 "Photo: Lucia Benavides")
This Op-Ed is a response to a pro-Notre Dame view expressed by Bob Griffin, a 2007 ND graduate, in the Observer.
Dear Michael, (Sorry Bob, you started with The Godfather reference),
I agree that we will be going to the mattresses this weekend. It will be a classic Irish vs. Irish war. (What, you thought the Fighting Irish of Indiana had a lock on pugnacious, proud sons of Ireland?)
If so, I would not recommend you visit Southie. (That's South Boston. But I would not expect a wet-eared member of the proud Class of '07 to know that.) Especially if you let loose your Midwest prognostications in any Southie drinking establishment with Boston College allegiance. As to being your "weaker, inferior little brother":
First, I would like to point out that BC, a Catholic institution like Notre Dame, has 8,500 undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Notre Dame, according to its Web site has 11,600 undergraduate and graduate students.
I bring this up to illustrate that Notre Dame has enjoyed its 800-pound gorilla status for a long time. It has been well deserved for it's excellence in collegiate athletics and academia. It is no longer the largest (and best?) Jesuit university.
Second, I will also be the first to admit that BC has had problems with point shaving and betting scandals in the last century.
Let's get that out of the way (not that you would have brought it up). But BC has beaten Notre Dame in the last four meetings on the gridiron, dating back to 2001. And, uh .... when was the last time that you won a postseason bowl game?
Third, just who are you to tell ND undergrads not to storm the field if they win?
You were probably celebrating with everyone else when ND ended the BC basketball streak that you mention. I doubt that you sat back in your residence halls and said: "Guys! It's just another win."
Your "holier than thou" attitude plays badly. Student exuberance is the very essence of college football. You must have never seen College Game Day hosted at any campus. If ND wins this weekend, the students should bring "Touchdown Jesus" onto the field if they want to.
Fourth, you urge the ND fans: Don't show BC the respect that "they don't deserve."
As a sports fan, or at least an anti-BC fan, have you paid any attention at all to what BC has done under the prior stewardship of coach Tom O'Brien?
Off the top of my head, I believe that BC has seven straight bowl wins. Please refer to the last sentence in No. 2 .... And did Notre Dame not fire coach Tyrone Willingham before his contract was up? And was that not the first time that was ever done? Talk about respect. And how does Mr. Charlie Weis' record compare to Mr. Willingham's at this point?
And last but not least: "Storming the field is about being an underdog and Notre Dame is never an underdog against Boston College." Um, have you seen the point spread? If Notre Dame upsets BC this weekend, I will be very disappointed. But that is the beauty of college sports.
You assert, "when we beat them this weekend, let's act like we have done it before. Because we have." Well, I hope the BC students, alumni, and friends go crazy.
As college football fans, they deserve it.
Steve Carroll graduated from Boston College in 1975.
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