Print Edition of The Observer for Friday, November 6, 2020 by The Observer

Insider

The observer | FRIDAY, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

HEAD TO HEAD

7:30 p.m. ET notre dame stadium on nbc

notre dame (Gr.) Ben

Clemson

Skowronek

(Sr.) Avery

Davis

(Jr.) Joe Wilkins Jr.

(So.) Kyren Williams 23 (Fr.) Chris Tyree 25

WR WR

(Jr.) Joe Wilkins Jr. 18

3 18

(Gr.) Liam Eichenberg 74

(So.) Andrew Kristofic 73

(Sr.) Aaron Banks 76 (Sr.) Dillan Gibbons 76

(Gr.) Ian Book 12 7

(So.) Brendon Clark

(Jr.) Jarrett Patterson 55

(So.) Zeke Correll 52

(Gr.) Tommy Kraemer 78 (Jr.) John Dirksen 56

(Jr.) Robert Hainsey 72

(Sr.) Josh Lugg

(Sr.) Brock Wright 89 (Jr.) Tommy Tremble 24

(Gr.) Javon

McKinley

(Sr.) Jafar Armstrong

(Gr.) Nick McCloud 4 (So.) Cam Hart 5

(Sr.) Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah 6

(Gr.) Isaiah Pryor 10

(Gr.) Shaun Crawford 20 (Jr.) Houston Griffith 3

LT LG C RG RT TE WR

(So.) Kyle Hamilton 14 (Jr.) DJ Brown 12

Rover

(Jr.) Jayson Ademilola 57

(Sr.) Kurt Hinish 41 (So.) Jacob Lacey 54

(Jr.) Justin Ademilola 19

(Jr.) Shayne Simon

(So.) Marist Liufau 35

(Fr.) Clarence Lewis 26

(Sr.) Jonathan Doerer 39 (Gr.) Dawson Goepferich 38

(So.) Jay

Bramblett

(Gr.) Dawson Goepferich 38

(Jr.) Matt

Salerno

(Jr.) Lawrence Keys III 13

NOTRE DAME OFFENSE Notre Dame Passing Ian Book has never been lights out in a big time game, but he needs to be pretty close if the Irish want to claw out a win. Luckily for him, two starting Clemson pass rushers — defensive tackle Tyler Davis and linebacker Mike Jones — will both be out of the lineup. Book will need to juice all he can get out of his receivers. That means Javon McKinley cannot be the only player catching passes; tight ends and running backs need to get involved in the pass game as well if Notre Dame wants to keep this game in reach. Book will have to look further down the roster to find targets especially considering Brent Venables will likely have a solid game plan hashed out to shut down their star talent. If Book can keep his poise in the heat of the moment, he has the edge over this somewhat dilapidated Clemson defense, and it’s about time for a third-year starter to do just that. EDGE: Notre Dame Notre Dame Rushing Clemson has given up 2.7 yards per rush and three rushing touchdowns on the season. There are two ways of looking at

PK P PR

Etinosa Reuben(R-Sr.)

Bryan Bresee (Fr.)

(Sr.) Jafar Armstrong

(Jr.) Michael Vinson 65 (Fr.) Alex Peitsch 44

Baylon Spector (Gr.)

30 Keith Maguire (R-Jr.)

Jake Venables (R-So.)

17 Kane Patterson (So.)

Myles Murphy (Fr.)

3 Xavier Thomas (Jr.)

Lannden Zanders (So.)

16 Ray Thornton III (R-Fr.)

Sheridan Jones (So.)

23 Andrew Booth Jr. (So.)

WR Cornell Powell WR Amari Rodgers RT Jordan McFadden RG Will Putnam C Cade Stewart LG Matt Bockhorst LT Jackson Carman TE Braden Galloway WR Frank Ladsen Jr.

(R-Sr.)

77 Mitchell Mayes (Fr.)

72 Blake Vinson (R-So.)

54 Mason Trotter (R-Fr.)

(R-So.)

(Gr.)

57 Paul Tchio (Fr.)

RB QB

D.J. Uiagelelei (Fr.)

(Jr.) (Jr.)

(So)

Will Swinney(Sr.) Lyn-J Dixon (Jr.)

21 Darien Rencher (R-Sr.)

Jack Maddox (R-Jr.)

52 Tyler Brown (Gr.)

Venables on the opposite sideline. EDGE: Clemson

CLEMSON OFFENSE Clemson Passing Notre Dame was torched by Clemson through the air in 2018. Then-freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence was at the helm for that beatdown, and current freshman D.J. Uiagelelei is taking the reins for the time being. Uiagelelei threw for over 300 yards against Boston College, but Notre Dame’s corners/safeties will put up more of a fight than the Eagles’ did, and probably more of a fight than the Irish in 2018 — if for no other reason than Uiagelelei is not Trevor Lawrence, and the Tigers no longer have Tee Higgins or Justyn Ross at wide receiver. Even so, it will still be a Herculean task to reel this passing game in, so it’s a Tigers’ advantage here, but not a huge one. EDGE: Clemson Clemson Rushing Notre Dame’s run defense has been elite this year, but Tigers senior running back Travis Etienne is a different animal entirely. That being said, outside of a 62-yard

Travis Etienne (Sr.)

7 (R-Fr.) Taisun Phommachanh

81 Drew Swinney (R-So.)

23 Lyn-J Dixon (Jr.)

(R-Jr.)

(Sr.)

(So.)

H KR LS

Trenton Simpson (Fr.)

12 Tyler Venables (Fr.)

Mike

59 Jordan Williams (R-Jr.)

H KR LS

Will

Darnell Jefferies (R-So.) 32

10 Joseph Ngata (So.)

(Fr.) Chris Tyree 25

Notre Dame Offensive Coaching Tommy Rees is a first-year offensive coordinator who has shown some inconsistencies in his play calling, frustrating Irish fans aplenty. Brent Venables is one of the best defensive coordinators in the country and leading a defense that rarely gets exposed. Even after bad halves, like the first two quarters last week against Boston College, Venables has proven to be excellent at halftime adjustments, showing this via a second-half shutout of the Eagles. Rees has done well, but his expertise just does not match up with that of

7 Justin Mascoll(R-So.)

84 Davis Allen (So.)

(Sr.) J.D. Carney 14

EDGE: Even

K.J. Henry (R-So.)

(So.) Jay Bramblett 19

that: a) an ultra-stacked defensive front is breaking through the line of scrimmage and getting great push, or b) the Tigers have played a bunch of scrubs not on the level of the Irish or it’s run game. Both can be true. The one thing for Notre Dame is making sure its passing game keeps Clemson just honest enough to where they can’t load the box and take away the run like they did in the 2018 Cotton Bowl. We’ll see how that aerial attacks plays out, so this is a push for the time being.

Sam

64 Walker Parks (Fr.)

Buck

(Jr.) TaRiq Bracy 28

18 Joseph Charleston (So.)

DE DT NG DE

Nolan Turner (R-Sr.)

13 Brannon Spector (R-Fr.)

(Gr.) Adetokunbo Ogundeji 91

6 E.J. Williams (Fr.)

(Sr.) Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa 95 (Jr.) Bo Bauer 52

Derion Kendrick (Jr.)

31 Mario Goodrich (Jr.)

(Jr.) Ovie Oghoufo 29

Mike

DE DT DT DE

(Gr.) Daelin Hayes 9

(Sr.) Drew White 40

touchdown run in their 2018 clash, Notre Dame largely limited the stud running back in their last matchup, holding him to 47 yards on 13 other carries. Notre Dame’s fearsome defensive front includes graduate student defensive end Daelin Hayes and arguably one of the top linebackers in the country in senior rover Jeremiah OwusuKoramoah. Clemson lacks an elite second option out of the backfield, and, if anything, expect Etienne to do more damage in the passing game than on the ground. EDGE: Notre Dame Clemson Offensive Coaching After splitting responsibilities with current South Florida head coach Jeff Scott for the past four years, Tony Elliott is finally the guy running this Clemson offense. He’s had the privilege of Trevor Lawrence for the past twoand-a-half years and has built a remarkably consistent offense that continues to torch formidable defenses. That said, this is no Lincoln Riley-led offense. Neither their rushing nor passing game is in the top 10 in the country, and they showed some weaknesses trying to get the ball deep against Boston College. Elliott’s game

PK P PR

B.T. Potter (Jr.)

41 Jonathan Weitz (R-Fr.)

Will Spiers (R-Sr.)

39 Aidan Swanson (R-Fr.)

Amari Rodgers (Sr.)

1 Derion Kendrick (Jr.)

management skills will keep them competitive but the emergence of the Notre Dame defense, under the leadership of defensive coordinator Clark Lea, gives them the tilt slightly. EDGE: Notre Dame

TIGERS SCHEDULE (7-0) Sept. 12 @ Wake Forest (W 37-13) Sept. 19 The Citadel ( W 49-0) Oct. 3 Virginia (W 41-23) Oct. 10 Miami (Fl.) (W 42-17) Oct. 17 @ Georgia Tech (W 73-7) Oct. 24 Syracuse (W 47-21) Oct. 31 Boston College (W 34-28) Nov. 7 @ Notre Dame Nov. 21 @ Florida State Nov. 28 @ Pittsburgh Dec. 5 Virginia Tech

IRISH SCHEDULE (3-0) Sept. 12 Duke (W 27-13) Sept. 19 South Florida (W 52-0) Oct. 10 Florida State (W 42-26) Oct. 17 Louisville (W 12-7) Oct. 24 @ Pittsburgh (W 45-3) Oct. 31 @ Georgia Tech (W 31-13) Nov. 7 Clemson Nov. 14 @ Boston College Nov. 27 @ North Carolina Dec. 5 Syracuse Dec. 12 Wake Forest

The independent

To uncover

newspaper serving

the truth

Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s

and report

and holy cross

it accurately

Volume 55, Issue 35 | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Faculty senate convenes Vote of disappointment passes instead of no confidence vote Observer Staff Report Notre Dame facult y senate passed a vote of disappointment in light of Universit y President Fr. John Jenk ins decision to attend A my Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination w ithout a mask at the W hite House ceremony. This amended motion was passed in response to a motion of no confidence brought to the facult y senate. A fter failing to wear a mask or socia lly distance at the Rose Garden ceremony Oct. 8, Jenk ins tested positive for COVID-19. A lthough Jenk ins released a statement expressing his regret for his actions, the Notre Dame student senate passed a forma l motion

condemning Jenk ins’ actions Oct. 8. W hile the facult y senate’s passed motion ack nowledged Jenk ins’ failure to abide by Universit y precautions concerning COVID-19 and expressed its disappointment, the motion a lso accepted Jenk ins’ apolog y for his actions. The meeting was held in Executive Session, which prevented students and press from attending. The facult y senate was scheduled to vote on a motion of no confidence Oct. 27, but the meeting was postponed to avoid overlap w ith the memoria l Mass of t wo first-year students who died Oct. 24. The facult y senate was a lso

slated to discuss a second motion which was drafted in opposition to the no confidence votes to express appreciation for the Universit y’s presence on campus. The vote of appreciation was postponed until the next meeting. In regards to the criticism surrounding Jenk ins’ actions in the Rose Garden ceremony, Notre Dame’s Board of Trustees affirmed its “unwavering confidence” in Jenk ins, Board Chair John J. Brennan said in a statement. “In our v iew, courageous is a ver y appropriate adjective to describe Fr. Jenk ins,” Brennan said. “He has demonstrated great persona l character, see FACULTY PAGE 5

University announces exit testing plans Observer Staff Report

The Universit y announced its plans for end of semester ex it testing as COVID cases continue to rise in the campus communit y and beyond, in a Thursday email to students. Students may schedule an appointment bet ween Nov. 9 and 21, or w ill be subject to mandator y sur veillance testing during an assigned t woday w indow. Students are exempt from

the process if they tested positive w ithin the last three months, are in quarantine or isolation when they receive a sur veillance testing notification, are tested as a student athlete or have approval for remote study, the email said. Fort y-four new cases of COVID-19 were reported today, and 36 positive tests were reported yesterday. The seven-day mov ing average is 22.6 cases, and there are an estimated 189 see EXIT PAGE 5

SENATE

SMC community Senate hears State celebrates ‘First Gen Day’ of Student Union By CRYSTAL RAMIREZ News Writer

The First Gen Club held a celebration Thursday in recognition of First Gen[eration] Day. The event featured guest speaker Kris ArizmendiChoinacky, a Catholic Latinx woman who is the assistant director of the Office of Civic and Social Engagement (OCSE). A University of Indianapolis

ADRIANA PEREZ | The Observer

The student senate convened Thursday evening to hear the State of the Student Union address and pass two amendments to the constitution. By TRINITY REILLY News Writer

The Notre Dame student senate gathered Thursday evening for their penultimate meeting of the semester to hear the State of the Student Union Address, given by senior and student body president Rachel Inga l and a joint presentation given by the Student Union Ethics Commission (SUEC) and the Committee on the

NEWS PAGE 3

Constitution (CC). Student government chief of staff and senior Aaron Benav ides ran the meeting because Sara h Ga lbensk i, senior and Student Body Vice President, could not attend. He began w ith a few executive announcements, the first of which was a reiteration of the message that Fr. Jenk ins sent to students Thursday evening emphasizing the importance see SENATE PAGE 4

VIEWPOINT PAGE 7

alumna, Choinacky was a firstgeneration college student. In her speech, she acknowledged the factors that make her a first-generation woman and commemorates first-generation students, faculty and staff of the Saint Mary’s community. She recounted her experience in college as a firstgeneration student and the struggles and successes she faced in her educational and

professional careers. Following Choinacky’s speech about family, internal issues and higher education, some stayed to mingle. There were other first-generation professors, staff and students at the event who were able to interact with one another. President of the First Gen club, see FIRST PAGE 4

ND researchers find brain cells promote metastasis By ADRIANA PEREZ News Writer

Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Nov. 5.

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month drew to a close, the journal “Cell” published research spearheaded by Notre Dame scientists outlining new ways to think about breast cancer

SCENE PAGE 9

metastasis to the brain and its treatment. The researchers found that a certain t y pe of myeloid cells, located in the brain, can suppress this organ’s immune response and thus allow cancer to metastasize in breast cancer patients and sur v ivors. “Patients rarely die from primar y breast cancer. Patients usually die from

the metastatic cancer in the lung, in the bone, in the brain [that’s] difficult to treat,” Siy uan Zhang, one of the researchers, said. He is an associate professor of biological sciences at Notre Dame and a researcher for the Harper Cancer Research Institute. The paper’s big question, see RESEARCH PAGE 5

football PAGE 16

TODAY

The observer | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com

What’s an awful movie that you love?

P.O. Box 779, Notre Dame, IN 46556 024 South Dining Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556

Andrew Marciano

Megan Corrigan

first year Basil Hall

first year North Hall

“‘Sharknado 6.’”

“‘The Bee Movie.’”

Holly Sullivan

Alex Argon

first year North Hall

first year Basil Hall

“‘Surf’s Up.’”

“‘The SpongeBob Movie.’”

(574) 631-6900 ads@ndsmcobserver.com

Gabriana Schommer

Sophia Sadaka

Editor-in-Chief

first year North Hall

“‘The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning.’”

“‘Mall Cop.’”

