Notre Dame Football: Writers share their game day traditions

We are officially two weeks from College Game Day visiting South Bend. There’s nothing quite like a fall Saturday for Notre Dame football fans. Whether it’s settling in on the couch or hitting up a Joyce Lot tailgate, Slap the Sign writers share their game day routines.

Sports fans are interesting creatures, but they are typically creatures of habit. From eating the same food each game day to sitting in the same spot on the couch when their team is doing well, we sports geeks have a way of integrating various traditions, customs, and superstitions into our game day festivities. That said, I decided to ask my fellow writers at Slap the Sign about their Notre Dame football game day traditions.

Maybe these traditions match up with yours. Or maybe some of these traditions give you ideas to add to your current game day activities. Let us know of your Notre Dame game day traditions.

Paul Walsh

I wake up earlier than I should on a Saturday and make myself a cup of coffee. By this point, I have already asked Alexa to play the “Notre Dame Victory March.” After she inevitably plays a song that I did not ask her to play, I repeat myself and the song begins. Before Alexa, I would just play the song on my phone through a Bluetooth speaker. Before Bluetooth, I would listen to it on a device with an auxiliary cord. Before that, I would listen to it on my computer. Before that, I would listen to it on a CD. And before that, I would make my mom play it on the piano. No matter what, the song must be played.

Then I turn on College Game Day.

I watch the show and wait anxiously for Notre Dame’s segment to appear. On commercials, I will play “Rakes of Mallow,” “Here Come the Irish,” or the “Rudy” theme song. This might be a good time to mention that I watch “Rudy” on the night before the season starts every year. Always.

As it creeps closer to game time, I will find myself a beverage. Oftentimes, this is Jameson on the rocks. If I am trying to ease into things, a Captain Morgan and diet. I will then find myself a seat and prepare for kickoff. This moment before kickoff is probably the only time I am sitting for the entire game. The rest of the game is largely aimless pacing. Now for the weird stuff…

My great-grandfather’s whittled, wooden leprechaun sits atop my television. I change his position depending on how well Notre Dame is playing. It is bad news if his behind is facing you. At this point we are probably losing, we have gone to our No. 2 QB (who has been embroiled in a QB “battle” since the spring with the No. 1 QB), and Brian Kelly’s face is redder than a stop light.

I am also ALWAYS wearing a piece of Notre Dame garb. This does not have to be the same piece of clothing each week. Although I have been known to stick with what has been working. And I make sure to have the bench that I bought from the old Notre Dame Stadium on display. This is a new addition to my game day traditions, but this is where my grandpa sits during the game. He doesn’t actually sit there. A picture of him does. Right next to my 1988 Notre Dame National Championship replica ring.

All of these game time antics are happening as I watch the game with my dad. And that is probably the most important of game day traditions.