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Volume 55, Issue 66 | Monday, may 3, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Pangborn to become men’s dorm Residential Life to convert Pangborn, renovate Sorin during upcoming year By ALYSA GUFFEY Notre Dame News Editor
The Office of Residential Life has finalized changes and renovations in residential life for the upcoming academic year, including the transformation of Pangborn Hall into a men’s dorm, the complete renovation of Sorin College and a minor renovation of Welsh Family Hall. Primarily used as transitional housing for the past few years, Pangborn Hall will become a men’s dorm community for the foreseeable future starting in fall of 2021, director of residential life for housing operations Jonathan Retartha said in an email. Retartha said the decision to transform Pangborn into a new see HALLS PAGE 3
By EVAN McKENNA Managing Editor
Courtesy of Johnathan Retartha
A digital rendering of the renovation of the Sorin College building from the west side displays the annexation of a fourth hallway, which aligns with the University’s original plan for the residence hall.
DIANE PARK | The Observer
The Blue and Gold Game — a time of goodbyes and hellos By UYEN LE, SPENCER KELLY and EVAN McKENNA From the Archives Researchers
On a bright and sunny Saturday morning, students roamed around campus clad in Irish gear, music blared on the quads and a palpable energy radiated from Notre Dame stadium. It was game day. On May 1, 2021, the Fighting Irish football team squared up against each other in the annual Blue and Gold Game, bringing the excitement of a Notre Dame football game to a beautiful spring day. The Blue and Gold Game and the NFL Draft this past weekend were bittersweet reminders of all the talented athletes who will be graduating this year. This week’s edition of From the Archives
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Author explores policing
celebrates the legendary legacy of Fighting Irish athletics, as we say goodbye to players whom we have grown to love and support and prepare to welcome a new generation of talented athletes. Late sports writer Lou Somogyi recaps 1983 Blue and Gold Game
May 13, 1983 | Lou Somogyi | Researched by Evan McKenna This edition of From the Archives is all about the hellos and goodbyes — so when our team found yet another outstanding example of the late Lou Somogyi’s coverage from his time at The Observer, we couldn’t help but pay tribute to the legendary sports writer to
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whom we all recently had to say goodbye. In the May 13, 1983 edition of The Observer, then-sports writer Lou Somogyi (‘84) recounted the 1983 Blue and Gold Game, a smackdown between the firstunit Blue squad and second-unit White squad. 1983’s matchup looked different from this year’s in a few ways: While the 2021 game featured a relatively low-scoring 17-3 win for Blue, crowds in 1983 were treated with a more exciting 3321 battle in which Blue also came out on top. And while 2021 saw Notre Dame Stadium at 20% capacity — capped at 15,525 tickets under COVID-19 restrictions — the pre-renovation 1983 scrimmage brought 20,028 fans into a smaller stadium.
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On Friday afternoon, civil rights activist and author DeRay Mckesson spoke on the future of policing as part of the Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights “Building an Anti-Racist Vocabulary” lecture series. Mckesson, a 2007 graduate of Bowdoin College, worked as a sixth-grade teacher and school administrator before quitting his job in March 2015 to begin a career of political activism. Five months later, he and fellow see LECTURE PAGE 4
SMC changes mask policy Observer Staff Report
While the game had its fair share of enthralling moments — including walk-on Thant Wright’s 100-yard touchdown run for the White team — the real star of the show here is the late Somogyi’s stellar reporting. From the beginning of his time at The Observer, Somogyi showed a deep passion for all things Irish, and demonstrated an “encyclopedic knowledge” of Notre Dame athletics. His 1983 Blue and Gold Game coverage is no exception — through his attention to detail and lively wordplay, Somogyi transforms a relatively standard scrimmage into a battle for the ages. As I looked through dozens of Somogyi’s old columns and
In an email to students Friday afternoon, Saint Mary’s COVID response team co-chairs Mona Bowe and Shari Rodriguez shared updates on the College’s masking guidelines. According to the email, effective immediately, students are no longer required to wear masks outdoors in groups of less than 25 people. Masks will continue to be required for all students and employees gathered indoors, except when in a private residence hall room or office, the message said. Mask-wearing is still recommended for unvaccinated individuals who are outdoors in groups of any size, the email added. Bowe and Rodriguez noted
see ARCHIVES PAGE 4
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Saint Mary’s held a Tostal event Sunday afternoon. Students were able to get outside and enjoy the warm weather, as well as bouncy houses, craft activities, food trucks, live music and free t-shirts and bucket hats that were given out at the event.
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ND Access-ABLE teaches disability awareness By BELLA LAUFENBERG News Writer
ND Access-ABLE, a student-led group focused raising awareness about students living disabilities, recently held Disabled Enough Week. Club president and founder, senior Monica Mesecar, explained that Disabled Enough Week was aimed at disproving the stigma around if someone is “disabled enough” to count as disabled. “[Disabled Enough Week] is to show that disability can look a variety of ways, and they’re all valid and deserving of respect,” she said. On Monday and Tuesday, ND Access-ABLE hosted Zoom discussion events about the week’s topic — what it means to be disabled and the false misconception that one has to be “disabled enough.” On Wednesday, Mesecar said, the club had a panel event that featured disabled students speaking about
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community came partly from the closure of Zahm House. “With Zahm now serving as our swing hall for renovations, Pangborn’s community will help provide additional space for our male population on campus and avoid overcrowding in the men’s
their experiences. Concluding the week, ND Access-ABLE hosted a social Thursday. They also had a table set up at Duncan Student Center on Friday where students could sign a pledge to include disability in diversity conversations. Mesecar herself suffers from cerebral palsy, which affects a person’s ability to move and walk. Mesecar said she founded ND Access-ABLE because she was disappointed in the University for not paying enough attention to disabled students “I started ND Access-ABLE because disability wasn’t really an area of diversity that Notre Dame was paying a great deal of attention to beyond ‘we have accommodations for students’ and that’s about it,” Mesecar said. “Whereas I found that I really wanted some sort of community.” Mesecar said she hopes ND Access-ABLE is a place where
students with disabilities and allies can interact as peers. “If you’re an ally, why should you join? It gives you the chance to learn about and engage with the community that you might not have had much exposure to or your exposure to has been very limited in terms of scope,” Mesecar said. “For example, a lot of Notre Dame students have done work with people with disabilities in some way, but a lot of that is in the form of service capacity, rather than peer capacity.” This week, ND Access-ABLE will host Leveling the Playing Field Week. According to ND Access-ABLE secretary Joshua King, Leveling the Playing Field week is centered around the idea that accommodations aren’t about unfair advantages, but about giving disabled students a fair shot to succeed. “[ND Access-ABLE is] trying
to tackle the notion that accommodations aren’t an advantage,” King explained. “It’s just providing us service that we need and like, you know, making it fair to everybody involved.” King suffers from a vision impairment caused by Stargardt’s disease. He said his accommodations are what allow him to achieve at the same level as nondisabled students. Leveling the Playing Field Week will be structured like Disabled Enough Week, Mesecar said. On Monday, the group will host be a virtual conversation about the stigma around accommodations. On Tuesday, there will be a lecture from Dr. Sara Basson, Accessibility and Inclusion Lead at Google. On Wednesday, there will be another student panel at Midfield Commons centered around student experiences with accommodations. A speaker will discuss the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) Thursday in a virtual event. All events will be from 7-8 p.m. To round out the week, ND Access-ABLE will host a table in Duncan Student Center from 2-4 p.m. on Friday encouraging students to sign a pledge to promote disability inclusion, King said. King said that an important part of being an ally to fellow disabled students at the university is respect. “The ultimate overarching message is just being respectful and just being cognizant and understanding of people’s differences,” King explained. “Educate yourself on what it means to live with a disability or what it means to be an ally for a disabled student.” ND Access-ABLE is open to both disabled students and allies and can be reached on Facebook and Instagram. at 4:30 p.m.
