But I still love the darn place.
It's where my family has been for generations, Notre Dame and Saint Mary's, it's part of me, it's part of my whole family history. I have generations of family that stayed through the end of disappointing games to sing the Alma Mater. It would finish the experience, everyone staying to the last note, one student body win or lose, rain, snow, cold or shine to sing the Alma Mater. It comforted and it closed every game. Here is the song.
However the new policy by Coach Kelly decreed that the football team shall not stay out on the field after a home game loss to sing. They will only stay when they win. Most of us didn't know about this change as last year, we didn't lose until the end and not at home until this past Saturday.
Here are the words:
Notre Dame, our Mother
Tender, strong and true
Proudly in the heavens,
Gleams the gold and blue.
Glory's mantle cloaks thee
Golden is thy fame
And our hearts forever
Praise thee, Notre Dame.
And our hearts forever,
Love thee, Notre Dame.
It is a little thing I know, but I have problems with this idea, of only belonging, of only singing, of only praying (and it is a song of prayer), when we win. There is something to seeing all of the student body, athlete and fan, all of the alumni, all of the people in the stands, saying these words. The song reminds everyone, fan and athlete, that the University stands for something far greater, far more achingly beautiful than football and winning. As a member of the Notre Dame/Saint Mary's community, and as a fan of both the university and the football team, I protest, this is forgetting what Notre Dame is to be about,
And if I were a member of the Notre Dame Football team, I'd protest by staying after every game and singing, as loudly as possible with the student body, because the world doesn't need an undefeated football team (good thing this year too), as much as it needs a humble witness that win lose or draw, we are ND and thus, we honor Mary first.
