Comparing Traditions

The Golden Hurricane travels to face the Notre Dame 'Golden Domers' this Saturday in South Bend. The two programs are rich in tradition.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:00 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Oct 25, 2010 5:15 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma – It’s hard to say a sentence with the name ‘Notre Dame’ without using the word “tradition”. The two go hand-in-hand. The Fighting Irish first started playing football back in 1887 and have racked up some pretty impressive achievements since then.

The Irish are third in college football history with 841 total wins. They have 11 consensus national championships to their name, seven Heisman Trophy winners, 102 winning seasons, 43 college football Hall of Famers and 184 First-Team All-Americans.

The list goes on and on.

“It means a lot,” said TU quarterback G.J. Kinne. “The tradition Notre Dame has, and just the experience for us to go up there and play a team like that is going to be a good memory.”

Tulsa has some history as well. The university was the first school in the nation to play in five straight New Year’s Day bowl games, dating back to 1942. TU has won 34 conference championships, played in 16 bowl games and has seven 10+ win seasons.

It’s nice, but it’s not Notre Dame.

“It’s going to be an extraordinary atmosphere,” said senior Charles Davis. “You only get a once in a lifetime opportunity to go out there and play Notre Dame. So, we’re enjoying that, but it’s the next game and it’s a big game. We want to go out there and win.”

The Irish and Golden Hurricane will kick off from South Bend, Ind. Saturday at 1:30 p.m.