Question for Alums/Students

[A Pac]

Hi guys, I have been a member here for a few months and love being a part of IE. I am 24, from Canton Ohio and have been an ND fan for as long as I can remember. My parents liked the Irish when they grew up but rooted for other teams more (Mom liked Ohio State and Dad liked Penn State. He's from Pittsburgh). However, they both became huge Irish fans when they got married and moved to South Bend. One of my Dad's former students (and now one of his best friends) and football players was a center at Notre Dame from 80-83 and my mom worked as a secretary in one of the buildings. Ever since then, my parents have been bigger Notre Dame fans than they were.

My question to you the alums/students of Notre Dame is this: Does it at all bother you that people who did not got to Notre Dame root for them? Moreover, does it bother you that we (non-ND alums) consider ourselves a part of the ND Family? It's just something I have always wondered. I would have loved to have gone to Notre Dame but knew that I could never have gotten in. I had to settle for John Carroll instead (still a good school if you ask me).

Thanks in advance guys. I love being a part of this website and think it's the best place for Irish news. Go Irish!

 

[MNIrishman]

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.

 

[Kak7304]

Most of us love the wide-reaching national appeal of our school. The only thing I do not like, which usually applies to all schools/sports, are the bandwagon fans who trash talk ND when things are down, then act like our biggest supporters when they are winning. If you are a loyal ND fan though, I will gladly welcome you to the family with open arms. I am first generation ND alum and would definitely be a subway alum had I attended another school. One of my favorite football experiences as a student happened during the 2005 Purdue game. I visited some friends who go to Purdue and ended up hanging out with a bunch of Purdue students who were loyal ND fans and not afraid to wear ND gear at their rival school. I loved it.

Interesting side note: I lived in Carroll Hall at ND, named after Charles Carroll, the cousin of Archbishop John Carroll.

 

[A Pac]

Most of us love the wide-reaching national appeal of our school. The only thing I do not like, which usually applies to all schools/sports, are the bandwagon fans who trash talk ND when things are down, then act like our biggest supporters when they are winning. If you are a loyal ND fan though, I will gladly welcome you to the family with open arms. I am first generation ND alum and would definitely be a subway alum had I attended another school. One of my favorite football experiences as a student happened during the 2005 Purdue game. I visited some friends who go to Purdue and ended up hanging out with a bunch of Purdue students who were loyal ND fans and not afraid to wear ND gear at their rival school. I loved it.

Interesting side note: I lived in Carroll Hall at ND, named after Charles Carroll, the cousin of Archbishop John Carroll.

Don't worry, I'm not a bandwagon fan. It's impossible to be a band wagon fan when you root for the Browns and Indians.

 

[Kak7304]

Don't worry, I'm not a bandwagon fan. It's impossible to be a band wagon fan when you root for the Browns and Indians.

I wasn't questioning your fandom. The people on this site are the overly obsessed ND fans (my kind of people).

 

[A Pac]

I wasn't questioning your fandom. The people on this site are the overly obsessed ND fans (my kind of people).

hahaha. well said.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Yeah, like . . .

YouTube - Misery - Paul Sheldon PWN3D

God, I love you all . . .

 

[Rack Em]

As a student, I couldn't care less. I'm more than happy to embrace anybody that supports ND. The bigger the family the better. It's truly a special place and it's a pleasure to share that with anybody.

What does **** me off are the students that only use ND for the degree. They never fall in love with the University and what it stands for. Its simply school for them. That really, really bothers me.

 

[Kak7304]

As a student, I couldn't care less. I'm more than happy to embrace anybody that supports ND. The bigger the family the better. It's truly a special place and it's a pleasure to share that with anybody.

What does **** me off are the students that only use ND for the degree. They never fall in love with the University and what it stands for. Its simply school for them. That really, really bothers me.

I agree. There is so much more to that school and they are losing out by not immersing themselves completely in what the school has to offer and the unique culture that is Notre Dame.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

A Pac - great question.

I am a sub-way alum...I went to school in the Southwest....and the majority of my relatives went to ND. What is interesting is that my kids (11 and 7) want to go to ND, so I hope we can make that dream come true. ND IMHO has the #1 following in the nation...

