The Ten Commandments of Notre Dame

Written nearly three decades ago, my book (The Gipper’s Ghost: A Story of the Spirit of Notre Dame by Robert A. Quakenbush) introduced the Ten Commandments of Notre Dame. In the book, the most important is the Tenth Commandment of Notre Dame: Thou shalt never lose to USC.

Interestingly enough, after the book was first published, and while it remained in print, Notre Dame didn’t lose to USC for more than a decade! You can look it up in the Notre Dame record books!

The book was out of print for many years, but a couple of years ago (after The Gipper’s Ghost was published in electronic format as an Amazon Kindle edition on Sunday, November 18, 2012), Notre Dame beat USC the following Saturday to finish a perfect 12-0 season. As they say, God does work in mysterious ways...

Here are all ten of the Ten Commandments of Notre Dame, as first published in The Gipper’s Ghost in 1985:

I. Thou shalt not tarnish the image of Notre Dame.

II. Thou shalt always remember the importance of alumni contributions, and score touchdowns accordingly.

III. Remember to always keep protected thy quarterback.

IV. Honor thy coach.

V. Thou shalt not fumble.

VI. Thou shalt not get caught in the act of committing a needless penalty.

VII. Thou shalt not sell thy Notre Dame football tickets above their actual face value.

VIII. Thou shalt not be a hot dog.

IX. Thou shalt not covet thy opponent’s cheerleaders.

X. Thou shalt never lose to USC.


Go Irish!