Rockne's Roundtable

You and me both, Ham. I'm trying to work on it, but its a daily task.

I'd agree that some folks around the country don't like the University or ND fans as a whole because some ND fans act like idiots from time to time, whether such idiocy be by trashing a recruit that chose to go elsewhere, talking smack when our school hasn't been on top in quite some time, etc. (whether we like it or not, all of us are unofficial representatives of the school we choose to cheer for and can affect what "outsiders" think of us).

But I think there are other reasons why some fans of other schools around the country dislike us. Some dislike us because they remember the times when ND was winning championships and we beat them, sometimes repeatedly. For example, most Alabama fans don't like being reminded that Bear Bryant was 0-4 against the Irish - and just today a friend of mine posted on my facebook page that he'll "never forgive Notre Dame for the 1975 Orange Bowl." Thus, there can be more than one reason that some folks choose to dislike the Irish or its fans.

I'll add my "great post" comment to those above. I know I spend more time than I should following ND football, amd spend too much time on this board. But, I always do my best to refrain from criticising an ND player, or the college decision that a 17-18 year old makes. It's only a game, an important game that has left me depressed on too many Saturdays to count over the last 15 years, but not as important as the health of my family & friends, my work, my faith. Not always easy to keep it in perspective, but posts like IFR's help.