Former Leprechaun Collins Apologizes for Discontinued Campus Art Shirts w/ $1 Signed Books

Former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins, Founder of Surf City, USA based Lifestyle Brand "WiseFool" has issued an apology for the discontinuation of shirts featuring original campus photo art due to a misunderstanding with the University of Notre Dame.  His apology comes in the form of a new "Hail Mary" line of hoodies, crewnecks, and tees to benefit the Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh through donations of 100% proceeds to the Bengal Bouts Boxing Program, as well as signed and personalized copies of his autobiography "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" for only $1.


Official explaination via www.getwisefool.com:

New Shirts & Discounted Books offered as apology to WiseFool fanbase.

Campus Photo Art Shirts Discontinued due to misunderstanding with University of Notre Dame. ND felt that original works of wearable art infringed upon their intellectual property. WiseFool disagreed, but offered up 100% of proceeds to charity anyways. Notre Dame refused.

WiseFool Founder Daniel Colt Collins designed the Hail Mary Series in response, paying homage to those moments when all you can do is Toss Up a Prayer. Sometimes that prayer gets caught.  Sometimes not.  Either way, we play on.

Keep the Wisely Foolish Spirit with you while you tailgate this fall. Feel good knowing 100% proceeds benefit Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh, empowering the impoverished through donations to the Men's Boxing Program at Notre Dame. Get wise with a FREE signed & personalized copy of Collins' book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" (published by Corby Books) with each of the first 42 shirts sold.

While you're at it, pick up one of the final 42 remaining copies of Collins' book for just $1.  In his "tell-all" autobiographical account, Collins shares the shocking details of his trials and tribulations while serving as his Alma Mater's foremost ambassador.  All books come signed & personalized by Collins.  Simply note your requested message at checkout.

Get Wise. 

Stay Foolish. 

www.GetWiseFool.com

Throwback Thursday #5: Day in the Life of a Leprechaun

Irish Creed throws it back to the days of yore every Thursday 

by giving you a sample from my behind-the-scenes book 

Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun

Throwback #5 comes from Chapter 5: Week 5, in which I recall some of the superstitious "pregame" routine I had developed by our third home game:

UPDATE:  I'm signing copies of "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" at Martin's Supermarket (2081 South Bend Ave.) 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Friday, Sep. 27 and 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sep. 28.

By my third home game as the Gold Leprechaun, I picked up a pretty regular routine, fraught with superstition of course.  If the Fighting Irish won, I had to do everything in the exact same sequence leading up to the next game.  When my classes finished for the week on Thursday afternoon, I prepared for my weekly morale-boosting visit to Club Fever.  "College Night" meant skipping long lines and dancing on stage with the cheerleaders.  After shutting down "The Feve" around 3 a.m. I crashed back in Alumni Hall until noon on Friday when I walked to South Dining Hall for something deliciously greasy to soak up my hangover.  Once I got back to my room, I came up with my pep-rally introduction speeches while carefully crafting my chinstrap beard.  At some point, every Leprechaun developed his own specific style of facial hair.  I liked to keep mine thick enough to seem caricature-like, yet groomed well enough to look sharp.

...

Without fail, my Dawgs in the room next door would commence their "40s at 4" celebration right around the same time I finished getting dressed.  I loved stopping by their parties just as they got into full swing so I could surprise the weekly mix of students, parents, and alums as they enjoyed the finest malt liquor money could buy.  The looks on their faces were priceless, and they often thanked me for getting their weekend off to a lucky start...

Signed & Personalized Books Available Now:

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Throwback Thursday: Golden Swan-Dive Special Edition

Irish Creed throws it back to the days of yore every Thursday 

by giving you a sample from my behind-the-scenes book 

Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun

This week's throwback comes from Chapter 5, in which I recall my encounter with a certain foam phony named Sparty:

SPECIAL EDITION UPDATE:  I'm signing copies of "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" in the ND Bookstore from 3-5 p.m. on Friday, Sep. 20 and 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sep. 21 (ND v. MSU Game Day).  

