Outlined against a wet black November sky a lone horseman rode. In dramatic lore he is known as Ghost Rider. This is only an alias. His real name is Tim Kelly. He was not seen on any TiVo, slo-mo, high def, official review or replay. He was invisible to the naked eye and the camera. But to the eyes of the hearts and souls of those who knew him, his presence at Saturday's game was as unmistakable as the gleam on the Golden Dome, forcing the errant throw and two dropped touchdown passes on the game's final drive.
A co-captain of the 1970 team that suffered a national championship dream-shattering loss to Southern California in a monumental downpour at the Coliseum, Tim left us on Tuesday. the anniversary of Notre Dame's first football game. Tim was buried late Saturday afternoon just in time to make it out to the game. He was simply not going to let us lose.
Tim showed what kind of person he is when he ignored doctors' orders — Tim had recently had an operation to remove a brain tumor — in order to travel to Notre Dame to be with his teammates at the Pittsburg game for our 40-year reunion. The epitome of old school Notre Dame, one couldn't find a better brother in Notre Dame than Tim.
Mike Keating
Associate Football Manager, 1971
Nov. 30
