Book Ideas

[CarrollVermin]

I wanted to get some ideas/input on a book idea. I am a professor at a university in the South and have started to throw around ideas for a book on Notre Dame athletics (did my undergrad work there). A few ideas that need some help:

A chronicle of stories about fan's first ND football game experience.
A historical perspective on ND and our rivals (USC, Michigan, Navy, etc.)
A "chicken soup" sort of book with feel good stories related to ND sports.

What do you guys think...I figure this was a good place to get some true feedback.

 

[Irish2015]

i like the first idea and second idea. i feel like the 3rd idea's already been done in "for notre dame fan's only" I feel like the second option is the most original.

 

[nlroma1o]

I would read a book on the rivalry between ND and scUM. It would be great if you could research the history and then interview fans from both sides about their experiences with one another. Whether it be in day to day life, at the football game, or online. I'll give you your frist interview if you like. Its a detailed description of my experience at the 2009 game. And what its like dating a scUM fan.

 

[CarrollVermin]

Keep 'em coming guys...I appreciate the input.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I have no idea which idea would be most marketable, but I don't care for "feel good" books. I'm only interested in a non-fiction book if I'll learn something practical or interesting.

I'd read an historical perspective of ND's rivalries. I probably wouldn't read the other two books.

 

[BeauBenken]

If you can get great in-depth, primary info on the rivalries that would definitely be my pick only because it hasn't been done really. (To my knowledge...which seems not to extend that far.)

 

[irishpat183]

This sounds crazy..but what about a book on all the bad taste that some have for ND? Why we're the "Yankees" of college football and how we stay relevent without sucess on the field.

Just a thought. We've all read the books on how great we are and rah rah this and that. I'd like to read one that explains why people don't like us and if we're so irrelevent, why are people still obsessed with hating us.

 

[BGIF]

I would read a book on the rivalry between ND and scUM. It would be great if you could research the history and then interview fans from both sides about their experiences with one another. Whether it be in day to day life, at the football game, or online. I'll give you your frist interview if you like. Its a detailed description of my experience at the 2009 game. And what its like dating a scUM fan.

The ND UM book has been written, "Natural Enemies: The Notre Dame - Michigan Football Feud".

See also "Notre Dame vs USC: A 50 Year History of Footballs oldest intersectional rivalry" That one could use an update as it was written 32 years ago and it's out of print.

 

[BGIF]

This sounds crazy..but what about a book on all the bad taste that some have for ND? Why we're the "Yankees" of college football and how we stay relevent without sucess on the field.

Just a thought. We've all read the books on how great we are and rah rah this and that. I'd like to read one that explains why people don't like us and if we're so irrelevent, why are people still obsessed with hating us.

Here's a book that will tell you why Bama fans hate ND (aside from Bryant being 0-4).

The Missing Ring: How Bear Bryant and The 1966 Crimson Tide Were Denied College Football's Most Elusive Pride

A.K.A. How the Irish bastards conspired and the damn Yankee press conspired to put The Old South down once again. The author, Keith Dunnavant, makes the case that Alabama's Segregation and The Civil Rights Movement were why ND won in '66.

 

[WabashFalcon]

The Forgotten Four. Great book.

 

[dshans]

When I popped my (live) ND football cherry:

– September 25, 1970. Attended my first collegiate kegger the day before the game. Partook vigorously.
– Wound up on someone's shoulders, wrapped in toilet paper, at the Pep Rally.
– Broke my glasses, incurred abrasions and a mild concussion when dropped from said (drunken) shoulders.
– Trudged across campus the following day, in the rain, to watch Joe Theismann, et al., waste Purdue 48 - zip.
– YouTube - ‪Glenn Yarbrough Performs "Baby The Rain Must Fall" on Hollywood a Go Go‬‏
– Wimps with umbrellas were a pain in the arse.
– A hot shower and more beer to warm up after the game were just what the doctor ordered.
– All was good. All was right with the world.

 

[CarrollVermin]

dshans: that was a great story. I was not able to experience ND until I was a freshmen on campus...but our stories are very similar.

I live in the South and it has been interesting being an ND alumnus here where there is so much hatred. Most of it seems to come from the "entitled elitists" that we are...that we are above everyone else. I usually remind them that we are and move on. Still, that would be a great idea.

The "greatest memories" of ND would be interesting from the perspective of opposing players and coaches...but that research may be a little difficult to conduct.

 

[irishpat183]

dshans: that was a great story. I was not able to experience ND until I was a freshmen on campus...but our stories are very similar.

I live in the South and it has been interesting being an ND alumnus here where there is so much hatred. Most of it seems to come from the "entitled elitists" that we are...that we are above everyone else. I usually remind them that we are and move on. Still, that would be a great idea.

The "greatest memories" of ND would be interesting from the perspective of opposing players and coaches...but that research may be a little difficult to conduct.