You can also catch me at Mulligan's Bar & Grill (across from the Backer on South Bend Ave.) both nights with more signed books on tap, along with a raffle for my authentic game-worn Leprechaun hat!  I'll be wearing my limited edition "Air Golden" t-shirt, pictured above.

..."Nothing will ease my pain until we ruthlessly beat Sparty into submission next Saturday."  I couldn't remember who I said that to, or what publication it appeared in, but a long talk with my supervisors about political correctness followed shortly after my heartfelt public statement.
...
Every Leprechaun knew that Sparty had always been our only natural enemy.  The extra significance of our mascot rivalry made showing him up on local television that much sweeter.  When WNDU-TV invited us to co-anchor their pre-game sports segment early Saturday morning they must have forgotten that Sparty couldn't speak.  I ended up running the show all by myself, while Sparty literally disappeared in front of the green screen as he attempted in vain to act out the weather like some deranged version of charades.  The best part of my newscasting debut came backstage when I discovered that four separate Michigan State students actually shared their role as Sparty.  Apparently, none of them could handle the rigors of a full game day on their own.
...
... I reserved some of my energy during the Step-Off Parade just in case I happened to find myself in an altercation with my nemesis at some point during the game.  He surprisingly kept his distance throughout the entire pre-game warm-up, so I decided to be a good little Leprechaun and let him go.  Public shaming on the local news was good enough for me.
...
... Golden must have thought our band would catch him when he celebrated the go-ahead score with a swan dive.  Instead, he ended up crushing the scrawny kid holding a french horn in the middle of the Michigan State band while Sparty stood by motionless.  I prayed that play would end up as the winning touchdown so ESPN could eature it on their Top-10 as well as their Not-Top-10.

Signed & Personalized Books Available Now:

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Interview with Irish Turning Point

Irish Turning Point writer Emily O'Neill Elmer and former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins discuss the spirit of Notre Dame, the ND v. SC rivalry, this year's football team, and the brand new behind-the-scenes book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" available now at the campus bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Read the full Interview here.

Follow Irish Turning Point on Twitter.

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" Preview Video

Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: 
Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Game Weekend Photos: Week 1

My first game weekend of the 2013 season got off to a great start when I found my brand new book looking almost as good as I do in green as it stood out boldly on several shelves inside the Notre Dame Bookstore.  Week one continued to please with blue skies, a greened-out student section, and an easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy Irish victory.  

Check out the photos below, and be sure to follow me on Twitter (@TheNDleprechaun) and/or Instagram (@theleprecon) for live updates and more exclusive shots.  

Signed & Personalized Copies of "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" now available at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Signed & Personalized Copies of "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" now available at www.LeprechaunBook.com

Leprechaun Quote Countdown: #2

ONLY TWO MORE DAYS!

To celebrate the release of his book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" IRISH CREED writer / former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins is releasing 10 exclusive quotes leading up to the season opener in Notre Dame Stadium.

Quote #2 comes from chapter 5, which takes readers behind the scenes of an entire football season from the perspective of that little green guy on the sidelines:

"We walked through the main tunnel into an already packed house, with the student section filling up at asteady pace... My most important pregame task involved assembling the giant steel flagpole covered with fresh flakes of the same 24-karat gold the managers used to paint the football helmets.  I hooked it up to the monster blue and gold flag made from the same material as our football jerseys.  Less than five minutes remained on the pregame countdown clock.  Time to get in position for my big moment with the flag.  Just then, Jerome Bettis and Tim Brown walked by.  I casually said hello to my two favorite NFL players of all time.  Only at Notre Dame...

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish" is now available in the Notre Dame Bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Every copy bought online comes personally autographed by Daniel Colt Collins.

  

Every online purchase also qualifies as an automatic entry into the Lucky Leprechaun Hat Sweepstakes, awarding one lucky fan with an autographed game-worn Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun Hat at the conclusion of football season.  

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Leprechaun Quote Countdown: #3

Three.  More.  Days.

To celebrate the release of his book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" IRISH CREED writer / former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins is releasing 10 exclusive quotes leading up to the season opener in Notre Dame Stadium.

