Written by Justin Turner｜Contributor｜
Photo by ON3
Like most of you reading this article, one of my favorite movies of all time is Rudy. It is a story that most of us can relate to. Having a dream and not letting anything get in your way of achieving that goal. Loving something so much that you become absolutely consumed by it. Having the doubters and naysayers always in your ear. And the overwhelming joy that you feel when you reach the peak of that mountain.
Just like Rudy, our dream was to be able to take that walk from the basilica to the stadium. Touching one sign at the top of the stairs and slapping the ‘play like a champion today’ sign on the way out of the locker room. It was hearing the PA announcer say “Here Come The Irish” as you run out of the tunnel and onto the field.
As life would have it for many of us, that dream was never fulfilled. But for those of us who are blessed enough to have a ticket to Saturday’s mega matchup between the sixth ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and ninth ranked Notre Dame, there’s a variation of this dream that is still achievable.
For the over 80,000 people that will pack the house that Rockne built on Saturday night, it is a must that you are part of the action in every way possible. It starts before you leave the house wearing green. The school has called this campaign “Irish wear green” for a reason. When those NBC cameras turn on and pan to that stadium, the amount of green needs to be as noticeable as possible. Let’s not kid ourselves, Ohio State is just as big of a brand as ND, and their fans will be there in large quantities. So, this first step is very important.
Second, bring that energy! I’m talking about being fired up from the moment the gates open. I’m talking about being loud in warmups. Of course, this will have a big impact on the game, but also keep in mind this is a huge recruiting weekend. Let’s show the next generation that Notre Dame Stadium can be a vibe! Show the world that yes, there is a lot of tradition here and we will honor and respect that. But this can also be a place where you WANT to be. This can be a hostile environment. This can be a place where teams do not want to go play.
Lastly, be loud…all the time. Turn the volume up to 10! And then find a way to make it even louder. If you have not lost your voice by the end of this game, did you really give it your all? I’m joking - but not really. It didn’t really matter if you were loud against Central Michigan or Tennessee State. That is no disrespect to either of those programs, but it is completely understandable if the crowd is not going all out vs double digit underdogs. That is not the case on Saturday night. This is a big game for them, just as much as it is for us. There are a lot of key players for them who have not played in a big-time road game yet. Especially at the quarterback position. We have a pretty good idea that this Notre Dame defense will show up. So, let’s see how this Ohio State offense reacts to not only trying to make plays v.s that defense, but also the crowd making it difficult to communicate and hear the snap count.
Photo by Yahoo.com
For far too long I have had the feeling that ND stadium can feel like a library. As if the extended arms of touchdown Jesus were not just a symbol for peace in our lives, but for silence in the stadium. Games and moments where there was no energy, no juice, just fans going through the motions. And sure, none of us will get to run out on that field on Saturday. Throw a touchdown pass or make a big stop on a 3rd down. But our time is here to play a big role in the outcome of the game. Take pride in that. Be happy about that. Let that be the life blood that gets you through the rest of this week and into your seats Saturday night. Wear green, bring that energy, and be loud. This is the moment, this is the time, and let’s go show the world why WE ARE ND! In the infamous worlds of Russell Wilson: Irish Nation Let’s Ride!
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