Irish fans show class
Michelle M. Roeser
class of '01
First I'd like to mention that Notre Dame has the greatest fans in the world. Plus, once you've been converted to a Notre Dame fan, there is no going back — you are a fan for life.
One of the things that makes Notre Dame fans the greatest is our class. I remember when Nebraska came to campus last year, many students traded in their tickets and sold them for a nice chunk of change. (This personally angered me but that is not what I'm getting at.) As a result, a good number of Nebraska fans were seated in our section. While there may have been some friendly banter or even heckling, it was a good game and we were all happy to have been there to see it. Class.
As a graduate of the class of '01, I brought my Notre Dame enthusiasm with me to my new location at Georgetown's medical school. As any recent grad will tell you, it is a rough transition moving away. The most difficult part about the transition was obviously being separated from all the great friends I made while at Notre Dame. A close second to that however was learning to cheer for another team – the Hoyas.
My loyalty is still to Notre Dame, so when Coach Brey and the Fighting Irish came to Washington this weekend to take on the Hoyas, I was happy to change into one of my many Notre Dame T-shirts and show my support … in the student section.
My fellow ND-alumni-turned-medical-students and I were respectful and did not behave obnoxiously in any way, yet we were ridiculed, cursed at and pelted with papers by several of our fellow students. During halftime, I walked up to the concourse amidst tripping attempts and vulgar language, and I had done nothing to provoke such treatment. My classmates who sat with us changed their allegiance from the Hoyas to the Irish during the game simply based on the rudeness of the fans. No class.
And no loyalty. There were more Notre Dame fans as a whole than those rooting for Georgetown. Way to show your support.
It was an exciting game, especially throughout the four overtimes. I am especially glad we won, first because I consider it a moral victory, and secondly because I would have feared for my life had we lost.
Michelle M. Roeser
class of '01
Washington, D.C.
Feb. 11, 2002
All Viewpoint Stories for Tuesday, February 12, 2002
