Print Edition for The Observer for Wednesday, September 8, 2021

The independent

To uncover

newspaper serving

the truth

Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s

and report

and holy cross

it accurately

Volume 56, Issue 8 | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

Students join in prayer Notre Dame community gathers for victims of suicide

By SIMON VOGEL News Writer

Notre Dame students gathered in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Tuesday evening for a healing and memorial prayer ser v ice organized by student government as a part of the “Glad You’re Here” event series in obser vance of National Suicide Prevention Week.

Upon entering the Basilica, attendees were prov ided w ith candles for a lighting at the Grotto which would see SERVICE PAGE 5

Observer Staff Report

SIMON VOGEL | The Observer

Following a service in the Basilica, students light candles at the Grotto to remember suicide victims and pray for their loved ones.

Robotic football kicks off season, recounts origins

ISA SHEIKH | The Observer

Len Pieroni, a senior in Morrissey Manor serving as the president and head coach of robotic football, holds the team’s championship trophy.

By ISA SHEIKH News Writer

Notre Dame’s robotic football club began its stor y in the early 2000s, when Bill Hederman found a sketchbook draw ing by his son, Brian. Brian had died in a car accident in 1995, the summer after his freshman year at Notre Dame.

The sketch depicted a humanoid quarterback robot

VIEWPOINT PAGE 7

University to commemorate 9/11 attacks

play ing football, striking a pose similar to that of the Heisman Trophy. Today, Brian’s legacy lives on in the form of a tree planted outside of Morrissey Manor, a memorial scholarship and the many who recall his character. This sketch, however, inspired Hederman to create a larger-scale tribute to his son. see ROBOTICS PAGE 3

VIEWPOINT PAGE 8

Notre Dame w ill commemorate the 20th anniversar y of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, through a series of events on Saturday, the Universit y announced in a press release Tuesday. The commemorative events w ill begin w ith a prayer ser v ice held on South Quad on Saturday morning.

The prayer ser v ice — organized by student government and Campus Ministr y — w ill begin Saturday at 8:46 a.m, the time the first plane hit One World Trade Center in New York Cit y.

Fr. Edward “Monk” Malloy w ill preside over the ser v ice, as he presided over the Mass in the same see 9/11 PAGE 5

University resumes select study abroad programs

By IAN KYLE News Writer

Study abroad students are able once more to travel to international destinations this semester, but they are faced with new changes, restrictions and regulations in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every study abroad location is different, in both experiences offered and in COVID-19 regulations, senior director of global education Hong Zhu said.

“We developed COVID-19 policies and guidelines for all of the gateways and centers where we have study abroad programs this semester and the guidelines are country and locationspecific,” Zhu said.

Zhu said the diversity of regulations stems from a desire to respect the policies and procedures of each host nation. As a result, he said it is important for students to do their research regarding the state of the pandemic in their desired destinations. Upon arrival, study abroad students are asked to limit their travel to within their host nation.

While study abroad has returned as an available option, certain study abroad programs remain canceled, including those in Australia and France.

Scene PAGE 9

Reasons for cancelations vary: Students are unable to travel to Chile due to closed borders, and programs in China were halted due to the country’s travel restrictions. For the University’s program in Nagoya, Japan, courses are being taught entirely through remote instruction.

Despite current complications, most spring 2022 programs are expected to resume, Zhu said.

“The University is moving forward with spring 2022 study abroad, and we are optimistic that we will be able to operate the majority of the programs,” Zhu said.

But considering the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, Zhu and the global engagement team ask that students follow given instructions and guidelines as they plan for the spring semester.

The 2022-2023 academic year offers four new study abroad programs that students can look forward to, including Durham, United Kingdom; Lviv, Ukraine; Tel Aviv, Israel and Leuven, Belgium. Summer programs have also been added, Zhu said.

“We have also added several new summer programs, some in locations where we didn’t have summer programs before, such as Uganda, Singapore,

M Soccer PAGE 16

Thailand and New Zealand,” Zhu said.

The University also now offers new programs within existing locations, such as in Beijing, Jerusalem and Rome.

Information regarding these new programs, as well as the existing programs, can be found online at the Notre Dame study abroad website. Students wishing to study abroad for the 20222023 academic year can begin the application process now.

Although the pandemic has led to major changes in operation across the study abroad experience, Zhu said he hopes students understand the importance of the University’s ongoing safety precautions. As the opportunity to study abroad is an important aspect of what Notre Dame has to offer, students being receptive to changing circumstances is critical for maintaining this experience, he said.

“The situation is constantly changing and evolving, and [students] should be prepared to adapt and stay flexible,” Zhu said. “We trust that students will still have a very meaningful experience, even with limited travel.”

Contact Ian Kyle at ikyle@nd.edu

W volleyball PAGE 16

2

TODAY

The observer | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

Question of the Day: ndsmcobserver.com

Have a question you want answered?

Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com

Who would you want to see live in concert?

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

Brooke Anquilare

Katie Morales

sophomore Breen-Phillips Hall

sophomore Pasquerilla East Hall

“The Beatles.”

“Taylor Swift.”

Zhaniya Abzhan

Monica Cichon

first-year Flaherty Hall

sophomore Pasquerilla East Hall

“Harry Styles.”

“Alec Benjamin.”

(574) 631-6900 ads@ndsmcobserver.com

Jenna Szydlowski

Francine Shaft

Editor-in-Chief

sophomore Pasquerilla East Hall

senior Walsh Hall

“Haim.”

“The Killers.”

Editor-in-Chief Adriana Perez Managing Editor Evan McKenna

Asst. Managing Editor: Isabella Volmert Asst. Managing Editor: Colin Capece Asst. Managing Editor: Nelisha Silva

Notre Dame News Editor: Saint Mary’s News Editor:

Viewpoint Editor:

Sports Editor:

Scene Editor:

Photo Editor:

Graphics Editor:

Social Media Editor:

Advertising Manager:

Ad Design Manager:

Systems Administrator: Talent & Inclusion Manager:

Alysa Guffey Genevieve Coleman Abby Patrick Mannion McGinley Aidan O’Malley Allison Thornton Maggie Klaers Veronica Navarro Landry Kempf Maggie Klaers Rachel Johnson

Nelisha Silva

Office Manager & General Info

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

(574) 631-4542 aperez8@nd.edu Managing Editor

(574) 631-4542 emckenn2@nd.edu Assistant Managing Editors

(574) 631-4541 ivolmert@nd.edu, ccapece@nd.edu, nsilva1@nd.edu Business Office

(574) 631-5313 Notre Dame News Desk

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

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

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

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

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

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

webmaster@ndsmcobserver.com Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of any institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content.

The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Assistant Managing Editors and department editors.

Commentaries, letters and columns present the views of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Viewpoint space is available to all readers. The free expression of all opinions through letters is encouraged.

Letters to the Editor must be signed and must include contact information.

Questions regarding Observer policies should be directed to Editor-in-Chief Adriana Perez.

Post Office Information The Observer (USPS 599 2-4000) is published Monday through Friday except during exam and vacation periods.

A subscription to The Observer is $130 for one academic year; $75 for one semester.

The Observer is published at: 024 South Dining Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-0779 Periodical postage paid at Notre Dame and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address corrections to: The Observer P.O. Box 779 024 South Dining hall Notre Dame, IN 46556-077

Today’s Staff News

Sports

Alysa Guffey Bella Laufenberg Isa Sheikh

Mannion McGinley Emily DeFazio

Graphics

Willoughby Thom

Makayla Hernandez

Photo Gab Penna

GAB PENNA | The Observer

The sun sets over the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Tuesday afternoon. Students flock back to their residence halls, North or South dining halls or to study rooms at various buildings across campus, leaving God Quad empty and silent after a busy day of classes.

The next Five days:

Want your event included here?

Email news@ndsmcobserver.com

Scene Viewpoint Abby Patrick Katie Werner

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

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

“Fires and Floods” online 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

Come and listen to a Flash Panel on Europe in 2021.

Daily Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 11:30 a.m. & 5:15 p.m.

All are welcome to celebrate mass.

“Exploiting Diversity” online 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

Lecture by Professor Leong. Register online.

Game Day Programming North and South Quads 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Open to all.

Daily Mass Basilica of the Sacred Heart 8 a.m., 10 a.m. & 12 p.m.

All are welcome to celebrate mass.

CSLC Open House Bond Hall 334 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

Meet faculty and staff of the CSLC. All are welcome to join.

Guardian of Faith Coleman-Morse Lounge 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Join Campus Ministry.

All are welcome.

Food Truck Friday Library Lawn 9 p.m.-11 p.m.

Enjoy delicious food on Library Lawn. Free for students.

Toledo @ ND Notre Dame Stadium 2:30 p.m.

Come to watch ND’s home opener for the 2021 season.

Vespers Basilica of the Sacred Heart 7:15 p.m.

All are welcome to attend.

News

ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | The Observer

3

Paid Advertisement

Robotics Continued from page 1

It took a while for the idea to come to fruition, but eventually, in 2010, a few mechanical engineering students worked on creating football robots for a senior design course.

