Sept. 12, 2001
The tragedy in New York and our capital has brought perspective to the world of college athletics. Notre Dame informed the media that the Notre Dame vs. Purdue contest scheduled for Saturday has been canceled, after Wednesday’s practice.
“The game is off,” coach Bob Davie said. “I just found out about ten minutes ago. We just finished practice when Bernard Muir (Associate Athletic Director) came up and told me that Purdue had called and said that the game is off.”
A solemn Davie remarked on the emotions running through the players and coaches.
“It has been grueling, it really has…obviously there are bigger things going on in this country than we have going on right here,” Davie said. “We need to take a deep breath right now and get away from here this evening.”
The Purdue game has been rescheduled for December 1.
A Week To Remember
Beginning with Saturday night’s loss to Nebraska, it has been quite a roller coaster for the players and staff of the Notre Dame football team.
“It really has been a different week,” Davie said. “Obviously from the Nebraska game Saturday night until right now there has been a bunch of emotion and energy extended…right now the decision has been made.”
Davie was asked if he felt an emotional let down.
“It was different yesterday not practicing…then you come back today and you feel like there is a sense of urgency to try and get so many things in on a Wednesday practice.”
“I got to be honest, out there on that practice field that I didn’t have a particularly good feeling about going to play this football game…It has been a difficult week for all of us.”
Irish Connections
With Notre Dame football players’ hometowns strewn across the United States, one obvious question asked was if anyone had personal connections to the tragedy in New York and Washington D.C.
“I don’t think right now that we have anyone that has been directly effected by this,” Davie said.