The Journey to South Bend
This weekend marks a monumental moment in all our lives. And by all our lives I mean the people sitting in this room right now. So, me.Because this weekend, I journey to the Mecca, where football is tradition and touchdowns have their own holy figure.
This weekend, the Every Game Counts crew (again, me) makes its first road trip to the one place that oozes NCAA Football: South Bend, Indiana and the University of Notre Dame.
I am technically going for a football game. However I’m not sure just how long this sporting event will be considered a “game.” The Tar Heels limp in to South Bend with but one win under their belts and Irish looking to work out some kinks before the annual showdown with Southern Cal.
Yes, the game is why we planned the trip, but the experience, the place, the aura is the reason we’re going!
I have been practicing the line, “This is the most beautiful site, these eyes have ever seen,” with my best Irish-American accent in front of the mirror since September. And I can almost force a tear out of my right eye at the same time.
The promise of snow earlier this week got my heart and mind racing. A little winter majesty would complete the day, but I am fine with blue skies and sunshine. I think the rest of my party will be much more accommodating with the latter.
But I need help folks! If you’ve been to South Bend, and even better, if you make the trip every weekend let me know where to go, what to see, what to eat!
I am sure I can figure out my way around, and getting lost on the palatial campus would be fun for a while. I wouldn’t mind some landmarks to look out for though.
So if there are any golden domers out there, or visiting fans who can appreciate the place, speak up. And if you plan on being near Touchdown Jesus this weekend as well, keep a look out for me.
posted by NCAA Football at 8:03 AM
13 Comments:
Two things:
Friday night, you have to go to the Linebacker(Route 23 & Edison Road - the southeast corner of campus). Sing "Living on a Prayer." Don't question it, just sing along.
The day of the game, catch the band at Bond Hall do a concert about an hour and a half before the game. If you miss this, they line up at the Main Building (The Dome) and march to the stadium roughly an hour before the kick off.
Oh, and go to the Grotto.
and buy a Brat from a random student group.
I'm skeptical of the Linebacker experience. Just make sure your sense of humor is well rested before you go. But you should enjoy the Long Islands. They're solid.
I agree the Band step-off at Bond hall is pretty cool. Likewise, watching the band enter the stadium is cool as is watching the drummer warm up (ie "The Drum Circle) before step-off.
They are classic things like going to visit the Grotto, the Dome or Sacred Heart. Off campus I recommend going to the College Football Hall of Fame (usually recommend Sundays for that visit if you have the time) in downtown SBN.
They are some great eats if you have the time. CJs Burgers. Roccos. Brunos. La Esperanza. All are classic pre-/post- ND game experiences. Also, getting to the game early or staying late can be fun for the fanatic/ND fan.
If your with good people, as expected, a nice time can be had mixing it up at the tailgaters before the game. This goes better if you have a quality tour guide on hand for your stops.
Good luck. Have fun. I hope the weather isn't to blustery.
Go ND!
Go to the ND website for ideas and a map.
The library has an observation floor, great to see the campus, take pictures.
Your picture with Touchdown Jesus in the background is a must.
Light a candle at the Grotto.
Follow the band to the stadium.
At the game, watch the student section when there is no action on the field.
Do not leave the game until the Irish Guard does the victory dance, the team salutes the students and sings Notre Dame our Mother. (You only got a few days to learn the words)
On campus, knights of columbus sells solid steak sandwiches. Post-game I would suggest barnaby's pizza (either location).
On a more odd note, after you watch the band at the Dome, you may want to break for the bathroom in the dome. The second floor or third floor bathrooms have the nicest corner stalls on campus.
I'm a sophomore here at ND, I've got my routine pretty much laid out for every weekend.
First, on Friday evening, I go to the pep rally. I admit, this one will most likely suck because it is hard to get pumped up 20 hours before kickoff. But, even the worst ones are awesome, according to my friends who visit from schools without pep rallies (FSU & UF mainly).
Then, you're Friday night is clear until midnight. I wouldn't be cocky enough to give restaurant advice (don't have a car), but I've heard great things about Bruno's, Rocko's, and La Esperanza. But, at midnight, YOU HAVE TO GO TO DRUM CIRCLE. This is an event in the front of the Golden Dome. Get there at midnight if you want to hear the whole show, get there at 11:30 if you want to see the drummers. The way I describe the atmosphere is that if someone took out a goat and sacrificed it in the middle of the circle, the mood would not change one bit.