Editor-in-Chief Maria Leontaras Managing Editor Mariah Rush

Asst. Managing Editor: Maeve Filbin Asst. Managing Editor: Claire Rafford Asst. Managing Editor: Sara Schlecht

Notre Dame News Editor: Serena Zacharias Saint Mary’s News Editor: Mia Marroquin Viewpoint Editor: Nelisha Silva Sports Editor: Hayden Adams Scene Editor: Ryan Israel Photo Editor: Allison Thornton Graphics Editor: Diane Park Social Media Editor: Ellie Dombrowski Advertising Manager: Landry Kempf Ad Design Manager: Gabby Hong Systems Administrator: Stephen Hannon Talent & Inclusion Manager: Nola Wallace Office Manager & General Info

Ph: (574) 631-7471 Fax: (574) 631-6927 Advertising

(574) 631-4542 mleontaras01@saintmarys.edu Managing Editor

(574) 631-4542 mrush@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors

(574) 631-4541 mfilbin01@saintmarys.edu, crafford@nd.edu, sschlecht01@saintmarys.edu Business Office

(574) 631-5313 Notre Dame News Desk

(574) 631-5323 news@ndsmcobserver.com Saint Mary’s News Desk

(574) 631-5323 smc@ndsmcobserver.com Viewpoint Desk

(574) 631-5303 viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.om Sports Desk

(574) 631-4543 sports@ndsmcobserver.com Scene Desk

(574) 631-4540 scene@ndsmcobserver.com Photo Desk

(574) 631-8767 photo@ndsmcobserver.com Systems & Web Administrators

webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of either institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content. The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors. Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged. Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information. Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Maria Leontaras. Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods. A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester. The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077

Today’s Staff News

Sports

Mia Marroquin Adriana Perez

Hayden Adams Jimmy Ward

Graphics

Scene

Maggie Klaers

Aidan O’Malley

Photo

Viewpoint

Gabrielle Penna

Katie Harmeyer

Corrections The Observer regards itself as a professional publication and strives for the highest standards of journalism at all times. We do, however, recognize that we will make mistakes. If we have made a mistake, please contact us at (574) 631-4541 so we can correct our error.

GABRIELLE PENNA | The Observer

As finals week approaches, a wave of warm weather has washed over South Bend in the last few days. The change in weather comes as a spike in COVID-19 cases among Notre Dame students led to discontinued indoor dining for both campus dining halls.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

“Algorithmic Bias: Sources and Responses” virtual noon - 3 p.m. Featuring Cathy O’Neil.

Football Pregame Festivities South Lawn, North Quad, Library Lawn 3:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Live music and food.

Mass of Full Communion, Confirmation Basilica 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Prayer opportunity.

Peace Accord Conference virtual 9 a.m. - noon Panel on the Colombian case.

PEMCo Cabaret Library Lawn 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. The Pasquerilla East Musical Company returns to the stage.

Lecture: “COVID Racial Data Tracking” virtual 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Featuring speaker Rachel Lee.

Scholar Series Snite Museum of Art all day Watch an old lecture from psychology professor, discuss.

Higgins Labor Film Club virtual 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. Discuss “Bread and Roses” on Zoom.

Virtual Postgrad Service Fair (Part 1) virtual 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Catholic Volunteer Network programs.

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2020 Grotto 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Prayer service to honor transgender people.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, November 6, 2020 | The Observer

LEO lab provides emergency cash assistance By DANE SHERMAN News Writer

Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Nov. 5. Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) is a preeminent research body on campus focused on taking on the wide-ranging and complex challenge of poverty. The lab is run by and co-founded by Professor William Evans. According to Evans, there are many reasons why one might be experiencing economic hardship. “[Some people] dropped out of high school, so they’ll not have the credentials to get a high-paying job,” he said. “You could have a person who has been out of the workforce because they’ve been raising children and then they need to enter the workforce because

they find themselves divorced. They overuse payday lending or write up their credit cards and find themselves heavily in debt.” Evans explained the importance of securing housing as the first step out of poverty. “You can’t start working on how to figure out your job situation,” he said. “You’ve got to stabilize the housing situation first, so what I’m finding big improvements for the homeless right away but for people that are coming to the program in a stable housing situation. That may be a bad job situation or a bad skill situation.” Noting the program’s individualized approach to intervention, Evans is pleased with the work the lab has done. “The program seems to work incredibly well,” he said. “And so that, I think that intensive nature of the intervention, and

the fact that it’s tailored to the individual needs of the family has been proven to be successful and we’re trying to replicate that in different situations or different populations in different cities, so that that’s been one very encouraging program that we’ve seen actually, in some of the work that we’ve been doing.” Evans described the negative impact that the pandemic has had on individuals with a lower socioeconomic status. “There’s a tremendous amount of economic dislocation that’s been generated by the pandemic,” Evans said. “And if you take a look at the national data that that dislocation is heavily correlated with socioeconomic status, so low wage workers have lost a lot of work because they can’t typically work from home.” Due to this new housing

crisis, the LEO lab is working to by provide emergency cash assistance that allows people to stay in their homes. However, according to Evans, this brings up the question if the program should pay the landlords or renters. “One city is asking … why we write a check to the landlord,” Evans said. “Why don’t we write a direct check to the person, and let them figure out how to spend the resources? So we’re actually sort of testing whether it makes a difference — whether you write the check to the landlord or whether you write the check to the person themselves.” Evans emphasized that the pandemic is also affecting some of the LEO’s work, giving an example of a financial assistance program for single parents trying to finish college degrees in South Dakota. “College degree completion

rates are very low in certain populations, and they’re incredibly low for single parents,” Evans said. “[T]he mentoring is there to help them deal with shocks that occur might prevent them from finishing, and the financial assistance is to help them with things like paying for babysitting so they can work and go to school and study, so they can complete their degree. This program we started two and a half years ago, and then COVID-19 hit. And a lot of the people have watched deployments.” Even though it is more difficult to measure this initiative’s effectiveness when colleges are going online and these families are struggling with issues surrounding COVID-19, the LEO continues to provide financial support. Contact Dane Sherman at lsherma2@nd.edu

ND Dance Company to host annual showcase By MAGGIE KLAERS News Writer

Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Nov. 5. The Notre Dame Dance Company w ill host its annua l showcase 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday in Washington

Ha ll, follow ing COVID-19 regulations. Dance Company president, senior Rachel Bartnett, noted that this is an impressive feat. “It’s been a rea lly chaotic year w ith lots of back and forth on what rules can and can’t happen,” Bartnett said. “To be able to pull this off is Paid Advertisement

k ind of incredible. It’s k ind of a miracle that we’re pulling it off.” Senior Jadrian Woods said coordinating this year’s show isn’t only notable because of the constraints of the pandemic, but because of how quick ly it came together. “I’m just excited that we’re

able to have a show this semester, and we were able to pull it off in si x weeks, which is awesome because norma lly it’s any where from eight to 10,” Woods said. Junior A na Tisa, a member of the Dance Company, said wearing masks has proven to be a new cha llenge during rehearsa ls. “We can’t touch each other or be close to each other,” Tisa said. “Obv iously, we have to wear masks — which, surprisingly, I didn’t rea lize how hard it is to breathe in a mask. This is recreationa l; I don’t get how professiona l athletes are actua lly doing it. It must be so difficult.” Woods said there is a limit on how many dancers can be on stage at once for physica l distancing purposes. Contrar y to prev ious years, there can only be 12 or fewer dancers in each number. “Norma lly, we could let the choreographers have as many people as they wanted,” Woods said. “So that’s something that’s been ver y different this semester, but I think it’s a lso worked out rea lly well because a lot more people have had more of an opportunit y to dance because of that.” Dancers w ill need to maintain 10 feet of distance bet ween each other at a ll times, Paid Advertisement

as opposed to the traditiona l si x feet. Tisa said this w ill change the ways the formations and interactions bet ween dancers look this year. According to Bartnett, the audience w ill only be at roughly 40% capacit y to a llow for socia l distancing. Tisa said there w ill, however, be a livestream to a llow for those who cannot attend, such as off-campus students and family members back home. Bartnett said the coronav irus has impacted the communit y aspect of Dance Company in both positive and negative ways. A lthough it can be harder to connect right now, she has seen how people go out of their way to form and maintain relationships. “[On Wednesdays], we’ve been doing dinners before rehearsa l starts in either on a quad or in the dining ha ll,” Bartnett said. “So that’s been a rea lly fun way for some of our new members to get to k now some of the old k ids. Just look ing around at the tech rehearsa l last night it’s ver y apparent that ever ybody seems to feel at home.” In a time of persistent change, Tisa said Dance Company has been a constant to her life. “We’re a ll just rea lly excited to ma ke this work, even though we don’t have our usua l costumes and our usua l audience and ever y thing,” Tisa said. “It’s definitely been a nice sense of norma lcy, a good constant semester to be like, ‘Okay, I can go dance w ith my friends,’ when a lot of other things have been canceled.” Contact Maggie Klaers at mklaers@nd.edu

NEWS

The observer | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Band president reflects on unusual season By EMILY DEFAZIO News Writer

Monday evening, in a closed stadium rehearsal, the full Notre Dame marching band took the field to prepare v ideos of some of their musical selections. The band recorded a program for a pregame and halftime show, which w ill hopefully be show n instadium when the Irish take on the Clemson Tigers on Saturday. “It was actually the first rehearsal we’ve had where the entire, whole 400-person band has been together,” senior Kilian Vidourek, president of the band, said. Until that point, he said, the band had been split up into Blue and Gold sections that practiced on alternating days. “Not ever y band is even performing like this. So the fact that we were even able to get at least one show on the field in some

Senate Continued from page 1

of following COV ID-19 protocols for the rest of the semester. Fr. Jenkins also announced that dining halls w ill no longer be open for indoor dining. “Just please do your best to be as safe as possible,” Benavides said. “Things are pretty concerning right now with regards to COV ID-19. As we face the Clemson gameday weekend, we all want to do our part to make sure we can make it through these next few weeks.” He also gave an update on the Academic Council, which finalized and

capacit y is prett y remarkable,” Vidourek said. “It was always just to give us this one last thing to come together. That’s all we’ve wanted all year, is to be on the field and play.” Vidourek said the band w ill also be marching from the Golden Dome to Notre Dame Stadium before the game Saturday, another tradition they have been unable to uphold because of COV ID-19. In addition, he said, they w ill be performing for College Game Day in the stadium Saturday morning. Vidourek said he was glad the band was able to have the experience of practicing together ahead of this. “It was really cool to have ever ybody there, like back in the good old days,” he said. “A lot of our seniors got emotional towards the end.” W hen asked what the biggest struggle has been for the program this year, Vidourek said the morale of the group.

“Usually band is this super, almost weirdly tight knit group of sections and traditions and events. We’re always hanging out w ith each other,” Vidourek said. “There’s not as many social events outside of band. We’re all taking ever y necessar y step to be safe.” This, Vidourek said, is why he was especially glad the band was able to practice together. “It’s nice that we have this game and have that rehearsal to channel our energ y and effort into,” he said. Vidourek said the band has also been tr y ing to keep up their section and pregame traditions as best they can. One such tradition involves section rivalries that are usually played out at South Dining Hall w ith competitions. “We still do a ver y watered dow n version over Zoom,” Vidourek said. “We’re finding creative ways to make it

all happen.” This is also the band’s 175th anniversar y, which is cause for celebration w ith the program. “The kids in band 175 are the most tenacious and strongest and most devoted,” Vidourek said. “I think that they’re just happy to play their instrument and play the Fight Song, and be w ith each other and be in the band, to be one of the only bands that are doing it, and doing it correctly. So many other bands are probably jealous that we get to come together.” The COV ID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on the seniors, he said. “My favorite band memories are the worst football games,” Vidourek said. “There’s something really humbling about going in somewhere, being w ith the band and taking a loss, and recognizing who you are in the face of losses. It’s so easy to w in, but it’s really hard to

lose. … It’s a wakeup call to realize it’s not about the v ictor y. It’s not about play ing the v ictor y clog, say ing you won the game. It’s about the band coming together and know ing that there’s more tomorrow to do.” Vidourek said this season has been like this realization about losses. “This year has been my favorite year in band,” he said. “You have to put in so much more to get the same experience out of it, and it’s been so rewarding to refigure out how to be a band member.” He said that the game Saturday is the perfect way to end the season. “I think this game is a giant culmination of all that hard work,” Vidourek said. “If we pull off this w in, and the band can be super loud and get in their faces w ith all this great music, then I’ll cr y.”

unanimously approved the Title IX recommendations permanently during a meeting Wednesday. Ingal gave an update on a meeting Thursday w ith Campus Life Council (CLC). They discussed ways to encourage safe behavior at the Clemson game Saturday, the election and how to support students during this time. They also discussed mental health issues and how to carr y for ward the lessons they have learned this semester as spring semester approaches. “We’re tr ying to create some safe spaces and election-free zones so students who feel exhausted or burnt out by all of the political discourse have

a place to go for their mental health,” Ingal said. Benavides also said the lotter y for tickets to the rescheduled Tow n Hall on Trust w ith Pete Buttigieg will remain open until 5 p.m. on Friday. There are already over 700 entries for around 100 seats available, so people who want to go should submit their name soon, Benavides said. The town hall will take place Monday at 7 p.m. Ingal then gave the State of the Student Union Address. She began w ith a heartfelt appeal to the difficulties students have faced this semester. “I know this year has been dynamic, frustrating and ex hausting at times, but I first want to say that I am

incredibly proud of the way that you all have continued to ser ve the student union in the midst of the chaos,” Ingal said. She acknowledged the senate’s steady ser vice to their peers, although ever y student has had to face heav y emotional weight, she said. She said she has used the data from a sur vey taken by around 1,000 students work w ith provost Marie Lynn Miranda to modif y the spring semester schedule in hopes of better addressing student concerns. Thomas Davis, a junior, led the presentation given by the SUEC and CC. He first reminded Senate members to complete

their required GreeNDot training. The presentation mainly focused on issues with the constitution, namely with its length — currently 49 pages. The CC, Davis said, is looking to shorten that. The Senate also approved two amendments to the constitution, the first revising the Hall President’s Council (HPC) and the second revising the Student Union Board (SUB). Each amendment revised the bylaws, respectively of HPC and SUB, to more clearly ref lect their internal procedures and operations.

First

challenges, and if I can encourage other students and give advice as a junior having gotten through these past years as a first-year at Saint Mary’s, I am more than happy to. It is something I enjoy and something I hope to keep doing during my time here,” Olguin said. She spoke to the challenges she faced being the first in her family to attend college, specifically filling out forms. “As a first-gen student, you will always face challenges, a big one for me, and what I’ve noticed for many too is FAFSA,” Olguin said. “You know, it’s so complicated when you have to not only do it yourself but also encourage your parents to hand over their tax returns to you.” While there are difficulties she faces, Olguin said there are many organizations on campus that support first-generation students. “One that comes straight to mind is the student diversity board,” she said. ”They are

a great resource for all students, and I remember joining early on and feeling a sense of family and unity that I needed as a first-year. I know can be greatly helpful for any student. I urge students to seek these resources, especially first-gen as we try to help first-year students as best as possible.” For sophomore club secretary Alok Agwick, the First Gen Club is key to creating a community during times of uncertainty. “We must get together to celebrate and embrace one another because many students don’t necessarily have that support at home, and it is something we as first-gen students aren’t used to,” Agwick said. “We are each other’s resources, our stories are resources, and if we come together, we will get through the difficulties to achieve success.”

