I can link too

by Rob on Sep 21, 2006 7:03 PM EDT in Football

I was going to do an op-ed on tailgaiting, but two things happened. First, I don't think there are enough words in the American language to accurately depict the joys of tailgating. Maybe some day there will be. Secondly, I figured the best (although a bit more controversial) viewpoint came from today's The Observer, written by our own senior friends, Tom, Ricky, Rick, Kenny, and the Mu. Most of them left after halftime due to the terrible play against Michigan. Here's their defense:

Football is about victories
Letter to the Editor
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Viewpoint
PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 Over the last few days, several students have written to The Observer expressing their disappointment in the student section's behavior at the Michigan game. We share this disappointment. We are disappointed that the student section blindly cheers on the football team regardless of what is happening on the field. We were some of the seniors that left early and are some of the most fervent Notre Dame fans in the world. We could no longer stand to watch our beloved squad being dragged all over the field. We follow our team all year, give 100 percent at every home game and travel to several away games to cheer our team "onward to victory". We don't simply go to have fun, hear the band play and partake in tradition. Winning is what football is all about. Winning is fun. And winning, at Notre Dame is tradition. We wear "The Shirt" proudly with "TRADITION" across our chests. There are a few coaches missing from the back of that shirt - Gerry Faust, Bob Davie and Ty Willingham - coaches who did not uphold the tradition of winning.

Notre Dame is the nation's most followed football team not because of golden helmets or a great fight song, but because we have traditionally been the best team in the land. Whenever we lose as badly as we did Saturday, we violate that tradition. We have all witnessed some "untraditionally" bad losses throughout our time at Notre Dame. We were all at the 37-0 Florida State thrashing freshman year. We all walked out early. Not a single one of us regrets doing so. We were embarrassed that the tradition of Notre Dame Football was not upheld on the field. We were embarrassed on Saturday, and we know the players felt the same way.

The way we love Notre Dame Football is very similar to the way many of our parents love us. If one of us were ever to come home with a report card littered with Fs, our parents would not applaud our failures and do a jig around the house. We will not stay and cheer with smiling faces during a beat-down. We need to remember that 80,000 people pack Notre Dame Stadium every week to watch their team win. Winning is what football is all about. Ask Charlie Weis.

Tom Bradley, Ricky Moreno, Tom Dobleman, Rick King, Kenny Cushing

Now to their defense: They're all good guys, great Irish fans, and complete and utter clowns (in a good way). Rick said he's already recieved messages calling him a douchebag. I wouldn't go that far, but despite their honest stance, I'm not sure I'd be the one who would write this in to The Observer. Now they've got tons of angry Irish alums and sub alums calling them all sorts of names. Take it easy, guys.

One good defense for them is here. I'm not sure I agree with either side, but let's not get into the "You have to stand by your team and fellow students". I don't see them doing the same to me when I'm taking a test or playing an interhall game. Plus it sounds pretty cheesy. Just one man's opinion.

Honestly, as I start up the weekend, I'm not feeling too optimistic about this game. Saturday night will tell a lot about Notre Dame and Charlie Weis. We looked flat out pathetic against UM and I'm not sure a week is a long enough time to regroup. I liken this game to Purdue of last year, at least I hope. Michigan State could've been a blowout if not for John L. Smith's conservative 2nd half. We played well at the end, but poorly overall. The next week we went to Purdue and spanked them. Same away atmosphere, same night time game. Let's hope we blow Michigan St. out of the water. I f'ing despise them (1 week out of the year, as well as after they beat us and later implode).

Let's remember that Notre Dame hasn't lost a true away game under Charlie Weis.

I almost forgot to sign off...

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Comments

Oh, Alumni

I'm not sure I ever want to become one, if only because my only source - save for the guys at BGS - of input to the Irish universe could be through a messageboard.

I stayed the entire time Saturday, but didn't look down too much on those who left early. We played like crap. Love the great response linked to by Rob.

See how badly the Michigan State game needs to be here?

by CW on Sep 21, 2006 7:51 PM EDT 0 recs

I'm sorry but

I'm from the standpoint that you stay and support your team until the final gun sounds. If I were a player and the students walked out when we were losing, the next time they were in the stands cheering the at the next game it would ring hollow with me.

As a fan that has seen his team fall on hard time recently, I feel it's important to experience the bad times with your team as well as the good times. Experiencing the struggles makes the good times all that much sweeter. Walking out on your team because you "expect" them to win reeks of arrogance and a lack of appreciation for the hard work your team puts in to represent your school. Just MHO.

by Mike on Sep 21, 2006 11:01 PM EDT 0 recs