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Irish going shamrock and green against Maryland

Nov 8, 2011, 12:04 PM EDT

47 Comments
Shamrock Helmet

You know your helmet design is making waves when the news of the Irish wearing green jerseys gets buried. But that’s what happened yesterday when Notre Dame equipment manager Ryan Grooms kickstarted the debate when he tweeted a photo of the Irish’s helmet for this Saturday night’s game against Maryland at FedEx Field, bringing the “Shamrock Series” to the nation’s capital just a year after playing the first football game in new Yankee Stadium.

The photo spread like wildfire across the internet and had people wondering if the Irish would actually wear… well, that thing. It turns out that they will, and they’ll also wear green jerseys for the first time this season, partially explaining why the Irish decided to don blue against the Trojans a few weeks ago.

Here’s more from Notre Dame’s official release:

The University of Notre Dame will celebrate its Shamrock Series football matchup Saturday against the University of Maryland by wearing specially-designed helmets when the Irish take the field for their 7:30 p.m. EST game at FedExField in Landover, Md., to be televised by NBC Sports.

Created in partnership with adidas, the Shamrock Series helmets are covered in 24-carat gold leaf and feature green shamrocks on each side and a leprechaun decal on the back. Handcrafted with meticulous detail, the gold-leaf helmets combine Notre Dame’s rich football heritage with the program’s bright future. The helmets have been handcrafted by Troy Lee Designs of Corona, Calif.

This marks the first in a series of uniform features that will be utilized for Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series contests. After the 2011 game at FedExField, the Shamrock Series in 2012 moves to Soldier Field in Chicago for a game against Miami. In 2013 the Shamrock Series matchup against Arizona State will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Irish will showcase uniform variations in their annual Shamrock Series games but otherwise will wear their standard uniforms the rest of the season.

“Notre Dame football has one of the most iconic looks in college football and to celebrate the Shamrock Series, our team wanted to create a special new element for their uniforms for Saturday’s game,” said Mark Daniels, director of football for adidas.

Beyond the new helmets, the Irish jerseys and pants for the game against Maryland Saturday will be identical to those worn a year ago at Yankee Stadium against Army – including green adidas TECHFIT jerseys. New for the Maryland matchup, the Irish will wear adidas adizero gloves featuring a gold palm and adjoining shamrock logo plus white adidas cleats.

The Shamrock Series games for 2011 and 2012 are presented by Sprint.

Early reports from those that make judgments on uniforms and helmets are understandably lukewarm on the design of the new helmet. That said, it goes without saying that these helmets aren’t being donned to impress middle-aged men that have water cooler debates about traditional apparel, they’re being made to reward and impress 18-to-22 year-old college football players, and the potential recruits that are watching the Irish play a primetime game in Washington, D.C.

For better or worse, when Dan Patrick takes to his national radio show and asks Green Bay Packer (and former Boston College star) B.J. Raji about Notre Dame’s new helmets, like he did just an hour ago, well — needless to say, the Irish still have some cache left.

When reading the release, I raised an eyebrow when it mentioned that the helmets where designed by Troy Lee Designs in Corona, California — a brand I’ve never heard associated with football helmets from a town hardly associated with the sport. It turns out the company is one of the premiere helmet makers in the world, but for BMX, Supercross, Motorcross, and auto racing.

That Notre Dame would reach out to a design company like this — one that’s on the cutting edge of sports, albeit on the complete opposite side of the spectrum — it’s just another really fascinating development out of an athletic department that’s quickly becoming dare I say progressive.

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  1. dickasman - Nov 8, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    HOTT!!!

    • 808raiderinparadise - Nov 8, 2011 at 2:58 PM

      Helps recruiting. ND’s tradition is timeless and untouchable, but the new look uniforms and songs by the band and all are needed. You can become outdated and it effects programs, look at Penn State, they have mirrored us for years, both old-school powerhouses, tradition and boring uniforms, both mediocre results. texas A&M, same thing.

