Category: Features

It’s ‘Touchdown Jesus‘ vs. “Script Ohio.”

It’s golden helmets against buckeye stickers on silver helmets.

It’s the leprechaun

No photo description available.

against this thing.

Transparent Brutus Buckeye

It’s Notre Dame versus Ohio State for the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night in Atlanta.

And this is a story of how three Pennsylvania politicians – two Republican and one Democrat – have been able to put aside politics over their love for the Fighting Irish.

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-16) grew up in Butler, played football for the Golden Tornados, graduating in 1966 and attended Notre Dame on a football and academic scholarship, playing for coach Ara Parseghian.

Longtime Republican political consultant Charlie Gerow remembers growing up and watching Kelly’s Fighting Irish teams on TV and as a youngster was enamored by the quarterback of the 1966 squad, Terry Hanratty.

Hanratty, a 1964 graduate of Butler High School and member of two Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl teams, played alongside Kelly and the two have remained lifelong friends.

May be an image of 3 people and the Oval Office

“I was glued to the TV during that 1966 season,” remembered Gerow, “Terry Hanratty, (wide receiver) Jim Seymour, the 10-10 tie with Michigan State … I’ve been a Notre Dame groupie from that point forward.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-02) was born and raised in Philadelphia but as Temple struggled competitively in the 1990s under coaches Jerry Berndt and Ron Dickerson, he felt like a fan without a college football team.

“Growing up, I was a passionate sports fan and rooted for the Philly team in every sport,” he recounted. “But when it came to college football, I was a bit of a free agent.”

Then, the thunder shook down from the sky.

“I ended up discovering and just falling in love with Notre Dame football and everything about it – the history, the fight song, the gold helmets, and all its lore. It was my dream school when applying for college and I was fortunate to be accepted.”

Boyle, the first member of his family to attend college, became a sportscaster on Notre Dame’s student-run radio station – WVFI 640 AM – and got to call three years of Irish football, including a 1997 loss to Ohio State, 29-16.

Rep. Brendan Boyle as a student broadcaster at Notre Dame

After graduation, Boyle was elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature in 2008. Upon meeting Gerow in Harrisburg, Boyle casually mentioned that he enjoyed watching him on PCN-TV shows.

“Somehow Notre Dame came up and (Gerow) immediately whipped out his cell phone and showed me that his ringtone was the Notre Dame fight song,” remembered Boyle.

A friendship was born.

Now one might assume that party politics might factor in at some point between the Republican and the Democrat. But Irish “blood” runs deep.

“I try to get back to campus at least once a year for a game,” said Boyle, “but also to talk to students about my work in Congress. “A few months ago, my colleague Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), a fellow Notre Dame alum, and I did a joint talk on campus about our work and the importance of bipartisanship. We have become good friends and were brought together by our shared love of Notre Dame football.”

Gerow mentioned that he discussed with Boyle the possibility of attending the Irish’s game against Navy in Ireland in 2023, but was unable to pull off the trip across the pond.

But for the brothers Kelly, this game runs deeper than blood as Mike’s younger brother, Bob, played defensive back for Ohio State under Woody Hayes in the early 70s. He was on the 1973 squad that infamously battled Michigan to a 10-10 draw – a game immortalized on the documentary produced by the Big Ten Network, “Tiebreaker.”

“This is going to be a fun game in the Kelly family,” said the congressman. “As a proud Notre Dame graduate and former player, let’s go Irish!”

Kelly attended an event for Gerow when he was a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. And when Hanratty came to the event as well … you can imagine the reaction.

“I’ve grown to love both of them,” said Gerow.

Kelly and Boyle are two members of a bipartisan group in Congress who are passionate Notre Dame fans, including Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep, Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.)

“It’s nice that at this time of intense partisanship we have something we care about that has brought us together,” said Boyle.

No photo description available.

It’s ‘Touchdown Jesus‘ vs. “Script Ohio.”

It’s golden helmets against buckeye stickers on silver helmets.

It’s the leprechaun

No photo description available.

against this thing.

Transparent Brutus Buckeye

It’s Notre Dame versus Ohio State for the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night in Atlanta.

And this is a story of how three Pennsylvania politicians – two Republican and one Democrat – have been able to put aside politics over their love for the Fighting Irish.

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-16) grew up in Butler, played football for the Golden Tornados, graduating in 1966 and attended Notre Dame on a football and academic scholarship, playing for coach Ara Parseghian.

Longtime Republican political consultant Charlie Gerow remembers growing up and watching Kelly’s Fighting Irish teams on TV and as a youngster was enamored by the quarterback of the 1966 squad, Terry Hanratty.

Hanratty, a 1964 graduate of Butler High School and member of two Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl teams, played alongside Kelly and the two have remained lifelong friends.

May be an image of 3 people and the Oval Office

“I was glued to the TV during that 1966 season,” remembered Gerow, “Terry Hanratty, (wide receiver) Jim Seymour, the 10-10 tie with Michigan State … I’ve been a Notre Dame groupie from that point forward.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-02) was born and raised in Philadelphia but as Temple struggled competitively in the 1990s under coaches Jerry Berndt and Ron Dickerson, he felt like a fan without a college football team.

