The Gameday Experience: A Navy Afterthought

[Jason Pham]

Here's a small excerpt from an article discussing something that hasn't been brought up, the reaction of the student, especially during the final quarter:

Rewind the playtape to the final 3 minutes of the game. Notre Dame, lead by some Aldridge and Allen flavored heroics, both combining for 62 yards on the possession, a gutsy 14 yard rush to set up a 16 yard completion on fourth and 13 by Sharpley to Carlson, and topped off with a Travis Thomas, break every tackle until I cross that line for 3 yards and 6 points, had just tied up the game after the life had seemingly been sucked out of the stadium. The crowd erupted.

With 3:01 left on the board, the Notre Dame defense took the field, each player looking up at the crowd signaling for some help and support. I doubt they even expected what they got from us. For the entire possession, the crowd never let up, giving continued noise and clamor the loudest I've ever heard from the stadium. I'm always the loudest in my section, but I couldn't hear myself, the only way I knew that I was screaming then was feeling my vocal chords crying in pain. The crowd noise drowned out everything else on the field, including the play by play over the PA, so that the only thing anyone within a mile of the stadium heard was the defeaning support of Her loyal sons and daughters (not to be mistaken with Her loyal sons on the field). Just to fully appreciate the moment, those around me actually suffered very minor temporary hearing loss after that possession, the kind you get when you stand in front of the speakers at a concert.

One first down, a botched fourth down playcall, and a collective stunned reaction as the offense took the field instead of the kicking unit later, we are where we are now.

Odd as it may be, yesterday still strikes me as one of the most memorable Notre Dame games I've been to, just based on the crowd alone. If anyone did the recruiting yesterday, it was the crowd, and don't be too surprised to see a commit or two because of it.

The full article can be found in the Varsity Member's Forum.

 

[Timugen]

Here's a small excerpt from an article discussing something that hasn't been brought up, the reaction of the student, especially during the final quarter:



Odd as it may be, yesterday still strikes me as one of the most memorable Notre Dame games I've been to, just based on the crowd alone. If anyone did the recruiting yesterday, it was the crowd, and don't be too surprised to see a commit or two because of it.

The full article can be found in the Varsity Member's Forum.

I hate to burst your bubble, but what you consider to be an exceptional outing for the crowd here is nothing but par for the course for most other major college football programs. Some may not like to hear it, but it's true.

 

[Jason Pham]

I hate to burst your bubble, but what you consider to be an exceptional outing for the crowd here is nothing but par for the course for most other major college football programs. Some may not like to here it, but it's true.

You are underestimating me. Though not the point of my post, it's widely understood that a midday game, where drunken behavior leads to arrests and getting kicked out, and an older crowd lead to a less boisterous gameday atmostphere. But I've been to games at Penn State, Michigan, and Oregon. While the overall noise is louder than that at Notre Dame Stadium, I have still never experienced the peak volume that I heard yesterday from a college football game anywhere.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

I tend to lean towards ol' Meatbat's perspective here, J-Pham. Having been both a student and a returning alum, I can certainly appreciate your point that our crowds can elicit some of the loudest environments in all of college football. And I know that the student body always supports the team to the fullest from opening kick to alma mater.

Unfortunately, our crowd overall is much too fair-weather, mixed in with the geriactric and other boring pricks that tell you to sit down because their kid that isn't paying attention to the game can't see. It contributes to why teams are no longer intimidated to come in to our stadium. It contributes to why we lose to Air Force and Navy and BYU and Northwestern and Michigan State and Boston College and so forth...in our stadium. There is no consistent 12th man in our stadium. Our crowds are spectators, not fans.

We need that to change, I want that to change.

 

[Jason Pham]

There is no consistent 12th man in our stadium. Our crowds are spectators, not fans. We need that to change, I want that to change.

That's not the point I'm trying to get across here. I completely agree with you guys for the reasons already stated above.

It's widely understood that a midday game, where drunken behavior leads to arrests and getting kicked out, and an older crowd leads to a less boisterous gameday atmostphere.

