Happy Fathers Day

[Irish Envy]

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Father's Day. Hope everyone is experiencing lovely weather like we are here in Indianapolis! Anyhow, have a great weekend!

 

[jiggafini19]

Happy Father's Day to all you dads.

To my dad, thank you for everything. Thanks for raising me to be an ND fan and knowing what it means to stand for something. I'll always remember the USC game, Ron Powlus' debut at Soldier Field and beating Purdue in 1991. Thanks for driving three hours down to all of my games, even when I was on special teams and not starting. Thanks for convincing me not to quit after knee surgery when I was in high school. And even though I'm an opinionated, loud mouth greaseball wopp dago, you still always keep me in my place and remind me of the important things in life: hard work, helping others and doing right by those you love.

GO IRISH!! GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!! Thanks Dad.

 

[Irish Envy]

Again, have a good Fathers Day!

 

[scooper]

This is a couple days late, but here's a related story. It's long so I'll break it up a bit. I think it's a good read.

I'm a subway. I latched on during the Faust years as a young lad as my dad was an ND fan. A good one, but not quite rabid. Also I knew pretty early that I'd end up at Moeller, Faust's old school, so the ND connection was natural.

Fast forward to my teens when I had grown into a rabid fan and my father was right there with me.

Fast forward a few more years(98 to be exact) when I was in my early twenties, foamed at the mouth for ND football but had never been to football mecca to see it for myself.

One Thursday afternoon, my Dad called me at work to tell me he had two tickets to Saturday's game and reservations at the lodge at the US Golf Academy about 1/2 hour south of ND. That Saturday was Halloween and I had a big party planned with my neighbor, but I wasn't going to miss this chance. My girlfriend (now wife) would have to hold down the fort until I returned late from South Bend.

We drove up Friday night and could hardly sleep. We got up very early to get on campus. We did all the tourist things-the Grotto, the Bascillica, bookstore, etc. I especially enjoyed the pre game concert on the steps of the architecture building (I literally teared up a couple times) and the march off from the admin building. (One of the biggest rushes I've ever felt.)

When we walked into the stadium, we looked like Ned Beatty in Rudy. What a great feeling. Anyway, we trounced Baylor and Dad and I made the long trek back to Cincy in time to catch the last couple hours of my party.

I was so pumped from the visit that I went out that week and bought my dad an ND turtleneck and sweater to give him at Christmas.

Christmas came and I gave it to him. That night, he left mass early and walked home due to illness. By New Year's eve, we knew he has late term cancer and was not going to be around long. My parents were letting me throw a New Year's party at their house. I wanted to cancel. He would have nothing of it. In between periods of rest, Dad hung out with my friends who all loved hanging out and having a few with him. This was their last chance. The next day, all the guys crashed in front of Dad's big screen for some serious bowl day festivities.

A few weeks later as things were going downhill, it was time for "the talk." It was time to say the things that needed to be said. He told me that he was happy to finally take me to a game at Notre Dame. We'd witnessed many high school, college and pro games together. He was my biggest fan when I played and we had a great record coaching Jr. high together. The ND trip was a great way to cap it off. I loved my Dad for many reasons, but football was our glue. It was how we bonded. With my brother it was golf and the summer prior, the two had made a long planned golfing trip together, so each of us got our last bonding moment.

Feb. 6 1999, Dad passed away peacefully in a hospital room surrounded by over 20 family and friends. He was never one to turn down a party.

We buried him in the ND garb I had bought for him. I was the only time he was able to wear it.

It may have been a blip on the ND radar, but a late season trouncing of Baylor, late in Davie's tenior will always have a special place in my heart.

Now I have two boys of my own. The 20 month old already gets excited to see a football, helmet or game on TV. The younger is now three weeks old. I can't wait to take them to South Bend for a game.

Happy belated Fathers' Day, fellas.

 

[Irish Envy]

Awesome story... and if I said I read it without tearing up, I'd be lying. That, my friends, is what Notre Dame football is all about.

Other schools have football and it's just a game. Sure, they have their die hards, but I refuse to believe any program has the loyal following that the Irish have. Notre Dame football has and builds family roots, brings friends together. I love it!

 

[irishnd31]

This is a couple days late, but here's a related story. It's long so I'll break it up a bit. I think it's a good read.

