So excited!!

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

Hey everyone in Irish land! I just wanted to share my excitement! My son is turning 7 tomorrow and I managed to get two tickets to the Utah game! He's going to be so excited when he finds out. He's a 4th generation fan, and one day wants to play for them! Does anyone have any advice for us, what should we do? We live here, and I've been to games, but not with a child before. Thanks in advance, and GOOOO IRISH!!

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

HAVE A BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Congrats, and have a great time with your son. He is at that age where going to a game will be almost like a magical thing. I was a young boy when my dad took me to my first game and I remember it to this day.

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

Thank you both! I've had the tickets now for about a week, and I am about to burst I'm so excited! haha! I certainly hope he enjoys it. I went to the Purdue and Western games this year, and I'll tell ya, I'm an adult and it's still pretty magical to me. Even living here, ND never gets old.

 

[nd1]

hey congrats man. i hope you and son have a great time.

 

[MeanGreen]

Good for you and your son. I hope you guys bring us a winner. I took my daughter when she was 6. It was magical. She loved the pep rally in the Joyce Center. Take in as much as you can. Video or snap as many pix as you can. You will look back on them fondly.

 

[fitz_bu47]

Two of my all-time favorite memories in my almost 30 years of life are the two ND games I went to in South Bend with my dad. Very happy for you and your son!

 

[kmoose]

Congrats, and have a great time with your son. He is at that age where going to a game will be almost like a magical thing. I was a young boy when my dad took me to my first game and I remember it to this day.

I barely remember the first game I attended. I do remember, though, that Fielding Yost was the new coach at Michigan, so it's been a while.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Last year my girlfriend and I took our sons to their first ND game. They were so excited just to step onto campus. They were 8 and 9. We had endzone seats in the 4th row. It happened to be the tunnel endzone so the kids got to smack all the players as they entered and exited the field. It was the Washington game, and also happened to be the OT endzone. They got to watch the game winning TD and Washingtons game loosiing TD drop, all right in front of them. Then they caught a players wristband as they were exiting the field. I think I was more excited for them than they were. I had to wait 30 years to see a game of that excitement live, they got to at 8 and 9, and their first attended. Have fun. Get there early and walk around the campus. TD Jesus, the bookstore, the band playing thru the campus to the field. Its all great. I will be there as well. There was a threat started a couple days ago called 'Campus Tour' asking a similar question. You might search it and see what it has to offer.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Great news, pal. Yes, I do have advice because I went to my first game this year, too.

1) Bring a camera and batteries. My battery died on Saturday and I missed a lot.

2) Take a few hours to tour the campus on Friday. Take in everything. And walk down the tunnel between 10 am and 5 pm on Friday.

3) Get a quick bite to eat on or off campus and check out the pep rally

4) Around noon get a good spot on campus (ask an usher) for the team's walk from the basilica to the stadium

5) Make friends with people who have a sweet tailgate set up

6) Get your boy some pics taken with the ND cheerleaders. He will be a stud when he tells all his friends at school

 

[arndtjc]

I am also attending my first game on Saturday!!

Would there be anyone who could take me and my two friends in at their tailgate? We would be more than happy to bring stuff, or pitch in some money for food and whatnot. They're Nebraska fans, but they are really excited to take in the tradition of Notre Dame this weekend!!

Shoot me a PM if you might be interested in helping a couple Huskers out grin:grin:

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

I will try to get his pics taken with the cheerleaders! Great Idea!!

 

[NDTH91]

I just want to say that this is one of my favorite parts of Notre Dame football. The passing on to younger generations and the magical feeling around campus that never ever goes away. Beautiful stuff.

1. Definitely take lots and lots of pictures because its pretty hard to take a bad one on campus (Especially get ones in front of the dome, TD Jesus, and the front of the stadium.

2. Pep rally at 6PM at Irish Green (South side of campus behind the big building that is the Debartolo Performing Arts Center)

3. Player walk from the basilica to the stadium (especially if he wants to play for them someday!)

4. Band performances both on the steps of Bond Hall (about 2 hours before gametime i think) and the bands march to the stadium. Try to catch the band when they first start at the dome, watch them go by and then get to the front of the stadium (the "Knute Rockne Gate") to see them enter the stadium. This is because they play the fight song at the start and they do the "Go Irish" chant when entering the stadium. Awesome stuff.

5. I'm not sure what time this is or even if they do it every game (shame on me), but before the game (and I think its when they take the field for warm-ups?) the team walks out of the locker room hand in hand and walks through the tunnel as the band surrounds them on both sides playing the fight song. There is a little window in the concrete that you can see this from if you go in gate E and turn left and take the ramp halfway up to the second level. If you can find out when this is and get there, it is one of the most special things your kid will ever see. I cried when I saw it as a little kid.

