Why some Philly fans are conflicted over Penn State-Notre Dame rivalry
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Jen Gallagher, middle, with her nephews, Andrew Duffy, left, and Will Gallagher III. Photo: Courtesy of Jen Gallagher
The luck of Philly's Fighting Irish fans will be put to the test in Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinals.
Why it matters: Penn State and Notre Dame, two of college football's most storied programs, are facing off for the first time since 2007.
Driving the news: The Orange Bowl kicks off at 7:30pm in Miami, and many fans are planning to pack local pubs like McGillin's Olde Ale House, Philly's oldest and most iconic Irish tavern, for the rivalry game.
- Watch parties and specials are happening at Iron City Sports Bar, Tradesmans, City Tap House in Logan Square and Chickie's & Pete's.
Flashback: The Nittany Lions dominated 31-10 in the teams' last meeting in 2007.
- The teams have played each other a total of 19 times, each winning nine games and tying once in 1925.
Lucky for Jen Gallagher, tonight's game is a win-win.
- The Northeast Philly resident comes from a long lineage of Notre Dame alums — a rarity in a region that'll overwhelmingly be rooting for the Nittany Lions.
- Her father played for the football team in the 1970s. In the mid-1990s, her brother graduated from Notre Dame, where he met his wife.
- And Gallager's nephew, William III, is currently on the Irish's defending national champion lacrosse team.
Yes, but: Gallagher's other nephew, Andrew Duffy, is an equipment manager for the Penn State football team.
- If the Nittany Lions win, he'd get to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the host of the national championship game.
What they're saying: "We kinda feel guilty rooting for Notre Dame even though it's all we've ever known," Gallagher tells Axios.
- Even Duffy is a little conflicted given his family ties to the Irish, he told Axios by text.
- "I grew up a Notre Dame fan since I was little because of 'Coachie,'" he said, referring to his grandfather. "So this is the ideal matchup."
How to watch: The game will air on ESPN.