“Growing up, I was a passionate sports fan and rooted for the Philly team in every sport,” he recounted. “But when it came to college football, I was a bit of a free agent.”

Then, the thunder shook down from the sky.

“I ended up discovering and just falling in love with Notre Dame football and everything about it – the history, the fight song, the gold helmets, and all its lore. It was my dream school when applying for college and I was fortunate to be accepted.”

Boyle, the first member of his family to attend college, became a sportscaster on Notre Dame’s student-run radio station – WVFI 640 AM – and got to call three years of Irish football, including a 1997 loss to Ohio State, 29-16.

Rep. Brendan Boyle as a student broadcaster at Notre Dame

After graduation, Boyle was elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature in 2008. Upon meeting Gerow in Harrisburg, Boyle casually mentioned that he enjoyed watching him on PCN-TV shows.

“Somehow Notre Dame came up and (Gerow) immediately whipped out his cell phone and showed me that his ringtone was the Notre Dame fight song,” remembered Boyle.

A friendship was born.

Now one might assume that party politics might factor in at some point between the Republican and the Democrat. But Irish “blood” runs deep.

“I try to get back to campus at least once a year for a game,” said Boyle, “but also to talk to students about my work in Congress. “A few months ago, my colleague Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), a fellow Notre Dame alum, and I did a joint talk on campus about our work and the importance of bipartisanship. We have become good friends and were brought together by our shared love of Notre Dame football.”

Gerow mentioned that he discussed with Boyle the possibility of attending the Irish’s game against Navy in Ireland in 2023, but was unable to pull off the trip across the pond.

But for the brothers Kelly, this game runs deeper than blood as Mike’s younger brother, Bob, played defensive back for Ohio State under Woody Hayes in the early 70s. He was on the 1973 squad that infamously battled Michigan to a 10-10 draw – a game immortalized on the documentary produced by the Big Ten Network, “Tiebreaker.”

“This is going to be a fun game in the Kelly family,” said the congressman. “As a proud Notre Dame graduate and former player, let’s go Irish!”

Kelly attended an event for Gerow when he was a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. And when Hanratty came to the event as well … you can imagine the reaction.

“I’ve grown to love both of them,” said Gerow.

Kelly and Boyle are two members of a bipartisan group in Congress who are passionate Notre Dame fans, including Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep, Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.)

“It’s nice that at this time of intense partisanship we have something we care about that has brought us together,” said Boyle.

No photo description available.

Email:

It’s ‘Touchdown Jesus‘ vs. “Script Ohio.”

It’s golden helmets against buckeye stickers on silver helmets.

It’s the leprechaun

No photo description available.

against this thing.

Transparent Brutus Buckeye

It’s Notre Dame versus Ohio State for the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night in Atlanta.

And this is a story of how three Pennsylvania politicians – two Republican and one Democrat – have been able to put aside politics over their love for the Fighting Irish.

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-16) grew up in Butler, played football for the Golden Tornados, graduating in 1966 and attended Notre Dame on a football and academic scholarship, playing for coach Ara Parseghian.

Longtime Republican political consultant Charlie Gerow remembers growing up and watching Kelly’s Fighting Irish teams on TV and as a youngster was enamored by the quarterback of the 1966 squad, Terry Hanratty.

Hanratty, a 1964 graduate of Butler High School and member of two Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl teams, played alongside Kelly and the two have remained lifelong friends.

May be an image of 3 people and the Oval Office

“I was glued to the TV during that 1966 season,” remembered Gerow, “Terry Hanratty, (wide receiver) Jim Seymour, the 10-10 tie with Michigan State … I’ve been a Notre Dame groupie from that point forward.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-02) was born and raised in Philadelphia but as Temple struggled competitively in the 1990s under coaches Jerry Berndt and Ron Dickerson, he felt like a fan without a college football team.

“Growing up, I was a passionate sports fan and rooted for the Philly team in every sport,” he recounted. “But when it came to college football, I was a bit of a free agent.”

Then, the thunder shook down from the sky.

“I ended up discovering and just falling in love with Notre Dame football and everything about it – the history, the fight song, the gold helmets, and all its lore. It was my dream school when applying for college and I was fortunate to be accepted.”

Boyle, the first member of his family to attend college, became a sportscaster on Notre Dame’s student-run radio station – WVFI 640 AM – and got to call three years of Irish football, including a 1997 loss to Ohio State, 29-16.

Rep. Brendan Boyle as a student broadcaster at Notre Dame

After graduation, Boyle was elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature in 2008. Upon meeting Gerow in Harrisburg, Boyle casually mentioned that he enjoyed watching him on PCN-TV shows.

“Somehow Notre Dame came up and (Gerow) immediately whipped out his cell phone and showed me that his ringtone was the Notre Dame fight song,” remembered Boyle.

A friendship was born.

Now one might assume that party politics might factor in at some point between the Republican and the Democrat. But Irish “blood” runs deep.

“I try to get back to campus at least once a year for a game,” said Boyle, “but also to talk to students about my work in Congress. “A few months ago, my colleague Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), a fellow Notre Dame alum, and I did a joint talk on campus about our work and the importance of bipartisanship. We have become good friends and were brought together by our shared love of Notre Dame football.”

