Fighting Irish fans prepare for battle against Stanford

NOTRE DAME, Ind.-- 

In less than 24 hours, Notre Dame will host a top 20 showdown.

The No.  7 Fighting Irish are hosting No.  17 Stanford.

It’s arguably Notre Dame’s toughest game of the year and the Irish are looking to continue their, so far, perfect season.

This is Notre Dame’s best season in a decade and the Stanford game is sure to be a tough battle. With so much on the line and the eyes of the nation turned to south bend this weekend, the hype on campus is palpable.  

We asked students around campus on Friday to describe the atmosphere in one word, they responded with “electric,” “pandemonium,” “unbelievable,” “ electric, ” “crazy,” and “explosive.”

After 10 years of repressed hope, the Fighting Irish are finally waking the echoes.

 “I got out here this morning at 6 a.m,” said Chris Brandt, a Notre Dame senior.

“ We got out here at 10 a.m and we’re ready to show the country what Notre Dame football really is,” said Anthony, a Notre Dame freshman.

Groups of blue and gold flooded the campus on Friday, proving these colors, don’t run.

“It’s tradition,” explained Quinn Gleason, a freshman.  “Everybody just wants our team to do well, wants to represent our school well and everybody just gets really into it and that’s what makes it fun.”

So far, the Irish have done pretty well.  At 5-0, Saturday’s matchup against Stanford is a season maker or breaker.

“If we beat Stanford, our path to the BCS is looking pretty strong,” explained Andrew Hyrcza, a senior.  

And there it is, the hope is returning and the anticipation is building.

“I’m so excited,” exclaimed Gleason. “I know I haven’t been able to sleep all week.”

“This is what Notre Dame is all about, this excitement, this joy this unbreakable winning streak, it’s just fantastic,” said Brandt

 “[It’s] surreal and probably a memory I won’t forget,” said Hyrcza.