In April 2012, the first-ever intercollegiate robotic football game was held in Stepan Center, featuring Notre Dame and Ohio Northern Universit y. Since then, Valparaiso and Purdue Universit y at Kokomo have joined the league.

In a given year, the club has 30 to 40 active members.

“We’ll see how that turns out this year, since we had 130 people come to our table at activ ities and 60 or 70 show up to our first meeting,” said Len Pieroni, a senior in Morrissey Manor and the president and head coach of robotic football.

The first time Zachar y Mik hail, a first-year in Stanford Hall, heard about Notre Dame was in the James Patterson children’s book series “House of Robots.”

“It was about the robotic football team at Notre Dame, and I loved the book.

But I also thought it was entirely fictional,” he said.

W hen Mik hail was apply ing to the Universit y, he received a newsletter detailing unique opportunities on campus and saw a feature on a real robotic football team.

“I had no idea that it was real the entire time,” he said.

The robotic football club meets in the basement of Fitzpatrick Hall on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m., filling the halls w ith the sound of mechanical whirring and engineering jokes about soldering. They pack into room B01, the group’s lab filled w ith unfinished projects, whiteboards covered i n electric diagrams and formulas as well as the star players themselves: the robots.

Ever y week, the group first discusses a broader v iew of the club and hears progress reports on their robots. Smaller groups work throughout the week on the maintenance and development of indiv idual robots or different steps of the process.

“We’re mostly mechanical engineers, electrical engineers and computer science majors,” Pieroni said. “We have plent y of people but there’s always more stuff to do and always room for more.”

A couple of finance majors have even become members for the sole purpose of operating the robots during

games, Pieroni said.

As a football school, Notre Dame might be thought to have a natural advantage, its student population relatively educated on the ins and outs of the game compared to other schools.

Still, the team boasts members of all backgrounds.

“This is an easy way just to learn how football works, while also apply ing skills I learned in class,” said A lexa Zeese, a junior at Saint Mar y’s in the engineering dual-degree program.

As a woman in STEM, Zeese said she appreciates the opportunities the club has given her.

“It’s really cool to just say, ‘Oh, we built this robot, and it works and we score points for our team. A nd it was all girls who built it’,” she said.

Similar to their human counterparts, the robots of robot football face injuries as a result of play, often more than surface level.

“These robots get hit so hard all the time that we’ll have w ires come loose; we’ll have motor problems or the [plastic] won’t work anymore,” Pieroni explained.

“Sometimes we’ll have something just completely break.”

Designing the robots is a constant process. Over the course of the past decade, the club has experimented w ith different ways of making the robots more effective.

Notre Dame’s robotic quarterback has been named the best in league.

Using a camera programmed to identif y the various colors of the w ide receivers, the robot can determine the distance needed to pass and propel the football approx imately 15 feet for ward.

In the wake of COVID19, this year marks a return for robotic football. Even during the pandemic, however, members logged on through Zoom to meet as a club.

“Last year, hav ing limited interaction w ith people, it was really nice to have a place to get together w ith a couple of friends,” Pieroni said. “We just got together in the middle of the week and just chitchatted for a while or if we had something big to talk about, we’d kind of get into technical discussions. Last year was more of a design year.”

To end the season, Notre Dame’s robotic football team w ill compete for the Brian Hederman trophy at the ninth annual championship game, hosted in the Stepan Center on April 6.

ISA SHEIKH | The Observer

Contact Isa Sheikh at isheikh@nd.edu

Members of the robotic football club gather on a Tuesday night in the basement of Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering. Different teams examine their various designs and robots in preparation for upcoming events.

Paid Advertisement

CALL TO ACTION: CROSSING THE POLITICAL DIVIDE TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHALLENGES

friday, september 10, 2021

3:00–4:00

Washington Hall

anne thompson

u.s. senator chris coons

NBC News’ Chief Environmental Affairs Correspondent ND ’79

Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Climate Solutions Caucus

forum.nd.edu

Free event. Masks required.

Doors open at 2:00 p.m.

p.m.

News

Service CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

take place later on during the service. Folk Choir violinist and junior Theresa Heidenreich played hymnals in the minutes preceding the service.

“We are here today to honor those who passed and the struggles we all face,” senior and co-director of health and well-being Juliette Kelley said.

Kelley called on attendees to embrace the Notre Dame education of the mind, body and spirit by taking advantage of the resources available to students — including the McDonald Center for Student Well-Being, University Health Services and Campus Ministry — if a student or someone they know is suffering.

Following Kelley’s introductory remarks, rector of the Basilica Fr. Brian C. Ching read from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans, drawing specific emphasis to the line, “If God is with us, who can be against us?”

Ching explained that it is in times of dire need whentakingone’slifeappearstobe the only recourse for one’s suffering, God’s love is more — nothing can stand against it.

Ching continued by recalling a conversation he had with a visitor to the Basilica.

The visitor, unfamiliar with the Catholic tradition of the Stations of the Cross found it “strange that in such a magnificent space there would be such vivid depiction of Christ’s pain and persecution.”

But, Ching noted, that was exactly the point.

“There will be days when life is as magnificent as the gilded Basilica roof, but there will be far more days when one feels they suffer,” Ching said.

Loving God, Ching said, is the consolation in that suffering.

After Ching’s homily, a responsorial prayer was led by Mary Elizabeth Stern, student government director of faith and service. The prayers were centered around victims of suicide and those who suffer, calling on the Notre Dame community to support them. Additionally, prayers were offered for the leaders of the Catholic Church in hopes that the discourse surrounding suicide becomes destigmatized.

The Basilica service ended with a speech from junior Austin Wyman, student government co-director of health and wellbeing, who thanked attendees for coming and re-emphasized the resources for student wellbeing available through the University.

“Throughout this week and the rest of this month,” Wyman said, “we hope to continue the intention of honoring those who are lost.”

This week, Wednesday

ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | The Observer

marks the final event of student government’s series: a discussion on suicide on the second floor of LaFortune Student Center at 7 p.m.

Concluding, Wyman invited students to light their candles and walk down to the Grotto for the final segment of the event.

Singing the Alma Mater, the procession placed its candles and embraced and stood together in silence. When all assembled, Heidenreich played hymns on the violin as attendees prayed for those taken by or affected by suicide.

The scene of togetherness in the face of such a serious issue hearkened back to a comment made in Fr. Ching’s homily: “Let us simply be Christ for one another.”

Contact Simon Vogel at svogel3@nd.edu

9/11 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

location 20 years earlier.

Un iversit y President Fr. Joh n Jen k ins a nd Ma l loy w i l l present t he nat ional colors im med iately before t he Not re Da meToledo footba l l ga me Sat u rday a f ter noon. The com memorat ion w i l l beg in at 2 :20 p.m. in Not re Da me Stad iu m a nd feat u re ref lect ions f rom Ma l loy a nd a prayer by Jen k ins.

At ha lf t ime, t he Not re Da me a nd Toledo ma rching ba nds will join toget her to play “A ma zi ng Grace,” a k in to t he joint per for ma nce f rom t he Not re Da me a nd Mich iga n State ba nds in t he f irst footba l l ga me follow ing t he attack s.

Paid Advertisement

5

6

The observer | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

The $64,000 questions of life

Inside Column

A guide to Notre Dame in Venn diagrams Katie Harmeyer Viewpoint Copy Editor

At the risk of sounding ever-so-slightly conceited, I think we all know there’s no shortage of people who want to learn about our great university. The swarm of visitors taking their first Touchdown Jesus pics (and, yes, that includes the opposing team) this Saturday will likely prove my point.

Notre Dame newbies have a plethora of sources to learn about all of the traditions, whether you’re a first-year flipping through du Lac or a football visitor soaking in the Eck Center’s list of top football traditions. With so many fresh faces on campus this time of year, I thought I’d offer a simpler, consolidated guide to campus life, told through a series of Venn diagrams.

My level of expertise regarding the Notre Dame experience is maybe only slightly above average. I’m a senior, I go to football games and I love the Midwest. However, I’m the first in my family to go to Notre Dame, I didn’t come home from the hospital in a green and gold onesie and I don’t know the weird legends about horsemen and stuff.

My level of expertise regarding Venn diagrams, though? Worldclass. I see all of life through a lens of overlapping circles, and I never hesitate to share these views via Snapchat, post-it notes or the whiteboard in my dorm room last year. My friends are likely sick of it, so the time has come to expand my audience to the wider tricampus community.

Given the lack of visitors on campus last year, I’ll begin with a brief synopsis of life on a coronavirus campus: The Venn diagram of kids who got your class pizza party taken away in first grade and kids who got campus shut down for two weeks last year is nearly a perfect circle. They are one and the same.

The circularity of COVID-19 symptoms and hangover symptoms, on the other hand, is much more difficult to ascertain. This is likely something every student questioned while filling out their Saturday morning Daily Health Check. For example, if you woke up with a headache, which exists in the overlap between COVID-19 symptoms and hangover symptoms, should you yellow pass yourself?

The overlap in a Venn diagram of your assigned DART time and noon in the days preceding the campus shutdown contains your laptop’s refresh button and the words “heavy load.”

Next, on football: DeBartolo Hall on a weekday and Joyce Center on a game day overlap only to include excessively long bathroom lines.

