NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH AND REPORT IT ACCURATELY
Dowd officially named 18th president
By LIAM KELLY Notre Dame News Editor
On Friday, Sept. 13, Fr. Robert Dowd, C.S.C., was officially inaugurated as the 18th president of the University of Notre Dame in a ceremony held in the Joyce Center. During his inaugural address, Dowd announced expansions to Notre Dame’s financial aid policy and promised to “build bridges” between communities during his presidency.
Inauguration Mass
The day’s festivities began with the inaugural mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at 10 a.m. Although seating was reserved inside
the Basilica, the mass was livestreamed in a tent with seating on Bond Quad.
The mass was originally set to be presided over by Dowd; however, due to his recent COVID diagnosis, it was instead presided over by Fr. Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C., bishop of St. Cloud, Minnesota and a friend of Dowd.
Dowd and a procession of Holy Cross priests entered the cathedral to triumphant fanfare from the special Inauguration Mass Festival Choir, consisting of vocalists, a brass section, a percussion section and the organ. Dowd wore his mask
see CEREMONY PAGE 4
Gallery highlights restored photos
By SAM ROBINSON News Writer
The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art debuted the temporary exhibition “Through the Lens of Father Francis Browne, S.J.: Photographic Adventures of an Irish Priest” on Aug. 27. This is the museum’s second temporary exhibition, following “Equal Forces: The Sculpture and Photography of Kenneth Snelson” which was on display from March 19 to July 7. The Fr. Francis Browne exhibition will be
on display until Dec. 1.
Fr. Browne’s photographs offer a view into the world of the Titanic, World War I and early-republic Ireland.
David Acton, the museum’s curator of photographs, pieced together one hundred photos taken by Fr. Browne for the exhibit after examining thousands of negatives, curating what he described as images that “really represent Irish culture.”
Fr. Browne was thrust into
see EXHIBIT PAGE 3
First class in The 87 reflects
By GRACE TADAJWESKI Associate News Editor
In addition to the newly built Graham Family Hall, students also moved into the recently opened The 87 apartment complex offcampus for the first time this semester.
The complex is located to the east of campus on the former site of the Turtle Creek and Campus View apartments, just off of Vaness
Street. The 87 features nine different housing options, ranging from a 420 square foot studio apartment to a 2,212 square foot townhouse.
“Creating a sense of community is one of our top priorities at The 87, and now that we are open, we are even more excited to see that community grow,” Richard Keyser, vice president of acquisitions & development for Toll Brothers Campus Living, the company responsible for
Students
By ALYSSA SIRICHOKTANASUP and SOPHIA TRAN News Writers
On Saturday night, 130 students gathered on North Quad to attend Cavanaugh Hall’s first-ever Cavaraoke event. The event provided students a late-night opportunity to unwind with pizza and karaoke. Cav-araoke started with an idea
from Olivia Zino, co-chair of the social committee in Cavanaugh Hall.
Zino pitched the idea to her partner, Emma Latchford, and given their shared love of karaoke, plans progressed quickly.
“Olivia and I are very dynamic people,” Latchford explained.
“Olivia is an actual singer, and she participates in different theater and musical groups on campus. I’m just a singer for fun, but we both love
The 87, said. “We just welcomed our first residents in August, and we have received a lot of positive feedback and interest in the community.”
In an interview with the Observer last October, The 87’s property manager, Amanda Kindley, noted the company wanted to cultivate a community within the complex. Since the complex has opened, The
THE 87 PAGE 4
karaoke, and we were thinking of a way to promote Cavaret.”
Cavaret, the postlude to Cavaraoke and Cavanaugh Hall’s signature event, is set to occur Friday, Sept. 20 on North Quad from 5 to 7 p.m. The event features various live performances and food trucks for an evening of entertainment.
“[Cavaret is] like a variety act
see CAV-ARAOKE PAGE 3
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Fr. Robert Dowd kneels beneath Fr. John Jenkins and Fr. Edward Malloy as they bless him following his inauguration address. Fr. Jenkins served a 19-year term while Fr. Malloy served an 18-year term as President.
SAM ROBINSON | The Observer
The Fr. Francis Browne temporary exhibition is located on the left side of the second floor in the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art.
see
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SMC hosts new student program: Smick @ Nite
By MARIELLA TADDONIO News Writer
On Friday, Sept. 13 in Rice Commons, Saint Mary’s College hosted an investigation, comedy-themed event, which aimed to uncover the “kidnapper” of Taylor Swift.
Saint Mary’s students were invited to the release party of Taylor Swift’s 12th album where they used their detective skills to analyze evidence that would help uncover the suspect, ranging from John Mayer to Katy Perry. Students worked together to figure out the culprit by participating in games, one word at a time, recreating surveillance photos, guessing a passcode based on clues and drawing a composite of a suspect.
The event was part of Saint Mary’s College’s Smick @ Nite series. This activity-based program was started this fall to replace a previous program that
garnered limited attendees and had little funding, according to director of residence life and community standards Juls White said.
“I heard from students that there was a desire to see more events and stuff on campus,” White said.
Residence Life transitioned the previous event series into Smick @ Nite to create more weekend activities on campus.
“Our biggest difference is that [the previous event series] used to be very tailored to only inviting girls from a specific hall like Holy Cross,” senior, Holy Cross Hall resident assistant Mary Bakke said. “With Smick @ Nite, we wanted to be able to put on an event by each hall but then bring in the whole campus community.”
According to White, Residence Life plans to host Smick @ Nite events for the first four weeks of the semester and halfway
doing it.”
the spotlight following the sinking of the Titanic, for he captured some of the only photos taken of the vessel before it was destroyed.
Embarking on the first stretch of the Titanic’s maiden voyage, Fr. Browne channeled his passion for steamships into photography, documenting daily life aboard the ship and capturing iconic photographs of the once-thought “unsinkable” vessel. These images have gone on to inspire scenes in the film “Titanic” and have graced the pages of books and newspapers.
“When they were making the movie ‘Titanic,’ they studied Fr. Browne’s photographs,” Acton said.
Beyond the rare photographs of the Titanic, the exhibition also features photographs from the frontlines of World War I. Acton noted that photographers of the time were often limited in what they could document due to fear of espionage.
“[Browne] was … so well respected and above reproach,” Acton said. “He was allowed to keep his camera.”
Melissa Manier, a South Bend resident, found the collection “very moving” and “astonishing” to view not only the photographs of the Titanic but also the scenes of battle which Browne captured during World War I.
Acton also termed Fr. Browne a “city kid.”
“He didn’t know Ireland, so it was all new to him,” Acton said. “So he explored the whole country with his camera at a point where pretty much nobody else was
through the fall semester.
“The idea was to give more funding and more purpose and make it a fun, interactive thing, so people didn’t have to go across the street to experience something fun, but there were some options here [at SMC],” White said.
Saint Mary’s and Residence Life hosted other Smick @ Nite events earlier in the semester such as an interactive improv comedy show and glow-in-thedark mini golf on the library green.
“I think it’s a great way to have fun and connect with new people, especially as a first-year,” freshman Natalie Arias said.
Arias mentioned that she attended the stand-up comedy night and described it as an enjoyable experience, surrounded by great company.
The museum’s collection, Acton said, also demonstrates Fr. Browne’s “really interesting sense of humor,” featuring spontaneous photographs, such as photos of a goat with an infant, young boys with rifles and a photo taken through a mirror during one of Browne’s haircuts.
The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art purchased the prints of many of Browne’s photographs, making them a permanent fixture of the museum’s collection.
According to a press release from the museum released in late July, the exhibition benefited from “a $2.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to enable the museum to continue to deepen engagement and scholarship on religion, spirituality and faith.”
Acton expanded on the finances of the exhibition.
“Part of the grant was used to pay for the organization of the show,” Acton said.
Acton encouraged students to view the exhibition, whether for academic purposes or for personal enjoyment.
“It’s interesting, it’s beautiful, it’s historical and it’s quirky,” Acton said.
Edwin Davison, a leading expert in Fr. Browne’s work, will give a lecture titled “Rediscovering Father Browne” on Sept. 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the museum’s Atrium. The Irish archivist and photography conservator will recount his father’s discovery of Fr. Browne’s 42,000 negatives, as well as their shared experience in restoring them.
Contact Sam Robinson at srobin23@nd.edu
“There are still students who are struggling to find a community, and so if you don’t know where to go or what to do, these provide kind of a low-level interaction with people and [you] don’t have to worry about how to make a friend,” White said.
Cav-araoke
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
show; we have Irish dancers coming, we also have the Glee Club, some different bands and an acapella group. It’s basically a play on cabaret, but we just changed it to Cavaret,” Latchford said.
Cav-araoke, however, is in its first year of execution. Planning for the event began in July, when Latchford and Zeno began coordinating details with Cavanaugh Hall president Madelyn Alford.
“Since then ... we’ve been working on getting logistics figured out, figuring out what we’re going to do for food, microphones, speakers, things like that,” Alford said.
Despite careful preparation, the planning of Cav-araoke still had mishaps, particularly due to its proximity to the inauguration of University President Fr. Robert Dowd.
“We ran into a bit of a snafu. We were supposed to have a stage from general services but, because of [Fr. Dowd’s] inauguration, they were resource-limited, so we had to do a little bit of thinking on the fly,” Alford said. “We’re going to do our best with what we have in Cav, but it should still be fun.”
With Cav-araoke’s inception this year, Latchford and Alford explained their goals for the event turnout which will in turn promote their later signature event, Cavaret.
“Because we’re going to be on North Quad late at night on a Saturday, a lot of people will be walking to and from their dorm,” Latchford said. “As long as we get a handful of people to stop by, I think that’ll be a win.”
A “handful” of people certainly stopped by Cav-araoke. About 130 performers arrived to sing, and an even larger crowd stood to cheer them on during each performance. Some students flaunted their vocals with classic Disney songs while
“But I think particularly on
others simply came to enjoy the atmosphere.
“I liked the community aspect,” said Aidan Sachs, a student from the Fisher Community in Zahm Hall. “I liked how everyone gathered around listening to everyone perform.”
