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How did you become a fan?

  • Just to pass the time until A.A. makes a decision or until the season starts,, how did you become an ND fan? Alum, parents, from southbend or some other story? I knew nothing about college football untill i was in the army in 1990. A new guy was assigned to share a room with me when he came to my platoon. Every saturday he would put on a #3 navy blue jersey and watch ND. He was always a nervous wreck during the games. If they won, nothing could bring him down. If they lost, it was as though his world came to an end. This pains me to say this now, but since we had to share a tv, i also had to watch the games and used to root for the other team just to get him fired up. One day, he nearly attacked me during the game. I saw how serious he was about ND and was curious about why he cared so much. So i asked. He started telling me about their history and traditions and i thought it was pretty neat.
    In October 1992 i finished my term of enlistment and went home. I did nothing for about two months and found myself tuning into the ND games. I remembered some of the stories he told me, became more curious and bought a few ND history books. The more i learned, the more i became like him. In 1995 i starting dating a woman who is now my wife. She knew that every saturday i was going to watch the game. She never teased me about my obsession, but i could see that she thought it was strange. So i began to tell her the stories. She also became a fan.
    In 1997, on a friday, we were married. The place was booked on saturday. Wedding was at 6pm, reception from 7-11. At about 9 pm one of my groomsman, my cousin, approached me with a concerned look on his face. He explained that he had been really torn about whether or not to tell me something. He explained that he had been given 4 tickets to ND vs Michigan state game the next day. He got them at the last second and wanted to give me one as a gift, but knew i wouldnt be able to go because it was my wedding night. But he didnt want to go and then me find out about it later. You see, i had never been to a game! i thought about it for a minute and tried to find a way to go. Unfortunately, this was an early game and they were going to leave at 1 am in order to get there in time for tailgating. I knew i would have to leave the reception at 11, go pack, load up and go. My wife would never go for it. But you never know unless you ask, right? So i walk up to my new wife looking hot in her gown and i say, " so my cousins got these ND tickets that he wants to give me as a wedding gift." she was very happy for me. When i explained the rest of the story, her look went from being happy for me, to " Are you serious?" After about thirty seconds she told me to go! Unfortunately they lost that game and the only touchdown they scored, i was getting nachos! But, i'll never forget that first trip! My only regret is that i didnt take my wife. So now, every anniversary, sept 17' we go to whatever game is playing that week if they are playing at home. My 3 year old is growing up an ND fan. The first touchdown of her life was the robert hughs touchdown run in the bowl game against hawaii. Unfortunatey she was asleep for that.

    bill2018 ●

  • Raised into a ND family, born Irish!

    Ndirish2 ●

  • Grandpa went, both parents alum. Bred for ND. Brother went there and I'm currently at ND right now and hope to pass the love of ND to my kids one day!

    pingalli93

  • Father was from Gary, IN. He was a fan, and although I was born and raised in Los Angeles, I have been a fan ever since my father took me to see the golden dome when I was 7.

    Febiv ●

  • I was born in Massachusetts. We moved to California in 1948 because of my father's health. My dad, a staunch Catholic was a ND fan. I made my two kids into fans. My son is a fanatic. We have been to South Bend for games twice. Incredible experience,both times.

    sebast

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    Irish legend CMC Quote Master and Director of Football Related Discussions 5 Time POTW & 2 Time WPOTW Winner Joined 09/17/05

    Hodges

  • Grandmother was Irish Catholic and she never missed "Her Irish". She loved her Fighting Irish and I watched with her. Nanny has passed away now, but I am continuing to spread the love of the Irish to my kids and hopefully beyond.

    This post was edited by irishintn on 7/5/2012 at 8:33 AM

    irishintn

  • the priest who baptized me was named Father Eirnan McDonough. during the baptism when he saw that my mom had me in little (green and gold) irish stockings, as he poured the holy water over my forehead at the end of saying "and the Holy Spirit, Amen", he added "and may God Bless the Fighting Irish". the year was 1949.......

    Run the ball. Stop the run. You win, or lose, up front.

    Coach_Clancy

  • Born with it in my DNA. That, or it was that I grew up with the Golden Dome shining through my bedroon window as a kid! Once my dad gave in and took me to my first game (6 years old)......fan for ever!

    sportsfansb ●

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    5-Time POTW Winner, 4 time at BGI and 1 at 24/7

    wjasonp ●

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    signature image signature image signature image

    AtlasND


  • the priest who baptized me was named Father Eirnan McDonough. during the baptism when he saw that my mom had me in little (green and gold) irish stockings, as he poured the holy water over my forehead at the end of saying "and the Holy Spirit, Amen", he added "and may God Bless the Fighting Irish". the year was 1949.......

