Is there an Irish curse on Notre Dame football? Latest incredible events really beg the question
By: Sean O'Shea | Published Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 7:15 PM | Updated Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 7:15 PM
Notre Dame must have though they wandered into the Twilight Zone after Saturday's truly extraordinary events surrounding their season opener when they lost to University of South Florida.
As the lightning crashed and the thunder rolled and the players resembled the Three Stooges with dropped passes, interception,stupid penalties, I found myself wondering if there was something more at work.
Bad enough that they lost the game, but the fact that it took well into the evening hours to finish it after an afternoon start made the Twlight Zone truly a reasonable comparison.
No game in the history of Notre Dame had been interrupted and ended in such a way.
The lightning bolts and thunder rolling reminded me of the opening scene of Macbeth where the witches gather to brew their evil spell. ‘Hubble bubble toil and trouble.” they incant.
Toil and trouble is how it has been for Notre Dame recently.
I’m beginning to feel there is a curse on the Irish and there is precedent.
Back in the 18th century an Irish witch called Biddy Early cursed her native county of Clare because they mistreated her and they never won an All Ireland final for generations.
Then of course there was the Babe Ruth curse that Boston finally overcame after generations.
Notre Dame have slumped through the most unlikely and crazy losses in recent years form the ‘Bush Push; against USC to the Tulsa defeat in 2010 and now the South Florida debacle.
There was the tragic loss of the young Sullivan lad last year and various other bad happenings that really test the patience of even the most committed domer.
As a good Irishman Brian Kelly will be keenly aware of the superstitions and fable that surround Notre Dame folklore.
But even he could not in his wildest dream have imagined the bizarre circumstances of the latest defeat.
Maybe there is a curse.
15 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.JamesMartin | Sep 05, 2011, 10:54 AM EDT
nd demise has nothing to do with the current President as some of you ejiots spout. In fact many of you ejoits are the exact reason abortion is and should remain legal!! But back to nd. In the old days nd captured the headlines playing the toughies and bing competitive, but tv was nonexisistant, radio and newspapers were the primary source of inf ormation and most coverage was partial to the east and central time zones. The west was read about heard or read about usually a day later. So ol nd was in the biased mix. They wanted to join the Big Ten some seventy or eighty years ago but according to sources there was a bit of prejudges , mostly from the Michigan camp and nd was denied. Then ten to 20 years ago nd was approached to join the Big Ten and declined according to the fact they made plenty of cash wth their own network, etc. Now, they just turn the B1G down. Word has it, they would actually make more money in the B1G Conference, and that younger nd powers that be wanted to join, but some old stuck-in-the-mud types that remember the first denial are still pissed and turned their nose up at the B1G. In any event, nd will still have some good times, but nothing like the good old days... they are gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Felicia | Sep 04, 2011, 11:54 PM EDT
Notre Dame has lost its faith. It is no longer the Notre Dame I was proud to watch under Ara or Lou Holtz. The grounds, the grotto, the majesty of the church held the spirit of the Lord. But since they have turned their backs on social issues and Catholic teachings they have taken on an ugliness that you can feel in your being. It doesn't have that beautiful spirit. Something is not right there anymore. As you say, maybe it is now cursed?
mrkennedy | Sep 04, 2011, 10:55 PM EDT
Every football season I sang "CHEER, CHEER FOR NOTRE DAME." Then when they invited the WORST PRESIDENT the USA ever had to receive an award (?) and give a speech, I started singing "DOWN, DOWN FOR NOTRE DAME" as much as I didn't want to but the administration and Board of Directors deserve it!!!!
Pittsburghkid | Sep 04, 2011, 08:49 PM EDT
It is amazing that lightning does not stop more West Bend games. You have to understand mid west American weather. The midwest has more lightning storms then any place in the world. Although I like the Obama curse idea. The only way to cure the Obama curse is to have President Rick Perry speak at ND. so I'm going to work to have Rick elected President, and then the ball will be in ND court.
etighe1130 | Sep 04, 2011, 06:25 PM EDT
Absolutely there's a curse on ND since they invited and honored the great abortionist, Barack H. Obama. The man hates Catholics and since ND decided to fall in with BHO, they are cursed from generation to generation. They will always lose just enough games to finish out of the money. And they deserve it! My dad would roll in his grave to see what ND has done.
irishgenebuf | Sep 04, 2011, 06:05 PM EDT
About time for ND to get the message. YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL. Many more losses, and maybe you will be in touch with reality. GO PSU!!!
CMMcShane | Sep 04, 2011, 06:01 PM EDT
No Curse, just an incompetent Coach who can't motivate his Team and can't get them ready to play up to their capabilities and then Screams and Yells at them as if its their fault. This guy Kelly is full of himself, I am waiting for the time he realizes that he is the problem and stands up and apologies and says "Its MY FAULT!".
Nicomax | Sep 04, 2011, 01:03 PM EDT
The 'curse' is primarily one of attempting to play competitive Division-I football with actual students. The two top Catholic colleges went down to defeat in their home openers on Saturday. Boston College's defeat was even more punishing since they lost to Northwestern, also a school putting students on the field.
SeamusMor | Sep 04, 2011, 12:02 PM EDT
The President of the University of Notre Dame is, by charter, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, Indiana Province. The spirit of the Lord is present and active in every aspect of university life on the Notre Dame campus. It may be fun to talk about a curse, especially when we're tired of talking about the weather, but we all know there is no such thing. I don't believe in leprechauns (but I know they are there) The Fighting Irish football teams have had more than their share of good luck over the years, and, God willing, they will continue to "shake down the thunder from the skies" for many more to come. God is Irish!
PhlutiePhan | Sep 04, 2011, 11:09 AM EDT
The University of Notre Dame was founded as an honor to the Mother of God. Recent events have shown that ND is no longer a Catholic university. There is a grotto duplicate of Lourdes on campus. Now, there are people in high places at the University who favor abortion. You do the math. I have switched to supporting the real Catholic football playing university at Boston College. When David Gordon, the Jewish lad kicking for BC, put one through the uprights to knock ND from number one, there was joy not only in Mudville but in heaven as well.
JamesMartin | Sep 04, 2011, 11:07 AM EDT
Who cares! The only thing Irish about nd is their nickname. For gosh sakes quit writing about them.
HorsesInMdstrm | Sep 04, 2011, 10:02 AM EDT
Why would there be an Irish curse? Do you think there is a deity somewhere that gives a hoot as to whether Notre Dame wins or loses? Whenever Notre Dame loses to a non-religious school (like yesterday), does this mean that religion is meaningless? Write about what happened in the game, or keep your fingers off the keyboard.
Murph46 | Sep 04, 2011, 09:54 AM EDT
No curse,God Shakin down the thunder! In Actuality,ND is the most overhyped team in the nation,haven't had a team since Holtz and The Rocket.All they have is an NBC TV contract!
kelauggie1 | Sep 04, 2011, 09:46 AM EDT
Bizarre circumstances?? They just still stink - I have given up caring whether or not they win. It just never gets significantly better.
Sarge524 | Sep 04, 2011, 09:41 AM EDT
Yeah, ever since they invited Obama to speak on campus.