2008 Woodie Awards
Gryffindor defeats Slytherin on Stepan Fields
ND students organize, play Quidditch game
Jenn Metz
Issue date: 9/29/08 Section: News
If you paid attention to the scoreboard during Saturday's Irish victory over the Boilermakers of Purdue, you would have seen something strange appear between the results of other football games across the nation: Gryffindor: 170, Slytherin 60.
No, you weren't dreaming.
The score of a land Quidditch match, based on the immensely popular game for wizards, was displayed Saturday, much to the surprise of the members of the rival House teams.
"I guess the score got up there by magic," junior Tamuto Takakura, of Gryffindor, said.
Takakura, and nine other Notre Dame students suited up in their Quidditch robes - meaning regular athletic apparel and capes of either scarlet or forest green - to play the magical sport, adapted, of course, for Muggles.
Junior Tim Latham, who played for Slytherin, told The Observer how one plays the game - typically played on flying broomsticks - on land.
"Exactly the way you would if you were a wizard," he said. "Except you put a broom between your legs and run around like a fool."
For those unfamiliar with the traditional rules, each Quidditch team normally consists of seven players: three Chasers, two Beaters, one Keeper and one Seeker. Full explanation of the rules can be found in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
The two teams who played Saturday were made up of 10 residents of Knott and Pasquerilla West Halls. One Chaser and one Beater were removed from each roster.
Peter Mushenheim, who did not know that much about Quidditch prior to playing, was one of the organizers of the match. To get people involved, he scheduled an event on Facebook.
The only preparation for the match was a group watching of "Wizard People, Dear Reader: An Unauthorized Retelling of Harry Potter," by Brad Neely, he said.
Mushenheim and his roommates bought brooms and fabric for capes for the match.
"Luckily, there were many novelty brooms available due to the current proximity to Halloween," he said.
No, you weren't dreaming.
The score of a land Quidditch match, based on the immensely popular game for wizards, was displayed Saturday, much to the surprise of the members of the rival House teams.
"I guess the score got up there by magic," junior Tamuto Takakura, of Gryffindor, said.
Takakura, and nine other Notre Dame students suited up in their Quidditch robes - meaning regular athletic apparel and capes of either scarlet or forest green - to play the magical sport, adapted, of course, for Muggles.
Junior Tim Latham, who played for Slytherin, told The Observer how one plays the game - typically played on flying broomsticks - on land.
"Exactly the way you would if you were a wizard," he said. "Except you put a broom between your legs and run around like a fool."
For those unfamiliar with the traditional rules, each Quidditch team normally consists of seven players: three Chasers, two Beaters, one Keeper and one Seeker. Full explanation of the rules can be found in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
The two teams who played Saturday were made up of 10 residents of Knott and Pasquerilla West Halls. One Chaser and one Beater were removed from each roster.
Peter Mushenheim, who did not know that much about Quidditch prior to playing, was one of the organizers of the match. To get people involved, he scheduled an event on Facebook.
The only preparation for the match was a group watching of "Wizard People, Dear Reader: An Unauthorized Retelling of Harry Potter," by Brad Neely, he said.
Mushenheim and his roommates bought brooms and fabric for capes for the match.
"Luckily, there were many novelty brooms available due to the current proximity to Halloween," he said.