Print Edition for The Observer for Monday, September 23, 2024
Daniel Martin performs a Friday night show on SMC campus before heading to Los Angeles
By SYDNEY EIDELBES News Writer
Described as mind-blowing, amazing, funny and delightful, magician Daniel Martin performed in the Little Theatre in Moreau Hall Friday for the Smick @ Nite series.
However, those glowing terms were not crafted by Martin’s public relations representatives. They were used by the St. Mary’s students who packed the theatre to describe Martin’s act.
“I am kind of skeptical of magic shows,” senior Opus Hall resident assistant Katie Theriault said. “This one was a different magic show I had never seen before. It was crazy.”
Theriault emceed the event.
“I got to meet Daniel before the show, and he was really, really nice, and then he blew our minds away,” she added.
Saint Mary’s College Residence Life, McCandless Hall and Opus Hall hosted Martin as a part of the new Smick @ Nite series, which aims to provide more weekend activities for Saint Mary’s students.
Martin, a Chicago native, used the appearance as a final rehearsal before his upcoming Netflix special, which he filmed in Los Angeles on Sunday.
“People … are gonna laugh, they’re gonna cry, they’re gonna get their minds blown,” Martin explained. “It’s stuff that no one sees anywhere else in the world.”
Martin, who has been featured
Lewis Hall turns dorm to diner
Magician wows at Smick @ Nite show College of Science launches connecting research pilot
By JULIET MULLALLY News Writer
From 9 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, over 1,000 people flooded the floors of Lewis Hall to attend the dorm’s signature event, Lewis House of Pancakes (LHOP).
Aptly named, the event offered attendees pancakes and other breakfast foods for $5 a plate. The event’s proceeds support the Northern
Food Bank of Indiana. Prior to the event, Lewis Hall set a goal to raise $5,000.
“The event is so special because everyone comes together and is just so dedicated to the cause,” sophomore Lewis Hall vice president Mary Novy said.
People showed up in droves to support the cause and fill their
see LEWIS HALL PAGE 3
By SOPHIA TRAN and HENRY JAGODZINSKI News Writers
In August, the College of Science launched a unified platform to connect students with research positions across its dozens of labs. Named Student Research at Notre Dame (STRAND), the pilot program aims to promote more structured and equitable access to research opportunities.
STRAND is based on a similar program created by Duke University, called Muser. Conversations between the College of Science, the Office of the Provost and the Flatley Center for Scholarly Engagement about creating STRAND began this past spring. The program is a pilot, with its results compared to the similar pilot research database the College of Engineering launched a year earlier, called EduSourced.
Dr. Daniel Gezelter, the senior associate dean for education and undergraduate programs in the College
of Science and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, played a key role in the formation of STRAND.
According to Gezelter, during years past, there was not a formal system for applying to research positions. Instead, students would find research positions by contacting faculty directly.
However, Gezelter noted there were shortcomings with this method.
“Students … tend to go to the people that they know,” Gezelter said.
As a result, some faculty members were overwhelmed with requests to join their labs.
“[Faculty] were getting hundreds of emails every semester about joining their groups, and they just don’t have the capacity,” Gezelter said.
He noted that Notre Dame has particularly had an imbalance between the number of students in its health sciences programs, such as preprofessional studies and neuroscience and behavior, and the number of research
positions available in those areas. Gezelter hopes that allowing students to easily view a wide array of research areas will inspire them to think more broadly about how they can find a good match.
The first round of applications and matching for STRAND have been completed. Applications were open from Aug. 27-31, with all matches completed in early September. Students who received a match will conduct their research over the course of the fall semester.
Students submitted 138 applications for 23 posted projects, with many projects having more than one position available. According to Gezelter, around 600 students from the College of Science, roughly 1/3 of students, participate in research each year.
Gezelter hopes to increase the number of positions posted for the spring 2025 round of research to around 300. The next round of the
see RESEARCH PAGE 4
SYDNEY EIDELBES | The Observer
Magician Daniel Martin takes the stage of the Little Theatre in Moreau Hall on Friday night with open arms. Martin’s performance combined magic, illusions and improv along with comedy across interactive tricks.
JULIET MULLALLY | The Observer
Lewis Hall residents smile in front of a stack of $15 pale pink shirts commemorating the dorm’s Lewis Hall of Pancakes annual event.
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Monday
Is this translation?
1050 Jenkins Hall
3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Professor Marco Sonzogni will deliver a lecture.
Academic Major And Minor Fair
Angela Fieldhouse
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saint Mary’s College hosts a majors fair.
Tuesday
Staff Fall Town Hall
Leighton Concert Hall
Events all day
Important campus updates will be shared at the meeting.
Pieces of Me
Hesburgh Center
Auditorium
4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Come watch an autobiographical play.
Wednesday
On-Campus Flu Vaccine Blitz
Stepan Center
10 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Free flu vaccines upon appointment.
Just Lunch Geddes Hall, Coffee House
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Conversations about justice and free food.
Thursday
Forensic Accountant
FBI Event Spes Unica 145 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
FBI guest speaker on careers in accounting.
Hibernian Lecture
McKenna Hall
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
“Like a Prayer: The Novels of John McGahern.”
Friday
Dean’s Speaker Series Jordan Auditorium
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Fred
on Netflix, Disney+, NBC and Discovery, describes his performances as a combination of “exhilarating magic, psychological illusions and sarcastic improv” and integrates comedy into his routines. He annually performs between 200 to 250 shows in the U.S. and beyond.
He became interested in magic as a six-year-old after he was caught pickpocketing. In an attempt to redirect his interest in sleight of hand, Martin’s grandparents gifted him a magic kit. He thought it was “the coolest thing ever” and sparked his lifelong passion for magic.
The immersive nature of his performances makes Martin stand out from other magicians. He forms relationships with the crowd by sharing personal anecdotes and including audience participation in almost every trick.
“Some of it’s sleight of hand, some of it’s sleight of mind, some of it’s so messed up they’re not gonna know what to call it,” Martin said.
Martin’s show consisted of a series of what appeared to be unrelated tricks that culminated in a surprising finish. According to Martin, his inspiration for his shows comes from the experiences of daily life.
“I just kind of wrap my own style around it,” he said. “If I could take people away from their troubles for an hour and give them hope in some capacity, you know, that’s really it.”
His influences are eclectic, ranging from classic comedians like Steve Martin, Martin Short and Robin Williams; chef, author and documentarian Anthony Bourdain; to his grandfather, to whom he dedicates the closing piece of the performance. His personal motivations, however, are fairly straightforward with an emphasis on doing what one loves and seeking fulfillment.
“If you’re not happy with what you’re trying to go into, change it,” Martin said. “There’s never a time that you can’t start over and put joy in your own life — and other people’s as well.”
“I’m doing it,” he said. “I love getting to do what I do.”
Katelyn Sizemore, a Saint Mary’s senior, was excited she was chosen to assist with one of Martin’s tricks.
“It was mind-blowing,” she said.
In addition to wowing attendees, Martin’s act marked another successful installment of the Smick @ Nite series.
“It made for a great Friday night,” Theriault said.
Contact Sydney Eidelbes at seidelbes01@saintmarys.edu
Lewis Hall
stomachs with breakfast foods. There was a line out the hall’s door, where attendees were greeted by a glowing LHOP sign in a first floor window, upbeat music playing over speakers and “Welcome to LHOP” cheers from Lewis residents wearing chick costumes and custom, pink LHOP shirts.
The hall’s rector, Megan Moore, designed the shirts. They were sold for $15 each and used to raise money for the food bank. Lewis residents also wore the shirts around campus in the days leading up to the event to spread awareness. By the end of the night, the shirts were almost sold out.
“The shirts were so cute,” Laura Amezquita Cadavid, a freshman in Farley Hall, said. “I loved the pink.”
Once inside, attendees teemed through the stairways, grabbing bacon in the basement, lemonade and T-shirts on the first floor, breakfast casserole on the second floor, pancakes on the third floor and cinnamon rolls on the fourth floor.
