Growing up we had four or five channels on television, and most days that wasn’t much to get excited about. Yet every fall, as the leaves took on their fiery hues and a fresh crispness filled the air something extraordinary would happen… the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame would storm onto the football field that doubled as my very own living room.
It was a show like no other. I would imagine myself defending that hallowed field of green, pushing opposing quarterbacks past their end zone, back to wherever it was from which they had dared to come; exhilarating the faithful under the watchful gaze of Touchdown Jesus… not in our house!
As you might imagine, when Annabelle and I found ourselves passing through South Bend, Indiana, there was no way I could keep from running around that familiar golden dome… a campus I had never set foot on, yet had visited a millions times.
So, just for today, please pardon the sentimental imagery and clumsily nostalgic prose. I am a terrible writer, but this… is Notre Dame.
Not to mention I’m totally expecting pity points in the form of a full-tuition MFA scholarship. Totally. Dude.
Transcripts available upon request. 😉
About this image: digital photograph, moderately modified
Refrigerator Magnate 
Aww… it was so fun to get to go there with you! You were so excited! If it were up to me you’d have that scholarship in a second!
P.S. Ru-dy. Ru-dy. Ru-dy. RU-dy. RU-DY. RU-DY! RU-DY! RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!
Thank you very much for going with me! I had way too much fun (although it would have been nice if it was a bit less humid – my lens was fogging up / and if there had been less construction on Touchdown Jesus)!
P.S. 🙂
RUDY!
🙂
Very much a castle to my eyes. I don’t know why but I can picture looking up and seeing the Monty Python guys arguing about European swallows.
Hahaha…
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
🙂
Great entrance, nice use of balance!
Thank you very much, sir!
Sometimes I like a bit of symmetry…
🙂
I am not a Notre Dame fan, but your flowery prose almost makes me want to be (note I said *almost*)
A beautiful description and an awe-inspiring photo, Inky.
Hahaha… so noted, Dishy, but let me just add… come on! 😉
Thank you very, very much – I had so much fun that day!
Hey – I posted a poem today entitled Entrance. I should have contacted you for a photo to tie with the poem. Oh well. Next time, maybe.
I like the picture, SIG. Very cool.
I really enjoyed that post! As someone who is bad with ‘the words’, I was doubly impressed by someone who is so good at not only writing them, but rhyming them as well!
Thank you so much, Ms. D!
🙂
Well although the football nostalgia is lost on me, I can relate to the channels, but we only had 3… and physically had to get up to change the channel… lol… Those were the days… Glad you got to wander the hallowed turf…
Hahaha… that’s very true! I got lots more exercise back in the day I was a human remote control!
It was so much fun (I do kinda’ wish I could have wondered around inside the stadium, though… or seen a game… maybe someday)!
🙂
I looks like a huge place and the post is well written!
That is very kind of you to say, sir… I really struggle with writing, but every now and then I get the urge to fight with it anyway. The good news is that I’m pretty sure it should be out of my system for quite some time now!
🙂
I was in South Bend once and near the stadium. They were filming a movie there…..Rudy Rudy Rudy.
In the past I might have laughed this off as a joke, but after reading some of your comments floating around the interwebs I’m starting to wonder if you are serious about this!
Come on, Bearman, spill it… were you in Rudy? Seriously? Is that Fighting Irish green hair on your gravatar?
🙂
No I wasn’t in Rudy but I seriously was there around the outside of the stadium the day they filmed.
That’s very cool, Bearman!
🙂
RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!
I’m totally telling people I know a guy who was in Rudy…
🙂
I really like the perspective of this one SIG
Thank you very much, N.M…
this one is looks nearly straight up from about a foot and a half off the ground…
🙂
that’s a fortress SIG! it’s very impressive looking.
I really wish I could have run around inside, too… but I had way to much fun the way it was, really! 🙂
I like your use of perspective and balance. Impressive.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
And for your very kind comment as well! I really appreciate that, S.F.!
🙂
hey, don’t knock yourself, the writing is good! i had the good fortune to visit ND on a trip with a friend last year–we got special access to the locker room and walked out the tunnel onto the field the night before the game. fun stuff.
WOWZA! That’s awesome, U.M.! Sounds like great motivation to play like a champion! Did I mention AWESOME?!
🙂
oh yes, it was really fun!
http://www.urbanmuser.com/2010/10/fighting-irish.html
Thank you so much for sharing this link, U.M.! I LOVED these (of course, that’s nothing new on your site). Still! It’s Notre Dame! 🙂
glad you enjoyed!
Absolutely, U.M.!
Fantastic!
🙂
Sweet composition. I grew up rooting for USC, so you know where that’s going. I am not much of Trojan fan anymore, but I still can’t abide ND.
Hahaha… that’s very kind of you to say, sir… in fact…
I guess I won’t hold all that ‘other stuff’ against you…
😉
RUDY! RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!
Wait…
I think I’m sensing a pattern here…
🙂
I just love Baseball!!!! Go Lakers!!!!
HA!
I love it, Loon!
🙂
There was nothing wrong with the writing there, Robert! Nice that you got a chance to visit a place that meant so much to you.
It’s funny… I’ll spend half an hour writing ONE paragraph, decide it’s… okay, come back later to re-read it, and think… ‘what is this gibberish’?!
I really appreciate that, though, Binky… thank you so much for your very kind words!
🙂
I think the writing was phenomenal! As was the photo!
RUDY! RUDY! (Okay I’m done I promise.)
I think you’re just trying to come up with an excuse to sneak in a few more Rudy’s…
😉
I’m still trying to work out what Giuliani has to do with it?
Ha! Just trying to secure his endorsement, I guess…
🙂
Nice bold composition, SIG, and I really like the subtle colours.
Thank you very much, S.E…
I was hoping it was a fairly interesting angle…
🙂
This picture makes me feel even shorter than usual.
Hahaha…
I think there’s a stool around here somewhere…
oh, just a minute, I’m standing on it…
🙂
Yiour writing certainly captured my imagination – love the photo too!
You are very kind to say that…
thank you!
🙂
Great composition and entertaining post. For a moment I tried to read Knute Rockne as if it were Old English – K-noh-tee Roh-k-nee. Actually,now it seems more Klingon.
Thank you very much, sir! I usually try to keep my writing to a minimum (definitely not my forte), but I couldn’t help myself on this post!
Hahaha… Kapla!
(sorry, my Klingon is a bit rusty…)
🙂
RUDY!
(Now I’m really really done. Really.)
So you say…
🙂
Love the looking up effect of this one. Now I can’t think of anything else to say…
Thanks, Tony!
Welcome to my world!
🙂
Growing up in Indiana, I was surrounded by the spirit of the Fighting Irish. There are no other fans in the world like ND fans :). Glad you had a chance to check out their home turf!
It was way too much fun, S.D.D…
I hope to go back some day (maybe even for a football game)!
Thank you for your kind comments!
🙂
Your nostalgia is totally understandable dude! (hahaha) I am glad you finally saw it in person. 🙂 Love the perspective of the photo too!
It was so much fun! I was running around like a little kid (it must have been quite a site)! Thank you very much, Juana!
🙂
So TOTALLY cool! TOTALLY!
I know, right? Notre Dame is just inherently cool!
🙂
Knute Rockne? Really? Is that a name? Anyway, neat little alien antennas.
105–12–5 and 5 national championships… how ’bout them apples, U.M.!
Hahaha… dang it… I knew I should have worn a hat today.
🙂
Wonderfully composed! Lots of us were late for this challenge.
Thanks Ms. R!
I think being on time for these is almost a challenge in itself!
🙂