Holt takes shot at ND

[JefMaj]

Well, us Sorin members have our hooks in most season tickets.......

But, I will defend me and my brothers. I'm the idiot that sits in the gold section at the basketball game - megaphone shaped hands to my mouth yelling "OOOooohhhhhhhhhhh" when the other guy has the ball coming down the court - - and we're up by 15. Do you know Dr. Ferlich? He's the team Dr. (runs into locker room whenever a player is taken in for an injury - not blood-born) - I'm suprised he doesn't get ousted with the loud crap he yells at the refs. But some of us old farts (I'm 54) can act pretty stupid.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Penn St. Sucks!!!!!!! I would rather rather be kicked in the balls than to go there to see a game. Their fans are the worst. FP$U

 

[Riddickulous]

I hope the word gets around and the students hear about it.

 

[irishtrain]

stadium

stadium

They are correct on the stadium being sedate, mostly because the students cant pick up all the slack even though they do a good job. Many times I've seen Dads with kids looking around like they were in church or a hallowed place. My first experience was just that way. After a few games I got with it and started going nuts. Its not intimidating like sec venues-I've been to auburn, Ga, miss st and tenn, they try to bully you. Maybe they ( olders ) could let their hair down some and get crazy.

 

[irishtrain]

By the way I know I could watch ND play at mich/osu-I'd end up in jail.

 

[fightinirish68]

i have some family members thats are vols fans and i went with them to the memphis vs. ut game at neyland and WOW. what an experience. i hateeeeeeeee UT. so it there was like 50 blue shirts there for the tigers and seriously like 100,000 + orange shirts. so loud. you couldnt feel your phone vibrate in your own pocket bc u just thought it was everyone yelling and moving

 

[weisbank4]

The marshmallow thing at UM - for the person who asked - it was just some student tradition. They banned them back in the mid 90's so it was a big deal to "smuggle" marshmallows in and throw them around. I dont know the history behind it or anything.

 

[AlumniHall98]

One of the toughest transitions I've ever faced in my life was going from being a STUDENT at Notre Dame, to being an ALUM of Notre Dame, and realizing the COMPLETE change in the way you experience a football game in Notre Dame stadium when you go from the one role to the other...it is such an immense LET DOWN!! I remember the first time I had to sit in one of the non-student sections, I felt like such a foreigner - I wanted to stand up on every play, but kept doing that stupid half-way thing where you don't quite stand, but then don't quite sit...you know what I mean? TERRIBLE!! I felt like I couldn't yell, forget about using obscenities, I couldn't yell..period!! It was awful, I felt badly for wanting to scream my head off, and do all the requisite cheers you learn so well when you are a student.

I've been an alum for several years now, so I guess I am just sort of getting used to watching games from a different vantage point now, but I will ALWAYS remember how glorious it was standing side by side with my friends for 4 quarters every other Saturday in the fall for 4 seasons (with sitting time reserved ONLY for the half-time period, when everyone else stands up). You know, I don't think you realize how quiet the stadium is when you are a student, because to you, things seem really loud! But now that I have been to games since graduating, that place is too damn quiet. I wasn't at the 2005 USC game, wish I was, but I bet that was just awesome! Every game should approach that level of excitement and enthusiasm.

 

[JeremyND07]

Yeah...I remember my last ND game my brother and I stood up and yelled on a 4th down conversion. You could feel the glares. I have been to several stadiums through out the country and none have even been close to the morgue that is ND stadium!

 

[jason_h537]

Thats very depressing. ive never been to a game at Notre Dame but why would you not cheer? Its a football game

 

[dshans]

I understand the frustration of the stadium being a tad too quiet at times. I'm a '74 grad (one of the "Fois Gras & Chardonnay Set," I guess – though I prefer Escargot & Burgundy) and have only been back for one home game. It was the USC game in 1999. It was a shitty game that each team seemed intent on losing. We squeaked by with a one point win in a cold rain.

I was in the south end zone with what I gathered were "locals," sandwiched between two members of the "Brats & Beer Set." Six brats and six beers a day as a between meal snack since they each weighed in at about 350 lbs. They were pretty reserved and quiet and on the occasions I stood to cheer it wasn't easy for me to squeeze my skinny, 5"6", 135 lb. ass back into my seat. Think amoebas. Fortunately one of my bookends left at the half and the other in the third quarter when it started to rain and we were trailing 24-3. Plenty of room to jump, yell and dance around.

Don't blame the lack of noise on aging alums alone. As has been pointed out, ND hasn't a student body large enough to fill even a quarter of the stadium. Tickets need to be sold to someone to produce the string of sold-out games.

Keep in mind that the alumni also tend to financially support the school in ways other than buying tickets to football games. Big time. One of the rewards for donations is access to tickets. Maybe not as vocal (and limber) a group as would be optimal at a game, but valuable nonetheless.

Could one design and implement a screening system to sell tickets only to those agreeing to be rabid, screaming, standing and jumping fans and still reliably fill the stadium? Maybe hand out boom boxes with recorded cheers. Or buttons at each seat wired to the PA that shout "YES!", groan or boo when appropriate.

I agree – a more animated and vocal crowd throughout the stadium would be nice. I missed the experience I remembered from my years sitting in the student section at games. I don't recall anyone demanding that I sit down that day, though. If they had, they would have been welcome to kiss my ass ... it's a small target and could use some love.

 

[Catsudon]

How many stories have we seen on here and other boards about when people try to cheer and get rowdy at the stadium, they are told to sit down and things like that?

Heck, try a 'metallica' concert during the black album tour. we were standing and being all 'energetic' and the girls behind us asked us sit down so they can see the show.

 

[kmoose]

I wonder what Holt thinks now?

 

[jason_h537]

Same thing everyone is. Great game. Jake Locker is a very good QB

 

[dshans]

Same thing everyone is. Great game. Jake Locker is a very good QB

... and Clausen is a great QB.

 

[tgolden]

I wonder what Holt thinks now?

Well he was right for most of the game unfortunately. That place was rocking from those goalline stands on through the end of the game though.