ND Stadium Atmosphere

[NDPhilly]

Why exactly were the throwing marshmallows?

 

[returnofthemack]

Why exactly were the throwing marshmallows?

It's a tradition. My freshman year, the seniors would have marshmallow fights at halftime every game. Then the ushers started cracking down and now they only have a marshmallow fight during halftime of the senior game. It's a harmless tradition and the players have more important things to get butthurt about than marshmallows.

 

[CarrollVermin]

Was at the game...been going for 16 plus years. This was one of the worst football weekends I have attended. I had some friends from the SEC with me and they compared it to going to a game at Vanderbilt or Kentucky (I was not flattered).

The pep rally was terrible (don't know why they continue to have them). There were about 200 students there and the arena was half empty.

The game itself was about the same. The crowd was shamefully quiet. While the pom poms were cool, I guess people thought they made noise when you shake them. You could literally hear a pin drop in the stadium after the Rees interception. At a critical juncture in the game, the crowd decided to sit on their hands. And yes, on multiple occassions, I was told to "sit down in front". The loudest ovation was reserved for Bon Jovi.

I don't know how to change this. Sure, winning helps, but by God the team is 8-3.

 

[clashmore_mike]

You could literally hear a pin drop in the stadium after the Rees interception.

Do fans in SEC stadiums usually cheer when their quarterback throws an interception?

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Was at the game...been going for 16 plus years. This was one of the worst football weekends I have attended. I had some friends from the SEC with me and they compared it to going to a game at Vanderbilt or Kentucky (I was not flattered).

The pep rally was terrible (don't know why they continue to have them). There were about 200 students there and the arena was half empty.

The game itself was about the same. The crowd was shamefully quiet. While the pom poms were cool, I guess people thought they made noise when you shake them. You could literally hear a pin drop in the stadium after the Rees interception. At a critical juncture in the game, the crowd decided to sit on their hands. And yes, on multiple occassions, I was told to "sit down in front". The loudest ovation was reserved for Bon Jovi.

I don't know how to change this. Sure, winning helps, but by God the team is 8-3.

Just got done re-watching the game tonight and I have to agree. At times, the crowd was painfully quiet...Thought a funeral was happening. That said, the piped in music cranked everything up again...Pretty sad that it takes that to happen. This is major College D-1 football afterall, not a sagging bunch of goofs sitting around watching the National Geographic channel talking about the Civil War or something..... (DishHands...notice the excessive punctuation. That's for you, brah...)

 

[Patulski]

The pep rally was terrible (don't know why they continue to have them). There were about 200 students there and the arena was half empty. .

No discussion of ND Stadium can be complete without a discussion of how the student body has changed. It used to be a bunch of middle class, good (not great) students who lived and breathed ND sports. They were loud all game long, and were as avid basketball fans as football.

Today, the student body is a higher social class, higher intellectual breed who doesn't show the same support for the football and basketball team. In an earlier thread I posted how I sat next to the Senior section, whose support was half assed. What I didn't say that attendance for basketball games is awful. ND is barely able to get 100 students to go to the pre Big East games, and the student body is a pale comparison to how ND students used to support the bb team back in the day. Honestly, the guys look like a bunch of playstation pussies to me, and the girls (who represent a larger segment of the student body than they used to) don't care.

 

[dshans]

... not a sagging bunch of goofs sitting around watching the National Geographic channel talking about the Civil War or something..... (DishHands...notice the excessive punctuation. That's for you, brah...)

I thank you, sir. I tip my hat (the one with fur lining now that the snow has begun to fall and accumulate here in MN) to you. I did enjoy Ken Burns' "The Civil War" on PBS. The series filled in a few blanks.

Oh, and at 5'6", 135 lbs, I have no need for a "brah."

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

I thank you, sir. I tip my hat (the one with fur lining now that the snow has begun to fall and accumulate here in MN) to you. I did enjoy Ken Burns' "The Civil War" on PBS. The series filled in a few blanks.

Oh, and at 5'6", 135 lbs, I have no need for a "brah."

Nah... A "Brah" you shall have. You've earned that status.

