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SOUTH BEND – David Grimes said his mother plans on watching him play his final college game from the comfort of a beach chair with some sand and water nearby in her Michigan home. The family of Notre Dame safety David Bruton is looking into tickets, which may run them $4,100 for three people.
Irish linebacker Maurice Crum Jr. said his family already made plans, so they won’t attend the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve when Notre Dame faces Hawaii.
The lack of family in attendence is one of the few downsides for the 6-6 Irish, who will spend their holiday in Hawaii.
Notre Dame players, after losing five of seven games to end the regular season, are trying to re-energize themselves before their bowl game.
“The fact that we’re going to a bowl game in general should energize the team,” Bruton said. “A lot of us are upbeat and peppy about the fact that we’re going to a bowl game. Hawaii probably adds a little more excitement and a little more wind under the sail for a lot of guys.
“Some guys would never imagine going to Hawaii in the first place, let alone playing under the sun and make that long, long trip. It’s more attractive than Houston or something like that.”
The team’s decision to go to Hawaii was not unanimous. Grimes, a Detroit native, voted for the Motor City Bowl. One thing the players unanimously agreed upon was getting the bowl game over with to have an uninterrupted holiday break after the game.
“There’s even more energy because it’s Hawaii,” Grimes said. “Nice weather. Beautiful women.”
The bowl also gives Notre Dame a chance to snap a nine-game bowl losing streak. The Irish’s last bowl victory was in the 1994 Cotton Bowl, a 24-21 win over Texas A&M.
“That’d be a major accomplishment, especially as mine and little David’s (Grimes) class is quote-unquote the forgotten class or worst class in Notre Dame history,” Bruton said. “It’d be great to say we broke that streak along with the fifth-year seniors and start a new streak as well.”
Notes: Bruton said he has been invited to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Crum picked up an invitation to the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 17 in Houston. Grimes said he has yet to be picked for a postseason all-star game.
mrothstein@jg.net
