THE KICKOFF. JULY 21, 2005. VOL 1 ISSUE 3.

This week's column is about a fellow SA and a good friend -- Richie. I met Richie Boy on that first bus trip to ND. With a just-in-case poncho tucked in his back pocket and both team's rosters carefully concealed from the elements in plastic baggies, my new buddy, Richie, and I, entered the stadium together, the rest is history...

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Gamedays with Richie Boy.

Richie Boy is an interesting sort and a long time SA (maybe one of the originals).

After meeting him on my first trip out to ND, Richie Boy invited the Big Dawg over to his house for a little Saturday afternoon tradition with the Blue and Gold. I had no idea what to expect. I envisioned it would be no more than us sharing a few snacks, drinking some soda and sitting in his den watching the game. I couldn't have been more wrong, he's Subway and we all know the SA take Game Day very seriously...

Before I go on, let me describe Richie Boy--
Richie is an older man, probably in his 70's and of shorter stature, standing at maybe 5' tall. Peculiar in his dress, Richie Boy embodies the Spirit of the Subway, literally... His game day attire consists of an ND Starter jacket, personalized with his name on the left chest (later on he told me this was a retirement gift from his co-workers), green slacks (embroidered with mini leprechauns) and an interlocking ND cap (just like the one Lou-you-know-who used to wear).

When I arrived at Richie's house, he called to me from his backyard. He quick handed me a beer and told me to "plant it" in a lounger which I wasn't quite sure was fit to hold my weight.

Doing as instructed, I began to look around--

Richie Boy had set up for the game outdoors -- there was a 17" tv, sitting on top of an old dresser just inside Richie's garage. Richie explained that he had been watching ND games outside for years and that it had become his ND tradition. It was November and it was cold -- but, hey, I wasn't one to interfere with Tradition.

As Game Day waned on, I have to admit that his tradition had quite an impact on me. He had it all -- the weather, the tailgate, the game and even the band playing on an old cabinet stereo in the garage.

It was a day I'll never forget and I'll bet Richie's neighbors haven't forgotten either.

We were about to see ND cream LSU. With every big play or TD, Richie blasted the Fight Song and we both stood and clapped and sang along at the top of our pathetic voices.

Notre Dame won that game. And, later that night, sitting in those old loungers, as Richie and I ate celebratory TastyKakes and rehashed the game, play-by-play, one thing became clear to me -- even though we never had the honor -- We, too, Richie Boy and the Big Dawg, are ND!

 

 

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