I'm just saying for the entirity of Navy's one minute possession on the field after we'd just tied up the game, there was a straight minute of the loudest I've ever heard any college stadium. Our peak volume for that possession on defense was impressive. That's all I'm saying, nothing more or less.

 

[SoCalDomer]

JPham, I don't get it. Would you boil it down to just one thing you're trying to say!?! grin:

 

[IrishAlum1997]

I guess I just don't understand, too far removed from the old college days, I suppose.

Our crowd got up for one possession against a team we should have been heavily favored to beat, and that is going to sway a high-profile recruit to choose ND? These recruits know the landscape of college football, and that we should never be in a position to have to cheer like that against a team like Navy. It actually stinks of desperation to me.

If you witnessed the same thing vs. USC (I was there, you didn't), I would say right on.

Sorry, just agree to disagree on this one.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm surprised that more people are ok with a 1-8 team. Our motto is 'play like a champion' is it not? I get that CW gets more leeway because of his recruiting prowess, but how long will that continue if our record doesn't improve next year.

I like the fact that ND has class, and we have a coach that recruits, our gameday experience is nice, but I want ND to win. Have we become accustomed to losing (like the Bengals) that we chalk bad losses for the last three years as a learning curve? I hope that the talent alone in the frosh/soph classes, and the incoming freshmen are enough to turn things around, but we had better athletes than Navy did, and looked poor.
At some point, CW needs to get his players to execute, whether they are 5 stars, or 3 stars. Hell, Cincinnati has a bunch of 2 and 3 star players making me wish we had their defense half the time.

I guess I expect more out of ND than others. Wrong thread to throw a rant in, but I'm tired of being embarrassed, CW is on a short leash w/ me, and a hell of alot of diehard ND fans.

 

[GoIrish41]

I'm surprised that more people are ok with a 1-8 team. Our motto is 'play like a champion' is it not? I get that CW gets more leeway because of his recruiting prowess, but how long will that continue if our record doesn't improve next year.

I like the fact that ND has class, and we have a coach that recruits, our gameday experience is nice, but I want ND to win. Have we become accustomed to losing (like the Bengals) that we chalk bad losses for the last three years as a learning curve? I hope that the talent alone in the frosh/soph classes, and the incoming freshmen are enough to turn things around, but we had better athletes than Navy did, and looked poor.
At some point, CW needs to get his players to execute, whether they are 5 stars, or 3 stars. Hell, Cincinnati has a bunch of 2 and 3 star players making me wish we had their defense half the time.

I guess I expect more out of ND than others. Wrong thread to throw a rant in, but I'm tired of being embarrassed, CW is on a short leash w/ me, and a hell of alot of diehard ND fans.

great post. reps stoney. no ND fan should accept the mediocrity that we are seeing. strike that, right now I think we should shoot for mediocrity. Next year, ND should win AT LEAST 8 games or get a new coach, period.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

On board with the last two posts. 8-4 or else NEXT SEASON. But that also means that we have to accept the hell that will be the next 3 weeks. It could get down right deplorable in Irish Country, it CAN get worse.

I love Charlie. I really do. But is it possible that 1-11 could get him the door, buyout and all? Really?

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

No, he'll get at least one more year, if not two. I'm not necessarily upset at losing, it's more about who we lost to, how we lost, playcalling, etc......

 

[johnnd05]

I love Charlie. I really do. But is it possible that 1-11 could get him the door, buyout and all? Really?

I love him, too. I've been talking a lot with my wife about how badly we feel for Weis and his family. What a tough, tough situation (though admittedly a self-made one).

If our offense doesn't turn it around in the next three games I think it would be entirely reasonable to show him the door and make Corwin the new head coach (that would help keep the recruits on board, at least).

 

[NDOM]

I hate to burst your bubble, but what you consider to be an exceptional outing for the crowd here is nothing but par for the course for most other major college football programs. Some may not like to hear it, but it's true.

I agree. Notre Dame is loud but I can name about 50 stadiums that are louder and harder to win in. Notre Dame is becoming and easy place to win now days. Here is just some stadiums that are louder: Penn State, Oregon, Iowa, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, Texas, Ohio State, Southern Cal, California,Alabama, Florida State, Miami (Florida),Texas A&M......I can keep going but I think you get the point. Notre Dame is in my opinion maybe ranked 50th-60th loudest and its becoming easier and easier to win at Notre Dame, Just ask Michigan, Michigan State, Boston College, Usc, and dare I say Navy??