Continued from page 1

junior Damariz Olguin spoke to her decision to run for the position and what the club means to her. “As a first-gen student, I want to help other students, having gone through and still living through the struggles many first-gen students face, such as filling out FAFSA and asking for help,” she said. “I applied to be part of the first-gen board because I found it interesting how the club came to start. Last year’s president was talking to current vice president of student affairs Gloria Jenkins, and asked why there was no established First Gen club. I understood then the importance of having the club.” Olguin then spoke to the challenges faced by first generation students. “There are many challenges, and there will keep being many

Contact Emily DeFazio at edefazio@nd.edu

Contact Trinity Reilly at treilly5@nd.edu

Contact Crystal Ramirez at cramirez01@saintmarys.edu

News

ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, November 6, 2020 | The Observer

Research

V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (V ISTA) proteins — which tend to bind to and deactivate these types of cells — were actually facilitating metastasis. “If you give a patient — or in our case, a mouse — an

antibody against V ISTA, it will bind to … and block this protein from engaging its receptor on other cells,” Guldner said. This means that anti-V ISTA blockers can treat cancer metastasis in the brain.

The research paper was a main part of Guldner’s doctoral dissertation when he worked in Zhang’s lab. After seven years of pursuing a PhD at Notre Dame, he left last week for his postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. Zhang referred to the socalled seed and soil hypothesis, according to which metastatic cancerous cells, like seeds and weeds, will proliferate to other parts of the body where the environment is favorable, like fertile soil. As the microglia “shield” the cancerous cells that make their way into the brain, Zhang explained, they essentially provide that favorable environment the cancer needs to thrive and metastasize. “Currently, most of the cancer treatment is focused on the tumor cell per se, focused on the seed,” he said. “But our study has opened up though another way you can target the so-called environment or condition of the soil. That will give you an equally effective, if not more effective treatment.” W hile the research used a transgenic mouse model, this was then translated to consider how the findings

he said. Effective Friday, indoor dining will be discontinued at North and South Dining Halls. Indoor dining at LaFortune Student Center, Duncan Student Center and other campus buildings is still prohibited. University leaders cited contact tracing efforts in the making of this decision. “Contact tracing continues to reveal that dining is one

of the highest risk activities for transmission, especially when meals are shared indoors,” the email said. Vice president of student affairs Erin Hoffmann Harding and vice president for campus safety and University operations Mike Seamon, who signed off the email, also urged students to avoid dining and drinking indoors at restaurants and bars. In light of the upcoming

football game against Clemson, Hoffmann Harding and Seamon urged students to adhere to the University’s informal gathering policy of 10 people or less outdoors. “Failing to adhere to these health precautions — even for a short time and in a seemingly safe environment — can spread the virus,” Jenkins said. “We have come so far [this semester] but we must not let our guard down.”

Continued from page 1

Zhang added, explored how to prevent tumor cells in breast cancer patients from spreading to and growing in the brain. Through single-cell sequencing, the researchers were able to determine that a type of myeloid cells called microglia, which normally ser ve to inhibit brain inf lammation — an immune response — wrap around cancerous cells to create an immunosuppressive environment, Zhang said. This makes it so that “[the] body’s immune system cannot see the tumor cells anymore,” he said. And that invisibility ultimately lets the cancerous cells proliferate in the brain, effectively allowing primar y breast tumors to metastasize. “So what we were seeing was the microglia, expressing V ISTA, would engage with the T cells, basically turning them off and then allowing cancer to continue to outgrow,” Ian Guldner, the research paper’s main author, said. T cells tend to eradicate tumor cells; however, the researchers found that

Exit Continued from page 1

active cases. University President Fr. John Jenkins addressed the rise of cases across the community in a video message. “The most effective steps, however, will come not from us in the administration, but from you and every individual in our campus community,“

Courtesy of Siyuan Zhang

An artistic rendition of the data obtained in the study uses color to quantify the relative distance between the brain’s microglia.

might be useful in human patients. The anti-V ISTA antibody offers hopes for a clinical trial; however, more work is needed to ensure this can be carried out safely. “These findings are a translatable method to the clinic,” Guldner said. “There’s still a long way to go.” The anti-V ISTA antibody “hasn’t been used in the brain context or brain metastases context yet when it comes to cancer, but it is something that could potentially one day work in humans,” he added. This study is also significant because, as Guldner put it, “when we started it, the immune system in the brain wasn’t really well-studied.” Besides offering new avenues for treating breast cancer to brain metastasis, their research also encourages the study of many other types and subtypes of brain cells, such as T cells, through single-cell sequencing. “Our study really just used single-cell [sequencing] to reveal those so ver y complicated brain immune regulations,” Zhang said. “It is really just the tip of the iceberg.” Contact Adriana Perez at aperez8@nd.edu

Support student journalism. Donate to The Observer.

Faculty Continued from page 1

MIA MARROQUIN | The Observer

The faculty senate was initially set to vote on a motion of no confidence on Fr. Jenkins after his maskless appearance in the White House. The senate amended this motion and instead passed a vote of disappointment.

humilit y and courage by addressing the Universit y communit y after attending the Rose Garden reception, publicly ack nowledging that, at that particular event, he ‘failed to lead by example, at a time when I’ve asked ever yone else in the Notre Dame communit y to do so.’” Brennan a lso praised Jenk ins’ commitment to Notre Dame’s mission of teaching, scholarship and research. “Let us be ver y clear. Fr. Jenk ins has consistently led by word and example throughout his presidency and especia lly during this pandemic,” he said. “Fr. Jenk ins is a leader of exceptiona l character, faith and v ision, and we are proud that he is president of the Universit y of Notre Dame.”

Visit our site.

The observer | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Bad habits

Let’s use words this election, not hats

Maggie Eastland News Writer

Since the age of 10, I’ve had a bad habit: I bite my nails. Throughout my life, I’ve been told that it’s unprofessional, unladylike and gross. My high school art teacher teased me about it, my grandmother lov ingly encouraged me to stop and my aunt shared how she taught herself to break the same habit. Despite these pressures, I never felt like this habit was really that bad. After all, the habit didn’t hurt me or anyone else. Maybe it wasn’t the cleanest, but it helped me manage my stress. On top of that, I have met plent y of professional men, my father included, who shook hands at important business meetings w ith nails completely bitten and unmanicured. Only women are expected to keep their nails painted and perfectly manicured. W hile there’s nothing w rong w ith wanting look presentable, there’s no reason for women to have this added pressure and expectation in the workforce. Don’t get me w rong. I’m completely capable of breaking this habit. In fact, I’ve done it time and time again. I would set some sort of goal — to grow my nails before Prom, to have nice nails for Christmas — but ever y time I reached the goal, I felt so empt y. I had worked so hard and constantly nagged myself all for the measly reward of ten little white crescents on the tips of my fingers. The whole thing just seemed so meaningless. I didn’t even like how my nails looked grow n out and painted w ith shiny light pink nail polish. I felt like a poser. Besides, long nails only seemed to get in my way during soccer games or yard work. Long nails implied a sense of fragilit y that I refused to embrace. Today, I appreciate the look of my mangled, unkempt fingernails, and I’m unashamed of my nail-biting. It’s just a part of what makes me human. I don’t force myself to stop biting my nails or spiral into a cycle of self-hate at my ugly fingers. In fact, I embrace the look. It shows others that I’m f lawed and that I’m human. Many students at Notre Dame, myself included, fall into the trap of perfection. W hile high-achiev ing students might find it admit, tr y ing to succeed at the highest level in ever y area of life just isn’t realistic. In the end, something has to give. Ever yone needs an outlet. Accepting my nail-biting is one way I’m fighting back against the black hole of self-improvement. If just one person looks at my unsightly nails and knows that perfection isn’t ever y thing, that w ill more than compensate for the looks of disgust. “Your hands would look so prett y if you just had long nails,” they say. “Don’t you want to look ladylike? ” Despite these criticisms and back-handed suggestions, I stand behind my conclusion. I won’t be pressured into changing myself just because of societ y’s expectations, especially when these standards disproportionately affect women. Maybe someday I w ill break my bad habit and stop biting my nails, but if I do, it won’t be for an employer, a man or a family member. It w ill be for me. For now, I’m perfectly content w ith my imperfect nails, and I proudly sport my short, jagged fingernails. You can contact Maggie at meastlan@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Edward Brunicardi There’s More

There is a growing problem with our democracy, and it has to do with clothes. Wearing a red cap makes you racist, wearing a mask means you support an oppressive government regime. Even wearing white can be seen as showing solidarity to the most recent political cause. As this election drags on, it seems that more and more of what we wear is getting assigned a political meaning, to the point where basic apparel can’t be worn without taking sides. As a man of simple wardrobes, I only hope that this trend of politicizing outfits won’t keep going on. Because especially in this weather, I’d like to keep my shirt. Unfortunately, I may be out of luck. After all, the trend to politicize doesn’t just start and end at next week’s attire. Defined simply as “the action of causing an activity, or event to become political in character,” it can apply to all sorts of things. People, parades, dogs, cats — even American history itself can find itself sometimes tied to a political side. But to say that anything can become politicized is not to imply that when it happens, it doesn’t matter. In almost every case, it drives us further apart. How this happens is pretty simple. A broader issue gets squeezed into a single object or person, we look at the issue purely through a partisan lens, and the discussion strays away from our ideas or convictions. Instead, we find ourselves locked in a debate about allegiance, putting people into opposing groups around a single thing we now have to either reject or support. And whenever it comes to choosing that side, of course, it’s always the one we pick that is right. The consequence of this though is a proliferation of so much wrong. Take any common statistic about polarization to date — how “45% [of people] … definitely would not consider seriously dating a Trump voter,” or that “47% of Republicans said that Democrats are more ‘immoral’ than other Americans.” In a few short numbers, we can realize again just how much politics can affect our personal lives. But in standing by those allegiances, we also need to realize it means more than just unfriendly breakups or angry uncles at Thanksgiving. It means sparking racial strife, with Fox News harping on the looting of American stores, and not the thousands of Black men who get killed on their way there. It means finding all the f laws of a conservative speaker’s past to stop them from sharing their ideas on a campus meant for their

acknowledgment. In thinking only along the lines of which group we are in, and not the ideas we hold, the attempt to persuade others doesn’t come through discussion. It comes by vilifying the f laws of the other side, all to prove yours is right. Some, of course, say that politicizing is necessary — to f lag dangerous aspects of our culture and avoid it by associating with something tangible. Just look at MAGA hats. Wearing them, people say, is “making a conscious choice to do so aware of the garment’s connotations” for racism and white supremacy. Therefore, anyone who does so must be those hateful things. But the argument cuts both ways. Regardless of the logic, millions of people view masks as inherently anti-patriotic, being a suppression of their freedom and a symbol of government imposition on their lives. Just like with denouncing racism, people are willing to stand against these threats, and even assigning their politics to a specific article of clothing. But at a point, the desire to promote blind allegiance through a symbol isn’t just about creating a better life anymore. For some, it is life-threatening. It wouldn’t be a hot take to say that in this election, the choice to politicize things is only fueling the fire of the divisions going on. We’ve seen routine protests in the street and childish squabbles by presidential candidates, and even had the national guard called out on Election Day to prevent civil unrest. But the point I want to make is that no matter how much politicians try to turn something along partisan lines, we can avoid falling into these predisposed groups that make our divisions so palpable. We can ensure our ideas are placed above allegiance, and we can open up the chance to talk about our beliefs with the respect and nuance they deserve. Because if the goal for any of us is to get through this election and heal, it’s in the grayness of our convictions where we will find that many of our beliefs overlap. In other words, it is up to us to start having conversations about more than just a hat. Edward Brunicardi is a sophomore at Notre Dame pursuing a major in political science and a minor with the Hesburgh Program of Public Service. Though he may have had all the creativity sucked out of him in high school, writing serves as Edward’s best chance at getting something back. He can be reached at ebrunica@nd.edu or @EdwardBrunicar1 on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The observer | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Where we stand Well, we’re almost there. After a semester like none of us have ever experienced before, we have less than three weeks until the end. It’s safe to say this year has not been what any of us expected — or wanted — and the challenges faced by the tri-campus have been significant. As of Friday, over 1,400 tri-campus students, faculty and staff have tested positive for COV ID-19 since August, according to the Notre Dame, Saint Mar y’s and Holy Cross dashboards. Still more have spent days, or even weeks, in quarantine and isolation. Nearly 50% of the Notre Dame student body is under “severe mental distress,” and in addition to the normal stresses and strains of college, two first-year students died at the end of October, and a member of the sophomore class was severely injured. It has been a difficult semester. Following Halloween weekend and ahead of the Clemson game, Notre Dame is seeing an average of 22.6 new cases a day — and the numbers continue to rise. The Saint Mar y’s quarantine and isolation space is overf lowing. Students have been hospitalized, had to return home or suffered long-term health effects from the virus, making it clear that COV ID-19 doesn’t end after the mandator y 10-day isolation or 14-day quarantine

period. It’s fairly clear our campuses are in the midst of a second outbreak of COV ID-19 similar to the one we experienced in August. COV ID-19 cases have also been steadily increasing in the greater South Bend community, as the actions of tri-campus students extend beyond the tri-campus bubble. To those returning to South Bend to spend winter break in off-campus housing, please consider how your actions are affecting the v ulnerable populations, both local and beyond. Additionally, this second outbreak comes right as students are about to travel home for the holidays to see potentially v ulnerable family members. W hile we applaud the University for making exit testing mandator y, Saint Mar y’s and Holy Cross have yet to do the same. This plan is crucial to protect those outside of our bubble. Community doesn’t end when we step off campus. With all this considered, the University using these difficult experiences as an opportunity to further its marketing campaign isn’t inspirational. It’s tone-deaf and insulting. Decals with trite sayings — such as framing a semester of extreme stress and anxiety as a one-off question in a job inter view — are harmful, diminutive and not the encouraging push students need to finish the semester strong. In a prior editorial, we said that merely making it through this semester would be an accomplishment. That is still true. To the tri-campus

students, staff and faculty who have made enormous sacrifices to help keep us here — we applaud you. The administrations have made sacrifices and adjustments to keep us here since the beginning of the semester, but at what cost? A lmost 1,500 COV ID-19 cases, a negative impact on the local community, diminished student mental health and the jeopardization of the health and wellbeing of students’ families are just some. If students are expected to return to campus for the spring semester, something must change. Hopefully, we can learn from this semester and do better. To our leaders: Students cannot function without a break. We appreciate the addition of mini breaks and reading days throughout the spring semester, but please remember burnout can strike students regardless of time off. It can be mentally and academically debilitating, especially amid these unprecedented and uncertain circumstances. Additionally, greater options must be made available for students who do not wish to return to campus next semester but must continue academic coursework. To tri-campus faculty: Please continue to be understanding of the challenges students are facing, and know we see your struggles, too. To our classmates: Remember your actions affect not only just you and your peers, but also the wider tri-campus and South Bend communities. See you there — and by that, we mean next semester.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Clemson: So much more than a game The 2020 football season is one which has been viewed with extra scrutiny across the entire countr y, yet, HERE we are entering Week 10 with a primetime matchup between the No. 1 and No. 4 teams in the countr y. Yet, in spite of all of the hype surrounding this game on the field, it is important to remember the struggles we have faced off the field as a Notre Dame community. On Oct. 24, our community was devastated with the untimely loss of two of the newest members of our family in Valeria Espinel and Olivia Laura Rojas, from Ecuador and Bolivia respectively, as well as the serious injur y of a third member. We’ve sur vived a two-week shutdown of all campus-related activities at the beginning of the semester. The entire student body has been experiencing various forms of stress-related issues with the lack of a fall break causing constant burnout. Add that to the fact we find ourselves in an election year (as an international student, I can’t vote, but there is still a lot on the line), social tension and racial injustice in the countr y remains at an extremely high level and Notre Dame has made the headlines in more ways than one. Compound this with the unique personal struggles that each and ever y single individual has been facing in their own lives over the last 11 months, to say this year has been challenging would be an understatement. So let me take this opportunity to say that I am proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself for rising up to these challenges and making the most of the situation in which we find

ourselves. Remember to cut yourself some slack, and know that whatever your grades are at the end of the semester, you’re living through one of the most unpredictable times in the histor y of humankind. The football game this weekend represents so much more than a chance to put a marker down for the remainder of the season, extend our 22game unbeaten streak at home or achieve a better result than the 2019 Cotton Bowl CFP game. Rather, this game is about the unity that exists among the Notre Dame family, the same one that has existed throughout the decades. Yes, I know we haven’t won a National Championship in football since 1988. I know people dislike that we boast about how incredible this place is. And I know that we are a University that can often split opinions. However, this place is truly special, and I’m asking for you all to show exactly why that is this weekend. We may only have about 10,000 people in the Notre Dame Stadium, but I need ever yone to understand that no matter the number of people who are present in the stadium, we are connected to millions of fans across the countr y and around the globe who are all attached to this special place. This is arguably the biggest home game we have had since Georgia in 2017 (Michigan runs a close second, personally), and on that day, I saw a sea of red in Notre Dame Stadium that still pains me to this day. There are so many people who dream of being in the position in which you find yourself today. To watch college football in Notre

Dame Stadium is the stuff that dreams are made of. W hen our team takes that field Saturday, regardless of which players we are facing, I am urging you to give it all you have in support of our team. Each week as I gaze up at the stands (while tr ying not to fall off the wall), it frustrates me to see individuals sitting down looking at their phones while the opposition is pushing on third down or when I hear booing about the decision of the team to wait out the clock and finish the game against Louisville without another push for a touchdown. At the end of the day, the fact remains: We are 6-0, and we have the longest current winning streak in the FBS. We’ve had a year. But as we come to the close of the semester, may I remind you that this is the last game at which we will be present. This is the last game at which the class of 2021 will sway to the alma mater while overlooking a team that has given their all. I am imploring you to give it ever y thing you have this weekend when supporting the team, and no matter who steps on the field, what decisions are made or what the final score is, always remember this means so much more. Saturday night, under the lights, in Notre Dame Stadium. Let’s do this. Let’s Rally. LepreConal P.s. Wear a mask, keep social distancing and be responsible. You don’t want to miss the game !