      Hey, its time. I like it.

      • thephantom225 - Nov 8, 2011 at 9:18 PM

        You mean like Texas, USC, LSU amd Alabama. Maybe if they don’t change their unforms we can compete with them.

      • 808raiderinparadise - Nov 9, 2011 at 2:22 PM

        Cleary PHANTOM you missed the point. Those programs actually let their players have swagger, becuase of the type of kids they recruit, academic standards, etc … ND is an academic safe-zone of excellence, but it trickles into the foobtall operations and makes the whole concept boring. recruitment is unique, academics are priority and accountability is at the peak for behavior and performance before football is even brought into the picture. The uniforms are a small part of revealing a new sense of adapting to break free of the stereotypes of ND football and grasping into traditon which is frankly all ND had anymore.

        if u think 80% of the kids that go to texas, lsu, alabama and usc are able to get into ND, your crazy. My point was ND is unique and must provide a platform that sells to the kids that can come ot ND …. the dusty chmapionships in the trophy cases are not selling it anymore. in order to become rellevant in the national picture you need a ground-up makeover. don;t believe me? see Oregon program. USC is in LA, a recruiting hot bed with a geogrpahic appeal, weather etc …. Texas is in Texas, talent everywhere, huge school, fun city in Austin, LSu and Alabama are in the SEC, recruits just come. ND is in SOUTH BEND INDIANA, socially dragging, academically challenging and high standards of behavior and accountability. that scares kids who want a full college experience … face it ND has to change its perseption. this is a start.

  2. bernhtp - Nov 8, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    Maybe I’m getting old with a too-conservative fashion sense, but this looks like something one would see in a kids’ arcade game, e.g., Mario Brothers Play College Football

    • andy44teg - Nov 8, 2011 at 2:20 PM

      EXACTLY!! Almost every kid nowadays plays video games (including high school recruits) and it’s something to get you noticed more than just playing football, which we haven’t done all that well this year. Cripes..it’s just a big, green shamrock. At least they didn’t use the leprechaun!

      • nudeman - Nov 8, 2011 at 9:29 PM

        Agree
        I like the idea of a shamrock and green jerseys.
        But the shamrock should be about 50% of the size of what I see on the rendering here

        But if they win, who cares?

      • papadec - Nov 9, 2011 at 1:13 AM

        andy44teg – reread the article. The Leprechaun decal is on the back. So now they’ll look more like NASCAR drivers. Still plenty of room on the uniforms for sponsor logos.

      • tedlinko - Nov 9, 2011 at 3:44 AM

        Well I”m totally down with the green jerseys, the gloves, and whatever they want to do with the uniforms. I’m, shall we say, less enamored with sticking a big decal on the gold helmet. To me, the solid gold helmets are the iconic image. I really like the new paint, which makes me wonder. Why would they roll out the sleek shiny new lids, only to cover them up with huge decals.

        That said, I’ll get over it. As Nude says.. As long as they win, baby…

  3. notredamegrad - Nov 8, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    At the press conference today, Coach Kelly basically said that the only people whose opinions he cares about when it comes to non-traditional uniform change-ups are his players’, and that he figures if they like, recruits will like it too. They liked this one (and, I’m sure, the gold-palmed gloves and white cleats coming with it).

    I think Kelly’s handling of it is pretty cool and the only sane way for him to manage the ridiculous hysteria occasional switch-ups like this provoke in a very vocal minority of the ND fan base. Some people will hate the uniforms Saturday; some people with love them. Most will be much more interested in watching the team crush MD, shamrocks on the helmets or not.

    I like that they’re looking to have a little fun with the uniforms for these neutral site games, especially because they’re sticking to the good old blue and gold for 11 out of 12 games each year. I also think that these helmets will look much better on the field Saturday than they do in the photo. Can’t wait. Go Irish.

