Notre Dame Week Has Begun For ME!

What a weekend it was for us Irish fans! As with the whole country watching, we showed that we are one of the top teams in the country, though the job's not finished! Now with 3 games left on the schedule, it is important to stay focused and not give any reasons to be left out come December. It starts first with tradition, as Boston College comes to South Bend, and I will be joining in for my first Notre Dame home game after 28 years of fandom.

It was 1998 in Tempe, Arizona when my dad, just like most Saturdays in the fall, took me to Sun Devil Stadium. But who knew this game would forever shift my sports life? Sadly for my dad, the lifelong Sun Devil fan, he took his too-impressionable young son to the wrong game as the Blue & Gold of the Irish stole my heart for good. This was the year I started to really dial into sports and understanding wins & losses. Now, unfortunately for me, I jumped onto the Irish bandwagon at one of its lower points.

Still, that didn't seem to matter. You see, though hard to believe now, in the late '90s and early 2000s not EVERY game or team was on each Saturday... well, except for one: Notre Dame. I always knew my Irish would be there to watch. That first season was a respectable 9-3, something of a bamboozle for this young fan, as the next few seasons, really until Brady Quinn arrived, were quite dark. Still, no matter what, each Saturday I tuned in, bought gear, and even on occasion traveled to see them play... on the road.

Until now. This weekend has finally arrived: a trip to Notre Dame Stadium. And from the looks of it, true to the Midwest in November, we will be getting the full treatment, as snow is now on the table. Look, I am all here for it. Of course, some would say last week would have been a dream to see, but one, I'm not made of money, and two, we had this date set for a long time, so chill out. Either way, to me, any Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium is one you want to experience. Going to a game in South Bend has been on my list for so many years. To be able to be a part of it all, and now after last week's game, this place should be bumping as the team will be riding high along with the fan base!

I've been to the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane for my Zags, Climate Pledge Arena for my Kraken, and of course Chase Field for the D-Backs. Now for my final boss, and the team who really started my journey of fanhood as a lil' kid to now, with years of ups and downs along the way. This will be something I no doubt will cherish: to be able to see them finally in their own stadium Saturday afternoon in some good ole' fashion football weather!