The earlier Notre Dame football win against Purdue only added to the excitement of the night.
“I really wanted to support Cavanaugh and all the fundraisers for St. Margaret’s, and I just thought it would be fun after a big win,” Cavanaugh Hall resident Megan Koontz said.
The event was complete with pizza, charity work and even some Keenan Revue-like performances (thanks Shirtless Guy), sparking ideas for years to come. When asked about next year’s planning process, Latchford discussed collaborating with other groups to increase Cav-araoke’s presence.
“In the future, it could be really cool to work with [Keenan Hall],” Latchford said. “Since we are like neighbors, we’ve been brothersister dorms in the past. It would be really cool to make the event even bigger.”
Proceeds from both Cav-araoke and Cavaret will be donated to St. Margaret’s House, a day center that provides resources and services for women and children in South Bend.
“They’ve been a really great partner and a really powerful force for good in the South Bend community,” said Alford.
Reflecting upon Cav-araoke, Latchford encouraged students to attend the upcoming Cavaret event.
“If you had fun doing your own karaoke, come and watch some professionals do something else similar,” she said.
Contact Alyssa Sirichoktanasup at asiricho@nd.edu and Sophia Tran at stran2@nd.edu
evenings and weekends, it’s important to provide some of those alternatives.”
Contact Mariella Taddonio at mtaddonio01@saintmarys.edu
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Students participate in a red carpet game acting as celebrities during Smick @ Nite series: Murder Mystery on Sept. 13 in Rice Commons.
Ceremony
throughout the mass and did not speak.
Readings were read by Dr. Clemens Sedmak, director of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, and Dr. Sara Martinez Tucker, a member of the University’s Board of Trustees, who gave the second reading in Spanish. The prayers of intercession were also spoken in a variety of other languages, including Bengali, Portuguese, Vietnamese, French, Irish and Kiswahili.
In his homily following a reading from the Gospel of Luke about Mary’s visit to Mary Magdalene during her pregnancy, Neary emphasized his “joy” for Dowd that God “has chosen you as he did Mary.” Neary continued to offer his praise for Dowd, describing him as “full of zeal,” with a “heart of a missionary.”
Neary also offered advice for Dowd, reminding him that all presidents “have deficiencies and weaknesses.”
Along these lines, he encouraged him to rely upon the “priceless and wise counsel” of his predecessors, Fr. John Jenkins, C.S.C., and Fr. Edward Malloy, C.S.C., and to ask for God’s help and Mary’s intercession in his “mission.”
Following the mass, Dowd was treated to a standing ovation by his fellow priests outside of the Basilica.
Convocation and Inauguration Ceremony
The official proceedings of Dowd’s convocation and inauguration ceremony began at 2:15 pm, when Fr.
Edward Sorin’s letter to the Congregation of the Holy Cross shortly after Notre Dame’s founding was read on the steps of the Main Building. Following the reading of the letter, Notre Dame faculty then began the academic procession from the Main Building to the Joyce Center, where the ceremony was held.
Dowd and the Board of Trustees walked onto the main stage in the Joyce Center to a standing ovation from the packed crowd. After an invocation by Rev. Hugh Page Jr., vice president for institutional transformation and advisor to the President, University Provost John McGreevey opened the convocation.
McGreevy reminded the audience that although Jenkins and Malloy both received inaugurations, President Fr. Ted Hesburgh’s assumption of the presidency had been rather less ceremonious, with him merely being handed the keys to the presidential office. Beyond being an occasion for pomp and circumstance, however, McGreevy emphasized the inauguration serves as an opportunity for the community to come together “to talk about things that matter.”
After the convening of the convention by McGreevy, Dowd received “greetings” from leaders of different parts of the University. Student body president Dawson Kiser spoke on behalf of undergraduate students, doctoral student Sofia Dueñas spoke on behalf of graduate students, Ignacio Sánchez Díaz, president of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, spoke on behalf of other colleges and
universities, professor Laura Miller-Graff spoke on behalf of the faculty and Fr. William M. Lies, C.S.C., spoke on behalf of the Congregation of the Holy Cross.
Following these remarks, John Veihmeyer, Chair of the University Board of Trustees, began his official proceedings by placing the “Presidential Medal” on Dowd’s neck and giving him the “University Mace.” Dowd removed his mask at this point and kept it off for the majority of the ceremony.
“May God grant you wisdom as you lead Our Lady’s University,” Veihmeyer said to Dowd.
Dowd received a standing ovation from the crowd after being officially installed. He then took to the podium to give his inaugural address.
Inaugural Address
Dowd began by repeating Hesburgh’s exhortation that Notre Dame must be “a bridge across all chasms that separate modern people from each other.”
“All of us must be bridge builders,” Dowd declared.
Dowd emphasized the challenge of this mission today, citing rising political polarization, religious disaffiliation and war. Despite these challenges, however, Dowd stressed his belief that Notre Dame is well suited to offer solutions.
“Notre Dame is one of the most trusted universities in the United States,” he explained. “No institution is better positioned to foster reason, constructive conversation, rooted in the Catholic ideals of respect for human dignity and the unity of knowledge and guided by the rational ideals of adherence
to evidence and consistency in argumentation.”
Along these lines, he emphasized Notre Dame must lean into its Catholic values to address today’s problems.
“In a polarized world drawn to the confines of either-or thinking, our Catholic mission calls us to embrace both aims — both faith and reason, both the life of the mind and matters of the heart, both disciplinary and multidisciplinary research and teaching, both a local and global presence, both deeply Catholic and welcoming of people of all faiths and none,” he said.
Dowd highlighted three main ways in which Notre Dame can build bridges: by creating more pathways to and from Notre Dame, by connecting and collaborating more deeply as a community of learning and by deepening and expanding the University’s engagement in the world.
On the first goal, Dowd announced that Notre Dame will go loan-free and needblind for both domestic and international students.
“If you are admitted to Notre Dame, no matter how much money your family makes, you will not have to worry about student loans, and no matter where in the world you call home, you will be eligible for financial aid,” Dowd explained.
On the second goal, Dowd declared Notre Dame must not be afraid “to tackle the contested issues of the day.”
A key part of this, Dowd emphasized, comes through supporting research on campus. Along these lines, he also announced that Notre Dame will now give healthcare coverage to graduate students
that also covers their spouses and dependents.
“Your families are a part of the Notre Dame family,” Dowd said.
Dowd also stressed residential life as a key part of building a strong community at Notre Dame.
“Learning how to live together is one of the greatest lessons we learn here at Notre Dame,” he said.
On the third point, Dowd pointed out that strengthening Notre Dame’s connection with the world starts by strengthening its connection with the city of South Bend. He highlighted Notre Dame’s new tech and innovation hub in downtown South Bend and promised to build on initiatives in South Bend.
Looking more broadly, Dowd stated his intention to build stronger connections in Latin America, Africa and Asia in addition to the strong connections Notre Dame already has in Europe. He emphasized the global nature of the Catholic Church and the need for Notre Dame to address challenges on a global level.
Concluding his remarks, Dowd exhorted the community to be more like Mary “with arms and hands open, never closed off to anyone, always ready to receive, always ready to embrace.”
After giving his remarks, Dowd knelt for a blessing from Presidents Emeriti Jenkins and Malloy. Fr. Kevin Rhoades, C.S.C., bishop of Fort Wayne—South Bend, then gave a benediction before the ceremony concluded with the singing of the Alma Mater.
Contact Liam Kelly at lkelly8@nd.edu
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Fr. Robert Dowd dangles his keys in reference to the manner in which Fr. Ted Hesburgh was “inaugurated.”
According to Provost John McGreevy, Fr. Hesburgh was handed the office keys and told to get to work.
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Fr. Kevin Rhoades, Fr. Edward Malloy, Fr. John Jenkins and Fr. Robert Dowd sit next to each other in front of ND trustees on the platform.
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Student body president, junior Dawson Kiser references his speech to the Class of 2028 and speaks to students about being true to oneself.
87 has hosted events such as cookouts, brunches and a workshop where residents decorated trucker hats.
According to Keyser, The 87 has events planned for each week.
In response to a question of whether The 87’s rates remained stable with the prices offered last year, Keyser emphasized the apartment’s amenities.
“As a brand new off-campus luxury student apartment community with fantastic amenities, our rates have remained competitive,” Keyser said.
According to Keyser, the majority of The 87’s units have been leased for the current school year, yet he noted there are some units remaining for those still looking for housing or mid-year housing.
“Pre-leasing is well underway for the 2025-2026 school year, and we have seen a tremendous uptick in interest since students have been back on campus,” Keyser said. “Some apartment-types are already selling out, including limited availability of the D1 four-bedroom floor plan.”
Keyser also stated that The
87 has begun their “exclusive waitlist” for the 2026-2027 school year. Senior Ashlyn Poppe lives in a two-bedroom apartment with one other person; they signed their lease last fall.
“My roommate and I lived together for two years in Pasquerilla West Hall and could not wait to have our own bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as our own in-unit washer and dryer,” Poppe said. “It’s the little things.”
The 87 has private study lounges, a fitness center, a content creation room and a social lounge, among other community amenities.
“I really like having my own space,” senior Megan Murray said. “It helps to create the division between academics and personal life.”
Murray lives in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with a roommate. The 87 offers three two-bedroom options, two being apartments and one being a townhouse.
“I signed my lease in February, and my only apprehension was if it was going to be finished in time,” senior Hannah Hubka said.
Hubka lives in a two bedroom apartment with a roommate. Besides the studio apartment, The 87 offers one single apartment and five
four-bedroom units, three being apartments and two being townhouses.
“I like The 87 because of all the amenities and its proximity to campus,” Hubka said.
The complex is about a 20 minute walk from the main circle; however, The 87 is directly across from the University’s athletic fields. Both Irish Crossings and Irish Row are comparable in terms of their walk time to the main circle.
“The 87 is brand new, furnished and very modern,” Murray said. “It also offers really nice amenities such as the golf simulator, outdoor spaces, fitness center and a parking garage which are super convenient.”
Garage parking, walk-in closets, quartz countertops and kitchen islands are available in select units.
