Long time lurker and first time poster here. I watched a few of these videos this morning and was inspired to write a message to a few close friends/die hard fans. I figured I'd share it here. Hopefully it pumps you guys up as well! Go Irish!!!
"It began so innocently…
Just four months ago I was skeptical. My hope was momentum building going into 2013. 2012 was sure to prove too difficult… A daunting schedule. A young, inexperienced team – veteran leaders not included. And a freshmen quarterback with everything to prove.
Yet, I woke early on that September morning, trading my beer coozie for a warm mug of coffee.
I saw my Irish make mistakes. But I also saw potential in the dismantling of an inferior team.
As weeks went on mistakes continued. Improvement was rampant, but inferior opponents continued to take games down to the wire. I was queasy all too often. But through my sickness an incredible trend appeared…
A team that found miraculous was to lose the last two years was now finding incredible ways to win. Game winning drives by a backup quarter back. Goal line stands versus a team built to “out-muscle” opponents. And incredible play by a freshman quarterback whose mind quickly became our largest asset.
This fall included some of the best Saturday’s of my life, often alone (save the dogs) in my living room. 12-0. #1. A remarkable season.
And so, it ends where it began… on a neutral field against a bitter rival. A rival not in the quantity of appearances, but in the quality and importance of the games played.
Our Irish are five and one against the mighty Tide. We’ve been the underdog all but once… playing spoiler in four out of five appearances. Twice we have ripped a championship from their grasp – though they still claim 73’ – earning one of our own in the process.
Irish eyes indeed smile at the thought of another storied rematch… but more so at the state of Irish football.
Not since Ara first took the field have our prospects been so great. Ara resurrected a sleeping giant. He gave life to a program in despair. He brought not only expectations, but championships back to South Bend.
Kelly is the next arbiter of greatness. In three short years he instilled toughness, intelligence and a new winning tradition to a program wrought, most recently, in mediocrity.
The best is certainly yet to come for ND. A young, experienced group will take the field tonight. Next year, we’ll return a plethora of battle hardened starters, and a group of hungry underclassmen waiting for their chance at glory.
With a recruiting class for the ages coming in and Mr. Bob Diaco’s services retained for at least another year, I see nothing but bright skies in our future. A trip to Pasadena could well be in the cards next year.
With that said, cherish tonight’s game. And cherish THIS season. Never take a season like this for granted. A season of adversity. A season of trying. A season of frustration and knotted stomachs. A season of low expectations that morphed into a season of legends. A season of success.
Ugly as is was at times, this season brought hope back to the Irish faithful. It brought back tradition. It brought back respect.
I wish we could share the moment together. But thankfully, that won’t affect the outcome. It won’t affect how our Irish will lay everything on the field for 60 minutes tonight.
No matter what, it’s been an incredible journey. Filled with moments of sheer panic, but always ending with moments of sheer joy.
Only 5 years removed from the torture of 2007, we stand proud. We stand together. And tonight, we WILL stand as champions.
We are ND. Go Irish!"
