Comments for ND Nation

Comment on If You Were a Tree…. by Avon Domer

Avon Domer — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:05:19 +0000

FYI: I sent my check addressed to the Susan McGonigal Memorial Fund and I received a call from the sports information department asking me to re-write the check with the beneficiary being The University of Notre Dame. I hope that’s helpful.

Comment on If You Were a Tree…. by June 13, 2013 – Things I Found Interesting (And So Should You) | Fighting Irish Blog

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:30:44 +0000

[...] means to myself and others who worked with me and words will not do it justice, but our friends at NDNation.com do a great job. [...]

Comment on If You Were a Tree…. by Mike Coffey

Mike Coffey — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:42:20 +0000

I made the check out to the Memorial Project, so I’m guessing they’ll know what to do with it.

Comment on If You Were a Tree…. by The_Phoenix

The_Phoenix — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:27:24 +0000

Mike, do we have to make mention that the donation is to Susan’s bench & tree fund? Or will Bernie Cafarelli know what to do with any money he receives?

Thanks!

Comment on Hardnose by NCHDomer

NCHDomer — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:33:23 +0000

Ara is not only my favorite coach but also the embodiment of the Notre Dame spirit that was told to me by an upperclassman my freshman year – we never lose, we only run out of time now and again. I always point to Ara as an example of the significance of both coaching and the concept of a team. That turnaround in 1964 truly was remarkable and showed that the right person could turn, in one year, a losing team into one of the best teams – irrespective of the talent he had on the team. And after reading the book Resurrection, I was able to talk to the player mentioned in this article, Tony Carey, who relayed wonderful stories of Ara and his time at Notre Dame. Anyone fortunate to have a chance to talk to any of his former players should avail themselves of the opportunity and listen to how they speak of Ara. You will hear respect, humor, love, fondness and loyalty in their voices.

My own small story is a variation on the snow story. I remember the first time it started to rain during a game. The student section started chanting “Ara stop the rain” and I, of course, followed along wondering why we were doing it. During the chant the rain stopped. I do not remember louder cheers coming from the stadium than at that moment. I never wondered again why we asked Ara to stop the rain. He is a great man that I got to meet a few times while in school and after graduation on football Saturdays. I am happy for those very brief encounters and having been a student during the Era of Ara.

Comment on Hardnose by mikefocke

mikefocke — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:39:47 +0000

I was at Madison and got a parking ticket that took 5 months to catch up via a call from my father. No doubt about it, he said you did it and pay. Same as Ara’s attitude.

It was a glorious year made only the more so after 3 years (for me) of Joe and Huey. I’ve seen several examples of leadership making a huge difference over the years with new leadership being able to win with the same guys who were average the year before. Ara made a difference and I’m only glad he got out before it cost him his health. A class guy.

Comment on Hardnose by 69domer

69domer — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:51:33 +0000

I recall some “enterprsing” ND students pulling up some of the rotting redwood benchs in the student section and building a fire IN THE STADIUM during the 68 Navy game. It was snowing so hard the security guys must not have noticed. I also remember when Pat O’Brien (played Rockne in the movie) appeared at the pep rally before the USC game. HIs magic did not work; we lost on last minute field goal.

Comment on Hardnose by SEE

SEE — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:35:18 +0000

You need to publish your own book; you’ve got a lot of cool stories in that head of yours.

Comment on Hardnose by RocketShark

RocketShark — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:42:15 +0000

Ara is an inspiring success story and utterly beloved by ND Nation. That he had not graduated from Notre Dame (and wasn’t even Catholic) apparently grated on older alumni at the time of his hiring. It’s interesting to note that none of the three supposed candidates for the job were alumni (the other two being Devine and Lombardi). The administration had struggled with the hires after forcing Frank Leahy out. But this time they got the perfect man at the perfect time. That it came dangerously close to not happening on the day the announcement was to be made to the press is a bit scary to consider (the story was there was a sticking point in the last minute negotiations and Ara angrily left. Neither he nor Fr. Joyce publicly commented on the issue, but Ara later joked Fr. Joyce wanted shamrocks on the helmets and Ara wanted camels). A lot of coaches with big egos would have never returned. But it’s plain to see that Ara really wanted to come to Notre Dame, and it happened. God bless him.

Comment on Hardnose by 31sorin

31sorin — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:37:07 +0000

The rally that introduced Ara to the students was held on Sorin porch, not in front of Walsh.