halls,” he said. Resident assistants have already been assigned to the hall and an email was sent to male students living on campus inviting them to transfer into the community, Retartha said. Sophomore transfer students and first-years will have the possibility of being assigned randomly to the dorm as part of the campus-wide policy. In the 2020-2021 academic year,
Pangborn served as a women’s residence hall for transfer students and students whose student abroad programs were canceled. According to Retartha, residents of Pangborn were either transferred back to their original residence hall or given priority in the transfer portal to other halls. Meanwhile, residents of Sorin College will be living in Zahm for the next year as their home is
renovated. In a March 15 letter to the Sorin community, Retartha detailed two major themes in the renovation of Sorin: to keep the historical architecture of Sorin and maintain the current occupancy of the hall. As Sorin — opened in 1889 — stands as one of the oldest buildings on campus, Retartha said the University undertook an investigation into the archives to unveil historical plans dating back to 1893 for the building to eventually have four hallways. This, Retartha said, was used to finalize plans for the renovation. “During the 2021-22 renovation, the University will finally fulfill the original vision for Sorin by building a three-story western addition (essentially “completing the square”) while preserving the community’s current occupancy,” the letter said. Sorin will be complete with new common spaces, lounges and kitchen areas, similar to those of newer dorms such as Baumer and Dunne Hall. Sorin has been long awaiting its time for renovations, Sorin rector Fr. Bob Loughery said, as the hall was originally scheduled to receive renovations in the fall of 2020. Those plans were put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. Loughery said he thinks his residents are ready for the one-year move as they knew it was on the horizon. “They kind of knew this year was going to be the year, and then it got put on hold so I think they’re accepting that this is what we have to do,” Loughery said. As Zahm is a larger building than Sorin, Retartha said residential life partnered with Loughery and the current rector of Zahm, Fr. Bill Dailey, to create a floor plan for an even distribution of students throughout the hall. In addition, Loughery said
Sorin hired two additional resident assistants to ensure equal coverage throughout the dorm and to prepare for the renovated layout of Sorin. “Then we come back to the renovated Sorin, and we’re going to have 6, so we decided to go ahead and get the 6 [resident assistants] and then we’ll have our staff in Sorin for the future,” Loughery said. Loughery said Sorin will continue to build community in the next year by holding its signature events — Seccession Week and Kick-it-for-Kevin. This summer, Welsh Family Hall will undergo a minor renovation, including new paint, flooring and furniture. Retartha said the University is on track to return to its schedule of one major and one minor renovation each year, but no plans are solidified in terms of specific buildings. “The University Architect’s office will assist in identifying future projects, but no further decisions have been made at this time,” Retartha said.
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activists launched Campaign Zero, a 10-point policy plan for ending police violence in the United States. Mckesson is also the host of the political podcast “Pod Save the People” and the author of “On the Other Side of Freedom,” a memoir detailing his experience as an organizer in Ferguson during the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement. Mckesson preceded the discussion with a simple clarification — while many consider the fight for police reform to be a multi-generational struggle, he expects shorter-term success. “We believe that we can win in this lifetime,” he said. “I don’t think I’m working on a 700-year solution or a 500-year solution. We really do believe that with good organizing, we can win in this lifetime.” And Mckesson’s definition of “win” is a simple one. To him, in a country where police have killed more than 1,000 people a year since 2013, winning means no police killings, any and every year — hence the “Zero” of Campaign Zero. Although Mckesson and
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sports stories during my research for this piece, I came to notice one thing about his pieces — each was marked by admirable amounts of thought and care. For Somogyi, the heart of sports was humanit y. A nd no stor y was ever too sma ll: In 1981, he founded and hosted a “Club Corner” column in which he highlighted the lesser-k now n stories of club sports on campus. Somog y i poured his heart and soul into the footba ll beat — week after week, he delighted in chronicling the electric energ y of Notre Dame Stadium — but he a lso regularly took the time to w rite about the little things: the new but growing Notre Dame Gy mnastics Club. The postseason standings of the Notre Dame-Saint Mar y’s sk i team. The afternoon activ ities of the Notre Dame Sailing Club. Not many members of our A rchives team k new much about Somog y i’s life at our first meeting follow ing his death, so we spent our first few minutes together sifting through his four years of contributions to The Obser ver’s sports section. W hether or not you were a fan of Somog y i’s work during his lifetime, I encourage you to do the same: Visit The Obser ver’s digita l archives website and search “Lou Somog y i.” Ta ke a few minutes to read through his old w riting, and to appreciate the immense
his fellow organizers are interested in broad, structural policy changes, they abide by a small-scale mantra: “One is the biggest number.” “When one is your sister, or one is your brother, or one is your mother or one is your cousin, you don’t need 1000 … One is enough,” Mckesson said. “There are some [aspects of our work] that will impact hundreds of people, there are some things that will impact thousands of people, there are some things that will impact 10 or 20 people — and all of them matter.” Mckesson then went on to detail his approach to the reimagination of policing: a deconstruction of the “logic” of policing itself. “The logic of policing says there are people with power who set rules, policies and practices, and the enforcement is the logic of policing,” he said. “That enforcement is often violent and disproportionate toward people of color, poor people and it is harsh.” And although many organizers believe in only the complete eradication of this logic, Mckesson argued that efforts toward abolition can and should exist in conversation with efforts to change the existing system in small
ways, using the topic of solitary confinement as an example. “The end of solitary confinement is not the end of incarceration. Does that mean that these two strategies are against each other? It doesn’t,” Mckesson said. “One is an acknowledgement that we have a responsibility to real people’s lives today … That does not take away from the demand, the urgency of undoing the carceral state.” In response to a question from Klau Center associate director Dory Mitros Durham about effective strategies for engendering policy changes, Mckesson noted the simple power of accessible information — when 8 Can’t Wait, an initiative of Campaign Zero, launched following the killing of George Floyd, the program’s dissemination of public data resulted in surprising amounts of mobilization at the local level. “When we released 8 Can’t Wait … we did not fight police departments, we just made the data public — and citizens fought police departments,” Mckesson said. “And that’s why we keep everything public.” Mckesson also discussed how the mechanisms of
change differ at local and federal levels. While policy proposals such as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would result in some positive change, such as greatly reducing the legal use of neck restraints, the federal government’s only means of impacting the policies of police departments is to threaten the withholding of funds, he explained. “The hard thing is that the federal government has never followed through on that threat to police departments,” Mckesson said. “So while I’m interested in that aspect of the law, we just haven’t seen it enforced.” But one change the federal government — President Biden in particular — could make at any time, Mckesson noted, is the release of people detained in private facilities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Federal agencies under the Department of Homeland Security are exempt from many acts targeting police reform, and Biden’s recent executive order only aims to end the use of private prisons under the Department of Justice — leaving private ICE facilities largely immune to both reform and abolition. “And Biden has the power
tomorrow to stop that, with no trouble,” Mckesson said. “So those are the things we should be demanding of the federal government.” Additionally, while Biden’s aforementioned executive order is a step in the right direction, that order and others like it only solve a portion of the problem, Mckesson argued — only about 8% of incarcerated people are held in private prisons. In conclusion, Mckesson addressed a question on many American’s minds today: Now that citizens are armed with a wealth of information on systemic racism and corrupt policing, what are the next steps? “I think the moment you know your question, you’ll do your best work,” he answered. “I wake up every day saying ‘How do we get to zero?’ … And because I am chasing that question every day, it guides my work.” And that guiding question will look different for everyone, Mckesson noted. “For some people, that question will be about policing, or the carceral state or the climate,” he said. “When you know your question, the rest will just fall into place.”
amount of care he put into ever y word. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
athletes, Dona ldson highlighted some stars of the season. He described Larr y DiNardo (‘71), a t wo-time A ll-A merican guard and cocaptain of Notre Dame’s footba ll team, as “a perfect Notre Dame man.” A nother notable name on the list was Joe Theismann (‘71), who led the Fighting Irish footba ll team to “their first Bowl v ictor y since the days of the Four Horsemen” and went on to play for the NFL for over a decade. Theismann started 25 games as the Irish’s quarterback, w inning 20 of them. A formidable player, Theismann, nick named “The South River Roadrunner,” “surpassed [Terr y] Hanratt y and the immorta l Gipper in the N.D. record book.” In 2003, Theismann was inducted into the College Footba ll Ha ll of Fame. Deemed “the greatest player in Notre Dame histor y” by Dona ldson, Austin Carr (‘71) propelled the Irish into “the nationa l basketba ll limelight” in his three years on the court. In addition to being a phenomena l player, Carr was a lso a humble and softspoken leader beloved by his teammates. “W hen Austin says, ‘Let’s go ! ’ you feel like jumping through the roof,” captain Doug Gemmell remarked. Dona ldson went on to recount many other seniors’ achievements in their respective athletic programs. He a lso recognized the senior
sports w riters in The Obser ver and Scholastic for their dedication to chronicling Irish athletics. A fter contemplating an unforgettable year, Dona ldson ended on a nosta lgic note. “I’ve just about run out of memories for now. A nd out of space, too. You k now, it rea lly has been a great year.”
school where his father Joe is a legend. Nate Montana would only attempt nine regular season passes for the Irish, but other future standouts appeared: Kyle Rudolph caught four passes, Cierre Wood ran for 111 yards, Theo Riddick scored a touchdow n and Manti Te’o racked up eight tack les. The latter three would play starring roles in Notre Dame’s 12w in season in 2012. Overa ll, the game was a promising start to the Brian Kelly era. Then-sports editor Douglas Farmer w rote about his excitement for the Irish in a column on the same day. “Kelly has a lready sparked more change throughout the program than was seen in the prev ious five years,” Farmer w rote. “Notre Dame footba ll is headed in the right direction under Brian Kelly.” Kelly himself was just excited to be inside Notre Dame Stadium for the first time. “I w ill not understate the wow factor of coming into this incredible stadium,” Kelly said. “Hav ing said that, I’ve waited my entire life for this opportunit y so I’m going to be prett y excited ever y game we play.” “Now, we’ve got to w in some games,” Kelly said. “That ma kes it rea lly exciting. A nd that’s what we’ll be look ing for ward to doing.”
