el senor domer Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/chi-notre-dame-alma-mater-brian-kelly-20130930,0,134461.story By Brian HamiltonTribune reporter 1:03 p.m. CDT, September 30, 2013 After Notre Dame lost to Oklahoma on Saturday, some Irish players glumly headed directly up the stadium tunnel and into the locker room. Others lingered on the field, lining up in front of the student section for the singing of the school's alma mater, a longtime tradition. Except it wasn't a tradition any longer, and this was the first time after 10 straight home wins that the players had to remember that. "A lot of our players were confused because a lot of them had never lost at home and they weren't sure what to do," Irish coach Brian Kelly said Sunday. "I didn't communicate it to them clearly what the protocol was. But we changed that protocol two years ago. "After a loss, we do not stay on the field to sing the alma mater, we come in. And that wasn't communicated clearly. I wasn't thinking about losing a football game. It wasn't on my to-do list to go over with our team." It now may be on a to-do list to discuss with the school and those who fervently follow Kelly's team. There is at least a sector of a notoriously hidebound fan base irked with the decision to dispatch with singing the alma mater after a defeat, viewing it as a snub of a favorite tradition. A letter from Notre Dame junior Gordon Stanton published by The Observer, the school's student newspaper, seemed to capture the general sentiment of those upset by the new plan. "Clearly some decision was made that we can’t celebrate losses," Stanton wrote. "But this is such a horrible interpretation of what the Alma Mater means. It’s never been a celebration. It is not the Notre Dame Victory March. Instead, it’s an affirmation of our commitment to each other and of the bond that exists between all students of Notre Dame even when times are tough. "I’m sure someone out there will disagree with me. They’ll say this tradition is outdated. But for me, this has always been the defining feature of Notre Dame football. We win together. We lose together. But no matter what, we do it together." Kelly cited the need to address his team quickly after a loss as an impetus to dispense with the singing. "I just don't think it's appropriate to put your players after defeat in a situation where they are exposed," Kelly said. "I want to get them in the locker room. It's important to be able to talk to them and I just felt like in those situations after a loss, there's a lot of emotions. It's important to get the team back into the locker room and get them under my guidance." bchamilton@tribune.com Twitter @ChiTribHamilton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty88 Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 "I just don't think it's appropriate to put your players after defeat in a situation where they are exposed," how about exposing them to defeat? enough of the micromanaging of trivial details coach.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double_Domer Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 BK has screwed the pooch on this decision. The Alma Mater was written after the death of Knute Rockne and played for the first time at his funeral. If that doesn't epitomize loss to ND, I don't know wtf does... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocketsan Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I'll leave this debate for those who actually went to the school as a student... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corysold Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I'll leave this debate for those who actually went to the school as a student... Not a student, but I've a feeling they'll be singing the alma mater after losses in the future. I venture the kick back will be pretty strong on this. I was always taught you can be pissed inside about losing, and you should be, but outside, you lose with class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratey Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Not a student, but I've a feeling they'll be singing the alma mater after losses in the future. I venture the kick back will be pretty strong on this. I was always taught you can be pissed inside about losing, and you should be, but outside, you lose with class. "Show me a good and gracious loser and I'll show you a failure." -Knute Rockne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corysold Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 "Show me a good and gracious loser and I'll show you a failure." -Knute Rockne They don't need to be smiling and having a good time, but it isn't like they are being asked to celebrate. Alma mater takes three minutes and the students are probably just as pissed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Double_Domer Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Should either do it all the time or not at all...I would actually prefer to go back to the way it used to be with it being dead last and not have the team participate at all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianKellyWasNotTheMan Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 Seems like Kelly hasn't communicated in a bunch of things not just the Alma Mater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pregame Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 As a former student and a horrible loser, I'm totally fine with players not sticking around. However, I think it should be the player's choice to sing the Alma Mater both in victory and defeat. Forced traditions don't mean as much, imo and I think you'd come to find the Alma Mater would mean even more to the players if they had to choose to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillydomer Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I agree that a forced tradition doesn't mean a whole lot. I'm not thrilled with a bunch of guys who don't want to be up there doing it just because they're forced. At the same time, I don't like that guys bailed on the alma mater after the game. There's a mentality developing -- for which both football players and non-football players are guilty -- that sets the football team apart from the rest of the student body. Ideally it shouldn't be this way. Those guys are not mercenaries of Notre Dame -- they're representatives of Notre Dame who live and study with the rest of the student body. That's part of what makes football at ND special, and I hate to see the football program become an isolationist unit that has increasingly little to do with other people at Notre Dame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicePost Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 The song is a horrible buzzkill anyway. It's more fitting after a loss, because it sure sucks the excitement out of the stadium after a win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pregame Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 The song is a horrible buzzkill anyway. It's more fitting after a loss, because it sure sucks the excitement out of the stadium after a win. It means a lot to a large portion of the students and alumni. It will always be played and it should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish_Convert Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 I think Kelly's rationale for not singing it after a loss is silly. Shoot, how many times did they sing it after a loss rather than a win during Weis' last few years? More often than not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crouchingjedi Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 When I was a student in the early 90s, NOT ONCE did the team ever stick around for singing of the alma mater (win or lose). I didn't take offense, because they are football players and they come in that stadium with a job to do and that is to win a football game. So guess what happened back then when no football players were on the field for the band's post game? Student section was a full house and stuck around for the alma mater regardless. I mean NO ONE left. I personally think this debate is a joke. This "tradition" only goes back to 2005, so just let the coaches and players do what they feel is right. I frankly agree with Kelly--why put your players out there to face their friends in the student section with cameras all over them after an emotional hard fought game? It has nothing to do with disrespecting the university or students. Students whining about this need to get over it. Sing the alma mater and be proud of your school and stop worrying about whether or not the team is there to sing it with you. The alma mater has nothing to do with football, so stop making it that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirodomer Posted October 1, 2013 Share Posted October 1, 2013 Maybe we should make everyone sing "Hail to The Victor's" after every loss in memory of quitting on the biggest rivalry game? At least until we resume the series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishwavend Posted October 2, 2013 Share Posted October 2, 2013 Traditions like the students and players singing the alma mater together - win or lose - it was makes us better than other schools. We're all a family. Kelly doesn't understand... This isn't some hack school like Cincinnati. Some things are bigger than the football game. This is one of those things. He needs to get over himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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