 

[Ignats]

No discussion of ND Stadium can be complete without a discussion of how the student body has changed. It used to be a bunch of middle class, good (not great) students who lived and breathed ND sports. They were loud all game long, and were as avid basketball fans as football.

Today, the student body is a higher social class, higher intellectual breed who doesn't show the same support for the football and basketball team. In an earlier thread I posted how I sat next to the Senior section, whose support was half assed. What I didn't say that attendance for basketball games is awful. ND is barely able to get 100 students to go to the pre Big East games, and the student body is a pale comparison to how ND students used to support the bb team back in the day. Honestly, the guys look like a bunch of playstation pussies to me, and the girls (who represent a larger segment of the student body than they used to) don't care.

As a current student, I take offense to this, and I can use this as a great example of why ND Stadium fails to be the intimidating venue that we all wish it were. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but students love this team to no end. We spend hours in the dorms discussing the QB situations, girls watch Sportscenter and we love our teams.

I'm assuming you were one who attended the Delaware St-ND basketball game on Friday. I don't know about you, but that kind of game isn't exactly one that's going to draw students out at 9 pm on a Saturday night, especially with a huge hockey game on campus. Guess what? If you had headed over to Compton to see the BC-ND hockey game, I guarantee you wouldn't say the same thing about the students. That place was shaking Friday night and was one of the craziest sporting events I've been to. I'd also LOVE to have invited you to some of the basketball games. There's a reason why we went undefeated at home last year.

I get it, what you saw on Saturday probably upset you. But to blame it on the students? That's ridiculous, you sound exactly like one of the older alums many on this site complain about. ND is indeed tougher to get into these days, but the students love and support their team just as much. Seniors will be seniors, especially after the years of disappointment, but those guys have loved and supported their team through and through. Your so called "playstation pussies" certainly aren't around this campus.

 

[DillonHall]

No discussion of ND Stadium can be complete without a discussion of how the student body has changed. It used to be a bunch of middle class, good (not great) students who lived and breathed ND sports. They were loud all game long, and were as avid basketball fans as football.

Today, the student body is a higher social class, higher intellectual breed who doesn't show the same support for the football and basketball team. In an earlier thread I posted how I sat next to the Senior section, whose support was half assed. What I didn't say that attendance for basketball games is awful. ND is barely able to get 100 students to go to the pre Big East games, and the student body is a pale comparison to how ND students used to support the bb team back in the day. Honestly, the guys look like a bunch of playstation pussies to me, and the girls (who represent a larger segment of the student body than they used to) don't care.

I'm not going to apologize for ND becoming a stronger academic institution at the 'perceived' expense of the atmosphere at sporting events.

 

[Anchorman]

As a current student, I take offense to this, and I can use this as a great example of why ND Stadium fails to be the intimidating venue that we all wish it were. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but students love this team to no end. We spend hours in the dorms discussing the QB situations, girls watch Sportscenter and we love our teams.

I'm assuming you were one who attended the Delaware St-ND basketball game on Friday. I don't know about you, but that kind of game isn't exactly one that's going to draw students out at 9 pm on a Saturday night, especially with a huge hockey game on campus. Guess what? If you had headed over to Compton to see the BC-ND hockey game, I guarantee you wouldn't say the same thing about the students. That place was shaking Friday night and was one of the craziest sporting events I've been to. I'd also LOVE to have invited you to some of the basketball games. There's a reason why we went undefeated at home last year.

I get it, what you saw on Saturday probably upset you. But to blame it on the students? That's ridiculous, you sound exactly like one of the older alums many on this site complain about. ND is indeed tougher to get into these days, but the students love and support their team just as much. Seniors will be seniors, especially after the years of disappointment, but those guys have loved and supported their team through and through. Your so called "playstation pussies" certainly aren't around this campus.

Reps to you sir.

 

[MNIrishman]

Recent alum here...that was spot on. I chose ND over a host of other prestigious schools and didn't know the rules of football when I got there. In four years I missed only one game and made myself hoarse screaming at the rest. This place does that to you. I have never owned a playstation.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

As a current student, I take offense to this, and I can use this as a great example of why ND Stadium fails to be the intimidating venue that we all wish it were. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but students love this team to no end. We spend hours in the dorms discussing the QB situations, girls watch Sportscenter and we love our teams.