“I had a great time. I would definitely go back next year,” Amezquita Cadavid said. “The music was great, and the food was surprisingly good, especially the cinnamon rolls. Also, the Lewis girls were all so nice and working so hard for a good cause, which
was nice to see.”
Two changes to this year’s event included the addition of glutenfree pancakes to be more inclusive to those with dietary restrictions and walkie-talkies for those running the event to communicate more smoothly with each other, floor-to-floor.
“The day of was a flurry trying to get everything prepared,” Novy said.
Lewis Hall residents made trips to the grocery store a week prior to the event, where they bought carts worth of food.
Residents also spent many hours cooking the day of the event. Novy especially emphasized how long it took for residents to make all the bacon, which they started cooking at 8 p.m. the night before the event.
“We definitely beat last year’s total and this year’s fundraising goal too,” Novy said. “This was in part due to everyone that came out to eat and buy our shirts.”
The event experienced a syrup shortage not long after 10 p.m. Some Lewis residents were sent to the Huddle to buy more syrup, but the Huddle also did not have any.
“I think LHOP brings out the best in Lewis: we’re hospitable, we’re fun and we’re caring,” said the hall’s resident priest, Fr. Aaron Michka.
Contact Juliet Mullally at jmullally@hcc-nd.edu
2024 Dean’s Speaker Series Presents:
application process will allow students to submit applications beginning Oct. 16. Students are eligible to apply to up to three different positions.
Aside from being an advantageous tool for students interested in research, STRAND has also been an efficient program for postdoc and faculty related research. Sheryl Lu, undergraduate research director in the College of Science and associate professor of practice in the biology department, leads one of the many projects listed on STRAND.
“I really like STRAND,” Lu said. “As a mentor, you post your project description, and you can also list the qualifications of the candidates you are thinking about. Actually, I got many applicants this round. This way actually is very efficient in terms for the students but also for the mentor.”
Although Lu found STRAND efficient to use, she proposed a number of additional ways to enhance the website. Lu suggested the creation of automatic messaging on the site to notify students when their application is accepted, reviewed or rejected. Also, she hopes STRAND can accept students for research credit directly through the site, so students will not need to register separately through the registrar office.
While faculty members are not required to post all of their research positions on STRAND, Gezelter encourages them to consider using the platform. He hopes 50% of research positions will be posted on STRAND by the end of this year.
“It’s totally optional, but there are a lot of advantages,” Gezelter said. “Making something mandatory is challenging. We’re not going to get everybody.”
Both Gezelter and Lu encouraged students to try out STRAND, emphasizing how the new program could be the key to many opportunities.
“To really get learning, like doing research, is like a first-hand discovery process,” Lu said. “This type of experience you will never learn if you just sit passively listening to a lecture. I would encourage students to take those kinds of opportunities, so you know what Notre Dame can offer.”
Contact Sophia Tran at stran2@nd.edu and Henry Jagodzinski at hjagodzi@nd.edu
DPAC celebrates 20th year with all
By SAM ROBINSON News Writer
The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center (DPAC) celebrated its 20th anniversary on Sept. 19 from 5-7:30 p.m. with a community event featuring local bands, food trucks, a photo booth and lawn games. Free to attend, the event featured performances from DJ Chuck Fry, Brollision and Jerry O’Fonics. Various Notre Dame staff members comprised some of these performing groups. All attendees were offered a T-shirt commemorating the anniversary along with a ticket to be used at a food truck of choice. Food trucks provided dishes such as Korean-Mexican fusion, Caribbean food and pizza and burgers. Also featuring free cupcakes, the event drew students from across campus and members of the South Bend community. According to a graduate student studying global affairs, the
event was “awesome.”
He “had fun getting some pizza, . . . listening to the music” and introducing some “international students to ladder ball and cornhole.”
The DPAC event gave him an opportunity to introduce international students to aspects of American culture.
“[I’m] excited to go to events at DPAC,” the graduate student said. “[The anniversary celebration was a] fun way to start out doing it.”
A freshman studying in the Mendoza School of Business was driven to the event to explore what was offered.
“It was really cool,” the freshman said. “The music was really good, and there’s a lot of food.”
The freshman left open the possibility of participating in or attending events at DPAC in the future.
“[Students are] at the core of what we do,” Ted Barron, the executive director of the Debartolo Performing
Arts Center and Judd and Mary Lou Leighton director of the performing arts said.
Barron discussed the benefits of DPAC to all students, not just those interested in the performing arts. He urges all students to involve themselves in the arts in some way.
“The arts are kind of central to everyone’s lives,” Barron said.
While students attended, the celebration was not just student oriented.
“[The celebration was] an opportunity . . . to express our gratitude for everyone who’s been supportive of the arts,” Barron said.
Barron emphasized the importance of community involvement in DPAC. He did not want the anniversary celebration to compare to typical celebrations for major milestones at academic institutions.
“What a lot of organizations do is they kind of have a, you know, gala dinner, with, you know, white tablecloths and all that good stuff,”
Barron said. “And we said, no, no, no, we want to do something that celebrates our community, all of you who’ve been supporting us over the last 20 years.”
Barron reflected on the hopes surrounding DPAC prior to its opening in September of 2004.
“There was a real sense of anticipation that the performing arts center was going to transform our local community,” Barron said. “So, it’s really great to have a moment to kind of pause and express our thanks.”
The community was present at the event both as attendees and volunteers. Jeri Rain, a retired librarian, resident of South Bend and volunteer at DPAC, was “glad there’s such a good turnout.” When asked about her experience volunteering, Rain responded simply.
“I love it,” she said.
Contact Sam Robinson at srobin23@nd.edu
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Just glad to be here
Six years ago, I sat in my freshman year theology course, taught by Matt Sciuto, who was something of a legend at my high school. Mr. Sciuto — if frustrated with a student — would halt a lesson, prop one leg on the chair he kept in the front of the room and, raising his voice, lament: “Did you do the reading? Are you really learning?!” I don’t think he meant these to be rhetorical, but nobody ever answered with the honest, “No.” And, if anyone did answer “No,” he would have replied, “Why not?” To which it would have been just as impossible to shamefully reply: “Because I am lazy.” Probably, though, Mr. Sciuto would have respected us more if we had answered honestly.
He drank water out of a green, glass bottle, which curved into the figure of Buddha where its neck began, though nothing else about him suggested an interest in the East. On quizzes, he liked to sprinkle in questions like, “If you are assigned pages 5-15, how many pages must you read?” His favorite word was metanoia, meaning a radical change of mind and heart. He often told us he was trying not to give us a few fish for the day but to teach us how to fish, so that we could forever feed ourselves. He taught us how to learn.
Today, I am still learning, and I am still learning how to learn. Amidst my studies, a certain phrase from Mr. Sciuto’s class still resounds in my head.
“One day,” Mr. Sciuto began, “a student turned in his quiz with the letters JGTBH. written at the top. I couldn’t figure out what they meant. Finally, I asked him and he said, ‘just glad to be here.’” The phrase speaks for itself, but I got the sense from Mr. Sciuto
that the student was expressing gratitude as an antidote to the sometimes-competitive and oftenstressful environment of my high school.
How much more fitting is this phrase at Notre Dame. Didn’t we all arrive on campus for Welcome Weekend with this attitude — just grateful to have a room and an ID at a place where nine others wanted the same spot so badly but were excluded? Weren’t we enamored by the plentiful dining hall food, enthralled by the Golden Dome, hyped for every game day and so infinitely thankful at the Grotto? I hope this still describes many of you first-years, but does this zeal persist for us upperclassmen?
Sometimes, probably, but sometimes not. We now have a little dirt on this place. Dining hall options seem less appetizing, maybe we notice the Dome’s blemishes (even after being regilded), dorm washing machines break, our professors give poor lectures and unfair exams, we lose to Marshall and NIU (and now boo at home games), we struggle with classes and just get by lifting our workload. And so, we have two sets of eyes on this place we call home — fresh eyes, for which all seems to glow, and worn eyes, which often see through this luster. Now I ask: which set of eyes sees this place more truly? I answer: neither.