Quote #3 comes from chapter 5, which takes readers behind the scenes of an entire football season from the perspective of that little green guy on the sidelines:

"Dinner at Rocco's that night gave me a chance to carbo-load before my first game.  I signed an 8 x 10 for the owner Warren, making sure to include my ringing endorsement for the best pizza in the Midwest.  After walking over to the midnight drum circle on the steps of the Golden Dome with a posse that would've put the Beastie Boys to shame, I decided to call it a night.  As much as I wanted to raise an Irish toast to our upcoming victory, I had a long day ahead of me in the ninety-degree heat."

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish" is now available in the Notre Dame Bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Every copy bought online comes personally autographed by Daniel Colt Collins.

  

Every online purchase also qualifies as an automatic entry into the Lucky Leprechaun Hat Sweepstakes, awarding one lucky fan with an autographed game-worn Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun Hat at the conclusion of football season.  

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Daniel Colt Collins appears on "Sports Lounge with Lisa Varga"

IRISH CREED writer, former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun, and newly published author Daniel Colt Collins recently sat down with Lisa Varga to discuss his new book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun"



The up-and-coming internet talk show "Sports Lounge with Lisa Varga" is set to air new webisodes starting in September.  Follow Lisa Varga and Sports Lounge on Twitter to stay updated.

Leprechaun Quote Countdown: #4

4 days away...

To celebrate the release of his book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" IRISH CREED writer / former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins is releasing 10 exclusive quotes leading up to the season opener in Notre Dame Stadium.

Quote #4 comes from chapter 5, which captures what it feels like to lead a pep-rally on campus during opening weekend at Notre Dame:

"...'If you don't feel it yet, you will tomorrow.  If you don't feel it then, you might need to check in over at our health services building because you don't have a pulse.'  My first attempt at a joke in front of thousands didn't flop.  I liked where this was headed."

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish" is now available in the Notre Dame Bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Every copy bought online comes personally autographed by Daniel Colt Collins.

  

Every online purchase also qualifies as an automatic entry into the Lucky Leprechaun Hat Sweepstakes, awarding one lucky fan with an autographed game-worn Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun Hat at the conclusion of football season.  

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Leprechaun Quote Countdown: #5

5 days left until football season for the Fighting Irish...

To celebrate the release of his book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" IRISH CREED writer / former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins is releasing 10 exclusive quotes leading up to the season opener in Notre Dame Stadium.

Quote #5 comes from chapter 5, which captures the excitement on campus during opening weekend at Notre Dame:

"My voice echoed over the crowd, 'It's good to be back.  I can feel it in the air.  Every time I walk past our stadium... every time I look up at our Golden Dome... and every time I hear our marching band play our fight song... chills run up and down my spine.  It's a feeling I only get here at Notre Dame.  How many of you know just what I'm talkin' about?'  By their response, it sounded like most of them knew exactly what I was talking about."

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish" is now available in the Notre Dame Bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Every copy bought online comes personally autographed by Daniel Colt Collins.

  

Every online purchase also qualifies as an automatic entry into the Lucky Leprechaun Hat Sweepstakes, awarding one lucky fan with an autographed game-worn Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun Hat at the conclusion of football season.  

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Leprechaun Quote Countdown: #6

Only 6 days until football season for the Fighting Irish...

To celebrate the release of his book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" IRISH CREED writer / former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins is releasing 10 exclusive quotes leading up to the season opener in Notre Dame Stadium.

Quote #6 comes from chapter five, which captures the excitement of campus during opening weekend at Notre Dame:

"I let loose during my first pep-rally, 'Notre Daaame!  Make.  Some.  NOISE!  It's officially football season!  I said MAKE SOME NOISE!' Thousands of students wearing their respective dorm colors gathered closer to the stage while chanting "Here come the Irish!"  I let them take control of the crowd..."

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish" is now available in the Notre Dame Bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Every copy bought online comes personally autographed by Daniel Colt Collins.

  

Every online purchase also qualifies as an automatic entry into the Lucky Leprechaun Hat Sweepstakes, awarding one lucky fan with an autographed game-worn Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun Hat at the conclusion of football season.  

