June 2016 Volume 3
Our third edition of Onward to Victory comes at a time of great celebration and reflection on campus. Last month, four years of hard-work, dedication, and perseverance culminated as the 2016 seniors walked across the commencement stage to receive their diplomas. The 146 senior student-athletes won team national championships, individual national championships, ACC conference tournaments, All-American honors, and scholar-athlete awards. Perhaps more importantly, for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year, Notre Dame ranked first in the nation for student-athlete GSR (Graduation Success Rate). The athletics benefactors who give to our programs play such a key role in all of these successes that our student-athletes achieve. The Notre Dame student-athlete experience is unlike any other in the nation - one that mixes nationally competitive athletics with a top notch Catholic education and without your support, none of it would be possible. Thank you for all that you do! The Athletics Advancement Team
Rockne Heritage fund
Gifts to the Rockne Heritage Fund support scholarships and the general operating budget. In 2014-2015, the RHF funded approximately 25 full scholarships and over $315,000 in funds for specific team needs. Below are just a few examples of the impact our donors are having through gifts to RHF: • Notre Dame used $21,000 to purchase NormaTec • recovery packages - cutting-edge injury and training • recovery tools. These products come as boots, sleeves, • and vests, and use a pulsing technology that pumps fluid • and metabolites out of limbs after an intense workout • or rehab session. This allows student-athletes to train • harder, recover faster, and feel better. • • Softball used gifts to fund an international trip to Germany • and France. Many times, due to sport obligations, student• athletes will not have the ability to participate in study • abroad programs. However, through donor generosity, • softball student-athletes were able to travel overseas • to compete against national European teams, tour a US • military base in France, and see many historic sites. • • Gifts to Rockne baseball provided funds to repair video cameras and provide updates to the facilities at Eck Stadium.
Spring Monogram Jacket Ceremony
Jeff Faine, former Irish football standout, joined the newest monogram winners at Club Naimoli inside Purcell Pavilion for the Monogram Club Jacket Ceremony. Watch the video here!
News
Watchnd
Tickets
GIve
CONTACT US: call (574)631-1353 or email athleticsadvancement@nd.edu
Drew Dawson
Fast Facts Sport: Men’s Tennis Year: Rising Junior Dorm: Stanford Hall Favorite TV Show: House of Cards Favorite Training Table Meal: Guacamole Favorite Free Time Activity: Hiking Q&A
Q. Why did you decide to come to Notre Dame? A. I lived in Chicago until I was twelve when my family moved to California. We always had a place on Lake Michigan about 45 minutes from ND so I grew up going to ND’s campus and games, even though no one in my family has ever gone there. When I visited as a potential student, I knew that it was where I wanted to go. I loved the coaches and the team and eventually decided it was the best fit for me both academically and athletically. Q. What is your favorite athletics memory at Notre Dame? A. Hands down has to be when we beat #1 UNC on senior night. The support and energy we got from our fans was amazing and made the atmosphere that much more exciting. It was unreal to get the win against such a tough opponent, especially for the seniors. Q. In what ways are you involved in the community outside of your sport? A. Outside of the occasional clinics our team hosts, I volunteered at the Logan Center once a week this past year. I loved building relationships with the people there throughout the year and always left with a huge smile on my face. Q. What resource that Notre Dame offers to student-athletes has been most beneficial to you? A. Early “Dart” time has allowed me to pick the classes I want, and having access to tutors has helped me a lot in my classes. Q. What is the coolest or most unique opportunity Notre Dame Athletics has afforded you? A. I wouldn’t say there is one thing in particular because one of my favorite things about Notre Dame Athletics is that it has made me feel like a normal student while still being an athlete. I love how the dorm system works and that I’m able to have friends outside of other athletes.
Sport performance
The difference between winning and losing can be a proper fundamental technique, a wind sprint, a healthy muscle, an off-season diet, confidence for an academic test, or thirty more minutes of sleep. This is the essence of Sport Performance: to maximize a student-athlete’s performance through an integrated enhancement of everything that touches their life. What is Notre Dame doing to win? Here are 5 things:
1. Duncan French
Dr. Duncan French joined the University of Notre Dame in January 2016 as the Director of Performance Sciences in the athletics department. In this role, French is responsible for leading the sport-specific technical interfaces that maximize the impact of performance-support services, which include nutrition, strength & conditioning, student welfare and athletic training.
