Some Black Magic: "Play Like A Champion Today"

Mike and I took a little weekend trip to Indiana the weekend before Thanksgiving. We had been to Notre dame about 10 years ago when looking at law schools and had always wanted to go back for a longer visit. BYU was playing Notre Dame so it was a gimme! AMAZING!!

First night there, we went and drove around campus and went to a basketball game

Mike got a picture with their mascot- the Leprechaun!

Amazing Bookstore- we ran into a lot of BYU fans

This is their main building. = to BYU's ASB. Absolutely beautiful! Huge painted murals of early American scenes line the walls. The dome was beautiful This is where we gathered to hear the Irish Guard (bag pipes)play and then the trumpets play.

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'The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a magnificent, Gothic-inspired, cross-shaped place of worship and welcome, nurturing Notre Dame’s Catholic identity. Many members of the campus community gather here amid its artistic splendor for daily and weekly Masses that are celebrated both in the main body of the church and in its basement Crypt chapel."

the grotto
Mike was the only one lighting a candle for BYU!

In the Hesburgh Library, we attended a lecture hosted by Notre Dame and including UVU's President Holland addressing "If Mitt Romney's religion was the cause of his elections loss?" There we saw the real Rudy! He was on the front row listening to the lecture.

"Touchdown Jesus" is visible from inside Notre Dame Stadium
The stadium is known for its view of "Touchdown Jesus", a nickname given to the large mural entitled The Word of Life by Millard Sheets of the resurrected Jesus. Installed in 1964 on the Hesburgh library, the mosaic wall looms over the stadium, mirroring the raised arms of a referee signifying a touchdown."

On this lawn, while we were waiting for the Player's March to begin, the men's Chorus gave a concert. Amazing- they sang a medley of fight songs of all their opponents they had played so far this year- even BYU's!!

We followed the band and cheerleaders from the main building all the way to the stadium. Talk about school spirit!! So many athletic and school traditions!

We sat a few rows up from the BYU sideline. so close that Mike could yell "Come on Kyle!" and Kyle Van Noy would turn and look up at the stands. However, our enthusiasm was not enough to fire the Cougars up and they had a pretty pathetic loss to the Fighting Irish. dang it.

Freezing cold! We had 3 layers of clothing on and with the wind chill I think it was near 10 degrees! We loved Notre Dame. the campus was awesome and inviting. we had several people welcome us and ask where we were visiting from. the guys next to us at the game asked if we had had a nice visit and "Win or lose ( it was obvious by this time) we hope you enjoyed your time in South Bend".

And we did!

Mike found this quaint little Scottish Bed & Breakfast on the internet. the owners were very friendly and helpful and we stayed in a portion of their garage that they had finished.