Reminiscing on a remarkable year in Irish sports
May 7, 1971 | Jim Donaldson | Researched by Uyen Le Nearing the end of the 1970-1971 academic year, Jim Dona ldson (‘73), then-sports editor of The Obser ver, ref lected on the impressive accomplishments of Notre Dame’s student athletes over the year. That year, the Fighting Irish footba ll, basketba ll and hockey teams finished w ith successful seasons. The footba ll team won the Cotton Bowl in an upset against the Texas Longhorns, who were ranked first in their conference. A fter defeating the prev iously undefeated UCL A Bruins on Jan. 23, 1971, only a few weeks after the Cotton Bowl w in, the Irish basketba ll team a lso moved to the number one position. To top off the successful year, the hockey team, in only its third year of ex istence, defeated the Denver Pioneers, who went on to finish second in the NC A A hockey program. As he reveled in these athletic triumphs, Dona ldson a lso expressed a “tinge of regret” as the year came to a close. “So many of the young men who played important roles in the athletic dramas of the past year have played their fina l game for the Blue and Gold,” he ref lected. Pay ing tribute to graduating
2010 Blue and Gold Game begins Brian Kelly’s coaching career
Apr. 26, 2010 | Laura Myers | Douglas Farmer | Researched by Spencer Kelly The Blue and Gold Game has been the site of many tearful goodbyes over the years. As the last team practice of the school year, it natura lly cultivates a sense of closure. But for new players and coaches, the spring game can be a first opportunit y. Brian Kelly’s experience was the latter. A fter finishing the 2009 season at Cincinnati, the April 24, 2010 Blue and Gold game — a lbeit a scrimmage — marked Kelly’s first game at Notre Dame. “It’s the first coat of paint for us,” Kelly said. “This is a process that we’ve entered into and we k now that this is not a destination for us.” As for the game itself, the Gold team picked up a 2719 w in. Starting as quarterback for the v ictors was Nate Montana who, after wa lk ing on in the fa ll from Pasadena Cit y College, had his first chance to suit up for the
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Andrew Sveda Church and State
Kelsey Dinvaut Facebook Platform Manager
I think it’s safe to say that almost every Notre Dame student was raised to have high expectations for both themselves and those around them. I think it’s also safe to say that we also tend to be our own worst critics when we don’t quite meet these expectations. The transition to college from high school has never been easy for anyone. We all struggle in some way, whether that’s through homesickness, social problems, academic performance or anything else you can think of. While in high school we might have been straight-A students or social butterflies, these characteristics don’t always persist in college. This isn’t an easy reality to accept. The enormously high standards we’ve set for ourselves makes failing seem like the end of the world. I’m here to tell you that it isn’t and it never will be. In fact, failing is absolutely necessary if you are to ever truly succeed. First of all, let’s just acknowledge the year we’ve had. I think far too often, people don’t understand the true impact the pandemic has had on our academic careers. When talking with adults, I’ve heard comments like “It should be easier! You’re doing everything online!” Well, no, it wasn’t easier. COVID-19 came with severe challenges including mental distress, isolation and physical illness. These factors can’t be taken lightly. In a normal year all of these same factors remain, but the pandemic has heightened and intensified each one. Even making it through the first semester was an accomplishment in itself. Let’s not even begin to mention the fact that we have had virtually no breaks at all, excluding the overextended break we had from December to January. If I were to list all of the possible aspects of this academic year that have been increasingly difficult due to the pandemic, this might become the longest column you’ve ever read. I know that you all have had first hand experience with these challenges, so just for a minute, keep those in mind when you read the next paragraph. Give yourself a break. Cut yourself some slack. You deserve it. You’ve done your best. No two people are exactly alike. There is absolutely no use in comparing yourself to others in a time like this, because we all respond to crises differently. While you may know someone with a 4.0 GPA this semester, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should have a 4.0 too. It is vital that you understand the reality of this complex situation we’ve found ourselves in, and that you allow yourself to grow from it. I firmly believe that if you didn’t make the grades you wanted this year, meet as many new people as you hoped or love Notre Dame as much as you thought you would, that’s okay. Some of us may be nervous to take a look back at the semester, but I want you to know that you did your best, whether you believe it or not. Your best and the next person’s best aren’t the same. Doing your best isn’t just a matter of working hard. Doing your best factors in your mental health, your social experience, your physical wellbeing and so much more. Therefore, the next time you think about comparing yourself to the student you know who seems to have done perfectly fine this semester, just know that you have no idea all of the other things they went through. A 4.0 GPA doesn’t guarantee a nifty social life, and a lot of friends doesn’t guarantee an easy academic transition. Give yourself a break. Cut yourself some slack. Show love to your fellow first-years, because at the end of the day, we’ve all just made it. We’ve got two minutes in the fourth quarter, freshmen. Finish strong. You can contact Kelsey at kdinvaut@nd.edu The views expressed in this Inside Column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Submit a Letter to the Editor: viewpoint@ndsmcobserver.com
Does God exist? “Why should we bother?” you might be wondering. “It’s all so complicated, so abstract. I’ve got bigger problems to think about. And some smart people disagree!” Hopefully the reader can see that this is no real argument at all but a hollow list of assumptions and assertions. Undoubtedly, you do have pressing problems in your life, but it does not follow that you are then somehow “off the hook” for not caring. That’s because God’s existence is not some topic we can think about only if we want to or have the time. If God is the very Source of reality itself and has created us with a purpose to fulfill, then how can one say it’s not important or that they are somehow exempt? God created us with meaning and purpose, one that is concrete and objective. And that central purpose of our lives is to serve God and have a relationship with Him. This obviously entails knowing that He exists, so asking if God exists is anything but an optional consideration. We can see, then, that the statement about having “bigger problems” is quite a man-centered assumption. It assumes that what I’m concerned about right now becomes and is the most important thing for me. It assumes that we are at the center of reality, that our lives are our own, that we can do whatever we like, that we are the highest authority over our choices, and that no one, not even God, can tell us what to do or how to run our lives, come what may. Clearly, this is not some faraway, abstract question. It cuts to the core of who we are most deeply and why we were created. But what about the complexity of the question? What about the disagreement? Some professors and PhDs believe that God exists, and some do not. “And they’re all so smart,” you might say to yourself. “If they can’t all come to the same conclusion, what chance is there for me?” Well, just because scholars disagree doesn’t mean we can’t know what is true. After all, every worldview, and we all have one whether you actively think about it or not, has its critics, and often quite famous ones at that. Does that mean we can’t know the truth? Of course not! That’s because we don’t discover what is true by vote but by reason and the weight of the evidence. Fair enough. But is the evidence clear either way? Can we reach a sure conclusion? Yes, yes we can, and such knowledge need not come through some sophisticated argument that only philosophy buffs can understand. Indeed, such evidence is clear to all willing to understand and put some thought into it. But beyond that, we constantly borrow from a theistic worldview without even knowing it. People even argue against God’s existence using assumptions that require God to exist. The question first posed in this column, “Does God exist?” also assumes God’s existence in at least three ways. To ask “Does God exist?” in a meaningful way, we must assume that our cognitive faculties are reliable, that they can properly evaluate philosophical/theological claims and knowingly determine what is true and what is false. But how could we possibly trust our brain in thinking about such truths if it evolved out of a mindless, unguided process that selected not for truth at all but only survival and advantageous behavior? As David Bentley Hart put it, “if the universe does not depend upon any transcendent source, then there is no reason to accord the deliverances of reason any particularly authority in the first place, because what we think of as rationality is
just the accidental residue of physical processes: good for helping us to acquire food, power, or sex but probably not very reliable in the realm of ideas.” Thus, “it makes sense to believe in both reason and God ... but it is ultimately contradictory to believe in one but not the other.” Atheists like Nietzsche and Nagel admitted to this clear problem. So did Darwin. Our ability to reason and use logic requires that God exists, so when we wonder if God exists, we must implicitly assume that He does before we can even ask the question. When asking if God exists, we also assume that it is a good thing to know the truth. It is even our moral duty. But atheism is unable to ground objective moral values and duties like these, as I’ve discussed in previous columns. If our morals are nothing but the product of unguided sociobiological evolution, how could they possibly be objective? Evolution has no idea what right or wrong is, nor does it care. Why, in an atheistic framework, is a bee’s murder of its sibling objectively bad when they see it as a good? To affirm the reality of objective moral values and duties, one must assume God’s existence. But beyond this, we only ever ask and wonder if God exists because we assume that our lives have meaning and purpose. The reason we say believing the truth is good and knowingly peddling a lie is bad is because we have an idea about the purpose of mankind. But if atheism is true, we have no purpose, no meaning to our lives. It does not matter in the slightest, then, what you, a conglomeration of chemicals and energy, think about God’s existence in an atheistic universe. To even debate God’s existence is to assume that mankind has an objective purpose (not a subjective one because you think the other person should believe what you are saying), and, in that way, they must really assume God exists to exhort people to not believe in Him. To say someone should believe something because it’s true can only hold if man has some objective purpose, which the atheist must deny. The fact that asking “Does God exist?” assumes God exists is quite important. It reminds us that God’s existence is intuitive and known by everyone. God is not hiding, but maybe we are.
KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer
Andrew Sveda is a sophomore at Notre Dame from Pittsburgh, PA majoring in political science. In his free time, he enjoys writing (obviously), reading and playing the piano. He can be reached at asveda@nd.edu or @SvedaAndrew on Twitter. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
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The observer | Monday, May 3, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Are we living in a simulation? Justice Mory In the Interest of Justice
While many believe we exist in “base reality,” is there any chance we are actually living within a simulation? Proving this seems to be impossible. Occam’s Razor, a philosophical principle, would say that in problem-solving, “entities should not be multiplied without necessity.” This has been understood as meaning the simplest of competing theories should be preferred to more complex ones. This would mean if we could not confirm we are living in a simulation, it is best to assume we do operate in a “base reality.” However, I want to discuss some prominent thinking about the question of living in a simulation. A lot of the most compelling arguments of the idea that we live in a simulation come from the dramatic improvement of computing technology over the last half-century. Realistic video games, virtual reality and even the emergence of quantum computers present such a stark difference from the programs available in the 20th century. Assuming any rate of continual improvement, reality may become
perceivably indistinguishable from a simulated reality. Then, it follows that if this is the case, how do we know another society has not advanced this far, and we are the product of it? Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said, accompanying this theory, that “[there’s] a billion to one chance we’re living in base reality.” An important thing to watch for is if humans in our reality are able to one day create a simulation that contains conscious beings. This would dramatically lower the odds that we operate in some “base reality” because it would prove the existence of created simulated worlds. Another theory, says that physical rules and laws of physics present in our reality are so mathematical and restrictive that this could be evidence of artificial limitations. Whether it is imposed or tied to computing capabilities, such as the speed information can be transmitted, such dynamics could be explained by reality being simulated. At the end of the day, it is impossible to prove whether or not we are living inside a simulation. However, some things that happen are so unbelievable that they almost make me question reality. One thing that comes to mind is former President Donald Trump’s 2019
Tweet, where he said “A$AP Rocky released from prison and on his way home to the United States from Sweden. It was a Rocky Week, get home ASAP A$AP!” Imagine seeing this tweet in 2011. How else can this be explained but through some kind of “we live in a simulation” theory? Who is coming up with this stuff? Jokes aside, I do think there is some possibility that advanced beings or intelligent machines create or control our experience of reality. However, I can’t help but wonder if it even matters? And would we want to know the answer? I am not sure, but this definitely makes me want to watch “The Matrix” again. Justice Mory is majoring in business analytics and is part of the John W. Gallivan Program in Journalism, Ethics, and Democracy. He is from Southern California and now lives in Duncan Hall. His main goal is to keep learning and to continue to become more informed. He can be reached at jmory@nd.edu or @JmoryND on Twitter to continue the conversation. The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
How to go into quarantine eight times I have written three different versions of this piece. All three were written in what I thought at the time was my last stay in quarantine. Now, I can say confidently this is my last time in quarantine (because I actually have COVID). In this piece, which I have put more effort into than any submission of work during my time at Notre Dame, I will give a power ranking of the locations I quarantined at, my 10 tips for success and if I have any leftover space, some general life thoughts that I was able to realize during my time. For reference, these are my quarantine stays: October 14-18 at The Foundry South: Contact traced, negative, alone. October 25-30 at University Edge: Contact traced, negative, in an apartment with 5 roommates. November 14-16 at Embassy Suites: Symptoms, negative, alone. February 25-March 4 at Hampton Inn: Contact traced, negative, alone. March 10-March 16 at Fairfield Suites: Contact traced, negative, alone. March 24-March 31 at Embassy Suites: Contact traced, negative, alone. April 9-April 16 at Holiday Inn Express: Contact traced, negative, alone. April 20-April 29 at Embassy Suites: Tested positive for COVID, alone. That makes for a total of more than 50 days in quarantine during the 2020-2021 academic year.
Power Rankings: Number 6: Hampton Inn My fourth time in quarantine was for a week in the Hampton Inn. The reason this is at the bottom of my list is for two big reasons. The first is that the A/C unit by the window would not shut off from blasting cold air out, for seven days straight. I even tried covering it up with my comforter, but then something started to smell weird and the comforter got really warm, so I took it off. The second reason was that the faucet in the bath leaked, nonstop. It had good views of the McDonald’s drive thru, though. Number 5: Holiday Inn Express The Holiday Inn was a weird stay, and I heard even stranger stories from friends here. I had two big beds which is nice; my view is not great, but I can hear music and liveliness from Cheers during the weekend evenings. Supposedly someone escaped from here, so one night security had to come and check that I was both in my room and that nobody else was in there. The Holiday Inn lacks the certain x-factor that other places have. Number 4: Fairfield Inn & Suites The Fairfield Inn & Suites was a nice stay, but I got lucky with my room. Some of my friends got much worse and smaller rooms. In room 512, I had two TVs, and a separated living space. The window opened to a nice view of campus and the Sculpture Park and the A/C unit worked well. The interior designer knocked it out of the park here, because even the bathroom had a cute little framed photograph of a bunch of doorways across the ND campus (it’s the little things that count). Number 3: The Foundry South
The Foundry South was my rookie season in quarantine. I remember texting my family group chat telling them I was going into quarantine as if it was a big deal (by the seventh or eighth time I don’t even think I told them, they just kind of assume I am always in it now). This quarantine was filled with Netflix binge watching, drive-bys from my friends, Zoom calls with new quarantine friends and even a virtual game watch of the ND football game. Looking back now, it is kind of like when you are a senior in high school remembering freshmen year. Little did I know what was to come. Number 2: University Edge Back in November I spent five days in University Edge. The best part about this was that I was actually in a fourroom unit with two of my closest friends, so their company made this exponentially more bearable. However, Edge had by far the worst interior design, as it lacked any type of personality. The bed was like sleeping on an oversized piece of toast, with a blanket that was more like a rug. The wall-towall carpeting was a nice touch. The weirdest moment happened when I looked out my window one night and there was a stranger with a light saber. I also watched an entire season of “The Great British Baking Show” during my stint here, so I do have some happy memories. Number 1: Embassy Suites The Embassy Suites was luxury. Two out of the three times I was there, I was given a two-room suite, with two big beds and a living space. I had two TVs, a desk, a couch, a chair and a big bathroom. I can only imagine how much this room would cost per night on a football weekend. One of my roommates had to spend his 21st birthday in quarantine in the Embassy Suites, but at least we were in a nice hotel. Even though they didn’t open, the floor-to-ceiling windows let in a lot of natural light. If I could spend every quarantine in one place, it would be in the Embassy Suites. So, there it is, my power rankings. From my approximately 1,272 hours, or roughly 14% of the past year, that I have spent in ND quarantine this year, I have learned many lessons. Here are my top 10 tips that I have made for you, in case you ever find yourself in quarantine. 1. When someone is pounding at your door at 8 a.m. on your first morning of quarantine, don’t panic, it is just breakfast. No one is trying to break in or kick down your door. 2. If you ever try to use your hotel phone to call your friend’s room, make sure you know their room number. There have been a few times I called the wrong person. 3. If you are looking for some more interaction, try using Airdrop or Bluetooth to send stuff to the people in the rooms around you. Out of my eight times in quarantine, only three people ever accepted and had conversations with me. Shout out to Nate, Carissa and Patricia. 4. If you want to go even further than AirDrop, try doing morse code with your flashlight out your window. I did this in my final stay, and I was able to exchange room numbers