*IF ANYONE HAS ANY MORE INFO ON THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

6. Be sure to bring a football to throw around as you go around campus. I can't walk around campus with my dad to this very day without tossing a football with him!

7. Just have fun! No matter what this will be a special day for you and your kid. Enjoy it and make some great memories! Also, an elephant ear is recommended after the game (I'll be there)! These are just across the street from the Joyce and the Northeast corner of the stadium (Gate A).

Good luck and GO IRISH!

 

[eNDzone]

I took my son and two of my daughters for their first time to the Western Michigan game. The first play from the offence was an 80 yard TD pass to Floyd. I couldn't have ordered it up any better. They loved it. If I see a man and his son at the game having a great time I will say hi. ENJOY!

 

[IrishBlood81]

Very cool bro!!
Enjoy it to the utmost and make the most of each moment. They don't come often.

Share the pics when you take em!!


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[NankerPhelge]

This is really priceless. What a life-long memory you are giving your son. You must come back here and tell us about it. Have a great time!

 

[IrishBlood81]

Not a bad game for your son to see uh?!! Wow..was he on the field too? lol


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[IrishinSyria]

It must have been a great time in the stadium! What a day!

 

[davydoc]

My God, I'm so jealous of you....really hope u had a really amazing time and did all the things I can only wish I'll ever get to do....My friend was down from Chicago for the game.......You guys really don't realise how lucky you are.....We can take it as red that there's another member for the Irish family after your son witnessed that......Lucky guy....

 

[IrishBlood81]

My God, I'm so jealous of you....really hope u had a really amazing time and did all the things I can only wish I'll ever get to do....My friend was down from Chicago for the game.......You guys really don't realize how lucky you are.....We can take it as red that there's another member for the Irish family after your son witnessed that......Lucky guy....

Yeah I know how you feel mate!
But...Pretty awesome you might get a chance to see em in 2012 uh? You think your gonna be going to it?


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[davydoc]

The only way I won't be at it is if I'm no longer alive ....lol.....yeah I'll deffo be there.Was talking to my mate who was there yesterday and all he could say was, amazing, awesome, passion, noise,electricity in the air, he couldn't get over it !!!
Made me decide that, God willing, I am gonna try and get over to a game next season either September or October - my birthday is 4th October, so I might try and do it around that time - depending on the schedule of course.....
Absolutely cannot wait !!!!

 

[davydoc]

Must actually be amazing to live in or around South Bend and be able to go to all of the games.........Life just couldn't get much better I don't think ?????

 

[eNDzone]

I live about an hour and a half away. This year I got to three games. I had only been to 3 in my life before that. I went to the Purdue, Western Michigan and Utah games this year. I now know how lucky I am. I hope I can get to many more in the future. The Utah game was fantastic. The students storming the field-I just didn't want to leave.

I hope you and your son had as much fun as my daughter,son and I did.

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

Good Morning to you all, and thank you again for the well wishes!

We live 21 miles from South Bend in Michigan, but I work here in south bend. I got a co-worker to drop us off by the practice field. We got to meet the Utah Band and Cheerleaders. I was born in Utah so I talked to them for a few minutes about the weather etc. We got some nice pics. Then we walked around campus for awhile, saw the bag pipe band, went to bond hall and saw the band. We got a few pics of my son with the guard and a few band members. We got pics of TD Jesus, the golden dome, and my personal favorite picture to take on campus is the bascillica tower next to the golden dome.

We had seats right in front of the press box so we couldn't have asked for better seats. The ushers were so nice. We went in the Lou Holtz gate and got our pics taken by his statue. The gate attendant saw that I was holding both tickets and he smiled and said I should hand my son his ticket. So we told him it was his birthday and first game, so all the ushers and some fans were shouting happy birthday and high fiving him. He just kept saying "WOW!" at all the banners and memorilbilia on the walls. When the pre game started he loved the band and the AF fly over. For as cold and rainy as it was he did excellent. He only asked me a few times what was going on down on the field. He even called the horsecollar call that was missed before I did! haha. He loved it. The crowd was pumped and loud as I have ever heard them. Also I'll note I don't think I ever seen so many opposing fans at the stadium before. That was neat too. Again, we had a blast, thanks for the well wishes. GO IRISH!!!

 

[mick2]

Good Morning to you all, and thank you again for the well wishes!