Fresh eyes see truly with their spirit but, in fact, are blind to many realities. Worn eyes see clearly the reality, but are clouded by a muddled spirit. He sees truly who sees the realities with worn eyes but maintains the spirit of fresh eyes. Then, his vision is neither intoxicated by eagerness nor blurred by (justifiable) annoyances, but is sharpened by a resolute gladness.
Being “just glad to be here” (JGTBH), I have found, requires living more in this present moment at this particular place. We could add ‘just glad to be here
right now,’ but that is less catchy and also redundant. For gladness always comes in and from the present. The infinitive ‘to be’ is not perfect or future tense, but present tense. The modifier ‘just’ is an admission of a simple desire for only present goods. In short, to be JGTBH is to be content, and to be content is to rest from frantically trying to make the future better and to enjoy the present good things in front of your nose.
For me, it is hard being content because I can always see a way to make things better. I can always set another goal and start working again to achieve it. The trouble is that my gladness becomes contingent on whether I get what I want. Being JGTBH means taking a step back, lifting this contingency and saying, “You know what? I am happy no matter what. I’m just glad to be here.” I have also found that this statement requires trust — trust that the future will work itself out or that somebody is guiding you and has a plan for you. If there were no Good Shepherd, then our gratitude would be in vain, and we would prove foolish, negligent and impractical for our solace in the present.
I recently realized an alternate meaning to JGTBH. At first, I took ‘here’ to mean my high school, and now I take it to mean Notre Dame. But ‘here’ can also mean the earth, this world. JGTBH could mean ‘just glad to be alive.’ If we could really mean it, wouldn’t that be a beautiful thought and a beautiful set of eyes?
Richard Taylor is a junior from St. Louis living in Keenan Hall. He studies physics and also has an interest in theology. He encourages all readers to send reactions, reflections or refutations to rtaylo23@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
A camp reading of Notre Dame
inviting a solemn or introspective engagement, it is a cultural icon, blurring the lines between reverence and silliness. The mural, essentially, is what Sontag calls a “failure to be serious.”
“Camp,” a term used to describe a style of being, can’t be understood by many. In Susan Sontag’s seminal essay, “Notes on Camp,” she argues that sensibility is “something of a private code,” a way of seeing the world as an “aesthetic phenomenon,” loving the unnatural, the exaggeration, the artifice, the performance.
It is not something you can analyze — only something that you can exhibit. It loves irony, battling the “silly between rich form.” It is, essentially, to fail at being serious. Drag is a primary example: the gender subversion, the theatrics, the exaggeration of the natural. But camp appears in the mainstream too. Elvis exemplifies camp: the artifice of his rhinestone costumes, the mix of high and low culture in his music and the theatricality of his masculinity.
And, with the right eye, Notre Dame can be a prime example of camp, too. At the core of camp is theatrics — nothing “natural,” Sontag says, is camp. The spectacle of Notre Dame is one of its most camp features. Take the centrality of Touchdown Jesus in the Notre Dame ethos. The mural, which is an exaggerated depiction of Jesus with arms raised as a referee signaling a touchdown, projects Christ onto the culture of football. The rightfully prideful, but almost laughable, existence of the mural proves its campiness.
This depiction of Christ combines religious imagery with sports in a way that is both sincere and absurdly theatrical. Sontag describes this interplay in camp as “seeing everything in quotation marks.” So, is that figure “Jesus” or a “referee”? Unlike the prayers offered before the statue of Mary at the Grotto, we see Christ on the mural in a different context — when the Irish score a field goal. This mural elevates a religious icon into a realm where its significance becomes diluted by the culture of hypermasculinity and the commerciality of football. Rather than
The aesthetics of camp can also be visually mapped onto the University’s architecture itself. The deliberate pastiche of European religious grandeur evokes a sense of maturity and sacredness, contrasting with the immaturity natural in college life. The Golden Dome, in and of itself, is emblematic of a camp aesthetic. It is a display of Catholic iconography that looms over the campus like a theatrical set. This architectural choice reflects not just a reverence for tradition, but a conscious performance of identity that invites scrutiny and interpretation. The inflated size and ‘gildedness’ of Mary herself is an unnatural depiction, much like the gaudy ‘gildedness’ of drag. Deliberate architectural excess makes Notre Dame not just a place of learning, but a stage where the sacred meets theatrics, a juxtaposition resulting in a camp aesthetic.
Theatrics, however, does not mean dramatics — camp embraces “things-being-what-they-are-not.” There exists a social commentary in the deeper meaning of camp: it takes what society honors and appreciates it for the irony of its contradictions. Notre Dame has plenty of contradictions that enable its campiness.
The performance of Notre Dame’s Catholic identity exemplifies camp. The University’s public displays of Catholic faith — mandatory theology courses, frequent campus masses and the exaggerated religious statuary on every quad — are infused with a sense of performative piety that borders on the theatrical. This self-conscious branding reflects a desire to craft an identity that resonates with both tradition and modernity, revealing the complexities of faith in a contemporary context.
The inauguration was a practice of this self-mythologizing that is central to camp. The rich, deep and overthe-top tradition was an inherent performance. But, that alone isn’t camp. Camp, which clearly can’t be described (or at least I can’t describe it), has to have something
beyond mere theatrics: a contradiction, an excess, something that minimizes tradition, yet amplifies its beauty. The inauguration exemplifies this dynamic, as it presented a grand spectacle that simultaneously acknowledged and subverted the very traditions it sought to honor. “Gestures of Duplicity” are a hallmark of camp. Certainly, gestures to God and gestures to donors or commerciality are gestures of duplicity.
Camp, most importantly, allows us to view institutions like Notre Dame through a lens that questions the seriousness often associated with traditional narratives. As Sontag notes, camp “has the ability to transform experiences.” This transformation is not negative. By embracing the camp aesthetic, we can appreciate how Notre Dame’s elaborate displays of religion and theatrical traditions function as part of a larger performance, rather than solely as acts of piety. Understanding this performance invites a sense of irony and detachment, making it, frankly, easier to engage with religious displays and conservative culture. Rather than condemning Notre Dame for its perceived excesses or contradictions, camp encourages us to revel in its playful contradictions and theatricality.
To appreciate an institution like Notre Dame or the Catholic Church through a camp lens is to live within the artifice; inserting myself into the contradictions of Notre Dame allows me to become an actor in this campy performance of American conservative catholicism. It compels me to critically engage with the contradictions and excess of Notre Dame while reveling in the camp of it all. And what could be more camp than that?
Connor Marrott is a senior from Cleveland, Ohio His writing has appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Cincinnati Enquirer. He serves on the board of SoildarityND and is always eager to discuss any and all ideas. You can contact Connor at cmarrott@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Richard Taylor Just Glad To Be Here
Connor Marrott Lefty with a Laugh
Liam Price Viewpoint Editor
The ring wasn’t supposed to be mine
Turning down Notre Dame (albeit via the Gateway experience) was not an option because of my grandfather, who we call Papa Pete. Though he wasn’t alive when I received that letter from admissions, I felt his force making my decision for me.
Uncle Rob deserves the credit of getting my lazy self to apply, Notre Dame being my third and final college application.
But, it is because of my eldest cousin Peter that I’ve always had a feeling that Notre Dame was where I would end up.
Those paragraphs might seem oxymoronic, what with being barely industrious enough to apply and ending up at the bottom of the small bucket of Notre Dame acceptances (let’s be real Gateways, it’s why we throw the best parties), all while claiming a personal destiny for this place. Who do I think I am?
I think I’m a Price. Which allows me to borrow from Papa Pete’s “there’s only one quarterback, Geri!” spirit: let me have my moment!
For context: Papa Pete graduated from Notre Dame way back when it was only dudes here. My Uncle Rob graduated from Notre Dame in 1987. And
my cousin Peter was the original, proudest subway alum.
There was also a friend of Papa Pete who started the chain that led to my being here, a man who went on to graduate from Notre Dame’s seminary and pulled my grandfather out of Ohio to Notre Dame’s campus: Fr. Pete Logsdon.
