Why all the ND hatred?

Submitted by Swayze Howell Sheen on

A serious question: Why all the ND hatred on the board? A number of other threads talk gleefully of ND getting killed in the championship game by 'bama or some other SEC team, or losing to USC this week. Frankly, I just don't get it.

Yes, they are a rival (at least, for now, while we still play them yearly), but I think the rivalry with ND is different than the OSU and MSU ones. The OSU one is hate + respect; the MSU one is hate + no respect; the ND rivalary, in my opinion, has less hate involved, just two of the most tradition-laden programs in the country playing against one another, often in classic games. Why there is so much enmity in some of the other threads on the board is a puzzle to me.

Beyond that, do people really prefer to see some damn team from the SEC win the title again? I'd *much* rather have a team from the midwest win. Even though ND isn't in the Big Ten, they are much more like a Big Ten team, and finally getting everyone to shut up about how great the SEC is would be fantastic.

Finally, one thing I've seen repeatedly is commentary about how lucky ND has been. Does anyone think there has been a college football champion without luck? If you look back at any undefeated season, there are inevitably a number of plays, which, if they go the wrong way, get you a loss. ND has had a few such plays (Pitt kicker misses in OT, Stanford reaches for goal line but is deemed down), but got the break. Alabama, in contrast, got some breaks against LSU (a game in which they were outplayed), but didn't against A&M, leading to a loss. So sure, they've been lucky, but all undefeated teams get lucky now and then.

Summary for those who think TL and then DR: ND hatred is puzzling; they are a rival of the best kind; I'll be rooting for them against any damn SEC team; sure they are lucky but which unbeaten isn't?

</oldmanrant>

[EDIT: my michigan bio, since it seems to be relevant, as follows. Grew up in Ann Arbor, went to school in Fab Five era, was at many famous UM/ND games including sitting in the rain only to watch Rocket return two kickoffs for TDs. Have published a few diaries here in the past over the years, including a heartbreaking diary of staggering genius, one in which I hate everything, and a piece entitled memories of the game about OSU/UM.]

 

eamus_caeruli (not verified)

November 18th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^

I live SW MI about 45 mins from SB. we get south bend news channels thats how close we are. They won't shut up about how awesome ND is, even during their horrible seasons the last ten years. There are a ton of ND fans around here that never went to college, let alone ND, and they are all insufferable down right assholes when it comes to the rivalry, Michigan and abhorrently obnoxious towards Michigan fans. They act like they are so much better than everyone else and that the big ten is a loser conference. What has the big ten done ever? What has Michigan done? When I was graduating HS all the ND fans aggressively told me to my face that Michigan didn't really win the national title and that we were the worst undefeated team ever. We couldn't beat anyone remotely good.



ND alums, actually are great to talk to about the state of college football, our rivalry and how awesome it is when both programs are playing well and winning championships. Some have even quietly admitted the wished they would have joined the BIG. They, like I do, want our game each year to set the tone for the season and is sort of a marker for where we could go. They even admit that win or lose, they want us to be successful every year. They won't cheer for us per se, but won't openly root against us in general.



ND Alums make the rivalry enjoyable, non-alums make me wish ill-will on ND perpetually and vehemently. That's been my experience living in SW MI for most of my life.



ND has a very good team this year, and I won't root for them to win, but I won't deny them a good year. I just don't want them to win a mythical MNC since we will never live it down on my area.

MGoStrength

November 18th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^

It's not hard to figure out why anyone that likes a team other than ND most likely hates them.  For one they are one the most tradition rich programs in the history of college football, not to mention one of the most winningest.  Also, they get every break and benefit of the doubt by the media and in the polls.  Heck, the BCS introduced the Notre Dame rule to allow non BCS conference people in just for one school.  Why do they deserve special privelage?  They should force them into a conference if they want to qualify not make special rules to accomodate them.  And, I personally find it incredibly annoying that they have such a large fan base outside of their region.  I do not understand why people that live no where near Indiana would like them.  I have lived in various states in New England for 20 years now and am always surprised how there are tons of ND fans anywhere you go.  I know people will say Catholics blah, blah, blah, but I don't buy that argument because the people that like them that make that claim either are not in the least bit relegious, never go to church, or only use that argument when it suits them, so I don't think it has anything to do with being Catholic.  But, anyways...it's clear to see why if you're not a ND fan you are super annoyed by the media and it's fan base when they do well, espeically if you a UM fan as you never hear the end of it.  I hope ND gets just what they want...a chance at a National Championship agains Bama and gets crushed.  They barely beat us with 6 (?) turnovers.