    • oldestguard - Nov 8, 2011 at 6:05 PM

      Well put, notredamegrad.

      Part of Kelly changing the culture may just include the fan base as well.

      People at Wake were openly admiring the new Gold helmets…and I have to admit that I liked them better in person.

      What’s next !!??

    • 9irish - Nov 9, 2011 at 5:31 PM

      That’s a very interesting, cheap sell out perspective. The leader just wants the troops tell him what is best….this whole thing is stinking of a NBC based website.

      You sound like a guy that someone could very easily sell a used car to….”oh well, it’ll be better in the sunlight…aftet I’ve waxed it…and had it repainted….and fixed the flat tires”

      This vocal minority thing you are talking about is a load of BS that you are trying to believe…I’m a grad, everyone I know, grad or fan hates all this crap…so stop trying to sell a load of ad marketing crap as a good idea.

  4. mag1631 - Nov 8, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    I like the helmet and the pattern in the gold. Traditional or new uniforms don’t matter much to me personally but I’m glad that ND doesn’t seem to worry too much about offending some traditionalists. I think it’s a good thing to be open to change. I also like BK’s attitude when answering and explaining this kind of stuff. Go BK. Go ND.

    • mag1631 - Nov 8, 2011 at 1:32 PM

      Also, in my opinion, this design is not exactly extreme. It still looks pretty simple to me. I’m not sure how it could upset anyone.

  5. cmb79 - Nov 8, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    As I said at CFT, I’ve seen worse. And Maryland will likely prove it.

  6. fitz79 - Nov 8, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    Didn’t we already wear Shamrock helmets at Michigan. I thought they said once a year?

  7. smurphdoggy29 - Nov 8, 2011 at 2:53 PM

    Hmmmm let’s see it’s all about the kids….and if I quote it right from Field of Dreams….”if you build it (they) he will come”

    C’mon Irish Fans have a little FUN !!

  8. dickasman - Nov 8, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    Guys, believe it or not, at the heart of hearts, I am/consider myself a traditionalist but ND has been left too far behind with menial things like changes to stadium, games and uniforms, etc… Its not like we’re wearing this for entire year. I am really proud of how ND’s athletic dept. stepped up their game this year. The product on the field has not yet but it probably will in couple years (as long as rees is not the starting QB ;-)

    I applaud the ND Athletic dept. in their effort to bring modernism to their athletics! Well overdue! Jumbotron and we’ll be all set for national championship in year 2013!

    • txbeej - Nov 8, 2011 at 5:11 PM

      I’m not a traditionalist. On top of that I’m a jorts and t-shirt guy, so my sense of … style, if you can call it that, is entirely unsophisticated. And yet even I can see at a glance that that helmet is all kinds of “fug”. I don’t understand how someone could create that monstrosity. Not intentionally. Maybe via a lab experiment gone horribly wrong ; but then we should be trying to kill it, not put it atop our student-athlete’s heads.

  9. dickasman - Nov 8, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    For all those oldies but goldies out there, its one of those things that we have to deal with if you want to continue to get good recruits. Even the kids who get straight A’s are into this stuff, not just the scumbag, thuggy LSU kids. Its either this or Sandumpsky and I’ll take this over Sandumpsky anyday…..

    Thank god for Big Ten…they make us look like saints. I hope ND never caves in and join the Big Ten.

  10. txbeej - Nov 8, 2011 at 4:54 PM

    That’s hideous. :(

  11. don74 - Nov 8, 2011 at 7:42 PM

    There are two traditions I care about maybe three but at my advanced age I can remember two. Graduation rate and no atheletic dorm. Those two, boy I wish I could remember the third, are the essence of ND football. Too many folks confuse the grass, the uniform, the walk, all the stuff about them, the fans with what separates ND from perhaps 125 of the 130 FBS schools. They go to class, the same classes as everyone. They graduate with an ND degree and they live amongst the general student population. All the other stuff is noise. If it’s a matter of taste and you happen not to like the helmets, I get that. But let’s agree on what makes ND, choose your word, different, special, obnoxious…whatever. It ain’t the helmet or the jersey.

