--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best way I could describe it at Notre…" description: "\"The best way I could describe it at Notre Dame was that I was accepted as a member of the family.\" — Ara Parseghian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/ara-parseghian-13101_accepted_the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notr_267445.jpg" --- # The best way I could describe it at Notre Dame was that I… ![“The best way I could describe it at Notre Dame was that I was accepted as a member of the family.” quote by Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/ara-parseghian-13101_accepted_the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notr_267445.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/ara-parseghian-13101_accepted_the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notr_267445.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/ara-parseghian-13101_accepted_the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notr_267445.jpg) > “The best way I could describe it at Notre Dame was that I was accepted as a member of the family.” [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being accepted into a community feels like joining a supportive family. **In simple terms:** Community acceptance feels familial. Key Takeaway Seek belonging in groups. Themes belonging community family support Mood warm nostalgic Type testimonial reflective When to use this quote - college life - workplace culture - sports teams Key Concepts social integration team dynamics identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What does “family” mean to you? - How do you foster inclusion? A Different Perspective May idealize community; not all groups are inclusive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Notre dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notre-dame/) ## Related quotes > [That's one thing: When I left Notre Dame, when I left every school, what I'm the proudest of is we never compromised the rules,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/that-s-one-thing-when-i-left-notre-dame-when-i-left-every-school-what/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I had grown up during a time when Notre Dame football was held in the highest esteem. I listened to all of the games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-had-grown-up-during-a-time-when-notre-dame-football-was-held-in-the/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [My kids grew up here. My son and daughter both went to Notre Dame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/my-kids-grew-up-here-my-son-and-daughter-both-went-to-notre-dame/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [One thing about Notre Dame, it's like a service academy in a lot of ways. There is a closeness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/one-thing-about-notre-dame-it-s-like-a-service-academy-in-a-lot-of/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I remember when I drove into Notre Dame, getting ready for the first day of work. I had an electrical charge go up my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-remember-when-i-drove-into-notre-dame-getting-ready-for-the-first/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [The most difficult problem about coaching at Notre Dame is losing early.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-most-difficult-problem-about-coaching-at-notre-dame-is-losing/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I came to Notre Dame to renew the winning tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-came-to-notre-dame-to-renew-the-winning-tradition/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [After Notre Dame, what is there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/after-notre-dame-what-is-there/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after five games at Notre Dame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-national-figure-after-five-games/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [The 1973 team is real special. I had never coached against Bear Bryant. Alabama had never played Notre Dame. It was North against South;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-1973-team-is-real-special-i-had-never-coached-against-bear-bryant/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I was a 52-year-old coach. But people don't realize I had 25 years as a head coach. Most coaches my age only had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-was-a-52-year-old-coach-but-people-don-t-realize-i-had-25-years-as/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [The Chinese view the state, not just as an intimate member of the family ... but as the head of the family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/the-chinese-view-the-state-not-just-as-an-intimate-member-of-the/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [Every member of my family knows that running for office is a personal decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-member-of-my-family-knows-that-running-for-office-is-a-personal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was that family member who would show up for family dinners wearing something insane. It was always a form of peaceful protest, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/i-was-that-family-member-who-would-show-up-for-family-dinners-wearing/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [I did not know that if a member of a family serves, the whole family serves. I did not know that the spouses of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/i-did-not-know-that-if-a-member-of-a-family-serves-the-whole-family/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) ## More by Ara Parseghian > [You know what it takes to win. Just look at my fist. When I make a fist, it's strong and you can't tear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/you-know-what-it-takes-to-win-just-look-at-my-fist-when-i-make-a-fist/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I was a 52-year-old coach. But people don't realize I had 25 years as a head coach. Most coaches my age only had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-was-a-52-year-old-coach-but-people-don-t-realize-i-had-25-years-as/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I remember virtually everything about every loss. And the wins are hardly memorable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-remember-virtually-everything-about-every-loss-and-the-wins-are/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [The 1973 team is real special. I had never coached against Bear Bryant. Alabama had never played Notre Dame. It was North against South;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-1973-team-is-real-special-i-had-never-coached-against-bear-bryant/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I became a head football coach when I was 27 years old at Miami of Ohio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-became-a-head-football-coach-when-i-was-27-years-old-at-miami-of/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/a-good-coach-will-make-his-players-see-what-they-can-be-rather-than/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I