VoiceOfReason
New member
- Messages
- 9
- Reaction score
- 7
Thought I would use my first post as an opportunity to introduce myself and offer an outsiders perspective of the Irish. My name is Maurice (my father named me after the Rocket Richard) and I live in a suburb north of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (approximately 1750 miles away from South Bend). Hockey in Edmonton is the equivalent of football in Green Bay--it's a religion--an obsession. Unfortunately, I was too young to appreciate the dynasty years where the Oilers won 5 Cups in 7 years in the 80's but old enough to have endured the heartache ever since (a sentiment I'm sure a lot of you can relate to).
I became an Irish Fan in 2002 while Tyrone Willingham led the Irish to an 8-0 start! I had never met an Irish fan to that point--had no affiliation to the school or the program--and knew very little about College Football. On some level, I think I identified with the "return to glory" mantra that defined the 2002 season--partly because I had been waiting 12 years for the Oilers to do the same to no avail! Looking back, it wasn't until the Boston College game (ironically enough) that I became am lifelong fan--having seen the same 'coulda-shoulda-woulda' scenario play out on the ice for the better part of my life--and I could relate!
The following year, I made the pilgrimage (via my VW) to South Bend with three of my childhood friends (two of which are now also lifelong Irish fans) for the season opener against Washington State. The Irish stormed back to defeat the Cougers 29-26 scoring 20 fourth quarter points!
The following year, I attended the home opener where the Irish upset a highly ranked Wolverines team. In 2008, I took my father to his first Irish game against the Wolverines. It was far and away one of the best experiences I've had with my father. In some ways, it's difficult being an Irish fan being so far removed from fellow Irish fans--or College Football fans for that matter. It took weeks (if not months) to recover from the 'Bush Push' and, to a lesser extent, MSU's 'Little Giants'. Try explaining that to your co-workers when you're dragging *** Monday morning--when the only football they know and care about is the CFL!?!?! For the first time in my life, I feel as if both of my teams are on the path to glory--to re-establishing their storied traditions--and history of winning! See you in Ann Arbor!
I became an Irish Fan in 2002 while Tyrone Willingham led the Irish to an 8-0 start! I had never met an Irish fan to that point--had no affiliation to the school or the program--and knew very little about College Football. On some level, I think I identified with the "return to glory" mantra that defined the 2002 season--partly because I had been waiting 12 years for the Oilers to do the same to no avail! Looking back, it wasn't until the Boston College game (ironically enough) that I became am lifelong fan--having seen the same 'coulda-shoulda-woulda' scenario play out on the ice for the better part of my life--and I could relate!
The following year, I made the pilgrimage (via my VW) to South Bend with three of my childhood friends (two of which are now also lifelong Irish fans) for the season opener against Washington State. The Irish stormed back to defeat the Cougers 29-26 scoring 20 fourth quarter points!
The following year, I attended the home opener where the Irish upset a highly ranked Wolverines team. In 2008, I took my father to his first Irish game against the Wolverines. It was far and away one of the best experiences I've had with my father. In some ways, it's difficult being an Irish fan being so far removed from fellow Irish fans--or College Football fans for that matter. It took weeks (if not months) to recover from the 'Bush Push' and, to a lesser extent, MSU's 'Little Giants'. Try explaining that to your co-workers when you're dragging *** Monday morning--when the only football they know and care about is the CFL!?!?! For the first time in my life, I feel as if both of my teams are on the path to glory--to re-establishing their storied traditions--and history of winning! See you in Ann Arbor!
Last edited by a moderator:
