Christmas Comes Early for Notre Dame Football Fans

Since I was born, I have been a passionate, loyal Notre Dame Football fan. I have dedicated Saturdays in the fall to Notre Dame to the point that my girlfriend of three years is not allowed to call me on that special day because I do not want to be distracted. That and when we lost to Michigan in 2006, we almost broke up.

For me, being a Notre Dame fan has been the highlight of my life, as I pour my heart and soul into my support for the team, coaches, and University. And this is why Notre Dame's AD Jack Swarbrick's announcement today that Charlie Weis would return in 2009 was the greatest Christmas present I could ask for.

When I was growing up my father distilled in his son two facts of life for Notre Dame fans. 1.) Work hard like Rudy and you will accomplish anything you want. And 2.) Never forget why you love Notre Dame.

Over the last year, I think a lot of Notre Dame fans should refer to No. 2. Why do you love Notre Dame football?

It varies among fans, but for me my love of the team goes far beyond the football field. My passion for this team is not a result of wins and losses or bowl wins (maybe because there haven't been too many in my lifetime) but in the student-athletes, the tradition, the class, and everything that Notre Dame stands for as a University and as a football program.

Charlie Weis, since the day he was given the Head Coach job at Notre Dame has embodied these principles.

In times where the game of football has moved from hard working blue collar families to thugs who are involved in shootings, rape, violence, murder, drugs and other off the field problems, Notre Dame has kept its commitment to student athletes. As other University's have lowered there admission standards for athletes to help recruiting, Notre Dame has not.

If you can not cut it as a student at Notre Dame, than they are not interested in having you there, no matter how good you are at a given sport. Therefore, Notre Dame will never be able to get top flight talent like Texas, Florida, LSU etc.

But wait! Charlie Weis came into Notre Dame and has had three top 10 recruiting classes in a row with another big class coming in for the 2009 season. How does he do this? Effort, effort, effort! He followed my father rule, work hard like Rudy and you can accomplish the impossible.

Not only has Weis been able to bring in student athletes at Notre Dame, but once they are there he holds them accountable to their academic responsibilities. The team GPA has consistently been over a 3.0 since Weis' arrival which speaks to his leadership both on and off the field.

Other Universities allow their athletes to take less classes during football season as long as they add another class in the spring term. For example, if the school requires students to take four classes a semester, schools let football players take two or three during football season, if they take five or six during the spring. Notre Dame does not take part in this practice, as its athletes get no exceptions.

Another reason why I love Notre Dame is the tradition. Touchdown Jesus, the walk to the stadium, the marching band, Friday night pep-rally, decades of history with famous coaches and players, the fight song, etc.

My father, brother and I started our own tradition as during half time of every game we would go play football in our backyard until the next half started with our Notre Dame jerseys on. There is too much tradition at Notre Dame to put into words, but the fact that Weis is an alumni of Notre Dame and that he understands all the traditions means a lot to me.

Not only is he aware of the teams storied traditions but he plays into them setting up great pep-rallies and adding a tradition of signing the school song with the students after each home game. Weis has never forgotten that years ago before he was a football Coach he was a regular loyal and passionate Notre Dame fan just like the rest of us.

Lastly, Notre Dame is a classy program not just in football but in all of their athletics. Charlie Weis proved to me just how classy he was when he made it a tradition for Notre Dame players to hold hands with each other and stand behind the military schools after playing them to listen to their schools alma mater.

The first time I saw the Fighting Irish stand behind the brave young men who have made the sacrifice to serve our country in respect to their dedication it nearly brought me to tears. Most media and fans believe that Weis is arrogant, cocky and rude but this is far from reality. Weis is very confident and it is his confidence in himself and the program that entices recruits to want to play for him.

At the end of the day, however, Weis is a classy person and a great man at heart. His daughter Hannah was tragically born with a life altering condition of autism, and he has been a supportive father and ambassador to all children who have been diagnosed with Autism by starting Hannah and Friends with his wife.

How many college coaches have their own tax exempt non-profit organizations?

I have heard every negative thing about Charlie Weis over the last four weeks surrounding Weis' job security. Most of the Weis criticism has come from outsiders, people who do not fully appreciate Notre Dame Football for what it is, or from negative fans. Negative fans are people that have forgotten No. 2 of my fathers facts of life of all Notre Dame fans.

If wins and losses is your sole reason for loving Notre Dame, then you are not a true fan.

In Weis' four years at Notre Dame his record has been both extremely impressive and extremely disappointing. His first two seasons he was able to turn Brady Quinn into a Heisman candidate and bring the Irish from unranked to two BCS Bowl games. His last two seasons have been  disappointing at best have a 3-9 record last year and a .500 record this season.

However, progress was made and Weis through relentless recruiting has put this team in a good position to win in the future. Unlike many fans, I do not think Notre Dame is all of the sudden going to be a great team next year because they are going to face the same problem they had this season—lack of a mature senior class who has significant experience.

However, I think the Irish can win at least eight games and Weis will keep his job, but 2010 is where I think Notre Dame will move into a national contender again and stay there for as long as Weis is there.

So for all you Notre Dame fans out there, I know we have fallen on hard times and the blame has to go somewhere but let us not forget why we love Notre Dame Football. Lets not forget what it is that makes us turn on the television every Saturday to see those kids run out of that tunnel.

Because, at the end of the day, they are kids and as fans we are here to support them. So am I excited that Weis is coming back for the 2009 season, you bet I am! Go Irish!