This was a huge weekend for Notre Dame - the launch of its 2009 football season and their subsequent 35-0 defeat of the Nevada Wolfpack! I think that this was actually my second college football game ever. The first was at my Dad's 25th West Point graduation reunion, but in comparison with that one, this was much more satisfying.
If I've learned anything about Notre Dame thus far, it's that the whole community here feeds off of tradition. The Friday before gamedays, for example, the marching band trumpets herald the festivities by playing a routine inside the golden dome, and at midnight the drumline performs in front of the dome. Saturday afternoons see the bagpipe band marching across campus while the thousands of students and alumni who have descended on South Bend for the game enjoy the picnics, the tailgates, and the carnival-like attractions. We at the seminary host a tailgate for every home game, which means that some of us will be out there from 10am to game time in order to host and entertain anyone who might want to stop by for a burger and a beer. Then it's the band pre-game show in the stadium, and everything takes off from there. The game itself was awesome. I'm trying to learn a couple new players' names every week so that I can contribute to the football conversations that will plaster campus from now until January.
The rest of the weekend was spent with things like writing papers, getting trained for altar serving at the basilica, seeing the family who came up to visit, and vocation meetings. Needless to say, it was thoroughly exhausting, but I think we're getting into real rhythm of life here at the seminary.
On a side note, I met Fr. Jenkins today at the priest residence - just happened to run into him in the hall! Now I just need to keep my eye out for Fr. Hesburgh.
~SCP
