What was your first ND Game?

[dang227]

Michigan St. 1987.


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[Irish#1]

Sparty at home in 1973. What a year. My wife and I had just gotten married in February and she became pregnant just a month after we married. Both of our families wanted us to come for Thanksgiving dinner, but when they announced there were seats available for Air Force on Thanksgiving Day (last time there wasn't a sell out), I looked at her and said problem solved.

Little did I know Ara was leading the team to a NC that season.

 

[BobbyMac]

Sparty at home in 1973. What a year. My wife and I had just gotten married in February and she became pregnant just a month after we married. Both of our families wanted us to come for Thanksgiving dinner, but when they announced there were seats available for Air Force on Thanksgiving Day (last time there wasn't a sell out), I looked at her and said problem solved.

Little did I know Ara was leading the team to a NC that season.

This was my second game. Went to the Northwestern game for the season opener. Still have that season's tickets for NW, MSU, SC.

We always went to Evansville for Thanksgiving so there was 4 empty seats due to us unless my Dad gave them away to one of the other Boilermakers. (Don't get excited #1, Boilermaker as in Youngstown Sheet & Tube - East Chicago, IN)

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

It was either 05 or 06 at Michigan State. Miserable rainy game. Getting our butts kicked the majority of the game and then BOOM 2 picks. One being a pick 6 and then our offense finally decided to actually do something to add another score. Ended up shocking everyone in the stadium. Will never forget the look on MSU fans faces after that crazy comeback. That game made me truly realize it is never over until it's over.

This game will always stand out to me. Great comeback. I had several buddies attending college at MSU and they were talking so much smack leading up to the game.

This game was '06, when we entered the year #2 in the country behind pOSU, one week after the beat down scUM put on us at home.

Driving rain, a 30mph winds and Brady Quinn et al lead a 17 point comeback in the 4th quarter against the wind. Terrell Lambert had the two picks, the pick six on Drew Stanton to go ahead and the final one to seal it. This was the game that led to the infamous Mike Valenti rant (Metro-Detroit radio personality and Sparty Alum).

Here's the link to the Valenti rant (This is comedic gold. so funny.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPvftOCA-9I

And a highlight video from that awesome comeback

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgg5hxSUXVU

Side note, those oldie highlight videos used to be pretty cool. He stopped after '07 I think, who could blame him.

 

[ginman]

at Oklahoma 2012 - My ex's family has season tickets - the Joy!

 

[Wild Bill]

ND vs Navy in '97. It rained all day and we almost lost but it was a good time.

 

[zelezo vlk]

And a highlight video from that awesome comeback

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgg5hxSUXVU

Side note, those oldie highlight videos used to be pretty cool. He stopped after '07 I think, who could blame him.

Man this is getting me a bit hyped for the season now

 

[calvegas04]

Oct 16 2010 vs Western Mich... First play of the game is a bomb to Floyd for a TD

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Man this is getting me a bit hyped for the season now

Right? Just a little over two months till kickoff. 5 weeks or so until fall camp.

That '06 Sparty video always gets me; goosebumps when Brent Musburger calls that Lambert pick 6 to take the lead.

Being less than 4 hours away I've been to my fair share of games. At least once per season for the past 15 years. So I've been to a good amount of the games that everyone has posted about. Brings up a lot of good memories. If not the game itself, then the tailgates and campus vibes.

I've kept a log over the years of every game I've been to and who with. Pretty cool to look back on it.

 

[Sea Turtle]

1977 Cotton Bowl. It was so cold that day but my dad and I had Parkas on, so we were ok. At halftime, I saw Joe Montana walking down the tunnel. He looked so cold and miserable. I offered him my thermos of chicken noodle soup. He just kind of grunted.

I said 'No, really, you can have it'. He took it and chugged it down. I could see him get warm and energized right away. He then started to walk away.

