Notre Dame Football: The Day the South Bend Mystique Died

Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame
Wake up the echoes cheering her name,
Send the volley cheer on high,
Shake down the thunder from the sky.

The Notre Dame fight song suggests that the "echoes" of past coaches, players and tradition can be summoned by the Fighting Irish on Saturdays in the Autumn months to help lead the Golden Dome to victory.

If those ghosts aren't enough, God himself will join the party and send thunder from the heavens to help Brian Kelly and his overrated players overcome the biggest of odds to persevere.

Until this Saturday.

If you are a fan of college football, you've suffered through an offseason of suspensions, programs under investigation, and professional lockouts. Whether you are a "Domophile" or hate the Irish with a passion, you've had plenty of ammunition for your cause.

From the mythical stories of Brian Kelly's success in his second year of coaching a team, the continuous coverage of Notre Dame recruits on defense, or the ongoing saga of how the university that holds itself to a "higher standard" somehow allowed WR Michael Floyd back on the field after his third alcohol-related offense, the folks at South Bend have been busy.

Fast forward to the Irish opener at home against unranked South Florida. Notre Dame fans refused to be concerned with the unorthodox style of Skip Holtz, the son of a legend who last won a National Championship for the Golden Domers.

No one wearing Blue and Green would even acknowledge the weather forecast of mid-90 degree temperatures and high humidity that resembled the same conditions that the SF Bulls were accustomed to down in the everglades.

Why should they? If athletic QB B.J. Daniels proved to be up to the task and the Bulls found a way to challenge the Irish at home, the "echoes" of Knute Rockne and Ron Powlus would certainly cause the enemies from the Southeast to suddenly lay down their helmets and forfeit the game.

If the Irish started to fumble the football, drop easy passes, throw interceptions, and forget how to punt over 30 yards, God himself would surely open up the skies and send the lightning and thunder to help the team that plays on a field that boasts "Touchdown Jesus" and his mother in their name.

Well that is exactly what happened. The rains came, followed by lightning and thunder. If the echoes began, I am assuming they sounded something like this:

"That was the worst half of football I've ever seen Notre Dame play."

"Maybe Brian Kelly is overrated."

"Dane Crist should not be the starting quarterback for the Irish."

"Where is Charlie Weis?"

The truth that can be found in the mythology and mystique that Notre Dame professes is this: The Irish are an overrated program with a coach who talks the talk, but walks the same walk as Bob Davie.

Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame...to another 7-5 record.