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Leprechaun Quote Countdown: Lucky #7

Just one week until football season for the Fighting Irish...

To celebrate the release of his book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" IRISH CREED writer / former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins is releasing 10 exclusive quotes leading up to the season opener in Notre Dame Stadium.

Quote #7 comes from Chapter 5, which takes readers behind the scenes of an entire football season from the perspective of that little green guy on the sidelines:

"I noticed a peculiar energy building on campus all week.  It reminded me of something I felt before, but I couldn't quite place it.  Then, while ceremoniously carving my initials into the lucky shillelagh like every Leprechaun before me, I suddenly knew what it was... The students, players, coaches, and fans were finally starting to believe again.  I sensed it.  Notre Dame was back."

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish" is now available in the Notre Dame Bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Every copy bought online comes personally autographed by Daniel Colt Collins.

  

Every online purchase also qualifies as an automatic entry into the Lucky Leprechaun Hat Sweepstakes, awarding one lucky fan with an autographed game-worn Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun Hat at the conclusion of football season.  

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Leprechaun Quote Countdown: #8

Only 8 days left until football season for the Fighting Irish...

To celebrate the release of his book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" IRISH CREED writer / former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins is releasing 10 exclusive quotes leading up to the season opener in Notre Dame Stadium.

Quote #8 comes from the book's prelude, which captures the moments leading up to the season-opening kickoff inside Notre Dame Stadium:

"...the familiar voice of Mike Collins blared over the loudspeakers: 'Heeeeeere come the Irish!'  Mike wasn't lying.  The Irish were coming right at me.  A flash of gold hit my eye as they burst out of the tunnel into the sunlight, and I was off to the races..."

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish" is now available in the Notre Dame Bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Every copy bought online comes personally autographed by Daniel Colt Collins.

  

Every online purchase also qualifies as an automatic entry into the Lucky Leprechaun Hat Sweepstakes, awarding one lucky fan with an autographed game-worn Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun Hat at the conclusion of football season.  

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Leprechaun Quote Countdown: #9

Only 9 days remain until football season for the Fighting Irish...

To celebrate the release of his book "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" IRISH CREED writer / former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins is releasing 10 exclusive quotes leading up to the season opener in Notre Dame Stadium.

Quote #9 comes from the book's prelude, which captures the moments leading up to the season-opening kickoff inside Notre Dame Stadium:

"Over 81,000 voices hushed in the ninety-degree heat, waiting to erupt on my cue... I could feel the weight of over 162,000 eyes bearing down on me... Only one thought filled my mind..."

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish" is now available in the Notre Dame Bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Every copy bought online comes personally autographed by Daniel Colt Collins.

  

Every online purchase also qualifies as an automatic entry into the Lucky Leprechaun Hat Sweepstakes, awarding one lucky fan with an autographed game-worn Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun Hat at the conclusion of football season.  

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

www.LeprechaunBook.com

Leprechaun Quote Countdown: #10

Only 10 days separate us from the 2013 edition of Notre Dame Football...

It's a familiar feeling for every Fighting Irish fan.
The hype seems almost palpable during this exciting time of year, and IRISH CREED writer / former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun Daniel Colt Collins is proud to announce the release of his brand new behind-the-scenes tell-all book:

In this autobiographical account, Daniel Colt Collins presents a never-before-seen insider's look into life at Notre Dame from his own first-hand perspective as he shares unforgettable stories about becoming the face of the Fighting Irish.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, IRISH CREED will release 10 quotes from "Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun" leading up to the season opener in Notre Dame Stadium.

Quote #10 comes from the book's prelude, which captures what it feels like to take that first charge out of the tunnel onto the field in front of 81,000 Fighting Irish fans.

“Notre Dame Stadium filled to the brim with an electric charge…

I triumphantly waved the Blue and Gold to our sellout crowd and millions more watching on TV…  An inescapable smile spread across my face while I paused to take it all in.  A wildly unlikely journey had brought me to this unforgettable moment in my life, and an even more unbelievable story was about to unfold…”

"Life as the Notre Dame Leprechaun: Behind the Face of the Fighting Irish" is now available in the Notre Dame Bookstore and online at www.LeprechaunBook.com.