Please recycle The Observer

Conal Fagan senior Nov. 2

The observer | friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Civics is dead, good riddance Vince Mallett Independent Idealist

I’ll start with a disclaimer: I’m writing this Monday. When this column is published Friday, we will hopefully know the outcome of the presidential election. As of right now, I have no idea. I believe that everything in this column will still be true Friday, but I’m sure it will be interpreted differently based on the intervening events. So be it. During his opening statement in the confirmation hearings of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska discussed at length a distinction between what he called “civics” and “politics.” In his words, civics is “the stuff we’re all supposed to agree on regardless of our policy view differences.” Sasse’s examples were the propositions that “judges should be impartial” and “religious liberty is essential.” Politics, on the other hand, would be “the stuff that happens underneath civics … the subordinate, less important stuff that we differ about.” His examples of politics included health care and education policy disagreements. Sasse’s overall argument was that civics is quickly being replaced entirely by politics and this phenomenon was a serious problem. I disagree. There’s a narrative in our country that the American political system was created by the Founding Fathers, perfectly guarantees liberty and equality to all people and is revered by all good Americans. This narrative professes an almost divine reverence for the structures of the American government; to claim those structures need revision is heresy. The narrative is also entirely incorrect. American politics, as we know it today, is nothing like the Founding Fathers imagined it. The partisan duopoly, the nationalization of political focus, the material impact of the judiciary, the direct election of senators, the number and power of regulatory agencies and, of course, the inclusion of Black people and women in politics all would have been

inconceivable to the founding generation. Over the years, our nation has altered the structures of its political system to a tremendous extent — because there have always been major disagreements about what those structures should look like. The fight over the existence of a national bank dominated the early 19th century; that century also included a Civil War over the role of federalism in deciding the issue of slavery. The 20th century saw the contentious fight over women’s suffrage, the controversial expansion of the Supreme Court into important social issues and the beginning of the fight against Jim Crow. There isn’t some subset of issues, those having to deal with the structure and system of our government, on which every American has always agreed. That’s simply not what our history shows us. More importantly, the fact there isn’t some “civics” on which we all can agree isn’t a bad thing. It’s OK for Americans to disagree on important structures in our government. These days, many Americans believe the Electoral College is outdated and undemocratic. I disagree with them, but I don’t think their opinions are dangerous or unAmerican. I think the Supreme Court should interpret the words of laws faithfully, which I believe in Constitutional cases usually requires looking to the original public meaning of those words. That’s not the way it’s always done, that’s not the way it always has been done and that’s not the way many people think it should be done. It’s OK that there are disagreements about foundational aspects of our political system. In fact, I think the truly dangerous option is pretending as if everyone agrees on how our system should operate. For one, this illusion creates the assumption that “how things are now” is the same as “how things have always been” and, more importantly, “how things should be.” If you believe there aren’t any problems with America’s current political structures, you should have an argument beyond “that’s how we do things.” If we as a citizenry can be honest about our divergent visions of our

political system, we can have substantive debates about what we should do instead of constantly arguing about what we are or have been doing. One may argue there is a group of beliefs about the American political system that all good Americans share, that this group has simply changed over time and that the current threat is not just another change in civics but its total annihilation. Even if that is the case, I stand by my point that this is a step in the right direction because the separation between civics and politics is simply inaccurate. There is no such thing as an apolitical belief. Some beliefs have more of a direct relationship to politics than others, of course. My belief that all Americans should have affordable healthcare is much more political than my belief that New Jersey bagels are vastly superior to anything you can find in the Midwest. But all beliefs touch on politics in some way, and it is especially ludicrous to think that beliefs about political systems can be somehow apolitical. Does the way in which we elect a president not affect the well-being of the people? Does the role of the Supreme Court have no impact on whether justice is secured? Civics is dead — that is, we’ve stopped pretending that we all agree on the fundamentals of our political system. Great! Now we can honestly debate the merits of religious liberty. Now we can honestly debate the limits of free speech. Now we can honestly debate the suppression of minority votes. These debates have been going on for years, but we’ve been collectively ignoring them or pretending they weren’t so penetrating. Now that they’re out in the open, let’s duke it out. Vince Mallett is a senior majoring in philosophy with a minor in constitutional studies. He currently lives off-campus, though he calls both New Jersey and Carroll Hall home. He can be reached at vmallett@nd.edu or @vince_mallett on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Time. Though divinely designed, our feeble young minds, could not handle the time eternal Like your father before, we settled the score, with an evil most paternal

James Cullinanei Show Some Skin

The indescribable undefinable most admirable passage of time The twisting listing constantly persisting reason for my rhyme It slips and slides, an eclipse of tides, holding me beneath the current Its pull provides unwanted guides to things that were or weren’t Meant for silly little souls with facsimiles of goals that are surely set to save us From thinking thankless thoughts in our minds made up of knots that you, King Cronus, gave us With sickle and scythe you promised us life and days, months, years, to fill it And this garden of ours sat under the stars to grow as you would will it But the days proved too much, and the night lost its touch on the things that you’d created We stayed in our heads, each thought twisting threads, as a doomsday we awaited

The hourglass shattered as the blood quickly spattered on the floor of the father’s quarters The clocks sternly halted and the children exalted as they tore down the brick and the mortar We shouted with glee, we were finally free from the shackles and chains of each hour We cried with relief, no more fear from our grief, but plans would still quickly turn sour As we broke the last brick, we heard a faint tick, and the gears of the clocks started turning Our hearts quickly sank, and like cruel prank, the movement of time was returning The bricks slowly stacked and the father came back with a smile on his face, his lips licking He had rage in his eyes and we realized we would never escape from his ticking James Cullinane is the Assistant Executive Director of Show Some Skin, a student-run initiative committed to giving voice to unspoken narratives about identity and

difference. Using the art of storytelling as a catalyst for positive social change across campus, we seek to make Notre Dame a more open and welcoming place for all. If you are interested in breaking the silence and getting involved with Show Some Skin, email s.someskin@gmail.com The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer

Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com

The observer | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

By SOPHiA MICHETTI Scene Writer

Ariana Grande released her sixth studio album, “Positions,” on Oct. 30, and it undeniably has the “Ariana Grande sound.” Grande is known for blending her angelic, powerhouse voice with a driving, trap beat. The title song, “positions,” has the feeling of a hit that’s catchy enough to be on the radio but can still be belted by mediocre singers trying to imitate her in the car. When looking back at Grande’s list of successful studio albums, “Positions” is most similar to her 2018 album “Sweetener” in that both albums feature songs with melodic choruses and optimistic lyrics. As Grande navigates the COVID-19 pandemic with the rest of the world, “Positions” is a shining light that blends multiple genres that would never be expected to mix well together. One of the most impressive features of “Positions” is how beautiful Grande’s lyrics are. A hallmark of her songs is that her lyrics tell a story, and this album does not break that mold. One of the best written songs on “Positions” is “safety net (feat. Ty Dolla $ign).” Grande sings of “tripping, falling, with no safety net” and explains how “I’ve never been this scared before” — she “don’t know if [she] should fight or fly.” With Grande’s smooth voice and the ethereal background track, the lyrics sound even more magical to the ear. Meanwhile, Grande hints back to some of her previous hit songs in her new lyrics. In her duet, “off the table” with

By COLLEEN FISCHER Scene Writer

I hated Wallows, then I loved them and now I’m indifferent. With the surge of indie bands getting their musicians from teenage Netflix shows and vice versa, I admittedly judged Wallows — and Dylan Minnette — before I gave them a chance. I gave them my first sincere listen while Maria Leontaras, our lovely Editor-in-Chief, went through a phase of playing nothing but indie music videos on YouTube’s autoplay on her TV. This leads to the most conflicting aspect of Wallows’ latest album “Remote”: I cannot tell if the videos for this album were made to promote the album or if the album was made in order to make the videos. This chicken-and-the-egg battle would be less confusing if the album held its own, but it doesn’t. EPs offer unique opportunities for artists to explore new ideas and maybe apply a new concept to their work. “Remote” only does this on the surface. The inclusion of four music videos for the one single, six song album makes me wonder if the purpose of the album was to explore their limits visually, not musically. The album alone falls flat. I disliked Wallows for their occasionally pandering, quirky lyrics and their intentionally lo-fi sound that seems to value style over substance. They seem to adapt to the “indie boy culture” that surrounds them on social media instead of producing a style of their own. I thought I was wrong about this when I heard their painfully sincere approach to

The Weeknd, the two artists have a conversation about reuniting. Not only does The Weeknd sing about how he was “haunted by the hills” — reminding listeners of his 2015 hit, “The Hills” — but he also calls back to his previous duet with Grande, “Love Me Harder,” when he sings, “I can love you harder than I did before.” What’s unique about “Positions” is that it pairs R&B lyrics with theatrical instrumentation in the background. Many songs on the album, like “love language” and “shut up,” have orchestral backtracks that sound like they should be a part of a movie soundtrack. “pov” is a great example of a song that creates beautiful melodies that would give anyone a lifting feeling in their chest. The vast majority of the songs have that interesting blend of dramatic music and simple, electronic beats. Although, Grande’s push to have something unique about her songs goes a bit far in a couple of her tunes. The opening of “six thirty,” especially, sounds more like the kind of noises R2-D2 would make in the “Star Wars” movies than a popular song. This pushing of the envelope — the question, “Has Grande crossed the line in trying to be too out of the box?” — is present in a few songs on the album, specifically those that someone should never listen to with their parents. Songs like “34+35” and “nasty” are extremely explicit songs that are just over-the-top. While there are songs that cleverly avoid explicitly saying anything that could be deemed inappropriate, like “my hair,” “34+35” unapologetically crosses the line. The lyric, “Just give me them babies!” is

evidence enough of that. While Grande blurring the lines of whether a song is “proper” could be seen as admirable, some of the songs on “Positions” don’t even have the line in sight. Overall, though, “Positions” is Grande’s most mature album yet. She impressively blends R&B with trap music, theatrical backtracks and pop music. The lyrics are witty and tell a narrative throughout every song. The music prompts people to dance and bop their heads along to the melody, even though a lot of the songs are too complex to easily get stuck in someone’s head. Although, the fact that the songs are so complex implies that Grande is evolving in her music with this new album. “Positions” may not have many catchy songs that would fit perfectly on radio airwaves, but it’s a work of musical art.

songwriting on tracks like “Drunk on Halloween” and the 6 minute, 31 second trip that is “Do Not Wait.” This release had none of that, opting instead to lean into the parts of the band that I disliked the most. Both their music and their videos attempt a DIY look that’s trendy in indie music. A style developed by bands actually trying to stay independent and uninfluenced is lost on one of the most popular American boy bands. With the popularity of K-pop, Wallows’ focus on music videos worries me. As more and more K-pop groups put out extravagant and expensive videos, the irony of Wallows taking on a low-budget look for their clearly well-funded pursuit isn’t as funny as it is, well, insulting. I wonder if American record companies are trying to move back to producing music that caters to 4 minute, lavish videos instead of an epic and deep listening experience. Wallows’ lack of personal identity makes me especially worried that they will pick the road of quirky pop songs with colorful videos instead of choosing to make tracks that perfectly describe the anxiety of being young. This fear may be a projection of my own pretentiousness. They should be just as free to make albums full of color and happiness as they are to make their other stuff. “Remote” may not be symbolizing doom to all music, but it still kind of sucks. It sounds like they care so deeply about not caring and being cool that their attempt at making something actually cool became corny and stylistically boring. The songs are meant to flow into each other, often repeating a guitar riff or sound from an earlier track. This makes it hard to listen to the album more than once without

becoming bored and tired. It’s full of funny tracks that cater to playlist culture, but the album lacks an identifiable voice. “Remote” will play an important role in Wallows’ discography, providing interesting breaks in what I hope will be an important part of history. But as a stand-alone album, it’s uninteresting and unimpressive. The videos are objectively good, so go watch them. They are clever and often try to be funny in an adorable way. This collection of videos moves away from their more clean-cut look. They are the quintessential American boy band, picking up and putting down instruments while trading lead vocals and writing responsibility from one member to another. “Remote” made me realize that maybe Wallows isn’t my favorite new band, but there is still a chance they might be.

Contact Sophia Michetti at smichett@nd.edu

“Positions” Ariana Grande Label: Republic Records Favorite songs: “pov,” “safety net (feat. Ty Dolla $ign),” “love language” If you liked: “Sweetener,” “Rare”

Contact Colleen Fischer at cfischer01@saintmarys.edu

“Remote” Wallows Label: Atlantic Records Favorite songs: “Dig What You Dug,” “Coastlines” If you liked: Peach Pit, Declan McKenna

MAGGIE KLAERS | The Observer

The observer | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

By JAKE WINNINGHAM and RYAN MCNELIS Associate Scene Editor and Scene Writer

“Letter to You,” the latest album from Bruce Springsteen, isn’t just the finest album the Boss has recorded with the E Street Band in decades; it’s a living document, a vital snapshot of an American institution as they approach their 50th anniversary. Recorded live in-studio, the album finds Springsteen and company returning to the sound and, on a few occasions, the songs that made them famous. The resulting LP joins David Bowie’s “Blackstar,” Leonard Cohen’s “You Want It Darker” and Johnny Cash’s “American” series in the uniquely 21st-century pantheon of albums from aging rock stars looking back on their legacy and mortality without losing sight of the world around them. Associate Scene Editor Jake Winningham and guest Scene Writer Ryan McNelis go track-by-track through “Letter to You,” choosing their highlights from one of 2020’s best albums.