I then said 'Well, see ya'. I was a little disappointed but glad I could help him. Then all of a sudden I heard 'Hey kid, catch'. I looked up and he threw me his towel. I was so excited! All I could say was 'Wow, thanks Joe Cool!

And the rest, as they say, is history

 

[NorthDakota]

Oct 16 2010 vs Western Mich... First play of the game is a bomb to Floyd for a TD

I miss ND floyd. Man was he a baller.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

9/7/2002 v. Purdue at home. My first experience of NDFB as a freshman.

Didn't fully realize what a bizarre season that was until several years later. Felt more confident with our defense on the field than our offense.

 

[gkIrish]

9/9/2006 against Penn State. Freshman year. I remember walking out of my dorm and there being 150,000 people on campus that weren't there the night before and I knew life would never be the same...

 

[notredomer23]

At ND, it was Air Force 2007. Yikes.

 

[ClausentoTate]

9/9/2006 against Penn State. Freshman year. I remember walking out of my dorm and there being 150,000 people on campus that weren't there the night before and I knew life would never be the same...

Same game for me, if you don't count watching the GaTech game on North Quad the week before. It was really a great season to get into college football.

 

[EddytoNow]

My first ND football game was not a pleasant experience. It was the September 13, 2003 game in Ann Arbor vs. Michigan. The final score was 38-0 Michigan. Carlyle Holiday was starting his final game as the Notre Dame quarterback. He was replaced early in the game by a young Brady Quinn. Quinn would keep the starter's job for the next four years while Holiday converted to wide-receiver for the remainder of his career. Quinn was 3-10 passing for 30 Yds. with 0 TDs and 1 Int. Thankfully, Quinn would improve to become one of the finest quarterbacks in ND history.

Incidentally, my son and I had an opportunity to meet Carlyle Holiday on the ND campus while my son was attending Notre Dame's summer basketball camp. He was very gracious and took the time to talk to my son and sign my son's autograph book. My son has been a Notre Dame football fan and a fan of Carlyle Holiday ever since. Carlyle was recruited to run the option in Bob Davy's offense. When Ty Willingham brought his West Coast Offense to ND, Carlyle just didn't fit the offense. To my knowledge he accepted his new role as a wide receiver and played out his career. Brady Quinn continued to struggle until Weiss was hired and opened up the passing attack to take advantage of Quinn's passing ability.

For nostalgic purposes, I'm probably one of the few posters on IE who remembers "listening" to Notre Dame's games in the early 1960s.

 

[Irish Joe]

v USC at the Coliseum - 1996

Lou's last game. USC won for the first time in 12 years. The drive home sucked.

 

[Irish2155]

2008 opener against San Diego St. Michael Floyd's first game and touchdown. Golden Tate caught a touchdown from Clausen as well.

We played like shit though...only won 21 to 13.

Edit: I misread the question - the above was my first time to Notre Dame Stadium. My first live ND game was at Ross Ade in 2007. It was a noon start, so not as much time to tailgate, and Purdue absolutely throttled ND. I think it was the last time we lost to Purdue.

 

[Old Man Mike]

November 11, 1950. Pitt. Snow all over the campus. We won.

Leahy had a bad season --- too many line injuries and oddly too thin a bench. All-American (two-years) QB Bob Williams at the controls. NFLers Chet Ostrowski and Jim Mutchellar at the ends to throw to.

Williams passed Angelo Bertelli with his 170th completion for an ND career record. Captain was alpha Olineman Jerry Groom, about to go star in NFL. Me too young to grasp the significance of any of this.

 

[Greenore]

November 11, 1950. Pitt. Snow all over the campus. We won.

Leahy had a bad season --- too many line injuries and oddly too thin a bench. All-American (two-years) QB Bob Williams at the controls. NFLers Chet Ostrowski and Jim Mutchellar at the ends to throw to.

Williams passed Angelo Bertelli with his 170th completion for an ND career record. Captain was alpha Olineman Jerry Groom, about to go star in NFL. Me too young to grasp the significance of any of this.

