Because Week Zero is still too far away and you’ve already rewatched the 1993 Florida State game six times.
I’m pressing pause on my usual Throwback Thursday series until football season kicks off—don’t worry, they’ll be back in full force once toe meets leather! In the meantime, I’ll be sharing some lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek posts to help us survive the long, football-less summer stretch. These are meant to be fun, satirical takes on the highs, lows, and emotional spirals of being a Notre Dame fan. Please take them with a grain of salt… and maybe a side of stadium nachos.
It’s that strange time of year when Notre Dame fans are left alone with their thoughts, their YouTube highlight playlists, and their deep, inexplicable hatred of the Stanford Tree. There are no new games. No poll movement. No reason to yell “RUN THE BALL!” at your TV—unless you’re rewatching 2005 like the emotionally complex adult you are.
So how do we get through this endless abyss of Saturdays without Irish football? Simple. We get weird. We get creative. And we channel our inner leprechaun with these totally effective* survival strategies.
(*Effectiveness not guaranteed.)
Step 1: Rewatch Classic Wins You Pretend Were Recent
- 1988 vs. Miami? Glorious.
- 2012 vs. Oklahoma? Still magic.
- 2020 vs. Clemson? (Just… ignore the rematch.)
Pro tip: Mute the broadcast and do your own commentary for full emotional control. Bonus points for impersonating Brent Musburger with a fake headset and a Diet Coke.
Step 2: Start Arguments on the Internet That You Cannot Win
- “Brady Quinn > Any OSU QB Ever.”
- “ND deserves an SEC schedule adjustment… emotionally.”
- “Every season should end in the Sun Bowl. I’m serious.”
You’ll lose friends, gain enemies, and somehow get tagged in a comment thread started by a Michigan fan named Brad.
Step 3: Invent Theme Nights at Home
- “Tailgate Tuesday”: Grill hot dogs in your driveway. Yell at squirrels.
- “Victory March Friday”: Blast the fight song at full volume and salute your toaster.
- “Third Down Thursdays”: Rewatch 2016. Question your life choices. Cry a little.
- (Then cry harder during the 4th quarter of the Stanford game.)
Step 4: Organize Your ND Merch by Level of Emotional Scarring
- Level 1: Stuff you wore during wins (smells like optimism).
- Level 2: Stuff you wore during the Marshall game (may need holy water).
- Level 3: A shirt from 2007. Handle with gloves. Possibly cursed. Likely still has emotional residue.
The offseason is long. The message boards are unhinged. Your group chat is mostly conspiracy theories and kicker rankings. But don’t give up hope.
Because while the Golden Dome may not gleam on a game day just yet, your fandom lives on—in every grilled brat, every bold tweet, every irrational roster prediction.
So stay hydrated. Stay irrational. And stay ready to scream “FREEMAN’S BEST FIND YET” the second someone makes a one-handed grab in a blurry fall camp clip from a walk-on safety we all now believe in with our entire souls.
Go Irish. See you in South Bend soon(ish).