ND Stadium Atmosphere

[returnofthemack]

My friend coached Interhall football for Howard and some of those girls are actually pretty good. A lot of ND girls might not know that much about the team, but they all cheer for them.

 

[Patulski]

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.

Don't park in the ND Parking lots. Park along the east side of North Twyckenham Drive, north of Vaness Street, where you can drink and party to your hearts desire, and still be closer than White Field. You'll have to get there early, but it is worth it. Enter off of US 20 (also called SB Avenue) on Vaness, then take a right on N. Twyckenham.


Here's a map of the area:

 

[Patulski]

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?

Yeah, and ND is backup college to Harvard and Stanford. So what? I was talking about the football game, not your SAT score And I don't know where you get this notion that a win against BC is expected. They have whipped our butt numerous times in the past 10 years.

I have no doubt there are kids that care, but the entire section of Seniors I sat next to were lame. People rightfully criticize the rest of the crowd, but the student body shouldn't be spared when they don't live up to their heritage either.

 

[irishtrinity]

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.

Glad you had a blast i feel like a few ppl just look for problems lol.. I must have been blessed also 3 times in a row lucky for us. For me my first trip made me start a every yr travel to cheer on the Irish... I agree with the jumbotron my first game a fumble happened at the 50 i was in the endzone so i was wishing we had one.. I'll be at the Oklahoma game trying to scramble money to go to a home game...

 

[returnofthemack]

Yeah, and ND is backup college to Harvard and Stanford. So what? I was talking about the football game, not your SAT score And I don't know where you get this notion that a win against BC is expected. They have whipped our butt numerous times in the past 10 years.

I have no doubt there are kids that care, but the entire section of Seniors I sat next to were lame. People rightfully criticize the rest of the crowd, but the student body shouldn't be spared when they don't live up to their heritage either.

I'm telling you, straight up, nobody I know, even people from Boston, gives half a damn about Boston College. Beating them is just like beating Wake Forest or Maryland. Another crappy ACC team. As far as rivalries go, they're on the same tier as Purdue: bad teams that have nothing going for them except the chance to upset ND - teams that ND is expected to beat.

And I'm not saying that only some kids care-I'm saying all of those kids care more than you know. I'm saying you sat next to a listless senior section that assumed we would lose, because they've seen us lose in pretty much the exact same way, over and over. To say that one less-than-rowdy section represents all students is foolish.

 

[supergolfdude]

I went to my first ever ND game last Saturday vs. Boston College.

I should explain, I'm a lifetime Buckeyes fan, but I've also always loved Notre Dame. Probably not many like me, but I root for ND against every team, every time except when they play OSU.

I bought a ND jersey and a sweatshirt, along with some gifts for my 11 year old nephew, who is certain that he will some day be a Notre Dame quarterback!

Anyway, some observations:

• I was shocked at the wooden bleachers, but was glad they weren't steel when it started to get cold. Didn't bother me at all then.
• The fans who sat near me were the friendliest college football fans I've ever met. Really enjoyed talking to them.
• There's nothing like the pre-game atmosphere at ND. I really enjoyed seeing the band march in at the Rockne Gate.

I shot some great HD video and took some terrific photos, which I would love to share here.

 

[Veer option]

Great shots thanks for sharing!

 

[Patulski]

As far as rivalries go, they're on the same tier as Purdue: bad teams that have nothing going for them except the chance to upset ND - teams that ND is expected to beat.

And I'm not saying that only some kids care-I'm saying all of those kids care more than you know. I'm saying you sat next to a listless senior section that assumed we would lose, because they've seen us lose in pretty much the exact same way, over and over. To say that one less-than-rowdy section represents all students is foolish.

BC is a better football program than Purdue. If you can't see that, I can't help you. This disrespect for BC I suspect is some kind of defense mechanism for those who know (or knew for the alumni) that they'd be going to BC had they not gotten into ND.

After beating Pitt and Wake in tough contests, and using their own two eyes for christsakes, most ND students should have been able to see that this is a tougher football program than what they saw during their first two years at ND. So, I don't buy the "they assumed we'd lose" excuse for the Seniors I sat next to. They stood there like dead fish, except when they threw their marshmallows. I hope the Junior class does better next year.

 

[DillonHall]

ND students don't care too much about Backup College (at least compared to how their students/fans view the game). It's mostly a one-sided rivalry, despite the fact that they recently beat us 6 straight times.

 

[Anchorman]

BC is a better football program than Purdue. If you can't see that, I can't help you. This disrespect for BC I suspect is some kind of defense mechanism for those who know (or knew for the alumni) that they'd be going to BC had they not gotten into ND.

