Fondest Memories

[GO IRISH!!!]

There has been a lot of negativity the last 24 hours or so and it is understandable. We waited a long time for this game and it didn't exactly go as we would have liked. In the spirit of getting some good vibes going, I thought I would pose a question because I am curious, but also I think it is important to find out why everyone loves this team so much. This is a question I always ask ND fans when I meet them and I love some of the responses.

What is your fondest ND football memory? This could be something that you experienced personally, a story you heard, or anything. What is the one thing you could point to as the best memory you have relating to ND football?

My fondest memory was watching the games with my mom when I was kid. Football Saturdays were the biggest thing in my house. My mom is the biggest sports fan I know, but ND football has always been her biggest passion. She would cook a huge spread and we would always wear our ND gear and sing the fight song and all that. It sounds corny, but ND football will always remind me of my mom. She has never been to a game in person and I am planning on bringing her back to South Bend in the 2009 season.

I look forward to hearing other stories here.

God bless everyone and Go Irish!!!!!!

 

[SouthernIrish]

My grandfather owned a farm in central Indiana. I remember every Saturday going out there and he would be glued to the TV or the radio following the Irish. Its the only real memory I have of him not working.

 

[wahoo]

Wow...I've got a lot of fond memories....probably my favorite was watching ND topple Bama 24-23. Ara made a great call at the end of the game ....the pass to the TE Weber. Another highglite was the "chicken soup" game with Montana pulling out the Cotton Bowl win over Houston.
Lasly, anytime I am fortunate to attend a game...I went to two during the Weis era so far and we are 2-0! My wonderful wife got us tickets to the Pitt game this year

 

[Bubba]

The second half of the Sugar bowl against Florida in 1992. Jerome Bettis was a beast. I loved watching the ole ball coach and his team take a beating.

 

[2-4]

jeez..hum...the worst memory : USC beating ND wit the Bush Push, missed the game cuz of my cousin's wedding, still mad at it haha and i guess the best was watching every games with Tostitos,dip,2 clover foam hands, 3 ND t-shirts on + Walker's jersey while hugging my Ireland flag...damn they really mean it when they say school is the best time of your life...wit work, i cant do this no more

EDIT : ill add the Irish comeback vs Michigan State, i was gettin drunk at my best friend's house and i kept telling him "IT'S NOT OVER!"...such great memories comes out of ND Football

 

[Swash]

My best memory is probably my first game: Michigan State at ND, September 11, 2003(4)? Another is the ND comeback as stated about, too bad I was an idiot and turned it off thinking it was over . And my hated favorite memory was the Bush Push. We use to get tickets 14th row right on the goal line. We were on the other side of the field though, but the guy behind us had a portable TV and a ton of people were watching the replay over and over again on TV.

 

[coachjohnson]

My favorite memory about watching ND was the first time I seen them play in person. We drove to knoxville to watch them play the vols. The first time the Irish came on the field for pre-game I was just in awe of them. I can't describe the feeling but seeing those gold helmets with the perfect sparkle for first time was unreal. I don't think any helmets I have ever seen shine like the Irish helmets. I remember that memory like it was yesterday.

 

[Dizzyphil]

I live in Memphis so, I have to say the 1983 Liberty Bowl beating Doug Flutie and Boston College 19-18. Allen Pinket was fun to watch. There was only about 40K people in the stadium, I was a Freshman in High School and went with my Dad and Grandfather. It was cold as ice. 0 degree wind chill factor in a bowl that is notorious for swirling winds. I was packed in between my Grandfather and Dad while they drank whiskey and smoked cigars. I can remeber smelling those cigars, hot-dogs and Evan Williams. I was 15 and got to drive home the two drunkards as long as I did not tell my mom or grandmother!! It was the last football game we all went to together. Best memory for me.

Dizzy

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Greatest in-person memories (not necessarily in order):

1) First game in person, freshman year '93: Petey Bercich with a pick-6 on the first play from scrimmage. My intro to ND football

2) FSU '93: In the band, I was on the sideline. Wanted to rush the field so bad when we knocked down that last pass.

3) Quinn to Samardzija vs. UCLA in '06. What a drive.

honorable mention: the comeback vs. BC in '93. I did not think the old stadium could get any louder than the FSU game. When we went up 39-38, it was euphoria. If the last 1:06 of the game could have just never happened...

 

[mick2]

definately quinn to the shark on that ucla drive, the bar we were in went nuts. i was running around like a mad man. it was awesome.

i went to the pitt game a while back i think it was willinghams 2nd year or last year but it was a shootout we lost i think 38-41 but man it was an awesome game, also an awesome experience my first time at nd got pics with dwalk and jtuck i cant find them tho. what an awesome time, hopefully i'll be back up next season.

 

[Mare426]

My grandchildren waking their Dad on Saturday mornings to the ND fight song.
Watching any game with my family.

 

[Brown]

My aunt and uncle raised me for the first 12 years of my life. My uncle is a football coach who loved the Irish. I remember the 1993 season, especially the Florida State game (I was 9 years old at the time). Notre Dame seemed to be the only thing that brought any child like behavior out of him (jumping around and screaming when they scored touchdowns)

ND football reminds me of those simple times with him, coming home from pee wee football games on Saturday, as a child, and watching Lou Holtz' Irish kick ass.

I eventually left my Uncle's/Aunt's house and lived the rest of my teenage years with my Mom.

ND is the unspoken link between me and my Uncle -- even though we don't talk to each other anymore.

 

[RKWhite]

I attended my first ND game when Angelo Bertelli was QB and they played Army at Yankee Stadium. My sister took me because I was a rabid ND fan as a kid.
That was either 1942 or 1943, I do remember ND won 13-6. I am 78 yr. old and remember some of the greatest players even from the mid 1930's. Football has changed a great deal since then (not all good!)