Initially I did not like the Fighting Irish...

I've lived in the Michiana area all of my life. I live about fifteen minutes from Notre Dame...Growing up no one in my immediate family was a Notre Dame fan--so being a product of my environment neither was I. In the 80's I did not like Notre Dame very much either and I even began a dislike them. I would HATE when there were home games because I worked every Saturday in downtown South Bend and I would have to drive through the traffic. I just could NOT understand what all the hoop-la was about. All I knew was all the traffic made my drive to work longer and stressful. I guess that was where it all began. I had a friend, Jim, that wanted to get to the campus early to try to find a good ticket. I would drop him off on my way to work. He would find a ticket and meet up with his friends later and ride home with them. He is the BIGGEST Notre Dame fan I know, maybe the BIGGEST one ever. At the end of the 2007 season he has been to 189 games and knows more stats than some seasoned announcers. He should be an announcer! He got me to appreciate Notre Dame for what it really is and to love Notre Dame Football. GO IRISH!!

My very first ND game was on January 1st, 1993 at the Cotton Bowl. On a whim my friend, Jim, the biggest Notre Dame fan ever, and I drove to from Michigan to Dallas. When we arrived there we bought tickets outside--that was not hard since it was cold and icy that day (we were prepared though-we had a scrapper in the back seat... after all we are from Michigan!). Anyway, the tickets we bought were way up in the upper level. A little bummed about how far up our seats were--being that is was cold and windy--we began our walk to the gate. On the way there one of us-not sure which one-spotted two tickets laying on the ground beween two cars. Jim was EXTREMELY EXCITED. I, being a novice at the whole football game thing, did not immediately understand why he was so thrilled. He could not believe what he saw on the tickets. They were on the lower level near the 50 yard line. Then our consciences began to kick in. We struggled as to what to do. We went inside to some little spot to get a drink and discuss our dilemma. We pondered to turn in the tickets or keep them and watch the game from spectacular seats. Hmmm...we thought...after all we had droven hundreds of miles and these were much better seats. A couple of drinks later we decided to keep the tickets and trek inside to find those spectacular seats. I know what you are thinking. YES, we felt guilty afterward but at the time we watched the Irish play from seats that was sensational!

Then, my first ND Home was the game against BC in 1993--terrible game for the Irish and all Notre Dame fans but, it was very exciting for me--I could not have asked for better seats!!!!! I got to watch the game from the field with a "Field Press Pass". Someone from the local media owed me a favor so a press pass is what I possessed as my ticket inside. It turned out to be one of the season's most memorable match ups. (I tried to get the favor paid back to me for the #1 FSU vs. #2 ND game but that was absolutely impossible--but trust me I tried) I was however able to obtain two press passes-one for myself and one my friend, Jim, you know, the BIGGEST Notre Dame fan ever. It turned out to be an extremely memorable day for both of us.

We began our day tailgating of course. We strolled around the stadium from the parking lot and then, as if Touch Down Jesus was there just to usher us in to the stadium, we entered through the gate on the North end. Next, we did what only a few can do during a home game...we walked into the stadium through the tunnel onto the field while it was filling with fans. We remained on the field just in front of the goal post as the team and the best coach ever, Lou Holtz, came out like a stampede. We remained on the side lines for the entire game. During the game we saw so many famous people that I can not even list them all.

We were so close to all the action! As a result, we were standing at about the 5 yard line with my eyes glued to the goal post during those last two devastating plays. If you look closely at the youtube video (at my site listed below) you can make us out there wearing blue & Jim on his knees - it's blurred & grainy but you see us there! I vividly remember just standing there in complete shock and the overwhelming sensation of sadness I felt as all of the N.D. fans were doing & feeling the same thing at the same time. It was an atmosphere I will never forget. And I never want to experience that again! Consequently, following the game we were able to attend the press conference in the press tent. Initially we were excited about it but after that loss we were not as cheerful. We knew we were about to witness Lou Holtz speaking about one of his worse losses. It was heart breaking--still is. All in all it was one of my most memorable moments related to Notre Dame Football so far. I have learned to appreciate what it means to be a Notre Dame Fan!

Now I am again working in downtown South Bend. Five days a week I drive by the Notre Dame Campus. I turn onto Angela Blvd. where I drive right through the intersection for the main entrance. I am so close that I can look to the North up the main drive. And, there at the end of the trees that line each side of the street I see the Golden Dome shinning in all it's brillance. I now enjoy driving past Notre Dame and I look forward to seeing the Golden Dome shimmering between the trees.

I even created a Notre Dame Website Which, by the way, I got a letter from Notre Dame University to remove the leprechaun from my site because it was a registered trademarked. I of course immediately removed it. I created that site on April 17, 1999 and I would be refering you to it here now. But...in March 2008 Yahoo (my website host) deleted all pages of my website without warning or just cause--all my html code was lost & I could not retrieve my Notre Dame page anywhere cached. Now I have to recreate all of my content again for you here.

Why did I create a lens on Squidoo? I wanted to share some of my memories and have a place for others to share their stories too. Also to give you a great list of links related to Notre Dame. Everything from where & how to get Notre Dame tickets, books, merchandise, memorabilia, to communicating with other fans, finding local & national media covering Notre Dame Athletics to finding other things to do while you are visiting Notre Dame.

I hope you enjoy what you find when you visit my lens. You can even add your favorites there if they are not already listed. Here is the link to visit: http://www.squidoo.com/notre_dame

Thanks!

Teddi

GO IRISH!