Appearances to the contrary, I do have fond memories of ND. When I was a kid, my Dad did a lot of business with a fellow from Elkhart who held season tickets to ND football/basketball. Dad also had a good friend who was a rabid ND supporter, so I was immersed in ND lore from an early age. Hell, even my grade school and high school shared the same mascot and team name: We were the Fighting Irish.
Needless to say, I went to lots of ND games. We’d tailgate, go to the game, and then attend Mass at the Basilica before heading home. It wasn’t until I started my undergrad in East Lansing that my opinion of ND started to sour.
Founded by Father Edward Sorin, of the Congregation of the Holy Cross in 1844, Notre Dame grew into a world-renowned institution of higher learning along the Jesuit paradigm.
Truth be told, MSU alumni have a secret warm spot in their hearts for Notre Dame, as it was instrumental in getting MSU admitted to the Big Ten; against the strong protests, may I add, of the little school to our southeast!
