Do Notre Dame Traditionalists Hate Brian Kelly?
Brian Kelly is a man that gets what he wants. He wanted artificial field turf at Notre Dame Stadium so Jack Swarbrick made it happen. But Notre Dame Traditionalists probably hate everything about the turf. Yes, the white stripes still occupy both end zones, but there is a huge Notre Dame monogram at the 50-yard line. Add in two shamrocks for kickoff markers and Traditionalists now think they are in the “Bizarro Jerry” episode of Seinfeld. But is Brian Kelly really ruining the tradition Notre Dame took over a century to achieve?
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It doesn’t matter if it’s the field, the Shamrock Series jerseys or Brian Kelly turning into a purple Hulk on the sidelines. Traditionalists are going to find something to complain about. They actually remind me a lot of my generation of Millenials. Traditionalists are just a bunch of narcissistic, self-entitled, trophy winners who are out of touch with reality. Now throw in the fact that Notre Dame and Millenial bashing is as common as the bathroom mirror selfie, you won’t be able to tell the two apart.
Think about it. Traditionalists and Millienials complain about things they are entitled to because of the past. It doesn’t matter if we are referring to today’s job market or Notre Dame’s relevancy based on past success. But you know what? Notre Dame fans that are in the Millenial Generation cannot be Traditionalists. This is because we have only seen the bad times in South Bend. Sure, we had glimpses of greatness in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2012. But how good really were those teams? Every one of those seasons ended with embarrassing blowouts and me pulling a Bruce Wayne and becoming a recluse. It wasn’t fun.
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But why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we go through heartbreaking moments like “The Bush Push” or the Michigan State’s fake field goal, but the only things we get in return are Charlie Weis and Tommy Rees? Maybe Irish fans of my generation enjoy being hurt by Notre Dame? Maybe this is why America is obsessed with 50 Shades of Grey? I don’t know. All I know is that I wouldn’t trade being a Millenial Notre Dame fan for the world. This is why:
As Tyler Durden once told me, “Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing.” That’s the way all Irish fans need to look at this program with Brian Kelly. It’s been bad. It’s been real bad the last two decades, but Brian Kelly is the coach that we need and not the one we deserve. So if he wants to play “Seven Nation Army” when The Irish Defense is on the ropes, let Jack White sing. Tradition shouldn’t hamstring Notre Dame from trying to adapt and compete in 21st century College Football. Traditionalists need to let this topic die like the field grass did every November.
Or at least till next winter when BK wants to put a Jumbotron in Notre Dame Stadium.