I think you win OMM!! I've always respected your postings.

Really great thread and I am amazed at both the history and diversity of postings/posters!

Cheers and Go Irish!!

 

[Old Man Mike]

I won only that it was my birthday and Dad took me to see his old heart-of-his-heart team and university. Otherwise i froze --- although visiting the Grotto strangely didn't have that feeling about it .... an ND miracle?

 

[A Pac]

It was 1975 vs Georgia Tech. My son was always told that we wasn't good or smart enough to play college football. He proved them all wrong and became a walk-on under Era Parseghian. When I walked through the tunnel there was no doubt that the stadium was the most beautiful thing my eyes had ever laid eyes on (even with my wife standing literally right next to me). We waited the whole game and my son still hadn't played a down. Finally. The whole stadium started chanting his name and he was put in for the last two plays. He then got the final sack of the game and they carried him off the field!

 

[BobbyMac]

It was 1975 vs Georgia Tech. My son was always told that we wasn't good or smart enough to play college football. He proved them all wrong and became a walk-on under Era Parseghian. When I walked through the tunnel there was no doubt that the stadium was the most beautiful thing my eyes had ever laid eyes on (even with my wife standing literally right next to me). We waited the whole game and my son still hadn't played a down. Finally. The whole stadium started chanting his name and he was put in for the last two plays. He then got the final sack of the game and they carried him off the field!

Now when did you guys leave Joliet?

 

[Classic Irish]

My first ND game was the 1982 game at southern cal. My first home game was the 1985 southern cal game.

 

[Irish#1]

For nostalgic purposes, I'm probably one of the few posters on IE who remembers "listening" to Notre Dame's games in the early 1960s.

There are a few of us, but not many. I also watched the replays Sunday morning. "And now we move to further action in the 3rd quarter".

 

[Irish#1]

My first ND game was the 1982 game at southern cal. My first home game was the 1985 southern cal game.

Having been to many games, until 2015 the one game I hadn't been to was ND USC. I took one of my sons and a couple of his friends. One was a big ND fan. As we're walking to the stadium I asked him how many times he's seen the Irish play. He replies that it's his first time. ND USC as your first game has to be special.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Incidentally, my son and I had an opportunity to meet Carlyle Holiday on the ND campus while my son was attending Notre Dame's summer basketball camp. He was very gracious and took the time to talk to my son and sign my son's autograph book. My son has been a Notre Dame football fan and a fan of Carlyle Holiday ever since. Carlyle was recruited to run the option in Bob Davy's offense. When Ty Willingham brought his West Coast Offense to ND, Carlyle just didn't fit the offense. To my knowledge he accepted his new role as a wide receiver and played out his career. Brady Quinn continued to struggle until Weiss was hired and opened up the passing attack to take advantage of Quinn's passing ability.

He went on to play WR in the NFL for a few years, even caught Brett Favre's record breaking pass for most completions in NFL history.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Having been to many games, until 2015 the one game I hadn't been to was ND USC. I took one of my sons and a couple of his friends. One was a big ND fan. As we're walking to the stadium I asked him how many times he's seen the Irish play. He replies that it's his first time. ND USC as your first game has to be special.

Especially that game, that night game atmosphere was electric. I was there with my cousin for his first game.

I remember USC received the opening kickoff and drove the length of the field, then ND took over and it only took one play. Kizer to Fuller, 75 yards, 7-7. The place went wild.

 

[tadman95]

Especially that game, that night game atmosphere was electric. I was there with my cousin for his first game.

I remember USC received the opening kickoff and drove the length of the field, then ND took over and it only took one play. Kizer to Fuller, 75 yards, 7-7. The place went wild.

The best part of that play was Fuller dusting Adoree Jackson who the announcers had been fawning over up to that point.

 

[tadman95]

There are a few of us, but not many. I also watched the replays Sunday morning. "And now we move to further action in the 3rd quarter".

I'm one of those guys, wouldn't trade it for anything.