don't think I was a miracle man. Neither were Lou Holtz or Frank Leahy. We all found ways to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-don-t-think-i-was-a-miracle-man-neither-were-lou-holtz-or-frank/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [The harder you work, the less mistakes you make. The fewer mistakes you make, the better your chances of winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-harder-you-work-the-less-mistakes-you-make-the-fewer-mistakes-you/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [Whether you like it or not, you're a national figure after five games at Notre Dame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/whether-you-like-it-or-not-you-re-a-national-figure-after-five-games/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [Getting to the top of the mountain is a heck of a lot easier than staying there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/getting-to-the-top-of-the-mountain-is-a-heck-of-a-lot-easier-than/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I've been blessed in many ways, but none of the heights from football can ever compare to the depths you go through when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-ve-been-blessed-in-many-ways-but-none-of-the-heights-from-football/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [If you can hang in games by staying close defensively, then good things can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/if-you-can-hang-in-games-by-staying-close-defensively-then-good/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I've missed the association with players and coaches but haven't missed the recruiting and the travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-ve-missed-the-association-with-players-and-coaches-but-haven-t/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [One of the reasons I never went into pro football was because I wanted my kids to grow up around an academic environment. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/one-of-the-reasons-i-never-went-into-pro-football-was-because-i/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) > [I can't think of anything that's hit me harder in my life than when I learned that three of our youngest grandchildren were diagnosed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/i-can-t-think-of-anything-that-s-hit-me-harder-in-my-life-than-when-i/) [Ara Parseghian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) [Explore all 51 Ara Parseghian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/) ## More Accepted quotes > [Merkel has realized that the euro is not working, but she cannot change the narrative she has created because that narrative has caught the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/merkel-has-realized-that-the-euro-is-not-working-but-she-cannot/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Greatness is not guarding yourself from people. Greatness is being accepted by the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/greatness-is-not-guarding-yourself-from-people-greatness-is-being/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [The idea that this world is a playground instead of a battleground has now been accepted in practice by the vast majority of Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/the-idea-that-this-world-is-a-playground-instead-of-a-battleground/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/wishes-for-sons-by-lucille-clifton-i-wish-them-cramps-i-wish-them-a/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are a lot of movies about misfits that are quite cool, that kind of glamorize it on some level. I think there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/there-are-a-lot-of-movies-about-misfits-that-are-quite-cool-that-kind/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [In Quebec City many Muslims have said that they hide their faith because they know that if they don't, if they show that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-pratte/in-quebec-city-many-muslims-have-said-that-they-hide-their-faith/) Andre Pratte > [The rules and principles of case law have never been treated as final truths but as working hypotheses, continually retested in those great laboratories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-n-cardozo/the-rules-and-principles-of-case-law-have-never-been-treated-as-final/) [Benjamin N. Cardozo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-n-cardozo/) > [ We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. \[This is\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shapiro/we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theory-has-been-accepted-as-fact/) [Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shapiro/) > [And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then the lie passed into history and became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/and-if-all-others-accepted-the-lie-which-the-party-imposed-if-all/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said-you-know-we-were-talking/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Divorce is so common and accepted in America that beating myself up over it may sound ridiculous. But I was raised to believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-yearwood/divorce-is-so-common-and-accepted-in-america-that-beating-myself-up/) [Trisha Yearwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-yearwood/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) Browse all 2,128 Accepted quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best way I could describe it at Notre Dame was that I was accepted as a member of the family.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ara Parseghian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notre-dame-was-that-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepted" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notre-dame-was-that-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/ara-parseghian-13101_accepted_the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notr_267445.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/ara-parseghian-13101_accepted_the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notr_267445.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a5/ara-parseghian-13101_accepted_the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notr_267445.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best way I could describe it at Notre Dame was that I was accepted as a member of the family.” — Ara Parseghian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ara Parseghian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ara-parseghian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best way I could describe...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notre-dame-was-that-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ara-parseghian/the-best-way-i-could-describe-it-at-notre-dame-was-that-i-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```