Legendary bar remembers legendary coach
The owner of Mulligan’s Bar and Grill says soon there will be a piece honor of Ara, who was such an influential person in this area.
This establishment is a hangout spot for some his former players and the owner, Patrick Mulligan explains what their conversations were like when they started talking about their coach.
“All the players loved him and spoke very highly of him,” he says. “They just really admired him and thought the world of him. He was a small man, but a mighty man.”
Mulligan adds it goes without saying that Parseghian’s a legend. “He’s just a great part of Notre Dame history, two national championship. It’s an Era for Ara.”
Mulligan, like so many others, says South Bend lost an icon, but knows Parseghian will forever be remembered.
“He’ll be looking down on us and he’ll want Coach Kelly to get a National Championship. He wants the Irish to win,” says Mulligan.
On that same note, Jim Lefebvre, author of Coach for a Nation, interviewed Parseghian. He says just by talking with him, he could tell Parseghian’s heart was enormous.
“He was about football and his care and concern for his fellow human beings as evidence through all the work that he did,” says Lefebvre. “I really got to know several of his players and the tremendous respect and loyalty that they have toward him because he was such a great leader for them.”
Another thing Lefebvre mentioned is that Parseghian would remember and recall every play of his career. And that’s what set him apart, the care and love he felt for the game but also for the players.