    While I am on a rant, can we the fan decide on game day apparel. I was at the SC game and the SC fans have a the scarlet shirt with the SC Trogan lettering in gold. We, because the bookstore can sell merchandise in every color, have blue, light blue, green, gold, white and gray shirts. Lettering is ND, Notre Dame, Irish, Fightin Irish or combinations thereof. The font is block ND, old english and some modeled after play like a champion. I am ok with the bookstore selling every style to every taste (how come the traditionalists never complain about this) but game day, let’s rock the stadium with a color that sets us apart. I dont care which one we choose but let’s be unified……

    Still can’t remember the third thing so I’ll devolve to the next sip

    • bostonjan - Nov 8, 2011 at 9:00 PM

      don74, I enjoyed your perspective and post.

      I’ll take a shot at offering what I believe is a third tradition: Solidarity

      “……..sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good……..” excerpt from the University of Notre Dame mission statement – not exclusive to the student-athletes, rather held as a goal/ideal for all members of the ND community.

      I contend that “we” play at our best when living up to that ideal and tradition — regardless of what externals (including uniforms) are involved.

      We don’t own a monopoly on any of the “traditions”; but in my mind they are what matter and distinguish who we are.

  12. thephantom225 - Nov 8, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    Oh no, I was planning on going to that game. I’m not sure I want to watch ND come out in those clown unforms.

  13. 10of14 - Nov 8, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    Holy cow…beat more than one ranked team a year and then mess with uniforms. This has become a circus for a team ranked well below even a lowly OH State team at #38. Bunch of hot dogs who have beaten one good team and will be a 20 point dog to Stanford when that game comes around.

  14. ndfanwabashman - Nov 8, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    I am all for different or progressive uniforms. I actually LIKE Oregon’s color changes and uniform combinations. But can we stop lumping all changes to uniforms as either “bad, I’m a traditionalist” or “good, let’s excite the kids and the recruits”?

    I like Ohio State’s alternate design with the red helmets and the streamlined Nike look. It’s a combination of throw-back and fancy new Nike uniform technology. Really works well. Maryland’s flag design was atrocious. Things can be traditional and bad (e.g. Mississippi State) and forward-thinking and good (e.g. Arizona State.)

    This uniform combination is terrible. The throwbacks at Michigan were cool and different. The white jersey’s with green numbers really popped. Can someone explain why the shamrock is a different color than the facemask, jersey’s and gloves? Four different shades of green is what my high school dean of students used to wear because he was color blind. Also, why does the helmet circular pattern look like a bowling ball? I’m all for different, but how about different and GOOD.

  15. dickasman - Nov 8, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    Its only a game or a two per year, I don’t mind. Im fine with that, fugly or not. Moreover, I really like the new mindset of the athletic dept./university. It seems/looks like they care and they are trying instead of keeping the things the exactly the same time after time with everything. I know alot of the old traditionalists don’t like it but I actually like how administration has handled themselves this year outside of 1 incident.

    Although I am very concerned that one of USC’s recruits may mistake the clover leaf on helmet for marijuana leaf and decide to go to ND instead of USC based on that.

    Let’s stopping turning the ball over and blow some teams out now!!! Maybe this helmet will help Rees. Tommy could use the shiny helmet and point it at the direction he’s planning on throwing. Defenders will be blinded by the shiny helmet and tommy can release the ball at that time while the defenders are blinded because let’s face it, his laser beams on his eyes have not been blinding anybody. Hopefully the helmet will help!

  16. norcalirish - Nov 9, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    There’s so much on here to respond to that I literally don’t know where to start.