We live 21 miles from South Bend in Michigan, but I work here in south bend. I got a co-worker to drop us off by the practice field. We got to meet the Utah Band and Cheerleaders. I was born in Utah so I talked to them for a few minutes about the weather etc. We got some nice pics. Then we walked around campus for awhile, saw the bag pipe band, went to bond hall and saw the band. We got a few pics of my son with the guard and a few band members. We got pics of TD Jesus, the golden dome, and my personal favorite picture to take on campus is the bascillica tower next to the golden dome.

We had seats right in front of the press box so we couldn't have asked for better seats. The ushers were so nice. We went in the Lou Holtz gate and got our pics taken by his statue. The gate attendant saw that I was holding both tickets and he smiled and said I should hand my son his ticket. So we told him it was his birthday and first game, so all the ushers and some fans were shouting happy birthday and high fiving him. He just kept saying "WOW!" at all the banners and memorilbilia on the walls. When the pre game started he loved the band and the AF fly over. For as cold and rainy as it was he did excellent. He only asked me a few times what was going on down on the field. He even called the horsecollar call that was missed before I did! haha. He loved it. The crowd was pumped and loud as I have ever heard them. Also I'll note I don't think I ever seen so many opposing fans at the stadium before. That was neat too. Again, we had a blast, thanks for the well wishes. GO IRISH!!!

awesome man! really cool what a first game to see as well. you and your son are some lucky sons-a-guns! i really think you guys witnessed the best game played by an irish team in 5 years!

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Good Morning to you all, and thank you again for the well wishes!

We live 21 miles from South Bend in Michigan, but I work here in south bend. I got a co-worker to drop us off by the practice field. We got to meet the Utah Band and Cheerleaders. I was born in Utah so I talked to them for a few minutes about the weather etc. We got some nice pics. Then we walked around campus for awhile, saw the bag pipe band, went to bond hall and saw the band. We got a few pics of my son with the guard and a few band members. We got pics of TD Jesus, the golden dome, and my personal favorite picture to take on campus is the bascillica tower next to the golden dome.

We had seats right in front of the press box so we couldn't have asked for better seats. The ushers were so nice. We went in the Lou Holtz gate and got our pics taken by his statue. The gate attendant saw that I was holding both tickets and he smiled and said I should hand my son his ticket. So we told him it was his birthday and first game, so all the ushers and some fans were shouting happy birthday and high fiving him. He just kept saying "WOW!" at all the banners and memorilbilia on the walls. When the pre game started he loved the band and the AF fly over. For as cold and rainy as it was he did excellent. He only asked me a few times what was going on down on the field. He even called the horsecollar call that was missed before I did! haha. He loved it. The crowd was pumped and loud as I have ever heard them. Also I'll note I don't think I ever seen so many opposing fans at the stadium before. That was neat too. Again, we had a blast, thanks for the well wishes. GO IRISH!!!

So happy that you and your son had a great time at the game. You were able to take him to the best game this year by far!! I am sure many years from now, your son will remember that special Saturday.

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

awesome man! really cool what a first game to see as well. you and your son are some lucky sons-a-guns! i really think you guys witnessed the best game played by an irish team in 5 years!

I would have to agree with you...btw it was a mother/son game I was so glad that his first game was a win. Also glad that the crowd was so into it also that makes a difference. He was cracking me up when he jumped up on his seat and grabbed his own face and was screaming HORSE COLLAR!!! SOMEONE GET THAT DUDE SOME GLASSES!! All the people around us got a laugh out of it too.

 

[mick2]

I would have to agree with you...btw it was a mother/son game I was so glad that his first game was a win. Also glad that the crowd was so into it also that makes a difference. He was cracking me up when he jumped up on his seat and grabbed his own face and was screaming HORSE COLLAR!!! SOMEONE GET THAT DUDE SOME GLASSES!! All the people around us got a laugh out of it too.

yea i just call everybody man, and guys!

i was screaming horse collar too. but other than that missed call the refs did an awesome job.

Swarbrick should hire them as all time ND referees!

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

Does anyone know how I can share my pictures? Maybe since I'm new I'm not authorized yet? If I can put them on my profile I will

 

[IrishBlood81]

yea i just call everybody man, and guys!

i was screaming horse collar too. but other than that missed call the refs did an awesome job.

Swarbrick should hire them as all time ND referees!

Agree! Man, HUGE difference from them and Big East fellas. We actually had a FAIR chance which was WONDERFUL!

Does anyone know how I can share my pictures? Maybe since I'm new I'm not authorized yet? If I can put them on my profile I will

Wow, I'm soooo jealous of you guys!!! that was the game to see! Really happy for your kid, hes gotta be soooooooooo thrilled!!! Thats what ND is all about.
The crowd was like the best its EVER been at that game.


For your pics, upload them to flickr.com or any such host, and start a thread posting them.
post them like this;

Look forward to seeing them.


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