In a Venn diagram of the words “Catholic” and “cool,” the intersection will most certainly include Fr. Pete’s appearances in the Campus Ministry hype video.

The Venn diagram of tailgate food (free, delicious, of a wide variety) and dining hall food (not those things) is really just two circles.

There is an extreme level of overlap in a Venn diagram: The guy behind you in the stands who won’t stop yelling at the refs and the guy next to you in class who needs to play devil’s advocate on the daily.

Then, of course, on dorm life: The Venn diagram of hall council in Walsh Hall and hall council in Alumni Hall (rumored to possibly not exist?) is also just two circles.

In a Venn diagram of “How to Break Parietals” and “How to Play the Quiet Game,” the intersection includes “Rule 1: Shhhh or you’re out.”

If one were to create a Venn diagram with a circle for every dorm on campus, the intersection point of all 32 circles would consist exclusively of the words, “We’re the best dorm on campus.”

Finally, a Venn diagram of people who are new to campus and people the typical Notre Dame student really wants to get to know and is happy to take a Touchdown Jesus pic of is certainly a circle.

Welcome to Notre Dame!

You can contact Katie at kharmeye@nd.edu The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Devin Humphreys Law, Life and the Lord

The rules of this game show were and are simple enough: answer 15 questions correctly in a row, win a million dollars. After five or 10 correct answers, you have a “safety net” of $1,000 or $32,000 respectively, ensuring that you leave with at least something as long as you don’t flunk out on one of the early gimme questions. But answer any of the questions incorrectly, your game is over, and you either lose everything or fall down to one of those safety nets. Any fan of the show knows the chills contestants get on the million dollar question, deciding whether their gut instinct is good enough to risk losing $468,000 of their half-million if their answer is oh-so-tragically incorrect. The ever-perennial light show only adds to the tension, as does the soundtrack with a pulse-like rhythm and chromatic elevation with each question that won its composers a spot in the ASCAP Hall of Fame.

I write, of course, of the smash-hit quiz show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. As one of the last children of the ‘90’s, Millionaire peaked in my formative years. That timing could not have been more providential. At least in some small part, I attribute my early aptitude in reading to that show. After all, the late great Regis Philbin always read exactly what was on the screen, and trivia of the sort Millionaire tosses up on the regular tends to feature hard-to-pronounce words. Similarly, my first numbers weren’t one, two and three; they were 100, 200, and 300 — though admittedly, this plan of relying on Millionaire for a basic math education did backfire just a little bit. Imagine my shock upon learning that 64 plus 64 does not equal 125.

As dubious as relying on a quiz show for early reading, writing and ‘rithmatic may have been, Millionaire did (and still does, thanks to Jimmy Kimmel’s revival) have a number of useful life lessons to share, and in this column I seek to point out the most important one.

See, when a contestant hits that all-important $32,000 milestone, the mood of the game changed. The lights got darker, the music became more foreboding and the questions most certainly got tougher. But I always found this more than a bit ironic, since the $64,000 question was perhaps the least tense big-money moment on the show. Every single contestant who ever got to that point would say “final answer” to at least something, since — and this is the critical point — even if they answered that question incorrectly, they would leave, at least, with every single penny of the $32,000 they already had. But other than a slightly higher pitch to indicate a question further up the money tree, the atmosphere between the $64,000 question and the million dollars is almost exactly the same! (Yes, the million dollar soundtrack is thematically different from

the others, but since that background music subverts the ongoing motif, it’s anticlimactic, which only furthers my point here.)

But that’s just the thing. In life, sometimes we are handed $64,000 questions.

Opportunities come our way that, by the grace of God, we are able to grasp with little or no risk. With these sorts of things, you can’t lose — if you miss out on whatever opportunity is knocking, you don’t lose anything you already had. And even in situations where you do need to put something on the line to go for an opportunity that presents itself, you’ll rarely, if ever, find yourself with absolutely nothing on the other side of that decision. As the old cliché on the show went, “$32,000 is still a lot of money.”

But to leave this column at that would not only underserve you, the reader, but also underserve my byline, and that would be a tragedy. This recurring column isn’t called “Law, Life and the Lord” for nothing, and here’s how it all connects: on Millionaire, Regis always went to significant lengths to remind contestants of exactly how much they stood to win or lose if they answered a particular question.

Life, on the other hand, tends to be much more uncertain. The good news, though, is that in real life we have a much more reliable narrator than even Regis Philbin, and his name is Jesus Christ. Not only can Christ show us what we have to gain or lose in our discernment, but He also has all of the answers in front of him the whole time, since Christ is always the answer. And if that’s not enough (as if it ever wouldn’t be), we have literal lifelines too; we can always phone a friend.

So whether you’re internally debating what classes to take, whether to go to the next SYR, or how to not bomb your next law school cold call, just remember this: sometimes, these questions are more like $64,000 questions than million-dollar ones, and in any case, God’s got the answers right in front of him the whole time, answers He is more than willing to share if only we would stop for a moment and listen. So go to the Grotto, the Basilica, the Law School Chapel, or wherever else suits you, and take the time to listen to the voice of God in prayer. After all, at the end of the day, He is the “final answer!”

Devin is a member of Notre Dame Law School’s class of 2023. Originally from Farwell, Michigan, he is a 2020 graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College. In addition to serving as a teaching assistant at the law school, in his free time, he sings with the Notre Dame Folk Choir and discusses the legal developments of the day with anyone who will listen. He can be reached at dhumphr2@nd.edu or @DevinJHumphreys on Twitter.

The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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

The observer | Wednesday, September 8 , 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

7

Reclaiming religiosity Eva Analitis The Flip Side

One of the first words that comes to mind when I think of Notre Dame — and I don’t think I am alone in saying this — is “Catholic.” With the Basilica of the Sacred Heart protruding from the heart of campus, a chapel in every residence hall and a name honoring the Virgin Mary, our school’s Catholicism is certainly not a secret. Many students and faculty have specifically chosen Notre Dame for their studies and work because of its Catholic identity and celebrate the opportunity to engage in academic inquiry in the comfort of a Catholic environment. I, for one, generally enjoy the spirituality and communal nature of campus life. However, the more time I’ve spent at Notre Dame, the more I’ve come to feel like somewhat of a second-class Christian.

I try to attend weekly Church services, I enjoy theological inquiry and debate and aim to observe Church teachings. Yet I don’t feel quite as Christian as my peers who attend daily Mass, associate with Catholic social groups or belong to spiritual clubs. It’s almost as if we’ve come to view these members of our community as the true Christians, while the rest of us are watered down worshippers.

As a disclaimer, I am an Orthodox Christian and cannot speak from the Catholic perspective.

However, the doctrines of our Churches are extremely similar, and I speak as a member of the general Christian population on campus. Don’t label us as the “non-religious” simply because we don’t attend campus youth groups and retreats or aren’t members of the various pro-life clubs the school has to offer. Our Christian identity is up to us, alone, to claim, not to the “ultra-religious” to bestow. The visible external actions and factors that we traditionally associate with expressing faith — such as praying the Rosary, reading the Bible in a coffee shop, etc. — are not a measure of internal piety and humility. If you feel inclined to focus on these external practices because they help you lead the faith life you desire, more power to you — but they are not determinants of religiosity.

Every year when Lenten season would come around at my Catholic elementary school, my friends and I would proudly proclaim at recess

what we were “giving up” that year. My answer was almost always “sweets,” and my best friend’s was “chips.” Back then, we measured piety in desserts declined and television watching forgone.

My more mature self, however, can’t help but recall Jesus’s instructions in Matthew 6:17-18, “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen.” He preaches a similar message a few verses earlier: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. . . But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen” (Matthew 6: 5-6). The visibility of our faith practices does not necessarily correspond to their value; in fact, it might even diminish it.

Practicing the Christian Faith is both personal and communal. The communal aspect is crucial when we are building our faith foundation — attending Sunday school and Church outings and talking about Church teachings. However, we must do the rest of the work behind closed doors, when no one is around to applaud us. When all is said and done, life is not a group project, nor is it peer-graded. It’s every student for him or herself, at the mercy of the Teacher’s pen. Faith is a personal test, and while you might peek over your classmate’s shoulder, you’ll eventually realize you can’t copy their essay for the final question.

Still, some “visibly” Christian people insist on offering their two cents regarding their peers’ work. Condescending comments condemning abortion always seem to make their way into political discussions, even in response to unrelated or only loosely related topics. Taking a holierthan-thou stance, some self-identified highly religious individuals question the character of pro-choice campus members as a means to stif le political discourse of all sorts. They’ve made themselves the religious authority because they clothe themselves in the armor of rosary beads and station themselves behind a fortress of theological textbooks.

In the US in general, Christianity has come to be associated with social conservatism, with certain fanatics becoming its face. As a result, the richness and core concepts of the Christian faith have taken a backseat to certain political issues. All this has happened because we “ordinary” Christians

have sat by silently as a vocal segment of our population dominated the conversation. We must now speak up and remind the world that Christianity is a religion of salvation, solidarity, dignity and love.

