Notre Dame Through Uncle Buddy's Eyes

"Whenever I go to Notre Dame, it gives me a warm feeling of faith in humankind. Everything that's good and decent and fair is right there on that campus--I can feel it in the air."  ~Regis Philbin

Back in September, Uncle Buddy (known to you all as Uncle Black Belt) and I went on a little adventure to South Bend, Indiana, to watch a Notre Dame football game.  This was my third trip to Notre Dame and I've got to tell you, there's just nothing like it.  But since you've heard about these trips from me before (here and here), I wanted you to get to hear about the trip from Uncle Buddy's perspective.  So here's a look at Notre Dame through his eyes.

A Visit to Notre Dame

What a ride.  In September, my niece and I attended a college football game at the University of Notre Dame.  What an experience and a fulfillment of a life-long dream.  We both flew into Chicago, arriving about the same time, went to get our motel and get ready for the next day's activities.  It was a wasted night as very little sleep came due to the excitement of what lay ahead.

The next morning we went to this little café in Chicago where they served pancakes with all kinds of stuff in them....fruit, chocolate, etc.  (Bongo Room, for those of you visiting Chicago in the future.)  Mine tasted very good, but had I known what was in it, I probably wouldn't have ordered it.  The best thing about our breakfast was that I got to meet my  new niece, Rozann (aka ND Friend on this blog), and welcome her to my family.

The nieces at breakfast.

Best pancakes ever.  Bongo Room.  On Wabash.  Go.  Trust me.

After breakfast, Tiffany and I headed to South Bend and the University of Notre Dame.  (We made a quick detour so I could check Michigan off my list of states I've been to.....these pictures combined with Uncle Buddy's facebook post of "How did we end up in Michigan?  Tiffany was driving!" caused some concern amongst family members back home.) 

First stop was the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore.  I entered thinking about buying a couple of t-shirts for my children and grandchildren.  A couple hundred collars later, I was able to leave that bookstore, but I tell you, it was an amazing place.  (In my experience you might as well just open your wallet and fork over $200 bucks if you set foot in that building!)  The people I had met so far in my visit made me feel that I was part of this fine University. 

The Golden Dome

Tiffany and I put our purchases in the car and then took a walk around the campus.  First excitement was that I ran into the Notre Dame cheerleaders and Leprechaun, and of course, had my picture taken with them. 

He posted this on FB to let my aunt know he had found the cheerleaders!

Along our walk, we were stopped by one of the Alumni driving a golf cart around giving rides to whose who looked like they needed one.  Along the way, we got to talking and he served in Vietnam with the U.S. Navy.  (Uncle Buddy served in Vietnam as well and the reason we were offered the ride was that the guy saw his purple heart jacket.)

Trumpets Under the Dome

Touchdown Jesus

On Saturday, we met up with my new niece, Rozann, and her friend and walked over the campus while we waited for the football game to begin.  What a dream come true.  We had excellent seats, right up from where the team comes at the end of the game to sing their Alma Mater.

Pre-game group photo

Bagpipers on campus

Uncle Buddy and Rozann with First Down Moses



Game Time!

Uncle Buddy in the stadium.

Push ups after a TD

Uncle Buddy recording the Alma Mater

(But wait, kids, the fun wasn't over yet!)  Long story short, we were fortunate to be offered to take a tour of Notre Dame stadium on Sunday morning.  When this came about, Tiffany told me that I would probably have to pull her off the benches in the locker room if we got in there.  (I think what I said was that I might get so excited that I'd pass out...)  On Sunday morning, we met up with the head man for a stadium tour.  What excitement!  And, of course, Tiffany was standing on a stool giving the "Rudy" speech.

"We're gonna get 'em on the run, and we're gonna keep 'em on the run..."

Uncle Buddy in the locker room.

Win one for the Gipper plaque.

We then went to the field to through the tunnel where the players enter and got to slap the sign at the bottom of the stairs that reads, "Play Like a Champion Today." 

 

The field was magical.  To stand on that turf, closing your eyes, you could actually hear the greats.  Coaches like Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine, and Lou Holtz.  Players like The Four Horsemen (Stuhldreher, Crowley, Miller and Layden), Angleo Bertelli, George Gipp, Dave Casper, Joe Montana, Joe Theismann, Tim Brown, and Paul Hornung.  And if you listened very closely, you could hear the chant, "Rudy, Rudy, Rudy...."

Our tour guide.

A dream fulfilled thanks to my niece, Tiffany.  (There is nothing like taking someone to visit Notre Dame for the first time, especially when they have been a life-long fan like Uncle Buddy!)

On the field at ND Stadium