Sometimes It Pays To Get Up Early

ND vs Syracuse, Part Three

I believe when I last left you Sarah and I were making our way to our seats. We went up when we should have been going down and therefore got to the entrance where our seats were just as the band started playing the National Anthem. We stood in the entrance and listened and just as we started moving again we heard a familiar sound.





We caught just a glimpse of them as they flew over.

We finally made it to our seats to find this at our feet.





Let me just say it was cold. Though I understand from people who moved down in front of us in the fourth quarter it was even colder in the seats above us. I understand why the snow wasn't removed but it really became an issue more than cold feet later in the game. But for now, Here Come the Irish!!





After the players come onto the field they run to the other side of the field and kneel and say a prayer. Knowing now how the game ended, I say there should have been a little more kneeling and praying.





Who in the world could she be talking to?



I think John was really surprised at how plain our scoreboards are. That's the Nd way. No fancy scoreboard, no logo on the field and no names on the backs of jerseys.





John and D seem to be enjoying the game.





Isn't he just a happy little guy? Well, he was until people started pelting him with snowballs. Yes, people weren't content to just stand in the snow, they had to throw it. Many people were escorted out of the stadium that day.





He wasn't the only one used for target practice that day.

Notre Dame football players were pelted by snowballs from fans sitting in the student section during their loss to Syracuse on Saturday.

“To throw snowballs at their own team, I didn’t think that was a smart thing to do. I guess (they thought) it was funny,” defensive tackle Pat Kuntz said after Syracuse upset the Irish 24-23.

South Bend was hit with about 10 inches of snow Friday. While the field had been cleared before the game, there was still snow along the fringes and in some areas of the stands.

Fans at first threw snow in the air, but then quickly switched to tossing snowballs toward the Notre Dame sideline. Defensive lineman Ian Williams got hit in the helmet, defensive end Ethan Johnson was struck on the left cheek and a St. Joseph County police officer on the sideline looking into the crowd got hit in the chest. An NBC camera man also was a frequent target and several snowballs reached the field, although none landed near where play was occurring.



I won't even try to defend the people throwing the snowballs. I understand their frustration about the game, the coach, and the 2008 football season but throwing snowballs at the football players and various other people was just plain stupid.

But one student disagrees with me, here is his view of throwing snowballs that game.

The Associated Press wrote an article entitled, "Notre Dame Fans Shower Players with Snowballs," but this drastically over-exaggerates the extent of snowballage. Let's be real, if you give drunk students snow, anonymous coverage in crowded stands, and the worst football game to date, then they are bound to send some snowballs flying. Truthfully, few snowballs were actually directed at the players, as 90% of them were thrown just within the student section. Cops on the sidelines got absolutely creamed but no one is complaining about that (for good reason). The camera man standing in a large crane in front of the students was hit pretty consistently too, but only because he has intruded on our view of the game for the last four years. But by the end of the game, most of the players that were hit were merely casualties of snowballs obviously intended for head coach Charlie Weis. It should be noted that these snowballs weren't actually made from the snow in stadium, but rather, students collected their own frozen tears and just tried to make Charlie feel some of their pain.

Anyway, at the half we were ahead and it was time for the half time- show. I really enjoyed this song and from the sounds of it so did the rest of the crowd. It's always fun when the whole stadium sings the same song. From the looks of it this was filmed in the student section. If you look carefully you should be able to see us just to left of the goalpost in the upper right corner of the screen.





A half-time tradition is that the seniors throw marshmallows at each other. The administration has tried to put a stop to it the last couple of years but they haven't been very successful. It was better than the snowballs that they had been throwing during the first half.





Things started to go downhill after half-time. Look carefully at the scoreboard.



Second and 47?! That was an omen of bad things to come.

It is now the beginning of the fourth quarter.

"This is Tim McCarthy for the Indiana State Police...





Here is an explanation of that announcement.

"Who wants to listen to a policeman telling everyone to behave themselves?" Tim McCarthy asked himself. He knew the answer.
The year was 1960 and McCarthy had just been promoted from trooper in the Indiana State Police to safety education sergeant. One of his new responsibilities was to make an announcement at Notre Dame home football games reminding people to drive safely on the way home, but after two games he knew people weren’t paying attention.