I'm assuming you were one who attended the Delaware St-ND basketball game on Friday. I don't know about you, but that kind of game isn't exactly one that's going to draw students out at 9 pm on a Saturday night, especially with a huge hockey game on campus. Guess what? If you had headed over to Compton to see the BC-ND hockey game, I guarantee you wouldn't say the same thing about the students. That place was shaking Friday night and was one of the craziest sporting events I've been to. I'd also LOVE to have invited you to some of the basketball games. There's a reason why we went undefeated at home last year.

I get it, what you saw on Saturday probably upset you. But to blame it on the students? That's ridiculous, you sound exactly like one of the older alums many on this site complain about. ND is indeed tougher to get into these days, but the students love and support their team just as much. Seniors will be seniors, especially after the years of disappointment, but those guys have loved and supported their team through and through. Your so called "playstation pussies" certainly aren't around this campus.

Wish I could rep you more, but I can't.... Keep posting.

 

[dshans]

Nah... A "Brah" you shall have. You've earned that status.

Shyte ... another "Hand Wash Only" garment. Black and lacy, if you must.

 

[dshans]

... ND is indeed tougher to get into these days, but the students love and support their team just as much. Seniors will be seniors, especially after the years of disappointment, but those guys have loved and supported their team through and through. Your so called "playstation pussies" certainly aren't around this campus.

As an "old fart" alum I stand with you. Hell, should we ever meet I'll buy you a drink or ten and leave you with a bag or two of marshmallows. When I was at ND season tickets to football games came with student fees. Not so with basketball or hockey. Needless to say that as a dirt poor college student I attended more football games.

Marshmallow fights were not a tradition then. The Naked Kahuna was. (A story for another time.) My point, if there is one of note, is that I welcome and applaud group actions that encourage engagement even if they distract.

Who knows. Vodka saturated marshmallows might be viable and (to borrow a phrase from Donovan) "be the very next thing."

 

[IrishAlum1997]

It's a tradition. My freshman year, the seniors would have marshmallow fights at halftime every game. Then the ushers started cracking down and now they only have a marshmallow fight during halftime of the senior game. It's a harmless tradition and the players have more important things to get butthurt about than marshmallows.

When did you go to ND? My memory is a little fuzzy, but I don't remember throwing marshmallows prior to '96 at the Rutgers game. It certainly was not every game. Just curious.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I'm assuming you were one who attended the Delaware St-ND basketball game on Friday. I don't know about you, but that kind of game isn't exactly one that's going to draw students out at 9 pm on a Saturday night, especially with a huge hockey game on campus.

I was there. A friend is a grad student and got student tickets for us to sneak into. The place was pretty quiet but like you said, that was expected going into it. We sat in the third row and were definitely out of place without proper Leprechaun Legion attire, but it was definitely an awesome night for $5.

As for the Boston College game, I can say with 100% certainly that it was much, much louder than the last game I went to (vs Purdue '10). I don't care for the music (well, mostly the choices, quit it with the cliche borderline metal and throw in some Arcade Fire or something young people actually listen to these days), and I would like to see video boards now. I've done a 180-degree flop on the latter, but I just think Notre Dame is due for upgrades. But I digress. The atmosphere wasn't too shabby from were I was.

I was surprised by the lack of football knowledge from the people around me. People are f#%$ing stupid. It shows on here during and immediately after games so I guess I should learn to deal with it. I think everyone should be be required to play at least high school football before being able to discuss in-game happenings. It would solve soooo much.

 

[LWeis15]

Was at the game this weekend. Sat right next to student section and yes, it wasn't the loudest crowd, but the pom pons did add a little to the atmosphere. For those saying the students don't care...you are dead wrong.

This is my 3rd game of the year and I can honestly say that I will have a hard time paying that much money to go back next year. I love ND just as much as the next Irish nut, but there are a few things that I'm agitated by and it has made my experience worse and worse each and every time.

