I am a PSU grad and season ticket holder, but I am also a fan of all of college football. I am extremely lucky that I get to go to about 7 Division 1 games per year, mostly in the East. I have not been as smart as Mbar, as I have to pay my own way, and I do not get the inside tour. However, I do get the experience of the everyday fan, and thought some of you may enjoy.
I was at Notre Dame this weekend for the Notre Dame - Virginia game. Notre Dame is a really enjoyable and storied place to watch a game, at least in September. I have been to Notre Dame multiple times (my first was the infamous Snow Bowl when Rudy was filmed and a great PSU team lost in the final seconds), but each visit is exciting.
Going to ND for a game is best enjoyed by going for the weekend, which includes Friday. I think they have more traditions than any school I have visited. Their campus is classic and beautiful, and the people are very welcoming. You will get tired of hearing "Welcome to Notre Dame" before you leave. You will also hear the Notre Dame fight song more times than you can count, it is catchy but it can also be annoying. One of my favorite events is "trumpets under the dome" where the trumpet section plays a 15 minute concert inside their administration building (the Golden Dome). It is just very cool. This past Friday was filled with Thunderstorms which cancelled the pep rally. That was fine for me as I think most of the ND pep rally's are really boring. Friday night we went to dinner at a local family style italian restaurant, Parisi's, and we were seated next to Dick Vitale and his family. He is walking around videoing his evening.
Most of ND's games are at 3:30 pm, which is a pretty good time for a game in my perspective. Tailgating is in multiple lots, the main area is on the South Side of the stadium. It is fun, but not of the level of PSU tailgating. The campus experience though is very good. There are stands all over campus run by student groups selling burgers, dogs, steak sandwiches, etc.
The stadium has improved. They have finally replaced the old wooden bleachers which gave me splinters with new vinyl bleachers which are more comfortable. The stadium is easy to get in and out of. They finally have added a big screen, albeit at one end of the stadium only. From our seats, I got a stiff neck from turning 3/4 around to see the screen. Turf field. Fans very close to the action. The ND band is really good. I think it has many more members than the Blue Band.
I try not to comment on the game too much, but from this weekend's experience, Notre Dame is good, not great. If the PSU team is the team we saw Friday night, we are much better. Notre Dame has some holes in the offensive line, depth at wide receiver and running back, and linebacker. Virginia has an explosive team, but also not much depth and in my opinion would be about a 500 team in the Big Ten.
I know Notre Dame is a controversial subject here, but the campus is nice, it has great college football tradition and the fans are very welcoming.
I was at Notre Dame this weekend for the Notre Dame - Virginia game. Notre Dame is a really enjoyable and storied place to watch a game, at least in September. I have been to Notre Dame multiple times (my first was the infamous Snow Bowl when Rudy was filmed and a great PSU team lost in the final seconds), but each visit is exciting.
Going to ND for a game is best enjoyed by going for the weekend, which includes Friday. I think they have more traditions than any school I have visited. Their campus is classic and beautiful, and the people are very welcoming. You will get tired of hearing "Welcome to Notre Dame" before you leave. You will also hear the Notre Dame fight song more times than you can count, it is catchy but it can also be annoying. One of my favorite events is "trumpets under the dome" where the trumpet section plays a 15 minute concert inside their administration building (the Golden Dome). It is just very cool. This past Friday was filled with Thunderstorms which cancelled the pep rally. That was fine for me as I think most of the ND pep rally's are really boring. Friday night we went to dinner at a local family style italian restaurant, Parisi's, and we were seated next to Dick Vitale and his family. He is walking around videoing his evening.
Most of ND's games are at 3:30 pm, which is a pretty good time for a game in my perspective. Tailgating is in multiple lots, the main area is on the South Side of the stadium. It is fun, but not of the level of PSU tailgating. The campus experience though is very good. There are stands all over campus run by student groups selling burgers, dogs, steak sandwiches, etc.
The stadium has improved. They have finally replaced the old wooden bleachers which gave me splinters with new vinyl bleachers which are more comfortable. The stadium is easy to get in and out of. They finally have added a big screen, albeit at one end of the stadium only. From our seats, I got a stiff neck from turning 3/4 around to see the screen. Turf field. Fans very close to the action. The ND band is really good. I think it has many more members than the Blue Band.
I try not to comment on the game too much, but from this weekend's experience, Notre Dame is good, not great. If the PSU team is the team we saw Friday night, we are much better. Notre Dame has some holes in the offensive line, depth at wide receiver and running back, and linebacker. Virginia has an explosive team, but also not much depth and in my opinion would be about a 500 team in the Big Ten.
I know Notre Dame is a controversial subject here, but the campus is nice, it has great college football tradition and the fans are very welcoming.
