'The Irish were football' - The story of Notre Dame's 'Fighting Irish'

Monday night sees the Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on Ohio State Buckeyes to become College Football champions. It's their first final since 2013 as they look to win their first national title since 1988.

The Fighting Irish play a significant role in college football and while many here in Ireland are aware of the team, perhaps we don't appreciate just how big they are.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish are ingrained in the American psyche. For many years they were the only football team to have a dedicated national TV contract so each home game was broadcast coast to coast.

They've played in four games dubbed Game of the Century and claim 11 national college championships. Their rivalries are some of the most famous in the sport. Their home games, with 80,000 in attendance, revel in the pageantry of college football with their marching band and rousing songs.

Football was slow to get going at Notre Dame but Irish surnames can be seen on the early team sheets. On the first ever team in 1887 were James Maloney, Tom O'Regan, and Joe Cusack who was quarterback.

Ed Coady was the quarterback for the team's first victory while younger brother Pat played an important role in 1892, revitalising the program which had gone on hiatus in 1890. Frank Keough was captain in 1893 and 1894 with Dan Casey captain the following year.

In 1900 an Australian of Irish heritage Pat O'Dea coached the team. O'Dea had played Aussie Rules before moving to the States where he excelled as a kicker for the University of Wisconsin - Madison. O'Dea had replaced James McWeeney and was replaced as coach by James Farragher, whose second season in charge in 1903 was very successful. Farragher's position as coach is disputed by some historians.

In 1905 the coach was