He decided to change that by adding something to the message.

At the first home game in 1961, the message was about drinking and driving, and McCarthy ended by saying, "The automobile replaced the horse, but the driver should stay on the wagon."

More than 220 stadium announcements later, fans in Notre Dame Stadium fall silent in eager anticipation during the fourth quarter when they hear, "May I have your attention, please. This is Tim McCarthy for the Indiana State Police."

They know what’s coming: a reminder to drive carefully and courteously on the way home, punctuated by an often groan-inducing play on words.

By the end of the game we had seen too much of this.





The final score: Notre Dame 23, Syracuse 24. It is hard to believe but things went downhill from there.

After Saturday's football game, in keeping with tradition, the Notre Dame marching band played the "1812 Overture" as a tribute to its head coach.

For most of the last four years during that song, devoutly loyal students have further honored Charlie Weis by forming a "W" with their hands.

On Saturday, for the first time, it felt like an honor for a goner.

Some of those hands formed into fists. Some cupped around mouths that booed. Some formed around snowballs and flung them.

Only a handful of those hands formed a "W," with most students instead trying to figure out how to shape an "F."

That's the only letter that suits their coach these days. LA Times, Bill Plaschke

It certainly was an interesting game. I can say I have never been to a football game like that. Let's hope next year goes better than this year. Charlie is coming back but that will be his last year if he doesn't turn this team around. Any predictions?

All in all we had a good time. I wish John could have seen a better game but that just means we will have to take him back. Maybe we can get his dad to come too?

ND vs Syracuse, Part Two

I believe I ended my last post with us leaving South Dining Hall. We were now headed to see the football team. Before the game the team attends Mass and then as a group walks over to the stadium. Everyone lines the sidewalk and claps and cheers as they walk by. When we were in the Basillica I had asked the usher when Mass was and when they would be leaving so we our timing should have been perfect. The usher was mistaken, Mass was earlier than he had thought so we had missed the football team. Oh well, next time.

While Sarah and D headed for the parking lot to get our football tickets from Uncle Phil, John and I headed over to watch and listen to the band on the steps of Bond Hall. They perform all of Notre Dame's traditional songs as well as the music that will be played at that day's halftime show. It is a popular event and usually is quite crowded and today was no exception despite the cold. But as luck would have it we were early for that so we walked over to the Library to pay homage to Touchdown Jesus.





Back to Bond Hall and the band. Did you know the band is the oldest collegiate marching band in the country?





Here is a short clip of the band playing on the steps.





As soon as the band was finished playing we headed over to the Administration building to listen to the trumpets play. I have never seen it so crowded. John and I couldn't even get under the dome. Despite that it still sounded great.





John and I didn't know it but Sarah and D were there too except they had managed to get under the dome. Can you see them in this video?






Various parts of the band are performing in this general area and then regather outside the Administration Building just like us. Another piece of trivia for you, students are not allowed on these steps until they have graduated. Until she graduated Sarah always went in a lower level doorway and would walk up the stairwell to get to the first floor. Graduation has its privileges.





The band regathers and then are led by the Irish Guard and the cheerleaders to the stadium. People line the sidewalks to cheer as they make their way to the stadium.
Even though it was cold there was still quite a crowd.





We walked to the stadium and took up our perch so we could watch the band enter the stadium. Sometimes we can get to the front but no such luck today. Here comes the band!





Once the band was in John and D decided to find their seats but Sarah and I decided to stay and watch the rest of the show. The teams will be coming through to do their warm-ups on the field. When the visiting team comes through the Irish Guard stand at attention at the top of the tunnel and the band stands at attention. As the football team walks by everyone is quiet and stares.





All that changes as the Irish make their way to the field. The Guard remove their hats in respect and the band plays the fight song as the crowd cheers. It really is fun to watch. Here comes Jimmy!





Here comes Charlie!





The show was over and Sarah and I made our way to our seats.

ND vs Syracuse

Knowing what I know now, the game was as dreary and gray as the day appeared to be but let's just pretend we don't know the outcome of the game and just enjoy the day.

