Irish YJ
Southsida
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I have a new tradition. I have not watched a game with my father in about 15 years. I moved away from Indy in 1997, leaving my biggest ND buddy to watch the Irish alone from the couch in his little house on the South Side. For the first 27 years of my life, my father and I were together for all the big and small games except for the years I spent at IU. When he could afford it, he would take me to a game in South Bend. Most of the games we watched from his house, some from his best friend's pub on East Street when I got older. Like father like son, we bled green, and perferred to watch the games away from the crowd. We swore at the TV when things went wrong, and drank a little too much when they went right. Even in a loss, I used to laugh at Dad carrying on. Either way, we had a great time, and we couldn't wait for the next game regardless of record.
This morning I received some bad news about an uncle who has cancer. It made me reflect about things, and my thoughts soon turned to my dad. I thought about how I wished I could have watched the Oklahoma game with him last week. Even had I been back in Indy, it would have been impossible as my father passed away in 2004. After I moved away, we would always say "next year, we're going to a game". Well it never happened. My dad's health faded in the next fews years, and the son who moved away to further his career, couldn't make it happen.
97-04 wasn't all bad. We weren't big talkers, but during football season, we always seemed to talk more on the phone. We'd bitch and moan after a loss, and drunk dial each other after a big win. When things got bad, and it was clear he wouldn't be around much longer, ND Football was always something that would take us away from reality. After he passed, the games just weren't the same. Don't get me wrong, I still watched every game yelling and cussing, but I missed watching the game with Dad, or talking on the phone after.
Fast forward to this year. It's been special for ND, and my thoughts have been with Dad more and more. Getting through UM and Mich St., crushing Miami, the hard fought win against Stanford, and the signature win at Oklahoma. The momentum building, I just wished Dad was here to see it. Today I decided to stay home and watch the game alone. Just had a bad feeling. Again, swearing at the TV, just like Dad and I used to. Down 14, I somehow smiled thinking of how my Father might be reacting up in there in Heaven. I again wished he was here.
Then it dawned on me, my Dad's ashes are in the other room sitting on the shelf. I jumped up, grabbed his ashes, and sat them on the couch next to my favorite chair. By the way, my Father's ashes have a big yellow button attached that says "Go Irish". Sounding a little crazy, I started talking to him like he was there. I'd ask him to help ND make a run, make a stop. All of a sudden, we were coming back. I asked for more, again, and again. All of sudden we were tied up, and headed to OT. Still talking to my Dad, it's the 2nd OT and now we've fumbled. More cussing. Figured no more help was coming. Now Pitt is setting up for a winning FG and ask once more for a little help. Holy cow.
Now I'm a rational guy, and not very supersticious, but damn. All I can say is thanks Dad. RIP Jack, and looking forward to hanging out in the living room for the BC game.
PS - Dad, if you're still listening, a little help for USC, LSU, and OK St. Go Irish.
This morning I received some bad news about an uncle who has cancer. It made me reflect about things, and my thoughts soon turned to my dad. I thought about how I wished I could have watched the Oklahoma game with him last week. Even had I been back in Indy, it would have been impossible as my father passed away in 2004. After I moved away, we would always say "next year, we're going to a game". Well it never happened. My dad's health faded in the next fews years, and the son who moved away to further his career, couldn't make it happen.
97-04 wasn't all bad. We weren't big talkers, but during football season, we always seemed to talk more on the phone. We'd bitch and moan after a loss, and drunk dial each other after a big win. When things got bad, and it was clear he wouldn't be around much longer, ND Football was always something that would take us away from reality. After he passed, the games just weren't the same. Don't get me wrong, I still watched every game yelling and cussing, but I missed watching the game with Dad, or talking on the phone after.
Fast forward to this year. It's been special for ND, and my thoughts have been with Dad more and more. Getting through UM and Mich St., crushing Miami, the hard fought win against Stanford, and the signature win at Oklahoma. The momentum building, I just wished Dad was here to see it. Today I decided to stay home and watch the game alone. Just had a bad feeling. Again, swearing at the TV, just like Dad and I used to. Down 14, I somehow smiled thinking of how my Father might be reacting up in there in Heaven. I again wished he was here.
Then it dawned on me, my Dad's ashes are in the other room sitting on the shelf. I jumped up, grabbed his ashes, and sat them on the couch next to my favorite chair. By the way, my Father's ashes have a big yellow button attached that says "Go Irish". Sounding a little crazy, I started talking to him like he was there. I'd ask him to help ND make a run, make a stop. All of a sudden, we were coming back. I asked for more, again, and again. All of sudden we were tied up, and headed to OT. Still talking to my Dad, it's the 2nd OT and now we've fumbled. More cussing. Figured no more help was coming. Now Pitt is setting up for a winning FG and ask once more for a little help. Holy cow.
Now I'm a rational guy, and not very supersticious, but damn. All I can say is thanks Dad. RIP Jack, and looking forward to hanging out in the living room for the BC game.
PS - Dad, if you're still listening, a little help for USC, LSU, and OK St. Go Irish.
