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WILKES-BARRE — It all came down to an Irish jig.
Those words marked the climax of a children’s book written by four retired Wilkes-Barre area teachers about the selection of a leprechaun as the Notre Dame mascot in the late 1960s, replacing Mascot Mike, an aging terrier.
The jig is the signature move of the Fighting Irish’s current costumed cheerleader.
And “The Next Notre Dame Mascot” is the brainchild of Danny O’Brien, Glenn Davis, Mark Smith and Tom Stapleton, with their shared love of education, grandchildren and Notre Dame football providing the perfect underpinnings for a story that has been well received not only by children and their parents and grandparents, but by Notre Dame fans as well.
After their retirement, “The Four Pops,” as they are collectively identified as the authors on the book’s cover, began to gather regularly to watch Monday night football at Senunas’ Bar and Grill on North Main Street in Wilkes-Barre.
During the off-season, they collectively came up with an idea: write a children’s book dedicated to their grandchildren and reflecting their love for Notre Dame.
Something special
Since then, they say, the project has been nothing but fun.
“The four of us all taught for 35 years in elementary schools in the Wilkes-Barre area,” said Smith. “We were basically four friends taking an idea and working on it and turning it into something really special.”
Writing a children’s book is something O’Brien said has always been on his bucket list, and writing a children’s book associated with his favorite team was something he called “really special.”
The authors, who worked with illustrator Adam Schartup, credit him with making their vision a reality.
“We kept asking him to change little things about the illustrations,” said Davis. “We wanted it to be perfect.”
The four also were sticklers for detail. For example, Schartup had to be sure to include among his illustrations the “Touchdown Jesus” mural that looms over the stadium, depicting a Jesus figure with arms raised in a manner similar to a referee’s signal for a touchdown. Also included is a depiction of a sign reminding players to “play like a champion today.”
With eight grandchildren among them, each of “the four pops” has a story to tell about the book and how it was received by the youngest members of their families.
“Even when the book was still in draft form, the kids read it,” said Mark Smith, surrounded by grandsons Ben, 8, Jack, 6 and Noah, 3. “They gave us good feedback.”
Davis’ granddaughter, Anna Kelly, was especially helpful.
“Anna was sensitive to how the characters appealed to young kids. She said, ‘they can’t be scary,’” Smith said. “She said, ‘It can’t be like a school book, Pop, and it can’t have too many words. The kids have to learn a lot from the pictures too.’”
And if there’s a next book? Anna votes to keep the chipmunk in O’Brien said, “because he’s a happy character. She said, “’keep the humor in, life is too serious.’”
Nod from Notre Dame
Getting Notre Dame’s blessing on the book was important to the authors.
“I have been a Notre Dame fan my entire life, ” said O’Brien. “I remember my grandfather and dad listening to Notre Dame football on the radio. My family and I get to Notre Dame games every year. I now have my own grandchildren cheering for Notre Dame.”
The University apparently shared the authors’ enthusiasm, approving the book’s conceptual design in January and bestowing final approval of the book in May.
Representatives from Mascot Books, publishers of the book, cautioned the foursome that it might take weeks or months for the university to approve the book in final.
“It took two days,” said a smiling Davis.
Fortuitously, the group received its first shipment of books in August, just in time for football season.
When September came, the four found themselves signing books both in Mountain Top and at their beloved university itself.
“The book signing took place in the university atrium,” said Davis, “where very famous authors have also signed books.”
An equally treasured book signing took place at Cavanaugh’s Grille in Mountain Top.
The faces of both Smith and Davis light up as they tell the story of more than 200 friends and family members attending the event.
“We didn’t know how many people would come … we didn’t know if anyone would come,” Smith said. “We ended up signing books for two hours.”
Asked about the future, Davis said “the pops,” motivated by love for their grandchildren and their friendship, may have an additional book (or two) in them.