Every copy bought online comes personally autographed by Daniel Colt Collins.

Every online purchase also qualifies as an automatic entry into the Lucky Leprechaun Hat Sweepstakes, awarding one lucky fan with an autographed game-worn Notre Dame Fighting Irish Leprechaun Hat at the conclusion of football season.

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

www.LeprechaunBook.com

You might be a Fighting Irish fan if...

After a resurgent 12-1 season last year, you may have hopped on the bandwagon by calling yourself part of the most loved, most hated and most relevant fan base in the world.

Before you avow your allegiance to the Fighting Irish faithful, make sure you're ready to take the next step.  It's not always easy being green, and not everyone is cut out to be a loyal son or daughter of Notre Dame.

Think you're already there? Here are 13 surefire signs that you might be a Fighting Irish fan: "You Might Be a Fighting Irish Fan If..." from IRISH CREED writer Daniel Colt Collins via Bleacher Report

The Leprechaun's Guide to Game Day

Check out the list Irish Creed writer Daniel Colt Collins compiled for Bleacher Report about how to enjoy game day to the fullest at Notre Dame! Think he missed anything? Leave a comment on B/R!
GO IRISH!

The Leprechaun's Guide to Game Day

Crimson and Clover over and over

This is it… 

The two most storied programs in the history of college football (sorry, Michigan), will clash on January 7 when #1 Notre Dame takes on heavily favored defending champion #2 Alabama.

I’ve witnessed more than my fair share of ups and downs during my 7 years as a Notre Dame student, as the lofty expectations of my freshman year (pollsters had given us a #3 preseason ranking in anticipation of Brady Quinn’s senior campaign) gave way to the lowest of the lows during my sophomore year (try as I might, I can’t quite erase the scarring memories of a 3-9 season), eventually leading to the firing of Charlie Weis during my senior year when I served as the official Fightin’ Irish Leprechaun. 

I was amongst the first to welcome our new leader Brian Kelly to campus three Decembers ago, and when I asked him to return us to glory he responded with that now-familiar smirk of Kelly confidence. 

When I decided to attend law school and prolong my career as a Notre Dame student by three more years, I joked that the sole reason was to watch as Coach Kelly fulfilled the task I gave him of returning us to glory.  Many laughed at the idea of a team that had just lost 21 games in three seasons playing for a national championship within the next three years.  It is now year three.  Who’s laughing now? (Certainly not Mark May or Rick Reilly)

More impressive than our meteoric rise under Kelly has been the way we have done it.  As a representative of the athletics department during my time as the Leprechaun, and as an intern while in law school, I have seen just how seriously we take our values and our commitment to excellence, from the ADs at the top all the way down to the managers and cheerleaders.  Lots of schools have mission statements for their athletics departments.  Not every school stays true to its avowed values (see Florida State, Ohio State, Miami, Southern Cal, and even Penn State).

That’s where this game comes in.  We don’t do everything perfectly here at Notre Dame, but we strive to, and by holding ourselves to a higher standard we stand out.  That’s why we’re the most polarizing team in sports, period. 

Critics claimed Notre Dame would never again compete for a title.  They were wrong.  So-called "experts" discounted Kelly’s 2012 squad every step of the way, predicting defeat after defeat only to have the Fightin’ Irish prove them wrong again and again.  

Frankly, ESPN should be embarrassed by the quality of the talking heads they employ to spew nonsense week after week, and I wish there was someway to hold clowns like Jesse Palmer and David Pollack accountable for what they say one week prior to pretending they’ve held a completely opposite viewpoint all along the following week, but I’ll save that for another time.

Here we are, standing at the brink of a national title at a day and age when so many had given up hope in the ability to win without sacrificing standards.  By coming this far, we’ve already won in the sense that we’ve shown that it can be done.  By winning, and dethroning the mighty SEC, which ESPN would have you believe belongs in the NFL, we will force all those who see or hear about us to stop and ponder our success as a team, as an athletics department, and as the preeminent Catholic university in the world. 