Papa Pete passed away when I was 12, and Peter was willed one Notre Dame class ring. But Peter, Uncle Rob’s eldest son, passed away only a year later.
All the Prices who could come descended on South Bend this weekend for the Miami-Ohio game, including my Fireball-taking grandmother.
When I showed up to the family’s weekend Airbnb Friday evening, I got to meet Fr. Pete. He was there to bless the two Price family Notre Dame class rings in the ceremony where Uncle Rob gifted me his.
It was a special moment — one that I rather painfully wish Papa Pete and Peter could have experienced, even though that would mean we would need a third ring.
As Uncle Rob said through damp eyes, you could feel Papa Pete and Peter’s presence in the room. So, despite me acting all cool and secular all the time, the ring is a reminder to me that spirit can’t be killed, no matter the doom I feel in the world.
Rest in peace, Papa Pete and Peter.
Your immortal spirit
Everyone has a different Notre Dame story. I learned this the hard way while working on last year’s Observer commencement edition — which entailed reading, editing and choking up to 11 fantastic farewell columns from last year’s graduating staff.
So this story is for Papa Pete and Peter, Notre Dame alum and subway alum. We love you. We miss you.
When we got the Price gang out for the tailgate before the Miami-Ohio gameday in that September South Bend heat, I could feel your spirits in the ring, in me and especially in Uncle Doug’s absolutely unmatched gameday joy: I was proud. I knew you were proud of us.
And I knew you were proud of how awesome of a tailgate Uncle Rob can throw.
And that’s why I’ll cherish this ring, even though I can’t help but fidget with it in my fingers, even though I act all cool and secular all the time, even though it wasn’t supposed to be mine.
The views expressed in this inside column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Golf: medieval torture or self-discovery?
Molly Wu Bro Meets World
“Golf? No Sir, prefer prison flog.”
Such is the complaint, in the form of a palindrome, that I receive whenever I invite my friends to watch or play golf with me. In fact, it just happened last Sunday.
The idea behind the palindrome is that golf is torture. Moreover, it is a bad type of torture — prolonged — and therefore worse than flogging. To some extent, I understand why people see golf this way. Golfing could mean wandering around the hilltops purposelessly under extreme heat or downpours. It’s such a scenario in which a reasonable mind would rather choose fire over Sisyphus’ prolonged torture. A shorter, although more intense torture, is much more preferable. Thus the palindrome, “Golf? No Sir, prefer prison flog.”
So what happened last Sunday between Christine and me? We went to play golf on the school golf course. Like always, she grudgingly accepted my invitation. I coaxed her into coming nonetheless, because we are best friends. I knew, however, that she saw golf as not only boring, but also lasting torture.
“Alright, we are just getting the ball into the hole, right?” Even on the first tee box, Christine began to nag. Although I knew she was just messing with me, I saw why she was doing it.
From her perspective, playing golf involves a series of tedious procedures that almost look like a half-funny, half-religious ritual: first the inspection of the wind direction, then the careful selection of the club and finally the tilting of the head (strictly three times for me). All of these need to be carried out with the utmost concentration before “the swoosh.”
And swoosh, the ball went.
“That was actually kind of cool,” Christine raised her head. It was perhaps the only (somewhat) enjoyable part for her — that is, until we had to walk 200 yards and climb up a hill, to where the ball silently landed. Then began Christine’s complaint routine. Apart from always having to trudge in the uneven landscape, there was also her dissatisfaction with my apparent indecision. She joked that I can only be spotted in my natural habitat (the golf course) in three states: walking, standing still strategizing or performing some weird rituals, such as throwing grass
into the air (“for the inspection of the wind direction!” I protested).
“Can we please head back to the golf simulator after this hole?” Christine asked. She knew that practicing in the simulator would shorten the torture.
Of course, in the simulator, you can smash the ball without thinking and skip as many shots as you want before “getting” the ball into the hole. This is why TopGolf across the nation hasn’t been replaced by AMF Bowling.
“But then you can’t even hear the sound of the ball dropping into the hole,” I said, beginning my daily, notso-desirable debate with Christine.
Just like how the simulator can’t mimic the feeling of holing out, its blunt joy also can’t replace the connoisseur pleasure of an actual golf course. To me, the simulator lacks the true spirit of humanity. The never-ending perambulations on the golf course give me the luxury of time to feel my emotions without any hurry. My body is filled with excitement, energy, nervousness and so much more. I feel pure and revitalized. Christine and I agreed that our lives at a boarding school are so fast-paced that we become numb to our emotions. On the golf course, I live slow.
“Feel the breeze passing through your lungs. So refreshing!” I grabbed Christine’s hands and smiled at her.
With the delightful breeze, and occasional eddies of heat and drizzles, I made new sensations appear. The fresh emotions that I feel on the golf course become my sanctuary. My heart, usually tightening up at school activities, is softened again on the golf course.
In a way, these long walks force me to ponder. Did I pick the best club? Was I being my best self in the previous shot? Do I regret whatever line I just read? To many, including me, a retired soccer midfield, golf may lack the physical confrontation of those more easy-to-watch sports. But once I immerse myself into the rhythm of each swing, I am invigorated by the exquisite self-confrontation in golf. Golf is all about the self — the emotions of facing my true self on the golf course — and not others. I invited Christine to golf with me because I wanted her to feel the sweep of emotions and self-actualization as well.
Even though I was playing by myself, I still marked my ball, treating it seriously, like a tournament. I walked around the hole and squatted down to observe the slope of the green. Christine, who knows me too well, stopped her complaints at the end of the day. As my best friend, she
understood that every stroke matters to me.
After finishing my routine, I approached the ball. I tilted my head to see the ball. Just a little left. Just a little more speed. The ball dropped into the hole, finally — I just made a birdie, even with the two average shots before.
“I guess, all of the waiting is worthwhile since I got to see this miracle.” Finally, Christine seemed to accept the cordiality behind my golf invitation.
This time, I had to agree with Christine that all my dedication to golf was worth it. On the golf course, I don’t get discouraged by setbacks. I persevere. I believe that dedication, which is an invisible — and sometimes strange — routine that I promise myself to follow, can reveal my best self. On the golf course, I become ambitious and brave. The famous mantra goes: the golf ball is round and anything could happen with it. It is true, so far as my ten-year experience is concerned.
Although the cool “swoosh” sound of my tee shot and the moment when my ball rolled into the hole were all too brief, the sublime joy they bestowed on me is grand. I would never know how to cherish these brief moments without enduring whatever it takes. “Prefer prison flog?” I beg to dissent.
“The best is at the end!” Christine was glad that she didn’t leave out the best part of the show.
“When the ending is fulfilling, nothing is boring,” I added. Isn’t that also the case with every bildungsroman or Disney movie?
I don’t know if Christine said this only because I made that birdie or if she was actually convinced that golf is worth the “torture.” I hoped she understood. If not completely, I’m always in for dragging her onto the golf course again. If everyone is blessed enough to have a golf maniac friend like me, maybe someday, people will read the palindrome’s complaint in a different way and the world will be a slower place.
Molly Wu is a sophomore studying Political Science and Economics. While she was originally from Beijing, China, she went to a boarding school in New Jersey since high school. Growing in an environment that stresses the importance of diversity, she enjoys absorbing and sharing different perspectives. You can contact her at lwu5@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
By PETER MIKULSKI Scene Editor
It’s hard for me to keep up with my watchlist during the school year. I’ve got stuff to read, homework to do and Scene pieces to write. Usually I can use my summers to catch up, but when you have to do summer school, there goes half of your freetime. This year, I was left with only a handful of weeks to devote to the watchlist grind. To keep pace — I aspire to be as well-watched as fellow Scene writers Andy Ottone, Jack Horton, Luke Foley and Marguerite Marley after all — I had to pull two, three and four movie nights. Here are some of the cursed-est double and triple features I concocted in pursuit of my goal:
You be the judge: “Call Me by Your Name” and “Fried Green Tomatoes”
My intent in presenting this double feature is polemical. I think that if people put two and two together, realized how similar these movies are and watched them back to back, they’d realize that one is objectively better. “Call Me by Your Name” isn’t the definitive same-sex romance set in the countryside — it’s “Fried Green Tomatoes,” starring Kathy Bates as a woman named “Evelyn Couch.”
