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ND 'Twas the Night Before Christmas

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through South Bend
Not a creature was stirring, neither rooster nor hen"

The banners were hung on the stadium with care,
In hopes that St. Charlie soon would be there

The alumni were nestled all snug in their beds,
With dreams of Leahy and Holtz in their heads;

While the students at the Grotto, down by the lake,
Were just giving thanks for a long winter break,

When out on those quads there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The Dome with a crest of new-fallen snow
Gave a luster of mi d-day to a campus below

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
A high-powered offense: the champions next year!

With a large and proud leader, so friendly and nice
I knew in a moment it must be Coach Weis

As fast as Four Horsemen, onward they came
He whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now Hoyte, Now Samardzija, Walker, Fasano
On Stovall, On Shelton, Wooden, Anastascio"

To the top of the rankings, to the top of them all
"Now throw a-way, run a-way, and dive for the ball!

We will move like the wind, our runners will fly
And just for balance, we'll take to the sky!"

So up to the top of the rankings they flew
With a big book of plays, and Brady Quinn too

And then in a twinkling, to the sound of the cleats
The scoring and wins, I forgot past defeats

As I drew in my hand, and was t urning around,
Down the chimney, Coach Weis came with a bound

He was dressed with his rings, and headset to boot
And his clothes were all drenched with Gatorade and soot

A number of victories he carried on his back
And he smiled as he turned and presented a sack
of trophies--how they twinkled! Like heaps of gold treasures
His cheeks were like roses, his wisdom past measure

Weis commanded the team on fourth downs to throw
Through hail and through fog, through sleet and through snow

His genius caused points in the forties and fifties,
to hearten alumni and keep our stats spiffy

Weis had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed, like a BCS bowl-ful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, and so sure of himself,
That I cheered when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know, Ohio State would be dead

He boasted not a word, praise makes not his day
But all now know, for the title we'll play

And laying a finger to the side of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the rankings we rose

At his departure I heard Trooper McCarthy say;
If your sleigh flight looks fishy, you'll be the catch of the day!

Weis sprang to the roof, to his team gave a cheer
And away to a victory in the Fiesta next year;

And I heard him call plays, for winning that game
"Merry Christmas to all. And love thee Notre Dame!

(Written by John Rosemeyer, 2005-06 Season)