Saturday morning, the players walk from the Basilica to the stadium in parade-like fashion. This happens two or two and a half hours before game time -- you'll notice the large line of people start to form. That, and the band marchout from the Dome to the Stadium at 2ish would be the only things I would add to what has been suggested already.
But overall, if you want to truly understand the experience, try to be on campus as much as possible. It goes from 8,000 people to 90,000 people in a day.
-Matt
www.robotcharlie.blogspot.com
Here's a great game-day rundown from a Stanford visitor.
After visiting the Grotto, peer across St. Joe's lake to the monstrous "Go Irish" banner hung outside of Carroll Hall for each home game.
For pizza, bag on Barnaby's. Go to Rocco's instead. Much better.
You're missing one thing: After the band concert at Bond Hall, the trumpet section goes into the main building third floor and plays. You have to leave the Bond Hall concert just as it is ending and head into the Main Building -- the sound is incredible, and you are staring up at the amazing murals painted inside the Dome. (I was there three years before I found out about this).
Also, check out Fiddler's Hearth, a good Irish Pub near downtown for some live Irish music on weekends (well, used to be).
Head on over to www.rakesofmallow.com for a short Gameday post that I put up. Have fun this weekend!
all others have pointed you in good directions...but I give you the secret key. After you see the band at Bond Hall (a must), head straight to the Morris Inn (a plush bed and breakfast right on campus). This place has good beer (do NOT go into Legends, they have a cover and only sell miller lite etc.) Grab a few beck's dark and guinness, step back out onto the walkway and watch the band go into the stadium. ENJOY!
I second most of what was said above. I'm a third year law student, and a (nearly) life-long resident of South Bend.
Here are my suggestions:
Food:
Rocco's pizza (Friday) and C.J.'s Pub (Saturday - get there early enough for a buger, and then stay there all night. Trust me, its worth it)
On campus schedule:
Trumpets under the Dome (3 p.m. Friday)
Pep Rally (6 p.m. Friday)
Friday Night Tent Party (College Football Hall of Fame (downtown), 8-11 pm)
Drummer's Circle (Midnight Friday)
Player's walk to Stadium (2 hours before kickoff)
Concert on the Steps (1 1/2 hours before kickoff)
Parade to Stadium (following Concert)
Game - follow band into stadium, then stay through alma mater after game
Go to C.J.'s for burgers after the game, and stay there until the evening is over. If you leave before 1 am, you'll be missing out.
Get to campus early enough to see the sites. The easiest route (and the most comprehensive) is to start at the JACC (there are pregame festivities inside, very good for cold mornings), go to the Library, from the Library head over through LaFortune to the Golden Dome, then through the Basilica, down to the grotto around the lake (worth the extra time), and back up to rub the Rock's nose at the Rockne Memorial before heading through South Quad and back into the tailgates at the Stadium and Joyce lots.
Have a great time, it is truly an experience like nothing else.
Looking good so far.
Stop by the Rockne Memorial ("The Rock") and rub Rock's nose. Afterwards, stop by the Grotto, and rub the stone that was taken from the "real" Grotto in Lourdes, France.
You might want to do these on Friday, unless you want to wait in line at the Grotto Saturday morning. Same goes for the Bookstore.
Stop a marching band kid and ask them for directions to the Bookstore. They love that. Better yet, if they're in uniform and carrying their instrument, stop them and ask if they're in the band.
At the game, cheer for the weather report, no matter how good or bad the weather is. Watch the student section and cheer accordingly (unless they start the wave when we're only up 7 in the third quarter). When a man comes on the PA and says "May I have your attention please," be silent and do as he says. Trust me on this one.
Also, if you need a place to relieve yourself, the engineering building is always unlocked. It's just west of the stadium, next to the hanging garden.
i may have met you this weekend, if you asked a guy on south quad where the steak sandwiches were, that was me...if not hope you had a great time anyway
GO IRISH
That could have been me...but I was more looking for the bratwurst. But thanks for the help either way.
Post a Comment
<< Home