English Essay

In my Junior year English class, we had to write an essay about first experiences. I chose to write about the Irish. Please feel free to comment and critique my essay, but keep in mind I only had 30 minutes to write it. Thanks! GO IRISH!

The dull roar of the crowds overwhelms my thoughts about this game. The excessively long grass to slow the speedy USC players, the pale green jerseys to honor the former greats, the “Bush Push,” the shamrock green crowd, Touchdown Jesus, everything now seems a blur to me; too quick for me to remember or recall. But nevertheless, this game left an everlasting footprint in my mind, soul, and heart. Despite one of the toughest loses I have ever endured. Despite countless hours of gnawing at my shirt, causing what it seemed to be an enormous glob of sweat, but in fact was merely nervous drool as a consequence of rooting for the “underdogs.” The “Fighting Irish”: I still don’t know why I picked who I did. I could’ve gone with the safe bet; the USC Trojans were picked by almost every analyst. But, I think it is just in my nature to pick the underdog. Just like USC, the Irish stayed faithful to their nickname. The “Fighting Irish” did fight, they fought until the last seconds of the game, and like the Irish, USC held to their name. Quite controversially, might I add, the USC Trojans snuck by the Irish gate in a Trojan horse, but only one man got by. The loss showed me so many things of which I had never realized. The Irish gave me something priceless, something nothing else could have given me: Passion. The chants, the awes, the boos, the cheers, every Irish fan showed a passion unlike any other fanatic. The Irish fans were truly fanatics, and fulfilled every definition of the word. Passion, honor, excellence, academics, all are a part of the Notre Dame tradition, which transpired into me on that Saturday in October. I am lucky, proud, and truly honored to have experienced this magical and memorable event in my life and I now am proud to bleed blue and gold.