I was in Law School at BC in 1998 (I later transferred) - I went to the BC-ND game at Chestnut Hill, and experienced my first legit tailgate. I was with a number of "Double Eagles", and got to a fancy tailgate spread, wearing my ND jersey. There was an "older" gent in a BC jersey sipping a Bloody Mary, and we got into some good-natured ribbing at each other. All respectful. After we left to hit another spot, some of the Double Eagles came up to me and said "DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT WAS?", to which I of course said "No, who"? "THAT WAS GERARD PHALEN!" To which I of course said, "Who?" LOL. Didn't know my CFB history that well back then outside of ND, quite frankly. Later saw him and Flutie in an old AT&T commercial, and was like "I met that guy!"
That was a way-too-close game that year. ND made a goal-line stand at the 1 yard line and pulled out the victory. Exciting stuff all around. GO IRISH!