A Notre Dame Football Fan Tradition: Summer Anxiety

A summer tradition as constant as hot dogs and fireworks.

I hope everyone had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend full of reflection regarding the reason for the holiday itself and had some fun times with those you care about as well. While I was doing both of these things I started pondering Summer. Football summers to be more specific.

For those that are “die-hards” for a team, Summer is a time of relaxation from the week-to-week intensity the regular season provides but it also brings with it a unique kind of anxiety with no short-term resolution in sight. How good will the team be? Will we win (insert big game opponent here)? How will each position group hold up?

For Irish fans, I feel like this normal kind of worry has been ratcheted up a bit this cycle. Let’s examine why the already high-strung Irish faithful, myself included are wound extra tight in these hot & humid months.