I always park in White Field for tailgating and I do enjoy the atmosphere, but it's taken a step back in recent years. My friends and I are all in college and brought supplies for beer pong this weekend. Not a huge fan of this game, but it adds to atmosphere. We literally got 2 throws in before a security guard broke up our game by telling this game encourages "excessive drinking". We politely stopped and never started it back up, but were watched for the next 30 minutes by a security guard. I would love to see this security guard at an SEC tailgate, they wouldn't be able to handle themselves.

Now for my in stadium experience. First, I always talk with the people around me to soften them up prior to the game just to get a glimpse of who they might be. This has worked in the past, but I do this because I sometimes have what some people would call a conniption. Well once again this didn't work...I started talking to some fans that were from Cincy and could tell right from the get go this wasn't going to be good. I honestly think they were there to see if BK was going to lose. I was immediately told to sit down when the Irish took the field for their first 3rd down defensive stand. I WAS IRATE. Instead of blowing up I calmly turned around and asked him to stand up...This was not well received. The man proceeded to come at me as if I attacked his daughter. He told me that "Notre Dame is known for jackwagons like you...unruly and unsportsmanlike." Again I calmly turned around and said not sure what your doing here, but if you could make some noise other than wining it would be greatly appreciated. To end the story short, this was an ongoing thing all night, I tried to ignore it as best as I could, but it was every time stood up these guys were saying something to me.

Changes need to be made in that stadium and I don't know if a jumbo tron or artificial turf is going to solve what I experienced. I think music was a step in the right direction, but was it going to make that much difference? What does everyone else think? Anyone have similar experiences?

Something for you viewing pleasures...would've loved to have been around, but I was born just a little earlier than that video was recorded.

Crowd Noise disrupts 1988 ND-Michigan game - YouTube

 

[smcdonald5]

I started talking to some fans that were from Cincy and could tell right from the get go this wasn't going to be good. I honestly think they were there to see if BK was going to lose. I was immediately told to sit down when the Irish took the field for their first 3rd down defensive stand. I WAS IRATE. Instead of blowing up I calmly turned around and asked him to stand up...This was not well received. The man proceeded to come at me as if I attacked his daughter. He told me that "Notre Dame is known for jackwagons like you...unruly and unsportsmanlike." Again I calmly turned around and said not sure what your doing here, but if you could make some noise other than wining it would be greatly appreciated. To end the story short, this was an ongoing thing all night, I tried to ignore it as best as I could, but it was every time stood up these guys were saying something to me.

I hate people like this giving us a bad name. I live in Cincinnati and always have, I go to UC currently. My family is from Indiana and I grew up a HUGE ND football fan. I was at the game Saturday and had such a great time. I wish BK would have handled things differently in the way he left. But you can't blame the guy for taking his dream job. I can't wait to come back to ND again. I bought the tickets for my mom's birthday and we went. Next time I'm coming with some friends and look forward to tailgating and getting the full experience.

 

[CarrollVermin]

Do fans in SEC stadiums usually cheer when their quarterback throws an interception?

No, but the fans do back the defense...loudly...when they come back onto the field.

 

[CarrollVermin]

No discussion of ND Stadium can be complete without a discussion of how the student body has changed. It used to be a bunch of middle class, good (not great) students who lived and breathed ND sports. They were loud all game long, and were as avid basketball fans as football.

Today, the student body is a higher social class, higher intellectual breed who doesn't show the same support for the football and basketball team. In an earlier thread I posted how I sat next to the Senior section, whose support was half assed. What I didn't say that attendance for basketball games is awful. ND is barely able to get 100 students to go to the pre Big East games, and the student body is a pale comparison to how ND students used to support the bb team back in the day. Honestly, the guys look like a bunch of playstation pussies to me, and the girls (who represent a larger segment of the student body than they used to) don't care.

I don't know how much this is true and don't know what the make-up of the student body is these days. I am not going to throw the student section under the bus. They may have been distracted by marshmallows, but they were there, made noise, and stayed until the end.

 

[clashmore_mike]

No, but the fans do back the defense...loudly...when they come back onto the field.

