Best Notre Dame/Sports Memories

[GO IRISH!!!]

As if running the Ironman isn't hard enough. This guy does it with his disabled, wheelchair-bound son. During the swim, he tows him in an inflatable raft. On the bike, he has him in a specially made seat on the handle bars. And on the run, he uses a full size specially made jogging stroller. Amazing!

And I have trouble getting myself to the gym when something good is on TV.

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[GO IRISH!!!]

If I remember right the woman, his future wife, was miserable over some horrible event too...


in the end great story of faith.

You never know the plan God has for you. I look at some of the worst times in my life and they usually have led to some of the best experiences and blessings.

 

[dshans]

Due to tecnical difficulties, dshans PMed me asking me to post his favorite memory from when he was a young-adult:

On January 1, 1925, he was in attendance when the Knute Rockne coached Fighting Irish [sic] (",") led by the Four Horsemen [sic ] (",") defeated Stanford to win their first National Championship.


Now that is quite a memory, dshans! I am honored that you allowed me to post that....

Allowed? By my hairy inverted parabolic ***! I was but a glimmer in my grandparents' eyes at that time. I didn't make contact with earthly turf till '52 and ND's sacred ground till '70. These dates are in the 1900's and not the 1800's.

My enduring memories are of my first ND home game against Purdue, in the rain, in 1970 after being wrapped in toilet paper by dorm mates (following a kegger), hoisted on someone's shoulders at the pep rally and dropped, breaking my glasses and leaving an impressive abrasion and goose egg on my forehead. The Irish beat the crap out of the Boilermakers.

The next would be the 1971 Cotton Bowl that year. A 28 hour drive (each way) was more than worth the 24 hour stay in Dallas. Ara/ND took out Darryl Royal 24-11 behind Joe Theismann.

The third would be the 1975 Orange Bowl, Ara's last game as coach at ND and a victory over The Tide. I've already told the tale of my hungover handshake with Ara the morning after.

 

[95NDAlumNM]

My favorite nd sports memory was the fsu game in 93, rushing the field after. Then going to see the #1 lit up the next night. Of course, that was soon followed by my worse memory when bc came to town.

 

[Fan of the Irish]

Last years Utah game. I don't know how you could have been at that game and not have known that something pivotal was happening. The Blanton punt block for a TD was right in front of us. Everything changed after that(FOR THE BETTER).

I agree this is by far my best sports memory. It was my first time seeing ND in South Bend and turned it to one of the best weekends of my life.

 

[dshans]

Last years Utah game.

I should add that game to my list. It was the first time my son (now 24) visited the campus with me. It was a game that showed all that is good about ND, its campus, students, alumni (subway included) and football teams.

We strolled the campus with a college friend of his and his father, who curiously enough, lived in the same dorm as I did – only years later. I related a number of boorish stories. We were very gracious and welcoming to the number of folks from Utah and many times manned the camera when they were taking group photos so that they could all be in the shot.

That we won decisively in the rain was icing on the cake. That a large portion of the student body flooded the field after the game to cavort with the band and the team was spectacular.

WE ... ARE ... N ... D!!!

 

[NankerPhelge]

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As I have written about elsewhere, I was in the student section at this game. Absolutely, totally, freaking nuts doesn't even begin to describe it. The only other time I've ever experienced such electricity was when I saw the Stones in Soldier Field in '78 with 80,000 other crazies from about 20' back from the stage in the mob.

 

[ndyeater]

I was at the Utah game as well...had to give credit to Utah fans..there were a bunch of em..way to support ur team!

 

[dshans]

I was at the Utah game as well...had to give credit to Utah fans..there were a bunch of em..way to support ur team!

Without a doubt they had a good showing. Groups I bumped into pre-game were generally in awe of the physical beauty of the campus as well as its history. That I offered a welcome, directions when needed, and a hardy "Good luck – you're probably going to kick our ***" didn't hurt to bring a smile to their faces.