You be the judge, part two: “Querelle” and “On the Town”
This pairing is similar. “Querelle” is the cinemaesthete’s favorite movie about gay sailors. It looks insane, its plot is unfollowable, it’s remarkably profane and it was directed by a German — i.e. it checks all their boxes, so much so that it was recently rereleased by Criterion. But I feel the same way about
“Querelle” versus “On the Town” — a 1949 movie-musical in vivid Technicolor starring, among others, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly — that I feel about “Call Me by Your Name” and “Fried Green Tomatoes.” The supposedly schlock-y American movies are miles more beautiful and subtle than their supposedly artful European counterparts. “On the Town” has all the stuff “Querelle” has — handsome actors, elaborate visuals, etc. — but is also comprehensible to its audience.
Movies you watch in English class: “Romeo + Juliet” and “Beowulf”
I never got to experience the American coming of age ritual that is watching Baz Luhrman’s “Romeo + Juliet” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in a high school English classroom, because my crazy English teacher went off the rails and screened the Liz Taylor and Richard Burton version of “The Taming of the Shrew” instead. I think Robert Zemeckis’s “Beowulf” — which is animated in pretty much the same style as “Polar Express” — was intended for this repertoire of movies-for-English-class, but Angelina Jolie’s Grendel is so comically sexy that I can’t imagine this movie being shown without a permission slip. Both, I believe, are misunderstood masterworks.
Movies you watch in English class, Catholic school edition: “The Mission” and “Of Gods and Men”
This is not my lived experience — I went the sort of public school which struggled with Serbian gang violence — but from talking to Catholic high school graduates, it seems like these two are the go-tos whenever the TV cart gets rolled out at America’s countless “Immaculate Conception,” “Holy
Family” and “Loyola” academies.
Two sides of Nicole Kidman: “Eyes Wide Shut” and “Practical Magic”
Kidman is a remarkable technical actress — I put down “Eyes Wide Shut” as the proof text for that, but any number of her other movies would suffice (“The Beguiled” and “Dogville” come to mind). She’s even more impressive, however, when you watch “Practical Magic” and realize that she can do commercial movies just as well as she can do art movies. “Practical Magic” is commercial — a feel-good, post“Bewitched” situation — but still genius, and a jewel in the crown of Kidman’s filmography.
Two sides of Emma Stone: “Poor Things” and “Superbad”
Stone is a similar case. When you think Emma Stone, you think Yorgos Lanthimos these days. “Poor Things” and “Kinds of Kindness” are monuments, but let’s not forget her roots: “Superbad”!
Oscar bait movies about beheaded British saints named Thomas: “A Man for All Seasons” and “Becket”
If I had a nickel for everytime there was an Oscar bait movie about a beheaded British saint named Thomas, I’d have two nickels — which isn’t a lot, but it’s still pretty remarkable.
This is an abbreviated version of the piece. Find the full version online at ndsmcobserver.com.
Contact Peter Mikulski at pmikulsk @ nd.edu
By CLAIRE WATSON Scene Writer
I was late to discover “Queer Eye.” I first watched the show when I finished “Young Royals” and it popped up in my recommended shows on Netflix. I decided to give it a try since I had not watched a lot of reality television shows. It quickly became one of my favorites, and I binged all eight seasons of it.
Run by five men known as the “Fab Five,” each has their own area of expertise. Jonathan Van Ness specializes in hair and body care, Karamo Brown in culture, Antoni Porowski in food and wine, Bobby Berk in interior design and Tan France in fashion.
I feel like people are not heard when they need to be, so my favorite part of the show is when they take the time to listen — even if it does not apply to their area of expertise. I find it to be one of the most important parts of the show.
I also enjoy the audience learns life lessons and
they add inspirational quotes during the transitions. This not only inspires the subject of the episode, but also whoever in the audience needs to see or hear it.
Benefitting myself, I’ve learned how to cook new foods from Antoni and learned fashion from watching Tan. Bobby has taught me a lot about interior design; Jonathan and Karamo have taught me a lot about culture, hair and how I can express my style and thoughts (and not consistently use DoorDash).
Recently, fans have learned that interior expert Bobby has left the “Fab Five” as they film season nine. I am so used to him doing the interior design, so this is going to feel different. (Have I mentioned that I am not a fan of change before?) At the same time, it is going to be interesting to see how the dynamic changes in the group, with a new person taking his place.
According to Out Magazine, Jeremiah Brent as been announced as Bobby Berk’s replacement.
While I love everyone in the original “Fab Five,” Bobby was one of my favorite members of the group. I
am interested to see how season nine is going to turn out with the new chemistry within the group.
On March 8, France addressed the situation.
“I just want to address one point real quick,” he said. “My former colleague getting fired had nothing to do with me trying to get my friend hired.”
Berk replied in an interview about his leaving. “They all decided to sign. And with only one of us not coming back, Netflix felt [it] could recast one person,” he said.
So to recap, France says that Berk was fired, while Berk says the opposite, insisting he simply did not sign back on for season nine. I personally do not know which side of the argument is true, but it is some drama, drama, drama!
As of right now, there is no release date of the new season, but I am excited to hear when they release the premiere date.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@ nd.edu
MARISSA PANETHIERE | The Observer
Key moments: Miami (Ohio) 3, Notre Dame 28
By ANNIKA HERKO Associate Sports Editor
On Saturday afternoon, Notre Dame football improved to 3-1 with a 28-3 defeat of Miami (Ohio). Here are five key moments from the first Irish home win of the season.
Irish defense holds, but Leonard’s offense cannot get 10 yards
Miami got the ball first but was unable to get past midfield. Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Faison, however, muffed the punt, and Miami took over at Notre Dame’s 26-yard line. Three plays later, after getting to the 5-yard line, Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert’s pass was deflected by sophomore cornerback Christian Gray and intercepted by junior vyper Junior Tuihalamaka. Notre Dame would go three-and-out after two designed runs and a poor play choice by senior quarterback Riley Leonard to scramble with at least one open receiver. With a collapsing pocket, wanting to escape is understandable but Leonard stopped looking downfield too early. At times, he is so concerned about making a really bad play (taking a sack, throwing an interception, etc.) that he is unable to make a big play.
Though Notre Dame’s starting field position was less than ideal, the lack of creativity in the playcalling has become increasingly concerning as the season progresses. The Irish had the opportunity to drive down the field but instead were forced to punt. The absence of decisive plays in crucial moments is becoming more evident.
Another field goal fail… Riley Leonard finally took the
fans’ advice and threw the ball deep. He had senior tight end Mitchell Evans, but the defender was too tight on him and never turned his head, making it an easy pass-interference call for the officials. Closer and with a fresh set of downs, Notre Dame had a few glimmers of something: junior running back Jadarian Price rushed for 14 yards and sophomore wideout Jaden Greathouse caught a pass for 12 yards, but the drive stalled. Graduate kicker Mitch Jeter and the kicking unit waltzed on the field for a 51-yard attempt, and a low snap helped the Redhawks get through before the ball was even kicked. The ghosts of Northern Illinois continued to haunt Notre Dame.
Special teams continue to be an issue for the Irish this season. Miami, however, was at least able to get on the board. When the RedHawks’ drive stalled at Notre Dame’s 8-yard line, their kicker was actually able to kick the ball and got it through the uprights.
Leonard’s pair of touchdowns
Notre Dame was finally able to get some points on the board with three and a half minutes remaining in the second quarter. The drive started from the Irish 13-yard line. Leonard had a few short passes to the edge, bringing the Irish up the field. Leonard then threw deep for Faison, and the Irish drew a pass-interference penalty, the RedHawks’ second DPI of the game. Two plays later, Miami was called for a personal foul and Notre Dame got another 15 easy yards. A few plays later, Leonard continued his streak of rushing touchdowns by taking it in himself from 8 yards out.
