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Oct. 31, 2009: Notre Dame 40, Washington State 14

Game Highlights

Remember This Building!

Notre Dame traveled to San Antonio, Texas to play the first of a series of neutral site “home games” against the Washington State Cougars in the shadow of the historic Alamo…but wait…something’s missing from this picture…

That’s Better

Metaphor in place. Now we can literally continue.

The Riverwalk

It’s impossible to overstate what an incredible feat of civil engineering is the San Antonio Riverwalk. Built in the early part of last century to help control flooding, the Riverwalk developed into an incredible collection of bars, shops and restaurants along a pedestrian friendly canal one story below street level in downtown San Antonio. On the lower left, under the Lone Star awnings is the Republic of Texas restaurant and bar where elements of the Game Day staff may or may not have procured a margarita or two (on the rocks, of course).

Out Early

Irish fans, decked out in their Saturday best, took over downtown on Friday night.

Remember the Pep Rally!

An estimated 7500 hundred ND fans filled Alamo Plaza on Friday night for the traditional Pep Rally. Speakers included Master of Ceremonies, Alumni Association President and Roof-Raiser-In-Chief Chuck Lennon; Julián Castro, Mayor of San Antonio; Notre Dame Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick; Notre Dame Director of Bands, Dr. Ken Dye; ISP Play-by-play man and Notre Dame alum Don Criqui, former Irish great Allen Pinkett; and the ubiquitous Notre Dame Leprechaun.

The Alamo

The Alamo provided a scenic backdrop for the Pep Rally which also featured appearences by the Notre Dame Cheerleaders and the Band of the Fighting Irish.

Roof-Raising

Chuck Lennon, the only person in the contiguous United States still “raising the roof,” did an admirable job as Master of Ceremonies, at one point even uniting a lost child with his grandparents. (We’re not making that last part up).

Pat O’Brien’s

The official Alumni Association Friday night party was held at this Irish Pub mere steps away from the Alamo where attempts to order margaritas were rebuffed in favor of pre-poured hurricanes. (We didn’t argue…the bartender was way bigger than us).

Alumni Association Service Project

Domers and other volunteers pitched in on Saturday morning to help repaint the Healy-Murphy Center, a San Antonio non-profit that serves as a resource for at-risk youth.

Alumni Association Service Project

Domers and other volunteers pitched in on Saturday morning to help repaint the Healy-Murphy Center, a San Antonio non-profit that serves as a resource of at-risk youth.

Chuck

Alumni Association President Chuck Lennon proved that in addition to roof-raising, he’s also a heckuva window taper.

A Girl Named Irish

Now this is what we call commitment to Notre Dame. (Yes, that’s really her name)

Father John

University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. was on hand to pitch in with the service project and to personally thank the volunteers.

Saturday Scholars

Daniel G. Groody, CSC, Assistant Professor, Department of Theology (left); Virgilio P. Elizondo, Notre Dame Professor of Pastoral and Hispanic Theology, Department of Theology; (center) and Timothy M. Matovina, Professor, Department of Theology (podium) spoke on Saturday as part of the on-going Saturday Scholars Series of lectures, which is traditionally held in the Snite museum auditorium when the Irish play at home. The subject of the session was “Latinos and the Remapping of American Catholicism," examining the growing american Hispanic presence with a focus on how to enhance the vitality of Catholic faith in the United States through a renewed understanding of the history, faith traditions, and immigrant foundations of U.S. Catholicism.

The procession

University Provost Dr. Tom Burish (left), and Executive Vice-President Dr. John Affleck-Graves (left-center) joined other university officials, alumni, students and fans for a pre-game mass at the San Fernando Cathedral presided over by University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.

The Music

The pre-game mass featured music selections inspired by the strong catholic tradition of the hispanic community in the Southwestern United States.

Mass

Pre-game mass at the San Fernando Cathedral.

Concert on a Completely New Set of Steps

The Band of the Fighting Irish played all of their greatest hits during the traditional concert on the steps, only this time the steps were 1,300 miles south and west of Bond Hall and at the front door of San Antonio’s San Fernando Cathedral. The band marched from the Cathedral to the official tailgate party at Sunset Station, just north of the AlamoDome.

God, Country, Notre Dame

Rilee Murphy, center, daughter of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Matt Murphy, right, learns a few cheers from the Notre Dame Cheerleaders during their visit to the Warrior and Family Support Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX.

Tailgating Under the Lone Star

Saturday was warm and sunny and Irish fans took advantage of the conditions in the tailgating lots.

He Lost a Bet

We kid, we kid. Like all Irish home games, the fans came decked out and ready to cheer. If you look closely at this Matt Cashore picture, you’ll be able to see another Matt Cashore picture featured in it. Sort of an infinite loop of photographic miraculousness. Also, that’s the AlamoDome in the background.

Here Come the Irish

Notre Dame fans do not cheer any less enthusiastically when the team hits the field in the home colors, even when home is technically states away.

Golden

Irish triple threat, all around offensive weapon Golden Tate runs for the first of his two touchdowns on the day. Meanwhile, the Leprechaun gleefully channels the host state’s Longhorns.

Texas <3’s the Irish

’Nuff said.

The Catch

The only problem we have with Golden Tate’s incredible season is that we’re running out of clever titles to put on his pictures. Tate had another amazing game with 4 catches for 80 yards including this miraculous play on a 50 yard Hail Mary pass under triple coverage to end the first half. Golden also added a rushing touchdown out of the Leprecat Formation (the Wildcat to those of you without the benefit of Twitter).

…and our hearts, forever…

The Irish, flanked by the Leprechaun, sing the Alma Mater in front of the Notre Dame band after the 40-14 win.

Scoreboard

The Irish pulled away early and cruised to a 40-14 win. Next up, the headache-inducing triple option of the Naval Academy.

Go Irish, Beat Navy!

The Riff Raff

Apparently they’ll let just about anyone into ND games these days. (Elements of the crack Game Day Social Media staff are visible in this picture, we’ll leave it up to the viewer to decide who they might be).