2. Derin McMains
Derin McMains has been hired to fill the newly created position of Director of Mental Conditioning. A 15-year player, coach, and trainer with the San Francisco Giants, McMains will arm coaches and sport performance staff members with the information and skills necessary to make the connection between sport psychology theory and applied practice to impact performance.
3. Technologies
Through advancements such as force plate technology, GPS tracking, and training recovery tools, Notre Dame seeks competitive advantages before, during and after the game.
4. Interdisciplinary Approach
Contrary to the traditional industry model which focuses only on athletics factors, Notre Dame utilizes an interdisciplinary approach. The integration of mental performance, leadership skills, sleep analysis, career development, and general welfare creates a holistic environment which addresses all facets of a student-athlete’s life.
5. Under Armour
Through an expanded business partnership with Under Armour, there has been an extended effort to work with the company’s best innovators to coordinate the application of scientific research, data analytics, and applied performance science within Sport Performance.
Gratitude Week
From April 11-14, student-athletes and the Athletics Advancement team hosted “Gratitude Week,” where student-athletes had the chance to come in and reach out to individuals who have made an impact on their lives. Whether this was a former coach, a parent, a best friend, a favorite professor, or a Notre Dame benefactor, student-athletes were able to connect with hundreds of people to express their thanks. In total, 22 of our 26 sports team were represented, and 120 student-athletes attended. It was a very special time of acknowledgement and appreciation, and we are excited to expand this event to more student-athletes and supporters in the future.
Click the banners below to check out videos of these can’t-miss sports highlights!
1
Seidel’s National Championship Pflueger’s Buzzer Beater
3
Garnsey Goes Around the World Sexton’s Game Winner
5
2
Hunter’s One-Handed Grab
4
Women’s Basketball ACC Tournament Championship The women’s basketball team picked up their third straight ACC championship and fourth straight conference tournament overall. Senior Madison Cable was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
4 National Championships Senior Molly Seidel added to her storied Notre Dame career by becoming the first four-time NCAA individual champion in school history. She now has national titles in the 10,000 meter, cross country, and 3,000 and 5,000 meter indoor track races. She was named the Womens Division 1 National Athlete of the Year in both cross country and indoor track.
April OSCARS On April 27, the athletics department celebrated student-athlete successes on the field, in the classroom, and in the community at the 15th annual StudentAthlete O.S.C.A.R.S. (Outstanding Students Celebrating Achievements & Recognition Showcase) event. Click here to see the highlights.
May Graduation From May 13-15, student-athletes enjoyed commencement weekend with their friends and family. For the ninth straight year, the University ranked number one in NCAA Graduation Success Rate.
Notre DAme in the NFL: 2016 Draft
The University of Notre Dame had seven former players selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. All seven players were picked in the first four rounds, equaling the school record for players selected in the top four rounds of the draft. Here is a look at Notre Dame’s prospective NFL rookies:
Ronnie Stanley
Will Fuller
Jaylon Smith
Nick Martin
OT 6’6 315 Drafted 1st Round 6th Overall Baltimore Ravens
WR 6’0 184 Drafted 1st Round, 21st Overall Houston Texans
LB 6’2 240 Drafted 2nd Round, 34th Overall Dallas Cowboys
C 6’4 301 Drafted 2nd Round, 50th Overall Houston Texans
KeiVarae Russell
CJ Prosise
Sheldon Day
CB 5’11 196 Drafted 3rd Round, 74th Overall Kansas City Chiefs
RB 6’0 220 Drafted 3rd Round, 90th Overall Seattle Seahawks
DL 6’2 285 Drafted 4th Round, 104th Overall Jacksonville Jaguars
Chris Brown
Romeo Okwara
Elijah Shumate
WR 6’2 195 Signed with Dallas Cowboys
DE 6’4 258 Signed with New York Giants
DB 6’0 214 Signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DB 5’11 205 Signed with Arizona Cardinals
WR 5’10 190 Signed with Arizona Cardinals
LB 6’3 253 Signed with Chicago Bears
Matthias Farley
Amir Carlisle
Jarrett Grace
Ishaq Williams
Eliar Hardy
DE 6’6 271 Invitation to New York Giants Rookie Camp
DB 5’11 201 Invitation to Cincinatti Bengals Rookie Camp