(no subject)
"But, if you had to lose one, falling to the tradition, pride and class
> that Notre Dame represents is all you can ask for. You know this
> was an
> experience you will never forget."
UCLA loves Notre Dame.
My prof forwarded this to us today. Here's the
By Jason Feder
> DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
> jfeder@media.ucla.edu
>
> The Notre Dame experience begins with the drive into campus through a
> residential neighborhood with perfectly manicured lawns and families
> tailgating in front of their midsize homes. You get the feeling
> that most
> of these people grew up within walking distance of Notre Dame
> Stadium and
> never left.
>
> After parking on the side of someone's house for $20, you make your
> way
> toward campus. It seems as if everyone is wearing the jersey of their
> favorite player. There's at least one No. 10 for every redheaded kid.
> That's a lot of Brady Quinns.
>
> Exploring the campus consisting entirely of old, brick buildings,
> there
> are student groups hawking hamburgers, hot dogs and the freedom of one
> freshman who's duct-taped to a tree wearing a T-shirt and shorts. It's
> about 55 degrees.
>
> You head toward Notre Dame Stadium, the mecca of college football.
> Passing through the tall gates of the outer entrance, you get your
> first
> glimpse of the original brick exterior of the stadium before it was
> renovated in 1997. The building oozes tradition.
>
> It's like a small museum dedicated solely to the Fighting Irish.
> There are
> golden helmets for every All-American, posters of every Heisman Trophy
> winner and first-timers gawking at the magnitude of tradition that
> lives
> here.
>
> You make your way into the UCLA section and join 5,000 other Bruin
> fans in
> the upper reaches of one end zone. Peering over the rim of the
> stadium,
> you see tailgaters about as far as you can see. Looking toward the
> field,
> Touchdown Jesus spreads his arms over the opposite end of the stadium.
>
> There are no Jumbotrons or advertisements, just two small
> scoreboards and
> the field, sandwiched by 50 yards of yellow flowers on either side
> between
> the fans and sidelines. The end zones are even old-fashioned-- no
> writing,
> just 10 diagonal hash marks. This is how it should be--no
> distractions,
> just the game.
>
> The Notre Dame band pours out of the far end zone in step to its
> "Victory
> March," one of the best fight songs in college sports. The sense of
> pride
> and history is palpable.
>
> In a classy and surprising move, the band turns toward the UCLA
> section
> and plays "Sons of Westwood."
>
> A Notre Dame fan in his early 70s sits next to you. He spent three
> days
> driving to the game from Pittsburgh, probably the only time he
> will make
> the trip this season. He is just one out of the nation of Notre
> Dame fans
> that were born into rooting for Knute Rockne and the powerhouse Irish
> teams of the '20s and '30s. He will watch his Irish play from the
> middle
> of the UCLA section.
>
> The Fighting Irish storm the field to an uproarious applause from the
> crowd and immediately head toward the far end zone where they take off
> their helmets, take a knee and say a prayer.
>
> The game starts and there's nowhere you'd rather be. Every play is
> tense,
> every third down is noisier than the one before it, and both teams are
> playing their hearts out.
>
> Before you know it, it's halftime and the Bruins are clinging to a
> 14-10
> lead after a brilliant defensive stop, holding the Irish to a field
> goal.
> It's too early and there's too much time left to get your hopes up
> for an
> upset.
>
> Fast forward to the fourth quarter ? 1:02 left. You feel good about
> the
> outcome of this game, but you don't say anything. There's still a
> lot of
> time left.
>
> Quinn completes a couple passes and stops the clock. The crowd is
> going
> nuts. A second later Jeff Samardzija has the ball, heading for the end
> zone; no one stops him. The stadium explodes with noise. Hundreds of
> Notre Dame students are lifted into the air by their peers. You can't
> speak. You wonder if what you just saw actually happened.
>
> One last chance with the ball. Cowan's sacked. Game over.
>
> The man next to you raises his arms above his head in silent
> celebration.
>
> You mill around for a while, watching UCLA players being consoled
> by their
> families. This game was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and in
> about half
> a minute, it was gone.
>
> The Notre Dame fans are all class. No one says anything except for how
> great of a game it was while they shake their heads, as if knowing
> they
> should not have won.
>
> But, if you had to lose one, falling to the tradition, pride and class
> that Notre Dame represents is all you can ask for. You know this
> was an
> experience you will never forget. .