 

[NDOM]

I love him, too. I've been talking a lot with my wife about how badly we feel for Weis and his family. What a tough, tough situation (though admittedly a self-made one).

If our offense doesn't turn it around in the next three games I think it would be entirely reasonable to show him the door and make Corwin the new head coach (that would help keep the recruits on board, at least).

Hmmm..... Thats an interesting thought johnnd05.

 

[Jason Pham]

Stinking of desperation is walking out with 3 quarters left to play. I don't see anything desperate or wrong about cheering on your team, despite the calls being played, especially since for some of in the stands, these are our dormmates, roommates, and friends. I'm not trying to make excuses for our performance or the playcalling. But let's be more rational than throwing everyone and everything associated with the program under the bus.

And if it's too hard for you to believe, consider this. Floyd and Gray both committed to Notre Dame after a USC loss saying that the game day experience was a big bonus that helped lean them towads their commitment.

Also, I was there in 2005. I may have started my freshman year in 2006, but my year off after high school was spent in the community with my uncle in Moreau.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I think if you take the entire gameday experience, you are probably right. Having not been to SB (sic), I can only imagine the pep rally, the walk, the book store, the grotto, and the stadium when the Irish take the field. I don't doubt that at all.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

I love him, too. I've been talking a lot with my wife about how badly we feel for Weis and his family. What a tough, tough situation (though admittedly a self-made one).

If our offense doesn't turn it around in the next three games I think it would be entirely reasonable to show him the door and make Corwin the new head coach (that would help keep the recruits on board, at least).

Let me preface things by saying, I love Chuck too!

I hadn't even thought of it from that perspective...good thoughts, Johnny Boy! Reps.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Stinking of desperation is walking out with 3 quarters left to play. I don't see anything desperate or wrong about cheering on your team, despite the calls being played, especially since for some of in the stands, these are our dormmates, roommates, and friends. I'm not trying to make excuses for our performance or the playcalling. But let's be more rational than throwing everyone and everything associated with the program under the bus.

And if it's too hard for you to believe, consider this. Floyd and Gray both committed to Notre Dame after a USC loss saying that the game day experience was a big bonus that helped lean them towads their commitment.

Also, I was there in 2005. I may have started my freshman year in 2006, but my year off after high school was spent in the community with my uncle in Moreau.

First off, I think you misunderstood part of my post. When I was referring to crowd noise vs. USC, I was referring to this year's contest, and the lack of enthusiasm by the crowd at an early stage. My comment was 'I was, you didn't (hear a loud crowd),' not "I was, you WEREN'T." Apologies if that was how you interpreted it.

But of course the recruits are going to mention gameday atmosphere. I would argue that 'gameday atmosphere' revolves more around the campus, the walk from the basilica, the fact that we are a historic program, etc., not what they hear from the fans during the game. Again, I was at the USC game this year too. If Floyd and J-Gray committed because of what they heard in the stands, let's not allow them to take visits ANYWHERE else. The frame of reference is not good.

And I am sticking behind my comment about 'desperation.' I am also a former student, J-Pham, and had many fellow classmates and dormmates on the field as well. EXCLUDING the student body (most of the time, although they have their moments as well), Notre Dame Stadium crowds rarely exhibit what you heard at the end of the Navy game, unless we are trying to will our team to victory late in a close game. Unfortunately, with rare exception, those moments happen to come often against teams we should dominate. When we are 'desperate' for a win, our crowds respond. When else does that happen? It needs to be a mindset, a culture, an expectation of our fans, young and old. We are not there.

This proud alum is not jumping off the bus, nor am I ready to throw anyone under it. You'll hear me cheering loudly when I'm back home, and teaching my two children to do the same..September 6, 2008.

GO IRISH.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Sorry to repeat some of your same thoughts regarding gameday, Stoney. Missed your post on page 2 when I was responding to J-Pham.

I agree.