Fall Vacation Back Home In Indiana

It's almost over, but it was a great time up here in South Bend! It was a time for football, family, friends, fall, and a bunch of other stuff.

Joyce and I attended the USC game on the 17th. As with many ND games this year, it came down to the final minute. Our seats are at the goal line to the right of the pressbox, and the final drive took place at our end of the field. We couldn't quite punch it in for the tying score that would have sent the game into overtime, but it was exciting nevertheless. ND had a second chance after a review showed that :01 was left on the clock. The intended receiver slipped, and the pass dropped incomplete. It brought back memories of the 2005 USC game here in the stadium where USC drove from inside their own 10-yard line to the exact same spot in our end zone. The difference was that they were able to score to win the game. It was great to attend another game in the stadium!

The game on October 24th was against Boston College, a university similar to Notre Dame. One speaker called them ND's "Little Brother". They had a winning streak of winning against ND. Joyce and I saw the 1993 game in person here in the stadium where BC kicked a last-minute field goal to win the game and knock ND out of the #1 spot in the rankings. The game this year was not a high-scoring game, but the final drive for BC recalled to me the 1993 game where they won at the end.

The ND defense stepped up, though, and caused a fumble and two interceptions in the last quarter. BC's final drive was killed by an ND interception, and that ended the game! Whew, but it was great to see ND win that game.

Love those stadium hot dogs in both games! We'll make a stop in Sevierville/Pigeon Forge, TN on the way home, then it'll be back in town on Wednesday. A restful vacation was had by all.

ND Squeaks Out Another One

It ended up being 37-30 after one overtime period, Notre Dame beating Washington. It was another nail-biter, not knowing if the Irish were going to lose it at the very end of the game. ND stopped Washington in three goal line stands - that's a miracle in itself that the Huskies couldn't score. Now Jimmy Clausen's name is being mentioned for the Heisman award later in the year. Tim Tebow has been out for a few weeks recovering from a concussion, and Colt McCoy from Texas is #2 on the list. That's a longshot for Jimmy, especially considering that ND isn't in the Top 25. I say "let it fly" to Jimmy to rack up all the yardage and victories that he can to give him the best shot. Both ND and USC are off this Saturday, October 10th, and then they both meet in South Bend the next Saturday, the 17th. Hot dog - we'll be there for that one, and the ND-BC game the following week. We were lucky enough to be at the ND-USC game in 2005 (the "Bush-Push" game where USC won at the very end)...talk about having heart attacks at the finish of a game! Below is the 2007 game where ND wore the throwback colors from 30 years ago. See if you can find the ball and the receiver.