I have a lot of challenges in my life. The vast majority of these are good challenges, helping me grow, learn, develop and mature. But they can be difficult at times. Between working on countless group projects, writing papers, grading papers, running NDTV, organizing music for two different groups and planning my next vacation, I’ve got my hands full.
Somehow, though, Saturday’s game feels like the most pressing of these challenges. It almost feels like a test. Am I excited? Of course. But like a student awaiting their test scores, I’m nervous about my score. At the end of the night, each student will experience a result. After the big game, I’ll find myself asking introspective questions about the outcome of the game and my preparation:
How happy are you? Are you optimistic about what the future entails? Did this game meet your expectations?
If we win, my answers to these questions will be positive. I receive an A! I’ll be optimistic. If we lose, Notre Dame’s performance has meaningful consequences. If we lose, per ESPN, our chances of making the College Football Playoff fall to 35%. The buzz around campus will simmer. The prospect of a January trip to sunny Pasadena and the Rose Bowl might become an afterthought.
If you can’t tell, I’m stressed. This game means a lot to me. I’m treating it like the biggest exam I’ve ever taken. But this game is only an exam because I’m making it into one. I expect Saturday night to be one of the best nights of my life. My adrenaline will be through the roof. This is all because I love sports. Of all leisure activities, I’m often happiest at a huge, meaningful game.
However, not everyone is, and we need to stop acting like Notre Dame Stadium is a universal heaven. Many students at Notre Dame follow sports, especially football, but not all. Not everyone rushed the field against Clemson. Not everyone went to Linebacker Lounge after Mike Brey’s last home game.
We need to recognize that if we lose, my sadness is different than my neighbor’s. This game means more to me. If we win and rush the field, I’ll have fun, but a freshman will have a blast. It will mean more to them — it’s their first time.
Additionally, to some people, regardless of what happens on Saturday night — win or loss — they won’t really care. It’s not a test. It’s... it’s just a meaningless football game! An occasion to be with friends or get drunk!
Every person on this campus needs to find their test. Further, it’s important to stress healthily about things they enjoy (i.e. something other than school), trying to make each night better than the last and create lifelong memories. It could be testing yourself to find a better party, concert, prayer experience, conversation, D&D game or whatever you enjoy. If your test isn’t football, don’t sweat it.
On Saturday night, we’ll be wearing green. We’ll have our wristbands on. We’ll be singing the fight song. And we could not be more different. Some of us just sat down in the exam hall to take the biggest test of our lives. If that’s not you, create your own test. But just for me, cheer really loud.
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