“Janey Needs a Shooter”

“If I Was the Priest”

Jake: The 6-minute-plus “Janey Needs a Shooter” is the most archetypal E Street cut on the album, with original members and newcomers alike carving out spaces for themselves in the song’s expansive arrangement. Different performances stand out each time; Steven Van Zandt’s backing vocals on the chorus are the best supporting work he’s done since the cheese scene on “The Sopranos,” and pianist Roy Bittan trades off outro riffs with saxophonist Jake Clemons in a way that recalls Bittan’s rapport alongside Clemons’ departed uncle Clarence.

Ryan: I’ve listened to this song over and over again. On some listens, I’m inclined to shrug and echo the Boss’s understanding of “Tenth-Avenue Freeze Out” — “I still have no idea what it means, but it’s important.” But on others, a deeply personal creed emerges — Springsteen’s spirituality of the messy and the broken.

“House of a Thousand Guitars” Jake: Are we in agreement that this is the worst song on the album? Bittan’s piano grasps futilely for the grandeur he showed on classics like “Jungleland,” and Springsteen seems to repeat the hook one time for each six-string in the song’s title. Ryan: ...Can we just talk about “Rainmaker” now?

“Letter to You”

“Rainmaker”

Jake: This is the album’s true opener; after the sparseness of “One Minute You’re Here,” “Letter To You”’s full-band impact instantly reminds listeners that the E Street Band still has all their heart-stopping, pants-dropping, earth-quaking, Viagra-taking fire. Ryan: Amidst the E Street Band’s triumphant return, this track remains intimate, even fragile, as Springsteen offers up all that he has been and whatever he remains. After so many ballads of restlessness and escape, “Letter to You” is a final but hopeful surrender.

Jake: After repeated listens, this stands out as perhaps my favorite song on “Letter to You” and certainly the most idiosyncratic. While “Rainmaker”’s pedal steel accents align it with the country and western sound of 2019’s “Western Stars,” the track has less in common with “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” and more in common with John Mellencamp’s polemical “Rain on the Scarecrow.” Written during the Bush era and seamlessly transplanted to the Trump years, “Rainmaker” is the one overtly political song on an album that otherwise steers clear of the subject.

By PATRICK WITTEMAN

long-awaited follow up to “Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)” — “Act II” was supposed to be released many years before “A Written Testimony.” The project would not have seen the light of day without a fan-funded $9,000 payment for an unmastered and unfinished 2012 copy of the project that fell into the hands of hackers. Jay Electronica caught wind of the leak, posting the same files on Tidal in response. Electronica’s first true solo project has some of his best material. Production across “Act II” is abstract, and there are many tracks that feature no rapping at all. “Dinner at Tiffany’s” is essentially a Charlotte Gainsbourg solo track, featuring beautiful instrumentation leading into the Jay-Z/Electronica cut “Shiny Suit Theory.” Hov and Electra drop celebratory bars over a decadent Ambassadors soul sample, rapping, “The method is sublime, you get blessed with every line / I’m in touch with every shrine from Japan to Oaxaca.” Although “Shiny Suit Theory” also appears on “A Written Testimony,“ it is at home on “Act II.” “Road to Perdition” is reminiscent of “Exhibit C” and “Exhibit A,” featuring a grandiose beat and braggadocious verses from Jay Electronica and Jay-Z. A snippet from a Ronald Reagan speech introduces the track. Reagan explains that “They say if we’ll only avoid any direct confrontation with the enemy, he’ll forget his evil ways and learn to love us. All who oppose them are indicted as warmongers.” This is the high of the album, as we see flashes of the brilliance and potential

Scene Writer

Jay Electronica was, at one point, billed as rap’s savior. Electronica’s single “Exhibit C” set the hiphop world ablaze, and the release of his debut EP “Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)” pushed the Jay Electronica hype machine to new heights. After an intense bidding war between Jay-Z and Puff, Electronica signed with Roc-Nation in 2010. Electronica was on the path to hip-hop stardom, with tremendous momentum and a major-label deal — the world was, truly, his oyster. And then … there was nothing. Jay Electronica released a single here or a feature there, all while continuing to promise that his debut album was in production and on the way. Jay lived a nomadic lifestyle, aimlessly bouncing from country to country — he even had an affair that ruined the marriage of an English heiress. Months turned into years, with fans impatiently waiting for Electronica’s first independent, full-length creative output. In March of this year, Electronica released “A Written Testimony,” which served as his first full-length LP. This project, although critically acclaimed, was essentially a Jay-Z collaboration tape — Hov appears on almost all of the tracks on “A Written Testimony.” The album left many fans yearning for more Jay Electronica solo material. “Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn)” is the

“I’ll See You in My Dreams” Ryan: This closing track cuts between the settings of E Street’s essential hits. Springsteen’s music is a long epic about the wild convulsions of every heart — the immense and unwieldy feelings that come with meeting and loving in a world that does all it can to make us feel small. “I’ll See You in My Dreams” testifies to the enduring communities we build when we recognize that immensity in each other. Jake: It’s probably not a mistake that the melody here is reminiscent of “Born to Run’s ”guitar riff — from the name of his 2016 autobiography to the closing track of his one-man Broadway show, Springsteen’s recent output has been obsessed with his signature song. “I’ll See You in My Dreams” has little in common with “Born to Run” beyond that riff, with Springsteen’s vocals taking on a dolorous tone that ends the album on an austere note. As a retrospective, this is perfectly serviceable; as a closing track, though, it’s little more than a shrug, an unfortunate glancing blow that will become more egregious if this ends up being the last song we hear from Springsteen. Contact Jake Winningham at jwinning@nd.edu and Ryan McNelis at rmcnelis@nd.edu

Electronica has been promising for years. “Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn)” is, as mentioned, unfinished and unmastered. Even in its incomplete form, though, the album is a creative triumph. I haven’t listened to something quite like it, and I’m not sure I ever will. Jay Electronica is committed to artistry on this project, which is undoubtedly a breath of fresh air in a world that prioritizes streams, numbers and hype. It is a shame that this album is unfinished — it was recently removed from Tidal, and with some luck, we’ll be getting a remastered and revised version of the LP in the near future. For now, though, fans must settle for the “Act II” we have — a wildly creative album that could have been much, much better in its final form. Contact Patrick Witteman at pwittema@nd.edu

“Act II” Jay Electronica Label: Roc Nation Favorite songs: “Road to Perdition,” “Shiny Suit Theory” If you liked: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Westside Gunn

MARY O’REILLY| The Observer

Classifieds

ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, November 6, 2020 | The Observer

Crossword | Will Shortz

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Leave nothing to chance or up to someone else. Take the initiative to do things your way. Dedicate your time to what matters to you most. Leave nothing unfinished or unsaid. Make your plans known and your determination felt by those who may try to stand in your way. Set a course that excites you, and enjoy the journey. Your numbers are 8, 14, 21, 28, 30, 42, 48. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Refuse to let your emotions disrupt your day or relationship with someone you live or work alongside. A change may not be something you want or expect, but you’ll benefit from what transpires. Be positive, passionate and productive. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Share pertinent, not personal, information. Be a good listener, friend and contributor. Patience will pay off when dealing with your responsibilities. How you handle matters will influence the way others treat you. Take care of red-tape issues before it’s too late. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Truth matters; Don’t mince words. Be direct, honest and sincere to avoid repercussions. When in doubt, ask questions. Don’t be too proud to admit your mistakes or give someone else the right to step in and take over. Let humbleness override the ego. CANCER (June 21-July 22): You may disagree with what others do or say, but that doesn’t mean you should let it be your mission to convert everyone to share your beliefs and opinions. Go about your business, and give others the freedom to do the same. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take action, and make a difference. Don’t get bogged down by paperwork or unfinished business. Take care of matters quickly, and move forward with your plans. Don’t expect things to run smoothly; prepare to fight for what you want. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Embrace change, and make it work for you. Expand your mind, and use your skills diversely. Mental stimulation will defuse stress and give you the courage to make a difference, but don’t take a health risk. Keep social distance. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Observe what everyone is doing, and bide your time when it comes to getting involved in an unstable situation. Keep your distance from bullies and anyone trying to take advantage of your kindness and generosity. Focus on self-awareness. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Hide your feelings from anyone who will take advantage of your vulnerabilities. Listen and assess situations carefully. Make decisions based on what will help you get ahead. Don’t pay for something you don’t need. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Make adjustments at home to encourage you to achieve more and to improve your lifestyle. Having a proper workspace will make a difference in your productivity and give you the boost you need to take on more challenges. Romance is favoredh. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Strive to bring about change. What you do may not please everyone, but it’s essential to do what’s best for you. The less talk and interaction with those who can disrupt your plans, the better. Present the finished product, not the idea. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put all your effort into physical strength, endurance and good health. What you do to make personal improvements will pay off when faced with a challenge. Shared expenses or joint ventures aren’t in your best interest. Practice social distancing. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ll gain the most if you help a cause or demonstrate for peace, law, order and a better life. Be part of the solution, not the problem, and you will encourage those you affiliate with to join you. Birthday Baby: You are proactive, astute and detailed. You are enquiring and thoughtful.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

Work Area

Make checks payable to and mail to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 Notre Dame, IN 46556 Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday, The Observer is a vital source of

Enclosed is $130 for one academic year Enclosed is $75 for one semester

information on people and events in the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross Community. Join the more than 13,000 readers who have found The Observer an indispensable link to the two campuses. Please complete the accompanying form and mail it today to receive The Observer in your home.

Name Address City State Zip

Sports

The observer | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Sports Authority

Sub - .500 teams cannot compete Jamison Cook Sports Writer

After eight weeks of NFL football, it is quite apparent to any football fan that the NFC East is the worst div ision in football. The Philadelphia Eagles have fallen back wards into first place w ith a record of 3-41, and w ith the rest of the div ision in shambles, it appears as if the Eagles w ill be playoff bound. The Washington Football Team somehow find themselves in second place at 2-5 and are starting former undrafted free agent Kyle A llen at quarterback. The Cowboys and Giants makeup the bottom half of the div ision, but their seasons affectively ended when Dak Prescott and Saquon Bark ley got injured, respectively. Both Philadelphia and Washington have a bye in week nine, neatly splitting their seasons perfectly in half before they play the second half of their schedule. These t wo teams w ill play each other in week 17, which could potentially be the NFC East championship game. Looking ahead to the Eagles’ schedule they w ill likely be 5-9-1 heading into the matchup, w ith w ins over the Giants and Cowboys, but losses to the Brow ns, Seahawks, Packers, Saints, and Cardinals. The Football Team would have to w in four of their last eight games to make this week 17 game competitive, which is possible if they were to beat the Giants, Bengals, Cowboys, and 49ers or Lions. However, this seems unlikely and the Eagles w ill probably claim the div ision. Regardless, the w inner of the NFC East w ill be well under .500 heading into the playoffs. This w ill mark the first time since 2014 that a team w ith a losing record could make the playoffs, and only the third time that a sub-.500 team w ill qualif y for the postseason in a full 16-game season. The 7-9 Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West in 2010 and the 7-8-1 Carolina Panthers won the NFC South in 2014. With the expanded playoff format being introduced this season, seven teams from each conference w ill make the playoffs. This decreases the likelihood that a more deser v ing team

w ill miss the playoffs, but w ith the depth of the NFC, there is still a chance that this could happen. As of now, the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams are in the danger zone. Both teams sit at 5-3, so one of them, or whoever finds themselves in this position at the end of the regular season, w ill lose their playoff spot to the sub.500 NFC East champion. This brings up an important point: Should a div ision champion get an automatic playoff berth? If not, div ision titles would become meaningless and, therefore, most fans would probably oppose this suggestion. Div ision rivalries have given us some of the best games of the season already this year, such as Steelers-Ravens, Cardinals-Seahawks, Chiefs-Raiders, and so on. However, I would argue that the sample size is so small in this case that altering the rule would have ver y little effect. As mentioned above, only two teams w ith a record below .500 have made the playoffs in a full, 16-game season. Adding the simple requirement that a div ision w inner must be over .500 to qualif y for postseason play would be a rule that would come into effect ver y rarely. But it would prevent bad teams from taking playoff spots from better, deser v ing teams during the few seasons that a div ision w inner has a poor record. With a sub-.500 team set to make the playoffs for the third time in the last decade, something must be done to prevent bad teams from reaching the postseason. Please don’t take this personally, Eagles fans, but your team does not deser ve to make the playoffs this year. The Rams and Bears are far superior football teams, which is say ing something. To see them miss out on the postseason, especially in a year where the playoff field is expanded, would be a travest y. It is time to fix the rule. Unfortunately, Roger Goodell and progress don’t mix too well, so we could be waiting for a long time before a change is made. Contact Jamison Cook at jcook22@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

NFL midseason prediction Aidan Thomas Sports Writer

Although COVID-19 has turned the schedule upsidedown, we’ve more or less hit the halfway point of the NFL season, with the trade deadline having passed on Tuesday. As such, I’ll offer up my midseason NFL playoff predictions, calling each division, as well as wildcard slots in each league. And, for the loyal readers who make it until the end, I’ll be offering a way-too-early Super Bowl prediction. Let’s get into it.

AFC East – Miami Dolphins I’ll be brief with explaining this upset pick. Miami has sneakily been one of the top defenses in the league, and they’re 4-3 with the toughest part of their schedule behind them. After visiting Arizona, they have five of their next six games against opponents with losing records. Meanwhile, Buffalo hasn’t won by more than 10 points, struggled twice to put way the Jets, got blown out by the Titans, and ultimately looks a lot worse than their 6-2 record. Miami will go on a second-half surge to claim this division.

AFC South – Indianapolis Colts This is a complete twohorse race, with the Texans and Jaguars floundering their way to 1-6 records. Both the Colts and Titans are 5-2, but the Titans are struggling, and the Colts’ very strong defense (19.4 points allowed per game) makes me believe that Indy will pull this one out. Tennessee should still be a very dangerous squad should they make the postseason, as Derrick Henry is built for short stretches of utter dominance, but I’m going with the Colts to claim a top-4 seed.

AFC North – Baltimore Ravens Look, I really want to pick the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have received a huge boost from former Notre Dame receiver Chase Claypool. However, the unbeaten Steelers are winning in ugly – and unsustainable – fashion. From digging an early double-digit deficit against Baltimore, to nearly choking a 20-point lead to the Titans, it’s questionable whether Pittsburgh can keep this up. With only one win by more than 10 points, I’m not confident they do. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens started 4-2 last season before ending on a 10game winning streak. Expect something similar this year.

AFC West – Kansas City Chiefs I’m not going to be bold here. Patrick Mahomes is scary-good at football. And he’s got an absurd amount of talent around him. They’ve got the top offense in the AFC and a top-5 defense. This team is a Super Bowl contender with a 3-game lead in their division and no legitimate challengers to be found.

of versatile weapons in their backfield. The Cardinals are a really good team, and I think they’re a premier team in the NFC.

AFC Top 4 Seeds Kansas City Chiefs Baltimore Ravens Indianapolis Colts Miami Dolphins

NFC Top 4 Seeds NFC East – Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia is the prettiest piece of garbage in the dumpster fire that is the NFC East. New York is clearly not ready to compete for a title yet, and Washington’s defense keeps them in some games, but not enough. Dallas’s quarterback situation is an absolute mess. Philadelphia basically wins by default – they’ve at least looked competitive if not great this season, and with a 1.5-game lead in the division, I don’t see the Eagles letting anyone catch up.

