An Open Letter to Notre Dame Fans from a Trojan Honk

A week or so ago, I decided to write an article disputing an “advantage” that a very good writer and fan of the fighting Irish offered as a factor in my Trojans seven-year run of victories over Notre Dame.

When I decided to take this on, I did it fully expecting fans of the Irish to spit venom my direction with all of the hatred they could muster.

Boy was I wrong about that.

Instead of ad hominem attacks questioning my heritage and religious beliefs, I received thoughtful and insightful replies.

Where I expected a frightful barrage of insults, I received logical agreement in some areas and respectful disagreement in others.

“Wait a minute,” I thought to myself, “This can’t be right.”

I clearly identified myself as a Trojan fan and I know that I took a position in the article that left little doubt about my disdain of excuses when it came to my Trojans success.

Yet, comment after comment carried the same message and were delivered in the same manner.

Fighting Irish fans ready to defend their university in a dignified and intelligent manner.

Not willing to accept this civility without a further litmus test, I decided I would strike at the heart of every good Domer.

I would write an article that was less than complimentary of Lou Holtz.

Now, I understood that this was entering on hallowed ground.

An attack on Coach Holtz might as well be an attack on the Pope….or Knute Rockne, Rudy or any other Notre Dame icon.

Maybe even worse.

With much trepidation, I hit the “publish” button and waited for the assault to begin.

Soon, the e-mails came flooding in. “Someone has commented on your article,” they read.

Smugly, I went online thinking, “Now these Irish fans will show their true colors.”

If I was looking forward to those insults that I thought were overdue from the first article, I was sadly disappointed.

Instead, Notre Dame fan after Notre Dame fan blasted me with….

Kindness and thoughtful discourse.                   

I even received an invitation from a rabid Notre Dame fan inviting me to tailgate with him if I should make it out to South Bend this year for crying out loud!

Okay, I now officially give up.

You have convinced me. Notre Dame fans are not like the vast majority of college football fans I know.

Hell, I can’t even say USC fans are this dignified.

If I had questioned even the slightest of athletic quality of an SEC team, I would have been ripped up one side and down the other.

I know because it has happened to me before. Attacks on my character and looks replaced any hope for a civil conversation I attempted to have with the SEC fanatics.

This in response to the gall I exhibited by venturing that my Trojans could beat their SEC (fill in the blank) team.

Not so with my new Notre Dame friends here at Bleacher Report.

You folks have represented your university with dignity and meaningful insight.

From a huge Trojan fan who expected the worst….

I thank you.