Great point. I live in TX and ND is not popular at all down here. However, UT has it's own elitist status in the south. My thoughts were on the nation as a whole when it comes to ND hating. From coaches, to players of other teams, to other fan bases...I truly doubt people really know why they hate ND, they just do. Great school, does things the right way, and wins while maintaining solid academics...what's to hate??

 

[dshans]

I was not able to experience ND until I was a freshmen on campus...but our stories are very similar.

The first time I set foot on campus was the night before orientation my freshman year --- no paid OV's for non-football schlub's like me. No parents in tow. The folks were busy (and cash strapped) getting my brother to Hanover, NH for his senior year at Dartmouth, my older sister to Saratoga Springs, NY for her sophomore year at Skidmore, my twin sister to Columbia, MO for her freshman year at Stephens College (she wound up at Syracuse – BOO! HISS! – to get her degree) and keeping tabs on my younger sister who was in eighth grade.

I took severe advantage of this new found freedom. I'd like to say that I did no more stupid things after that first pep rally, but I can't. Not with a straight face.

YouTube - ‪The Paul Simon Special (1977) - part 5/8 - Still Crazy After All These Years‬‏

YouTube - ‪james taylor Still crazy after all these years‬‏

YouTube - ‪Willie Nelson / Still Crazy "after all these years"‬‏

YouTube - ‪Ray Charles - Still Crazy.avi‬‏

[A smattering of styles with the same sentiment]

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Great point. I live in TX and ND is not popular at all down here. However, UT has it's own elitist status in the south. My thoughts were on the nation as a whole when it comes to ND hating. From coaches, to players of other teams, to other fan bases...I truly doubt people really know why they hate ND, they just do. Great school, does things the right way, and wins while maintaining solid academics...what's to hate??

Well, that is a pretty wide scope. Texas is rather large. I knew ND in the Sun Bowl would be the overwhelming favorite, even had they played UT Austin.

You could tell just by watching tv the crowd was for ND against WSU in San Antonio.

Here in SoCal, I see USC, UCLA, ND, and Cal stuff at the stores.

 

[irishpat183]

Well, that is a pretty wide scope. Texas is rather large. I knew ND in the Sun Bowl would be the overwhelming favorite, even had they played UT Austin.

You could tell just by watching tv the crowd was for ND against WSU in San Antonio.

Here in SoCal, I see USC, UCLA, ND, and Cal stuff at the stores.

First off, MIA doesn't travel well at all. Miami fans don't care about their team unless their in the BCS and they don't have a large national following to begin with. I knew we'd have the advantage there as well...

Secondly....WSU?? Who did you think was going to have more fans at that game? If 100 ND fans showed up, they'd still have more than WSU.

Down here its all about the Horns, Aggies and SEC football. There are ND fans, but not as much as you might think considering how large of a state we have here.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

They're, goddammit.

So you think 60,000 South Benders and fans traveled to El Paso to watch ND? No, the majority were Texans and some New Mexicans and maybe some folks from across the border. In San Antonio, why would the crowd cheer for an Indiana team over a Washington team?

Texas is a large state, and I agree you are in the heart of Aggie and Bevo land. Toss in some U of H. But Texas ain't all about hatin' on ND.

Heck, even here in USC and UCLA territory, I walked into a sports bar to watch an ND game. The crowd was 99% ND (against NC).

I chatted briefly with a man who was typing on his comp. I guess he was reporting on the game. He was an FSU grad rooting for ND so that FSU could get a better bowl game.

Up in NorCal, I walked into a tiny sports bar to catch a game on TV. Can't remember who ND was playing. Maybe 10 silent loners all there to hit on the spectacular Ann Margaret looking (in her young days...) bartender. All 10 were rooting for ND when they weren't staring at the bartenders pooper and boobies.

 

[irishpat183]

They're, goddammit.

So you think 60,000 South Benders and fans traveled to El Paso to watch ND? No, the majority were Texans and some New Mexicans and maybe some folks from across the border. In San Antonio, why would the crowd cheer for an Indiana team over a Washington team?

Texas is a large state, and I agree you are in the heart of Aggie and Bevo land. Toss in some U of H. But Texas ain't all about hatin' on ND.

Heck, even here in USC and UCLA territory, I walked into a sports bar to watch an ND game. The crowd was 99% ND (against NC).

I chatted briefly with a man who was typing on his comp. I guess he was reporting on the game. He was an FSU grad rooting for ND so that FSU could get a better bowl game.

Up in NorCal, I walked into a tiny sports bar to catch a game on TV. Can't remember who ND was playing. Maybe 10 silent loners all there to hit on the spectacular Ann Margaret looking (in her young days...) bartender. All 10 were rooting for ND when they weren't staring at the bartenders pooper and boobies.

The "Their" right before that got me. I know better than that. I supposed my point was that the two teams/games you were using to justify your point were bad examples. Miami and WSU just aren't blowing anyone away with their traveling fanbase. When I got watch games, it's not "pro ND" AT ALL. I get a whole lotta dirty looks. But I'm a big guy, so nobody ever says anything. So, to hell with em.