Top ten Notre Dame Fighting Irish football traditions are revealed

Mairin67: The words "Fighting Irish" as applied to Notre Dame are deeply rooted in both Irish and Irish-American history, and I would argue that our nickname stands as one of the most meaningful espoused by any American university. As a student in Notre Dame's Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, I wrote my senior thesis on the true meaning of the words "Fighting Irish" at Notre Dame. You can find the first half of that thesis on my blog at www . irishcreed . blogspot . com if you want to learn more about the meaningful ties between Our Lady's University and Ireland. GO IRISH!

If you really want to know why the nickname is "the Fighting Irish," you don't have to try to figure it out from scratch. Giving a bit of background on the discrimination against Catholics and Irish (regarded at one time as essentially the same group, the ND website continues with this explanation: "In narrow, little New England, it began as a slur -- a term of opprobrium. But we took it up and made of it a badge of honor -- a symbol of fidelity and courage to everyone who suffers from discrimination; to everyone who has an uphill fight for the elemental decencies, and the basic Christian principles woven into the texture of our nation. Preserving this tradition, and this meaning of Irish at Notre Dame does honor to everyone of us. It explains why Lewinski belongs here; why Alessandrini is the Irish leader; why Schmaltz belongs here; why Bertrand, and Moreau, Van Dyke, and Larson feel at home here as much as do Leahy and O’Brien."

I have never figured out the whole Notre Dame "Irish" thing. Ok, so there was an Irish priest who founded the university or was president or something....but beyond that, I find the whole Irish connection quite a laugh, not to mention insulting. If the Illini can banish their mascot for the insult to the Native American people, then Notre Dame needs to rid itself of the fighting leprechaun. And wth is the "victory clog dance"? If an American asks me what kind of clothes to bring to Ireland, I tell them to leave the Notre Dame finery at home....it means nothing in Ireland and yet as Americans, we think it defines Irishness. I get they have great traditions at the school, but make them American and not "fighting Irish" stereotypes.

First of all, I was fortunate to visit the campus and see ND play Indiana once upon a time. It is very impressive. I was raised on the "Era of Ara". However, ND has fallen on some very hard times from which Coach K is trying to bring them back. I support the real Irish Catholic D-1 school at BC who have fallen off the "Paddy wagon". I remind the ND faithful of how Lou Holtz ran up the score on a hapless BC in '92 to the tune of 54-7. The following year, ND had just beaten Florida State to go 10-0 and no. 1. David Gordon a left footed Jewish kid put one through the uprights and into the bread basket of Touchdown Jesus as time expired. With the visit of President Obama after being invited to speak at commencement, ND lost its moral compass. They are no longer the leader of the Catholic Crusade. There are signs of a reawakening. However until they do, there will continue to be questions about their performance both on and off the field. The sign of "Rudy" going to jail for insider trading is the modern symbol of ND. They can get it back. However do they have the moral will to do so? Coach K has two deaths on his hands from negligence, the boy on the tower and Lizzie Seeburg. He has the chance to lead and hopefully he will. If he doesn't, then it is time to shop once again for the "miracle worker".