FB: Duke 21, North Carolina 20

Stray Gator said:
Yes; and despite the mid-90s expansion, the House That Rockne Built, like Wally Wade, still exudes a distinct aura of historic significance to longtime fans as a hallowed cathedral of college football. But by comparison, it's perceptibly smaller and less rowdy than the Swamp in Gainesville and some of the other SEC stadiums at which I've been fortunate to attend games, such as Neyland in Knoxville, Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, and Jordan-Hare at Auburn. Of course, the fact that Duke unexpectedly outplayed the Irish that day may have dampened the customary level of enthusiasm among the home team faithful. It bears mention, however, that the Notre Dame fans and officials and stadium staff we encountered both before and after the game were, without exception, the most genuinely hospitable and welcoming and congratulatory we've ever experienced as visitors.
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I also was there with an amazing group we booked from an Irish Pub in Chicago (bus trip) and my son's KA brothers from Duke. We had pre-game tailgate, post-game pasta and ND students giving us a campus tour before kick-off. A day that will always be a memory of why we are so dedicated to this great sport and the Blue Devils. Our Irish interactions were also great and they were pleased to have the evidence to get rid of their defensive coordinator.
 
RoseBowl1942 said:
It was so weird on the hospitable point. I remember leaving the stadium after the game and when we’d talk to the ND fans, it would be something like “we’re so happy for you, this must mean a lot”. It honestly was both nice and kinda insulting
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I didn't get a sense from any of the Notre Dame folks with whom we interacted after the game that their congratulations were even remotely intended to be insulting. The comments I heard were typically to the effect that it was a great game, that our guys played great, and that they hoped we enjoyed our visit to Notre Dame and would come back again. Among our group, which included my wife, our daughter, and her soon-to-be husband, the uniform impression was that Notre Dame must encourage their staff and fans to exhibit that kind of congenial spirit and welcoming attitude towards visiting fans, because it was ubiquitous.
 
Stray Gator said:
I didn't get a sense from any of the Notre Dame folks with whom we interacted after the game that their congratulations were even remotely intended to be insulting. The comments I heard were typically to the effect that it was a great game, that our guys played great, and that they hoped we enjoyed our visit to Notre Dame and would come back again. Among our group, which included my wife, our daughter, and her soon-to-be husband, the uniform impression was that Notre Dame must encourage their staff and fans to exhibit that kind of congenial spirit and welcoming attitude towards visiting fans, because it was ubiquitous.
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The Irish fans were commenting to each other that it didn't look like a good season. No disrespect intended to Duke, BTW.
 
Stray Gator said:
I didn't get a sense from any of the Notre Dame folks with whom we interacted after the game that their congratulations were even remotely intended to be insulting. The comments I heard were typically to the effect that it was a great game, that our guys played great, and that they hoped we enjoyed our visit to Notre Dame and would come back again. Among our group, which included my wife, our daughter, and her soon-to-be husband, the uniform impression was that Notre Dame must encourage their staff and fans to exhibit that kind of congenial spirit and welcoming attitude towards visiting fans, because it was ubiquitous.
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Sorry, fully agree they were intending to be nice and were genuine. I don’t think they viewed it as insulting. But it also was a backhanded complement haha. Like, it means a lot to us to win bc we’re not considered or supposed to be good. I don’t think the ND fans were trying to send that message at all, but it’s also a bit how it comes across. As a parallel, it’s like saying someone is well spoken, which while genuine, has other implications (even if not intended)
 
Nicest people you could imagine.

My ND friend/host explained that they knew a trip to see a game there was a bucket list trip for lots of folks, and they wanted their guests to have a great experience.

I will say, as nice as they are at home, traveling Irish fans are some of the worst I’ve encountered.
 
