Officer Tim McCarthy is Retiring

[ulukinatme]

Wow! I thought maybe they would mention something before his last season, but I guess he's retired:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Even while playing, loved hearing Sgt. McCarthy's safety messages. Happy retirement Tim! <a href="https://t.co/fBJb5huncJ">https://t.co/fBJb5huncJ</a></p>— Brady Quinn (@3rd_Goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/3rd_Goal/status/588370796457885697">April 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> announces Stadium staple Tim McCarthy is retiring. The former Indiana Police Sgt. had offered traffic safety messages since 1960.</p>— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) <a href="https://twitter.com/Matt_Fortuna/status/588366991460851712">April 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

For those that haven't been to a game yet, Sgt. McCarthy has been delivering safety messages for the last 50+ years between the 3rd and 4th quarters, right after the 1812 Overture. The messages are always related to safety on the road after leaving the game, and they usually include a pun to make the crowd laugh. Every time he would come on he would start with "May I have your attention, please," to which the crowd would cheer for the familiar voice.

Here's some examples.

"Fans, your police offers thank you for your safe driving and cooperation during the season. On your way home today please drive with caution, courtesy, and common sense. Remember, keeping your driving mental sharp is always a good point."
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mItZd8MDWaE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sE4onObZHlg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yVqpcVTcFyg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Notre Dame Man, iconic! Won't be the same without him there.

 

[NDdomer2]

damn what a bummer, although his messages were getting delivered with the lou holtz lisp lately.

 

[woolybug25]

For those who have never been to a game, this probably seems silly. But he really is an icon and his message was always part of the gameday experience.

I wish him well in his retirement.

 

[ulukinatme]

Well said, Wooly. I'm betting the University will continue a safety message as they always have between the 3rd and 4th quarters, most likely with a new officer. Same tradition, new voice though. It'll be different, but I always see little things like that as part of the game day experience.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Hope he enjoys his retirement. Goofy as they were, we always cheered for those puns.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

For those who have never been to a game, this probably seems silly. But he really is an icon and his message was always part of the gameday experience.

I wish him well in his retirement.

100%

 

[GowerND11]

They were great, and one of the lone bright spots while I was out there as a Freshman at Holy Cross in '07. Wish him well in retirement.

 

[BGIF]

Be safe out there Tim.

Drive safely!

 

[ACamp1900]

For those who have never been to a game, this probably seems silly. But he really is an icon and his message was always part of the gameday experience.

I wish him well in his retirement.

Yeah I never heard of him, but since ulk saw fit to make a thread about it I figured he had to be a well know and loved guy to regs... I have come across people like this who work at a stadium long enough to become a part of it. He obviously touched enough people to be missed.

 

[BGIF]

Well said, Wooly. I'm betting the University will continue a safety message as they always have between the 3rd and 4th quarters, most likely with a new officer. Same tradition, new voice though. It'll be different, but I always see little things like that as part of the game day experience.

New voice, new tradition. Tim, had to go.

Signs of the times. Multiple unis, glitter helmets, field turf, Cross Roads, trainerless proof reading, explaining 88 scholarships with Sabanesque rhetoric, AND ...

As we speak the ND Music Director is making a drive by video to the theme from "Driving Miss Daisy". It will be shown on the new ju------- accompanied on the field by the St Mary's Flash Mob.

 

[zelezo vlk]

The times they are a changing. My family and I will miss him.

 

[BGIF]

Yeah I never heard of him, but since ulk saw fit to make a thread about it I figured he had to be a well know and loved guy to regs... I have come across people like this who work at a stadium long enough to become a part of it. He obviously touched enough people to be missed.

He's been written up in the ND Football Media Guide in the Irish Facts and Figures section:

McCarthy, Sergeant Tim - Since 1960, Irish Football fans have grown silent for a moment during the fourth quarter of every home game as they strain to hear Sergeant Tim McCarthy of the Indiana State Police. McCarthy has found the atrocious pun is the best way to get the crowd's attention for the serious message of auto safety. Some of his best groaners: "Drive like a musician ... C Sharp or B Flat" and "Those who have one for the road may have a policeman as a chaser."

 

[eNDzone]

Maybe they can bring him back once a year if he was up to it. He wiil be missed.

 

[Irish#1]

Hope he enjoys his retirement. Goofy as they were, we always cheered for those puns.

So true.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

He will definitely be missed. The enitre stadium completely going silent at the start of the 4th quarter to listen to him was a great moment.

I think you will see him go out with a bang.

 

[ulukinatme]

Just saw this writeup from HLS

Officer Tim McCarthy: A Notre Dame Football Legend Retires - Her Loyal Sons

 

[Booslum31]

He will definitely be missed. The enitre stadium completely going silent at the start of the 4th quarter to listen to him was a great moment.