To my fellow “ordinary” Christians, our faith is not less strong because it is less visible, not watered down because it gets drowned out by stronger voices, nor is it less representative of Christianity because it doesn’t fit the mainstream conception. Even I have fallen into the trap I now write to criticize: relegating my own faith status to one of semi-Christianity. I sometimes find myself thinking, “I’m Christian, but not that Christian.”

Of course, some people truly are not “that Christian,” and have decided they do not wish to actively practice the Faith even though they were baptized or grew up in a Christian household.

My point is simply that a substantial segment of the Notre Dame student body might not externalize their Faith as much as the most obviously Christian students, but we do not have any less of a claim to it. It is our job to reclaim religiosity — to capture and convey the true essence of it rather than a certain sociopolitical slant.

This column is not meant to attack socially conservative Catholics or the more “visible” Christians, but rather to allow space for the rest of us Christians to embrace religiosity as well.

Spirituality and faith will not look the same in every religious person’s lives, or even in all Christians’ lives. I am not calling into question the religiosity of the particularly “visible” Catholics but rather challenging how we have come to regard religiosity: as something that can be evaluated by external displays or political affiliations. Some Christians are simply less conspicuous about their faith life than others, but we are here, and we are just as Christian.

As a renowned Catholic university, Notre Dame has a dynamic, beautiful community of faith and is full of individuals seeking God and goodness but — it is not homogeneous, and it is not encapsulated by its most conspicuous Catholics.

A former resident of Lyons Hall, Eva Analitis is a senior majoring in political science and pre-health. Even though she often can’t make up her own mind, that won’t stop her from trying to change yours. She can be reached at eanaliti@nd.edu or @evaanalitis on Twitter.

The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Relearning to be leaders Last Friday marked the first meeting of the newly elected board of Notre Dame’s own AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers) chapter; the first of its kind since the pandemic kicked into overdrive. I sat across from student leaders, officers in our club who had never before attended an AIChE meeting, and came face to face with a largely unseen consequence of last year’s shutdowns: the disruption of leadership continuity.

W hen the University closed in the Spring of 2020, it graduated a class of experienced student leaders who had observed the standard operations of their respective clubs. Unfortunately, these seniors took their expertise with them. Next year saw another class of seniors leave with their institutional memory, while our underclassmen learned how to lead through masking, social distancing, and space limitations. Those of us who remain are extraordinarily capable of pulling through extraordinary circumstances. Having witnessed a year or less of standard operations, the ordinar y is somewhat out of our wheelhouse.

The goal of many this year is a sort of “return

to normalcy.” That might not mean a one-to-one replication of what came before, but it certainly entails reaching a “steady state” of club operations serving our students and perpetuating itself year on year. In cases such as AIChE, this will need to be built from the ground up.

W hen one is evaluating a car, age doesn’t matter so much as mileage. In rebuilding a professional club, our philosophy is that normalcy won’t come from simply waiting — like in any engineering challenge, I see it emerging from iterative failure and dynamic improvement. A cautious approach will only serve to delay our growing pains to the next class of club leaders. A bold approach might spare our successors the disruptions we faced.

This year I hope to lay the groundwork for years to come, to rediscover what works and what doesn’t. This year, our board requires humility, courage and indefatigable resolve. I anticipate dropped projects, poor communication and weak events. We will not be discouraged, we will not stop, we will not even slow down. This year, our

greatest successes will come from our failures.

For all our new members of AIChE — I ask for your patience as we find our place in this great club’s histor y. Bear with us in our process of discover y and grow with us as future leaders and board members.

For all our returning members — I urge you to bring whatever experience you may have to the table and get involved. Take ownership of our future on campus, and mentor our underclassmen to pass on your knowledge for the longevity of the club.

For all student clubs facing leadership challenges, at Notre Dame or elsewhere, I implore you be bold. As the great philosopher Adam Salvage of Discover y Channel classic “MythBusters” once said, “failure is always an option”.

And from all of us at AIChE Notre Dame, go boldly and God Bless.

Jacob Abel Notre Dame AIChE vice president, junior Sept. 6

8

The observer | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

Could there be a hidden virtue in virtue signaling?

Julianna Conley In My Own Words

My sophomore year, I was a part of Pasquerilla East Hall’s Welcome Weekend team. Before the first-years arrived, our team convened in the family room, discussing best bed lofting techniques and reviewing the lyrics to our Jonas Brothers-heavy serenade. At the end of the meeting, the captains passed out name tags, t-shirts and LGBTQ+ “Ally” pins. As I walked back to my room, one of my friends leaned over to speak to me conspiratorially.

“Ugh. Doesn’t this feel like such virtue signaling?”

For those who aren’t familiar with the term, virtue signaling refers to actions or declarations that are meant to publicly demonstrate a person’s morality. Often used interchangeably with terms like “optical allyship” or “performative activism,” virtue signaling tends to carry a negative connotation, implying a lack of sincerity on the part of the actor, a performance meant to increase clout rather than genuinely further a cause.

In the past year, I’ve noticed this phrase being wielded with rapidly increasing regularity. When I wore my mask at an indoor dinner last year, I was accused of virtue signaling. When my professor asked our class to change our Zoom display names to show our pronouns, I heard complaints of virtue signaling. And though I agree with the critics that these outward displays of values cannot and should not constitute the entirety of one’s devotion to a cause, I must ask: What exactly is the problem with signaling one’s virtues?

If my sociology major has taught me nothing else, I’ve learned that conformity is a paramount aspect of human nature. And while peer pressuring people into saying that one line is longer than another when it’s clearly not is one way to wield social psychology, inf luencing others to do the right thing is, dare I say, a better exploitation of the human desire to fit in.

As implied by the very nature of the phrase, virtue signaling signals what is virtuous, insomuch as it requires the actor to at least recognize which values have been deemed morally righteous. And isn’t that the first step of creating a just society? Isn’t realizing what is the “right” thing to do a good thing in and of itself? After all, if the critics’ complaint that these actions are carried out only because they’ll result in a reward for the actor, doesn’t that reward imply society has deemed this action valuable, even important? No matter the motives of a person pinning an “Ally” button to their backpack, the mere act that they do so reinforces the notion that being an ally is important. It communicates that the standard on our campus is love and acceptance and support. Even if there are secret bigots securing a pin, the fact that they know they have to keep their hate secret confirms that it’s wrong. An outward show of support, even if not yet internalized, supports the idea that this is how our world is “supposed” to be. This considerate conduct, this passion for equality, this support of the righteous is what we are striving for. If virtue signaling serves only to make hate taboo, isn’t that the first step

toward eradicating that hate?

Every action we take, every “signal” we send, will invariably be noticed by others. Why not signal something that matters? I’m not advocating for moral grandstanding, but I do think there’s something to be said for leading by example. The people around us are watching. The actions we take cause a ripple effect. Shouldn’t it count for something that these virtue signals can create ripples for good?

Perhaps what bothers me most about so many of the accusations regarding virtue signaling is that, in my experience, more often than not this criticism is directed toward people with different views than the critics’s own. Charges of performativity are used to delegitimize any point of view that doesn’t match that of the outcrier. A friend assumes my motives for wearing a mask at an indoor dinner must be disingenuous because they wouldn’t wear a mask. My actions are different from theirs and thus they can’t fathom that I put on a mask in earnest, genuinely not wanting to spread or catch disease.

If I do something you deem rational, I’m a positive role model. If I act according to a set of morals different than yours, I’m posturing. After all, what is standing for the pledge of allegiance, but a performance of one’s patriotism? What is my wearing a cross around my neck but an outward show of my inner faith? The line between standing in solidarity and bragging about one’s beliefs seems to be decided only by which beliefs are deemed valid.

Ignoring the lack of respect this mindset allows for differing opinions, I’m mainly struck by how profoundly sad it must be to move through life assuming that people don’t actually care. How utterly exhausting it must be to doubt every act of kindness, every attempt at solidarity or allyship.

Admittedly, I tend to have too much good faith in the people and systems around me, but let me be the first to tell you how liberating it is to assume goodwill among all. Let me emphasize how much easier it is to discuss a difference of opinion when both parties at least recognize that the other person is trying to do the right thing. Truthfully, I like believing in the good around me. I don’t have the time nor the desire to cynically question the intentions behind every possible move towards compassion and consideration towards others’s feelings.

The truth of the matter is that it is impossible to separate oneself from the world. That’s how morals work. Morals are supposed to ref lect communal, societal norms. Moral action is predicated on that mental interaction between how our decisions and words will be received and how we will be perceived. Our understood sense of ourselves as perceived actors in the world allows us to know right from wrong. So much criticism of virtue signaling is centered around the idea that people’s consideration of how people will react to their comments and actions and views is selfish or performative or bad. I disagree! Factoring other people’s reactions and feelings into your decision is considerate. It’s the first step towards caring about people.

Everything we do is inherently part of a performance, but that’s what makes us human. We are unshakably and tragically and embarrassingly

self-aware. There is no true self that exists outside of its interaction with others. Who cares if that performance is motivating us to be better people than we really are?

