This season was one for the books. More importantly, this season was my final football season as a student and a football recruiting intern at Notre Dame.
As I look back on this season, I think about our Head Coach, Marcus Freeman, who guides the team by The Golden Standard. Freeman challenges not just our players, but our staff, coaches, and Notre Dame to take up his ideals: challenge everything, unit strength, and competitive spirit.
The Fighting Irish were ready to take on the challenge this season, and so was I.
Challenge Everything: Find a Better Way
On Thursday, August 30th, my friends and I flew from O’Hare Airport to College Station on a plane full of other Notre Dame students to watch the season opener. I gabbed with my girlfriends at the terminal door, eager to visit Texas for the first time and to see my first Notre Dame away game.
The night before the game, we giddily set out our outfits and shot a TikTok to show the world what we would be wearing. For me, who typically works on game days with football recruiting, and my friend Maggie, an athletic trainer who had taken the game off, enjoying the chance to be fans for the day was a rare luxury. We embarked across College Station and tailgated around, feeling the warmth of the sun while we watched the fans scattered around Kyle Field.
Always the overthinker, I was already looking ahead to the inaugural twelve-team playoff that would begin in December. If we played well enough, Notre Dame Stadium would be able to host its first-ever playoff game. But, I couldn’t get ahead of myself, especially not when the Aggie fans were whooping and yelling. Their cheers brought me back to the present as we rode escalator after escalator up to the top section of Kyle Field.
Notre Dame was ranked 7th in the country, with Texas A&M not far behind at #20. The polls said we were the better team, and now we just had to prove it to everyone.
Myself, Maggie, Abbie, and Helen at Kyle Field
My friends and I filed into our seats, where, of course, we were seated next to an Aggies fan. We bantered back and forth at the beginning but eventually settled into silence as the game grew more and more intense.
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard impressed the crowd with his running abilities, rushing for 12 carries for 63 yards and passing to nine different receivers. Running back Jeremiyah Love made an impact on all of us, beginning his amazing season with 14 carries for 91 yards while safety Adon Shuler got his first career interception to give the Irish some energy.
Being a Notre Dame fan is special.
When Knute Rockne took Notre Dame on the road in 1924 for its first-ever away game at USC, he probably never envisioned us having such a national schedule 100 years later. This trip to College Station would be the first stop before we traveled to two NFL stadiums, one MLB stadium, and maybe even a trip to the National Championship.
We sang the alma mater for the first time that football season in an unfamiliar place, but we felt right at home. I remember screaming “Let’s go, Irish!” at the top of my lungs as we walked out of the stadium, proud as can be.
For me, being a fan is essential to my identity. Whether it be a fan of sports or music, I have always loved having something to cheer for. I was proud to cheer on the Fighting Irish.
Unit Strength: Choose to Love
A few weeks later, with Notre Dame now boasting a 10-1 record, I was off on another trip. This time, I was heading to New York City to see Notre Dame take on the Army Black Knights for our annual Shamrock Series.
The Shamrock Series began in 2009 and is our “home game away from home.” Notre Dame has never lost when they travel to play and take over a city.
I had never been to the Shamrock Series before, so I was thrilled to watch the game.
Little did I know I would see much more than that.
I flew home to Albany, New York, and then took the train down on game day with my parents. We dropped off our bags at the hotel and ventured to the Sheraton Hotel in Times Square, where Notre Dame was headquartered for the day.
The windows of the Sheraton were covered in photos of Notre Dame players, the hotel was packed with members of the band, and everyone was there for the Fighting Irish. We followed the band to watch them perform in Times Square and as we clapped for our fight song, I felt surrounded by so much love and happiness.
I took the subway with other Notre Dame fans to the historic Yankee Stadium, where Notre Dame would play its third Shamrock Series game, and joined my friends in our front-row seats. I held tightly onto them, practically pinching them.
Myself and Mackenzie at Yankee Stadium
We watched Jeremiyah Love hurdle, score, and flash his handmade heart out at the crowd and we sent one right back. Notre Dame created and inspired love.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Myself, Abbie, and Allie at the Notre Dame vs Indiana CFP Playoff Game at Notre Dame
With a few more wins and an exciting Selection Sunday, Notre Dame had earned the 7th seed in the college football playoffs and would host Indiana University at Notre Dame Stadium. The in-state battle struck home for some of my fellow dorm mates from Indiana, and on December 20th, we crowded Notre Dame Stadium for one last time in 2024 to beat Indiana 27-17.
And then we beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, 23-10.
And then we beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl, 27-24.
And suddenly, I was headed to the National Championship.
Competitive Spirit: Find a Way to Win
A few hundred dollars down and a twelve-hour bus ride later, I arrived in Atlanta, Georgia. I had hemmed and hawed for a few days, trying to decide if I could handle traveling to yet another state for yet another football game, but I had eventually made up my mind.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the grand finale of this epic season.
I needed to be there.
On Sunday, my friends and I went to Gibney’s, an Irish pub that served as the unofficial meetup spot for everyone who planned to cheer on Notre Dame, and sang anthem after anthem to prepare for the game. In 24 hours, it would all be over, but in the moment, we acted like time was moving in slow motion.
Mercedes Benz Stadium
Almost like a kid on Christmas Eve, I went to bed and said my prayers, hoping for a present under the dome of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the form of an Irish win, and awoke to the sun shining and a fun-filled day ahead.
As I reached my seat next to my friends, I gazed out into the stadium at the sea of green and red. We were all here to write a page in the history books, and I really hoped we would be the victors.
I’ve been so lucky to experience so many incredible “lasts” this year. My last home football game was the first playoff game ever hosted in Notre Dame Stadium, and now, I was privileged enough to watch the team play into 2025.
Honestly, I hadn’t really felt emotional up to this point, but as the team warmed up, and the coin was tossed, my eyes filled with tears. All season, this team had found a way to win.
This was our final test.
Our team fought. I watched as our team lined up and took the snap like it was the last play ever. Despite a wide range of injuries, Notre Dame showed up and played its hardest. Even though we did not emerge as the winners, I cried tears of joy at the thought of all that we had accomplished.
I was proud of this team. Coach Freeman changed the narrative for the Fighting Irish, and ever since, they have been playing as one team, all focused on emulating the golden standard.
I was proud of myself. Four years ago, I didn’t think I could leave my hometown and go to school in Indiana, but I took the risk on the Notre Dame dream. Along the way, I challenged myself to work for the football team, and I have enjoyed every second of it. Working for this team allowed me to learn about myself and shape my goals for the future. Notre Dame has taught me I can be a woman in sports.
Becoming a sports fan means allowing your favorite teams to be a part of your social identity. You join them on their highest of highs, but you also have to ride through the lowest lows. And in the end, you look back on it and you smile.
Notre Dame, I am honored to have joined you on the ride of a lifetime. I can’t wait to watch you live out The Golden Standard in the years to come.
Love thee.
Edited by Elle Chavis
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