Gerow mentioned that he discussed with Boyle the possibility of attending the Irish’s game against Navy in Ireland in 2023, but was unable to pull off the trip across the pond.

But for the brothers Kelly, this game runs deeper than blood as Mike’s younger brother, Bob, played defensive back for Ohio State under Woody Hayes in the early 70s. He was on the 1973 squad that infamously battled Michigan to a 10-10 draw – a game immortalized on the documentary produced by the Big Ten Network, “Tiebreaker.”

“This is going to be a fun game in the Kelly family,” said the congressman. “As a proud Notre Dame graduate and former player, let’s go Irish!”

Kelly attended an event for Gerow when he was a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. And when Hanratty came to the event as well … you can imagine the reaction.

“I’ve grown to love both of them,” said Gerow.

Kelly and Boyle are two members of a bipartisan group in Congress who are passionate Notre Dame fans, including Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep, Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.)

“It’s nice that at this time of intense partisanship we have something we care about that has brought us together,” said Boyle.

No photo description available.

It’s ‘Touchdown Jesus‘ vs. “Script Ohio.”

It’s golden helmets against buckeye stickers on silver helmets.

It’s the leprechaun

No photo description available.

against this thing.

Transparent Brutus Buckeye

It’s Notre Dame versus Ohio State for the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night in Atlanta.

And this is a story of how three Pennsylvania politicians – two Republican and one Democrat – have been able to put aside politics over their love for the Fighting Irish.

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-16) grew up in Butler, played football for the Golden Tornados, graduating in 1966 and attended Notre Dame on a football and academic scholarship, playing for coach Ara Parseghian.

Longtime Republican political consultant Charlie Gerow remembers growing up and watching Kelly’s Fighting Irish teams on TV and as a youngster was enamored by the quarterback of the 1966 squad, Terry Hanratty.

Hanratty, a 1964 graduate of Butler High School and member of two Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl teams, played alongside Kelly and the two have remained lifelong friends.

May be an image of 3 people and the Oval Office

“I was glued to the TV during that 1966 season,” remembered Gerow, “Terry Hanratty, (wide receiver) Jim Seymour, the 10-10 tie with Michigan State … I’ve been a Notre Dame groupie from that point forward.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-02) was born and raised in Philadelphia but as Temple struggled competitively in the 1990s under coaches Jerry Berndt and Ron Dickerson, he felt like a fan without a college football team.

“Growing up, I was a passionate sports fan and rooted for the Philly team in every sport,” he recounted. “But when it came to college football, I was a bit of a free agent.”

Then, the thunder shook down from the sky.

“I ended up discovering and just falling in love with Notre Dame football and everything about it – the history, the fight song, the gold helmets, and all its lore. It was my dream school when applying for college and I was fortunate to be accepted.”

Boyle, the first member of his family to attend college, became a sportscaster on Notre Dame’s student-run radio station – WVFI 640 AM – and got to call three years of Irish football, including a 1997 loss to Ohio State, 29-16.

Rep. Brendan Boyle as a student broadcaster at Notre Dame

After graduation, Boyle was elected to the Pennsylvania state legislature in 2008. Upon meeting Gerow in Harrisburg, Boyle casually mentioned that he enjoyed watching him on PCN-TV shows.

“Somehow Notre Dame came up and (Gerow) immediately whipped out his cell phone and showed me that his ringtone was the Notre Dame fight song,” remembered Boyle.

A friendship was born.

Now one might assume that party politics might factor in at some point between the Republican and the Democrat. But Irish “blood” runs deep.

“I try to get back to campus at least once a year for a game,” said Boyle, “but also to talk to students about my work in Congress. “A few months ago, my colleague Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), a fellow Notre Dame alum, and I did a joint talk on campus about our work and the importance of bipartisanship. We have become good friends and were brought together by our shared love of Notre Dame football.”

Gerow mentioned that he discussed with Boyle the possibility of attending the Irish’s game against Navy in Ireland in 2023, but was unable to pull off the trip across the pond.

But for the brothers Kelly, this game runs deeper than blood as Mike’s younger brother, Bob, played defensive back for Ohio State under Woody Hayes in the early 70s. He was on the 1973 squad that infamously battled Michigan to a 10-10 draw – a game immortalized on the documentary produced by the Big Ten Network, “Tiebreaker.”

“This is going to be a fun game in the Kelly family,” said the congressman. “As a proud Notre Dame graduate and former player, let’s go Irish!”

Kelly attended an event for Gerow when he was a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. And when Hanratty came to the event as well … you can imagine the reaction.

“I’ve grown to love both of them,” said Gerow.

Kelly and Boyle are two members of a bipartisan group in Congress who are passionate Notre Dame fans, including Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep, Rudy Yakym (R-Ind.)

“It’s nice that at this time of intense partisanship we have something we care about that has brought us together,” said Boyle.

No photo description available.

  • Will tonight's U.S. Senate debate affect your decision?


    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
    • Yes. Anxious to hear from both candidates (19%)

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