“I was impressed by The 87’s marketing strategy and social media presence,” Poppe said. “We knew exactly what we would be getting at The 87 and felt comfortable reaching out with any questions. The team was approachable and the leasing process felt very transparent. I don’t think this is necessarily the case with other off campus housing options, including the other options we were considering.”
The University lists off-campus housing options on their website offcampus.nd.edu.
“I would definitely recommend this to students thinking about living off campus,” Murray said. “While the walk to campus is a little longer than those living on campus, it’s a nice walk and only feels like 15 minutes.”
Notre Dame has a six-semester on-campus housing requirement. The University has 17 men’s residence halls and 15 women’s residence halls along with the Undergraduate Community at Fischer.
“I love being off campus, but there are definitely moments when I miss living at the center of all the action,” Poppe said. “Moving out of my dorm has allowed me to appreciate Notre Dame’s unique dorm culture and the strong sense of community I experienced living in Pasquerilla West Hall. We are staying connected with our dorm community in other ways, but it will never be the same as living together.”
Contact Grace Tadajweski at gtadajwe@nd.edu
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The 87 is located off of Vaness Street across from Notre Dame’s athletic fields. The new complex features a golf simulator and outdoor spaces.
LETTER EDITOR
Bring the thunder, Notre Dame fans
Two weekends ago, I attended the Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M football game at College Station, and the experience was electric. From the moment I arrived, the hospitality at Texas A&M was unmatched — the tailgates were some of the most collegial I’ve ever experienced. Droves of Notre Dame fans were welcomed with open arms into Aggie tailgates, where we were offered food, drink and camaraderie in the spirit of sportsmanship. But once the game started, the friendly atmosphere quickly turned into an intimidating fortress. With 107,000+ people in attendance, the crowd was relentless in their support for the Aggies. It wasn’t just a football game; it was a siege. You could feel the crowd feeding energy to the players, and as an opposing fan, I knew immediately that Kyle Field wasn’t just the home of the Aggies — it was their 12th Man.
And then this past weekend, I found myself at Notre Dame Stadium, standing among our fans as we faced Northern Illinois. This was my first home game experience. We were ranked fifth in the country and expected to win easily, but something was off. The energy wasn’t there. The crowd — outside of the student section — felt more like a quiet gallery at a country club than the fierce, proud fans of a top football program. The contrast was stark.
What struck me most was the look on the Northern Illinois players’ faces — pure awe. They were playing on the hallowed ground of Notre Dame Stadium, a place we all dreamed of as kids. But as the game progressed, they shook off their awe and began to believe they belonged. And the truth is, they did. They belonged because we allowed them to.
The question we should all be asking ourselves is: Why? Why are mid-major teams finding their rhythm and confidence on our field? Why have we seen losses to Marshall, Navy and Stanford here? These aren’t powerhouse programs. Notre Dame Stadium should be one of the most intimidating fields in college football, but the home-field advantage just isn’t there anymore.
And let’s be clear: The problem is us.
We, as fans, are complicit in doing nothing to dictate the momentum of these games. The players can’t just roll out the golden helmets and expect a win. Likewise, we can’t put on our Lululemon and Peter Millar gear, sit back and golf clap our way to victory. We have to earn it, just like the team does. Playing at home should never pose the risk of being a “let down” game. If we expect our players to hold themselves to the academic and athletic standards of Notre Dame, then we, as fans, need to take pride in what we can control: competing fiercely in the stands.
Let me pause here to address something equally important: the stadium experience itself. Notre Dame’s athletics department must invest in updated audio and video technology. It’s honestly embarrassing. We are
light years behind other programs when it comes to creating an immersive, engaging fan experience. There are levels of excellence we should strive to achieve in every aspect of the game, from the field to the stands. Consult the experts and get it done. The technology in Notre Dame Stadium should be as impressive as the tradition it represents.
And let’s talk about tradition. The parable of the talents teaches us to maximize what we’ve been given. Notre Dame fans, we’ve been given one of the most historic venues in all of sports, an iconic program and a responsibility to create an atmosphere that drives our team forward. We need to bring it every time — all the time.
Former Notre Dame quarterback Malik Zaire recently tweeted: “Notre Dame Stadium must rank last place in toughest places to play in college football. We give no intimidation factor to teams — just all the motivation they need to play amazing vs us.”
His words sting because they’re true. Instead of rallying to support the team, we stand by and observe. That has to change.
Similarly, former Notre Dame lineman Mike Golic Jr. called for more intensity, pointing not just to the coaching staff but to us, the fans. After a sluggish first half against Northern Illinois, he tweeted that the team needed to ”hear some yelling” from the coaches, reflecting the overall lethargy in the stadium. These critiques, coming from players who know this program well, should be a wake-up call for all of us.
Represent the brand
Notre Dame is synonymous with excellence — on the field, in the classroom and in character. Being a Golden Domer comes with responsibility, and that extends to us, the fans. Father Sorin envisioned Notre Dame as a beacon of good for our country, a symbol of mind and heart. That vision applies to game day, too. We can and should carry ourselves with class, but that doesn’t mean we lack intensity. If we expect our players to meet the high academic and athletic standards, then we, as fans, need to take pride in our role: competing fiercely in the stands.
Notre Dame Stadium should be the most intimidating place for opposing teams to play — not just because of its reverence before the game, but because of the unrelenting passion during it.
If we truly want to be a top-five football program year after year, the responsibility lies with us as much as the players. We need to make Notre Dame Stadium a cauldron of noise and energy, a place where opponents dread playing. Right now, it doesn’t feel that way.
Let’s take a look at programs like Alabama, LSU, Ohio State and Georgia. Their fans don’t just show up — they participate. At Texas A&M, the ”12th Man” isn’t just a slogan, it’s a mentality. They prepare. They organize chants,
they have scream captains, and they even host a Friday night ”yell practice,” where 60,000 fans come together the night before the game to learn cheers. That’s dedication. That’s how you make a stadium a strategic advantage. At LSU, Death Valley’s atmosphere is legendary. Fans treat every play like a life-or-death moment. And Ohio State’s Horseshoe? A deafening fortress.
So, how do we get there?
Organized fan participation: Notre Dame should introduce organized chants and cheers. Whether it’s scream captains or pre-game crowd hype sessions, we need to cultivate an atmosphere where every fan engages, not just the student section. Why aren’t there “Cheer Like a Champion Today” signs at every section?
Education on Game Day Culture: We need something like Texas A&M’s Friday night “yell practice.” Opening up the stadium the night before a big game could give fans the opportunity to come together, learn the chants and foster a sense of unity and purpose before kickoff.
Accountability: Attending a game isn’t just about spectating — it’s about actively supporting the team. Whether you’re in the student section or sitting with alumni, there’s an expectation that you’ll contribute to the atmosphere. Notre Dame Stadium should be a place where the noise never stops.
Consistency: We can’t just bring the energy during big games. We need the same intensity every week. Dominant home crowds don’t pick and choose — they create an environment that pressures the opponent from the first whistle to the last.
Bring the thunder
Notre Dame’s fight song and Alma Mater are filled with lines that evoke pride, victory and unity. We can take those traditional words and turn them into chants that ignite the crowd. The Victory March has a line that echoes through time: “Shake down the thunder from the sky.” This embodies everything we should strive for as fans — bringing the thunder for our team, making our presence felt and overwhelming the opposition with noise and support.
Here’s a very simple chant to help elevate the stadium’s atmosphere:
Leader: “Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame!”
Crowd: “Bring the thunder, bring the pain!”
Leader: “Onward to victory!”
Crowd: “Bring the thunder, set them free!”
Let’s make it happen. Let’s bring the thunder. Our team needs us. Our tradition demands it.
Hammel First year MBA student Sept. 9
Nathan
Abby Hernan Viewpoint Copyeditor
It’s okay to be too busy
Under the fluorescent lights of Hesburgh Library, you can find countless students clicking away on their keyboards. Every student is different: some spend their days in labs mixing chemicals while others spend their time reading and analyzing classic literature. However, despite their differences, they all seem the same under the loud, monotonous sound of Macbook Pro keyboards.
At an academically rigorous school like Notre Dame, it can be easy to feel like an outsider. Everybody seems to get perfect grades, do every extracurricular activity and still have time to be with their friends. You begin to feel that you are the only person who cannot juggle everything. All of a sudden that stress makes you feel like you should not be here. Everyone is better than you. However, you are not the only person that feels this way. Most people feel the same. But since no one knows everybody is feeling that way, they think they have to prove that they deserve to be here. They must join every club and take every credit they can. There is no time to nap or sit in bed, scrolling through TikToks. Instead, you must be doing something productive. You WILL prove you deserve to be here.
The way to establish yourself as a great student
INSIDE COLUMN
is always to be doing something. The pressure to always be busy creates an environment where everyone feels they are not doing enough. If you do not have homework or a club meeting to attend, you are behind everyone else. Everyone’s major is more challenging than the others, and everybody’s classes are more difficult.
The feeling of always having to do something leads to a weirdly competitive environment. No, we are not at Cornell where we throw away other student’s notes. Instead, we put on a shield where we look friendly, but behind that we are trying to prove we are better and work harder.
Furthermore, the problem with proving that you are busier than someone else is that “being busy” really does not mean anything. I can sit at my laptop screen, letting the blue light shine against my face and acting like I am doing Aristotle-level thinking about my 20-page reading. However, most of the time when I have a reading open on my screen, I am staring at the same page while I am zoned out, debating whether I should spend seven flex points on a Starbucks energy drink. This facade makes me look efficient to my classmates who pass me in the library when, in reality, I am not actually doing anything.
I am not even trying to make myself look busy, but someone on the outside does not know what I am doing — the pressure to be busy trickles down, hitting them. Then, I walk into the library, and I see everyone working — I feel like I am
not doing enough and I start overcompensating. Then, again, other people around me feel as if they are not doing enough. The snowball continues down the hill like an avalanche about to hit home.