The trouble with criticizing people who virtue signal is that it communicates an “all-or-nothing” mentality. And when all or nothing become options, it’s a lot easier to choose nothing. True, a person drinking out of their plastic Starbucks cup with a metal straw is still polluting the environment, but they’re at least polluting one plastic straw less. A selfish person who begins volunteering for clout is more likely to keep volunteering than a selfish person with no incentive at all.

The world does not have time to wait around for everyone’s motives to be perfect. If we waited for every act of kindness to be completely unselfish, so little would get done. Who cares if the billionaire donated a hospital wing because they wanted their name on the building? The sick patients getting state-of-the-art treatment likely don’t. What is the harm in someone taking care to say a general “she” instead of “he” because they want to look like a feminist? The fact that they’re thinking about gender equality is a win in my book. Why sneeze at a company’s advertisement broadcasting their donation to racial justice causes? The activists impacted by that money can use every dollar just the same. If an onslaught of Instagram infographics about global issues reaches just one new person who might not have considered the situation otherwise, is that not a positive?

In an ideal world, every comment would be followed by action and every action would be the beginning of a lifelong commitment to a cause that mattered, but we don’t live in an ideal world. And in the f lawed, selfish society we’ve got, I’m happy for the kernels of consideration and compassion, no matter where they come from.

Again, I feel the need to note that I recognize posting a black square on one’s Instagram story in the name of racial justice is not adequate action.

Putting your pronouns in your email signature is not sufficient grounds for calling yourself a champion of LGBTQ+ rights. Wearing a women’s empowerment t-shirt does not mean the fight for gender equality is over. Performative morality is not the same as making real change, and I’m not suggesting it should be as applauded as such. But it can be a starting point. Don’t shut down an action that could be the beginning of a conversation.

At the end of the day, the most important part of an action, a comment, a signal is the impact it has. And if the “Ally” pin I wear during Welcome Weekend lets a new resident in my hall know their campus supports them, I’m going to keep wearing it.

Julianna Conley is a senior studying sociology and pre-health studies with a minor in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy. Though she is forever loyal to Pasquerilla East B-team athletics, Julianna now lives off campus. She can be reached for comment at jconley4@nd.edu or @JuliannaLConley on Twitter.

The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Follow us on Twitter: @ObserverViewpnt

9

The observer | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

By ROSE ANDROWICH Scene Writer

You go into a customizable restaurant w ith a little bit of apprehension, you don’t know what goes well together, and you feel as though it’ll take many trips to get the right order. Most of the time that holds true, unless you tr y the Noodle Nook located in the Huddle at LaFortune.

The Noodle Nook brings an amazing customizable feel w ithout worr y ing about whether you’re ordering the w rong thing. It’s the t y pe of place where almost ever y thing pairs well together and w ith the setup, there is an endless potential of amazing combinations. I ordered the lo mein noodles with pork broth, chasu pork belly, black mushroom, scallions, lime, red onion and garlic serrano f lavoring. The meal was very good, the chasu pork belly a welcome addition to the f lavorful broth, and the noodles of a high-quality texture (and this is coming from an Italian reviewer).

Another advantage to the Noodle Nook is the fact that the food is very filling for the price. Have you ever gone to a restaurant and paid more than $10 and still found yourself not full? Odds are, this

By SOPHIA MICHETTI Scene Writer

The Snite Museum of Art has created an ode to the modern Pop Art movement this semester in its temporary exhibit “Jim Dine: American Icon” running until Dec. 11, making tremendous use of the 238 prints Dine graciously gifted to Notre Dame.

The Snite’s collection covers almost every aspect of Dine’s works from 1969 to today and puts over 50 works on display.

If you aren’t well-versed in the contemporary art scene (like me until about four days ago), Jim Dine was born in 1935, and he has been what the Snite calls “an inspiring presence” who has helped define the Pop Art movement with his painting, printmaking, sculpting and poetry. As an extremely experimental artist, Dine’s icons are able to reach audiences of any age and make any viewer spend large amounts of time ref lecting on the meaning of objects ranging from his famous hearts to a bathrobe.

One interesting aspect of Jim Dine’s works is that they are often found in mediums other than paint on canvas. A quote from him in the Snite exhibition reads, “You’ve got to care about prints. You’ve got to care about woodcuts, lithographs and etchings…

won’t be your experience at the Noodle Nook because the ramen bowl without extras, is very filling. The ramen bowl is priced at $9 with the option of adding in extra meat and more. But fair warning, if you add extra meat it will cost more than $10.

One criticism of the Noodle Nook could perhaps be the price, as there are other places, such as Taco Bell, where you can get cheaper food.

However, the Noodle Nook w ill probably save you money in the long run. W hen you eat at certain places you might feel full but then for some unknow n reason, 20 minutes later you are hungr y again. Then, you must go through the trouble of finding something else to eat, spending more money in the process. Unless you magically come across some form of free food.

The Noodle Nook’s average wait time is around 8 minutes and the food is always hot and fresh. A wait time of 8 minutes isn’t that long when you think of it, it’s simply two songs in your headphones. So, while you are waiting, put your AirPods in — but maybe not too loud so you can hear them call your name.

The feeling of being hungry and having to wait

what seems like an eternity is not something we like; especially if you are within the 34.4% of college students that do not eat breakfast. Something important to note about the Noodle Nook is that its hours of operation, according to GrubHub, are 11 a.m. - 4:35 p.m. Monday through Friday. A lthough these hours make the Noodle Nook a primar y lunch spot for students, it still is worthwhile to take the time to go because of all the reasons I have listed. I w ill be giv ing the Noodle Nook four shamrocks for one reason: They should have longer hours for dinner and consider being open on the weekends. After liv ing in a year of limited hours, and some restaurants not sur v iv ing the pandemic, I would love to see restaurants make a true comeback w ith the right resources to keep all of their workers and customers safe and healthy.

I love printmaking so much I try not to care about anything beyond my ego.” Because he loves the process of making marks, applying the ink to wood or metal and even cleaning the plate afterward, Dine’s works have an excited energy to them that makes them feel alive. It’s like the icons are personified in a way.

For Dine, artwork is a representation of the artist; there is a deep, personal connection that allows audiences to find their own intimate links to the piece. Dine is able to reach so many people in so many different ways because he chooses imagery that is biographical to him, which allows his many versions of those icons to identify with other aspects of others’ own biographies. For example, Dine has many works with Pinocchio as the subject.

Yes, that’s right. I said Pinocchio — the wooden puppet with the growing nose who becomes a real boy at the end of the movie. “The Pink Nose” is one work of Dine’s with Pinocchio as the subject, and the information card next to the piece details how Pinocchio’s story “equally fascinated and terrified” Dine, having appeared to him as a tale containing “a mischievous boy, the transformation of self, and even the father’s role as a sculptor of dreams.”

While some may also find their own fascination with Pinocchio’s tale reinvigorated while looking

at Dine’s works, the imagery that most spoke to me was Dine’s recreation of the body of the Venus de Milo statue. I loved seeing all of the varying ways in which he recreated the statues in his etchings and lithographs, because he takes something iconically ancient and makes it iconically modern. One of my favorite pieces was “Colorful Venus I,” in which the Venus is almost broken up into different shapes and colors, reminding me how much more vibrant and diverse the world seems to be today than what it was when the original Venus de Milo was erected.

If you do get a chance to visit the Snite exhibit (and I hope you do), then I recommend you take the opportunity to talk to some of the people working at the front desk. I had a great conversation with one woman working there who told me how she saw Dine’s various versions of a bathrobe representing our multiple tastes and aesthetics as humans. They know so much about the exhibit and have spent so much time ref lecting on the works — hear what they have to say and deepen your own understanding of Dine’s works!

In summary, Jim Dine is very cool. Go to the Snite Museum to check him out before the exhibit leaves.

You’ll never look at Pinocchio the same again.

Contact Rose Androwich at randrowich01@saintmarys.edu

The Noodle Nook Location: Huddle Mart in the LaFortune Student Center Favorite Food: Ramen Bowl

Contact Sophia Michetti at smichett@nd.edu MAKAYLA HERNANDEZ | The Observer

10

The observer | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

By WILLOUGHBY THOM Associate Scene Editor

W ho exactly is John Mulaney? A ver y good question.

As a big fan of his work, I felt like I knew the man in the perfectly tailored suit well: Mulaney grew up in a very Catholic family residing in (the suburbs of) Chicago and went to Georgetown University for a degree in English. He then pursued a career in comedy, wrote for Saturday Night Live and married the love of his life, Annamarie Tendler, in which they had a French bulldog named Petunia together. To his fans, his brutal honesty about his life made us feel like we were old friends, but he is a comedian, after all, and it doesn’t mean everything he says is true … or representative of everything going on in his life.

If the previous paragraph was too nuanced, allow me to fill you in. In December 2020, John Mulaney admitted himself into rehab for alcohol and cocaine abuse. The 60-day stint was a big shock to friends and fans alike, because he was said to be sober, which was a large topic of discussion in his 2012 comedy special “John Mulaney: New in

By JUSTIN GEORGE Scene Writer

David Lowery’s “The Green Knight” is not a swashbuckling, chivalric epic rife with sword fights and fantastical creatures. Instead, “The Green Knight” offers the audience a sobering meditation on mortality, accepting one’s fate and what it truly means to live an honorable life. This is not a standard Arthurian film but rather stands on its own as something truly special.