 

[BurningRiver]

i've always wondered this too. i am in high school and am a HUGE notre dame fan. the thing is, literally no one in my family is a notre dame fan. no one. my dad likes notre dame, but i couldn't really call him a fan. i becam a fan through some of my friends who have ND alum parents.

recently i was wondering what I would do if i didn't get into notre dame. i am obviously going to apply to ND, and while i have good grades, i don't know if i am "notre dame material" grade-wise. I don't want these next few years to be my last rooting for notre dame, and i feel like they might have to be depending on where i go to college.

it would be just my luck to go to somewhere like ohio state or something (which would be unfortunate.. i hate ohio states football team) and then notre dame win the national championship that year.

 

[ryno 24]

I am not a student at Xavier but i love Notre Dame I grew up an Irish fan my parents are Notre Dame fan... I always knew the most about Notre football but I wasnt just a fan football team. Everything about the University is great The Basilica, The Grotto, the people, the education, The Football team is one of the ways that I show my passion for ND I applied as a senior in high school with over a 4.0 and I didnt get in I tried again after my freshman year and did not get in I am going to apply again for grad school and I hope to get in one way or another I will go to ND Notre Dame runs through my veins I get bashed down at school for being a Notre Dame fan and wearing my ND shirts at school. (It was Fun laughing at UC fans this year and after BK left)
But I am proud of being a Notre Dame fan and I would consider myself part of the family

 

[A Pac]

recently i was wondering what I would do if i didn't get into notre dame. i am obviously going to apply to ND, and while i have good grades, i don't know if i am "notre dame material" grade-wise. I don't want these next few years to be my last rooting for notre dame, and i feel like they might have to be depending on where i go to college.
.

just because you go to somewhere like o$u, kent or akron doesn't mean you have to stop rooting for notre dame. i know plenty of people that are michigan fans that go to ohio state.

 

[GreatGolson]

IMO its like rooting for a pro team even if your not in that team's city

 

[IrishinSyria]

What does **** me off are the students that only use ND for the degree. They never fall in love with the University and what it stands for. Its simply school for them. That really, really bothers me.

The US news and world report curse.

I went to school (Williams College) that does... well... in those rankings.

You could always tell the people who never thought about why they wanted to go to Williams when they decided on a school, they just opened their USNaWR and saw the #1 and off they went to the Berkshires.

After a winter month or two in the middle of nowhere they'd always be bitching and whining and never took advantage of anything the school had to offer. I think the school, along with a few others in its peer group, has decided to stop sending in their information and people like this (though its unstated) are a big reason why.

 

[tadman95]

Great question, great answers!

I think I am the least likely Notre Dame fan around. I grew up in North Carolina, went to NC State, have never knowingly met a Notre Dame alum. I only know two other Notre Dame fans and only one of those by name and he's a 100 miles away. Was raised a methodist.

Have been a fan since 1966. Before cable TV, no internet, no explanation. My theory is a switch at birth at the hospital.

I am on an island, Tadman Island if you will. I'm loyal to the core though, always will be.

 

[BGIF]

Great question, great answers!

I think I am the least likely Notre Dame fan around. I grew up in North Carolina, went to NC State, have never knowingly met a Notre Dame alum. I only know two other Notre Dame fans and only one of those by name and he's a 100 miles away. Was raised a methodist.

Have been a fan since 1966. Before cable TV, no internet, no explanation. My theory is a switch at birth at the hospital.
I am on an island, Tadman Island if you will. I'm loyal to the core though, always will be.

Probably the same gene that made you an ND fan made you a Yankee fan.

 

[Jonstradamus]

The movie Rudy may have been my first Irish influence, and I love the fact that I get to watch ALL the games during the season.
Probably been a fan since Rudy, but for 3 or 4 years my hardcore-ness for the Irish has been growing. Can't wait for 2011 season and beyond.

 

[NCDomer]

It doesn't bother me at all. However, those that love the flagship college in their state even though they have no affiliation to it irks me. E.g., UCSB (aka UC-Santa Barbara) people rooting for UCLA or UNC-Charlotte alums donating and rooting for UNC-Chapel Hill. Their lack of loyalty to their own school is dumbfounding and likely causes their state to divert even more money away from their school diminishing the value of their degree.

 

[twig21]

I am a ND fan in SO Cal, actually I am the Head Professional at the golf course adjacent to the Rose Bowl, so I am in the middle of SC country. I have countless friends close by who are ND alums, a few on the Board of the ND law school, they call me for news on ND football and recruiting. THat is what is great about ND, the alums and students welcome us into their family. There is nothing like it in all of collegiate sports!