Despite this, in reality, we are all doing enough. No one slipped through admission’s hands. We are all different and bring something to Notre Dame that makes us a top university. Even if this sappy mentality does not satisfy your fears, the only way to combat the problem is within yourself. It is natural to get jealous of someone. However, we have to realize that our classmates are not our competitors. Everyone works differently, and everyone is involved in different activities. Talk with your friends and classmates and actually ask them about their classes and clubs. See what they are doing and figure out if you are interested in it. If we force ourselves to live under the stress that we are behind, we will never let ourselves catch up. Not everyone is always completely productive, working tirelessly on a 50-credit course load and 20 clubs where they are the president of each. Let yourself find your place naturally and pursue what you are interested in. Everyone has their own problems and their own struggles, some just look like they don’t.
You can contact Abby at ahernan@nd.edu. The views expressed in this inside column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
So you want to go fast? Hit the breaks.
Tyler Reidy Sports Editor
On Saturday, I made the short trip to West Lafayette to cover the Notre Dame-Purdue football game with WVFI Radio. Two of my good student media friends joined me for a long day that started at 8 a.m. at Main Circle and wrapped up at 11:30 p.m. in Bookstore Lot. During the drive back to South Bend, one of my companions, a sophomore, asked me and the trip’s other member (both of us are juniors) an interesting question: did you enjoy freshman year or sophomore year more?
I already knew the answer. The opportunities that came with year two — to have experience, a car and an actual reputation with people I cared about — made it much more rewarding and thus more enjoyable to me in the grand scheme of things.
And yet, as I spent more miles on a random stretch of Indiana State Highway 25 racking my brain for the distant days of 2022-23, I realized something. I really don’t give freshman year enough credit.
I can’t necessarily blame myself for doing that. When you have just four guaranteed years to spend in a place you’ve always wanted to be, it’s easy to seek advancement as quickly as possible. If I was going to have the best college experience possible, I needed to make all the friends, lead all the clubs and cover all the games. Now, I’m closer to all three of those points but also aware that there’s something special about taking a step away from them. Before you can keep moving forward, you have to stop — heck, maybe even go back.
That brings me to this year. Three weeks in, I’ve covered both the Texas A&M and Purdue football games on the road with student radio, and they were — as you can probably imagine — very
different. Texas A&M was the one I had spent the entire summer looking forward to, for many reasons. A primetime game in Week One. A trip that would require more planning and execution than any other in the regular season. I had high expectations. It had to be perfect.
Boy, it very nearly wasn’t. After traveling more than 1,000 miles on Friday, we arrived at the stadium on Saturday to find precisely zero inches of space reserved for our student radio broadcast. Our credential had essentially been approved and sent into the abyss. Two hours before kickoff, I was in panic mode. Fortunately, just in the nick of time, press box staff found a platform on the concourse for us to work from, and the night went just about as well as it could have in any circumstance.
Fast-forward two weeks to Saturday’s Purdue game, where those concerns were never apparent. We knew coming in that we would have a whole radio booth to ourselves. The stress of flights, rental cars and hotel stays whittled down to a simple two-hour drive from South Bend to West Lafayette. A 6 a.m. wakeup the morning after the game turned to a nice, Sunday morning sleep-in.
But did the game really offer all that much to look forward to? Notre Dame had already lost a game, Purdue had gone 4-8 the year prior and the matchup never could have created the same hype and atmosphere that the A&M game did. I carried maybe five percent of Week One’s lofty expectations into Week Three.
Funny enough, that’s what made Saturday so beautiful.
We started with a two-hour walk around Purdue’s campus, which turned out a lot more interesting than I had imagined. We learned some Boilermaker history, chuckled at the miniature locomotives chugging up and down the sidewalks and somehow developed an inside joke out of our
excitement to see the Engineering Fountain. Once inside Ross-Ade Stadium, we ended up with no choice but to put our feet up and relax. The booth left for us was massive, the weather was phenomenal and the press box dining offerings were plentiful. Long before the Irish opener their can of whooping on Purdue, we were living right.
Then the game happened, we made a quick postgame jaunt to the field and left town belting out Garth Brooks with the windows down. The final two hours on the road we spent analyzing Notre Dame football, discussing college life and reliving the laughs we shared on air after realizing the Irish had scored more points against Purdue than they did against South Bend Howard Park in 1900. What, did they just show up to Howard Park one day and find an unassuming group of teenagers against whom they would run up the score?
After the despair that followed last week’s home opener, Saturday was just what the doctor ordered (or what the Chicago Dental Surgeons, another team Notre Dame crushed more than 100 years ago, ordered). No, it didn’t match the standards of the “ideal” college football gameday — one filled with maximum anticipation, pageantry and thrill. But, by way of plain and simple laughter and friendship, a wonderful day it was.
So as I return to the question that brought on my ramblings, I leave you with this answer. Living a non-stop life is awesome. And make no mistake, you sometimes need complete control of what you’re doing and planning to get where you want to go. But every once in a while, when the world awards you a chance, take your foot off the gas. Remove your expectations. Just let go and live.
You’ll love what you find.
You can contact Tyler at treidy3@nd.edu. The views expressed in this inside column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Make Notre Dame a hammocking school
Allison Abplanalp
Under Further Scrutiny
Notre Dame is a school of unfulfilled potential. The football team had the potential to go undefeated. Mendoza students had the potential to grow the good in business. And first-years had the potential to maintain a healthy sleep schedule. But like always, the football team lost to Northern Illinois, Mendoza students flaunt the logos of big banks on LinkedIn and the lethal combination of gen chem and dorm parties wreaked havoc on freshmen REM cycles. But for once, we as Notre Dame students have the chance to fulfill our potential by becoming a hammocking school.
This school has lived in the past for too long. Let’s face it, the football team hasn’t been good since the 80s. Notre Dame needs to root its identity in something new, and that thing is hammocking. Hammocking (commonly known as mocking), is our path to a better Notre Dame. Let the students take to the quads, hammocks in hand and joy in their hearts. I envision a campus in which no tree is left hammock-less. When prospective students ask “Why ND?” let us respond with one word only: hammocks. Mocking is the future of Notre Dame. But why should our new identity be rooted in mocking? After all, don’t we have our Catholic identity to fall back on when things are not going well on the football field? To those questions, I pose one of my own: what is even better than practicing Catholicism? Practicing Catholicism while in a hammock! I wrote some of my most inspired foundations of theology essays while mocking. Hammocks even make a biblical appearance in Isaiah 24:20, “The earth shall stagger like a drunken man, and shall sway to and fro like a hammock.”
Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but if you switch the order of the chapter and verse, it
makes 2024. This was always destined to be the year of the hammocks.
But the benefits of mocking are far from a conspiracy. For one, mocking is great for the pelvis. When we sit on hard surfaces for extended intervals, the natural mechanics and alignment of the pelvis are disrupted. But the mocks cushion the pelvis, preventing any mocker from becoming the next hunchback of Notre Dame.
What’s more? Mocking connects us with nature and improves our mood. It is hard to feel down while swinging from the trees like George of the Jungle.
For some, mocking is even a euphoric experience. As mocker Anna Arnett claims, “Mocking is akin to being on drugs and in the womb all at once. And you can do this without endangering yourself or your loved ones!” So if you are ever feeling down, just grab a hammock and you’ll feel better in an instant (actual results may take longer. See a doctor if depression symptoms continue after two weeks).”
What’s great about mocking is that it’s so versatile.
As Dr. Seuss once said: “You can mock by the lake, you can mock while awake. You can mock when you’re sad, you can mock wearing plaid. You can mock at Saint Mary’s College, you can mock while gaining knowledge. You can mock if you’re asthmatic, you can mock if you’re nomadic. You can mock any day, you can mock any way!”
But the best way to mock is with friends.
As social butterfly Mia Postal commented, “Mocking makes me feel like I belong. In such an isolating world, mocking allows me to be part of something bigger than myself.”
Mocking has the potential to bring this campus together. And the user satisfaction rates speak for themselves. Among the people I mock with, 100 percent of those people enjoy mocking.
According to avid mocker senior Natalie Assink,
“Mocking transcends all other experiences at Notre Dame”
Despite all the benefits, it won’t be easy to become a mocking school. I anticipate that a fullscale takeover will be necessary to transform Notre Dame from a school of nerds to a home of inspired mockers. Soon hammocks will hang from every tree, blocking sidewalks and doors, making it impossible for pedestrians to ignore the wave of hammocks overtaking campus. Gradually, those groundlings will be lured to the mocks. After all, free-thinking died the day the Cupid Shuffle was released and continues to shrivel up in its grave every time someone purchases a Stanley. Luckily, hammocking has low barriers to entry. Hammocks sell for as low as $9.99 but can run as high as $3,999, in case you are looking to engage in some conspicuous consumption. The type of hammock you buy is up to personal preference. Some are 100 percent nylon while others are woven from cotton rope. You can find any kind of hammock you want. But if you want a hammock that looks like a banana, DO NOT search “banana hammock.” You will not find what you are looking for.
As for mocking spots, I would recommend the lakes, Stonehenge and God Quad. But really any place with two trees of reasonable distance apart invites the opportunity to mock. So it’s time, students of ND. Take to your favorite mock spot and make ND a mocking school. And if you’re still not convinced, don’t mock it ‘till you try it.
Allison Abplanalp is a junior finance and accounting major. If she could change one thing about the English language, she would make “a lot” one word. Her least favorite month is March because every year she is devastated when she fails to pick the perfect March Madness bracket. You can contact Allison at aabplana@nd.edu. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Your story isn’t original and that’s okay
I once had a teacher tell me that every narrative ever written is actually just a mimicry of Dante Alighieri’s “Divine Comedy.”