Avant's Hands

November 18th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^

I can't fully answer this without going into a long rant and becoming incoherent at several points. I'll say this, though: I hate ND more than any other sports team. That probably comes from growing up just outside South Bend and putting up with their fans my entire life. As I've gotten older I've found more reasonable ND fans, but the majority I've talked to are just insufferable.

For me, it has nothing to do with them beating us. Seems to me we beat them just as often. And when we do lose to them it's usually because we make a lot of awful turnovers and beat ourselves. 

No, I hate ND because they are ND. Because they act like they are better than everyone else even when they are going 5-7. They act like their schedule is so tough when usually isn't any harder than ours (and the easiest of the top teams this year IMO). And they act like God is actually involved in their university, which is asinine. 

I leave you with this: (can someone please embed for me?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y6_kuI8bH8

UMxWolverines

November 18th, 2012 at 1:43 PM ^

I am honestly very very torn about this. I'm tired of the SEC slobbering, but I don't want to see Notre Dame win shit. The only thing worse than Notre Dame winning would be (in a bizzaro crazy world) msu winning one or osu winning one, and I've already experienced the second one in my lifetime.

snarling wolverine

November 18th, 2012 at 2:05 PM ^

1.  They're a rival.  Why should we like a rival?  I wouldn't be happy if Ohio or Sparty were on the verge of the title game either.  

2.  Much of the media (which, being based in NYC, a city that doesn't really care about college football) is under the mistaken impression that it's still the 1950s and that they are America's Team.

3.  There is a portion of their fanbase that sees football as a kind of religious crusade for the Catholic Church.  Visit any ND message board and you'll see ND fans claim, in dead earnest, that "Our Mother willed us to victory."   (Never mind that their best player this year is a Mormon and that many other players are Protestant; they're good at compartmentalizing these things.)  I'm from a religious background and was always taught not to pray for victory, but just that everyone playing could be safe and injury-free.  Some ND fans (not all, to be fair) think it makes perfect sense to pray for their team to win and act like opposing teams are agents of Satan.

  

 

dcmaizeandblue

November 18th, 2012 at 2:20 PM ^

I'll take the ESPN love of the SEC over this anyday:

 

Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore their names are Death, Destruction, Pestilence, and Famine. But those are aliases. Their real names are: Stuhldreher, Crowley, Miller and Layden. They formed the crest of the South Bend cyclone before which another fighting Army team was swept over the precipice at the Polo Grounds this afternoon as 55,000 spectators peered down upon the bewildering panorama spread out upon the green plain below.

 

They won that game 13-7.  I shudder to think what would be written if they start winning by more than a touchdown.

ND_Domer_Homer

November 18th, 2012 at 2:55 PM ^

I love Michigan whenever we aren't playing them.  Go Blue! Beat Buckeyes!  Go whoever's playing Nebraska next week! and GO IRISH!!!!

the Glove

November 18th, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^

I have had the unfortunate opportunity to be around a number of die hard Notre Dame fans through my entire life. Two of them I grow up with. One was the most arrogant and smug individual whenever it came to talking about Notre Dame Michigan rivalry. He would always bring up the all time winning percentage. The day Michigan took that from them was one of the greatest days of my life. When I was young I thought maybe that was just his personality, but then I started to going to the Michigan Notre Dame games and found quickly that is how they all were. This was even reinforced when I inherited two employees that work for me now and they are exactly how my friend was when talking about Notre Dame. Their team could be suffering consecutive losing years and they'll still give reasons why they're relevant. Notre Dame winning a national championship is like a BP oil rig in the Gulf. The ramifications of it will be felt for decades. It would be an absolute nightmare. There would be a cloud of smug around every Notre Dame fan around the country for the rest of their lives.

UMxWolverines

November 18th, 2012 at 3:10 PM ^

I also hate that since they're finally decent this year they've been complaining about Oregon and Kansas State playing "cupcakes". Says the team that has done it's best to lose to multiple big east teams as well as navy recently.

treetown

November 18th, 2012 at 3:22 PM ^

Since everyone is chiming in:

With the Buckeyes, there is an obvious logic - in the Bo Era, they were the best opposing team in the league. The other little eight were all trampled underfoot. The Bo Era really defined college football for many of the older Michigan fans.

In more recent years when th Spartans could put together good teams for consecutive years, bragging rights in-state with family, co-workers and neighbors played a role.