I think you will see him go out with a bang.

Over the years I've noticed that even the fans from the competition thought it was pretty cool. Going to miss him.

 

[ulukinatme]

Over the years I've noticed that even the fans from the competition thought it was pretty cool. Going to miss him.

That reminds me, a few years ago there was a visiting team that had their band start playing after or during the 1812 Overature, and as a result they ran into McCarthy's message which prompted a lot of boos from our fans. Apparently it was a miscommunication on the part of the band leader if I recall...but I can't think of who the team was. I want to say it was someone who doesn't come to South Bend often, or it was their first visit.

 

[woolybug25]

That reminds me, a few years ago there was a visiting team that had their band start playing after or during the 1812 Overature, and as a result they ran into McCarthy's message which prompted a lot of boos from our fans. Apparently it was a miscommunication on the part of the band leader if I recall...but I can't think of who the team was. I want to say it was someone who doesn't come to South Bend often, or it was their first visit.

My original thought was Stanford, but their band has been banned from Notre Dame stadium since the late '90's.

 

[ulukinatme]

My original thought was Stanford, but their band has been banned from Notre Dame stadium since the late '90's.

Yeah, I want to say it was USF or Utah, both of which would have been within the last few years and not accustomed to our 4th quarter routine, but I thought the game was more recent too. The school apologized afterwards, I just can't think of who the school was for sure. There was a big uproar at the time.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Yeah I never heard of him, but since ulk saw fit to make a thread about it I figured he had to be a well know and loved guy to regs... I have come across people like this who work at a stadium long enough to become a part of it. He obviously touched enough people to be missed.

I went to the Northwestern game last year (sorry...that game was probably my fault). I didn't know what was going on when everyone got really quiet. It was obvious that we were waiting for the end of the announcement. A pretty neat tradition.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

He will definitely be missed. The enitre stadium completely going silent at the start of the 4th quarter to listen to him was a great moment.

I think you will see him go out with a bang.

Is that an 1812 Overture joke?

 

[ulukinatme]

Yeah I never heard of him, but since ulk saw fit to make a thread about it I figured he had to be a well know and loved guy to regs... I have come across people like this who work at a stadium long enough to become a part of it. He obviously touched enough people to be missed.

Same, but in a different way. There's an usher that's worked our section, section 10 in the gold seats, ever since the last stadium expansion in '97. That's almost 20 years of working the same section as an usher. He's a middle aged black dude name Cliff, and quite a few season ticket holders know his name and greet him when they come back each fall. The guy is cool as hell and funny, and I'd say at least for our section he's been there long enough to be a part of our game day experience, just on a smaller scale. I imagine there's ushers that have been there much longer, there's quite a few white haired gentlemen with yellow vests on.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Everyone loves this guy.

 

[Rocknes Ghost]

Wow- definitely going to miss Officer McCarthy...what a great run he had- and a ND pseudo-celebrity.

 

[AgentJ]

That reminds me, a few years ago there was a visiting team that had their band start playing after or during the 1812 Overature, and as a result they ran into McCarthy's message which prompted a lot of boos from our fans. Apparently it was a miscommunication on the part of the band leader if I recall...but I can't think of who the team was. I want to say it was someone who doesn't come to South Bend often, or it was their first visit.

utah. i was in row 5 behind the band and we booed the SHIT out of them and didnt hear a word from mccarthy. the band obviously had no clue what was going on and started taunting us back, which made the vitriol even worse. people started throwing shit at them and flipping them off and calling them inconsiderate assholes and all sorts of shit.

it was awesome lol

 

[NDdomer2]

Hopefully they take him on field during Texas game give him some sort of momento and let him get one last joke out.

 

[ulukinatme]

utah. i was in row 5 behind the band and we booed the SHIT out of them and didnt hear a word from mccarthy. the band obviously had no clue what was going on and started taunting us back, which made the vitriol even worse. people started throwing shit at them and flipping them off and calling them inconsiderate assholes and all sorts of shit.

it was awesome lol

Ahhh yeah, it was Utah. I was hammered for that game, which is usually rare. So much fun though...other than what we perceived was a slight from the Utah band by playing during McCarthy's message. They didn't know about it though.

 

[Cogs]

#ftp

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Is that an 1812 Overture joke?

No, not at all. I would expect Notre Dame to honor a legend like himself in a positive manner. He has brought a lot of joy to the Notre Dame faithful and they typically have a great send off for guys like him.

He isn't a Lou or Rockne, but he established a very well known tradition and his own niche to the Notre Dame Football experience.