cheer,cheer for ol' notre dame

there is a well-publicized story being told everywhere these days; so, why should i be left out? the sad thing is that the principles involved - initially - didn't want the story made public. as i have seen them both retelling, i feel no shame in repeating my version here.

2 weeks ago, in indiana, a young boy named montana mazurkeiwicz made a dying wish. montana had an in-operable brain tumor. it had been destroying his body at least since its discovery 1 1/2 years ago. montana (named for joe montana) has always been a hard-core notre dame fan. word got to the notre dame football staff that this boy would love to have a player from the irish come visit him in his home. on tuesday the 20 of september, the head coach left his players behind, and came to visit montana himself. he stayed with montana for a few hours that afternoon visiting and talking football. he gave the boy a signed football. just prior to leaving the home, coach weiss asked montana if he would like to do something special, like call a play. the reply was that he would like notre dame's first play of the next game to be a pass to the right. you bet.

2 days later, on thursday night, montana mazurkeiwicz died in his mother's arms. he was 10 years old.


when notre dame got the ball in their first possession that saturday, they were backed up inside their own 1 yard line. everyone knows that a pass almost never is called in this situation. montana's mother (watching the game at home) said she wasn't going to blame coach weiss for not running the play. the risks are too great. when notre dame's quarterback , brady quinn, asked the coach," now what?" ; he was told, " run the play. we don't have any choice." they lined up inside their one, ran a play-action misdirection pass play to the right - and picked up 13 yards. they went on to win 36 - 17.


the day after the game, charlie weiss returned to the mankeiwicz home to give them his condolences, and the ball used in the game montana helped win. all of the notre dame fighting irish had signed the ball.


i have never been a fighting irish fan. they are the most storied program in the history of football, but i don't know that i ever have cheered for them. you can be certain i will be cheering for them every game they play this year and every year that charlie weiss is walking the sidelines in south bend, indiana. a man like that deserves and demands my respect.