As the shimmering of golden helmets begins to peek out from the tunnel of Notre Dame stadium, 80,000 people erupt together in support for their team. “Here Come the Irish” chants rain down and blanket the players as they burst onto the field. The spirit of Notre Dame hangs in the air like a cloud of pixie dust, enchanting the crowd with blind faith. No matter how good or bad the team’s season is turning out, we are certain they will play like champions today. I’m sure a lot of people get to share this experience in stadiums across the country, but there is just something extra special for me about Notre Dame—something magical.
My father’s side of the family has always been close because of a shared love for my grandparents, one of whom I never met. Although my grandpa George passed away before I was born, I inherited from him a love for something that has helped me stay close with my cousins, aunts, and uncles through the years—bonding over the University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame was not Dr. George’s alma mater. He attended dental school at Marquette. The Marquette football program disbanding in 1960 left him without a team to support in a sport he loved. George’s dedication to his Catholic faith and deep Midwestern roots made it an obvious choice of who to root for next—the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. His passion for Notre Dame quickly grew into a lifelong obsession that will persist in the Knoedler family for generations to come.
I was lucky to have opportunities to travel to Notre Dame’s campus a lot throughout my childhood. Some of my fondest and oldest memories belong to these trips, as we piled as many Knoedlers as possible into my dad’s green Suburban and made the six-hour drive from Mosinee, Wisconsin to South Bend, Indiana. Although the campus has changed a lot over the years, the “magic” of Notre Dame is always present and hard to describe to someone who has never made the trip. I didn’t grow up in the Catholic faith, but every time I’m able to attend a Notre Dame football game on a cold fall day it’s a “pilgrimage.”
When Museum director Matt Foss supplied me with images a few weeks ago to help promote the upcoming exhibition Gridiron Garments, featuring the evolution of regalia worn by Pro football players, I knew which player I wanted to feature. I chose an image of Green Bay Packers quarterback Paul Hornung hurdling over a pile of players for a touchdown. Hornung won the Heisman Trophy, awarded to college football’s most outstanding player, for Notre Dame in 1956. Grandpa George was a huge fan.
Although I love supporting the Packers, Brewers, Bucks, and Badgers, my sports fandom “holy grail” is witnessing a Notre Dame national championship. 1988 was the last time the Irish claimed a title. Unfortunately, I was just a twinkle in my father’s eye at the time. Five days from now, Notre Dame will take the field one last time this season playing for that elusive crown. My grandparents’ spirits smiling down and my family’s cheers will be helping the Irish to victory. “Let’s Go Irish!”