If you want to set a baseline go to East Hartford and attend a Duke-UCONN football game. Park on an airport runway (literally) then get sworn at a few dozen times as you make your way to the stadium which is about a mile away.
 
budwom said:
If you want to set a baseline go to East Hartford and attend a Duke-UCONN football game. Park on an airport runway (literally) then get sworn at a few dozen times as you make your way to the stadium which is about a mile away.
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I literally used to work by this runway when I was with Pratt & Whitney. And yes, F UConn!
 
budwom said:
If you want to set a baseline go to East Hartford and attend a Duke-UCONN football game. Park on an airport runway (literally) then get sworn at a few dozen times as you make your way to the stadium which is about a mile away.
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Funny how my view of UConn was shaped by growing up a Duke fan in Connecticut in the 80s/90s. Lovely bunch of fans.
 
cato said:
Funny how my view of UConn was shaped by growing up a Duke fan in Connecticut in the 80s/90s. Lovely bunch of fans.
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Mine was shaped by being a grown-up Duke fan in Connecticut during those years. I assume there was sarcasm attached to “lovely”.
 
I grew up in CT and many of my high school friends went to UConn. I have no ill will towards them or the school.

They do not, however, like Duke. I guess some early beatings left a mark.

And, like Maryland -- "not our rival."
 
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Tooold said:
Mine was shaped by being a grown-up Duke fan in Connecticut during those years. I assume there was sarcasm attached to “lovely”.
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This Connecticut transplant (since 1995) is feeling lots of camaraderie in this thread. So many of the worst bandwagon fans.
 
Tooold said:
Mine was shaped by being a grown-up Duke fan in Connecticut during those years. I assume there was sarcasm attached to “lovely”.
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Ya, I've attended a lot of Duke football away games, and UCONN is the only place at which at least five or six people shouted "F U" as we walked by, doing nothing other than wearing Duke hats. Alcohol and stupidity may have been involved.
 
budwom said:
Ya, I've attended a lot of Duke football away games, and UCONN is the only place at which at least five or six people shouted "F U" as we walked by, doing nothing other than wearing Duke hats. Alcohol and stupidity may have been involved.
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I can tell you that in the 90s, you could get that same reaction if wearing a Duke hat in the grocery store midday. At least I did. Alcohol was not involved, but stupidity likely was.
 
Confession. I was a UConn hoops fan in the mid sixties growing up in Connecticut. In 1964 or so they went to the tournament and got throttled by Duke on the order of 104 to 52 or so.
 
budwom said:
Confession. I was a UConn hoops fan in the mid sixties growing up in Connecticut. In 1964 or so they went to the tournament and got throttled by Duke on the order of 104 to 52 or so.
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I was a Connecticut fan in the mid 60s before I knew anything about sports because my Dad brought us back sweatshirts from when he had to go there for some continuing education for his job. I also was a fan because we took school field trips to their dairy farm and got served ice cream.
In CT at the time, we only knew about the Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins and their NY nemeses. I didn't learn about college sports for the most part until we moved to NC.
 
OldPhiKap said:
I grew up in CT and many of my high school friends went to UConn. I have no ill will towards them or the school.

They do not, however, like Duke. I guess some early beatings left a mark.

And, like Maryland -- "not our rival."
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I disagree. I hate UConn, they cost us banners in 1999 and 2004 and they have an insufferable fanbase. I cheer anytime they lose. I actively rooted against them the past two years in the final four and wanted anyone to beat them. I wouldn't pull for UNC against them, and probably not UK either. Anyone else? Absolutely. F em, I hope they never get in a worthwhile conference
 
HoKogan said:
I disagree. I hate UConn, they cost us banners in 1999 and 2004 and they have an insufferable fanbase. I cheer anytime they lose. I actively rooted against them the past two years in the final four and wanted anyone to beat them. I wouldn't pull for UNC against them, and probably not UK either. Anyone else? Absolutely. F em, I hope they never get in a worthwhile conference
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Powerful is, the Dark Side with this one.
 
budwom said:
Confession. I was a UConn hoops fan in the mid sixties growing up in Connecticut. In 1964 or so they went to the tournament and got throttled by Duke on the order of 104 to 52 or so.
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Yeah, that UConn team was led by former Bubas assistant Fred Shabel. Among other things, he was my PE coach. I was at the game in Reynolds.
 
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