NFC South – Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs have been very good since an opening-week loss, with a 38-10 thumping of the Packers cementing themselves as a favorite within the NFC. They’ve got a clash with the Saints this week, as Tom Brady and Co. look to take hold of the two-man division race. Tom Brady simply doesn’t lose divisions, and I don’t see that being different with a new team.

NFC North – Packers

Green Bay

Sorry Chicago, but I’m not at all convinced in your 5-1 start to the season. Two straight losses and an ongoing quarterback controversy have the Bears stumbling, who are 2-3 since benching Mitchell Trubisky. The Packers have been dynamic offensively, and they would likely have an extra win had it not been for a career day from Dalvin Cook this past week. I don’t think the Packers are winning a Super Bowl this year, particularly after not acquiring receiver help at the deadline, but they’re the best option here.

NFC West Cardinals

–

Arizona

Going with the upset to finish off my divisional predictions. Arizona is red-hot, with a three-game winning streak, highlighted by an upset of the division-leading Seattle Seahawks. They have the best defense in the division and an electric offense that is led by the dynamic Kyler Murray, thrilling DeAndre Hopkins, veteran Larry Fitzgerald, as well as a handful

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Arizona Cardinals Green Bay Packers Philadelphia Eagles AFC Wildcards I’m going to start with my biggest divisional snub. While I didn’t go with Pittsburgh to take the AFC North, I will ride with them to be my top wild card, earning them the No. 5 slot. For my second pick, I’m going with the Titans. Despite the current skid, Tennessee still has a great coach, an overachieving quarterback, and possibly the best RB in the league. And to round out my playoff field in the AFC, I’m taking the Buffalo Bills. As mentioned earlier, I’ve been less-thanimpressed with the Bills, but their 6-2 start will propel them to the playoffs.

NFC Wildcard The Seattle Seahawks have a questionable defense, but their offense is way too explosive to keep out of the playoffs. They’ll get the 5th seed. Secondly, I’m going to the NFC West again. The Los Angeles Rams are a maddeningly inconsistent team, but I think with Aaron Donald anchoring a solid defense, they’ve got a solid shot at the playoffs. With the last slot, I’m going with New Orleans. The Saints have won four straight, but they’ve been ugly wins against largely inferior opponents. They haven’t looked like a true contender to this point, but I think Brees gets them into the playoffs.

A Way Too Early Super Bowl Call Despite not picking them to win the division, I’m going with Seattle as my Super Bowl pick. I think the defense causes some regular season issues, but Pete Caroll figures it out, and the explosive offense covers any holes. Give me Seattle over the Kansas City Chiefs in February. Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

The Observer accepts classifieds every business day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Notre Dame office, 024 South Dining Hall. Deadline for next-day classifieds is 3 p.m. All classifieds must be prepaid. The charge is 5 cents per character per day, including all spaces. The Observer reserves the right to edit all classifieds for content without issuing refunds.

Sports

Adams Continued from page 16

pretty regular basis. I consider myself different from many other sports fans who let their emotions get the better of them. I like to think I’m not part of the group that gets obsessed with the next big thing of the highly touted quarterback recruit, the group that calls for a player’s or coach’s head when they have a bad game. Don’t get me wrong, though; I do have my moments. I was absolutely dumbfounded and downright pissed after Notre Dame lost to Michigan last season. You can make excuses for losing, but not for laying an egg like that. All this to say that I try to keep my baser instincts in check. I don’t want to have knee jerk reactions to Notre Dame football. But if Notre Dame does not beat Clemson at least once this season — whether on Saturday or in the ACC Championship — I am completely confident in saying it would be in the program’s best interest to move on from Brian Kelly. Because if not now, then when? When are the Irish finally going to get that big win? Yes, they are 39-6 in the last three seasons. Yes, they’ve won 30 straight over unranked teams and 22 straight at home. We’ve heard it all before, and I’ve used those stats myself whenever I’m in one of my

ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, November 6, 2020 | The Observer

apologist moods. That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t matter without a championship. The Golden State Warriors went 73-9 in 2016 and blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. It don’t mean a thing without the ring. I don’t like to think in absolutes, but I’m at a breaking point (apologies to Ara Parseghian). Brian Kelly has only beaten one team in his entire Notre Dame tenure that has finished in the top five, and it was a Michigan State team in 2013 that was unranked at the time. Credit to him for the way he has turned the program around from when it went 4-8 in 2016, but the formula he has in place hasn’t gotten the job done. Maybe it will this Saturday, but all the evidence points to the contrary. I know Kelly won’t be let go after this year regardless of outcome because he just signed an extension through 2024 and COVID-19, etc. But the best course of action, assuming that he doesn’t beat Clemson once and assuming the University actually wants to win a national championship in the near future, it would be in Jack Swarbrick’s best interest to go get someone else and see if he could get the program over the hump that it seems Brian Kelly can’t. When Kelly was asked about Notre Dame’s struggles against top competition in his Monday press conference this week, he became characteristically defensive.

He rebuked the idea that this game against Clemson is a “measuring stick” for the Irish program. In what world is it not a measuring stick game for the Notre Dame program? How can Brian Kelly be so obtuse? In what universe is this not a barometer for a team that hasn’t beaten or been the No. 1 team in the country in over 25 years (excluding the vacated 2012 season, and even then, as the No. 1-ranked team, they were decimated by Alabama in the national championship)? I have to think that Kelly is smart enough to realize that what he has been doing so far in South Bend isn’t good enough. Beating every team that you should beat is not “The Standard” — to borrow the phrase with which Notre Dame’s marketing department branded their practice t-shirts. “The Standard” is being the team that no other team is supposed to beat. “The Standard” is not graduating champions if the players you’re graduating aren’t actual national champions (and no, an ACC Championship doesn’t count, even for this one season). At a school like Notre Dame, graduation rates are important, but they don’t set you apart from the likes of Bob Davie, Ty Willingham and Charlie Weis — three individuals who are decidedly not “The Standard” for a school whose coaches include Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy and Ara Parseghian. Paid Advertisement

Let’s be real. Notre Dame is never going to recruit the same volume of talented players that is commonplace for Nick Saban, Dabo Swinney, Ryan Day, Kirby Smart and Lincoln Riley. There are always going to be limitations on Notre Dame. But that doesn’t change “The Standard” of winning championships. Notre Dame still gets the occasional five-stars (e.g. Michael Mayer) and players who surpass expectations to become five-star caliber (e.g. Jeremiah OwusuKoramoah, Kyle Hamilton). You can play with those pieces and develop a strategy that can beat the highest-level teams. Well, maybe Brian Kelly can’t, but others clearly can. Jeff Brohm led Purdue to a win over Ohio State in 2018. Pat Narduzzi led Pittsburgh to beat Clemson in 2016. Alabama not unfrequently loses to Gus Malzahn and Auburn, and Notre Dame is better than Auburn. But apparently Brian Kelly is not better than Gus Malzahn. How about looking at it this way: Last season, LSU went undefeated and won the national championship with a historically great team. That team beat opponents who finished No. 2, No. 4, No. 6, No. 7, No. 8, No. 14 and No. 25 in the final AP Poll. Notre Dame hasn’t had to run that gauntlet, but I would hope Brian Kelly realizes that in order

to win a national championship in the College Football Playoff era, you are inevitably going to have beat at least two of the top four teams in the country because that’s literally what makes up the bracket. For a team that still has yet to prove, under its current head coach, that it can beat the best teams in college football, a home showdown with the No. 1 team in the country sure seems like a measuring stick game to me, not just for the program, but for its coach. But then again, what do I know? I’m just a guy who wants to see a Notre Dame win because it’s the only thing that can make me feel better after one of the grimiest presidential elections in American history. So, Brian, on behalf of every Notre Dame fan who feels like they need a shower after Nov. 3, allow me to paraphrase Dr. Evil: Throw us a frickin’ bone here! You can do that by getting a win that is long overdue. Oh, and while we’re at it, maybe, since the University is pushing another “Irish Wear Green” game, you could have your team wear green as well. Just a thought. Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Sports

The observer | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

Roundtable

Observer Roundtable: NCAA, NFL picks Liam Coolican, Patrick Gallagher, Dominic Gibson, Nate Moller and Aidan Thomas Sports Writers

Last week saw a lot of blowouts, and as such, upset picks were difficult to come by. None of our writers successfully notched an upset prediction, leading to a low scoring week. For the second straight week, Nate Moller was our highest scorer, collecting nine of 12 possible points outside the upset prediction. He’s challenging for second place on the leaderboard behind Liam Coolican, while Patrick Gallagher has opened up an 18-point advantage heading into the penultimate week of the Observer Roundtable. Our final edition will have a lot of points available, so maintaining that advantage will be key in this final regular Roundtable piece. Leaderboard Patrick Gallagher — 91 points (6) Liam Coolican — 73 points (4) Nate Moller — 72 points (9) Aidan Thomas — 62 points (n/a) Dominic Gibson — 60 points (n/a) NCAAF No. 1 Clemson (-5.5) @ No. 4 Notre Dame No. 8 Florida @ No. 5 Georgia (-3.5) No. 23 Michigan (-3.0) @ No. 13 Indiana NFL Seattle Seahawks (-3.0) @ Buffalo Bills Baltimore Ravens (-1.5) @ Indianapolis Colts New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4.5)

Patrick Gallagher While five-star freshman D.J. Uiagalelei played very well in his first start under center for Clemson, throwing for 342 yards, I think that the Irish’s defense will pose a tougher challenge than Boston College. Notre Dame ranks fifth in the country in lowest points allowed per game while also holding each of their last three opponents under 100 rushing yards. These statistics might be an indication that Travis Etienne will struggle, which would put more pressure on the Tigers’ young quarterback. The key for the Irish will be to establish their elite rushing attack, and, since they were able to accumulate 115 yards on the ground against Pitt’s top ranked rush defense, I am confident that Notre Dame will succeed in this endeavor and win by a slim margin. After watching the Bulldogs’ offense stagnate against Kentucky, I am now convinced that junior quarterback Stetson Bennett is not the answer at

quarterback. He threw two interceptions last week and led his team to score a mere 14 points against the Wildcats, a mark that even Missouri was able to top. Georgia’s defense is among the best in the country and will force redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Trask to be less effective; however, the Bulldogs will not be able to keep up with Florida’s offense which has scored at least 38 points or more in every game this season. Expect the Gators to win outright. In its first game of the year, Michigan seemed to fool everyone by looking elite against a mediocre Minnesota team. Michigan State was able to expose them last week; however, I think the Wolverines will get back on track against the Hoosiers. While he has to work on converting red zone opportunities into touchdowns, Michigan junior quarterback Joe Milton appears to have some real talent as he has thrown for 525 yards in his first two games. I believe that Milton will play his best game yet against Indiana leading Michigan State to win and cover. While the Bills hold a nice lead in the AFC East, quarterback Josh Allen’s recent fall from grace is certainly alarming. Allen has really struggled to convert in the red zone and has thrown four interceptions in his last four games. On the other hand, Russell Wilson is as elite as ever and even converted on four passing touchdown attempts last weekend against San Francisco. I believe that Wilson’s consistency will give the Seahawks the edge as they win and cover. Lamar Jackson really had a tough time dealing with the Steelers’ defense as he threw two interceptions while completing an abysmal 46% of his passes. Fortunately for him, the Colts just allowed Matthew Stafford to throw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, so I do not think that Jackson will have too much difficulty in bouncing back. Indianapolis has also played poorly against both the Browns and Bengals, two teams that the Ravens have crushed in earlier matchups, so expect Baltimore to achieve victory and cover. In a matchup that might ultimately decide the race for dominance in the NFC South, I am trusting in Tom Brady to perform at a high level for the Buccaneers. Brady has not thrown a single interception in his last four games and has converted on nine touchdowns during that period. He will be highly motivated to rectify his terrible play against the Saints in week one, and while his team will not cover, Brady will be the difference as Tampa gets an important victory. For my upset pick, I think

Kansas State will hand No. 14 Oklahoma State their second consecutive loss. Many people are counting the Wildcats out after West Virginia obliterated them last week; however, they forget that Kansas State had won four straight before that unfortunate matchup. By defeating Oklahoma, the Wildcats proved they can compete against more talented Big 12 programs, and, as the Cowboys may be looking ahead to their own matchup against the Sooners, they might not be prepared for a closer than expected game against the Wildcats.

Liam Coolican I may be the lone pessimist here, and I desperately hope I’m wrong, but I don’t see the Irish winning this one. Notre Dame hasn’t played against a defense the caliber of Clemson’s yet, and while I think their offensive play calling has been much improved, it still will be tough to score against the Tigers. Additionally, the success of Notre Dame’s offense often relies on dominating the line of scrimmage, and they won’t be able to do that consistently against Clemson. The defense will keep Notre Dame in the game, and I’ll predict a tight, low-scoring contest. However, even missing three starters on defense and the

best quarterback in college football, Clemson is just too talented. Clemson wins but doesn’t cover. I’ve picked Florida from the beginning of the season to win the SEC East, and I’m going to stick with the Gators here. Florida’s defense certainly has problems, as shown in the loss to Texas A&M, but their offense is one of the best in the country. Georgia’s offense has struggled at times even in their wins, and I expect Florida to turn in one of their best defensive games of the season. Kyle Trask and Co. are too much for even the elite Georgia defense to stop. Florida wins outright. Jim Harbaugh struggles to win games against his biggest rivals, but against other opponents, they always show up to play. Based solely off that, I would pick Michigan, but I also think Joe Milton is one of the best quarterbacks Harbaugh has had in his tenure in Ann Arbor. Michigan’s defense is also very talented, even if they haven’t shown it through two games. While I’m not sure there is anything Harbaugh could do, short of a major scandal, that would put him on the hot seat, he knows the pressure is mounting. This is a game Michigan can’t afford to lose, and they won’t. Wolverines win and cover. Paid Advertisement

The win over the 49ers last week restored my faith in the Seahawks. Their defense was dominant, even without the injured safety Jamal Adams and the newly acquired defensive end Carlos Dunlap. Russell Wilson has continued to play like the best quarterback in the league, and the run game was serviceable even absent the top two running backs. The Seahawks get Adams, Dunlap and potentially Chris Carson back this weekend. That’s a bad recipe for the Bills, especially offensively. Seahawks cover easily. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are due for a huge game, and I think they get it this week. The Colts record has been inflated by playing one of the softest schedules in the league so far. Jackson is too good of a player to play this poorly for so long, and the Ravens defense will bottle up the Colts offense. The Ravens need a win if they want to stay in the hunt for the division, and I expect the offense will put up big numbers this week. Ravens win and cover. The Saints, however poorly they have played at times this year, are only half a game behind the Bucs for the division lead. In what should be a great game, I think Drew Brees will see ROUNDTABLE PAGE 15

Sports

Roundtable Continued from page 14

out-duel Tom Brady, and the Saints defense will step up and make some big plays in the fourth quarter. Saints win this one outright and show who really is the best team in the NFC South. Both Minnesota and Illinois have had rough starts to the season. Redshirt junior quarterback Tanner Morgan and the Golden Gophers really miss wide receiver Rashad Bateman, and they haven’t had the same flair offensively this year, even as they scored 44 points in last week’s loss. Their defense is also one of the worst in the Big Ten, and the Illini should be able to take advantage. Illinois wins this one at home as seven-point underdogs.