    These helmets are f-ing atrocious. So much for “getting the color right”…these things aren’t even the same Christmas Ornament Sparkle Bombs (R) that (unfortunately) were worn against usc! Three styles of gold helmets in what, 5 games? (And who was the retard that announced this overly swirl buffed monstrosity while it was laying on a dirty towel?!) This is laughable.

    The reason these helmets have been making the news is NOT simply because Notre Dame has “cachet”, but because they’re so depressingly ugly. I mean, think of the uproar over Maryland’s Pride uniform and how that blew up nationally….was that because Maryland has cachet? Of course not. It’s because most people were laughing at Maryland’s futile attempt to look cool.

    Every article I’ve read about these things (EVERY ONE) has made fun of them. Opposing fans are having a field day—the program and all of the nonsense surrounding it has gotten so bad that I don’t even wear my ND shirt while working out anymore, simply because I don’t want to deal with the looks. I’m not sure if some of you are aware, but we’re quickly becoming a laughingstock; Notre Dame: the once super hot chick with smeared lipstick and way too tight muffin top-producing jeans that sits at the bar talking super loudly about how good she is in bed in order to get attention. It’s embarrassing.

    And how is this going to help recruiting again? I don’t know too many kids that want to go to a place that people are laughing at. I mean, I can see how the Shamrock Series COULD be a good idea down the line, but the Athletic Department has, for lack of a better term, Maryland’ed this whole thing up.

    All these gimmicks need to stop. I’m not sure what the alum/fan mix is on these forums, but I’m AMAZED at how many positive responses were posted about this story. The day these helmets were announced my Facebook BLEW UP with fellow Millennium alums commenting about them. It was ten to one against. TEN TO ONE. I’m not sure that can be considered a “vocal minority”.

    So why all the noise? Well, my fellow alums and I take this SERIOUSLY. But apparently BK doesn’t? This clown hasn’t won a thing at ND yet but he comes in and adds music to the Stadium, eliminates the walk from Mass, apparently spearheads THIS nonsense, eliminates the manager tradition (one of the most special in all of cfb) and wants to put in a jumbotron and fake grass?! I hate to get political on here (I’m a proud Libertarian) but this is starting to feel like Obama pushing his healthcare plan when everybody in America wanted him to focus on jobs. It’s too much. WAY too much. And Barack O’Kelly seems deaf to the uproar.

    • dcalum - Nov 9, 2011 at 8:50 AM

      Congrats, norcalirish, you’ve inspired my first-ever post on this (or any) blog!

      Although I agree that these helmets are pretty awful (liked the ones at Michigan much better), I do object to a few things in your post. First, spread the word to end the word: you seem intelligent and articulate enough to express your opinions without calling anybody a “retard”. Have some respect. Second, this is a blog about football and ND, not politics. I’m glad you have such strong views on the president but they probably aren’t relevant here. Finally, I’m very sorry that you are ashamed to wear your ND gear. Supporting and representing the University of Notre Dame means a whole lot more to me than shamrocks and jumbotrons and even football, and as a recent (so I gather) graduate I would have hoped you felt the same way.

      • nudeman - Nov 9, 2011 at 10:33 AM

        dcalum
        Agree on the reprimand re: the use of the word “retard’. Juvenile.

        norcalirish is being overly hard on Kelly. He probably had nothing to do with “spearheading” the uniform and helmet changes. Blame Swarbrick if you don’t like it. I can’t imagine BK sitting around cooking this stuff up on its own. His plate is plenty full already.

        There is only one reason why teams in all sports wear multiple uniform combinations: MONEY. Period. More jerseys = more stuff you can sell to fans.

        I’m fine with this stuff, as long as it’s only once or twice a year. But the shamrock on the helmet is too big in my opinion.