For Notre Dame it probably goes back to a very visceral level nearly subconscious rivalry since both schools had periods of being really good (nationally good) at the very dawn of big time college football (1910-1930) - the first wave of the huge crowds (80,000) and when the big stadiums started up. For a while the Wolverines were the face of college football in the US; then under Knute Rockne it was briefly the Fighting Irish. Today, many schools can claim the mantle for a season or two of being "what college football is about" but ultimately the whole fall experience, on a college campus, tailgating admist the fall colors, and sitting in a classic dug into the ground bowl - you have to go to one of these schools from that era.

 

 

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

November 18th, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^

Everything they do and say reflects their belief that ND is THE premier college football program. All the top programs are arrogant and belligerent about being ONE of the premier programs. Bama, USC, Neb, UM, Texas, ND can make a case for the premier group. All great and unique identities.

ND fans cannot accept the idea of a summit group and the administration/alums do everything possible to eliminate a level playing field.

Maybe God wants it that way ...

jdib

November 18th, 2012 at 6:08 PM ^

A college that claims to stands by and uphold it's religious beliefs as being a premier driving force for role models to a younger community and being the standard.

 

Well... that's all fine and dandy.. but..

 

1)within the last 3 years you've taken no responsibility for a student who plummeted to his death from a tower he should have never been on.

2) a recent WR who had 3+ DUI's who was still allowed to play for the program

3) a back up QB who ran from and assaulted cops at a party because he was drinking underage.

Beyond all that, there's a fanbase that is so snooty that if they lose its everyone else's fault and if they win; its pure skill.  You can never win an argument of logic with the ND fan base.

It's the most annoying community to ever be around and i'll be glad when I can uproot and leave South Bend.

-J

BlackMethod

November 19th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^

1) http://www.indyposted.com/124576/declan-sullivan-death-notre-dame-accep…

Notre Dame, from the highest position within the University, accepted responsibility for Declan Sullivan's death. Tragic, avoidable, poorly handled...but not ignored or overlooked by the University. No one was more wronged in that situation than the family of that boy, and I believe they came to an understanding and have moved on to the best of their ability. Folks far removed from the situation should do the same.

2) If you're referring to Michael Floyd, he had one (or was it two?) DUI. I believe his other charges were Minor-In-Possession or something of that nature. Certainly not an angel and should have missed some time, but it wasn't "3+ DUIs" and it's hard to argue with the coach claiming that Floyd had learned and made corrections in his lifestyle considering that he had no further problems during his time there, nor since joining the NFL.

3) Rees was an idiot, served his suspension, and has been relegated to back-up.

I mean, there are plenty of reasons to hate the Irish, but if you're going to rant and list them, at least get the facts right. We simply don't have to make things up, and when we do, it diminishes the legitimate reasons and makes us look...well, it makes us look like the Irish fans we purport to hate.

phork

November 19th, 2012 at 4:18 PM ^

Totally took responsibility for that young mans death.  There is even a scholarship with his name on it.  Not that it helps that family out.  Guilt admitted.

Floyd had 1 DUI and 2 MIPs.  He sat out all of spring practice and wasn't reinstated until fall camp.  Yes that screams BS, I suppose Kelly could have just redshirted him.

Rees was suspended game 1, and has rode the pine ever since.  How did Mr. Clarks felonies pan out?  Sad to see Fitz hurt, and you might have had a chance had he played against Bama.  Oh wait, he was also in some hot water.

Glad your facts are based on real life events.  And please put your stones back in your pockets.  Glass breaks easily.

jdib

November 19th, 2012 at 5:29 PM ^

How am I throwing stones in a glass house?  Stonum was kicked off the team.  Was Floyd?  no because he's a super star.  We could have DEFINITELY used Stonum this year.

My point is we do have our fair share of student athletes that have had problems but we also don't sell ourselves as a religious and catholic school that upholds their students to the highest of moral values.

 

While my facts may have not been "completely straight"( and i apologize because I thought someone had mentioned before it was 3 DUI's for Floyd) the fact remains that U of M has held there students more accountable than the "we are catholics with standards as long as it's not a super star who can help us win at football." 

 

Btw, do you live near South Bend? didn't think so.

 

In regards to Declan's death, it's easy to make a public statement and say you're holding your university accountable.  Gee i wonder why... the kid shouldn't have been up there in the first place and he was scared shitless to be up there but was ORDERED to go up there.  Do you really think after the investigation deemed them responsible that Notre Dame WASN'T going to hold themselves responsible publically? IT's a total PR move to make themselves seem not so tyrannical.

 

nice try though.