Notre Dame: The More You Know

The video below describes last week's game.  The 19 second mark would be the break between the 3rd and 4th quarter and then, well, I'm still too depressed to even think about it.

Seriously, let's just move on.

It's Notre Dame week.  If you can't get pumped up for this game you should go see your doctor and have them check your pulse.  Notre Dame just inspires a deep hatred that very few other schools can match (Don't worry WVU, I still hate you more).  It doesn't matter if you grew up rooting for Pitt and your best friend grew up rooting for Penn State, you both hated Notre Dame.  Actually, I might go buy a box of Lucky Charms right now just to punch that smug leprechaun on the box in the face.

Goosfraba.  Goosfraba.  Ok, that's better. It doesn't need to be said, but this is a big game for the Panthers.  Last week has stirred up even more rumbling and Pitt really could use a good win under their belt.  Combined with the fact that after this game it's a short week to prepare for USF at the Ketchup Palace, the next 5 days could possibly set the tone for the rest of the season.  So, other than blaming Pitt for destroying a conference they could have saved years ago by adding a football team, what else do we know about Notre Dame?

University Website: http://www.nd.edu
Athletics Website: http://www.und.com
Behind Enemy Blogs: Subway Domer, Her Loyal Sons, Rakes of Mallow

Founded on November 26, 1842, Notre Dame was originally an all-male institution; women were not admitted until 1972. Notre Dame is a catholic university, which is why the only play basketball in the BIG EAST.  Some notable alumni of Notre Dame are Regis Philbin, Phil Donahue (does anyone remember him anymore?), Condoleezza Rice,  and Joe Montana (among many others).  

The Irish have also won many national championships, 11 of them.  They had an impressive streak of winning them every 11 years, 1966, 1977, and 1988.  All three of those were won by a coach in their 3rd year...and then they hired now ESPN analyst Bob Davie...who in his 3rd year, 1999, went 5-7.  Yes, one of those losses came at the hands of Walt Harris, the final game at Pitt stadium.

Bob Davie was fired a few years later in December 2001 and was quickly replaced by George O'Leary.  It turns out that O'Leary, 21 years prior to being hired, had claimed on a resume to have a Masters degree and earned three varsity letters in football...neither of which happened.  He was fired 5 days later because of the "embarassment" it caused the University.  The moral of this story, don't do something stupid in your first month of being hired by a major university as the head football coach.  This moral was apparently lost on Notre Dame alumn Michael Haywood...opps.  Atleast Haywood lasted over 3x as long as O'Leary.

Several movies have also been made about Notre Dame.  The movie Rudy was filmed about and on the campus of the University of Notre Dame.  It is about a small kid who walks on to the Notre Dame football team, while living in the stadium.  It makes TFW Bryan cry most every time he watches it.  It was actually based on a true story, well, loosely at least.  Rudy went on to back up Frodo in the Lord of the Rings movie when he couldn't destroy The One Ring.  Notre Dame's campus is famous for it's golden dome, of which the golden helmets are modeled.  

There are several other traditions at Notre Dame.  The helmets are freshly painted every Monday, the paint includes real gold.  Yep, they're not entitled or anything.  Notre Dame also has a very interesting mural which is visible from inside the stadium.  The mural, titled "The Word of Life," is often referred to as Touchdown Jesus, as its arms are raised like a referee signaling a touchdown.  However, after 13 turnovers through 3 games this season, including several in the opponent's red zone, he hasn't had a need to raise his arms...atleast not for Notre Dame.