Question for Alums/Students

[twig21]

I know that course...you're the golf pro there? I'm friggin' jealous!!!!!! I suck at golf, no matter how hard I try!

I wear my ND gear all the time around SoCal, and it's crazy how many times I strike up conversations with ND people who have connections to the university (my dad went there, my grandfather went there, my mom went to St. Mary's etc etc). I ran into a lady in charge of a ND affiliated youth/parents sports program, and her grandfather was one of the four horsemen, which I thought was pretty damn cool. And the thing about ALL of these people - all of them have been incredibly cool/warm/friendly - nothing like many of the people (esp USC/Raider fans) that permeate Los Angeles.

And to answer the question, nobody ever looks down on me b/c I didn't attend the school. And I know from personal experience - I married an alum!

Well if you are ever in the area come in and say hi, I could always use more Irish fans in the Rose Bowl neighborhood. You are right on about the USC/Raider fans. Got to live in LA to understand that.

 

[irishtrain]

On the contrary, Notre Dame has always been defined in part by its national appeal and audience. The term "subway alumni" is testament to this. Our school is a welcoming place and it always makes me happy to see fans who are otherwise unaffiliated with the university. When you attend a school, you're almost obligated to support it. Those who are supporters outside of that school suggest that there is something broader about it that appeals to the unbiased. The Notre Dame Family includes people such as these.

Nicely said as I am a subway alum who has given $$$ to Notre Dame. The national appeal is like no other and from the Irish Micks from New York to the Italian Hunkies from Pittsburgh to the people of color and ethnic backrounds that love Notre Dame I say no other school can match this appeal. When Rockne started barnstorming Notre Dame became the nations team and that has changed little thru all the years. Some of the most passionate Notre Dame fans that I grew up around as one of those 'hunkies' from Pittsbugh could never dream of attending Notre Dame but they lived and died Irish. That is why college football is a bit uneasy when Notre Dame is excellant. They know that Notre Dame is a national presence and it wouldnt be that way unless the real alumni opened their arms to welcome the subways. What Notre Dame has cant be bought- they're national baby and thank you to the grads to allow us the respect as fellow Notre Dame fans.

 

[JDub713]

Well if you are ever in the area come in and say hi, I could always use more Irish fans in the Rose Bowl neighborhood. You are right on about the USC/Raider fans. Got to live in LA to understand that.

Couldn't agree with that more. I live in Burbank and work in Glendale, and get dirty looks and snarky comments about my ND attire as well. I went to the USC game this year, and it was so nice to see green and blue scattered in the crowd of red, especially when the Irish won. I was shaking hands and bumpin' knuckles with complete strangers, but we've all gone through the same tough times following the program. It was a great feeling hearing people reciting the fight song and celebrating together while USC fans just watched in dismay. I'm an Irish blooded Catholic who didn't have the brain or money for a school such as Notre Dame, but I've been a passionate fan since middle school (15 years roughly). I'm glad this subject has been brought up here, I've heard it discussed on radio shows like ESPN's "Mike and Mike", and Golic seems to think non-alums are not part of the family, and should not be able to refer to ND as "us" when talking about the school to other people. Kinda pisses me off living in California, having to deal with USC garbage talk all the time, and not be "accepted" as a part of the family. Golic can stick it on that subject.

 

[irishtrain]

Couldn't agree with that more. I live in Burbank and work in Glendale, and get dirty looks and snarky comments about my ND attire as well. I went to the USC game this year, and it was so nice to see green and blue scattered in the crowd of red, especially when the Irish won. I was shaking hands and bumpin' knuckles with complete strangers, but we've all gone through the same tough times following the program. It was a great feeling hearing people reciting the fight song and celebrating together while USC fans just watched in dismay. I'm an Irish blooded Catholic who didn't have the brain or money for a school such as Notre Dame, but I've been a passionate fan since middle school (15 years roughly). I'm glad this subject has been brought up here, I've heard it discussed on radio shows like ESPN's "Mike and Mike", and Golic seems to think non-alums are not part of the family, and should not be able to refer to ND as "us" when talking about the school to other people. Kinda pisses me off living in California, having to deal with USC garbage talk all the time, and not be "accepted" as a part of the family. Golic can stick it on that subject.

I will say that I agree but even I do not refer to Notre Dame as 'us' when I talk about them. That is one thing that I dont do because deep in my heart I feel I am not a member of 'us'. Its a club I do not belong to but I still love Notre Dame. To me that is the one thing I would not do. It hurts a little to here Golic's response.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I will say that I agree but even I do not refer to Notre Dame as 'us' when I talk about them. That is one thing that I dont do because deep in my heart I feel I am not a member of 'us'. Its a club I do not belong to but I still love Notre Dame. To me that is the one thing I would not do. It hurts a little to here Golic's response.

I know what you're saying, but I still do it. We're all a part of it.

Were you here during the 3-9 season, watching every single game knowing that it was pretty much fata compli that we were going to lose? I bet you were, and so was I. It makes us true fans, not bandwagon fans. I say we with ND b/c I love this school so much that I have 3000+ posts on a ND message board, and I used to HATE message boards believe it or not.

I say 'we' with all my teams. (Then again, I only root for local teams, other than ND I don't root for a single team outside of LA, unless we're talking La Liga, in which I root for my dad's hometown team.) I've heard this argument against saying 'we' and 'us', and I get it, but I'm just not buying it.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Golic must have been having a bad day; he's usually more sensible than that. OMM [ND:1962]. By the way: welcome, heartily, subway alums. Just make us look good. We ARE Notre Dame, afterall.

 

[IrishLax]

I appreciate everyone in ND nation regardless of whether they are current students, alums, fans because they're Catholic, fans because they're Irish or fans for any of the other plethora of reasons. The only thing I can't stand are fans that give us a bad name by acting like Alabama trash and running their mouths without facts or ripping on college kids who are just doing their best.

My girlfriend, who is a 4th generation Domer (her great grandfather built the Rock... how cool is that???), and I have talked a lot about "subway alumni" and we both both believe that it is great except for one common problem it causes. When you say you're an Irish fan most people you run into at a bar or wherever always say "I bet you didn't even go there." First of all, we don't understand why that should be required to be a fan when 80% of 'Bama or Michigan fans have an IQ of 70 and didn't attend that school but people accept that. Second, it's just annoying to have to try to legitimize yourself when some douchebags try to be dismissive. And lastly, it's what causes so many "haters." Some people just don't get it and because they don't get it, like any 'popular' thing, they choose to hate.

I think I speak for 99% of alums when I say I'll take any fan as long as they are respectful and not a fair weather coward.