with a random person entirely through morse code. We called each other on the hotel phone, and we became quarantine friends. Shout out to Caroline. 5. Make/watch TikToks in quarantine. 6. This is one tip that I learned the hard way, twice. If you are thinking of getting haircut, get one!!! You never know when you are going to go away for a week, and by the time you find out, it is too late to get a trim. Just cut it. 7. Spend time working on your get-out-of-quarantine playlist. When you walk out of the Q a free person, you need some good music to listen to. 8. Drink the absurd amounts of Dasani water bottles they give you. Once you are free, you will never want one again, but staying hydrated is key when you’re locked up. 9. Bring food into quarantine with you. You save a lot of Flex Points when you’re Q’d up, so the last few times I have brought some Modern Market pizza in with me. The people in the Testing Center think it’s fun. 10. Do not try and steal the coat hangers from the hotels. Not that I would know, but when you get back to your dorm room, you will realize that the metal rungs on the hotel hangers are designed to be a different size than the typical ones, so they will not work on the wardrobe in your room, and you will be left with useless coat hangers. You will feel stupid, or so I have heard. Now you have seen my power rankings and my top 10 tips. I hope you enjoyed them. I will finish off my guide with some wisdom on quarantine. Before the year ends, and we go back to a more normal year next year, take some time to realize how much effort has gone into this year. The hotel employees at the quarantine sites, the security teams, the drivers of the quarantine vans, everyone at the Testing Center and the Covid Response Unit and everyone on campus who has adjusted this year. They aren’t doing this to piss anyone off or “ruin your time at ND,” they’re doing it for the exact opposite reason. So, if you can, even if you don’t say it out loud, thank all of them for making this possible. Without them, you would have been in your room at home all year, and I think this year would have been much worse that way. For each moment I have spent locked up in quarantine, I have started to appreciate my time outside of quarantine even more. Pretty soon, for all of us, we will graduate, and we won’t be able to spend days as a Notre Dame student anymore. If there is one thing that quarantine has taught me the most, it’s to appreciate being a student at Notre Dame, and to realize how lucky we are! There are so many people that would give so much just to be in our place right now, even if that place is alone in a hotel room for 53 days. P.S. I am going to meet Fr. Jenkins. John Sebastian “Jazz” Thörn junior April 27
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DAILY
The observer | Monday, may 3, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Crossword | WILl shortz
Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Take the high road, believe in your ability to get ahead and stop second-guessing yourself. You are in a good position to make things happen and use your skills to reach your destination. Positive change can be yours if you are willing to take the steps required. Listen to your heart and follow your dream. Romance is favored. Your numbers are 5, 12, 21, 25, 34, 38, 47. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take a breather and assess your situation. Consider what you want to do, and put a plan in place that excites you. Give yourself more credit, and recognize what you have to offer. You are closer to your dream than you realize. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t settle for less when you can have more. Speak up, share your feelings and make your intentions clear. You can bring about a positive change that will lead to contentment. Make decisions that lead to your happiness. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Pay attention to what’s going on around you. The information you gather will lead to something new and exciting. Keep your plans simple, moderate and targeted toward what you are trying to achieve. Do the work yourself in order to reap the rewards. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Someone you value will make an extraordinary suggestion. Put some muscle behind your plans, and you’ll be surprised how much you accomplish. An unusual idea will turn into something that satisfies you mentally, physically and financially. Invest time and money in your future. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take a moment to rethink your strategy. Don’t feel slighted if someone doesn’t want to do what you are doing. Set your sights on what makes you happy, then follow through. Let go of the past and embrace new beginnings. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Participate in something that moves you. Lending a helping hand or learning something new will enrich your life and lead to new friendships. Share your feelings and intentions with someone you love, and a commitment and plan will unfold. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The tide is turning. Buckle up and get ready to expand your circle of friends and put greater emphasis on personal growth, domestic improvements or educational pursuits. Refuse to let anyone cynical hold you back or bring you down. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Go over every detail to ensure you aren’t getting into something you cannot afford or don’t need. Think outside the box, and you’ll come up with a feasible way to get what you want. Don’t argue with someone you love. Keep the peace. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take a moment to digest what’s happening, then consider your options. A partnership that compensates for something you may be lacking will entice you. Weigh the pros and cons and what it will cost before you commit. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stretch out and make yourself comfortable. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and the ones you love. Make your feelings known and your intentions clear. The plans you put in place will lift your spirits and encourage romance and peace of mind. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Work alone. Tidy up loose ends and update documents that are about to expire. Don’t get wrapped up in someone’s drama. Stay focused on what makes you happy and how to use your energy to make you feel good about yourself. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Consider the changes you want to make and how much time and effort you are willing to put in to get good results. Share your feelings with someone you love. It’s up to you to make things happen. Birthday Baby: You are bold, steadfast and intelligent. You are inspiring and organized.
Sudoku | The Mepham Group
Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek
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SPORTS
ndsmcobserver.com | Monday, may 3, 2021 | The Observer
Softball
Sports Authority
Best, worst of start of NFL Draft Gehrig Smalstig Sports Writer
Anthony Walker very well.
Round 2, worst
A couple of months removed from the Super Bowl and a couple of months away from the start of training camps, football fans still manage to get hyped up about the NFL when the draft rolls around. But who did it best? Here are some of the best and worst picks of rounds one through four in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Pick 57, Los Angeles Rams: WR Tutu Atwell — While I’m sure that Sean McVay is licking his chops while thinking about adding Atwell’s speed to his scheme, the second round is a bit early to be taking a receiver that weighed in under 150 pounds. I don’t see him making much of a contribution outside of special teams for the time being.
Round 1, best
Round 3, best
Pick 11, Chicago Bears: QB Justin Fields — There are some serious reasons to believe that Justin Fields is the second best QB in this draft behind golden boy Trevor Lawrence. The Bears were nowhere near in the right place to take him, but made a bold move to move up and get who will hopefully become the best QB in their team’s history. Pick 7, Detroit Lions: OT Penei Sewell — This pick gives a struggling franchise a perennial AllPro who will make an impact from day one. A bit of luck was involved with the teams in front of them electing to take receivers instead of Sewell, but they stayed the course and got their guy.
Pick 98, Denver Broncos: C Quinn Meinerz — I couldn’t help but include Meinerz, who has some of the most fascinating highlights and workout tapes in NFL history. To say he stood out at the Division III level is a dramatic understatement. He was also a standout at this year’s Senior Bowl, and his upside makes it possible for him to step in early and provide help to an offensive line unit that needs significant improvement in Denver.
Round 1, worst Pick 17, Las Vegas Raiders: OL Alex Leatherwood — The trend continues. Mike Mayock and John Gruden want to prove that they’re the smartest in the room by taking someone who everyone else thought was clearly not the pick. Leatherwood could easily become a good player in the NFL, but he could’ve easily been taken with a later pick. They did the same thing last year with Henry Ruggs and, despite being the first wide receiver taken, he landed outside of the top 5 rookie WR performers. Pick 29, Green Bay Packers: CB Eric Stokes — In the midst of trying to convince their Hall of Fame quarterback to not demand a trade, the Packers selected the second best cornerback from Georgia in this draft. After watching Kevin King’s performance in the NFC championship game, I certainly don’t blame them for taking a corner. But, if Eric Stokes was their guy, then why not trade back or wait until the second round and use this pick for another need?
Round 2, best Pick 52, Cleveland Browns: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah — JOK was mocked to the Browns in the first round by many analysts, so it’s easy to see the value that they got here. They get a dynamic playmaker at linebacker/safety who is outstanding in coverage and should compliment stout run-defending linebackers like
Round 3, worst Pick 72, Detroit Lions: DL Alim McNeil — McNeil is a legit athlete at 320 pounds, but he can’t do much outside of bull-rushing. Additionally, this simply wasn’t a need after the Lions drafted another defensive lineman in the second round. They’re in a rebuilding phase and you could argue they have needs at almost every position, so why would they use two of their top three picks on low-value players like interior DL?
Round 4, best Pick 117, Los Angeles Rams: DL Bobby Brown III — Brown is a very high upside interior defensive lineman that has the potential to keep the Rams D-Line as one of the most dominant position groups across the league if he gets the right coaching. Considering the amount of double-teams that Aaron Donald faces, he could have great numbers right away.
