God, Country, Notre Dame (In Glory Everlasting)

Notre Dame is a school that can go anywhere in the country and recruit players. And, honestly, what’s better than playing football for Notre Dame: national spotlight, amazing education, exposure for professional football, and the country’s best fan base?

Notre Dame Is Everywhere

Notre Dame has one of the biggest fan bases in the nation. You’ve probably heard the statement that Notre Dame is to College Football as the Yankees are to professional baseball. In some respects, that’s true.

But, I think that Notre Dame has a bigger impact on college football than the Yankees do on professional baseball.

Think about it. Not many people are apathetic towards Notre Dame football. If they don’t tune into NBC to watch Notre Dame win, they tune in to watch Notre Dame lose.

This is why Notre Dame has a contract with NBC. This is why Notre Dame will always get picked up for a BCS bowl game if they qualify.

They are a money-maker for any network that shows them. This is largely in part to the expansive fan base. Notre Dame is, by far, the biggest team in College Football.

“This school was founded on faith, belief, and a commitment to excellence.” - Lou Holtz

There are many things that are associated with Notre Dame, but the biggest thing is a standard of excellence. This standard exists in all facets of the university and permeates many things.

One of the things that the standard of excellence is personified through is its fan base. Notre Dame has a reputation of being not only one of the biggest fan bases in the nation, but also one of the most cordial and accommodating to other people.

Many times people are blown away by the courtesy of Irish fans when they attend a Notre Dame game. Such was the case of some Stanford fans I sat by during last week’s game.

Every school has a few “rotten apples” when it comes to fans. And Notre Dame is not void of such people. However, with Notre Dame, there exists a brotherhood of fans that unites one another.

As a Notre Dame fan, this brotherhood follows you throughout the country due to Notre Dame’s expansive fan base.

A Tradition Like No Other

At Notre Dame, there exists a tradition that is present in everything that is associated with the University. Going to their first football at Notre Dame is a life-changing experience for some because of the vast amount of tradition found on the campus.

Derek Horner recently touched on this subject and everything he mentioned is correct. But, with Notre Dame, there exists a tradition that is bigger than the confines of the University itself, not just with football.

There is tradition in the structures and the people that make up this University. Father Sorin, Father Corby, Knute Rockne, Father Hesburgh, Ara Parseghian, these are all people who have had a hand in shaping the tradition of Notre Dame.

But, the list does not stop there. Notre Dame is a place where the tradition exists in anyone associated with the University alumni and fans alike. This is what makes Notre Dame’s tradition bigger and more impactful than any other school.

Not a Motto, But A Way of Life

“God, Country, Notre Dame” means more than a cliché to Notre Dame Fans. It is both a description of the passion and the tradition involved with Notre Dame.

It’s something that Irish Fans and Alumni cling to. It personifies the importance of Notre Dame in the lives of anyone who sets foot on its campus as a student, parent, teacher, or fan.

And anyone associated with the University embodies this commitment to it. And through them, Notre Dame remains “In Glory Everlasting.”

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