The fans did back the defense when they came back onto the field after a TV timeout. I don't know too many fans that cheer loudly for 5 minutes with no game going on after their QB throws a really bad INT. Maybe I need to go to some SEC games.

 

[Lou Holtz]

Aptmosphere was legit.... Last year vs Utah was the best that I had been to. Why isnt the player walk from the basilica anymore?

 

[returnofthemack]

When did you go to ND? My memory is a little fuzzy, but I don't remember throwing marshmallows prior to '96 at the Rutgers game. It certainly was not every game. Just curious.

2007, they had marshmallow fights at halftime of every game. That was my freshman year. Graduated in 2011.

 

[Patulski]

I've been attending ND football games since 1965 and am a grad. We were in a tough contest against an opponent that hates us Saturday, and the students I sat next to could've cared less. What I saw against BC was a bunch of bored students who were not into the game. Worse, they were hurling marshmallows at the team. Having a family member who played football for ND, and knowing how much they suffer, sweat, bleed, break their bodies and work their asses off, this really pissed me off. Harrison Smith said it best, ""That was kind of pissing me off, to be honest. That needs to stop."


I have season basketball tickets, passed down through my family. Have since 1968. All the pre Big East games are poorly attended. ND's lucky to get 150 students for those games...and that includes the band. It's pathetic how poor the support is. So, it's not a quick perception. There has been a gradual decline of both interest and intensity over the years.

As a current student, I take offense to this, and I can use this as a great example of why ND Stadium fails to be the intimidating venue that we all wish it were. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but students love this team to no end. We spend hours in the dorms discussing the QB situations, girls watch Sportscenter and we love our teams.

I'm assuming you were one who attended the Delaware St-ND basketball game on Friday. I don't know about you, but that kind of game isn't exactly one that's going to draw students out at 9 pm on a Saturday night, especially with a huge hockey game on campus. Guess what? If you had headed over to Compton to see the BC-ND hockey game, I guarantee you wouldn't say the same thing about the students. That place was shaking Friday night and was one of the craziest sporting events I've been to. I'd also LOVE to have invited you to some of the basketball games. There's a reason why we went undefeated at home last year.

I get it, what you saw on Saturday probably upset you. But to blame it on the students? That's ridiculous, you sound exactly like one of the older alums many on this site complain about. ND is indeed tougher to get into these days, but the students love and support their team just as much. Seniors will be seniors, especially after the years of disappointment, but those guys have loved and supported their team through and through. Your so called "playstation pussies" certainly aren't around this campus.

 

[irishtrinity]

No, but the fans do back the defense...loudly...when they come back onto the field.

Just to let you guys know.. Arkansas a SEC team can't sell out a 59,000 seat stadium so i think ND is doing work... 260+ sellouts...

My nefew goes to SEC games and says that they have they same problems, he went with a couple friends 18/19 said the crowd only got loud for a few plays and they all left after 3rd qrt to get home early/party!!

I hear the Arkansas radio show every morning talkin with fans about not showing up at games/ selling out the stadium.... Alot of SEC guys are old and lazy that like to have house parties for the games rather than go to the games LOL..... A fan called the station to argue that the reason they don't go to the games is b/c of house parties etc.. The radio DJ got in that ***.. Bringing up ND sells out every game and hasn't had the greatest football team i was rolling... Been to ND 3 times in two yrs and never had a person ask me to set down i had the best time and for the weaker ND fans i will make up for them and support my team harder..

 

[returnofthemack]

No discussion of ND Stadium can be complete without a discussion of how the student body has changed. It used to be a bunch of middle class, good (not great) students who lived and breathed ND sports. They were loud all game long, and were as avid basketball fans as football.

Today, the student body is a higher social class, higher intellectual breed who doesn't show the same support for the football and basketball team. In an earlier thread I posted how I sat next to the Senior section, whose support was half assed. What I didn't say that attendance for basketball games is awful. ND is barely able to get 100 students to go to the pre Big East games, and the student body is a pale comparison to how ND students used to support the bb team back in the day. Honestly, the guys look like a bunch of playstation pussies to me, and the girls (who represent a larger segment of the student body than they used to) don't care.

