I have been a student here for a long time to know how it goes.
Four years is not long enough to really understand anything. But trust me and listen carefully if you are a senior like me and you’ve ever seen him.
Let me paint the image. In the fresh nights of August, the excitement for the football season of Notre-Dame is built. And he continues to build as the students go back to the campus. There is a buzz.
Then, the Irish suffers a defeat at the start of the season.
The excitation is deflated. There is never less energy on this campus than a day after the football team is losing. Then the lessons start. Life continues. The excitement on the campus remains low and takes a long time to resume, if this is the case.
Does that seem familiar? This should.
In 2022, Notre Dame was classified n ° 5 and the threshing media of the first year of Marcus Freeman at the helm resulted in a defeat of week 1 at the Ohio State. What followed? A defeat of week 2 against Marshall. Season. In 2023, two thrown victories gave way to a defeat of week 3 to … you guessed it, Ohio State. We should have won and knew it. What followed? Barely scratching by Duke and a defeat in Louisville the following week. Season.
Then, of course, there was last year. We all know what happened last year: Niu.
What I think is sometimes lost about the consequences of the loss of NIU in the middle of the race that followed in the national championship match, it was cynicism that followed this shocking defeat. It took a long time for there again an excitement around football. The morning mornings on this campus were as silent as I never knew them. Experience in the stands could be completely terrible, from the perpetual hoots of Riley Leonard to an indifference outright. The atmosphere did not bring an appearance to the national championship in January.
Now we are still there. The situation seems too familiar. A defeat at the start of the season brings the feeling that, once again, there is no margin of error for this Irish team.
2025, however, may be different. To start, this team is better than the team in 2022 and 2023, even if they have not sometimes shown it at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. They also have the benefit of the 2 team playoffs, which maintains the after-season game door in life despite the debilitating defeats at the start of the season, as we saw last year. These are all positive points.
There is also a key difference compared to last year, however, which gives an increased sense of urgency to now.
Last year, despite the cynical energy on the campus, the team had adjustment against Purdue and Miami (OH) to learn how to isolate itself effectively from noise. They had time to come together and reach their full potential.
This year, there is no relief of this type. In two weeks, the Irish will welcome Texas A&M for their first home game. And if they lose, the season is widely over.
So what does that mean for us, students-favors? We have a better team, but an extremely familiar situation. How can we do our part?
We have to get behind them tomorrow.
This year, there is no room for cynicism. Yes, there is a lot to criticize the match on Sunday. There are a lot to upset. It’s natural, and the goal is not to ignore this.
But let go of your frustration now. Do not let it linger, because in two weeks, this campus will have to bring great energy to the Notre Dame stadium.
Rest and rest your lungs, my comrades.
The spirit of Notre-Dame will need you.
