Happy 88th Birthday Ara!

[BGIF]

and thanks for the memories.

 

[Ben E.]

and thanks for the memories.

+1

 

[dshans]

A wonderful man, husband, father and grandfather to be given the opportunity to ply a long and meaningful life.

Not a bad college football coach when I think about it.

Happy birthday, Coach. I hope you're spending it surrounded by family and friends. As it should be.

 

[johnnykillz]

Bless the great coach.

Dear blessed coach: Bless us.

Happy B-Day to the legend...

 

[Old Man Mike]

As the folksinger sang: this year in space together has been a good good one; what say we make another circle 'round the Sun?

Blessings, Icon.

 

[irish1958]

It is thirty minutes to the "rapture." That is not true; for me it occurred in 1966.
I love you Ara!!!

 

[IrishBlood81]

wow 88! Congratulations and thank you for all you gave us!

 

[Lou Holtz]

Ara is the man you know your awesome when you do work as a coach and live it up for 88 years

 

[dshans]

Ara is the man you know your awesome when you do work as a coach and live it up for 88 years

Oh, shyte! I was hoping to fade into the background. Lack of structure, in this twitter and text age, leaves me pissed off and – and at times – truly confused. Have at me with any Old Timer, Out of Touch, Neanderthal quips you want, but ...

Does this translate as: "Ara is the man! You know you're awesome when you do [good/great] work as a coach and also contribute for 88 years!"

Or, does

Ara is the man you know your awesome when you do work as a coach and live it up for 88 years

Mean: "Ara is the man, you know. Your awesome [is] when you do work as a coach. [Wat???] Live it up for (another?) 88 years.

Without proper capitalization and reasonable punctuation words simply strung together in your head become a puzzle to others.

Forgive me, I was last in line to be raptured, though I was first in line to be ruptured while playing volleyball.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I wish that Ara could have had a life of "living it up for 88 years" but, if he had, he wouldn't have been the coach and the Man that we were fortunate to have known. God bless you, our great warrior and tutor.

 

[alaskandomer]

A (Now belated) Happy Birthday Coach. I was fortunate to have been a student at ND during the "Era of Ara," and as a recent grad was in Tulane Stadium for the New Year's Eve Sugar Bowl in '73. I can still remember the elation as you outcoached the Bear, and brought home the NC. There was a great first line in the newspaper the next morning "God's in His heaven, all's right with the world. Notre Dame is number 1 again." Thanks Coach.

 

[dshans]

...I was fortunate to have been a student at ND during the "Era of Ara," and as a recent grad was in Tulane Stadium for the New Year's Eve Sugar Bowl in '73. I can still remember the elation as you outcoached the Bear, and brought home the NC. There was a great first line in the newspaper the next morning "God's in His heaven, all's right with the world. Notre Dame is number 1 again." Thanks Coach.

A similar and oft told story: I went to the Orange Bowl the following year as a recent grad. By happenstance I spent the night (actually a few hours in the early morning) sleeping on a couch (maybe the floor ... I don't remember) in the same motel where the team was staying. It was Ara's last game as Notre Dame's head coach.

At about 10 in the morning I found my way to the lobby. Through the glare of the all-too-bright morning Miami sun I spotted Ara, Ted The Head Hesburgh and Moose Krause standing together and talking. I shuffled (to the slow, rhythmic beat of the pounding in my head) over to the group, extended my hand and muttered "Good game, coach" and then shuffled away to find coffee and orange juice in the hope of "curing" my hangover.

It was a great game and a fitting coda to his career. Live long and love with alacrity, Coach

[1975 Orange Bowl – Notre Dame lets a retiring coach Ara Parseghian go out a winner, defeating Alabama, 13-11, and denying the Crimson Tide a national title in the process.]

 

[alaskandomer]

A similar and oft told story: I went to the Orange Bowl the following year as a recent grad. By happenstance I spent the night (actually a few hours in the early morning) sleeping on a couch (maybe the floor ... I don't remember) in the same motel where the team was staying. It was Ara's last game as Notre Dame's head coach.

At about 10 in the morning I found my way to the lobby. Through the glare of the all-too-bright morning Miami sun I spotted Ara, Ted The Head Hesburgh and Moose Krause standing together and talking. I shuffled (to the slow, rhythmic beat of the pounding in my head) over to the group, extended my hand and muttered "Good game, coach" and then shuffled away to find coffee and orange juice in the hope of "curing" my hangover.

It was a great game and a fitting coda to his career. Live long and love with alacrity, Coach

[1975 Orange Bowl – Notre Dame lets a retiring coach Ara Parseghian go out a winner, defeating Alabama, 13-11, and denying the Crimson Tide a national title in the process.]

Didn't get to that game, as I was on my honeymoon. My bride did have to put up we me watching the game on TV, and giving a running commentary. In spite of that, we're still together.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Gee, I will alway remember the really cool man in Ottawa Park, who took his sister for walks and chatted with us kids. You would have never know he had a care in the world. Everything he asked made you think, everything he said had great import. It was only the next fall, while watching college footbal with my Dad and Grandpa that I got excited at the sideline shot durring the Notre Dame game and I jumped up and shouted that I knew him. They looked at me like I was stupid, but I took my Dad for a walk the next time he was there. What a gracious man. Who would take such time with a bunch of kids. Thank you for the memories! And the dignity you showed!