I'm a subway. I latched on during the Faust years as a young lad as my dad was an ND fan. A good one, but not quite rabid. Also I knew pretty early that I'd end up at Moeller, Faust's old school, so the ND connection was natural.

Fast forward to my teens when I had grown into a rabid fan and my father was right there with me.

Fast forward a few more years(98 to be exact) when I was in my early twenties, foamed at the mouth for ND football but had never been to football mecca to see it for myself.

One Thursday afternoon, my Dad called me at work to tell me he had two tickets to Saturday's game and reservations at the lodge at the US Golf Academy about 1/2 hour south of ND. That Saturday was Halloween and I had a big party planned with my neighbor, but I wasn't going to miss this chance. My girlfriend (now wife) would have to hold down the fort until I returned late from South Bend.

We drove up Friday night and could hardly sleep. We got up very early to get on campus. We did all the tourist things-the Grotto, the Bascillica, bookstore, etc. I especially enjoyed the pre game concert on the steps of the architecture building (I literally teared up a couple times) and the march off from the admin building. (One of the biggest rushes I've ever felt.)

When we walked into the stadium, we looked like Ned Beatty in Rudy. What a great feeling. Anyway, we trounced Baylor and Dad and I made the long trek back to Cincy in time to catch the last couple hours of my party.

I was so pumped from the visit that I went out that week and bought my dad an ND turtleneck and sweater to give him at Christmas.

Christmas came and I gave it to him. That night, he left mass early and walked home due to illness. By New Year's eve, we knew he has late term cancer and was not going to be around long. My parents were letting me throw a New Year's party at their house. I wanted to cancel. He would have nothing of it. In between periods of rest, Dad hung out with my friends who all loved hanging out and having a few with him. This was their last chance. The next day, all the guys crashed in front of Dad's big screen for some serious bowl day festivities.

A few weeks later as things were going downhill, it was time for "the talk." It was time to say the things that needed to be said. He told me that he was happy to finally take me to a game at Notre Dame. We'd witnessed many high school, college and pro games together. He was my biggest fan when I played and we had a great record coaching Jr. high together. The ND trip was a great way to cap it off. I loved my Dad for many reasons, but football was our glue. It was how we bonded. With my brother it was golf and the summer prior, the two had made a long planned golfing trip together, so each of us got our last bonding moment.

Feb. 6 1999, Dad passed away peacefully in a hospital room surrounded by over 20 family and friends. He was never one to turn down a party.

We buried him in the ND garb I had bought for him. I was the only time he was able to wear it.

It may have been a blip on the ND radar, but a late season trouncing of Baylor, late in Davie's tenior will always have a special place in my heart.

Now I have two boys of my own. The 20 month old already gets excited to see a football, helmet or game on TV. The younger is now three weeks old. I can't wait to take them to South Bend for a game.

Happy belated Fathers' Day, fellas.

Hope all the fathers had a great day. Scoop, you got me ballin at work buddy. Great story and your pops sounded like a fantastic man. You are blessed to have had that moment with him. I cherish every moment that I have with my father and always blow up an 8x10 picture of him, my brother, and I(at ND) to hang in my converted ND office just to remember and commemorate OUR time in OUR favorite place.

You can now pass on that same love and passion to your two boys and let them know that Grandpa will always be there watching them and cheering for Old Notre Dame. God bless bro.

 

[jiggafini19]

Even though the result sucked, I'll always consider USC 2005 a fond memory because I was there with my dad. I swear he was the first person in the stadium that saw they were wearing green jerseys in the tunnel.

Scoop, that's all heart, Brother. All heart.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

This is a couple days late, but here's a related story. It's long so I'll break it up a bit. I think it's a good read.

I'm a subway. I latched on during the Faust years as a young lad as my dad was an ND fan. A good one, but not quite rabid. Also I knew pretty early that I'd end up at Moeller, Faust's old school, so the ND connection was natural.

Fast forward to my teens when I had grown into a rabid fan and my father was right there with me.

Fast forward a few more years(98 to be exact) when I was in my early twenties, foamed at the mouth for ND football but had never been to football mecca to see it for myself.

One Thursday afternoon, my Dad called me at work to tell me he had two tickets to Saturday's game and reservations at the lodge at the US Golf Academy about 1/2 hour south of ND. That Saturday was Halloween and I had a big party planned with my neighbor, but I wasn't going to miss this chance. My girlfriend (now wife) would have to hold down the fort until I returned late from South Bend.