    Pure awesomeness!

    This post was edited by bill2018 on 7/5/2012 at 10:43 AM

    bill2018 ●

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    Big_Skill

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    Mattymo

  • Born and raised in an Irish Catholic family in northeast Jersey, so needless to say being a ND fan was a given . When I was in the Army, I can remember getting up at 2am to watch the games when I was stationed in Korea, Now Im living in the Dallas area working shift work (work every other Saturday). I burn vacation time during football season so I wont miss a game.

    Dshanley25

  • Started going to games when dating my wife who was in her senior year there. Liked them before that but that's when I fell in love with the university and team

    signature image signature image signature image

    5 Time POTW--Gringo Mafia Director of Guerrilla Warfare

    19BlueAndGold85

  • My grandfather told me a story that when I was a baby - he was trying to listen to the Notre Dame game on the radio while I was crying in my crib. My mother had to run down stairs to let the delivery guy into the bar that my family owned. So my grandfather figured I was teething so he rubbed some whisky on my gums with his finger. He said I stopped crying and listened silently to the game - that was the day I became an ND fan to my knowledge......and quite possibly I acquired the taste for the sauce......

    Leppycole

  • Irish & Catholic, my father's family were big fans, especially Uncle Tony. My older brother was a 'fanatic'. Always admired the focus on academics. Then my son received a scholarship to play football....became a fan for life.

    TD4Irish

  • Watching the old Lindsey Nelson highlights with my grandfather when i was 9 years old

    ndfan59

  • Born and raised in south bend. One grandfather was a bricklayer on the Stadium and numerous buildings on the campus. Grandma rented rooms to ND students and in 1947 she rented a room to a football manager. He took the little 7 year old kid from across the street to practice and introduced me to Frank Leahy. God I thought I died and was in heaven, Stayed for the whole practice, chatted with the players and everyone connected with that team made a 7 year old kid feel very very important.

    So needless to say I was hooked.

    In high school I went with a girl of the Catholic faith who went to the grotto on a regular basis. The first time I went there I was ionntotal awe. And have been since then.

    Well, you asked for my reasons and there they are. I am 72 years old and still hooked on the Irish and will be until my last breath is taken.

    God Bless Notre Dame and God Bless all of you!!!!!

    2 Time POTW in a previous life Plus 1 on 24/7 = Gringo Mafia Professor Emeritus of Veterans Affairs.

    naplescarpenter

  • Born in Ireland as was my beautiful daughter Kathryn. Moved here when she was 5. 12 years later we drove to Notre Dame to "see if we wanted her to go there"....yeah right. Done deal as soon as we set foot on campus, prayed at the Grotto, saw the stadium, heard Carolyn Woo and Father "Monk" Molloy talk about the school. been to many games there since and now that she is a successful attorney and a mother of 2.7 kids we are going to go once every year....HER TREAT!

    All over since then, live, breathe, eat, sleep Notre Dame the school and the teams, all of them! Thank God for our ethics, standards and downright goodness, all the rest falls into place and, to be honest, no matter how painful the losses are, are minor in comparison.

    Back to glory soon, God Bless the Irish and thanks to Our Lady for all She does for us.

    signature image

    First time POTW December 24th, 2012

    davejlewis

  • Born and raised in South Bend. My dad took me to my first game against TCU. Family tradition. Met Ara on my 16th birthday at Pat's Pub. Bleed b&g! Lived in Fort Wayne since 1983 and still get to the games (helps with family working at ND). 48 years of wins and losses. I always cheer cheer for ol Notre Dame! Patience will pay off folks.

    Gorstew

  • My family moved from S.C. back to South Bend in 1979 and my mom went to work at ND.A neighbor was the head athletic trainer at the time so he would take me to games every now and again.Because of him showing me around ND and getting to meet players and when i got into Football myself he would always check my equipment just to make sure it was okay and fit right..And if i ever got injured he would check me out or help me rehab..So because of my mom working there and a neighbor showing a couple of young kids around ND we have become true ND FANS thru and thru..

    Jeffery Hudgen

  • I was born into it, everything stopped at my house on Gamedays. My best memories were the Saturday following Thanksgiving the family always had a big get together at my Grandparents house. We always had to wait for dinner or speed dinner up based on the ND game. My favorite ND memory with family was the USC beatdown in 88 at my Grandparents.

    Gamedays for many years other than Thanksgiving weekend I had to watch alone. I just could not watch games with non-ND or football fans. Since making my first ND game in 2000 I have changed and now can watch with only a certain few others.

    Go Irish!!

    PortND

  • raised in it as soon as i was born i had the ND gear bleed the gold and blue

    ndpalazotto9

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