Notre Dame fans and players talk senior day
Posted: Nov 19, 2011 2:43 AM EDT | Updated: Nov 6, 2014 1:37 PM EDT
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame will play their final home game of the season on Saturday, and for the seniors it’s the last time they’ll run out of the tunnel as a Fighting Irish.
Players said they know it’ll be a day of high emotions, but they can’t let it get the best of them.
"Knowing that it's our last home game, as a senior, but we can't let it take a big toll on us,” said Wide Receiver Michael Floyd.
For Team Captain Harrison Smith, he said he’ll miss playing with his teammates the most.
"Just playing with the guys that you've developed relationships with and that you care about to me over all the traditions its far and above,” said Smith.
Fighting Irish fans aren’t very happy to lose some of their star players, either. “It’s sad for me as fan knowing that they're not going to be there next year,” said Dan Marini.
Marini’s a senior in high school who traveled with his Athena Football teammates from Rochester, New York, to watch the Irish play.
The high school team can relate to what the Irish players are feeling. They, too, just had their senior football game of the season.
"We already went through our senior game so we just know exactly how they feel,” said Brodie Inguaggiato.
The team from New York said it’s all about giving it all you got during your last game on home turf.
"You want to play your hardest and do everything that you can to make this season as good as you can for the rest of your team,” said Alex Haag.
Just like the Irish, not everyone on the Athena Football team is graduating.
"They're all seniors. I'm a junior,” said Mike O’Hare.
O’Hare will be left to carry on their traditions, and his senior teammates said they’ll be there for support.
"He has one more season to go so we'll be rooting for him,” said Haag.
This high school team agreed on the Irish player they’ll miss the most after the season is officially over, none other than Notre Dame’s number three Michael Floyd.
Of course Team Athena doesn’t think, but knows, the Irish will beat Boston College on Saturday, and they said they’re happy they get the chance to be in the stands to see it.