Round 4, worst Pick 133, New Orleans Saints: QB Ian Book — Book has the potential to become one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league, but that seems like the opposite of an immediate need for the Saints. Considering the cap space nightmare that they just navigated, New Orleans needs to put players on the field that are on rookie contracts, and Book will not see the field for at least a few years. Contact Gehrig Smalstig at esmalslti@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Continued from page 12
she was unable to stop crying that first year, as it was a “reflection of the entire process of someone you love dealing with cancer.” A sense of pride has since taken over after all that was accomplished. “This is all about celebrating those who have [made it through hard times], celebrating those who couldn’t get out of those rough times, but always remembering all the friends and family that we’ve made along the way with this road and this journey that we’ve been on,” Gumpf said. “We’ve made it our own, and we’ve made it even bigger, and I love the platform that we have to be able to help other families who are dealing with what we dealt with.” Because of the pandemic, the event had to be altered in compliance with COVID regulations, with the majority of the celebrations being held virtually. Luckily, the team was still able to host a match at home this weekend. “We’d never put our Strike Out Cancer game on the schedule because we just weren’t sure how things were going to play out,” Gumpf said. “So to have the opportunity to play Charlotte and have them come here and have them join in the festivities for Strike Out Cancer … it’s just such an awesome opportunity.” Gumpf spoke on the importance of carrying on the support during COVID especially. She said that the pandemic made her recall the experience she had with her daughter, during which they kept to their own “bubble” in order to protect her daughter’s compromised immune system during her treatment. This is similar to how people had to act over the past year in order to quell the spread of the coronavirus. Now, families with childhood cancer patients have even tighter bubbles, making the already-difficult situation even harder. “When you’re at a time when you’re dealing with someone who is so close to you that is battling something so deadly and serious, it’s scary, and these times don’t make it any easier,” Gumpf said. According to her, the event also highlights a key part of the softball program: the effect the team can have off the field. “I think the one thing that we’re known for across the country, other than being a really good softball team, is the fact that we are constantly raising awareness and money for kids who are fighting cancer,” Gumpf said. “We take such pride in that and
it is hands down our favorite weekend.” Gumpf said that all of the team’s recruits know about Strike Out Cancer, the importance of the event being felt before the freshman even step on campus. “It’s just more than just the weekend,” Gumpf said. “It’s such a big part of who we are as a program.” Because of this sentiment, the event has also served as an “unofficial alumni weekend,” as so many players return to South Bend for it. Unfortunately, this year’s circumstances have prevented alumni from attending the games. But this does not mean that the support was any less. Gumpf noted that over 20 alumni notified her that they will be wearing orange and will be celebrating via online channels, such as social media. Though the event is prominent among the Notre Dame community, the importance of Strike Out Cancer is felt throughout the entire conference. Gumpf said that when teams know that they are playing Notre Dame in South Bend, they always ask if they will get to be at the Strike Out Cancer Game. This year, Charlotte (27-15, 11-5 C-USA) was able to be a part of the initiative. Notre Dame (28-12, 17-10 ACC) emerged victorious from both games, with 3-0 and 11-6 wins, respectively. This added on to the team’s two winning streaks: 11-consecutive games total and 16-consecutive games at home. At the first game, Tatum Gumpf presented Notre Dame Fight For Life teammate Ivaih with an official Monogram Jacket. The team carried the momentum throughout the entirety of the first game, completely shutting out Charlotte. Junior pitcher Payton Tidd played a complete-game and sat down the opponent immediately, while a combined effort from junior outfielder Emma Clark, graduate student infielder Katie Marino and freshman infielder Karina Gaskins put the Irish up 2-0 by the bottom of the first. The next three innings were scoreless for both teams. Though Charlotte charted their first hit of the game in the third, they were still unable to get someone home. Come the fifth, junior catcher Shelby Grimm scored for the Irish on an RBI from senior infielder Sarah Genz to put the team ahead 3-0. This run would be the final run of the game, as both teams were again unable to score in the final innings. Senior pitcher Alexis Holloway started for the Irish in the second game. Charlotte
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scored at the top of the first, with a double and single scoring their two runs, respectively. Senior outfielder Abby Sweet began with a double of her own, and eventually made it home after a single from Clark (2-1). After Holloway sat Charlotte down in order at the top of the second, sophomore outfielder Leea Hanks scored off of an error to tie the score. Genz was on base, and a double from freshman infielder Cassidy Grimm brought Genz home to take the lead (3-2). Charlotte came back swinging, with two runners advancing off of a sac bunt. A subsequent single allowed both of them to score (4-3). However, that was all they were able to pocket that inning, as Shelby Grimm and graduate student infielder Chelsea Purcell caught a runner stealing to contribute to the outs total. Marino notched a solo home run in the third, while a hit from Purcell scored Hanks. Cassidy Grimm clocked her first triple of her career, leading Genz and Holloway home to make the score 7-4. After the 49ers scored twice in the fourth, with senior Morgan Ryan stepping into the circle, Marino reached the plate again. A triple from Genz, the second of her career, scored Hanks to extend the Irish lead to 9-6. Notre Dame scored again in the sixth, with Hanks hitting her first at-home home run of her career. Freshman catcher and outfielder Carlli Kloss entered the lineup to pinch hit, and eventually reached home after a forced error from sophomore infielder/outfielder Miranda Johnson. The Irish ended the game 11-6. After the games, Marino and Sweet volunteered to donate 10 inches of their hair to put towards wigs for those fighting childhood cancer. Gumpf and Holloway performed the haircuts, contributing to the “magical weekend” that takes place every year. “We know we’re helping families and we know we’re helping these kids, and we get to see where the dollars are spent, and to me that’s everything,” Gumpf said. “I know that when things go wrong and you’re dealing with something like cancer, no one can fix that for you. But everybody wants to help and do their part just to make things a little bit easier, and I believe that that’s exactly what we’re doing. We may not be able to change the reality of these families, but we sure can do something to help them, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.” Contact Emily DeFazio at edefazio@nd.edu
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The observer | MONDAY, may 3, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
Draft Continued from page 12
was one of the most impressive guards in the country, and during his time at Notre Dame allowed only two sacks over three seasons and 844 snaps. Banks was one of three Notre Dame offensive linemen to have their names called in the 2021 NFL draft, selected after Liam Eichenberg and before Robert Hainsey.
Jeremiah OwusuKoramoah — Round 2, Pick 52, Cleveland Browns Former Notre Dame Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the 52nd overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Cleveland Browns were able to get an excellent player by trading up and selecting Owusu-Koramoah with this second-round pick, as the versatile Owusu-Koramoah figures to have a prominent role in the defense as a rookie in 2021. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah entered the draft as a projected first-round pick, and one of the draft’s best linebacker prospects. He was ranked the 16th best prospect in the entire draft by CBS, and earned a 6.82 rating (“Pro Bowl Talent”) on the NFL Prospect Tracker, the 8th best of any player. Owusu-Koramoah came to Notre Dame as a three-star prospect out of Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia. He made his mark playing for the Fighting Irish, showcasing his sideline to sideline speed and consistent playmaking. As a starter in 2019 and 2020, Owusu-Koramoah accumulated 142 total tackles, 7 sacks, 24.5 tackles for loss, 5 forced fumbles and an interception. He is also remembered for his incredible fumble-return touchdown against Clemson, extending the Irish lead to 20-10 and leading to an eventual Irish victory. His career also includes being named the 2020 Butkus Award Winner, an award given to the nation’s best linebacker. Previous recipients of this award include Notre Dame’s own Jalyon Smith and Manti Te’o.
Tommy Tremble — Round 3, Pick 83, Carolina Panthers Tight end Tommy Tremble was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 83rd pick. Tremble was a valuable player for the Irish as one of the most talented blocking tight ends in college football. He offers a lot of versatility and upside entering the NFL and looks poised to join a long list of successful Irish tight ends at the next level. Tremble stood out at Notre Dame’s pro day, running a 4.59 40-yard dash, a 36.5” vertical jump, 10’2” broad jump and 20 reps of 225 lbs in the bench press. In 2020, he earned an 83.7 runblocking grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest of any tight end that season. He was a key player in Notre Dame’s run game, helping to clear the way as a lead
blocker for running back Kyren Williams. Notre Dame continues to be the home of some of the most talented tight ends, including former Irish tight ends drafted in now each of the last 4 years: 2018 (Round 4 – Durham Smythe), 2019 (Round 7 – Alizé Mack), 2020 (Round 2 – Cole Kmet) and 2021 (Round 3 – Tommy Tremble)
Robert Hainsey — Round 3, Pick 95, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Notre Dame offensive tackle Robert Hainsey was the third Irish offensive lineman drafted when he was selected by the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round with the 95th overall pick. The Buccaneers already have their starting offensive line in place for the 2021 season, but Hainsey will bring valuable depth and leadership to the team. A two-time team captain, 2020 All-ACC Second Team selection, and a member of Notre Dame’s 2017 Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line, Hainsey leaves South Bend with a bevy of accolades to his name. Hainsey should also feel right at home in Florida, as he attended IMG Academy in Bradenton in high school. According to 247Sports, Hainsey was a fourstar prospect and the No. 84 player in the country when he joined Notre Dame’s 2017 recruiting class. The 6-foot-4, 306-pound Hainsey was one of nine Irish players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. The nine selections are the most during Brian Kelly’s tenure at Notre Dame and the most since 10 Irish players were picked in the 1994 NFL Draft.
Daelin Hayes — Round 5, Pick 17, Baltimore Ravens Defensive end Daelin Hayes waited until the fifth round to hear his name called in the NFL Draft, but he’s headed to instant Super Bowl contender, the Baltimore Ravens, who used the second of their three fifth-round picks on the former Irish standout. Hayes stuffed the stat sheet in 2020, with 17 tackles (six for loss), three sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and a pair of forced fumbles. Hayes is considered a high-upside pick for the Ravens, particularly in the fifth round, after many expected him to go slightly earlier. Baltimore entered the draft with needs off the edge, and they grabbed an outside linebacker plus Hayes, so he will certainly have a chance to play his way onto the roster this summer. Hayes’ biggest game was against Georgia Tech this past season, in which he had five tackles and two sacks, but his biggest contribution in an Irish uniform will undoubtedly be remembered as his overtime sack against Clemson that helped Notre Dame upset the #1 team in the nation this past November.
Ade Ogundeji — Round 5, Pick 182, Atlanta Falcons Another Irish defensive end that waited until the fifth round
to find a home in the NFL, Ade Ogundeji found possibly an ideal landing zone in the defenseneedy Atlanta Falcons, who made Ogundeji their only primary addition to their edge defense, which had definite holes heading into the draft. Ogundeji made his name as a disruptive pass rusher at Notre Dame, forcing six fumbles in his career with the Irish. His ability to collapse pockets made him an attractive day 3 option for NFL teams, and in Atlanta, Ogundeji could have a much better opportunity than the average fifth round pick to compete for a roster spot and snaps this coming fall. Ogundeji notched 23 tackles and seven sacks in his final season with the Irish, delivering two sacks in Notre Dame’s overwhelming defensive effort against UNC’s high-octane offense. He had 1.5 sacks in two postseason games for the Irish against Clemson and Alabama .
