SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Ara Parseghian didn't like the idea of a statue honoring his 11 years as coach of the Fighting Irish being placed at Notre Dame Stadium while he was still alive -- until he saw it on Saturday.
"Now that it's here, I like it," Parseghian said to the applause of about 200 former players, including Joe Theismann and 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, and several hundred fans.
"The statue speaks volumes," athletic director Kevin White said. "It's about team. Coach was always about team."
Parseghian took over a struggling Notre Dame football program in 1964 and instantly returned it to one of the nation's best programs. He guided the Irish to national championships in 1966 and 1973 and retired after the 1974 season with a 95-17-4 record.
"He had a mythic persona on campus," said the Rev. John Jenkins, the university president who was a student at Notre Dame while Parseghian was coach.
Coach Charlie Weis didn't attend the unveiling several hours before the Irish played Michigan State, but talked earlier in the week about Parseghian, saying he's more than a legendary coach and ambassador for Notre Dame.
"He's been much more of a mentor. He's the first person that calls me after a loss. It's easy for people to call you after a win. But he's always there," Weis said. "He's always there to give me advice on the good and the bad. I can't think of anyone that was more deserved to be honored than Ara."
The sculpture, funded with donations from Parseghian's former players, assistant coaches and student managers, was placed at a gate at the stadium that has been designated the national championship coaches gate. It includes bas relief portraits of the five Notre Dame national championship coaches: Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy, Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz.
Parseghian told his former players he hopes that over the years they will stop by and visit the statue.
"Tell your children or grandchildren your own story about being part of this history," he said. "Stop a while and try to listen to the echoes. They'll be here."
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
SPEAK OUT ON THIS ARTICLE
Dick Liquor - Blue4Ever on Sat Sep 22, 2007 02:24 pm
They'll need to put a sack over the statue's head.
NYST
GSMS on Sat Sep 22, 2007 03:28 pm
So true! Shortly before John McKay passed away in 2001, he said that he felt that the reason Ara retired after 1974 was because of the 55-24 shellaking the Trojans handed the Fighting Irish in late November of that year. My personal feeling is that Parseghian should have stuck around a few more years.
lord buckeye2 on Sat Sep 22, 2007 07:34 pm
How dare you embarrass Ara like that. At least they'll never make any more statues unless they are for losing.
passit2u on Sat Sep 22, 2007 07:36 pm
He did coach the game...didnt he?!?!? Well, it seemed like it![/quote]
Hugh Jass - USC Fan#1 on Sat Sep 22, 2007 07:39 pm
JKH6 on Sat Sep 22, 2007 11:46 pm
They'll need to put a sack over the statue's head.
You don't know very much, do you bud?!? Did you know that Ara is the first to call Charlie Weis after ND losses? Did you know that they meet regularly, and that Ara thinks very highly of Charlie?
Of course not. Like most haters, you just create your own reality and pass it on as the truth.
Please get a clue.
How dare you embarrass Ara like that. At least they'll never make any more statues unless they are for losing.
Anthony Davis broke Ara's heart.
FootballGoddess on Mon Sep 24, 2007 04:43 pm
Slightly tarnished statue of former great coach who no longer wants to be associated with former school.
Signed, Ara P.
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