Go Irish

Validation for why I became a Notre Dame fan:

Mother of Irish's young fan also dies
ENQUIRER STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Cathy Mazurkiewicz, 46, the mother of a boy granted a dying wish to call a football play for Notre Dame, has died eight months after her son. She died Wednesday at her parents' home in Bodfish, Calif., of melanoma, said her daughter, Katrin Seymour. Her son, Montana, 10, died of brain cancer.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis visited Montana Mazurkiewicz in Mishawaka, outside South Bend, in September before Notre Dame played Washington. Weis asked if there were something he could do, and he agreed to let Montana call the first play against Washington. Montana called "pass right."

Weis called for a pass right on the first play of the game from scrimmage even though the Irish started on their own 1-yard line. Tight end Anthony Fasano caught the pass and leapt over a defender for a 13-yard gain.

Montana never got to see the play. He had died the day before. Cathy Mazurkiewicz said she couldn't believe Weis called the play after the Irish started with their backs to the goal line.