Big Red of Dillon ain't no stick of gum
By BRIDGET MAHONEY
Scene Writer
Editor's note: Scene will continue to feature the dorms of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's throughout the spring semester. Anyone interested in writing a feature of a dorm should e-mail Scene at Scene@nd.edu.
Big Red. The gum that "lasts a little longer."
Wait a minute, wrong Big Red. This Big Red is Dillon Hall, and it is anything but a thin pink strip of gum bursting with cinnamon flavor. But still, one question immediately comes to mind — what in the world is it?
Actually, it is the nickname for Dillon Hall, although its mascot is the moose. With approximately 350 men living within its walls, "big" is a good word to use when talking about Notre Dame's largest dorm on campus.
So where did they come up with Big Red? "No one really knows where it came from," said dorm co-president Brian McCabe. "That's just the way it is. These mysteries simply add to the greatness of Dillon Hall. We may not know where they originated, but we believe them to be superior."
Virtually every student on campus will make that same claim respective to her or his dorm, but Dillon Hall does have its perks. Its namesake, Father Patrick Dillon, was a past president of Notre Dame. Famous Big Red alumni include the quarterback for the 1988 national championship team, Tony Rice, Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung and Bill Laimbeer, who won two NBA Championships while playing for the Detroit Pistons.
In addition, Dillon is conveniently located near South Dining Hall, Main Circle, the Hammes Bookstore, ATMs, Reckers and DeBartolo, which means that residents can spend their money and flex points more easily and never have an excuse to be late to class. On the other hand, perhaps those are disadvantages.
A major asset to Dillon Hall is its rector, Father Paul Doyle. "[He is] tall, thin, good looking," according to dorm presidents McCabe and Geoff Rahie. "He is a character, like most of the men of Dillon Hall. Bottom line: He takes care of his own."
In fact, they all take care of their own, especially when it comes to their rivalry with the Alumni Hall Dawgs. Since their twin birth in 1931, these neighbors have shared a "fun and serious" rivalry. Besides such pranks as the pulling of fire alarms during dances and other events, the Big Red successfully apprehended Alumni's banner and proudly replaced "Alumni" with "Dillon" as the "Center of the Universe."
Not as well known, the Big Red have another point of rivalry with Notre Dame's other red colored male dorm, Zahm Hall. They claim that Zahm stole the moose for its mascot as well. In order to settle the claim, Dillon has tried to challenge Zahm to compete for the mascot, but they have continuously refused.
What Dillon Hall is most famous for is the Dillon Hall Pep Rally the Thursday before the first home football game each fall. Past rallies include "The Dillon Kid" and "Back to the Future." As a kickoff to the festivities of the first football weekend, its residents provide entertainment for campus on South Quad with skits, songs, impersonations and speakers. Amid the crowd of rowdy men dressed in red surrounding the stage, diving offstage has become popular; Father Doyle has even joined in himself.
Speaking of diving, various sporting events, both usual and unusual, are popular among the Big Red. Provided for all students, they sponsor the Irish Iron Classic, which is an opportunity for the strong to show off their muscles, and the Dillon Walk. In the spring, they have an "Opening Day" baseball celebration. And when it comes to interhall sports, they have a successful volleyball team, a competitive football team and an intrahall hockey event called "Wuss Hockey."
A truly enthusiastic bunch on and off the playing field, the Dillon Hall Fight Song unites the dorm's residents. However, "These lyrics will never be published," said its presidents. "They only live on in the minds of the men who have graced these halls. It is passed on from year to year. The only way to learn it is to ask a Dillonite."
A Dillonite. One of those randomly selected to live in the biggest dorm on campus who can call himself a part of the Big Red.
Appropriately summing up what it means to them to be one of the relative few, the freshman orientation guide states: "In 20 years, you can tell people you went to Notre Dame, but more importantly that you lived in Dillon Hall."
All Scene Stories for Wednesday, February 2, 2000