Miami was unable to do
anything with the ball on offense and sent it back to Notre Dame. Leonard then had the best drive in his career at Notre Dame. On first down, from the Miami 38-yard line, Leonard hit Collins in stride with a pretty ball for his first touchdown pass in an Irish uniform (it only took 13 quarters).
Gray picks off Gabbert
In the middle of the third quarter, Gabbert tried to get his offense going with a deep pass up the sideline. However, Gray had his second huge play of the game, an interception, and the Irish offense took over at its own 46-yard line. Notre Dame moved the ball with some running
plays, and then Leonard finally aimed for Evans running towards the end zone. He was not able to make the catch but drew Miami’s third DPI of the game. Leonard later attempted to find graduate wide receiver Kris Mitchell in the end zone but was denied again. He caught graduate wide receiver Jayden Harrison on the run for 12 yards. Finally, sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love rushed for 15 yards and scored, getting Notre Dame’s third touchdown of the game.
Notre Dame blocks Miami field goal
In the fourth quarter, Miami put
together a six-and-a-half minute drive to try and gain a little momentum and score its first touchdown of the day. It looked pretty promising for the RedHawks. Gabbert strung together a few good passes and Notre Dame picked up a DPI call. On third and 10, Gabbert was sacked by sophomore linebacker Drayk Bowen for a loss of 12, stalling the drive and forcing a field goal. Dom Dzioban’s field-goal attempt was blocked by freshman defensive lineman Bryce Young, leaving Notre Dame feeling good on special teams after an up-and-down day.
Contact Annika Herko at aherko@nd.edu
Herko: Evaluating Riley Leonard’s offense
By ANNIKA HERKO Associate Sports Editor
We all know that Notre Dame’s offense is not playing to the standard Irish fans expect in a consistent way. It’s true for most teams in football the play of the quarterback determines the productivity of the offense. This is certainly true when considering the play of Riley Leonard and the Notre Dame offense. When the graduate transfer from Duke is off, this offense cannot get anything done. Leonard often turns his body so he can only see half the field. As soon as the defensive line starts to pressure him, he starts to run where he usually only picks up a few yards, rather than looking downfield a second longer, where his receivers have finally got open.
On Saturday against Miami (Ohio), Leonard’s first quarter was absolutely atrocious, and to go three and out on the first drive of the second quarter was just bad. The three running plays were indicative of the unexciting Notre Dame offense we’ve come to know and dislike this season. The boos that came from the student section as the offense ran off the field were what every Notre Dame fan was feeling.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock came back to Notre Dame after overseeing one of the best offenses in the country with LSU. Granted his quarterback, Jayden Daniels, was throwing to two future first round NFL draft picks, but Denbrock was responsible for a lot of that. It’s difficult to believe that Denbrock is not continuing to draw up the same plays
he drew up down in LSU, which means Leonard is just not executing them.
After the game, head coach Marcus Freeman was asked about Leonard’s play in the beginning of the game versus the end and the crowd response.
“I didn’t ask [Leonard] about how he feels about people booing him … We can’t perform to … make sure everybody cheers for us, all right. That’s a part of the game, right? If you don’t do your job, people are going to boo you. But if you let that affect the way you go out and execute the next play, then man, you’re not the right person for this job or to be our quarterback at Notre Dame,” Freeman said.
Maybe the booing was effective. On the next drive, he put together an 87-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard rushing touchdown. It did give Notre Dame its first lead of the game, but Leonard needed to show he was actually a threat through the air, as well. Finally, on the next drive, he threw the best pass Notre Dame fans have ever seen out of him. He hit graduate wideout Beaux Collins in stride for a beautiful, 38-yard touchdown.
I’m still not convinced Leonard is the best choice to lead this Notre Dame offense, but as long as Notre Dame keeps winning, the coaching staff is unlikely to make a change.
“I don’t know how many yards Riley led [Notre Dame’s] offense to through rushing and passing, but there’s always parts to clean up. And we’ve got to continue to look at the mistakes that he made and say, ‘Okay, how do we do a better job of not putting him in a position to make mistakes, and where was the disconnect?’ But we’ve got a lot of confidence in our quarterback that led us to a great victory today,” Freeman said.
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.
FOOTBALL COLUMN
RICHARD TAYLOR | The Observer
Senior quarterback and 143-yard rusher Riley Leonard (right) hands the ball off to junior running back Jadarian Price (left) during Notre Dame’s 28-3 defeat of Miami (Ohio) at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 21.
and letting your creativity determine the process and delivery you choose to reach your objective this year. Your numbers are 4, 10, 22, 29, 34, 45, 48. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Verify information before you buy into something. Creating and making your dreams come true instead of supporting someone else’s is important. Consider the prospects but be reasonable and start with baby steps. Observe, listen, and readjust information or a formula to suit your needs.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Rethink your long-term financial plan and professional goals. A change may be in your best interest with an adjustment to your qualifications. Someone you reach out to or research you pursue will spark your imagination and help curb your plans. Prospects look promising.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Share your emotions and base the changes you implement on the response you receive. Take a critical look at what you do for a living, how you present and market yourself, and what your end goal is, and you’ll come up with a plan that is within reach.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Plan to have fun and participate in outings or events that stimulate your mind and make you want to implement physical activity into your routine. Actions will rejuvenate and remind you what it’s like to feel alive. Nurture friendships and be honest regarding your intentions and feelings.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Observe what’s happening around you. Refrain from revealing personal information or sharing gossip; it will put your reputation at stake. Focus on making a difference, donating time or skills to a group or concern, and you’ll find an outlet for your energy that serves you well.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Embrace life and do what you love doing most. Turn your ideas into something tangible, run the show and be proud of your accomplishments. Confidence will help you find your footing and encourage you to complete your mission. Intelligence coupled with creativity will bear fruit.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Gather information, readdress your thoughts and plans, and broaden your perspective regarding the possibilities. Be honest about your home, overhead, and the best way to move forward without revoking your lifestyle. Practicality will help you make wise choices and financial gains that help you sustain your status quo.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep tabs on your health and well-being. Don’t take an unnecessary risk that can lead to unwanted viruses. Pay attention to detail, and you’ll devise a creative plan that encourages you to learn something new, engage in a healthier lifestyle, and spend time with people you love.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be careful who you trust or tell your secrets to. Equip yourself with what’s necessary to follow your heart and create opportunities that encourage better results at work and home. A healthy, happy attitude will attract positive attention and support from suitable sources and those you love.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t take no for an answer. Use intelligence, incentives, and a detailed look at what you want to accomplish, and you’ll get the feedback you desire. Refrain from taking health risks or pushing yourself too hard physically. A healthy mind, body, and soul will be your ticket to success.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Spend time improving your surroundings and schedule and choosing relaxing and fun pastimes to do with close buddies. Expanding your routine to fit in affordable activities and take your mind off daily stress will help you formulate a healthy life pattern.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Reconfigure your schedule to meet your demands. Having a plan in place will help alleviate emotional tension and outside interference. Find a way to simplify your life instead of contributing to chaos. Distance yourself from trouble, temptation, and excessive behavior. Choose moderation and simplicity over discord and extravagance.
Birthday Baby: You are determined, engaging, and curious. You are detailed and forthright.
Chukwu scores in return as Irish beat Virginia
By TYLER REIDY Sports Editor
Four weeks ago, the Notre Dame women’s soccer team lost three of its primary players to the U-20 World Cup in Colombia. At the time, the Irish had one win and one loss entering a top-15 tilt against TCU. Notre Dame won big in that match, breezing past the Horned Frogs with a 4-0 shutout.