After parking and a short walk to campus our first stop was The Grotto also known as The Cave of Candles.

But first a photo of an outdoor walkway I had never noticed before. Sarah couldn't understand why I wanted to stop and take a picture but I liked it for some reason.





For those of you that don't know the official name of ND is the University of Notre Dame du Lac which means Our Lady of the Lake. Here is a description that I found on the internet that describes what the Grotto means to those that visit.

Father John E. Fitzgerald penned these words about that special feeling that radiates from the Grotto and touches the heart:

It's quiet and shady there. Just what there is about the place can't be described because it's different for everyone. Nobody knows how many candles have been burned or prayers answered there. From the great Golden Dome of her University Our Lady reigns as our Queen. Yet at the Grotto she seems to have stepped down a little closer to us that she might emphasize the other side of her personal relationship with us -- that of Our Mother.













Next stop, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.





John is about to get his first look inside the Basilica.





I know from the outside it looks quite plain but the inside is another story.





This is Sarah would like to get married. Do you think she and Cory have made a good choice? I don't think we need to put bows on the pews to pretty it up.





Our next stop was South Dining Hall. One, we were hungry and two, this is a possible reception site. Imagine it without all of the students and with round tables. There are other options but this one is in the running.





After lunch we decided to walk around campus and see the sights. Because of the snow and cold it wasn't as busy as normal but I think John got some idea of what game days are like on campus.



More tomorrow.....

I Need Your Opinions

I am looking for your opinions. I am seriously thinking of asking Santa for a new computer for Christmas. Do I stay with a PC or make the switch to a Mac?

Is this dog too old to learn new tricks?

Wandering around the net tonight I found this person's opinion on this very subject.

The easy answer according to me: Macs are superior in quality of hardware, and design of the operating system. They work very well for me, and for the folks that I support, but they are just computers!

The better question is to ask your self what you want your computer to do. Do you want a nice all around computer to play music, to surf the web, to do your homework, and your banking? Macs will work fine with less headaches.

Do you need to run specialized software that deals with artwork and publishing? Macs.

Do you want to run games? Windoze. Do you want to work with specialized applications in industry to control machines (such as a machine shop), or specific cad applications? Windoze. Do you want to dance with the Devil and dare viral infection, and other OS related headaches? Windoze.

Windoze hands down is the most popular OS on Earth. But then again, using that arguement, there are more insects on the planet than human beings. Which would you rather be?

I think it is fairly easy to tell where he stands. But the question is where do you stand? Let me know, I want to hear your opinions.

EMPHASIS, Part Two

Yes, we spending another week on the importance of emphasis in a scrapbooking layout.

This time the idea was to use a very large photo to emphasize its importance. I have been waiting for this week because I knew I was going to use this photo.





My second layout for this week.





Because I am writing this post earlier than normal and leaving tomorrow, I can't show you my Real World Color layout. She won't give the assignment until Saturday and I will be at Sarah's. You will just have to wait for another time. Thanks for taking the time to look at my layouts.

Thanksgiving, Part Three

Not only did we get to enjoy a fabulous dinner and a exciting card game there was also a football game that afternoon. I was excited because I never get to see the Lions play so this was my chance. They didn't let me down and are on their way to become the first team to win all their preseason games and lose all their regular season games.





Here are my two girls enjoying the game.









It was also an exciting Thanksgiving for Jo. This was her first trip to her cousin's house and I think she really enjoyed herself. She ate Meggie's food and learned where the treats were kept. After watching Meggie play with her rope she finally figured out what to do with it and much to Meggie's annoyance played with her toys. Thnaks, Meggie, for putting up with our little girl. She had a wonderful visit.

We decided we needed a picture of the dog cousins. We quickly figured out that a picture of just the two of them wasn't going to work. Nancy tried holding them together.





Next, Katie decided she would try to hold both of them. They just weren't cooperating.





We decided the best idea would be one dog, one girl. That worked. Aren't they just the custest cousins you have ever seen?





Ahhh, the engaged couple. Cory is smiling now but





little does he know that in just a few hours an unnamed person will throw him under the bus in a game of Hearts.





It was a great Thanksgiving and were glad we got to share it with our family.