Nate Moller This is probably a poor decision, but I am going to go with the Irish in this one. It seems like every year the Irish start off well and then choke in the big game, but this year feels different with how the Irish and Tigers are playing right now. I anticipate the Irish defense to be able to hold the Clemson offense to some extent with junior quarterback Trevor Lawrence out and freshman D.J. Uiagalelei in his spot. The Irish will be able to have decent production on the ground too and take the game out of Ian Books’ hands at times. Irish win this one on a last-second field goal and prove themselves as national contenders. Stetson Bennett has made a plethora of mistakes for the Georgia Bulldogs lately, and he will need to be much better if they are going to beat a solid Florida Gators team. I think Bennett is up for the challenge, especially against a Florida defense that has been surprisingly vulnerable this season. The Bulldogs’ defense will limit Kyle Trask’s production enough throughout the game, and the Bulldogs will cover easily in this one. Michigan was shocked last week by a Michigan State team that most people had written off after their stunning week one loss to Rutgers. Although Joe Milton and the

Clemson Continued from page 16

be on the sideline serving as a proxy assistant coach as he mentors true freshman quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei. “He’s an incredibly knowledgeable guy and he’s been there,” Swinney said about Lawrence. “I think he’ll be able to bring a good presence to D.J. And he’s got a great mind. He’s got great eyes. So he’s gonna be Coach Lawrence.” In his first start for the Tigers, Uiagalelei recorded 342 passing

ndsmcobserver.com | Friday, November 6, 2020 | The ObservER

Wolverines struggled to find a real rhythm last week, I expect them to bounce back against Indiana. I think Indiana is a really solid team, and I anticipate them being competitive throughout most of this game, but in the end, Michigan is just too talented. Look for the Wolverines to play like they did against Minnesota in the first game of the season. The Blue and Maize win and cover. This one figures to be a shootout with the Seahawks and Bills being two of the NFL’s most explosive offensive teams this season. The Seahawks’ running game will be up in the air with running back Chris Carson questionable to play, but they can make up for that in their passing attacks with Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf at the receiver positions. The Bills will definitely be able to put up points as well, but I like the experience of Russell Wilson and the Seahawks to take care of business. Seahawks win and cover. Reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson just has not been the same for the Ravens this year. Last week against the Steelers, he completed just 13 out of 28 passes and threw two interceptions. He will face a stiff challenge this weekend against a Colts’ defense that has given offenses trouble all year. The Colts are less than stellar on offense, but I think their defense gets a couple of turnovers, allowing Indy to win this one outright. I’m really excited to see the Buccaneers play against the Saints again. The Saints owned them in week one, but the Bucs have improved throughout the year, and they look like they might be the team to beat in the NFC at the moment. The Bucs will add wide receiver Antonio Brown this week to an offense that already has receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and tight end Rob Gronkowski in their passing attack. Tom Brady has proven he is still one of the best in the game, and I think he finds a way to lead the Bucs on a game winning drive in this one. Bucs win but don’t cover. For my upset pick this week, I am going to the Pac12. It’s the first week, so anything can happen, and I

really like Arizona State to knock off USC. The game is being played at 9 a.m. Pacific time, so I expect both teams to start off slow. This will prove costly for USC, as they allow the Sun Devils to hang around too long. Head coach Herm Edwards has pulled off some surprises so far while at Arizona State, and I expect him to pull off a big one this weekend.

yards to lift his team in a second-half comeback over Boston College. The five-star recruit has impressed the Clemson coaching staff since early on in the recruiting process and they feel confident in his ability to take over the reigns in Lawrence’s absence. Swinney commended the Eagles for their defensive strategy but said he expects the level of competition to be higher this weekend. “This is going to be a different animal this week. Obviously going on the road and this is a very special team,” he said. “This is a

very, very good defense that has got elite talent and plays with elite effort.” Swinney expects the Irish to bring it on both ends. Defensively, he said his team will have their work cut out for themselves as Notre Dame has threats at every position. This will be a particularly tough matchup as his defense is missing several key contributors to injury. “Offensively, it starts with their offensive line,” Swinney said. “These guys are massive. They’re huge, all returning starters.

Aidan Thomas I echoed this in my predictions for the Irish Insider, but I like the Irish here. They have more at stake in this game, given that they aren’t guaranteed a spot in the ACC championship as a one-loss team, due to no head-to-head matchup with Miami. A win Saturday all but secures that for Notre Dame, barring late-season upsets, and so adding in the fact that Notre Dame enters healthier and motivated to defend their 22-game home winning streak with a chance to take down the No. 1 team in the nation … I’m rolling with the Irish outright. In another key conference showdown, I’m not ready to trust the Gators in this matchup. My preseason SEC East champion pick was Georgia, who I said was going to finish 9-1 with a loss to Alabama. I’m sticking with that, as I think the Georgia defense limits Kyle Trask, Kyle Pitts and Co., winning and covering the spread at home. Is it disrespectful to make Indiana three-point underdogs at home as an unbeaten and top 15 squad against a Michigan team that just lost to Michigan State? Probably. Regardless, I’m still picking against the Hoosiers. I anticipate this one being close, but calling for Indiana to be 3-0 in the Big Ten feels weird, and I’m not ready to do that. I think Michigan is a good but not great team, and I don’t anticipate them losing two in a row early in the year. The Bills have not impressed me this year, and if you read my Sports Authority today, you know I think their second half will be a mess. That starts in this home clash with the Seahawks, a team that will torch Buffalo’s mediocre defense. Seattle to win and cover. Lamar Jackson is 3-0 in his career coming off a game with multiple turnovers, and

I anticipate him to start a second-half surge with a big road victory in this game. I think the Colts’ defense will keep it close, but ultimately Baltimore wins while not covering the spread. This spread feels really big for a Brady-Brees clash involving two divisional teams separated by half a game in the standings. The Bucs are winners of three straight, while the Saints are on one of the most unconvincing four-game winning streaks I’ve ever seen, escaping their last three by a field goal. I think Tampa Bay’s defense will play a lot better in this one, while Tom Brady’s offense — minus a shaky first half on Monday Night Football — has been clicking. I’m going with Tampa Bay to win but not cover at home. I’ll get my upset pick out of the way early this week by going for a Friday night game. NC State has performed very well as an underdog this season, and they enter a home game against Miami as 10.5-point ’dogs. Miami has won twice in unconvincing fashion since falling to Clemson, and I think they drop this one to the Wolfpack.

Dominic Gibson I hope this pick turns out to be incorrect here, but I am going to go with a Clemson win on the road against Notre Dame. D.J. Uiagalelei certainly stepped up to the plate in a big way last week against Boston College and appears to be a very solid option behind Trevor Lawrence as he sits out this game. Notre Dame has a very solid pass defense but will need to be at a different level in order to stop the Tigers. Clemson wins but does not cover. The Florida secondary is certainly an issue that has the potential to cost them games. Even so, Kyle Trask has the Gator offense running smoothly and consistently. Though Georgia may have the better defense, I do not think Stetson Bennett and their offense can keep pace. Florida will need to remain steady and should be able to win outright. Last week was a disaster for Michigan. After coming off a big prime time win against Minnesota, it seemed almost a guarantee they would

Incredible experience.” Swinney went on to say that graduate student quarterback Ian Book has the skillset to be a difference maker and the experience to manage the pressure of a marquee game. “He’s savvy, he’s instinctive, he can make the throws. He’s a really good runner. He has complete ownership. Complete grasp. Confidence,” Swinney said. “… He’s seen a lot, a lot. So he won’t be overwhelmed.” Swinney acknowledged the likelihood of these two teams meeting up at least once more in

cruise past Michigan State. After the 27-24 upset at home, the Wolverines will be looking to rebound. They certainly have the weapons to do so, especially in quarterback Joe Milton. Indiana will be no easy task, but I think Michigan wins and covers. The Seahawks finally won a game in convincing fashion against the 49ers last week. Their pass rush seemed to be an effective piece of the game plan and Russell Wilson was performing at an MVP level once again. The Bills are a solid team no doubt, but I have a feeling they will struggle trying to slow down the Seattle offense. Seahawks win and cover. Both the Colts and the Ravens have extremely solid defenses. The Colts were able to put up 41 points last week against the Lions, but consistency is something they have struggled with. While Lamar certainly isn’t on the same pace as he was last year, he can still find ways to take over games with his talent. Coming off a loss against Pittsburgh, this is the perfect rebound game for Jackson and company. Ravens win and cover. It is very difficult to beat a team twice in the NFL. Since the week one loss to the Saints, Tom Brady and the Bucs have found their stride, winning six of the next seven they’ve played. I think Tom will certainly be out to prove something here in round two, especially with the prospect of a bigger NFC South division lead on the table. Tampa wins but does not cover. For my upset pick, I am going to go with Stanford over Oregon. The Ducks have had several key pieces opt out while Stanford has become a much stronger team with one of the better offensive lines and a solid receiving group. The Ducks certainly have more talent to work with but the first game of the season is always tricky. Stanford narrowly pulls this one off. Contact Liam Coolican at lcoolica@nd.edu, Patrick Gallagher at pgallag4@nd.edu, Dominic Gibson dgibson@ hcc-nd.edu, Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu and Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

the postseason with both teams currently sitting atop the conference standings. “I mean we’re both top-five teams and so I would say it would be very likely. This is going to be a heck of a game and whoever wins it, you don’t get to punch your ticket,” Swinney said. “… No matter what happens in this game, if you win it, you got more games to play. And if you get beat, doesn’t mean you’re out. Just go back to work.” Contact Charlotte Edmonds at cedmond3@nd.edu

The observer | Friday, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

FOOTBALL

ND looks to impress recruits on biggest stage By AIDAN THOMAS Sports Writer

At 7:30 PM Saturday, Clemson and Notre Dame will kick off their highly anticipated top-5 clash at Notre Dame Stadium, with the game televised nationally on NBC. The primetime slate would normally be a golden opportunity for Notre Dame to invite recruits to get a feel for the campus and stadium during such an electric contest. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such opportunities are no longer available to Notre Dame. The Irish don’t have the luxury of inviting prized recruits to attend their biggest home game in 15 years. Rather, Notre Dame coaches will have to find more creative ways to keep their recruits a priority during this trying time of virtual recruiting. Bryan Driskell of Sports Illustrated spoke on this challenge. “You definitely still have to make [your recruits] a priority,” Driskell said. “It’s all about making sure they know they’re a priority, letting them know you wish they were there, and making sure they tune in for the big game.” As Clemson has become an established premier program and Notre Dame has risen back into the

ranks of the top 10 in recent seasons, the two teams have begun to more frequently compete for the same recruits. As of now, due to a bevy of reasons but in particular their consistent success, Clemson has beaten Notre Dame on the recruiting trail more often than not. One such notable victory was this past spring, when five-star allpurpose back Will Shipley opted for Dabo Swinney’s Tigers, temporarily leaving the Irish without a backfield recruit in their 2021 class. Although they remedied that issue swiftly, the defeat on the recruiting trail made it clear that, regardless of how bright their golden helmets gleam, the national brand of Notre Dame will not suffice in attracting recruits to South Bend. They have to win big games, and no doubt their first clash since 2005 with a No. 1 team in the AP Poll qualifies as a big game. “It matters a lot more for Notre Dame than Clemson,” Driskell noted. “Clemson has won two national championships in the past four years. But for Notre Dame, this is that elusive win Brian Kelly has struggled to get.” Kelly is just 3-8 against top-10 teams during his tenure at Notre Dame, and many of his ‘big’ wins proved less than impressive against

overhyped opponents early in the season. Examples of this came in 2015, when Notre Dame took down No. 14 Georgia Tech, who went on to lose nine of their final 10 games and finish 3-9. Or in 2018, when the Irish handled No. 8 Stanford without an issue, only to see the Cardinal falter to a 9-4 record and finish unranked. However, there are no doubts about the legitimacy of this Clemson squad that is making its first trip to Notre Dame since 1979. “This isn’t just an elite team, but an elite program,” Driskell said. “They’re up there with Ohio State and Alabama as the premier programs in the country — programs that Brian Kelly has pulled an o-fer against with Notre Dame.” Between losing the 2013 BCS National Championship to Alabama, the 2015 Fiesta Bowl to Ohio State, plus a regular season defeat and Playoff loss to Clemson, the losses on the big stage to those premier programs are piling up. But with a veteran offensive line and a third-year starting quarterback and finally playing on their home field, there are few, if any, excuses that can be made this time around. This is a massive opportunity for Notre Dame to make a statement on the gridiron, a statement which

could lead to increased success on the recruiting trail. Beating Clemson head-to-head may also give Notre Dame a boost with recruiting those prospects in the Carolinas. While Notre Dame has certainly had some success in luring top players from that area, North Carolina in particular is becoming a hotbed of potential collegiate talent. Clemson tends to own that area, given its recent success and domination in the ACC, and a win on Saturday could give Notre Dame an added boost as it look to expand its recruiting prowess along the East Coast. However, another factor that could help Notre Dame with recruiting is completely with the team’s ability and not dependent on Saturday’s result. And that is playing highly touted receiving prospects Jordan Johnson and Xavier Watts. Two of the Irish’s top prospects in their 2020 class, Johnson and Watts have barely touched the field, despite well-publicized struggles in the Irish passing game, as a bevy of receivers have failed to fill the hole left by 2nd-round draft pick Chase Claypool as well as Chris Finke, who now plays with the San Francisco 49ers. “I would be very leery as a recruit. It makes sense if you’re sitting

Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu

COLUMN

OPPONENT

Swinney praises Irish ahead of top-5 showdown

Brian Kelly’s last opportunities

By CHARLOTTE EDMONDS

By HAYDEN ADAMS

Senior Sports Writer

Sports Editor

Don’t let the confident exterior fool you; Dabo Swinney knows Saturday’s matchup between Clemson and Notre Dame has all the makings of a classic college football matchup. This weekend marks Swinney’s first visit to South Bend, a place he considers a bucket list destination for any college football fan. “This is college football at its best,” Swinney said. “Two topfive teams… A bunch of really good players on both sides. This is a very small margin for error type game.” That margin of error grew a little smaller for the Tigers recently following the news of junior starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s COVID-19 diagnosis. The potential No. 1 NFL Draft pick tested positive Oct. 28 and is expected to be cleared to travel with the team but will not play due to a cardiac evaluation that can’t be completed in time for Saturday’s matchup. Rather, Lawrence will

(Before I begin this, I would just like to wish my mother a very happy birthday today, Nov. 6. Ahead of my final Notre Dame home game that I will be attending as a student, I would just like to thank her — and to a lesser extent my dad, because we know who wears the pants in our house — for raising me to be the person I am and for playing no small part in my being at this University. All the love to you today and this weekend because I will happily take the attention back Monday when it’s my birthday.) Above the side doors of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart are inscribed the words: “God, country, Notre Dame.” After Tuesday, I’d prefer to focus solely on the last of those three. Ahead of what will possibly be the most important game to date in my four years following Notre Dame football, and immediately following four years of lead up to what many have dubbed the most important election in

see CLEMSON PAGE 15

behind a Chase Claypool, or a Will Fuller, or a Miles Boykin, but watching Notre Dame get just over 200 passing yards a game, with none of the receivers really standing out, and you’ve got two to three premier freshman recruits standing on the sideline… it’s inexcusable,” Driskell said of the lack of playing time for Johnson and Watts. “[Notre Dame has] another strong class [of receivers] coming in 2021, but beyond that I think this could definitely impact their recruiting at the position.” The passing game will likely need to be better than it has been on Saturday, and if Brian Kelly trusts his freshman receivers to make plays in a big situation, that may do just as much for recruiting as a win would. Recruits want to win, but they want to be wanted and needed as well. Driskell noted the message that the Irish could send to potential recruits via achieving these results on Saturday. “This game is a chance for [Notre Dame] to say ‘Hey, we can beat Clemson, we can compete with these teams, and you’re the missing piece,” Driskell said.

Courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics

Irish freshman running back Chris Tyree stiff arms a defender during Notre Dame’s 52-0 victory over USF at home on Sep. 19.

recent American history, I figure now is a good time to tell Brian Kelly what I want from him: an Irish win on Saturday. Not just any Saturday. This Saturday. 7:30 p.m. At Notre Dame Stadium. Against No. 1 Clemson. On NBC. You have to beat them. Now. Because if not now, then when? You have a third-year starting quarterback and an offensive line stacked with veterans and talent, elite tight ends and running backs who can make guys miss. And that’s not to mention a defense that continues to impress under the tutelage of one the brightest coordinator minds in college football. The reason I brought up politics is because right now I want to forget about them, regardless of the winner of this presidential election. I want sports to distract me, but not because of another Notre Dame football disappointment. That won’t work this time around because that’s what it’s giving me on a see ADAMS PAGE 13

Insider

ndsmcobserver.com | FRIDAY, November 6, 2020 | The Observer

Observer Staff Predictions: Clemson Hayden Adams — Sports Editor Who would’ve thought that, going into my final Notre Dame home game as a student (that choked me up a little to type that), I’d be the one person on this beat to go against the Irish, the first time I’ve ever picked Notre Dame to lose while covering them. When I sent the football beat my initial prediction at the start of the week, I was way too optimistic (which is saying something considering I only picked a 27-24 Irish win). That’s just who I am, but now, having seen the way Brian Kelly (poorly) handled his Monday press conference — wherein he reverted back to old form of treating this like any other game and essentially equating it in importance to next week against Boston College — I am not instilled with hope. While I do expect a far more competitive game than we saw in the Cotton Bowl Classic two seasons ago, I just can’t bet on a head coach who it seems will not change his mentality, a mentality that has his team perpetually stuck in the second tier of college football powers, nor can I bet on a third-year starting quarterback who has regressed into a game manager and who has not shown himself to be capable of playing at an elite level against elite competition. Count on the offensive line, running game and defense to keep this one close, but

Williams Continued from page 4

get to the hole you need to go to. That’s when you know you have a good offensive line,” he said. “We just love our linemen, love what they do for us.” Williams added that those benefits extend to the other guys in the running game as well. That’s critical, especially when the team has so many dynamic backs, each of whom

JOK Continued from page 4

those teammates that competed in 2018 but have since moved on to bigger and better things. “You think about those guys that don’t get to play them again,” he said. “You carry that on your back as well. You want to do it for them as well. So I think that this is a great opportunity for that.” One major obstacle that Owusu-Koramoah will be forced to help contain this weekend is star Clemson running back Travis Etienne. This will undoubtedly be the main priority for Clark Lea’s defense: slowing down the future college football Hall of Famer. Irish head coach Brian Kelly called him the best back in the country, and JOK

I’m expecting a loss. But let it be known, I’d be pretty glad for Kelly and Ian Book to make me eat my words. FINAL SCORE: Clemson 27, Notre Dame 24

FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 31, Clemson 28

Let the games begin. In my

tenure as a student, Notre Dame has always been on the cusp of greatness. In 2017, it was led by Josh Adam’s 33-Trucking campaign and a close Georgia game. In 2018, it was an undefeated (regular) season. In 2019, it was keeping things close with Georgia again, but ultimately falling from grace. This year, it’s time for the Irish to make the jump from pretender to contender. Things are coming together perfectly. A certain blonde-haired quarterback won’t be playing, and the Clemson defense is riddled with losses. Notre Dame has finally seemed to find an effective 1-2 punch ground game that can run the clock. Javon McKinley emerged as a real threat through the air against Georgia Tech. Ian Book has played in these big games before. I can’t help but picture Book eking into the edge of the end zone on a final drive, third-and-goal play — much like he did against Virginia Tech in 2019. In my last game as a student in Notre Dame Stadium, I can’t help but hope the Irish pull out all the stops. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, maybe my old age has made me biased, but I think Notre Dame is going to find a way to get it done this week. Things are bad enough in the world right now — why bring down the hope that remains in sports? Irish by a million (or by 6). FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 23, Clemson 17

has a different job to do. “We all work off each other. We all bring different skills to the table. We all are all unique in a way,” he said. “With [junior] C’Bo [Flemister], me, [freshman] Chris [Tyree], in the backfield? It’s like that hammer and nail. C’Bo’s gonna come down downhill — he’s gonna hit you … we’re gonna get those bully yards. With Chris, you’ve got that speed, and he’ll come down and hit you too. And then with me, I’ll be able to make you

miss. I’ll run you over. There is no drop-off in the running backs. We can throw anybody in, and we can keep moving as offense.” Though the backs do work as a unit, Williams himself is far and away the team’s leading rusher with 600 yards on 105 carries. Tyree, the next closest, has 264. Williams is so critical in the ground game largely due to his speed, but he emphasized that sometimes in order to go fast, you have to slow down.

“I’m always telling myself to be patient — if I’m being too fast, I’ve got to slow it down,” he said. “It’s a big key for us as running backs … [to] stay patient and hit those holes when they’re ready to be hit.” Looking ahead to this week’s matchup, Williams acknowledged that the Irish will have their hands full, but “this is why we come to Notre Dame, to play tough games like this — to play Clemson, to play the best teams in the nation.”

“We knew from the beginning of this season that we were going to see Clemson. We’re going to keep going, keep doing what we’re doing. Keep playing as an offense, as a team, as a defense, as a whole, together this weekend, so we can advance this weekend, 1-and-0.” Locking in to that one week at a time mentality? That’s patience.

didn’t stiff him on praise either. “He’s like a rover on offense,” Owusu-Koramoah said of him. “We were watching film [Monday] and we saw him out there as the No. 1 wide receiver on a go-route. He’s all over the place.” Stopping or at least slowing down Etienne is essential for a Notre Dame victory. So as exciting as offensive points are, all eyes should be focused on Notre Dame’s defense this weekend. Although Owusu-Koramoah likes to say that everybody plays an integral role on his team, he named some specific players in the defensive room that can lift the spirits of the group. “You’ve got [graduate student defensive lineman] Daelin Hayes, Juiceman. You’ve got [graduate transfer safety] Nick McCloud, you’ve got [sixth-year

safety] Shaun Crawford. Shaun Crawford is not a one to speak all up in the crowd, but he’ll get you one-on-one and it gets you gassed up,” Owusu-Koramoah said. “Man, you have coaches — [director of football strength and conditioning] Coach [Jacob] Flint. Guys on the sideline, [graduate assistant] Coach [Chris] O’Leary, you know, just key guys within our defensive staff and even strength staff as well. Kyle Hamilton, a funny guy, always gets you when you’re in a bad mood or a play didn’t go right; he’ll always get you.” The only thing that might be more important for OwusuKoramoah and this defensive squad than stopping Ettiene is to eliminate silly errors. “To be nervous isn’t an option,” Owusu-Koramoah said. “When you’re talking to young

guys, you’re talking to freshmen, and you’re talking to people who have just started playing, you got to let them know that nervousness is not an option. You have to understand that this is a game that can potentially change your life and potentially change the program. And you know, when talking about playing Clemson, you have nerves and you slip up and you have a mistake, and mistakes towards a good team, they’ll take advantage of those mistakes.” The best way to eliminate these potential game-changing errors, according to OwusuKoramoah, is to play free and with a clear mind. But he also reiterated the importance of playing without nerves. That’s what is important for this Notre Dame defense this weekend against a top ranked team:

playing with freedom of mind. “We want to take the nervousness out and just be free and play,” he said. “I think [defensive coordinator Clark] Lea has done a great job with that, putting together a scheme that doesn’t allow for young players or players who are inexperienced to be thinking constantly on the field. Rather, they can open their minds and be free to play.” Perhaps the fact that only one-fifth of seats will be open at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday for the final home game the class of 2021 will be able to attend will work out in favor of this defense as they attempt to play with freedom and tune out all the distractions.

Jimmy Ward — Associate Sports Editor If you would have asked me anytime in the last six months if I thought Clemson was going to snap Notre Dame’s home win streak, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you yes. But the year is 2020, and this is coronavirus football. The game is as brutal and unforgiving as it’s ever been. It’s impossible to have a normal season. Clemson looked shaky against BC but, as Brian Kelly put it, they are the gold standard. Dabo Swinney is coaching the scariest team in the country right now. But with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft out they are a little bit less scary. This will be a nail biter. And it will likely come down to one or two plays. The last two weeks kindled a spark of hope in me. Notre Dame needs a near flawless performance still, but it is possible. This is probably the biggest Notre Dame game that’s been played in the 21st century to date, and I think Brian Kelly’s 2020 Irish roster has the will and resolve in them to squeak out a W as they defend their turf. Who knows what happens in December though?

Charlotte Edmonds Senior Sports Writer

—

I’ve only witnessed one loss in Notre Dame Stadium during my time as a student here. I don’t anticipate that changing come Saturday. Every rational bone in my body says this one belongs to Clemson. Therefore, I’m choosing to reject that rationality and go with my gut. Clemson is really good, but they’re not invincible. D.J. Uiagalelei will have to go up against the likes of Daelin Hayes and Jeremiah OwusuKoramoah in the front seven and Kyle Hamilton over the top. On the other end, Ian Book has a few more marquee match-ups under his belt and shouldn’t face the same shell shock of the 2018 Cotton Bowl. It’ll be close but the Irish are in this one. To recycle a phrase from my prediction the last time the two teams met, Clemson is ACC in name but SEC in style. While that statement stands, the Irish aren’t far off. The home team is defending this one. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Here’s to hoping I’m not made a fool. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 30, Clemson 27

Ellen Geyer Sports Writer

—

Senior

Aidan Thomas — Sports Writer The season isn’t about this one game, but it certainly feels like it, as the Saturday clash with the mighty Clemson Tigers has finally arrived. It could (and will likely) be the first of at least two clashes between the two teams. A split with two close games now and in the ACC championship could give both teams a solid Playoff case. The Irish have been building on their identity all year, and they’ve really shown an ability to pound the rock and control the clock. All of this bodes well, as they will try to force D.J. Uiagalelei to work his freshman magic in short windows of time. The Tigers will also be missing some key defensive players, including linebacker James Skalski, who’s an absolute force in Clemson’s run defense. Clemson is likely the better team straight-up, but Notre Dame enters this game healthier, motivated as a home underdog and with more at stake. A loss doesn’t mean much to Clemson here, so long as they win out, a loss for Notre Dame would at the very least temporarily take their ACC fate out of their hands (barring a Miami loss Friday night). I’m rolling with the Irish. FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame 28, Clemson 26

Contact Elllen Geyer at egeyer1@nd.edu

Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu

Insider

The observer | FRIDAY, November 6, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com

FOOTBALL

Owusu-Koramoah leads Irish in huge test By JIMMY WARD Associate Sports Editor

Last Monday, the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears faced off in a defensive showdown. When the players took the field for the first drive of the game, the cameras did not follow Bears quarterback Nick Foles to his huddle, but instead followed Aaron Donald out to the defensive side of the ball. If NBC were to break from the norm and follow a defender out on the field this weekend instead of Clemson’s freshman quarterback, it would probably follow out team captain Jeremiah OwusuKoramoah. The anchor — or one of the anchors — of Notre Dame’s defense is no joke. Filling in at the rover position, there are fewto-no plays he doesn’t directly impact. He is selfless, humble and feeds off the energy provided from his teammates. Notre Dame’s defense has been picking up the slack while the offense has just recently established themselves this season with a pair of road wins over mediocre ACC competition in Pitt and Georgia Tech. If Notre Dame wants to beat the top-ranked team in the country, their defense must show up once again. “You feed off of the ones that are around you,” Owusu-Koramoah said. “You feed off the leaders on the team. Everybody is an anchor on our defense, everybody is an anchor on this team.” Owusu-Koramoah had his

breakout season last year as he racked up a team high 80 tackles on the year and tied Khalid Kareem for the most sacks with 5.5. Now in his senior campaign, he is not only impressing NFL scouts, but is also looking at an opportunity to avenge his teammate with a win over a No. 1-ranked Clemson squad that got the better of his team while he watched from the sideline. Sitting out of that 2018 Cotton Bowl game that saw his team cough up a 30-3 loss still looms large on OwusuKoramoah’s mind. “Back where I’m from there’s a saying, ‘If they got a problem with you they got a problem with me,’” he said. Owusu-Koramoah was forced to watch from the sidelines in the CFP Playoff loss due to a foot injury. And even though he had seldom played for the team outside of his role on the scout squad at the time, he still mulls over the loss. “It hurt because I actually suited up for that game…,” OwusuKoramoah said. “I think I might have been hurt more than some of the people that were playing in the game [after the loss] because I’m a competitor, an extreme competitor, and it was always for the brotherhood.” Owusu-Koramoah is heading into this game with a chip on his shoulder, and he is wishing for more than just a win for himself, but a payback win in honor of see JOK PAGE 3

ALLISON THORNTON | THE OBSERVER

Irish senior linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah strides down the field during Notre Dame’s 35-20 win over Virginia on Sep. 28, 2019 at Notre Dame Stadium. Owusu-Koramoah had seven tackles in the game.

Kyren Williams slows down to speed up By ELLEN GEYER Senior Sports Writer

Courtesy of Notre Dame Athletics

Irish sophomore running back Kyren Williams jukes a defender out during Notre Dame’s 12-7 win over Lousiville on Oct. 17 at home.

If Kyren Williams has learned anything during his time at Notre Dame, it has been patience. Coming out of high school, his position label was simply “qthlete” — he rushed, he received; he caught, he threw: he punted, he returned; he played defense and he broke through it. As a senior, he recorded 26 touchdowns on the ground with an average of 11.4 yards per carry. He snagged 10 scores through the air with an average of 13.2 per attempt. He threw a 68-yard touchdown pass, one of his two completions on the year and part of a 100% completion percentage. He punted an average of 36.4 yards and returned for four touchdowns. He had 66 solo tackles, 92 total tackles and eight interceptions. He scored 40 touchdowns. But once he got to Notre Dame, it was a different story. The freshman sat at the bottom of the depth chart. He watched carefully as former Irish back Tony Jones Jr. pushed

the rock and former star receiver Chase Claypool guided the offense. Forget playing all positions — Williams didn’t play any of them. So, he learned to be patient. “It wasn’t my time to play. I accepted that role. I accepted that I would have to wait,” Williams said. “I don’t think it was anything to do with my ability, or anything to do with the coaches not believing in me. I think that it was another year to mature and become a more and more developed football player. That’s where I’m at now, and that maturity hasn’t stopped. That development hasn’t stopped — I’m gonna keep developing every single day, every time I step on the field, that’s a mentality that I carry with me, anywhere, with everything I do in life.” That waiting, that development, that maturity? It’s paid off. Now an integral part of the Notre Dame offense, Williams has not delayed in making his presence known. Averaging 5.7 yards per carry, he’s recorded seven scores and picked up ACC Rookie of the Week honors

multiple times. “I would see runs here and there that Tony would bust [last year] and I’d be like, ‘Oh, yeah, I can’t wait to get one of those,’” Williams said. “I was just thinking like, ‘Man, I can’t wait until I get the opportunity to get behind [the offensive line] and then run for them.’ So here we are now, here we are today and I’m able to accomplish that dream of being able to play running back here. I’m going to keep going you know … just keep chasing that every single day.” Williams noted how fortunate he is to have such a stout line, and he reiterated that he wouldn’t be able to affect the game in the way he does without it. “As a running back, you dream … you’ve got an offensive line like the one we have. They’re moving the line of scrimmage every single run. When you believe that, you can stay patient. You can tiptoe behind the line and still be able to find a hole, see WILLIAMS PAGE 3