As two of those three players returned to the lineup over the week, No. 16 Notre Dame — still with only one loss on the season — faced another difficult challenge at No. 14 Virginia. A postponement for inclement weather gave sophomore defender Clare Logan and freshman forward Annabelle Chukwu additional time to settle back into the college soccer
environment. When the time came to play on Sunday afternoon in Charlottesville, they certainly delivered. Logan played the full 90 minutes on the Irish back line, while Chukwu deposited the day’s only goal to lead a 1-0 Notre Dame victory. However, with the schedule change, Notre Dame as a whole came out somewhat flat-footed to open the match. Virginia attempted each of the afternoon’s first nine shots, pinning freshman goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica and the Irish on the ropes early. The 0-0 score remained, and Notre Dame began to turn momentum over just shy of the first half’s midway point. Freshman forward Izzy Engle, who by her standards now has an astronomically high scoring drought of two games, took four shots in
the first half alone. Chukwu also threatened, forcing a diving stop from Victoria Safradin in the 22nd minute. Notre Dame’s strongest chance originated with substitute Sophia Fisher in the 34th minute. Given space, the senior midfielder stepped into and pounded a 25-yard shot that rang the crossbar and stayed out. By halftime, the Irish had crept to an 11-8 deficit in the shooting category and led the Cavaliers by a 4-2 margin in shots on goal.
Only 69 seconds of secondhalf time passed before Notre Dame found the difference maker. Freshman midfielder Grace Restovich located Chukwu on a wonderful through ball, setting her up for a 1-on-1 chance against a defender inside the 18-yard box. With the ball, Chukwu cut back to her right foot,
opening up a lane to shoot inside her defender and beyond Safradin’s reach for her second goal of the season.
Virginia would jeopardize Notre Dame’s lead in the 61st minute, as another through ball sent Meredith McDermott toward goal in a 1-on-1 against freshman defender Abby Gemma. With McDermott approaching the end line on the left side of the 18-yard box, Gemma attempted a slide tackle and came up empty. That miss positioned McDermott to square up Kasica and shoot with the right foot. Her rising attempt, however, caught the reaching right hand of the Irish keeper and trickled beyond the far post for a corner kick.
From there, Notre Dame limited Virginia to only two additional shots, with
Kasica needing to make just one more save against McDermott in the 85th minute. As the match went final, Virginia finished with 15 shots to Notre Dame’s 13, but the Irish walked away with their seventh shutout win of the season and their first ACC victory of the year.
Now at 7-1-1 on the year overall and at 1-0-1 within conference play, Notre Dame comes home this week with an opportunity to multiply its momentum. The Irish will host NC State on Thursday looking for their fourth consecutive defeat of the Wolfpack and a win in their first ACC home game of the season. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Alumni Stadium.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
Traore shines in his first start in blue and gold
By HENRY LYTLE Sports Writer
Boubacar Traore certainly made his starting debut one to remember in South Bend. Irish fans might remember his interception and return for a touchdown a week ago against Purdue, but few knew about his ability to wreak havoc on both the run and pass game. The 6-foot-4 sophomore defensive lineman from West Roxbury, Massachusetts was tasked with filling in the hole of graduate defensive lineman Jordan Botehlo against Miami (Ohio) and exceeded all expectations anyone could have placed on his broad shoulders. The Irish look to have another dominant edge threat as they enter the most important game of the season against Louisville.
Boubacar is not the first person in his family with hopes and dreams of playing in the National Football League. His older brother Badara Traore played for LSU, where he started three games and was an undrafted free agent. Bouncing around to the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, Badara was waived by the Panthers in 2024. Playing on the other side of the football with his smaller and more explosive frame, Boubacar had immense success at Catholic Memorial high school in Massachusetts. Traore was a dominant force on the
defensive line, playing end, outside linebacker and tackle. His versatility at 240 pounds was what made his play on the field even more intriguing for coaches across the country. With offers from Michigan and Notre Dame among others, he chose to play in South Bend under defensive coordinator Al Golden and defensive line coach Al Washington. Playing just one game against USC in 2023-24, Traore recorded one sack and a forced fumble in Notre Dame’s dominating, 48-20 win against the rivals from California. Traore was an ideal fit for the vyper position (defensive end lining up at the boundary who can rush or play in coverage) coming into the 2024 season, but no one expected him to make an impact so soon. Injuries to junior defensive lineman Joshua Burnham and Botelho thrust Traore into an impactful role, and he has made the most of his time in the first third of the season. This season, Traore has recorded a total of 11 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble and one interception for a touchdown. Addressing the play of the vypers for the Irish, head coach Marcus Freeman said, “Boubacar is playing at a high level. He’s been playing at a high level the first three games, and he’s continuing to progress. And so we need [both him and junior defensive end Junior Tuihalamaka]. I’m proud of the way they performed
today.”
Traore was a force not only in the pass, but also the run game. He was seen weaving around offensive linemen, setting the edge on run plays and generating serious push on the outside runs. Traore’s ability to mix up his looks and see space to rush the quarterback is what gives him the special ability to be a game changing force from the defensive line. Only a sophomore, Traore will have more opportunities to develop working
alongside veterans including Tuihalamaka and graduate defensive lineman Howard Cross III. Despite the woes for the Irish offense, Notre Dame’s defense has proven to be formidable in the secondary and especially the defensive line. With Traore’s breakout in the season so far, the Irish have been able to reload at defensive line with the toughest games ahead.
When asked about how he hopes to continue his success, Traore said, “Just continue to keep my head down
and keep working.”
Traore will certainly have to work next week as he lines up across from Monroe Mills (6-foot-7, 315 pounds) and Jonathan Mendoza (6foot-9, 310 pounds) for the Louisville Cardinals. As Traore’s role has increased, so has his production thus far. Irish fans should keep a lookout for the No. 5 on the Irish defense as the season progresses.
Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
RICHARD TAYLOR | The Observer
Sophomore defensive lineman Boubacar Traore fights off a block during a pass rush in Notre Dame’s 28-3 defeat of Miami (Ohio) at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 21. He had five tackles and two sacks in the game.
Irish sweep at National Catholic Invitational
By ALEX TREANOR Sports Writer
This past Friday, Notre Dame hosted the 45th National Catholic Invitational on the Burke Golf Course. Both the Irish men’s and women’s teams secured the meet title with scores of 16 and 15, respectively, and the teams handily beat second-place Loyola (Illinois), who finished in
second place for both the men and women with scores of 54 and 47.
The Irish women dominated the 5K and had 11 runners in the top 15. Freshman Mary Bonner Dalton ran unattached and won the women’s overall title with a 5K time of 16:46.3. Just one second off Dalton, teammate and freshman Isabel Allori, who also ran unattached, finished in second with a time
of 16:47.3. Graduate student and Fort Wayne native Erin Strzelecki finished in third with a time of 16:47.5, and right behind her was sophomore Arianne Olson, who finished in 16:55.6. With times of 17:09.3 and 17:09.9, junior Caroline Lehman and senior Siona Chisholm finished in fifth and sixth, respectively.
Similar to the women, the Irish men comfortably
finished in first with 12 men finishing in the top 15 runners. The men’s 8K race title was captured by graduate student Carter Solomon, who finished with a time of 23:40.5. Following right behind him was junior Daelen Ackley who ran a time of 23:43.4. Sophomore Brody Hartley and junior Izaiah Steury ran respective times of 23:49.5 and 23:50.7 to round out the top
four runners. Running unattached, freshman Drew Griffith ran a time of 23:52.8, and less than two seconds behind him was graduate student Cole Nash who finished with a time of 23:54.1.
The Irish men and women are set to run again at home on Oct. 4 for the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invite.
Contact Alex Treanor at atreanor@nd.edu
Irish handle Chicago State on Roou’s hat trick
By BEN HICKS Sports Writer
Notre Dame men’s soccer picked up their second win of non-conference play on Friday night, collecting a 6-1 victory to take care of Chicago State at Alumni Stadium.
The Irish, who entered the 2024 campaign ranked second nationally by United Soccer Coaches after a national runner-up finish a year ago, have struggled to find wins thus far in the young season. Entering Friday night’s tilt with the now 1-6 Cougars, 1-1-3 Notre Dame’s lone win had occurred two weeks prior at Louisville to open ACC play.
Roou’s hat trick ignites
Irish attack
The first real chance of the match came in the 10th minute when senior defender Kyle Genenbacher’s throw-in found the feet of junior midfielder KK Baffour, whose shot from six yards out went right
into the lap of Chicago State netminder Lucas Fontana.