> that Notre Dame represents is all you can ask for. You know this
> was an
> experience you will never forget."
UCLA loves Notre Dame.
My prof forwarded this to us today. Here's the
By Jason Feder
> DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
> jfeder@media.ucla.edu
>
> The Notre Dame experience begins with the drive into campus through a
> residential neighborhood with perfectly manicured lawns and families
> tailgating in front of their midsize homes. You get the feeling
> that most
> of these people grew up within walking distance of Notre Dame
> Stadium and
> never left.
>
> After parking on the side of someone's house for $20, you make your
> way
> toward campus. It seems as if everyone is wearing the jersey of their
> favorite player. There's at least one No. 10 for every redheaded kid.
> That's a lot of Brady Quinns.
>
> Exploring the campus consisting entirely of old, brick buildings,
> there
> are student groups hawking hamburgers, hot dogs and the freedom of one
> freshman who's duct-taped to a tree wearing a T-shirt and shorts. It's
> about 55 degrees.
>
> You head toward Notre Dame Stadium, the mecca of college football.
> Passing through the tall gates of the outer entrance, you get your
> first
> glimpse of the original brick exterior of the stadium before it was
> renovated in 1997. The building oozes tradition.
>
> It's like a small museum dedicated solely to the Fighting Irish.
> There are
> golden helmets for every All-American, posters of every Heisman Trophy
> winner and first-timers gawking at the magnitude of tradition that
> lives
> here.
>
> You make your way into the UCLA section and join 5,000 other Bruin
> fans in
> the upper reaches of one end zone. Peering over the rim of the
> stadium,
> you see tailgaters about as far as you can see. Looking toward the
> field,
> Touchdown Jesus spreads his arms over the opposite end of the stadium.
>
> There are no Jumbotrons or advertisements, just two small
> scoreboards and
> the field, sandwiched by 50 yards of yellow flowers on either side
> between
> the fans and sidelines. The end zones are even old-fashioned-- no
> writing,
> just 10 diagonal hash marks. This is how it should be--no
> distractions,
> just the game.
>
> The Notre Dame band pours out of the far end zone in step to its
> "Victory
> March," one of the best fight songs in college sports. The sense of
> pride
> and history is palpable.
>
> In a classy and surprising move, the band turns toward the UCLA
> section
> and plays "Sons of Westwood."
>
> A Notre Dame fan in his early 70s sits next to you. He spent three
> days
> driving to the game from Pittsburgh, probably the only time he
> will make
> the trip this season. He is just one out of the nation of Notre
> Dame fans
> that were born into rooting for Knute Rockne and the powerhouse Irish
> teams of the '20s and '30s. He will watch his Irish play from the
> middle
> of the UCLA section.
>
> The Fighting Irish storm the field to an uproarious applause from the
> crowd and immediately head toward the far end zone where they take off
> their helmets, take a knee and say a prayer.
>
> The game starts and there's nowhere you'd rather be. Every play is
> tense,
> every third down is noisier than the one before it, and both teams are
> playing their hearts out.
>
> Before you know it, it's halftime and the Bruins are clinging to a
> 14-10
> lead after a brilliant defensive stop, holding the Irish to a field
> goal.
> It's too early and there's too much time left to get your hopes up
> for an
> upset.
>
> Fast forward to the fourth quarter ? 1:02 left. You feel good about
> the
> outcome of this game, but you don't say anything. There's still a
> lot of
> time left.
>
> Quinn completes a couple passes and stops the clock. The crowd is
> going
> nuts. A second later Jeff Samardzija has the ball, heading for the end
> zone; no one stops him. The stadium explodes with noise. Hundreds of
> Notre Dame students are lifted into the air by their peers. You can't
> speak. You wonder if what you just saw actually happened.
>
> One last chance with the ball. Cowan's sacked. Game over.
>
> The man next to you raises his arms above his head in silent
> celebration.
>
> You mill around for a while, watching UCLA players being consoled
> by their
> families. This game was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and in
> about half
> a minute, it was gone.
>
> The Notre Dame fans are all class. No one says anything except for how
> great of a game it was while they shake their heads, as if knowing
> they
> should not have won.
>
> But, if you had to lose one, falling to the tradition, pride and class
> that Notre Dame represents is all you can ask for. You know this
> was an
> experience you will never forget. .