We drove up Friday night and could hardly sleep. We got up very early to get on campus. We did all the tourist things-the Grotto, the Bascillica, bookstore, etc. I especially enjoyed the pre game concert on the steps of the architecture building (I literally teared up a couple times) and the march off from the admin building. (One of the biggest rushes I've ever felt.)

When we walked into the stadium, we looked like Ned Beatty in Rudy. What a great feeling. Anyway, we trounced Baylor and Dad and I made the long trek back to Cincy in time to catch the last couple hours of my party.

I was so pumped from the visit that I went out that week and bought my dad an ND turtleneck and sweater to give him at Christmas.

Christmas came and I gave it to him. That night, he left mass early and walked home due to illness. By New Year's eve, we knew he has late term cancer and was not going to be around long. My parents were letting me throw a New Year's party at their house. I wanted to cancel. He would have nothing of it. In between periods of rest, Dad hung out with my friends who all loved hanging out and having a few with him. This was their last chance. The next day, all the guys crashed in front of Dad's big screen for some serious bowl day festivities.

A few weeks later as things were going downhill, it was time for "the talk." It was time to say the things that needed to be said. He told me that he was happy to finally take me to a game at Notre Dame. We'd witnessed many high school, college and pro games together. He was my biggest fan when I played and we had a great record coaching Jr. high together. The ND trip was a great way to cap it off. I loved my Dad for many reasons, but football was our glue. It was how we bonded. With my brother it was golf and the summer prior, the two had made a long planned golfing trip together, so each of us got our last bonding moment.

Feb. 6 1999, Dad passed away peacefully in a hospital room surrounded by over 20 family and friends. He was never one to turn down a party.

We buried him in the ND garb I had bought for him. I was the only time he was able to wear it.

It may have been a blip on the ND radar, but a late season trouncing of Baylor, late in Davie's tenior will always have a special place in my heart.

Now I have two boys of my own. The 20 month old already gets excited to see a football, helmet or game on TV. The younger is now three weeks old. I can't wait to take them to South Bend for a game.

Happy belated Fathers' Day, fellas.

Scooper, that was a wonderful, and tearful account of a Father and Son's love of Our Lady's University, and I for one would like to thank you for posting it. It's moments like yours with your pops that you'll cherish forever...you'll always have those engrained in your memory.

Notre Dame's long standing history in the lore of Collegiate Football is one which has been passed down from generation to generation and I think what I took from your post and the thing that got to me the most was the "passing of the torch" which happened when your dad got you out for the Baylor game. I actually had the opportunity to take my dad to his first Notre Dame game back in 1997 and took him to the Gator Bowl on New Years Day in 2003. We've been to many games in the mean time, however, none will mean more to me than those times we've spent together watching the Irish.

I think the thing that I find myself doing now when I get the opportunity to get on campus for a game with my dad and brother, Irishnd31 is to make the very most of the moment. Savor every moment we can together and maximize the experience. Having said that, I could think of no better way to spend a saturday in the fall than to be with my pops, my brother, my children and nephew at the "Mecca of College Football."

I also think Svoboda hit the nail right on the head. There are passionate and rabid fans out there but you aren't gonna ever be able to convince me that there are more passionate, more loyal fans which will travel world wide to see "their" team play each and every saturday during the fall the way we do in a small midwest town in South Bend, Indiana.

Love thee Notre Dame

D. Gladin

 

[scooper]

Oh Man, how could I have forgotten this part?

When my dad was home sick during those few weeks, he called me at work very excited. "Guess who I just talked to.......Gerry Faust!"

Now before anybody laughs at this, remember Faust loves ND, is a great family man, devout Catholic and is still legendary in Moeller High School circles. Besides, it's like the presidency-you may not respect the job any one particular guy does, but you still respect the office.

Anyway, my Dad's best friend's father is tight with Faust and they called him and told him that an ND fan and father of two Moeller alumni was terminally ill. Faust called him and they talked for a long time. They talked about football, faith, ND, Moeller, etc. Faust even congratulated my Dad for the job he did as a jr. high coach (two city championships in four years).

Dad was star struck after the conversation and it really picked up his morality quite a bit.

After he passed, my brother and I wrote letters to Faust thanking him and telling him what the call meant to Dad. He invited us to the Catholic Mens conference and we spoke with him there.

The guy will always have my respect.