    • notredamegrad - Nov 9, 2011 at 9:16 AM

      norcalirish, the above-mentioned “Christmas Ornament Sparkle Bombs” (the new gold helmets that a lot of ND fans, myself included, think are incredibly impressive and well done) were not a one-off against USC. They’re the same helmets the Irish wore against Navy and Wake Forest and will wear against BC and Stanford – these are the team’s standard helmets from here on out. The only different helmet they’re wearing this year is this one against MD; they also wore the shamrock decal against UM. Expect those gold helmets you despise in 11 out of 12 games a year from this point forward.

    • 9irish - Nov 9, 2011 at 9:53 AM

      norcalirish,
      that’s good stuff. You and I talked about this very early. And you’re right, there are alot of attack dogs on here that attack about stuff that is TOTALLY opposite of what I and my crowd think.

      I didn’t mind the U of M game uniforms, because they really were retro. At the same time, I didn’t LIKE them either, because they were retro to a time when ND was just horrible. But they were classy. And Michigan was going retro for their big Disneyworld night, too (why does ND always have Disneyworld games?)

      These things are insane.

  17. rarmitt - Nov 9, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    i remember when everyone was laughing at Oregon’s color scheme a few years back when they were middle of the road PAC 10 team who had the occasional upset. Now most people enjoy them and Oregon is certainly not considerd laughingstocks. Personally, i think the progressive stance is a welcomed change of pace to the annual green jersey affair which, let’s be honest, is a bit dated in terms of meaning (at least for a gen-x\millenial like myself) and doesn’t have the effect it once had (probably due to over-use).

    • 9irish - Nov 9, 2011 at 1:10 PM

      Oregon made something because they didn’t have anything, most people couldn’t tell you what they were before. Now everybody knows them, they’re just, “oh yeah, the team with those funky uniforms that they change every week”

  18. americanwithabrain - Nov 9, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    Maybe they are trying to travel incognito?

    I liked the new metallic gold helmets, but don’t go making it a freak show. The Notre Dame uniform is iconic; don’t deface icons.

    • bernhtp - Nov 9, 2011 at 2:21 PM

      What’s next? Replacing the Yankee pinstripes with paisley?

      • 9irish - Nov 9, 2011 at 2:53 PM

        you all are hitting the nail on the head…don’t go messing with something when you are the gold standard (no pun intended)

  19. norcalirish - Nov 10, 2011 at 6:19 AM

    So I had just completed a well thought out (and much more well written) response and I somehow ended up deleting it. Im very pissed at myself right now, lol. So this is a little more to the point.

    dcalum: my apologies, I never meant to offend. I have great respect for a fellow alum who also happens to champion the “spread the word to end the word” campaign and, while I would disagree with any form of censorship (I fall into the South Park camp) I will try and refrain from now on out of respect.

    As for my “political statement”—I honestly wasn’t trying to “get political”. The health care thing was just the most visible example of somebody shoving something down a people’s collective throats that I could easily recall. I was using it simply as a metaphor, not as an attack on Obama. And, of course, the Obama/O’Kelly Irish name play on words was too good to pass up.

    And let’s get one thing straight—I’m NOT “ashamed” (your word) of Notre Dame. I stopped wearing my shirt because I didn’t want to deal with the looks, which, when given a chance, end up becoming questions (“what’s wrong with ND?”) which becomes a 15 minute conversation and explanation about the program. Think of a celebrity going out to dinner—they aren’t ashamed of who they are when they try and disguise themselves, the just don’t want to deal with people hassling them.

    I cannot EVER imagine being ashamed of the UNIVERSITY of Notre Dame…. but does the current athletic department and coach embarrass me at times? Absolutely. I hope I’ve made the difference more clear.

    notredamegrad: I guess I wasn’t clear in my writing. I know that we’ve been using the Sparkle Bombs (my terminology) for a few games now…if you go back and re-read my post a little more closely (or many of my other previous rants about the lost manager tradition) you’ll see that. What I SHOULD have wrote was that they were “first unveiled” against usc. Anyhow, my fault foe not being more clear. Effective communication (especially through text) can be pretty tough at times.