Post game, in spite of the score, the Utah fans I engaged in brief conversation enjoyed their stay at ND and appreciated the welcome and warmth they experienced. Keep up the good work, Notre Dame community.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Aaron Boone

 

[irishtrain]

This is a great thread and reading you guys brings back many thoughts on super moments in Notre Dame lore. My first game in'79 (southern cal) is one of my most treasured days and that summer I pitched in Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. That experience to be at the stadium thinking about the men who played in that arena made my baseball stuff seem almost an afterthought, to this day I remember that game more than any baseball game and baseball was my sport. Here's to the Irish- I hope, I wait, I watch, I want a National Champion again.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

My favorite sports memories would be the entire Final Four experience the last two years with Butler. My favorite ND memory would be the 2003 Michigan game, 2006 UCLA game, or the 2010 Utah game. Had so much fun at all of those.

 

[KZooIrishFan]

The first game I went to was ND-Baylor in 1990 something and ND won pretty handily if I recall. The second game though was against Navy in 1997 when a Navy player got knocked out at the 1 yard line on a hail mary. Too young to remember any of the key components of that play, but I remember the ball bouncing off a couple hands/helmets for the ending. My Dad told me it would be the most exciting ending I'd see at a football game and I was only 9 at the time. To this day, only OK-Boise even compares in terms of games I've seen.

 

[KZooIrishFan]

By the way, the sentimental value of that ND-Navy 1997 game is through the roof for me (Dad-From Maryland, Navy Fan. Me-Born in SB-ND Fan, In House Rivalry). If anyone has a video, I'd love to show my Dad since that's my favorite CFB game of all time.

 

[irishrecruiting]

Someone else mentioned something I'd like to echo, but in no particular order:

1. Aaron Boone's home run. I was a die-hard Yankees fan at the time in Boston, so it was incredibly satisfying.

2. First ND game was against Michigan in 2002. I had no idea who anyone was...I barely knew that the coach was Ty Willingham (I was in fifth grade and never grew up with football being a big part of my sports life). But my grandpa took me to the game, and the rest is history. That's why I'm posting here now. (ND won 25-23, and if my memory is correct, students rushed the field).

3. I'm a big soccer fan. Not one particular game sticks out, but I've seen Messi for Argentina twice against the U.S. (this past March and in June, 2008). In the first game, I'd say seeing him warm up alone was worth the admission fee alone. I've been fortunate enough to be at Ronaldinho's first game on tour with Barcelona back in '04 or '05 (?)...against Juventus in Foxboro, MA. Saw Ruud van Nistelrooy score a brilliant volley against Juventus at a separate game, etc. First soccer game I ever went to, I was 7 and it was at St. James' Park...Newcastle United/Aston Villa. Alan Shearer was sent off after 30 minutes, but I still idolize him. Enough soccer. You get the point.

4. Sun Bowl, 2010. Beat Miami, sums it up.

5. Blue Gold game, 2007. Too many details to tell, but that was the best day of my life, bar none. Best experience ever.

I'll leave it at that. I think I've strayed away from the topic of memories, but I couldn't help myself. Forgive me. I got a bit over-excited.

 

[kjk184]

YouTube - ‪The Snow Bowl Penn State Vs. Notre Dame 1992‬‏

This is by far my best ND memory. When I was 12 my dad took me to the Snow Bowl ND vs PSU. The group we went with were a bunch of his friends. One of the guys that organized it had some connections with the football office from going to every home game for years. The only two tickets together were row 1 seats 1 & 2 in the end zone where Bettis scores the TD and Holtz goes for two and the win. After the 2 pt conversion we rushed the end zone. At 5:41 you see my dad enter from the left in front of Mirer and I'm right behind trying to keep up (light blue hat). Amazing day...they were shooting some scenes from Rudy too.

 

[Blaise]

My favorite two live memories,

Michigan State Notre Dame game from 2006.... was in the end zone with all the action... rain storm was worth that ending!!!!

Notre Dame UCLA in 2006...... I was sooo upset and had lost faith, but The Shark and Quinn showed why they were winners