Cheer, cheer for...Who is that team?

November 15, 2011|Pete Byrne | Upon Further Review

Who were those two teams on the football field Saturday night? If you took down the scoreboard that read Notre Dame-Maryland, you wouldn’t have any clue who those teams were. My daughter actually asked during the game: Are there three teams playing? I don’t see Notre Dame.

I can’t imagine anyone did.

When did Notre Dame join the identity crisis conference?

As someone who covers college football, I understand why it’s happened across college football. Players like it. It’s a great way to get recruits. But not in South Bend. Notre Dame doesn’t need it. Just like Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU & Texas don’t need it.

The identity crisis should be reserved for the schools that lack an identity…which Notre Dame most certainly does not.

So why are they trying to be like Oregon?

I can live with the occasional green jersey.

But there’s no more iconic symbol in college football that that gold helmet.

The school decided to end a tradition this year, several decades old, of painting the gold helmets before every game. WHY? The goal according to A.D. Jack Swarbrick, was to create a helmet that more closer resembled the golden dome.

I know it’s been cloudy in South Bend lately, but last time I looked up there, the dome didn’t have a huge shamrock on it.

Adding some shine to helmets is great. But by all means, don’t mess up the greatest helmet in football, college or professional…by putting stickers on it?

I’m all for change, in the name of progress. Jumbo-Trons, piped-in music , field turf. Bring it on.

But don’t be afraid to be who you are. Classic. Confident.

Save the gimmicks for the other guys.

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