After beating Pitt and Wake in tough contests, and using their own two eyes for christsakes, most ND students should have been able to see that this is a tougher football program than what they saw during their first two years at ND. So, I don't buy the "they assumed we'd lose" excuse for the Seniors I sat next to. They stood there like dead fish, except when they threw their marshmallows. I hope the Junior class does better next year.

Patulski, not really sure how to sum this up, but here's a try.

As students, we couldn't have a rat's *** about whether we're fulfilling your needs of a student section. The University is about a lot more than a football game.

 

[MNIrishman]

I chose ND over Caltech and Princeton. I knew people who chose it over Stanford and Harvard. ND is in no way, shape or form a backup college to any school. It is unique and is the first choice of most students there. Do not insult my school.

 

[Patulski]

Patulski, not really sure how to sum this up, but here's a try.

As students, we couldn't have a rat's *** about whether we're fulfilling your needs of a student section. The University is about a lot more than a football game.

You're on a Notre Dame Football board in a thread called "ND Stadium Atmosphere" and that's how you "sum it up" huh?

Heh.

Here's some really good advice from an Alumnus: Go to the Grotto, light a candle and pray for some common sense.

 

[returnofthemack]

I chose ND over Caltech and Princeton. I knew people who chose it over Stanford and Harvard. ND is in no way, shape or form a backup college to any school. It is unique and is the first choice of most students there. Do not insult my school.

F'in A cotton. ND over Harvard, Yale, and Michigan for me - BC was never even close to the equation. There's no place like ND, and I realized that on a visit. I've never missed a basketball game against an opponent with a pulse, I've only missed hockey games when they were at the same time as basketball games, made it to most of the Lax games, and never missed a football game. Many of my friends were the same. If some people didn't cheer close by you that's fine, but I can tell you they're the vast minority, and I can also tell you that they probably care just as much as you do, but that it's a defensive mechanism to shield them from more disappointment. Again, I disagree with it, but I can understand it.

 

[returnofthemack]

BC is a better football program than Purdue. If you can't see that, I can't help you. This disrespect for BC I suspect is some kind of defense mechanism for those who know (or knew for the alumni) that they'd be going to BC had they not gotten into ND.

After beating Pitt and Wake in tough contests, and using their own two eyes for christsakes, most ND students should have been able to see that this is a tougher football program than what they saw during their first two years at ND. So, I don't buy the "they assumed we'd lose" excuse for the Seniors I sat next to. They stood there like dead fish, except when they threw their marshmallows. I hope the Junior class does better next year.

BC has literally no history other than Doug Flutie and ruining ND's championship season - nothing else. Their fans hate ND because most of their students couldn't get in and because many students from Boston that can't get into ND go to BC as it is their "Backup College". I had never even heard of Boston College until we played them in football.

And yeah, we saw ND beat Pitt and Wake in "tough contests" (read: $hitty games), but we also saw a tremendous collapse against Michigan, one of the most hated rivals. You can't possibly tell me you didn't look at the clock when they got the ball back and think: "one or two decent passes and they're in field goal range". It was a god-awful game, and the crowd was listless, it happens at every school. You also need to stop insulting the recent grads and students. I've taken more $hit while defending my school than you've probably ever had to so step off.

 

[Ignats]

Putalski, it's people like you who disappoint me and frankly if you don't understand after my previous response, then nothing is going to change your mind. You have to live at ND and interact with this student body to understand. You stood by a section of frustrated seniors and are unfairly basing your judgment off of that.

Let me ask you something, did you stand throughout the game? I noticed during the halftime performance by Chicago that all the students sat down for the halftime show but that was literally the only time that everyone else, Gold Seats included, stood up. They can stand up for a halftime performance of Rocking Around the Christmas Tree but can't to support their team?

ND is in no way a backup college to any school, seeing as many of my friends turned down Ivy League schools to come here. And as for Harrison Smith's quote, maybe the team should be a little less focused on the stands. I've been to the student section in Wisconsin several times and they chant obscenities and throw things back and forth all of the time. Throwing marshmallows should hardly be someone's concern. This is my (hopefully) my last post on this, seeing as you aren't going to understand what I'm trying to say either way.

 

[Patulski]

BC has literally no history other than Doug Flutie and ruining ND's championship season - nothing else. Their fans hate ND because most of their students couldn't get in and because many students from Boston that can't get into ND go to BC as it is their "Backup College". I had never even heard of Boston College until we played them in football.

