Hi to everyone once again. I returned Sunday from a four day trip to the University of Notre Dame to watch them play Syracuse. If you don't follow SU football, they sort of upset Notre Dame, 24-23 on a cold and windy Saturday in South Bend. Temperature at kickoff was 26F with a wind chill of 19F. It only went downhill from there. Above are pictures of the Grotto where a daily prayer is said at 6:45AM and anyone can light a candle in memory of someone they have lost. Next is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, and the Main Building. The Main Building is the one you usually see with its gold roof under which are the main campus offices including the Presidents'. Also I have included a picture on approach to the airport of Notre Dame Stadium which holds 80, 785 fans on game day. The last picture shows Syracuse taking the field with "Touchdown Jesus" in view over the north end zone.
I arrived Wednesday and while wandering around outside the stadium, I found the large iron delivery gate open and gradually walked towards the end zone and I was greeted by a grounds crew chief who invited me down to the field for a few moments as the field lines were being painted for Saturday's game. I traveled through the tunnel which is the only entrance to the field and it was just an overwhelming sight to walk on the field I had seen football played on since those old high school days. Nothing really compares to that feeling, especially at Notre Dame.
On Thursday I visited the College Football Hall of Fame in downtown South Bend and I saw many familiar names, statues and pictures from college football over the years. Because Syracuse was in town, they had a large display of Syracuse memorabilia and many articles and pictures of Ernie Davis, the only heisman trophy winner from Syracuse. Thursday night and Friday morning about a foot of snow had fallen leaving that white winter wonderland we have all heard of. Friday I enjoyed lunch at the Tippacanoe Place Restaurant which was once home to the Studebaker family afterwhich I went on a self guided tour of the old stone home. A new owner has assumed control of the home and is starting to restore parts of the building.
Saturday brought the game but the snow had reduced some of the parking places available so everyone was advised to arrive early but it was still a full house at kickoff. I sat fours rows from the top of the Stadium, and had the opportunity to sit on a wooden bench as opposed to todays aluminum bench seats or chair type seats.
Notre Dame is another Stadium which does not offer alcohol for sale inside the Stadium so overall it is a much better experience. If you ever get the opportunity to visit on game day, be sure to find the Knights of Columbus tent and have a steak sandwich. It's hard to describe but they cook up a steak on several charcoal grills and slap it on a sesame street roll and for just $6.00 you also get a bottle of water or coca-cola. The steaks are about 7-8" long and about 1/2" thick. Best pregame sandwich I have had over the years. So be sure to look it up on game day when in South Bend!
I guess that summerizes the great expedition and it just goes by so fast like everything else we look forward to in life.
Send me your information and I will blog more as the New Year approaches. Stay in touch, K.