Just a few moments later, Cougar forward Hilary Odhiambo almost caught freshman keeper Blake Kelly off his line to open the scoring, but his shot from 35 yards out just clipped the top of the crossbar.
The Irish broke through on their second corner of the evening, as Baffour’s inswinging service found the head of Genenbacher before redirecting off a Cougar defender and into the bottom left corner.
The goal was the senior defender’s second of the year, and Baffour picked up his second assist of the campaign after leading the squad with seven a year ago.
The Irish doubled the advantage just four minutes later when senior forward Matthew Roou tapped in a short cross from six yards out off a nice dime from junior midfielder Sebastian Green. The score was also Roou’s second of
the season. The senior forward from Germantown, Wisconsin, whose 10 goals a year ago were the most of any Irish returner, hadn’t scored since slotting home a penalty on opening night against Akron.
After a barrage of Notre Dame chances in the following minutes, both attacks stalled until the final minute of the half, when an exquisite buildup saw Roou net his second of the match off quick assists from both Green and Baffour.
The Cougars got one back early after the intermission, when a free kick from the left foot of Bruno Baez was deflected off the post by Kelly before being cleaned up by Luka Assaf on the doorstep of the goal. A miraculous save from Kelly, who finished with three total, was all for naught as the Irish left the sophomore Frenchman unmarked in an uncharacteristic defensive breakdown.
The Irish advantage was sent back to three less than 50 seconds later, as Roou completed the hat trick from roughly 16 yards out, coming off the double assist from freshman midfielder Ian Shaul and senior midfielder Bryce Boneau. Roou nearly added a fourth goal to his tally with a diving header a few minutes later, but it was sophomore forward Jack Flanagan who added the fifth Notre Dame goal of the night, beating Fontana through the five-hole in the 66th minute. The goal also marked Green’s third assist of the night after he had entered the match with none in his career.
Flanagan then completed his brace in the 78th minute, when he made no mistake off a pass from freshman midfielder Jacob Bartlett, who also picked up the first assist of his collegiate career on the play.
That 6-1 scoreline would hold, and the Irish picked up their first home win of the 2024 campaign.
Roou and Riley speak postgame
Roou addressed the importance of performing well in front of the Irish faithful postgame.
“We’ve had a lot of really good performances, we just haven’t been able to string results together. It’s good to put a lot of goals in the net and hopefully get us going into two home matches next week,” he said.
“We’ve been striving for consistency, and our performances have been good, and it was nice to finally have some goals to show for it today,” head coach Chad Riley said.
Riley also cited the recent differences in aggression in the attacking third.
“I think we were more aggressive in that final phase tonight, and that contributed to why we had some nice services and finishes tonight.”
What’s next
The Irish will be back in action this coming Tuesday, as they welcome the Titans of Detroit Mercy to Alumni Stadium. The Titans have struggled mightily as of late, failing to collect three points since a decisive, 5-1 road win at Eastern Illinois back on Aug. 26. Detroit Mercy also dropped a home match earlier in September to this same Chicago State squad.
Beyond Tuesday night’s contest, Riley’s bunch will have its hands full when the reigning national champions in No. 4 Clemson make the trip to South Bend on Friday night in what is a highly anticipated rematch of the 2023 College Cup National Championship. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. first touches at Alumni Stadium, with Tuesday’s tilt being aired on ACC Network Extra and Friday night’s game being broadcast nationally on ESPNU. Contact Ben Hicks at
Irish total 270 rushing yards in first home win
By HENRY LYTLE Sports Writer
The Irish entered Saturday’s game against Miami (Ohio) following a dominating, 66-7 victory against Purdue. The disappointing home opener just two weeks prior against Northern Illinois left a sour taste in the mouth of Irish fans hopeful for a playoff berth. Despite starting slow offensively and falling to an early 3-0 deficit, the Irish went on a 28-0 run to beat Miami and improve to 3-1.
Reflecting on the game, head coach Marcus Freeman said, “It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t clean, but I’m proud of our guys to hold their offense to three points.”
The Irish defense aimed to set the tone for this game against a high-powered Miami offense averaging over 280 passing yards per game. They forced a punt on the first RedHawks drive that was muffed by sophomore wide receiver Jordan Faison, who just returned this week after suffering an injury against Texas A&M. However, sophomore cornerback Christian Gray deflected a pass that was intercepted by junior
linebacker Junior Tuihalamaka to give the Irish back the ball.
On offense, Notre Dame sputtered early. Punctuated by two penalties on sophomore left guard
Sam Pendleton in the first quarter, the Irish were stifled by the RedHawks defense to go scoreless in the first quarter. To begin the second quarter, Miami would go on its longest drive of the game for 59 yards, capitalized with a Dom Dzioban field goal to take a lead.
Following this field goal, the Irish would score 28 unanswered and assume control starting with the defensive side of the football.
The Irish began their offensive onslaught with a 10-play, 87yard drive capped off by a Riley Leonard 8-yard touchdown run. Irish fans only needed to wait one drive longer to see the senior quarterback’s best throw of the season and first touchdown pass in blue and gold. It was a 56-second touchdown drive ending in a 38-yard touchdown throw from Leonard to graduate transfer wideout Beaux Collins.
Reflecting on Leonard’s play in the game, Freeman said, “We have a lot of confidence in him
making the right decision in the run game and the pass game.”
The Irish began with the ball to open the second half and attempted a reverse play out of the kickoff that was called back for a block in the back penalty. Following two blocked field goals against Northern Illinois, the Irish fans had hoped for a wake-up call on special teams. With a muffed punt, a bobbled snap on graduate kicker Mitch Jeter’s 51-yard field goal attempt and the block in the back, the Irish once again struggled to convert necessary plays on special teams.
“The block in the back on the reverse was unacceptable,” Freeman said. “We have to own these mistakes as coaches.”
The Irish fought their way out of difficult field position to extend the first-half lead, but a huge, 35-yard run from Leonard ended in a fumble to open up the second-half offense. The Irish defense would be once again tasked with picking up the offense and special-teams mistakes. The RedHawks continued to target Gray in the secondary, proving to be a challenge throughout the
game. Gray, however, earned his first interception of the year with 7:17 left in the third.
“It felt amazing,” Gray said of his pick. “We knew as a sophomore group … we were going to step up. It’s our time.”
Another sophomore, Boubacar Traore, ended with five tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble filling in at defensive end. Despite battling injuries at defensive line and linebacker, the Irish defense has only allowed three touchdowns in the season. The red-zone defense is proving to be a strong suit of the physical and athletic Irish defense. The Irish secondary ended with 17 coverage wins by seven different players.
Referring to the secondary, Marcus Freeman said, “That is who we are.”
Sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love punched in a 15yard touchdown run to bring the score to 21-3. Love ended with 11 carries for 60 yards. The Irish showcased a dominant rushing attack, building on their 300-yard performance against Purdue by piling up another 270 yards on the
ground against Miami. Freshman defensive lineman Bryce Young blocked a field goal with 8:13 left in the fourth quarter to give the Irish great field position. Following the block, Leonard ran for a 50-yard touchdown with 5:39 left in the fourth quarter that sealed the game for the Irish on fourth down. Leonard would finish with 12 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns rushing along with 154 yards and a touchdown passing.
“It was a redemption game for me,” Leonard said.
The Irish will certainly face one of the biggest challenges of the season at home against No. 19 Louisville next Saturday. This will be the annual “Irish Wear Green” in Notre Dame Stadium as the Irish hope to avenge last year’s green-out loss in the final seconds against Ohio State. With Northern Illinois losing to Buffalo this weekend, all hope of an Irish playoff appearance rides on ranked victories against Louisville and USC in the coming weeks.
Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
FOOTBALL WRAP
RICHARD TAYLOR | The Observer
Sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love cuts toward the end zone to finish off a 15-yard touchdown run during Notre Dame’s 28-3 defeat of Miami (Ohio) at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 21. Love ran for 60 yards and his fourth touchdown of the season on 11 carries against the RedHawks. He has found the end zone in all four games to open the 2024 season.
