100 Things Notre Dame Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die

by John Heisler, Bryant Young, Frank Stams

The storied Notre Dame football program has long been full of pride and passionate fans, as the Fighting Irish have provided decades of incredible memories for its legion of alumni and followers, and author John Heisler captures this tradition and others in this essential fanbook. Created for the serious football fan who wants to enhance their Fighting Irish IQ, this book reveals special stories and experiences from fans and memorable moments about past and present players and coaches. As a longtime ND employee in the sports information and athletic departments, author John Heisler shares what’s really important and he touches on some of the most famous games, players, and traditions in Fighting Irish history, including Knute Rockne’s “Win One for the Gipper” speech, the team’s game day walk from the Basilica to Notre Dame Stadium, Joe Montana’s legendary comeback performance in the 1979 Cotton Bowl, Indiana State Police Sergeant Tim McCarthy’s public safety messages, and the team’s storybook and inspirational 2012 season. From singing the Notre Dame Fight Song at the Friday night pep rally at the Joyce Center to taking in a game at historic Notre Dame Stadium, this guidebook covers all there is to Irish football, making a must read for any fan.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2009

Reviews

[James Trixler · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I am a die hard Irish fan, and bleed blue and gold, this book became very repetitive. I enjoyed reading many of the stories that I had only heard growing up and visiting campus during my childhood. I spend my birthday, at the ND Florida State game in 1993 with seats on the 20 yard line watching the last seconds tick off the clock. It was great to see that story in black and white.
Overall good read, worth the time spent, short chapters make it pass quickly and quickly to a new subject.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading during Notre Dame's playoff run. Just something for people to buy at the bookstore in the Weis era. My dad found a copy at Goodwill...

[Brooklyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was so boring, because it was just all about facts no charaters it was just boring facts. I like some of the facts like when it said the most exzillereating part of the game was walking through the Notre Dame Hall before a football game. And how this one coach was had the longest winning streak in all of Notre Dame history. And a bunch of facts like that.

But the one fact that I really liked was called Do It For The Gibb!! It was about this one football player who got hit the wrong way when he got tackled. He had to go to the hospital and he died but befor he did he said this "When there down and you to get them back up tell them to do it for the Gibb I dot know where I'll be or what I'll be doing but I'll see it and I'll think wow they did it for the Gibb!" So thats what the coach did he said that to his players when they were down and they got back up again. The coach said that every time they were down and every time they got right back up again.

Another fact that i really liked was that Rudy went to Notre Dame and he didnt get to play until like the last football game in his senori year. But he got to play and he made sure that he made the coach remenber him. After that he wanted to make his story a movie so he went and met with this movie person and the persom said no but he kept doing it and finally some one said yes. And they made a movie called Rudy.
Thats My Review hope you liked it!!!!

[Chickens McShitterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

So poorly written and repetitive that it is rendered virtually unreadable by the time the reader hits the last thirty pages. The facts were mostly interesting, but this could have been shortened to a paragraph about each event, which would have made for a much more enjoyable read.

I am, by the way, a diehard Notre Dame fan, and I could have done without this.

[Anthony Nuccio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to the people, places, and events of, arguably, the greatest college football program in the Unites States. A must read for any Fighting Irish fan.