically, Notre Dame isn’t known for losing what are supposed to be easy games, which is why the loss came as a shock.

As the weeks passed and the team kept dominating their competition, Notre Dame fans’ faith was quickly restored.  

With Freeman at the helm, Notre Dame went on to secure a 12-1 record during the regular season — four games of which I attended, and the rest I watched on Saturdays. The record landed the Fighting Irish fifth place ranking in the final Associated Press poll but the seventh seed for the inaugural 12-team playoff. 

Notre Dame’s playoff run began by hosting the Indiana University Hoosiers, where an Indiana rivalry created an eclectic stadium atmosphere, despite the 20-degree weather. Although I couldn’t feel my feet by the end of the game, it was all worth it when the words “Irish Win” were projected on the big screen. 

Notre Dame then traveled to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The feeling of anticipation and excitement of the big game filled the city, however those feelings quickly changed. 

The city of New Orleans and the country suffered a terrorist attack early in the morning on New Year’s Day — the day set for the Sugar Bowl game. Many people questioned the safety of the city after such an event, but fans, including my family, weren’t deterred from showing up in support of our teams. 

During the Sugar Bowl, the team not only showed they knew how to fight until the end but proved they belong in the playoffs. The team beat the University of Georgia Bulldogs 23-10 to move on to the Quarterfinals in Miami. 

The Irish possessed a 13-game winning streak, the longest in the country and the best season record in Notre Dame history. 

Time and time again, this team has proven they’re a force to be reckoned with. From last quarter game-defining pick-sixes to final second field goals to secure the victory, Notre Dame made themselves known as a threat to any team in college football. 

The team has faced several challenges, including season-ending injuries of vital play-makers, but this didn’t slow them down. Second and third string players stepped up, accepted the added responsibility and challenges of the game and still performed to Notre Dame standard. 

A standout player this season was fourth-year quarterback and captain Riley Leonard, who transferred from Duke University. Leonard recorded 20 touchdowns this season, 16 of which were rushing, marking a new school record. 

Alongside Leonard, second-year running back Jeremiyah Love proved to be a top player this season. From hurdling over defenders to countless rushing touchdowns, Love’s been a powerhouse on the field. 

Graduate safety captain Xavier Watts’ abilities on defense have been essential in securing this seasons’ record with a total of seven interceptions — the most notable being his 100-yard touchdown return which helped secure a 49-35 victory over the University of Southern California Trojans Nov. 30. 

Moving into the championship, Notre Dame faced off against the Ohio State University Buckeyes Jan. 20. This was a game of revenge for Notre Dame after a 17-14 loss last season. Although having been a player at Ohio State, Freeman’s allegiance was with Notre Dame and securing his first national title as head coach.  

The Fighting Irish fell short and lost 34-23. The team fought hard during the second half to gain back momentum they had lost in the first half. As the final two minutes ran out, I felt defeated as I watched the work and dedication Notre Dame had put in this season peter out to a second-place finish.  

Though the team couldn’t accomplish the goal they set out to achieve at the beginning of the season, my heart will forever praise and love thee, Notre Dame. 

“What though the odds be great or small, Old Notre Dame will win overall.”