Notre Dame is a global force for good, fighting for countless worthy causes.  Among those is inspiring a worldwide fan base to believe in the possibility of success with integrity. 

Here’s to hoping that, come January 7, the whole world will be talking about that game between Crimson and Clover over and over.

Windy City Weekend Recap: from a former Leprechaun

Irish Creed sought out former Fightin' Irish Leprechaun, and now current guest writer, David Zimmer ("Leprechaun Diz") to share his weekend experience with the Fightin' Irish Faithful after making the trip to Chicago for the Catholics v. Convicts matchup in Soldier Field.  Not only is David a great friend, and a true Notre Dame Man, but he has a knack for capturing the essence of what will go down as a weekend to remember for thousands of current and former Notre Dame students.    

Catch his Windy City Weekend Recap below, and check out the Irish Creed Exclusive Interview with Leprechaun Diz for some great perspective from someone who truly understands what the Fightin' Irish Spirit is all about: 
Part I Part II

As I woke up last Friday morning I knew that only a couple classes and an exam stood between me and a trip to see my beloved Fighting Irish take on the Miami Hurricanes at Soldier Field in Chicago. Unfortunately on my current campus of Purdue University, where I now attend veterinary school, there was no buzz about the upcoming Catholics vs. Convicts matchup and I was hard pressed to even get a college football conversation out of any of my fellow students. So, during lecture I made do by reading Irish Creed articles and following any recent tweets from @TheNDleprechaun. Luckily, I soon I found myself packing my monogram jacket, lucky suspenders, and faded old ND T-shirt as I prepared for the Windy City.

As I drove down Lake Shore Drive I witnessed the sun setting and the city come alive as if to express its joy that it could once again welcome home a dominant Notre Dame football team. The city lights replaced the setting sun and the monstrous shadow of that spaceship they call Soldier Field loomed overhead as I passed into the city. Arriving at a friend’s apartment in Lincoln Park (home to a solid population of Irish alums) my phone exploded with texts from old friends who were spreading the word of what bars everyone would be at to celebrate our reunion in Chi Town. It wasn’t long before we reached the bars and I got my first glimpse of exactly how many Domers had made the trip to Chicago for the game. Two bars on opposite corners were overflowing with Irish students past and present as lines snaked around the edges of the buildings. When I arrived at the door the bouncer asked me in an exasperated tone, “What’s the occasion? We haven’t been this busy in years.” I simply informed him, “Notre Dame is in town for a football game. And wherever we have a game, this is what a city should expect.”

The following morning I awoke to the sounds of Cathy Richardson belting out the lyrics to “Here Come the Irish” as I joined my friends in jigging around the apartment like six year olds on Christmas morning. As we got ready to hit the Soldier Field parking lot we turned on College Gameday in time to catch Manti Te’o explaining to the nation what it truly means to be a part of a university and college football team that treats its own like family.

Out in the parking lots it was a blur of old friends, Irish faithful, and excited fans as we prepared to descend en masse on the stadium. As I had scavenged tickets at the last minute from a family friend, I made my way to the upper decks of the stadium not sure what to expect. As I looked down on the field I realized that there is not a bad seat in that stadium, especially when it’s hosting our smashmouth football team.  

As the game played on I found that I couldn’t be more pleased with the other fans I got to share my gametime experience with. Even in Section 440, Row 36 (second row from the top), we did pushups for every score, screamed our hearts out on every key play, and never sat down for the entire game. When fans all the way in top of the stadium participate like that, it says something about your university and your football team.

The game ended in dominating fashion and the following day I packed up to head back home for another week of tedious schoolwork, now seemingly a method of passing time between Irish football games. And as I once more drove down Lake Shore Drive, this time heading in the opposite direction, I found myself marveling at the sun as it shown down on this beautiful city. 

I realized that with a 5-0 start, College Gameday coming to The House That Rockne Built, and a chance to beat up on the Stanford Cardinal, the sun was definitely shining down on the Fighting Irish as well.

David Zimmer

Notre Dame Leprechaun 2010-2012