We English majors confront this certain truth on the regular: there are only seven original stories … which means that the one you’re writing has already been written. According to Christopher Booker’s theory, every TV show, Broadway musical, Netflix rom-com, AP-Lit requirement or Taylor Swift music video all stem from just seven basic plots. Every idea you’ve ever conceived and every dream you’ve ever had can all be categorized into these seven plots:
1. Overcoming the monster (Think “Beowulf” or “Jaws”)
2. The quest (“The Iliad” or “Finding Nemo”)
3. Rags to riches (“Cinderella,” Mark Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper” or Barbie’s “Princess and the Pauper”)
4. Voyage and Return (“The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe”)
5. Comedy (Virtually any work by Jane Austen)
6. Tragedy (“The Lion King”)
7. Rebirth (“A Christmas Carol” or “Despicable Me”) Take a closer look at the contents of section six, and you’ll realize that “The Lion King” is really just a retelling of “Hamlet.” The blockbuster of summer 2023 — Glen Powell and Sidney Sweeney’s “Anyone But You” — is really just “Much Ado About Nothing.” Evidently, the majority of popular culture is Shakespeare under a different lens.
I am not quite convinced by Booker’s “seven plots” philosophy or my professor’s cynicism. However, I can admit that in today’s consumerism-driven culture, it may feel impossible to be unique. Because of the availability of media, it seems as if everything we publish or see published is just a rendition of something someone else has done before us. And not only has this omnipresent “someone” already done it, but they’ve done it better.
Even telling the story of my own life for applications and interviews seems clichéd: a diverse girl growing up without much diversity. Post-grad recruiters want to know what makes me special — but everything that makes me special also makes someone else halfway across the world special, except that she has twice as many volunteer hours as I do. For every trite interview question (“What’s your greatest weakness?”), there is an equally pedestrian response: (“I just put too much on my plate” or “I’m a people pleaser”). In a world where everyone has an angle, what will make you stick out? If you’re too humble, you risk sounding obtuse. Too acutely braggadocious, and you’re offputting.
After the first day of my internship, my aunt told me bluntly: “Part of becoming an adult means realizing that you’re not special.” When we enter the real world, our student body president or AP-scholar charm will quickly rub off. We will become just another smart kid from a midwestern school. We’ll take desk jobs and join intermural
sports leagues. We’ll be stereotypical and threadbare, like the newest “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie: so watered down, no one will be able to remember what initially made us alluring.
But even Shakespeare himself was not completely original. He stole Romeo and Juliet from an ancient tradition of tales about star-crossed-lovers. Adam and Eve’s fall in Genesis was very similar to other creation myths, from the Aztecs to the Fan tribes in West Africa. It seems that even those archaic stories which we have the habit of retelling are nothing more than echoes of what our ancestors read on the cave walls that predated them.
Humans are storytellers. We are distinct from the rest of creation not just because of our opposable thumbs. Our creativity, our ability to imagine and visualize and our language to communicate this makes us unique. Our legends and fables began as spoken recitations, passed down generation by generation. So maybe it’s okay that the things we read and write, the novels we craft and purchase, the songs we listen to, the interview responses we blurt out and the movies we watch aren’t original. Maybe no one was ever really original at all. Perhaps that’s what storytelling has always been and will always be.
Gracie Eppler is a senior business analytics and English major from St. Louis, MO. Her three top three things ever to exist are ‘70s music, Nutella and Smith Studio 3, where she can be found dancing. You can reach her at geppler@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Gracie Eppler
The Soapbox
By JACK HORTON Scene Writer
After watching “Hit Man” on Netflix, I was immediately excited for “Twisters.” Glen Powell gave a great performance as a fake hitman, continuing his path to A-list celebrity status. While some of my friends watched this new Richard Linklater film, more people were talking about “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which came out the same weekend. That was much different when “Twisters” was released July 19, though. It seemed like everyone I knew headed to the theaters during the movie’s opening weekend, a rarity in the summer of 2024. The movie soared past the tracking numbers and grossed $80.5 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend. It quickly became one of the most discussed movies of the summer throughout the following weeks.
The film is a stand-alone sequel with an entirely new cast to the 1996 disaster film, “Twister.” The new film is not a direct remake of the original, but it uses many of the same elements such as competing crews, similar technology and frequent tornado appearances. While many enjoyed the original film in the 1990s, it did not launch sequels like other action movies. This is why it is so fascinating to see the popularity of the remake today.
The sequel business for nostalgic movies is very tricky. While recent movies like “Roadhouse” and “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” were modestly successful, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” struggled to find similar results. It’s important to note what works about the original “Twister” film. First, what stands out about this movie is the cast. Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt are great, but it also features Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Ruck and Jami Gertz, all of whom have played larger roles in memorable ‘80s and ‘90s movies. Additionally, the nonstop action captures the audience’s attention throughout the film. The constant threat of tornadoes and the feeling of impending disaster moves the plot forward. Oh, and Steven Spielberg was an executive producer on the film. That never hurts.
The new “Twisters” movie has a few things that drove its success at the box office as well. First, the remake captures Powell as he becomes one of Hollywood’s premier stars. Second, it relied on an action-packed plot similar to the original. Finally, it did a great job marketing the movie by prominently featuring the original on Max, the popular streaming service, weeks before its release date. Audiences could watch or rewatch the original
which built excitement about the remake.
After “Twisters” headlined the summer movie releases by relying on ‘90s nostalgia and a marketable star, what’s next? What other popular ‘80s and ‘90s movies should be remade? For the record, I’m generally opposed to sequels/remakes from this time because I still find these movies endlessly rewatchable. However, if movie studios want to do it, they should focus on (1) using marketable stars, (2) strong supporting casts, (3) frequent action sequences and (4) ‘80s and ‘90s intellectual property (IP).
I believe the three movies listed below would have great success at the box office amongst a wider moviegoing audience. People might not have heard of these films before, but I doubt younger audiences knew “Twister” before July either. Several ‘80s and ‘90s movies are widely considered untouchable and it’s hard to envision a sequel with their strong fanbase (“Back to the Future” comes to mind). All I’m saying is before dismissing these ideas completely, at least hear them out.
1. “The Goonies” (1985)
Directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg, this movie is the most recognizable one on the list. It follows a group of middle school and high school kids who go on a treasure hunt to save their neighborhood from turning into a golf course. The cast is headlined by Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Ke Huy Quan and other recognizable faces from the 1980s. The group faces the evil Fratelli family who also hunts for the treasure.
In my opinion, a “Goonies” sequel makes more sense than a remake because many people still watch the original today. Similar to “Twisters,” it could feature a recognizable cast of young actors who find the treasure. The “Stranger Things” TV show provides a blueprint as well. It would also feature nonstop action between booby traps and run-ins with the criminals. The actors in this new movie could be the children of the previous Goonie generation who discover a new treasure of One-Eyed Willy.
It would be interesting to see which young actors would be part of this remade gang. Gabriel LaBelle and Nick Robinson from “Snack Shack” seem like great fits for the Mouth and Brand characters respectively. I also like Geraldine Viswanathan from “Drive-Away Dolls” for her energetic presence in the gang.
2. “Days of Thunder” (1990)
Some people might see this suggestion and
say, “That’s the Tom Cruise movie that’s available on every airline!”. Just me? Cruise stars as Cole Trickle (basically Maverick from “Top Gun”) alongside Robert Duvall and Nicole Kidman. He is seriously injured before recovering with the help of Kidman, his doctor in the film (and wife in real life shortly after), to race the Daytona 500.
This movie could be successful because it ties IP from a fairly successful 1990s movie with a movie star role and nonstop action. Cruise’s star power was why many went to see the original and a remake with a young star could have a similar result. I’d like to see Tom Holland in this role, but stars like Austin Butler or Paul Mescal could be fun too. Or, it could just be a Tom Cruise sequel. That still sells movie tickets.
3. “Cliffhanger” (1993)
This is arguably my favorite one, but I doubt a younger generation has heard of it. If you have, you must really like Sylvester Stallone’s action movies. In this movie, Stallone loses his nerve after failing to rescue one of his friends. He is forced back into action to rescue a group whose plane crashed on a mountain but soon realizes that they are criminals who lost $100 million on the mountaintop. John Lithgow and Michael Rooker play supporting roles in this disaster movie.
To me, this movie makes more sense as a remake than a sequel because it’s been largely forgotten in movie history. This movie feels primed for an action star remake because its plot features frequent shootouts and massive climbing stunts. Jake Gyllenhaal, who already made a climbing movie with “Everest” in 2015, seems like a natural fit for the Stallone role, but Chris Pratt, Miles Teller and Idris Elba make sense too. Similar to “Twisters,” it’s fun, action-packed plot centered around a famous star would draw a large following.
For those who love ‘80s and ‘90s movies, the remakes/sequels are not stopping any time soon. Miles Teller has agreed to remake “An Officer and a Gentleman” and Glen Powell starts shooting “Running Man” in November. The big takeaway from “Twisters” is to make a remake/sequel work, studios must combine a marketable star, a strong supporting cast, frequent action sequences and ‘80s and ‘90s IP. That sounds like a lot, but it’s well worth the swing. Some remakes/sequels will bomb at the box office while others receive high praise, but many more will be produced in the coming years. It’ll be exciting to see what comes next.
Contact Jack Horton at jhorton6@nd.edu
HAVIN’ A BALL: $CENE ON THE SCENE AT THE INAUGURAL BALL
THE LINE
When the photographer and I got in at 9:30 p.m., the place was pretty dead. At rst, I assumed it was just because no one was coming. Turns out everyone was coming, but they were coming all at once — everyone was stuck in line.
Eventually, I found Anne Zimmermann in between the tables and the couches next to the dance oor. It was 10:30 p.m. (30 minutes before the ball was scheduled to end) and she had pretty much just gotten in.
“OK, so me and my friends got in line at about 9:30 p.m. sharp,” she said, “and everyone was shoving and pushing. It was really bad.” As she’s telling me this, I’m picturing something like the “Open the E-deck gate!” or the “Get back from the lifeboat!” riot scenes in “Titanic.”
“ is is so hype,” Caleb said when I found him waiting for the rest of his friends to make it into the stadium, “but having stood outside for 45 minutes sweating my *ss o , I just simply do not want to be here anymore.”
THE DRONES
In the Middle Ages, seeing a giant glowing cross or a humongous shining Jesus in the night sky was a matter of mysticism and enough to get you made a saint. ese days, it’s just a typical Friday night.
THE DJ
DJ Tre Alexander was … talkative. If you’ve ever listened to a DJ set and thought, “ is is great, but it needs a convoluted time travel element,” DJ Tre Alexander is your guy
THE SHOES
made the mistake of wading
Others, the spiritual successors to the Bella Swan prom look, opt for Converse.