Ian Book — Round 4, Pick 133, New Orleans Saints Quarterback Ian Book was drafted by the New Orleans Saints as the 133rd overall pick in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite some doubt over whether or not he would get drafted, Book becomes a successor to Drew Brees — NBC’s new Notre Dame game analyst — as he heads to Louisiana. He was the sixth Irish player to be selected this year, and is the second quarterback in the Kelly-era to be drafted. Book was also chosen in a record-setting NFL draft: this was the first time that eight quarterbacks were signed over the first three rounds. After attending Oak Ridge High School, the El Dorado Hills native came to South Bend as a threestar recruit. Book spent three years as QB1 for the Irish, starting in 35 games (30-5). He played in two playoff games and an ACC Championship during his time at Notre Dame, and also led the team to the victory over then-No. 1 Clemson last season. Book is renowned for his running game especially, having completed nine rushing touchdowns in the 2020 season alone. Though he has appeared to be inconsistent at times, he has proved to be a calm and persistent force on the field, which will benefit him in the NFL. He enters into a position battle among the Saints, as quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill are also vying for the top spot in the wake of Brees’ retirement.
Ben Skowronek — Round 7, Pick 249, LA Rams Ben Skowronek was taken in the final round of the NFL Draft, and he heads to a loaded wide receiver corps in Los Angeles, where he will have to fight hard for his roster spot. A transition to tight end for the big wide receiver is not out of the question, either, but his solid speed and hands, combined with his ability in the air, was an intriguing enough skillset for the Rams to take a flier on him with their final draft pick. The Rams somewhat
surprisingly used three draft picks on wide receivers, despite it not being considered a major need, so it may well be at tight end that Skowronek finds a fit, as his blocking ability could add to his value. Skowronek also figures to offer value in special teams, which may be what Rams’ head coach Sean McVay had in mind with this draft pick. Skowronek elevated a lackluster Irish receiving corps this past season, after transferring from Northwestern. He notched three touchdown catches against Boston College, and two against Pitt, to go with a rushing touchdown against UNC on an end around. He had at least three catches in each of Notre Dame’s final six games.
Shaun Crawford — Las Vegas Raiders Former six-year Irish safety Shaun Crawford did not get drafted over the weekend, but he still landed a professional contract, signing with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent. Crawford saved his best for last in an injury-marred collegiate career, notching 57 tackles in his final season with the Irish, to go with two sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Crawford played both safety and cornerback for the Irish, and the latter may be where he may have to work at to land a roster spot with the Raiders. Las Vegas had desperate needs in the secondary, and they spent three draft picks on the safety position, including landing the consensus top player at the position, Trevor Moehrig from TCU in the second round. However, with only one sixth-round cornerback added to the Raiders’ draft haul, Crawford could find an opportunity there. His best games with the Irish came in their losses towards the end of the season, as Crawford combined for 17 tackles against Clemson in the ACC Championship and Alabama in the Rose Bowl, putting on an
impressive defensive effort despite the pair of defeats.
Nick McCloud — Buffalo Bills Nick McCloud was a bit of surprising draft declaration for the Irish after their most recent season, and while he didn’t hear his name called during the 7-round event, he did get signed by the Buffalo Bills, who are coming off an AFC Championship Game appearance this past season. McCloud was Notre Dame’s clear top corner after coming to the Irish as a graduate transfer from NC State. He notched eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception during his final collegiate season, and he impressed with a 4.3 second 40-yard dash at Notre Dame’s pro day. His speed makes him an intriguing prospect, and with Buffalo having a need at corner and only adding a sixth-round pick at the position, it makes McCloud a definite contender for a roster spot.
Javon McKinley, Brock Wright and Tommy Kraemer — Detroit Lions McKinley, Wright and Kraemer signed with the Detroit Lions after the draft. Kraemer makes four Notre Dame offensive linemen who have made it to the next level just this year, as Notre Dame further cements itself as “O-Line U.” Both Wright and Kraemer were reliable players for the Irish, posting 11 and 39 starts respectively in their time at Notre Dame and appearing in 48 and 43 games. McKinley was also reliable throughout his Irish tenure. He had seven receiving touchdowns in 31 games for 985 yards, compounded with 15 rushing yards, he earned 1000 yards total. Kraemer, a former five-star recruit, will have a very solid chance of making an NFL roster, as Alex Bars and Sam Mustipher accomplished last season as former Notre Dame offensive lineman who were undrafted free agent signings.
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Blue-Gold Continued from page 12
center, but possibly the bigger storyline was how the defense looked, playing for new defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman for the first time. The spring game is not necessarily a time to practice schemes, so it was a bit of beige, vanilla-flavored defense that Freeman’s unit featured on Saturday, but nevertheless, it was that side of the ball that dominated most of the contest. The game got off to an electric start, as the gold offense took the field, quarterbacked by Coan. The Wisconsin grad transfer immediately went deep, finding senior receiver Joe Wilkins Jr. down the left sideline for a 31-yard gain to open the contest, but that was all the offense for Gold on that drive, with senior defensive lineman Jayson Ademilola picking up one of his two ‘sacks,’ touching down Coan on third down in the backfield. There wasn’t much to speak of in Drew Pyne’s first offensive drive, as he did hit senior wide receiver Lawrence Keys for 12 yards, but that was the highlight, as a third-down sack from graduate student Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa sent the punting unit onto the field. Coan would again feature his arm strength, finding senior tight end George Takacs for 30 yards on a seam route down the middle, but a dropped pass by Wilkins, one of those receivers trying to work his way into the regular rotation for the fall, stalled the drive, setting the stage for the first scoring drive
ndsmcobserver.com | Monday, may 3, 2021 | The Observer
of the game. “I think they [wide receivers] are all talented enough,” Kelly said referencing some of the unforced errors including Wilkins’ drop. “Their attention to detail has to be better — that’s the next level with these guys.” Blue was the only team that got any semblance of a running game going on Saturday, and most of it came in that second drive, with sophomore running back Chris Tyree doing a lot of the dirty work. He ran for 29 yards on the drive and caught another pass for 18 yards, while freshman tight end Mitchell Evans notched a fourthdown reception. Graduate student kicker Jonathan Doerer banged home the field goal for the 3-0 lead. Tyree was the clear second running back last season to Kyren Williams, but after a strong spring, he’s making a case for it to be a true tandem next season, a competition which he downplayed in the postgame press conference. “We [Tyree and Williams] are both really good playmakers. At the end of the day, we are family, so it’s not really a competition,” Tyree said. Tyree finished the day with 59 all-purpose yards on 12 touches. For the Gold offense, much of the early themes continued, as Coan continued to draw cheers from the student body with his deep ball, as he connected with graduate student wide receiver Avery Davis for 24 yards on the next drive, but just two plays laters, linebackers senior Bo Bauer and junior Jack Kiser got into the Paid Advertisement
backfield, with Bauer wrapping up Kyren Williams for a loss. The linebacker room was incredibly impressive for the Irish on Saturday, with Bauer being a big factor, Kiser leading the Blue team with five tackles (one for loss) and junior Marist Liufau pacing the Gold squad with eight tackles of his own. Kelly kept his takeaways simple. “That’s a pretty good rotation of players [in the linebacker room] that Coach Freeman has at his disposal,” Kelly said. The offense throughout the rest of the first half was sparse, barring a few nice highlights — Pyne hit Evans for 32 yards and Keys for 41 for his longest completions of the day. Coan hit Davis long again, this time for 22 yards, as the wide receiver room continued to mostly impress on the day. Senior linebacker Shayne Simon intercepted Coan for the Blue team, but Gold freshman safety Justin Walters made his mark on the game with a fantastic diving interception of Drew Pyne, who was again targeting Keys (14 targets in the game). The Gold team would get their only points off that turnover, although they should have had a touchdown. On first down from the 20-yard line, Coan badly overthrew a wide-open Davis in the end zone, and they couldn’t secure another first down, settling for the gametying field goal. Walters’ interception represented just part of a great day from the Notre Dame safety group, who were playing without their star, Kyle Hamilton. As such, it
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was a great opportunity for some guys to make a name for themselves, and several impressed on Saturday. Kelly was willing to name two guys that he considered potential starters alongside Hamilton, while acknowledging there was an ongoing competition for a fourth safety spot. “Very pleased with the depth at the safety position. That starts with Houston Griffith, and he excels in all areas,” Kelly said. “DJ Brown had a really good spring. Still working on the fourth.” Juniors KJ Wallace and Litchfield Ajavon both had some big plays on Saturday, with Ajavon delivering some big hits en route to four tackles and two pass break-ups. Wallace matched Ajavon with four tackles and had a pass break-up of his own, while Walters had the interception. However, for all the defensive stars and the (albeit occasional) offensive highlights in the first half, it would only take a quick glance at the in-game, or postgame, Twitter feed to know that the highlight of this game came in the opening drive of the second half. Freshman quarterback Tyler Buchner, after making a cameo appearance in the first half, took the snaps under center for the Blue team in the second half, and he immediately made an impact. It took all of four plays for Buchner to lead his squad to the end zone, hitting Evans for 23 yards and then Keys for 23 and 22 yards. Then, as Buchner was not wearing the red jersey that Coan and Pyne wore to avoid contact, Buchner took a keeper seven yards up the middle for a 10-3 Blue lead. Quarterback controversy: Created. “All of them [the quarterbacks] have some things to work on. I don’t think we went into this game expecting one guy to dominate,” Kelly said afterwards. “Tyler took a big step today in terms of growth, and we’re never gonna close the door on what can
make us a better offense.” Having spent the spring touting the competition between Pyne and Coan, Kelly certainly sounded like he was open to making this a three-man competition, or at least finding some role for the best dual-threat quarterback on his roster. Buchner finished 6-9 for 140 yards, leading one more touchdown drive that featured a 37yard bomb to Braden Lenzy down the right sideline. His passer rating eclipsed 197, higher than Pyne and Coan’s ratings combined on the day. It wasn’t all bad from Coan or Pyne, who both had their moments, and overall played decent games, they were simply overshadowed by Buchner. Coan and Pyne each seemed to find their favorite receiver, with Pyne finding Keys and Lenzy on several occasions, while Coan flashed great chemistry with Davis. Keys led all receivers with five catches for 115 yards, while Lenzy notched 5 for 88, and Davis reeled in five receptions for 84 yards. Despite top tight end target Michael Mayer being out — described by Kelly as being “80% healthy” — offensive coordinator Tommy Rees utilized his tight ends, veterans and rookies alike, throughout the game. Evans notched three catches for 59 yards, Takacs had three catches for 32 yards and even freshman Cade Berrong chipped in with a pair of catches and eleven yards. Overall, Coan finished 1832 for 197 yards, while Pyne was 11-23 for 146 yards, with all of his action coming in the first half. The Blue and Gold Game wrapped up the spring practice season for the Irish, so they won’t be in action for several months. However, the season opener is just over four months away, when Notre Dame looks to topple the Florida State Seminoles on the road in some Sunday night primetime action on September 5.