And yeah, we saw ND beat Pitt and Wake in "tough contests" (read: $hitty games), but we also saw a tremendous collapse against Michigan, one of the most hated rivals. You can't possibly tell me you didn't look at the clock when they got the ball back and think: "one or two decent passes and they're in field goal range". It was a god-awful game, and the crowd was listless, it happens at every school. You also need to stop insulting the recent grads and students. I've taken more $hit while defending my school than you've probably ever had to so step off.

My dad, my daughter are I are Domers. So, I go way back-1945 when my Dad first stepped on campus to be exact-in my understanding and experience of ND.

It's you who need to step off. Lad.

 

[Patulski]

And yeah, we saw ND beat Pitt and Wake in "tough contests" (read: $hitty games), but we also saw a tremendous collapse against Michigan, one of the most hated rivals. You can't possibly tell me you didn't look at the clock when they got the ball back and think: "one or two decent passes and they're in field goal range". It was a god-awful game, and the crowd was listless, it happens at every school. You also need to stop insulting the recent grads and students. I've taken more $hit while defending my school than you've probably ever had to so step off.

Sadly, there's a lot of NDNation in you.

 

[returnofthemack]

I think you said you went to ND in the 60s aka while ND was playing championship football. It's not very hard to cheer for a dominant team with a huge bandwagon fanbase. It is hard to cheer for a team when they're barely over .500 during your time there, every media outlet talks trash about them, the majority of college football fans hate them and make fun of them, and when they're having difficulty beating awful teams. Yet, the student section is always full, and 98% of the student cheer their a$$es off. That's the last I'll say on the subject. Good day to you sir.

 

[IrishLax]

F'in A cotton. ND over Harvard, Yale, and Michigan for me - BC was never even close to the equation. There's no place like ND, and I realized that on a visit. I've never missed a basketball game against an opponent with a pulse, I've only missed hockey games when they were at the same time as basketball games, made it to most of the Lax games, and never missed a football game. Many of my friends were the same. If some people didn't cheer close by you that's fine, but I can tell you they're the vast minority, and I can also tell you that they probably care just as much as you do, but that it's a defensive mechanism to shield them from more disappointment. Again, I disagree with it, but I can understand it.

My man!

And yeah... the reason why our "atmosphere" isn't crazy loud all the time is that we have "intelligent" fans in the sense that they're not just a bunch of crazy-drunk white trash or rednecks who yell and scream regardless of the action on the field. Our fans (myself included) have an issue getting quiet when the team isn't executing.

IMO, the pumped in music has really helped mitigate this though.

PS. While we're counting I chose ND over Cornell, Dartmouth, Virginia, and GT and knew many kids who did similar. ND constantly tops "dream school" lists for a reason. So I'm sorry that it bothers some older alums that the students aren't as "blue collar"... but honestly it's more that ND opening up to women really set in motion changing dynamics for the school... and allows admissions to tap into 50% more bright students.

 

[LWeis15]

Thanks for the heads up on this. Will do.

 

[Veer option]

Personally I would like to see the Irish band belt out more tunes rather than the piped in music.

 

[tko]

Personally I would like to see the Irish band belt out more tunes rather than the piped in music.

they've been castrated. any band members on IE?

 

[returnofthemack]

There were a couple guys in my section that were in the band and I talked to them about the music after the USC game and they were all for it. The band still plays throughout the game. The only difference is, they don't play on third downs and don't play through every timeout. They still have a significant role, and as long as the stadium gets pumped, they're fine with it. Obviously, they probably don't speak for the whole band, but that was the view of three band members.

 

[irishtrinity]

They need to play with the songs we play in the Stadium..That has them playing different music, and the traditional stuff all game.. It would also be cool to see the band jamming to Ozzy/Metallica/Drop Kick Murphys etc.

 

[TerryTate]

The fact that some of the losers from NDNation were in the band now makes me hate the band.

 

[tko]

The fact that some of the losers from NDNation were in the band now makes me hate the band.

hahahahahhahaha

 

[Ignats]

they've been castrated. any band members on IE?

I have a good friend in the band. I've heard director Ken Dye wasn't thrilled with the piped in music around USC weekend, haven't heard much since then.

 

[jwmann2]

Those old people are likely boosters and donate money to this great school. A lot of rowdy fans have been priced out of games, people are unemployed. There is a lot of tradition at Notre Dame. And if they want to preserve it but not putting last names on the jerseys, no jumbotron, let them. They're Notre Dame. College football royalty.