THE SUSPENDERS
THE SUITS
If I had a dress coat, I’d show up to the opening of a letter just to wear the thing. While one wonders if a tuxedo (or equivalent) is overkill for an S.Y.R., it seems tting for something high-brow enough to call itself a “ball” instead of a “dance.”
THE SPARKLES
Sparkles are a girl’s best friend … and a boy’s too.
I like that men who dress old-school (i.e. who read right-wing) and women who dress alternatively (i.e. who read left-wing) are united by the suspender/harness. e suspender is big-tent, the suspender is ecumenical. e harness will save the Church, the harness will save America.
THE PATTERNS
You can’t wear suits like this often — you don’t want to pull focus from your cousin Bridget’s wedding or your grandma Colleen’s funeral, no matter how epic your suit. e Inaugural Ball felt like the right sort of place for this sort of thing, though.
THE BAGS AND HATS
“It is a known fact that a woman do carry an evening bag at dinner time,” the saying goes. I guess for guys, there’s a corollary: “It is a known fact that a man do wear a hat when outside.”
I
across the dance oor in my sandals — my ten toes survived to the other side by the grace of God alone. Yet women manage to do that and more in ginormous, strappy heels.
Happy Birthday: Welcome change. Do everything you can to look at life through new and exciting lenses. Learn all you can and be open and ready to take advantage of opportunities and the chance to use your skills and experience in a futuristic manner. Forward-thinking will help you clear a path to stardom and leadership. Be aggressive and turn this year into one to remember. Your numbers are 9, 15, 24, 29, 35, 42, 44. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Playing games will lead to trouble. An open and honest approach when dealing with personal domestic issues will help you tenderize any challenging situations. Arguing won’t solve problems, but persistent improvement and finishing what you start will keep you out of trouble. Romance is favored.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take a moment to acknowledge what others do, say, and contribute. The gesture will parlay into opportunities you least expect. Beneficial and purposeful gestures will offer positive alternatives to how you move forward. Sharing your costs with someone reliable will lead to optimal choices.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Look for personal opportunities to grow mentally, emotionally, and professionally. Flaunt your physical attributes, and someone will take note of your contributions. Networking or participating in an event will encourage better relationships with associates, potential employers, or personal interests. Romance is in the stars.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Sign up for something different. A unique encounter will have a stabilizing effect on what you choose to do next. Let your intuition, knowledge, and communication skills help you maneuver your way through deciphering what’s fact or fake. Protect your health, wealth, and reputation.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Put feelers out to see what everyone thinks or plans to do next. Your interest will help you gain a seat at whatever table you choose. Personal growth and new acquaintances will lead to opportunities and options that exceed expectations. Live in the moment and enjoy the ride.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take the initiative to market what you offer and challenge anyone trying to take over or disrupt your plans. A strong attitude will encourage others to do their best to help you reach your goal. Reject excessive behavior and savor detail and precision.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Broaden your circle of friends by participating in interest groups, travel, or educational pursuits. A change will positively impact how you live and pursue opportunities. Pour your energy into gathering information and taking the initiative to follow your heart. Romance is on the rise.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Discipline and hard work will pay off. Stretch your imagination, and you’ll come up with an idea that generates cash, contracts, and proposals that go beyond your wildest dreams. Let your creative imagination unfold and deal with challenges directly; you’ll discover skills you didn’t know you had.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refuse to let anyone take advantage of you. Put yourself and your ideas first, stick to a plan you can afford, and finish. Someone you meet will show interest in what you are doing. Keep your secrets to yourself until you have everything in place.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Carry the torch and light the way. Your enthusiasm will be infectious. Consider the response and weed out what doesn’t work. Let knowledge and wisdom be your guide, offer facts and figures, and don’t worry about those who fall by the wayside. Surround yourself with quality rather than quantity.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put things in perspective. You’ll accomplish the most if you demand the freedom you require to reach your goal. The less interference, the easier and more cost-efficient your tasks will be. A social event, reunion, physical challenge, or competition you encounter will favor you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Simplify any situation that poses a problem. Sticking to what you can afford and saying no to temptation or indulgent behavior will spare you from being forced to dig yourself out of a situation you can easily avoid. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Choose peace and love over chaos and discord.
Birthday Baby: You are thorough, forceful, and deliberate. You are aggressive and organized.
JUMBLE | DAVID HOYT AND JEFF KNUREK
SUDOKU | THE MEPHAM GROUP
Irish take to the Compton ice, finish 3-0 week
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
Another year, another fast start for Notre Dame volleyball. After marching out to an 8-2 record in 2023, the Irish are 6-1 and on a fourgame win streak at September’s midway point in 2024. This past weekend, Notre Dame defeated Northwestern twice and Colorado State to go 3-0. During the stretch, senior Phyona Schrader continued her masterful start, notching two triple-doubles.
Irish finish road swing strong in Evanston
To start the three-game-inthree-day run, Notre Dame finishes its five-game, season-opening road swing. At Northwestern, the Irish scored a 3-1 victory on Thursday, finishing the night strong.
Set one followed a consistent pattern of Notre Dame going ahead by a few points, Northwestern tying the count and the Irish pulling right back into the lead. The Wildcats had the set tied as late as 22-22, only for Notre Dame to score the next three points — two of them coming on Schrader kills — and win. Schrader’s standout performance
in set one featured seven kills and five assists. Northwestern would bounce back in a hurry, dominating the second set by a 25-14 score.
Impressively enough, Notre Dame never trailed in set three, building a large lead halfway through the set and upholding it. Senior outside hitter Sydney Palazzolo, who touched off a sethigh six kills, finished the 25-17 Irish win with a big swing. As a team, the Irish outhit Northwestern by a .414 to .074 margin on set three. The decisive fourth set followed a similar path before ending at 25-18 on an ace by graduate setter Ella Sandt.
For the whole match, Schrader finished among Notre Dame’s top two contributors in kills (21), hitting percentage (.529), assists (19) and digs (13). Palazzolo (14 kills, 10 digs), graduate libero Hattie Monson (11 assists, 17 digs) and Sandt (19 assists, 11 digs) went for double-doubles. Freshman outside hitter Mia Radeff also pitched in with 10 kills.
Compton plays host to home-opener win
For the first time since 2017, Notre Dame volleyball played inside Compton Family Ice Arena, creating quite the Friday scene.
The goal horn sounded with each set win while green-jacketed residents of Duncan Hall and members of the hockey team filled in the hockey benches, which remained in place along with the boards. The Irish have them plenty to cheer about, recording a second straight 3-1 victory over Colorado State. Notre Dame, however, found itself in some peril early. The Irish dropped a competitive, offensefirst set one by a 25-23 score despite leading 23-21. In set two, Notre Dame hit .400 or better for a second consecutive set, going on an 11-2 run to win 25-16. The positive Irish vibes continued into set three, which Notre Dame’s defense largely won at a 25-21 score. Set four saw the Irish offense return, hitting .400 again to close out the set and match at 25-15.
Moving from volleyball arenas to an ice rink certainly didn’t stop Phyona Schrader’s triple-double train. The senior picked up another one against Colorado State, recording 11 kills, 28 assists and 14 digs while leading the team with four
service aces. Her offensive supporting cast largely consisted of Palazzolo and breakout freshman Morgan Gaerte, who each tallied 15 kills. Gaerte’s .500 hitting percentage made for an excellent night of attacking. Finally, Sandt pieced together another double-double, amassing 17 assists and 10 digs.
Irish pick up second sweep against Northwestern Notre Dame finished its busy week with a flourish, downing Northwestern again by a 3-0 score on Saturday. Back inside Compton for a second consecutive night, the Irish looked right at home, getting better as the match moved along.
Notre Dame did not trail at any point on Saturday. Northwestern couldn’t even snatch a 1-0 lead in either of the three sets.
To start, the Irish overcame Northwestern’s best offensive set with a crucial effort from Palazzolo. The second-year Irish hitter posted seven kills, helping Notre Dame to a .389 hitting percentage and 25-21 win. Set two went back and
forth, although with Notre Dame in front the entire time. Both teams embarked on a 5-0 run coming out of timeouts, amounting to a 25-19 Irish victory. After hitting .333 in set one, Northwestern’s attack plummeted to a .162 mark in set two. In set three, that clip would fall further to .038 while the Irish moved only from .400 to .375. Palazzolo, who led all players with 13 kills, finished the game-clinching set at 25-16 with back-to-back swings.
In round two against Northwestern, Schrader barely missed out on another tripledouble, delivering 12 kills, 16 assists and seven digs. Sandt led the Irish again with 18 assists, while Monson totaled 10 digs.
Up next, the Irish will make their return to Purcell Pavilion for another regional, home-andhome clash. Notre Dame will host Indiana at 6:30 p.m. on Friday before visiting the Hoosiers on Sunday afternoon.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
GRAY NOCJAR | THE OBSERVER
Freshman middle blocker Anna Bjork rises up for a swing during Notre Dame’s 3-1 defeat of Colorado State in the home opener at Compton Family Ice Arena on Sept. 13. With 45 kills at a .446 hitting percentage, a team-leading 24 blocks and a point total of 62 that ranks third on the team, Bjork has been a breakout player for the Irish in the 2024 season.
Five key moments: Notre Dame 66, Purdue 7
By MADELINE LADD Assistant Managing Editor
Notre Dame took a crucial step toward redemption today after a shocking home opener loss to NIU shook the squad’s confidence. With their season on the line in this must-win game, the Irish dominated in a commanding 66-7 victory, looking like an entirely different team in their 88th matchup against Purdue. Though the Irish delivered a recordbreaking performance when it mattered, this game still leaves some questions about the team unanswered. Here are the key moments from Notre Dame’s commanding performance against the Boilermakers, where they captured the most points on the road since the 69-13 win against Pitt in 1965.
