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Top ten Notre Dame Fighting Irish football traditions are revealed

Irish gear up for kick off in Dublin against Navy with same traditions

KERRY O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, August 20, 2012, 7:22 AM

Updated Wednesday, August 29, 2012, 9:23 AM

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Brian Kelly and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish team lining out against Navy at Southend

Photo by Google Images

Notre Dame’s famous Fighting Irish football team is one steeped in traditions that are over a century old. With another football season quickly approaching, Yahoo! contributing writer Jason Ciluffo has outlined the top ten tried and true traditions, some of them with authentic Irish roots, for the Fighting Irish.

1. The Tunnel Entrance - As a youth, nothing was more exciting or announced than, "Here come the Irish!" Since 1931, the Fighting Irish have entered the field from the North Tunnel to the adulation of fans, ready for victory. Evidently, even Samwise Gamgee has been in on the action.

2. The Student Section/"Alma Mater" - One of the most stunning traditions at ND occurs after the outcome of any game has long been decided — when players and the student section alike participate in the singing of the "Alma Mater." Win or lose, a game is not finished until the players approach the student section, link arms, and sing "Notre Dame, Our Mother."

3. The Irish Guard/"Hike, Notre Dame" - An essential part of the pre-game ritual is the Irish Guard — 10 tall kilt-clad soldiers lead the marching band onto the field by high-stepping to "Hike, Notre Dame." In addition, the Guard raises the American flag to the "Star-Spangled Banner" and "America, the Beautiful." The Guard also tends to victory clog dance in the wake of Irish scores.

4. The March to the Stadium - The procession of the Leprechaun, cheerleaders, Irish Guard, and marching band to Notre Dame Stadium is truly a sight to be seen.

5. The Imperial March/Darth Vader's Theme & the 1812 Overture - Of the impressive body of
work performed by the UND marching band, and second and third only to "the greatest of all fight songs," have to be these chestnuts. Students and fans alike chop at the air during both the Imperial March and the 1812 Overture -- the latter of which is designed to honor the head coach.

6. "We ARE ND" - One of the most unassuming yet memorable cheers has got to be this one.

7. The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes - A place of quiet on an otherwise bustling football weekend can be found just east of the Golden Dome. The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes is a scaled-down replica of the famed French shrine. Each and every day, the rosary is said at 6.45 p.m. at the Grotto. A more in-depth look at the history and spiritual side of the Grotto can be found here.

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TheNDleprechaun | Aug 21, 2012, 01:41 PM EDT

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!

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morganink | Aug 20, 2012, 07:42 PM EDT

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."

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Mairin67 | Aug 20, 2012, 04:55 PM EDT

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.

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PhlutiePhan | Aug 20, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT

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".

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