    nudeman: when you say BK’s “plate is full” already, you’re totally right…which makes it all the more amazing that he has almost zealously campaigned for many of those changes that I listed in my last post. I’m surprised that you didn’t know that. I’m pretty sure that there have been various stories about him wanting a jumbotron, music and fake grass, and, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m also pretty sure that it was BK who eliminated the walk from Mass and requested an Oregon-like approach to the uniforms. I remember him saying something about “floating it up the flagpole”. Ultimate authority, of course, (should) reside(s) in the AD, but, at least from my end, it seems pretty obvious where this is all coming from.

  20. norcalirish - Nov 10, 2011 at 6:35 AM

    All that being said, I absolutely LOVED the throwback unis for the Michigan game. The difference is that the Helmets were still hand painted, it was a one-off special game and the uniforms actually looked GOOD.

    Now, before you start, I know that these unis are “one off” too….in fact, I kinda “broke” the story on here about the Shamrock Series and new bowling ball swirl helmets*, and, as I said in a previous post the Shamrock Series COULD be a good compromise between tradition and progress.

    …but does anybody even think that these things ACTUALLY look good?

    The fact is (to me at least) that they’re ugly, and the costume contest that we’re now in is an embarrassment. I can handle being East Oregon ONCE a year at a neutral field….but at LEAST make the unis cool. And FFS bring back the manager tradition!

    Just my $ 100.02, thanks for reading.

    *9irish actually beat me to the story.

    As always, go Irish.

  21. ndirish44 - Nov 10, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    C’mon they don’t look that bad. At least wait until you see the whole ensemble collectively. Like BK says and I agree…let the young guys going into the battle choose their own armor. They are the young enthusiastic minds that are going to form the character of our team and the future of our country. Go Vets…Go Irish!

    • 9irish - Nov 10, 2011 at 11:29 AM

      Just to let you know….today is the 236th Birthday of the Marine Corps, with various honors and celebrations that go along with it. I asked the Gunny if the Commandant of the Marine Corps had changed the Dress Blue uniform because 18-22 year old PFCs and LCpls had advised him about what was hip and cool and would help in recruiting.

      “Hell, no, sir! Where’d you get THAT!?”

      Those Generals…all into that pride and tradition stuff. Not really into marketing with a straight face, I guess.

      • papadec - Nov 11, 2011 at 3:04 AM

        9irish – Actually, over 236 years the uniforms have changed. But, your point is well taken. Happy Birthday to ALL Marines – especially those on active duty. God Bless and keep us all well. And God Bless & protect ALL men & women serving in ALL branches of the military as we remember them on Veteran’s Day.

      • 9irish - Nov 11, 2011 at 5:54 AM

        @papadec
        Thank you.
        They can go out there in chartreuse and I’ll still scream and yell when they play, hoping they win.

        This isn’t the Marine Corps, so I have no say in the matter, just an opinion. Maybe I’ll retire and try to be the AD! (yeah, right!)

        Go Irish

  22. irishman72 - Nov 12, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    Let”s stop bitching about the colors we are wearing….its neat and if there is one thing ND needs it change…all you people that are complaining about them are probably the same people that go to the games and complain that people are standing and yelling trying to cheer on ND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get on the boat or get the hell off i say………LETS GO IRISH AND KEEP IT UP B KELLY…………….ANOTHER EXPANSION TO THE STADIUM ON THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  23. papadec - Nov 12, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    To 9irish – If you’re serious about a career change – I think there is an AD opening @ Penn St.

    • 9irish - Nov 13, 2011 at 9:29 AM

      No thanks! talk about taking over a mess…

  24. rickb56 - Nov 13, 2011 at 8:18 AM

    I remember as a kid watching Ara Parseghian coach…

    The helmets with the gaudy shamrock is just sad.

    Just keep it the golden domes, and keep the ND tradition.

    Lose the shamrock.

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