Greetings all-
It is a beautiful Thursday here in South Bend and the forecast is for more of the same for the Irish opener vs. Nevada.
Let me tell you about my run around campus last night, starting with this attached picture.
You may recall from one of my Blogs two seasons ago when I was running by the ND Baseball Stadium and a homerun ball flew over the fence, nearly hit me and I caught my souvenir on one bounce…
Well yesterday, while running adjacent to the ND Football practice field, what comes flying over the fence and thuds right at my feet? Yup. An official NCAA ND Irish game day football… I picked up the football and stood there for at least 5 minutes (really). No one came out to retrieve the ball. Next, I ran around the perimeter of the practice field which was fortified like a German bomb shelter. Screens up. All gates locked. There was no one to give the ball to (really).
I plan to take the ball personally to Coach CW (who I vowed at the end of last season to no longer call him “Fat Boy”–my promise to be positive). And if CW will not see me directly, then I am keeping the ball.
The ND Band–the oldest college marching band in the country–was practicing near “Legends”. The halftime routine will include a musical salute to the band “Chicago”.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Chicago’s manager is a personal friend and big supporter of CW’s “Hannah & Friends” Foundation (funny how those things work…)
The first Pep Rally of the season is scheduled for the front lawn of Dillon Hall at 5:45pm Friday. You will recall we used to have the honor of every ND Head Coach coming to Dillon for a students-only pep rally on Thursday night. I guess this is the compromise and olive branch to the Dillon Pep Rally being cancelled by the Rector last year. There is a huge outdoor projection screen set up for the rally.
The new ND Village of hospitality tents for food, drinks and entertainment is being erected in what would have been the way back of old Green Field. This is intended to take some pressure off the tailgating and crowds in the lots, I believe.
Finally, I ran past the Linebacker Inn. Numerous people were pointing cameras upwards and taking pictures of the CW “Internship” billboard. This too shall pass. Just win baby, win.
Heading to Armando’s shortly for a little trim and talk. Imagine many of us getting our first haircuts from Armando in the Fall of 1975–34 years ago!
Rocco’s for pizza tonight.
Feeling good about the ND.
GO IRISH!
Abe