The film follows Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), the nephew of King Arthur (Sean Harris), as he journeys through the final year of his life. On Christmas Day, the King throws a lav ish banquet for the Knights of the Round Table, and to Gawain’s surprise, he is asked to sit at Arthur’s side. Arthur asks Gawain to tell him a stor y of Gawain’s exploits. Gawain is ashamed to admit that he does not yet have any to tell. Moments later, a supernatural Green Knight (Ralph Ineson) bursts into the hall and proposes a game: lay a blow on him and receive fame, fortune and his a x, but in one year, the challenger must seek out the Green Knight and allow him to return the exact blow he was dealt. Gawain accepts the challenge and in a moment of ner vous overzealousness beheads the Green Knight. A year passes, and Gawain must ride north to seek out the Green Chapel and face

Town.” Of course, the beloved comic was met with an abundance of support, but it made jokes like “sometimes I get nervous on airplanes” a lot darker.

When he was released from rehab in February 2021, the public learned shortly after that he asked his wife, Annamarie Tendler, for a divorce months prior to his intervention. This came as a surprise, and, to add a cherry on top, he began a serious relationship with actress Olivia Munn (who is now rumored to be pregnant) quickly after his recovery. As a long-time fan of his, I was so confused; was the man on the stage all just an act?

As these headlines have been sw irling for months, many fans drifted away, and John Mulaney said it himself, “A ll the teenage girls like Bo Burnham more than me now.”

Nevertheless, I remained a fan who was determined for answers. I had the incredible opportunit y to see him perform at one of his new string of shows called “From Scratch” this summer at the Troubador in Los Angeles, and, for lack of better words, it was incredible. This somewhat secretive tour has allowed Mulaney to test new material while gearing up for a new comedy special,

and I had no idea what to expect. W hen Mulaney took to stage, I was in awe; he looked healthy! He wore casual attire — sweater, jeans and a pair of sneakers — and even though he wasn’t as lean as he normally appears to be (or “coke skinny,” as he would say) he appeared to be ex isting in his normal, natural state. A state of ex istence that he never allowed himself to achieve due to his addiction. It was refreshing. His laid-back appearance added greater authenticit y to his act, and he was brutally honest about his inter vention, his horrible habits and the total chaos that he is currently liv ing in. Even though the topics presented were heav y, he presented them in such a way that brought light to his struggles and made you laugh w ith him, not at him. He admits to his mistakes and makes fun of himself for the outrageous lengths he went to acquire drugs and the ridiculous things he did while on them.

Out of all the John Mulaney stand-ups, this one felt the most genuine, and if you ever have a chance to see him, run don’t walk.

the Green Knight.

The bulk of the film follows Gawain as he travels northward across a surreal and unpredictable landscape that verges on dreamlike. Fantastical sights and sounds abound along Gawain’s journey, all of which have an aura of sheer awe surrounding them. We see the world with the wide-eyed wonder of someone who has not yet truly seen the wonders and tribulations of the real world and must take them all in, for it is the last time they will ever be seen by the viewer. It’s a strange sensation and creates a link between the audience and Gawain that is seldom found. This sensation is bolstered by Patel’s incredibly vulnerable performance, which is carried primarily in his physicality and his eyes rather than in dialogue. “The Green Knight” is rich with details, symbols and mysteries that will provide even the most well-versed viewer with something to contemplate long after they leave the theater.

Each chapter and encounter in the film reveals a new layer to Gawain’s character as we watch him grow to become the brave knight that he pretended he was for so long. Above all else, “The Green Knight” is a coming-of-age film, albeit a ver y dark one in which the main character must face his ow n death for an entire year and learn to accept his fate. This film carries w ithin it a somberness not found in other Arthurian films and is all the better for daring to be different.

Lower y shows his master y of both v isual stor y telling and screenw riting from the ver y first shot of “The Green Knight.” Cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo ensures that ever y shot in “The Green Knight” is achingly beautiful. This, in conjunction w ith Daniel Hart’s ama zing score, stands to make “The Green Knight” the most beautiful film of the year.

A 600 word review cannot do “The Green Knight” justice. I’d need to write a book to even begin to scratch the surface. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this film since I saw it. Do yourself a favor and watch “The Green Knight” on the biggest screen you can find and pay a visit to the Green Chapel alongside Sir Gawain. I promise it will be an experience you’ll not soon forget.

“The Green Knight” plays at DPAC from Sept. 23 to Sept. 26.

Contact Willoughby Thom at wthom@nd.edu

Contact Justin George at jgeorge3@nd.edu

“The Green Knight” Director: David Lowery Starring: Dev Patel, Ralph Ineson, Sean Harris If you like: “A Ghost Story,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “The Seventh Seal

EMMA KIRNER | The Observer

Classifieds

ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | The Observer

Crossword | Will Shortz

11

Horoscope | Eugenia Last Happy Birthday: Take your time and consider long-term results before you put a plan into motion. Preparation will help you avoid an oversight that could be costly. The year ahead is meant to be used to clear up matters that hold you back emotionally. Encourage children, seniors or anyone who depends on you to be self-sufficient in order to ease personal stress. Your numbers are 2, 14, 23, 28, 33, 45, 58.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Before you step into unknown territory, consider doing a little research. Ask questions and find out if you have the knowledge, experience and qualifications to surpass whatever test comes your way. Partnerships will undergo a transition. Take a diplomatic approach to adversity.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Get involved in discussions that will lead to change, and follow through with your plans. Not everyone will be happy with your decisions, but if you are doing what suits you, that’s what counts. Don’t give in to interference.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your flirtatious nature will not go over well with someone who wants time alone with you. Get your priorities in order and be honest regarding your intentions. Deal with domestic situations and children with compassion and understanding.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Recapture your past by reconnecting with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. Memories will encourage you to pick up hobbies or activities that you used to enjoy. A change at work will result in greater stability.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): An unexpected change will disrupt your day. Accept the inevitable and proceed with caution. Moderation when dealing with domestic matters or partnerships will help. Physical changes can be made as long as they are within budget. Exercise and diet are encouraged.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ve got what it takes to bring about the changes you’ve been contemplating. Educational pursuits, meetings and networking will help you connect with people who inspire you to follow through with your ideas.

Create opportunities by being a participant.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll face opposition at home or while dealing with older relatives or children. Don’t overreact when patience and positive input will encourage others to see things your way. The help or suggestions you offer should not put you in debt or personal jeopardy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Before you implement change, price out the cost involved and consider if your plan is realistic. Someone with experience will offer insight into how to move forward. A change regarding how you earn your living will help your personal situation.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): How you present yourself to others will make a difference when it comes to advancement. Invest time and money in your appearance as well as your skills. Mastering what you enjoy doing will make it easier to excel.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A personal change will do you good. If you aren’t happy with the way you look, or with someone who has become too much of an emotional burden, it’s up to you to do something about it. Consider your choices and take action.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t lose sight of your dreams. Speak up if you have questions. Look for alternatives before you jump to conclusions. Make personal improvements instead of trying to change someone else. Walk away from anyone who is a poor influence.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Helping others will lead to benefits. Offer suggestions and assistance, and make it clear what you expect in return. An opportunity will arise if you reconnect with an old friend or colleague. Develop and sign contracts or settlements.

Birthday Baby: You are charitable, approachable and progressive. You are adaptable and motivated.

Sudoku | The Mepham Group

Jumble | David Hoyt and Jeff knurek

Support student journalism.

Donate to The Observer. ndsmcobserver.com/donate

Square Comic | XXX

Work Area

Make checks payable to and mail to:

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday, The Observer is a vital source of information on people and events in the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross communities. Join the more than 13,000 readers who have found The Observer an indispensable link to the three campuses. Please complete the accompanying form and mail it today to receive The Observer in your home.

The Observer P.O. Box 779 Notre Dame, IN 46556

Enclosed is $130 for one academic year Enclosed is $75 for one semester Name Address City State Zip

12

Classifieds

The observer | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

Roundtable Continued from page 15

stability at quarterback is key, and I see the Falcons winning this one because of it.

Air Force 28, Navy 17 Nate Moller — Sports Writer Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud struggled in his debut against Minnesota, but the Buckeyes seemed to find their groove later in the game. I anticipate Stroud to be more comfortable at home next week, and he will be able to use wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson to exploit the Ducks’ defense. The Ducks struggled at home against Fresno State in Week 1, and they gave up 24 points in that game. I expect the Ohio State offense to lead the Buckeyes to an easy victory in their Week-2 showdown in Columbus.

Ohio State 45, Oregon 27 Rutgers has been at the bottom of the Big Ten since they joined the conference a few years ago, but their 61-14 win over Temple in Week 1 showed that they might be ready to be more competitive this year. They will face a Syracuse team that took care of Ohio 29-9 in Week 1, looking better than many expected. I anticipate this one being back and forth, but I like the Orange to find a way to win this one at home.

