Notre Dame Fans gathered to watch the Fighting Irish and celebrate life

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- While Taphouse on the Edge might not have been as packed as it had been earlier this weekend-- the bar typically closed early on Sundays, but stayed open late for March Madness-- it still drew its fair share of Irish fans-- who eagerly watched them go toe-to-toe with Texas Tech. 

“It’s a one point game at halftime, right? That’s all you can ask for," said Bryan Holland, a longtime Irish fan who told me he was not surprised that they made it this far into the tournament this year.

“This team’s got a lot of fight to them," he said. "They’re actually a dangerous team.”

But Holland had more reasons for being out at Taphouse than just to watch Notre Dame Bastketball. 

“Jim Langford was a professor at Notre Dame," he explained. "And his sons are here. He was a great man: a twenty-five year professor at Notre Dame. We’re celebrating his life today.”

Langford's family and friends gathered tonight at Taphouse ahead of Langford's funeral, which is set to be held tomorrow at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame.

When we spoke at half-time, Holland told me he fully believed the Irish had a chance to beat out the Red Raiders.

“Mike Brey is doing a heck of a job and the kids are playing hard," he said, adding "Like I said, it’s a dangerous team.”

Sadly the luck of the Irish ran out; Notre Dame lost to Texas Tech, 59-53.