Run game propels the Irish offense
Sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love was the offensive star of the show, with 109 yards on the day including a 48-yard touchdown to begin the onslaught. Fellow running back Jadarian Price was not far behind with 86 yards rushing, including a 70yard jaunt to the end zone. Senior
quarterback Riley Leonard moved the chains with his legs, rushing for 100 yards and three touchdowns in just two quarters of play.
Leonard and Love (90 rushing yards in the first half) are the first two players to both rush for over 75 yards in the first half since Notre Dame’s season opener versus Navy in 2012. In addition, four different Irish players — Leonard, Love, Price and sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey — scored a touchdown rushing today. This marks the first time this has happened for the Irish since 2000 at USC. As a team, the Irish averaged a solid 8.2 yards per carry with six touchdowns.
ND had 390 yards at the end of the first half, with 278 of those rushing. They would go on to amass 578 yards — 362 rushing — by the end of the game. The Irish had 296 total yards last weekend against NIU, making them look like a completely different team today.
Despite the lack of passing in the first half, (see Quarterback Controversy below) Purdue was not able to stop the Irish run game that pulled them ahead.
Bold plays in the second quarter finish Purdue
The Irish were already pummeling Purdue by the time the second quarter came around, but two dominant plays late in the half sealed the Boilermakers’ fate. With 1:32 left in the second quarter, sophomore defensive lineman Boubacar Traore snagged a picksix, sending Purdue fans flooding for the exits.
The Irish weren’t done yet, though. Junior Jadarian Price’s 70yard rushing touchdown capped off a decisive 42-0 lead to close the half. From there, Notre Dame had its second largest halftime lead since 1996 (second to 45 against Georgia Tech in 2021) and had secured enough room to experiment with their squad for the rest of the game.
Injuries abound in first half
Injuries plagued the Irish, leaving them with a battered squad returning to South Bend. Graduate defensive lineman Jordan Botelho had been enjoying a strong start to the season as a top performer, but quickly saw momentum halted with a brutal knee injury midway through the second quarter.
Adding to the team’s woes, the Irish lost 40 percent of their starting offensive line after leg
injuries to junior right guard Billy Schrauth and junior center Ashton Craig. With Schrauth and Craig sidelined, senior Pat Coogan and graduate student Rocco Spindler were thrust into the lineup to stabilize the offense.
Defense shuts down Boilermaker offense
Purdue first crossed midfield early in the third quarter, where they were finally able to sneak on the board through a 5-yard passing touchdown. The Irish defense had four times as many sacks as they did in the first two games combined, with senior defensive lineman Jason Onye leading the way with 1 1/2 sacks.
The defensive line finally controlled the line of scrimmage, holding the Purdue offense to only 1 for 11 on third-down conversions. Youth and future also made an appearance today as Traore burst onto the scene in lieu of the injured Botelho. The sophomore filled the box score with a picksix and two tackles and a sack. Al Golden’s defense was on the verge of a shutout, but a collision between two Irish defenders allowed Purdue a late-game gain that resulted in its only touchdown of the day.
Quarterback controversy remains
The Irish entered Purdue without a passing touchdown on the season. While Leonard made it happen with his legs and was an efficient 11 for 16 for 116 yards, he still looked jittery in the pocket and failed to throw a touchdown for the third straight game. But all it took from junior quarterback Steve Angeli was one pass attempt — his first of the season — to change that for the Irish.
His 28-yard deep ball to sophomore tight end Cooper Flanagan broke the seal. Angeli followed that up with another touchdown pass to graduate tight end Kevin Bauman late in the game. While the Irish offense under Leonard was effective, his pocket presence is concerning. A time will come this season where quality defenses will be able to load the box and stop the run.
Questions remain when it comes to the quarterback room and general offense. What lies ahead for the starting lineup? Will Leonard be able to break out of his passing funk and move the ball downfield through the air? Next up, Miami (Ohio).
Contact Madeline Ladd at mladd2@nd.edu
Irish fall to Stanford in first ACC home match
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
In one of the season’s most highly anticipated matches, Notre Dame men’s soccer couldn’t quite break through. Despite outshooting No. 3 Stanford by a 15-4 margin, the 23rdranked Irish dropped a 1-0 result at home on Saturday night. Notre Dame now stands at 1-1-3 overall with a 1-0-1 start to Atlantic Coast Conference play. Meanwhile, the 6-1-0 Cardinal have defeated 2023 College Cup finalists Clemson and Notre Dame on the road to begin their tenure as an ACC member.
The hotly contested match featured nine bookings and opened with an evenly matched first half. Both teams found free-kick opportunities early but did not generate much. The game’s first real chance arrived in the 16th minute when senior midfielder Bryce Boneau made a run and crossed to Matthew Roou. The senior forward’s header caught the top of the crossbar and ramped out of play, maintaining the scoreless tie. Just six minutes later, Stanford deposited the night’s only goal. Will Reilly took an in-swinging corner kick, one of only two in the match for Stanford, from the left side. His service soared to the back post, where Jackson Kiil rose above his man and buried a header goal. Notre Dame nearly answered back within the next minute, but junior midfielder KK Baffour’s turning shot in traffic crashed into the
goal’s side netting. Freshman goalkeeper Blake Kelly’s only save of the night would take the match into halftime with Stanford still ahead by a goal.
With the second half barely underway, the night changed drastically when Kiil received a second yellow card and headed to the showers early. Stanford, already having been outshot 5-3 in the first half, faced the prospect of playing the night’s final 44 minutes with only 10 men. In theory, the Irish took advantage of the situation, setting up seven corner kicks and peppering the Cardinal with 10 shots in the second half alone. But Stanford keeper Rowan Schnebly made two saves to shut out the Irish, who had scored at least one goal in each of their previous five games to start the season.
Testing a hunkered-down Stanford defense, Notre Dame nearly found an equalizer in the 52nd minute. A high-speed cross from sophomore forward Jack Flanagan barely missed the sliding effort of Roou, leaking harmlessly across the goal mouth. Flanagan would remain prominent in Irish chances across the following 10 minutes, but the Cardinal defended him and his services well. Roou also kept on the hunt, directing a strong header that Schnebly dove left to catch in the 68th minute.
Beyond the second half’s midway point, the ball scarcely departed Notre Dame’s attacking third, but the Irish never found the score
sheet. Stanford clogged up most shooting lanes while defending the Irish tightly enough that most of their shots carried little threat.
When the final whistle blew, Notre Dame had lost despite possessing the ball 60 percent of the time, taking nine corner kicks and firing 15 shots to Stanford’s four. Up next, the Irish will dip back into non-conference action for a week and a half. They will host Chicago State on Friday at 7 p.m. before welcoming Detroit Mercy to Alumni Stadium for another 7 p.m. match next Tuesday. Notre
Dame’s next foray into ACC action will bring Clemson, last year’s national champion, into South Bend for a nationally-televised match on Friday, Sept. 27.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
MOLLY DRINAN | THE OBSERVER
Sophomore midfielder Sebastian Green strides ahead with the ball during Notre Dame’s 1-1 draw against Duquesne at Alumni Stadium on Sept. 10. Green attempted one of the 15 Irish shots in Saturday’s 1-0 loss.
Annika Herko Associate Sports Editor
Well, that went very differently than expected. Notre Dame absolutely had to get a win in West Lafayette, Indiana on Saturday. That was a given. While many fans expected a win, they had (realistic) visions of a close game between a mediocre Boilermaker team and a down on their luck Irish team that ultimately ended with a Notre Dame win.
I mean, Purdue has to be better than NIU, right?
There was a lot of chatter before the game about at what point and under what conditions senior quarterback Riley Leonard would be pulled. That’s where we’d all be wrong, though. 42 points in the first half and honestly, I’m just as stunned as all the Purdue fans who left at halftime. The Notre Dame fan to Purdue fan ratio was pretty even to start the half.
Last week, Notre Dame had 286 yards. This week, they had 390 yards in the first half. It is hard to believe these are the same teams and even more frustrating to think what could have been if only Notre Dame had played like they cared last week. When we look back at this season, especially if we end up missing the College Football Playoff, knowing that the cause of that was simply underestimating a team and listening to the outside chatter will be heartbreaking.
Despite Notre Dame’s complete dominance of Purdue, Leonard’s throwing stats were less than
Herko: Throw the dang ball
impressive. While he ran for 100 yards on 11 attempts for 3 touchdowns, he only threw for 112 yards. He has also yet to score a touchdown via pass, something I’m sure the wide receivers cannot be happy about. In comparison, junior quarterback Steve Angeli, who played less than Leonard, threw for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
The Notre Dame coaching staff clearly believes in Leonard’s ability to go out and make big plays and sees him as a leader of the team.
But while this game went about as well as it could have for the Irish, there were definitely moments where Leonard looked very uncomfortable when throwing the ball. He often turns his back to half the field, limiting his choices and missing wide-open receivers. He did not even see a wide-open Mitchell Evans at least twice early in the game. Leonard rarely looks to his second option if his first option is at least somewhat feasible.
Don’t get me wrong, he was impressive when he ran those touchdowns in, making defenders miss. But to make Notre Dame a real contender, opponents have to respect the pass. And with a quarterback hesitant to throw and a highly talented running back room, opponents have a clear game plan against the Irish: key in on the run.
And while we are on the subject of Notre Dame’s quarterback choices, the coaching staff needed to get sophomore Kenny Minchey or freshman CJ Carr into the game way earlier. Minchey
finally replaced Angeli after Card’s second interception, but as much as we all love Angeli, there’s a strong argument for getting the younger guys as many reps as possible. Carr or Minchey are the future of this program. Carr got in the game just before
the two-minute timeout, but these two probably could’ve used more than two drives total to get some in-game practice.
Overall, it was a great day to be a Notre Dame quarterback, but as much as we want all games to be like
this, they won’t, and we have to be ready.
Contact Annika Herko at aherko@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Traore brings youth to injured defensive line
By MADELINE LADD Assistant Managing Editor
It was a moment that crushed the Boilermakers’ already fading spirits late in the second quarter this past Saturday afternoon. Graduate defensive lineman Rylie Mills forced a baffling throw by Hudson Card, setting up sophomore defensive lineman Boubacar Traore for a pick-six that pushed the Irish lead to 35-0. In a moment of desperation, it was as if Card passed it to Traore, technically making him the first Irish player to get a “touchdown passing reception” this season. As Purdue fans flooded for the exits, it turned into a sea of green in West Lafayette.
