Notre Dame prides itself on being a school of great tradition and community. One of the greatest examples of this is something that happens each Saturday in the fall, as the seconds tick away and the alma mater is played. The football team walks towards their classmates with their gold helmets raised, no matter what the outcome, in a gesture of what it means to be part of this community. No other school has greater tradition or a greater sense of respect among classmates.

I remember Coach Willingham saying that no matter where Notre Dame traveled this season, he saw that the "sea of green" followed, and it was no different on New Year's Day in Jacksonville. Although Irish fans, students and alumni were outnumbered, we cheered loudly and with pride for our school and our football team. The minutes began to wind down and the stands began to empty, yet the student section remained, behind the band chanting "We are ND" as the final seconds ticked away. The alma mater had begun as most of the team walked straight into the locker room. Just five players came to the corner of the endzone, and among them only one senior, Jeff Faine. Ten minutes later, as the student section had already started to file out, those five players were finally joined by the rest of the team.

It seemed that in a matter of minutes tradition was forgotten and all of the great things that the football team had accomplished were, too. The team should be proud of everything they did this season. Few expected six wins, let alone 10. From day one, no one expected us to be in a bowl game at all, let alone the BCS hunt. Yet, despite the odds and everything the "experts" had to say before the season, Notre Dame did return to glory. And 60 minutes in January cannot undo that. We are still ND.

Danny Pisaninello

senior

Morrissey Manor

Jan. 14

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