Renovations - Campus Crossroads Project

A full renovation plan was uncovered this week for Notre Dame's stadium.  There's been "talk" of this after Brian Kelly's first season as head coach.

I read an article that laid out the plans and what the new facilities have to offer.  The plans look amazing!  I think the new establishment will have a lot to offer to the athletes of the university, not just the football players and staff.  The upper and lower bowls are not changing and an addition of 4,000 premium seats is planned.

Probably the most interesting points that were not included in the plans are the most controversial: 1. JumboTrons and 2. Field surface

 There is opposition to JumboTrons as the president of the university stated that they present a "circus" feel at professional games and it takes away from the tradition of ND stadium.  Personally, I'd like the see the field remain the same.

My Pick 6 Important points to Campus Croassroads Project:
1. 750,000 square feet of additions
2. Project will start in a year or two
3. New press box
4. Option of ND stadium hosting concerts
5. Other departments gaining new space
6. Preservation to ND's campus and current stadium

~Gretchen
Go Irish!

Stars and Stripes

No flag flies higher. No symbol more recognizable. No one thing can emit more emotion, more patriotism more pride in us all, than the American Flag and the song that accompanies it at all sporting events in this country. 

It gives me moosebumps (as my children call them) each and every time I step foot in The Big House and witness 110,000+ people around me saluting the flag and singing the National Anthem.  At that moment in time we are all united.  We all have that feeling of pride. We are all cheering for the same team. USA. And then, if we're really lucky, there'll be a flyover of some sort, just in case the adrenaline isn't pumping quite enough yet. I've seen many a flyover in my afternoons and evenings at The Big House and they are all chill-provoking experiences in their own way.

When I see that flag and hear that song, it's more than that for me.  I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the soldiers, but I also reflect on their families.  The moms and dads. The brothers and sisters. The husbands and wives. The sons and the daughters.  I cannot fathom how incredibly difficult it must be to say that kind of goodbye, yet still feel an indescribable amount of pride. I don't have to look too far to find people in my life that know that kind of goodbye.  My mom and dad did it, more than once.  Both sets of my grandparents did it too. One of my grandfathers I never met and the other just couldn't bring himself to talk about his experiences. At least not to me. 

When my mom said goodbye to my dad, she wouldn't hear his voice again until he was back on U.S. soil.  She didn't have instant communication to know where he was and if he was okay. There was no Skype or Snapchat or Vine. No email or Facebook or Twitter or text messages. Only hand written letters that took months to get to her. She still has these letters. I snooped when I was a child and found them. I read them and cried.  She doesn't know I did that. (she does now) For my mom, life went on while he was away.  It had to. She worked and spent time with her friends. Most of them were dealing with the same thing she was, in their own way. My dad, well, let's just say he had his own ways of making the time pass while he was away.

The grandfather that I never met was in the Navy.  My grandma has a picture of him in his formal dress uniform.  Every time she shows me that picture she says, "Wasn't he so good lookin?" I know she feels a deep sense of pride and looks forward to the day they meet again.  I hope he's wearing that uniform.

The grandfather that never talked to me about his experiences was in the Army.  He arrived on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.  Just like in the movie Saving Private Ryan. Only this wasn't a movie, this was his life.  He never spoke about that day or the days, months and years that followed.  I'm glad he didn't. I would have looked at him so differently.  Like a soldier and not just my grandpa. I learned more about his military experiences after he died. If I could say one more thing to him it would be a simple, "Thank you."

I make it a point to say thank you to any military personnel I see.  I am thankful for so many things, but here is my Pick 6 list:

1. Freedom

2. Choices

3. Health

4. Ability

5. Opportunity

6. Football


~Bekki
Go Blue!

Star-Spangled Banner

Just before the start of every sporting event in the United States of America the Star-Spangled Banner is played, sung, or by some, squealed.  Either way, it's a quiet, powerful moment where all attendees show patriotism and respect for our country.  I've always found this moment to be of utmost emotion, at times even getting me choked up.  In some cases, like the Big House with 110, 000 people, complete silence and stillness occurs and there isn't any rooting for or against a team, player, coach or referee.  It's a moment of unity and respect. 

It's also a moment that builds up the intensity of the upcoming start of the game.  The cheers at the end of the Star-Spangled Banner quickly turn into hoots and hollers for the team you are cheering on.  Let the game begin!

Thank you to all of the veterans, current soldiers, and military personnel who serve our country.  We wouldn't be the best country without the groundwork you laid for us.  Many times our freedom can be taken for granted.  During the Star-Spangled Banner I often think to myself about how lucky we are as Americans.  I take a moment to say short prayer of thanks.  Then I pray for the safety of all players.

My grandfather, George R. Eggert, Sr. fought in World War II.  He's the closest person to me that I've known to fight in a war.  He didn't talk much about it unless he was asked.  He's important to me in many ways, however two things stand out about him that I wanted to share because they are relevant to this post: 1. He was described as patriotic, and 2. He was a Notre Dame football fan. 

My Pick 6 best things about living in the USA:
1. Freedom
2. Opportunity
3. Equality
4. Peace
5. Unity
6. Football

After all, at ND the phrase commonly used is, "God. Country. Notre Dame."

Go IRISH!
~Gretchen

Blogger Introductions

In an effort to help our readers get to know us, we thought sharing a bit of information about ourselves might be helpful.
 
Gretchen is a wife, mother of two, part-time speech-language pathologist, and has an all out, undying, never ending love for Notre Dame football.  Go IRISH!

Bekki is a wife, mother of two, full time special education teacher, and has a love for University of Michigan football that's as big as the Big House.  Go BLUE!

As women, we realize our love for college football is atypical. Our side conversations at work, home, play dates with our children, Christmas parties, professional development lunches always include some football talk.  Always.  Just like our beloved teams always warm up.  Always.

During the season we look forward to Saturday Game Day like the camel looks forward to Hump Day. We have a friendly rivalry with our respective teams and each other.  After a win we talk about what went well and what we saw as problem areas.  After a loss, well, to be honest, it can get pretty ugly sometimes. Like we said in the first post, it usually takes us until Tuesday to get over a loss and start focusing on the next opponent, though we never really forget about a loss.  We are careful not to celebrate too much and  are consoling when her team may not be performing to her expectations. We are intense fans and our support never waivers. Don't get us started on the level of difficulty night games present - waiting all day is truly a test of patience.   However, there is much more to each of us than just football fanatics so:

Our Pick 6 Things You Should Know About Us While Following Our Blog:
1. We met in 2008 when we began working in the same elementary building.
2. We instantly became friends and shortly after best friends.  Needless to say, college football has fostered this friendship.
3. Saturday game day is a big deal to us. Huge!  A TV better be available if we are not at the game.
4. We love Vera Bradley (yes, we are still women at heart!!!).
5. We pour our hearts into our students at school.
6. We care tremendously about each other and each other's families and football.