Syracuse 41, Rutgers 34 Air Force took care of business in Week 1 against Lafayette by a score of 35-14. The triple-option attack worked well in that game with Air Force racking up 370 yards on the ground. Navy, on the other hand, got blown out 49-7 by Marshall. The Midshipmen had over 300 yards on the ground, but they failed to convert their chances into points, and their defense struggled mightily.

I like the Falcons to take this one fairly easily.

Air Force 34, Navy 14 John Stolmeier — Sports Writer Ohio State and Oregon both had rocky starts in their season openers last weekend. The Buckeyes rallied in the second half, snapping back in dominant fashion with their starstudded receivers taking the lead.

Oregon did not impress me in their debut against Fresno State, in which DE Kayvon Thibodeaux suffered an ankle sprain. While he’s still listed as a starter for this Saturday, don’t expect him to be one hundred percent. I might be partial as a Columbus native, but I don’t see the Ducks keeping this game close.

Ohio State 48, Oregon 24 Rutgers put up 61 points last week against Temple in a decisive win. The Scarlet Knights are sticking with quarterback Noah Vedral this season who led the team in rushing and passing yards in their season opener. Behind Vedral, Rutgers rotated between their other backs, finding some success from each. While Syracuse pulled away against Ohio in Week 1, I do not see them being able to keep up with the Scarlet Knights in this matchup.

Both teams have the potential to

begin building momentum going into Week 2 and I would not be surprised to see a physical, close game this Saturday in the Carrier Dome.

Rutgers 30, Syracuse 27 The service academies play the game differently than most Division I programs in CFB. While historical rivalries like these are never certain, we are almost guaranteed to see the Navy and Air Force relying on the triple-option to move the ball downfield. Air Force leads the overall series with 31-22 and dominated in their matchup against Navy last year in a similar fashion to how Marshall defeated Navy last week. Last week, Air Force pulled out the win against Lafayette and I fully expect them to move to 2-0 after this weekend.

Air Force 28, Navy 10 Luke Thompson — Sports Writer Neither team looked particularly impressive in their Week 1 matchups, but both survived and kept intact the heavy implications for one of the most highly anticipated early-season games of the year. On top of the upset scare, the Ducks’ weekend was soured by the ankle injury sustained by megastar DE Kayvon Thibodeaux. It’s too early to tell if Thibodeaux will be playing on Saturday, but Oregon will need a massive performance out of its strong defense in order to remain competitive against Ryan Day’s typically talented squad. But whether a banged-up Thibodeaux is a go or not, the Buckeyes top-to-bottom superiority will show on Saturday.

Ohio State 38, Oregon 21 While this matchup certainly won’t be played at the same level as the game in Columbus, it will be an interesting opportunity to see if one of these teams can build up some early-season momentum and get started on a slightly better season than they had last year.

Both teams had solid wins in Week 1 against lesser opponents, but the offensive firepower the Scarlet Knights demonstrated against Temple will be too much for the Orange to keep up with.

Rutgers 31, Maryland 28 Service academy games are always tough to predict because the style of play and nature of the rivalries mean they tend to be tight, physical matchups that could tip either way, regardless of each team’s reputation coming into the game. Air Force is almost certainly the better team, but I see Navy getting the job done after going winless against their rival academies last year. Plus, the home team has won each of the past eight games in this heated rivalry. I don’t see that changing, even if Air Force definitely has the better team on paper.

Navy 17, Air Force 14 Contact Sam Ouhaj at souhaj@nd.edu, Tom Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-nd.edu, Jamison Cook at jcook22@nd.edu, Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu, Matt Smith at msmith93@nd.edu, John Stolmeier at jstolmei@nd.edu and Luke Thompson at lthomps7@nd.edu

Sports Authority

Predictions for the 2021 CFB season post-Week 1 Nate Moller Sports Writer

With the first full week of College Football in the books, it’s time to make some predictions for the season ahead.

1. Georgia and Alabama will make the CFP After Georgia’s victory over Clemson this past weekend, the Bulldogs are in a great position to make the College Football Playoffs even if they were to lose in the SEC Championship game. The only remaining ranked game on the schedule for Georgia is against Florida. The Bulldogs defense looked sensational against Clemson, and if J.T. Daniels and the Georgia offense can get things together, they are going to be tough to beat. If Bryce Young and Alabama continue to look like they did on Saturday as well, it is very feasible to imagine Alabama and Georgia in the SEC Championship undefeated. I have to imagine that the loser of that game makes the playoffs as well.

2. Clemson will not make the CFP Clemson’s only chance for a ranked win in the regular season might have been against Georgia on Saturday, as they now have zero ranked teams remaining on the schedule. Without regular-season games against Miami, UNC, and Virginia Tech, it is hard to imagine any of Clemson’s opponents being ranked in the top 25. Even if the Tigers record a ranked win in the ACC Championship, it might not be enough to get the Tigers back into the playoff picture depending on how things play out elsewhere across the country.

3. Iowa State will end up with at least three losses Iowa State was one of the most hyped-up teams coming into the season, but they did not look like the seventhranked teams in the country against FCS Northern Iowa this past weekend. In the 16-10 win, the Wildcats surprisingly contained Cyclone running back Breece Hall, holding him to only three yards per carry.

Iowa State plays Iowa next week and has games against

Texas and Oklahoma on the season. It’s tough to imagine them winning any of those games unless they improve their play significantly.

not great in their opener this week, I like one of these PAC12 South teams to win the PAC-12 Championship game this year.

4. Bryce Young will win the Heisman

7. Oklahoma won’t finish the year undefeated

In Alabama’s 44-13 win over Miami, Bryce Young was 27/38 for 344 yards and four touchdowns. Young showed that he could step into Alabama’s offense and perform at a high level. With Spencer Rattler, J.T. Daniels, and Breece Hall struggling elsewhere across the country, it appears that Young is now the early favorite for the Heisman. I expect Young to get even more comfortable in the Alabama system, and by the end of the year, he will be the definitive choice to win the trophy.

Oklahoma was very lucky to sneak away with a win against Tulane in week one.

Spencer Rattler looked less than impressive in the season opener, and he will have to be much better going forward if the Sooners are going to prove themselves as national title contenders. Oklahoma tends to choke early in the season, and I expect Spencer Rattler and company to struggle again in the near future. I expect a loss for Oklahoma in the coming few weeks.

5. Iowa will win the Big Ten West and challenge for a Big Ten title Iowa demolished Indiana 34-6 on Saturday in a stunning display of offensive and defensive prowess. Iowa’s defense is always solid, but if their offense can continue to gel around running back Tyler Goodson and quarterback Spencer Petras, they could be very tough to beat going forward. If Iowa can get the win against Iowa State next week, the only two remaining ranked games on the schedule include Penn State at home and Wisconsin on the road.

The Hawkeyes are the clear favorites to win the Big Ten West now, and they definitely could find themselves in the playoffs if they pull off an upset in the Big Ten Championship game.

6. USC-UCLA will decide the winner of the PAC-12 USC looked impressive in their week one 30-7 victory over San Jose State, and UCLA surprisingly took down LSU by eleven points. Neither team has to play Oregon in crossover games in the regular season, and the PAC-12 schedule is seemingly manageable for both teams. The two teams will face off against each other in the Coliseum in late November, and the winner of that game should be in prime position to win the PAC-12 South. With Oregon looking

8. Cincinnati will make a case for a spot in the CFP Cincinnati is arguably the best non-power five team in the CFP era, and they have a chance to get a huge win against Notre Dame in early October. If the Bearcats can find a way to win in South Bend, they should have no problem managing their AAC schedule. There has never been a non-power five team to make a serious case for a spot in the CFP, but if they are 13-0 with a top ten road victory against Notre Dame, it’s going to be tough to leave them out.

9. Florida State will finish the season ranked Florida State looked like a different team Sunday night against the Irish. It looks like McKenzie Milton should be QB1 for the Seminoles going forward. If he is, I anticipate teams having a hard time stopping the Florida State offense. Unfortunately for the Seminoles, they have games remaining against four ranked teams. They’ll play UNC, Clemson, Miami, and Florida, and only one of them is at home.

It will be a tough schedule to navigate, but the Seminoles should be ready for it.

Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

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

Wanted TUTOR: Local ND family needs strong tutor for our HS junior, up to 10 hrs/wk. Good rate. 574-299-3896.

Up high in the middle of nowhere / Don’t know but you know when you get there / Walk slow and low on a tightrope / Hope it lasts but you know, you never know / Take a chance we

can dance up in mid-air / Feel so good, I could die, but I don’t care / Walk slow and low on a tightrope / Hope it lasts but you know, you never know / We’re just a step from fearless

sports

DeFazio Continued from page 16

maze of tents being set up for the tailgates. There were more Notre Dame fans than expected for an away game, and if their setups are any indication as to how this weekend will be, South Bend better get ready. Irish tailgates are back and better than ever.

They started at noon, and did not let up until the gates were open.

We made our way to the stadium later that afternoon.

It resembled the feeling of a backyard barbecue, one last summer get-together before the cold sets in. The tailgaters almost made us forget that we were at a football game.

Several tents set up shop with grills near the gates, while others had private affairs, gating their party off with a white picket fence. One group even hopped into our picture, only to realize we were from The Observer, and were thrilled to express their love for Notre Dame.

