Irish fans pack Meadowlands
By Helena Payne
News Editor
Hundreds of students packed their belongings on Thursday and Friday into vehicles en route to the East Coast to support the Notre Dame football team. Upon their return, students said the road trip raised school spirit.
"I think the morale among students is going to be a lot higher regarding the football program," said junior Ryan Crochet, who attended Saturday's game against Maryland in Giants Stadium.
"I think everyone's pretty excited for the upcoming season because I think [head coach Tyrone Willingham] is such a great coach and the team looks really good," said junior Mike Smith, who rode with 14 other friends on a bus to New Jersey where the stadium is located. Included with the road trip was a tailgate in New Jersey along with a free T-shirt.
Students said the road trip was a fun way to begin the school year with friends.
"We've been gone all summer," Smith said, adding that the trip was still "mostly for the football team."
Trips to other states for Notre Dame football games are nothing new. Traditionally, students have traveled to Purdue or Michigan schools to see Notre Dame play, and even Florida or California for a warm weather game over fall break.
Senior Roland Newrones, who traveled to last year's first football game against Nebraska, said road trips are good for students to see other parts of the country and have fun regardless of the record.
"You've got to support them through thick and thin," Newrones said.
Nevertheless, students said the victory has given them a renewed school spirit. Newrones, who did not attend this past weekend's game but watched it on television, said he learned from Nebraska fans the power of packing of stadium. The infamous game in the fall of 2000 made Notre Dame's stadium look like the Red Sea as thousands of Nebraska fans were able to buy tickets to a Notre Dame home game.
"I think it's good to try to invade opposing teams' stadiums," Newrones said.
The students who returned from the game said they have a renewed sense of team spirit and look forward to the upcoming season.
Smith said Willingham has made a difference.
"I think there's a lot of excitement regarding the new coach and the program, and I think a lot of people are really pumped up about it," Smith said.
Fellow junior Rob Falk agreed and complimented Willingham on his confidence.
"I haven't found one person that doesn't think that he's a great coach, so we're all pretty excited," Falk said.
All News Stories for Monday, September 2, 2002