 

[Old Man Mike]

As long as people supporting our football team [or any of NDs activities] do so in ways which respect Notre Dame's values and history, they are welcome into this very large and civilized family. Whether a person holds an actual degree from ND or not, if they act like a thug or a jerk, then they're not welcome [by me at least]. All of us are who we are: "Notre Dame" is a concept-of-the-Heart which transcends the degree. Being on the campus surely helped grow those Hearts, but is not essential to the Family which is Notre Dame.

 

[A Pac]

Great stuff guys. Thanks to all who posted. Go Irish!

 

[wesjunior]

This is an interesting topic. I live 45 minutes south of East Lansing, 45 minutes west of Ann Arbor and two hours from South Bend.

Whenever ND plays MSU or UM(mostly MSU though) and I go out to watch the game, I get that exact phrase of, "you probably didn't even go to Notre Dame so why would you like them?"

My sister and I have come to the conclusion that this how they justify their lack of fans.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I am a ND fan in SO Cal, actually I am the Head Professional at the golf course adjacent to the Rose Bowl, so I am in the middle of SC country. I have countless friends close by who are ND alums, a few on the Board of the ND law school, they call me for news on ND football and recruiting. THat is what is great about ND, the alums and students welcome us into their family. There is nothing like it in all of collegiate sports!

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!

 

[BGIF]

ND Clubs around the world welcome anyone with an interest in ND.

If you're not an alumnus you may feel like a 5th wheel when they talk about campus fund raising, their dorm life memories, or a beloved prof, but when Kelly, Holtz, Digger, or Muffet are on the table wade right in.

 

[dshans]

Notre Dame is truly a "Big Tent" community. Think of it as the Cowboys Stadium of tents.

It abides, nourishes and comforts a broad spectrum, from aging hippies such as me to Condoleezza Rice. Its athletics, spirit and contributions to individuals and society-at-large attract many with no direct connection to the institution.

All are welcome.

Hell, when it comes to ND sports I've met a number of people not within the "halo" of the dome who knew a lot more than I. Many years ago I worked briefly with a lawyer (from Atlanta, I think) who rattled off the rosters of both the 1970 and 1974 Irish basketball teams – something I couldn't do. It came up when I mentioned that I was at ND when we were the "bookends" for UCLA's 88 game winning streak.

My point? Simply this: Come one, Come all!

As an earlier poster mentioned: stay classy and "represent" well.

 

[IrishInColumbus]

I'm a gigantic Notre Dame fan. I am part Irish and Catholic, but 1) no way I could have gotten into Notre Dame and 2) they don't have my program (City and Regional Planning) so it's not a big deal.

I go to Ohio State, and I like to think there is a similar bond between citizens of Ohio and Ohio State, and being Irish/Catholic and being a Notre Dame fan. So many of my classmates from high school (I went to a Catholic school in Toledo, Ohio) are huge Ohio State fans, but go to Toledo or Bowling Green. I, on the other hand, actually go to Ohio State but don't cheer for their football team at all. I do a good job of not using "we" or "us" when talking about Notre Dame, because I personally am not part of it. My grandfather went to the Naval Academy, grandmother went to Juliard, father went to Xavier and mother went to Bowling Green. I have no direct ties to Notre Dame other than a 1931 USC-ND ticket I found at my grandmother's once. But who ultimately cares? Notre Dame does things the right way! GO IRISH!

 

[eNDzone]

I think in another dimension I was an alum. A dimension where my GPA was increased by about a point. The campus just feels like a home away from home.

 

[NankerPhelge]

Are you kidding, man? If it wasn't for the "subway" alums (in all their manifestations), ND football just simply would not have been what it has been and what it is today. No pedigree necessary--I'm sure glad you're here!

 

[IrishAlum1997]

As long as people supporting our football team [or any of NDs activities] do so in ways which respect Notre Dame's values and history, they are welcome into this very large and civilized family. Whether a person holds an actual degree from ND or not, if they act like a thug or a jerk, then they're not welcome [by me at least]. All of us are who we are: "Notre Dame" is a concept-of-the-Heart which transcends the degree. Being on the campus surely helped grow those Hearts, but is not essential to the Family which is Notre Dame.

OMM, who are you calling civilized?

"We are ND" is beyond the diploma. All are welcome.