Folks tuning into this Thursday night’s NCAA playoff matchup between Notre Dame and Penn State might once again enjoy a little Lowell flavor to the proceedings, as was the case last week when the Fighting Irish advanced to College Football’s final four matchup following their January 2nd victory over the University of Georgia.

Ty Chan of Lowell, who also played at Lawrence Academy, is an Offensive Lineman for Notre Dame. After playing in only two games during his Freshman season in 2023, Chan has seen action in a dozen games for the Fighting Irish this season, mostly on special teams.

And while his name doesn’t appear in the box score from last week’s game against the Bulldogs, his cheering section was front and center during the National TV broadcast.

On multiple occasions, when network cameras cut to the Notre Dame fan section, Chan’s mother Stacy was visible, though it appeared more so for the animated reactions of her fiancée standing by her side.

Chan’s mom Stacey (blue sweater on left) and Peter Cullen (green Fighting Irish t-shirt) next to her

Lowell native Peter Cullen stood out prominently on the broadcast, with his green t-shirt and animated reactions to big plays by the Fighting Irish.  In one shot, Cullen showed off his dexterity, fist pumping with one arm while double-fisting a pair of Modelos in the other.

Chan spent two years at Lowell High School, before transferring to powerhouse Lawrence Academy in Groton. He committed to Notre Dame in December of 2020, right after the football season cancelled by the covid pandemic.

Whether Chan sees the playing field in Thursday night’s semi-final contest against the Nittany Lions remains to be seen, but you can bet many of us in Lowell will also be paying a little extra attention during the fan cutaway shots to see if Stacy and Peter figure as prominently in the television broadcast.

Based on how often the camera gravitated to the Lowell cheering section last week, chances are we haven’t seen the last of them on ESPN.