I have been a die hard Notre Dame football fan for years. My fanaticism dates back to 1988 when coach Lou Holtz and the Irish battled against the odds (and one of the toughest schedules in history) to emerge as National Champions.

Like many others in the current student body, 1988 was the year I declared to the world my intention to attend the University of Notre Dame. My devotion started with football.

I am not ashamed that football inspired my interest in Notre Dame. As an 8 year old, I could have cared less about faculty-to-student ratios, the Catholic nature of the University or the unique residence hall system. Academic offerings meant nothing. There is nothing sweeter than an Irish victory. Our recent struggles on the football field trouble me. In the past five seasons, ND is 24 - 21 in games not played against the service academies, and there has not been a single bowl victory. Our record in the past 12 games is only 4 - 8.

When the Bookstore sold those t-shirts for the 1998 Michigan game which read "As Good As It Gets," I had no idea they would be right.

Notre Dame football will not change the world. It will not cure cancer. It will not overcome the evils of world terrorism. But it might inspire some child sitting at home watching his or her television to dream of someday joining the student body of the University of Notre Dame. That child will receive an education that could lead to all those things and more.

So don't criticize me when I grow restless at the game, wondering what exactly the coaching staff is thinking running a fake field goal. Don't be bothered by my crossed arms as the 1812 Overture plays for I am only proving my point. Do not believe boos from the student body are directed at the warriors in the gold helmets. You must realize the rants are from those who expect more directed at the men in the polo shirts and headsets.

To the players: Please know the student body supports you, win or lose. We appreciate the long hours you put in, the injuries you must overcome and your desire to see results on the field. We also see your potential being held back by inept play calling, a lack of preparation and an absence of leadership. I expect this to change.

To the students: Make sure to support the players through thick and thin. The troubles lately are not their fault. Continue to celebrate touchdowns with pushups. But do not accept mediocrity from our football program. This is Notre Dame, where dreams can come true. It is not normal to lose to Michigan State five years in a row, or be blown out by a team nicknamed the Beavers, or to never see a road win in your four years as a student. We are ND, and we should expect results that reflect our University's excellence.

Life is more than wins and losses on the field. Football, in the grand scheme of things, is insignificant. But I cannot forget where my love for Notre Dame began so many years before. There are thousands of children across America who have never felt the magic I felt in 1988.

• Irish Pride