Though many players contributed to the 66-7 Irish smattering of Purdue, it was young talent like Traore who helped the defensive line when it was stretched thin. With junior defensive end Josh Burnham out to begin the game, plus leading fifth-year edge rusher Jordan Botelho carted off with a knee injury early in the game, Traore stepped up and delivered a promising performance in the name of his teammate.
“Definitely heartbreaking,” Traore said of Botelho’s injury. “He’s definitely in my prayers, too. But I told him, ‘I’m going to do it for you … everything I do is for you from here on out.’”
Contributing to arguably the strongest defensive line
performance seen in-game yet this season, Traore credited the team’s preparation for what would be a make-orbreak match.
“We had a gameplan, everyone was super comfortable, everyone was super locked in,” Traore said. “[I’m] not saying we weren’t locked in the week before, but we just knew what we had to do coming into this game, especially after what happened last week.”
After two inconsistent showings at prior games, the Irish defensive line was able to bounce back. It kept pressure on Card and created more disruption in the second half. Traore acknowledged that the veteran players set the tone.
“The more [the older guys] play good, it comes out on all the younger guys,” Traore said. “We obviously look up to the older guys so when we see them hyping us up, having great energy and playing good it motivates us to do better.
Despite the devastating loss to Northern Illinois the week prior, Traore set a new single-game career high with three tackles (two solo, one assisted) and a tackle for loss against the Huskies. Traore had two solo tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception against the Boilermakers.
“He’s a really, really good player right now,” head coach Marcus Freeman said. “He’s gonna be a great player for us.”
The Boston native and fourstar recruit has goals of his own to improve, both on and off the field.
“I definitely want to get heavier, like 250 [pounds],” Traore said. “I’m 242-243 right now, so 250-255 would be where I’d want to be.”
With gaps to fill along an injured line, Traore is poised to continue making an impact throughout the rest of the season. And he’s embracing the opportunity to do so.
“It’s truly a blessing,” Traore said. “It’s everything you want as a player, to be able to play in front of all those people.”
Contact Madeline Ladd at mladd2@nd.edu
RICHARD TAYLOR | THE OBSERVER
Senior quarterback Riley Leonard loads up a throw during Notre Dame’s 66-7 win against Purdue at RossAde Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana on Sept. 14. Leonard totaled 100 rushing yards in the Irish victory.
Belles post 2-1 mark at Manchester Invitational
By CLAIRE WATSON Sports Writer
After a win during its home opener, the Saint Mary’s volleyball team traveled to the Manchester Invitational tournament, where it went 2-1 with a loss against Franklin on Friday. However, despite the Friday loss, the Belles bounced back with two wins over Manchester and Alma on Saturday.
Franklin
The Belles played one game on Friday against the Franklin Grizzlies but took the 3-1 loss.
Franklin took the early lead, taking the close, 25-22 win in the first set and another close, 25-20 win in the second set.
However, the third set went in favor of the Belles as they battled back and took a 2517 win over the Grizzlies.
Sophomore middle hitter
Caroline Carens led on the court with 12 kills, sophomore setter Abby Reese contributed with a team high of 18 assists, freshman setter Giuliana Graczyk added 11
assists, senior outside hitter
Cali Allen had three service aces and junior libero Karli Fegan led on the court with 17 digs.
Going into the fourth set, the Belles were unable to keep the momentum going as Franklin took the once again close 25-23 win over Saint Mary’s.
Manchester
The first team that the Belles faced on Saturday was the Manchester Spartans. The Belles came out and took the 3-2 win over the Spartans.
Saint Mary’s wasted no time in the first set, taking a 25-20 victory over the Spartans by taking advantage of Manchester errors. Starting out strong, the Belles went on an 8-1 spree. Multiple players hit double-digit kills for the Belles, but Carens led the team on the court, starting the set with three kills. With a similar 25-20 score, Manchester took the second set of the match. Both teams played well, going back and forth throughout the set. Carens finished the set with a total of five kills for the day,
and Reese brought up her assist total to nine.
Saint Mary’s regained control in the third set, taking a huge, 25-14 win over the Spartans. The Belles went for a 12-2 run, setting their lead at an all-time high of 15 points during the match. Reese led on the court during the match, adding seven more assists now making her total 16.
With the exact same 25-14 score, Manchester was quick to respond in the fourth set, tying the overall score at 2-2 and forcing the match to go into a fifth set.
Heading into the fifth set, both teams fought hard, but Saint Mary’s came out on top taking its first win over Manchester since 2018. The Belles out-killed Manchester overall 13-9, causing the Spartans to create four errors. Junior hitter Grace Braselton led with 12 kills, while Carens and junior Delaney Martin each had 11. Reese raised her assist total to 23, and Graczyk added 18.
Alma
Saint Mary’s kept its
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momentum going, taking a 3-0 sweep over the Alma Scots.
As both teams went back and forth during the first set, the Blues managed to put pressure on the Scots and took the close, 25-23 win.
The Belles kept the ball rolling heading into the second set, pulling ahead 2-0 right off the bat. The Belles kept short runs which ultimately helped them take the 25-18 win over the Scots, making the overall score 2-0 in favor of the Belles.
Saint Mary’s did not stop there as it went into the third and final set. The Belles
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finished the final set with a 25-15 win, finishing the match overall at 3-0.
Carens led on the court with 13 kills, freshman hitter Kalli Lewkowski hit double digits with 10 kills, Reese contributed with 21 assists, Graczyk added 19 assists, Fegan also was a leader with 25 digs and Martin added 12 digs to help the Belles.
After finishing with a successful weekend, the Belles get ready to host Kalamazoo on Sept. 18th. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson01@saintmarys.edu
Graduate cornerback Max Hurleman celebrates a big play during Notre Dame’s 66-7 defeat of Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana on Sept. 14. A former Colgate transfer and 2023 All-Patriot League First Team selection on special teams, Hurleman played his 38th career game on Saturday, returning two punts for 21 yards late in the
FOOTBALL WRAP
Irish destroy Purdue 66-7 in redemption game
By ANNIKA HERKO Associate Sports Editor
If only the Irish played like this every week.
Notre Dame came out onto the field with a plan. Senior quarterback Riley Leonard threw two quick passes at the start of the game, leading to any easy first down for the Irish. Leonard ran for 12 yards to pick up a second first down, trying to remind Irish fans of his throwing and running skills. Sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love take a handoff from the 48-yard line and run it all the way home for a touchdown.
During Purdue’s first possession of the game, the Boilermakers collected one first down before punting from their own 36yard line. The Irish and the Boilermakers exchanged several punts before the Irish started to put another drive together. Love ran for 21 yards after a sloppy operations penalty. After a pair of good throws to tight ends Eli Raridon and Mitchell Evans, Leonard missed
senior wide receiver Jayden Thomas along the far sideline to make it third down. However, freshman running back Aneyas Williams kept the drive alive with a 9-yard run. Thomas made a man miss and picked up 13 more yards. Three plays later, Leonard ran it in himself, making it 14-0 in favor of Notre Dame.
The Boilermakers finally started to look alive towards the end of the quarter.
Purdue’s tight end Max Klare picked up 21 yards on the first play of the drive, but it was soon stalled following a fumble recovery and an incomplete pass to Klare. On its next drive, Purdue attempted to advance the ball down the field again before graduate defensive lineman Jordan Botelho sacked quarterback Hudson Card for a loss of 13 on third down, forcing another punt.
The next drive ended with a quarterback scramble, looking like it was going nowhere until Leonard broke a tackle and ran 34 yards for the third Irish touchdown of the game.
Boteho was injured in the middle of the second quarter and was carted off the field with what looked like a right leg injury following a sack by senior defensive tackle Jason Onye. After getting the ball back, junior center Ashton Craig went down injured and also had to be helped off the field. On third-and-3, Thomas picked up 23 yards for a much-needed first down. Later in the drive, Evans picked up 19 to set the Irish up at the Boilermakers’ 13-yard line, with Leonard running in another score for Notre Dame.
The very next play from scrimmage, Botelho’s backup — sophomore Boubacar Traore — picked off Card and scored another Notre Dame touchdown. Purdue received possession and punted after lack of momentum. On the next Irish drive, junior running back Jadarian Price scored from 70 yards out. The Purdue fans were so out of there.
As the green started to become more prominent in Ross-Ade Stadium, the Boilermaker offense
returned to the field to try to stop the bleeding. It was not able to, as junior quarterback Steve Angeli threw his first touchdown of the year (and the first passing touchdown of the season for Notre Dame) to sophomore tight end Cooper Flanagan.
At this point, Purdue decided to rejoin the game.
Card threw a 52-yard pass to wide receiver Kam Brown.
Two plays later, Card hit De’Nylon Morrissette for Purdue’s first score of the game. Angeli and the offense responded with a 42-yard field goal.
The first play of the fourth quarter was a second Angeli touchdown pass to graduate tight end Kevin Bauman.
Card continued to attempt deep passes, but the Boilermakers looked defeated and uninterested, knowing there was no hope to turn this game around. He threw a late interception (caught by freshman defensive lineman Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and tipped by Onye) and sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey finally entered the game for
Notre Dame. He took after his starting quarterback and ran it in himself to get Notre Dame to 66 points.
Freshman quarterback CJ Carr got into the game right before the two-minute timeout, taking his first snaps of the season. The final score was 66-7 in favor of Notre Dame.
Head coach Marcus Freeman was obviously pleased with how the Irish performed, particularly with their proficiency running the ball and how the defense played.
“I’m most proud of the way [the Notre Dame players] came out of the locker room in the second half,” he said. “The ability, as we told them last week, to handle success [was important]. I think [in] the second half we outscored them 24-7, which was huge. After being up 420, to be able to come out and, no matter who’s in the game, to be able to perform they way we performed was really good.”
Contact Annika Herko at aherko@nd.edu
RICHARD TAYLOR | THE OBSERVER
contest.