This is massive bull$hit. The pep rally sucked, because they all suck. The exception was the students-only pep rally before the team traveled to Michigan. You would see exactly how much our "playstation pussies and know-nothing girls" care. They packed Stepan Center - I literally could not move, and the noise was so overwhelming that WNDU had to take their boom operators outside because it was interfering with their equipment.

And as far as the basketball games, why the f*** would we go watch tune-up games? Who wants to watch ND play Del. St? I guarantee you the Big East games will be sold out, and just as loud as any basketball school's venue. I've been on the verge of getting kicked out of basketball games for screaming at refs and opposing players. I don't recall a Monday after a football game where 95% of the students had not lost their voices (even during 2007). I've waited all night in the snow outside of the JACC, camping out for ND's game against UCONN. I stayed from beginning to end for every game of the worst season of football, and the worst football I have seen played during 2007.

By the way, the girls that I know and have sat by during the games knew not only the players on our team, but many of the opposing team's players as well. I will admit the St. Mary's girls usually leave at the first sign of trouble and don't show up when the weather's bad - but don't you dare say that the ND student body doesn't care.

 

[returnofthemack]

I've been attending ND football games since 1965 and am a grad. We were in a tough contest against an opponent that hates us Saturday, and the students I sat next to could've cared less. What I saw against BC was a bunch of bored students who were not into the game. Worse, they were hurling marshmallows at the team. Having a family member who played football for ND, and knowing how much they suffer, sweat, bleed, break their bodies and work their asses off, this really pissed me off. Harrison Smith said it best, ""That was kind of pissing me off, to be honest. That needs to stop."


I have season basketball tickets, passed down through my family. Have since 1968. All the pre Big East games are poorly attended. ND's lucky to get 150 students for those games...and that includes the band. It's pathetic how poor the support is. So, it's not a quick perception. There has been a gradual decline of both interest and intensity over the years.

I don't blame the seniors you sat by too much, because they probably felt they've seen this episode on repeat for 4 years - choking against an inferior team. And nobody gives a damn how much BC hates us. They are Backup College, and we only give a damn if we lose to them. To win is expected. Against real rivals, scUM and USC, those students will be going crazy. I know, because I was there. And even during the BC game, you can't take the behavior of a few fans and attribute that to the whole student section. I have friends who are near the front of the student section and I saw them going nuts during the game. Again, the students care about their teams just as much, if not more than you. And as far as the marshmallows - who the hell cares? How many marshmallow-related deaths have you witnessed?

 

[BeauBenken]

This is massive bull$hit. The pep rally sucked, because they all suck. The exception was the students-only pep rally before the team traveled to Michigan. You would see exactly how much our "playstation pussies and know-nothing girls" care. They packed Stepan Center - I literally could not move, and the noise was so overwhelming that WNDU had to take their boom operators outside because it was interfering with their equipment.

And as far as the basketball games, why the f*** would we go watch tune-up games? Who wants to watch ND play Del. St? I guarantee you the Big East games will be sold out, and just as loud as any basketball school's venue. I've been on the verge of getting kicked out of basketball games for screaming at refs and opposing players. I don't recall a Monday after a football game where 95% of the students had not lost their voices (even during 2007). I've waited all night in the snow outside of the JACC, camping out for ND's game against UCONN. I stayed from beginning to end for every game of the worst season of football, and the worst football I have seen played during 2007.

By the way, the girls that I know and have sat by during the games knew not only the players on our team, but many of the opposing team's players as well. I will admit the St. Mary's girls usually leave at the first sign of trouble and don't show up when the weather's bad - but don't you dare say that the ND student body doesn't care.

I want to go up to ND just pick me up a girl now. That's sexy.

 

[NYMIKE6]

I was there. Just got back today. Don't know where you guys were sitting but where i was at i must have been blessed to be around a rowdy group, it was loud from the opening kick off to the final whistle. As far as sitting i don't remember doing it. Had a blast and everyone around me where good people.

The only knock is lack of jumbo screen for replays other then that i will be back and already planning for michigan next season. God Country Notre Dame.