Baseball
inning in the eighth to put the game on ice, finishing with a 19-5 advantage. The 19 runs are the most ever earned in an ACC game for the Irish since joining the league in 2014. Irish head coach Link Jarrett said that LaManna served a vital role in the Irish win. “He’s a tough kid and I think part of the toughness of our team is him back there. He plays with energy, he communicates well with the pitchers, he’s had some huge hits for this team in the time that I’ve been here … It was an impressive, impressive day behind the plate, at the plate he was the leader of this thing today for us no doubt.” The Irish will be back at Frank Eck Stadium next weekend as they host their final home series of the year against Florida State. The three-game series starts at 6 p.m. on Friday and will be aired nationally on the ACC Network.
Continued from page 12
lead the Irish built. The third game was a good culmination of the series. Both teams got on the board. The Irish were quick to respond to the two runs the Tar Heels put on the board with five of their own in the bottom of the first. The Tar Heels would score once in the second and twice in the third to knot up the game. The game seemed neck and neck until the Irish decided to kick it up a gear in the fourth inning, scoring six runs. Putz hit a solo homer to take the lead back for the Irish and it was smooth sailing from there on out. Senior center fielder David LaManna got the party started in the fourth with his own solo homer. While Coetzee hit a three-run homer, Putz and senior first baseman Niko Kavadas both drove in runs in the spectacular inning. The Irish would add one more six-run
Contact Aidan Thomas at athoma28@nd.edu
Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu
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The observer | Monday, may 3, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com
football
Past, future on display over weekend Nine former Irish drafted, making ND all-time total draft picks leader Observer Staff Report
Liam Eichenberg — Round 2, Pick 42, Miami Dolphins Former Irish tackle Liam Eichenberg was the first former Irish player to be drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft when he was selected in the second round by the Miami Dolphins with the 42nd overall pick. Eichenberg came to Notre Dame in 2016 as a highly-touted offensive line recruits out of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. Although Eichenberg did not play his freshman year and was the backup for eventual first-round pick Mike McGlinchey in 2017, Eichenberg went on to start every game at left tackle for the Irish in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Eichenberg was vital for the Irish over these three seasons and was most known for his pass-blocking abilities. Eichenberg received plenty of recognition for his efforts, as he was named to the 2020 AllACC First Team, Walter Camp All-America First Team and
Buchner, defense shine in Blue-Gold spring game
Associated Press All-America Second Team. Eichenberg was also a finalist for the 2020 Outland Trophy which is awarded to the best interior lineman in college football. It is unlikely that Eichenberg will be utilized as a left tackle for the Dolphins, but he should have a chance to compete for right tackle or even a guard position.
By AIDAN THOMAS Sports Writer
Aaron Banks — Round 2, Pick 48, San Francisco 49ers In the second round, with the 48th overall pick, the San Francisco 49ers selected Aaron Banks, guard, Notre Dame. Banks joins another former Notre Dame player, Mike McGlinchey, on the 49ers’ offensive line. Aaron Banks returns to Northern California, where he was a four-star prospect out of El Cerrito High School. Banks boasts some impressive college playing experience, with 31 starts for the Fighting Irish and an All-ACC first-team selection in 2020. The 6’6 330-pound Banks see DRAFT PAGE 10
HYOSUB SHIN | The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Irish guard Aaron Banks, right, protects quarterback Ian Book during Notre Dame’s 31-13 victory over Georgia Tech on Oct. 31.
see BLUE-GOLD PAGE 11
ND baseball | nd 4, unc 0; nd 13, unc 12; nd 19, unc 5
nd softball | nd 3, charlotte 0; nd 11, charlotte 6
Irish dominate in 10th Strike Out Cancer series
No. 6 ND stays hot, sweeps UNC
By EMILY DeFAZIO
By JIMMY WARD
Associate Sports Editor
Associate Sports Editor
Saturday marked Notre Dame softball’s tenth-annual Strike Out Cancer day, during which the team swept their doubleheader against UNC-Charlotte. Over $20,000 has been raised for childhood cancer patients. In 2011, Strike Out Cancer began to support leukemia awareness in fellowship with head coach Deanna Gumpf, whose daughter, Tatum, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2010. All proceeds are donated to the Samantha Hickey Foundation and South Bend’s Memorial Children’s Hospital, as well as Indiana childhood cancer patients. The first edition of Strike Out Cancer took place during the first year of her daughter’s treatment. Though it was ten years ago, Gumpf said that it feels like only yesterday that these events happened. Gumpf recalled that
The No. 6 ranked Notre Dame baseball team completed a sweep of the North Carolina Tar Heels this weekend, pushing them to a six-game win streak. With the series win the Irish (23-8, 20-8 ACC) now have nine conference series wins this season, the most in a season since 2000. They are also the only remaining team in the ACC that has yet to drop a conference series. The first game saw a good pitching battle as the Irish were able to shut out the Tar Heels, beating them 4-0. Irish junior Will Mercer got the start and allowed just three hits through 4.2 innings. Sophomore Tanner Kohlhepp would close out the rest of the game as he too would allow just three runs en route to collecting the final 13 outs of the game. The game was scoreless through the first three innings until the Irish caught a spark from sophomore Jack Brannigan who hit his fourth home run of the
see SOFTBALL PAGE 9
While Ian Book was busy getting drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, his Notre Dame Fighting Irish took the field for their spring game, as the Irish faithful got their first look at what the quarterback position could look like after the Book era, which ended with the California native leaving South Bend as the program’s winningest signal-caller of all time. And while head coach Brian Kelly spent most of the spring touting the quarterback battle between grad student transfer Jack Coan and sophomore Drew Pyne, it was early enrollee freshman Tyler Buchner who stole the show offensively, leading the only two touchdown drives in the game, as the Blue team defeated Gold 17-3 in the 2021 Blue and Gold Game. Buchner was the standout under
ARI DENNING | The Observer
Irish graduate student infielder Katie Marino swings through during Notre Dame’s 6-5 win against NC State on March 26 .
year early in the fourth inning. The Irish added one more run in the inning on an RBI single from sophomore second baseman Kyle Hess. Senior right fielder Brooks Coetzee led in two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the deal for the Irish after a couple of Tar Heels errors allowed Brannigan and junior infielder Carter Putz to score. The second game saw an even closer contest, but a more offensive battle as the Irish were able to hold off the Tar Heels 13-12. It was an all-around team contribution that spurred the Irish to victory on Saturday as every single member on the Irish lineup either scored or drove in a run. The Irish leapt out to an early 5-1 lead through the first two frames and were able to add a pair of runs in the fourth and sixth innings and three in the fifth to establish a comfortable 12-2 lead. The Tar Heels would rally late, scoring three runs in the seventh and six in the eighth, but it was not enough to overcome the see BASEBALL PAGE 11