Why I Won't Be Cheering For Old Notre Dame | Washington Post

Why I Won't Be Cheering For Old Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 17: A general view of Notre Dame Stadium as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on November 17, 2012 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Wake Forest 38-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 17: A general view of Notre Dame Stadium as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on November 17, 2012 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Wake Forest 38-0. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Well, since you asked -- and many of my friends have, some more than once -- no, I will not be cheering for my alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, to win big-time college football's championship on Jan. 7. What's really surprising me are those who believe as I do that two players on the team have committed serious criminal acts - sexual assault in one case, and rape in another -- but assumed that I'd support the team anyway, just as they are.

"Aren't you just a little bit excited?" one asked the other day. There are plenty of good guys on the team, too, I'm repeatedly told. And oh, that Manti Te'o is inspiring. I don't doubt it. But as a thought exercise, how many predators would have to be on the team before you'd no longer feel like cheering?

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