Seminole fans were also fired up, to say the least.

Many were in line hours before the gates even opened, shouting that it was a bad day to be a Notre Dame fan.

Luckily, that proved not to be the case in the end, but they wholeheartedly believed it from the start.

Despite the impressive tailgate, a large drum was the centerpiece of the pregame festivities. Members of the Seminole marching band allowed people to take turns playing it, and it didn’t stop beating until the fans were inside. That noise was replaced by the fighter jets flying over the stadium, scaring several unsuspecting onlookers (ourselves included).

We stumbled upon a large gathering of Irish fans, only to realize that that was the tunnel through which the team would walk in. The entire team was a mix of excitement and determination, most falling into a mix of the two. Many of the sophomore and freshman players were taking it all in, experiencing their first “normal” crowd, while the older players were more stoic. Brian Kelly, especially, walked in with a game face on, prepared for the challenge ahead. Either way, the feeling from everyone was one of gratitude and enthusiasm. As part of the crowd, we can say the feeling was mutual. It was a special moment to support our team in a way that was denied to us last year, and the players knew that too.

By the time the stands filled up, the war chant was already going. It would continue throughout the night, only to increase in fervor as the game became closer. The marching band took the field next; the batons and flaming spear of

ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | The Observer

their mascot gave the sense that college football is officially back.

For FSU fans, not only was this their first game back to normal, it was an especially important match as they honored the late Bobby Bowden, who passed away in August. The marching band played “Amazing Grace” in tribute, and the stands lit up with phone flashlights in honor of the head coach.

Everyone took a minute to pause and take it all in, the reporters stopping their note-taking to look out at the crowd. It was a unifying moment for the entire stadium.

Later on, groups of students left at the end of the third quarter, assuming the loss for FSU. However, tensions and volume began to rise as the game progressed into overtime, those who stayed completely investing themselves in the match.

Even those in the press box were consumed by the energy, making subtle indications of who they wanted to emerge victorious. One reporter got up to pace as the FSU kicker lined up, and those silently cheering on Notre Dame couldn’t help but voice their allegiance as Doerer’s kick sailed through.

It is that experience that perfectly captures the feeling of the day. In the end, many of us are college football fans, for one reason or another.

No matter which school you align with, everyone is just happy to be there to cheer on their team, even those who are there reporting on it for their job. They say we don’t know what we have until it’s gone; I doubt any of us will take these game days for granted ever again. Those in attendance certainly did not.

Volleyball Continued from page 16

for the Irish w ith 17. In spite of the relatively lopsided score line, there were some positive statistical points to note from the Panther close out.

The Irish ended the game w ith more aces, blocks, and digs, and only finished one total point short of UW M.

The losses drop the Irish to 2-4 on the year, leav ing them in a rough spot to tr y to continue a run of success in early season out of conference matches that included a 7-3 clip in 2019, 6-4 in 2018, and 10-1 in 2017 (Notre Dame didn’t play any matches out of their standard ACC schedule in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Next up Notre Dame volleyball w ill head to Austin for clashes w ith No.1 Texas Paid Advertisement

Contact Emily DeFazio at edefazio@nd.edu Paid Advertisement

13

and Arizona before heading home for their last out of conference matches against No.4 Ohio State. Texas in particular should be a major earlyseason test for the Fighting Irish, as the Longhorns made the national final last season and have been heralded as a contender for the national title this season.

Contact J.J. Post at jpost2@nd.edu

14

Sports

The observer | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com Paid Advertisement

M Soccer

Ward

Continued from page 16

Continued from page 16

the game.

Neither team could find the back of the net in the first half, leading to a 0-0 score at halftime. Notre Dame sophomore goalkeeper Bryan Dowd made an athletic save against the Wildcats to keep the game tied after a Kentucky breakaway led to one of the best scoring opportunities of the game.

Kentucky broke the scoring drought in the 70th minute after a chaotic sequence in the Irish box saw the ball encroach over the goal line. The Notre Dame picked up the pace in the last 20 minutes of the game but failed to equalize while down 1-0 The Irish were unable to deliver any shots on goal during their 90 minutes on the pitch, highlighting the loss of Lynn and an impressive defensive performance from the Wildcats.

While the Notre Dame attack was able to move the ball around the box and create shots, they were unable to find the net and finish. Irish head coach Chad Riley will likely continue to work on this aspect of the Notre Dame squad’s play and look to pick up steam toward the core of their season.

struggled behind, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees drew up a balanced attack that got the job done even when it came to crunch time.

Defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman deser ves some credit too, dialing up sets that were getting his players to the ball and pressuring the opposition’s quarterbacks throughout.

Sophomore tight end Michael Mayer was Coan’s favorite target on the day and, though he had some costly drops, he showed his talent and utility proved to be a valuable part of this roster. And I’d be remiss not to show senior kicker Johnathan Doerer some love after coming through in the clutch and nailing one straight through the uprights when his name was called.

A lthough it was the special teams unit that won this game for the Irish, it was this same unit that produced the majority of its

problems. Doerer did his duties when called upon, and there weren’t any of the issues that we saw last season in regard to fielding kickoffs or punts, but it was the play calling and communication that fell short.

Junior punter Jay Bramblett had just one short punt that gave the Seminoles the ball in good position, but the majority of the problems seemed to have come from elsewhere.

After struggling at the positions for a season, Notre Dame finally seemed to find their guys for punt and kick returns with the tandem of sophomore running backs Kyren Willams and Chris Tyree handling each of the duties respectively. These are two highly capable athletes that meet the requirements these demanding positions ask of an individual.

The only problem is that it seemed as though they had been told to avoid returning kicks when possible. Williams did return a couple of punts with no issue, but there were several

instances where Tyree could have easily turned a couple of yards off a kickoff and opted for a fair catch instead.

The special teams group might have been responsible for the gamewinning play, but they were also the group on the field when the tide started to turn on the Irish, and would eventually give way to a massive comeback.

Early in the fourth quarter after the Seminoles had just scored to shrink their deficit to 28-38 from 20-38, the Irish were forced to punt after a failed 3rd and 10.

Bramblett would get hit and spun around while he was still in the air from sending off the punt.

It was one of many blatantly obvious calls that was missed by the officiating crew on the evening, but it was how the coaching staff handled it that worried me most.

There had already been some questionable calls by the officials up to this point in the game, and in such a critical moment more could have been done on the part

of the coaching staff to prevent a bad call.

Officiating is always a profession that is open to scrutiny, but in such critical moments of games, it is important as a coach to know the rules of the game and be a good communicator with the referees.

W hether it be special teams coordinator Brian Polian or head coach Brian Kelly himself who fell short in this situation, I am not sure.

But falling short and not acting proactively in that situation and in that moment almost cost Notre Dame the game against the Seminoles, and the blame certainly can’t fall on anyone with pads on.

Perhaps these minor issues with the special teams crew will get sorted out this weekend as Toledo heads into town for Notre Dame’s home opener.

Contact Jimmy Ward at wward@hcc-nd.edu The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

Write Sports. Email Mannion McGinley at mmcginl3@nd.edu

sports

ndsmcobserver.com | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | The Observer

15

Observer roundtable

Observer Roundtable: OSU, ‘Cuse, Navy host

By SAM OUHAJ, TOM ZWILLER, JAMISON COOK, MATT SMITH, NATE MOLLER JOHN STOLMEIER, and LUKE THOMPSON Sports Writers

After an action-packed first week of College Football full of upsets and comeback wins, fans across the globe are now gearing up for an even more intense second week.

We at The Observer have all the coverage you need of some of the biggest games this week, so let us get right to it.

NCAA Games of the Week No. 12. Oregon @ No. 3 Ohio State Rutgers @ Syracuse Air Force @ Navy

intrigues me. I do not know who will win this game, but my gut tells me that the Orange wins at home.

Rutgers 21, Syracuse 28 Service academy games are great for fans who love the run game and tough defense. Air Force and Navy probably won’t be ranked this season as in years past, but that’s okay.

Statistically speaking, Air Force had the best rushing offense last year, but they also lost many key players. Navy, on the other hand, struggled when it came to getting their offense going and establishing the run. I am going to go with the team that had the better offense last season in this one.

If you liked what you saw in Georgia @ Clemson and wanted more (I’m with you, for one), then look no further. Air Force @ Navy has the lowest O/U of the three games covered this week, and with good reason: The two teams both rushed for 330+ yards last week while passing for below 61. Based on last weekend’s games, I am going to give this one to Air Force.

They boasted the better defense, only allowing 43 rushing and 243 passing yards. Meanwhile, Navy allowed 363 passing yards and 101 rushing yards. I think Air Force beats both the spread and Navy, and the over hits.

Air Force 28, Navy 17

Air Force 28, Navy 20

Sam Ouhaj — Sports Writer

Tom Zwiller — Sports Writer

Jamison Cook — Sports Writer

Ohio State has always been one of my favorite teams in College Football (sorry, Notre Dame) but while I am an Irish fan for the rest of my life, I cannot help but root for the Buckeyes this week. In another Top-25 matchup, Ohio State is going to be in for a challenge against Oregon. While the Buckeyes came out with the victory against Minnesota, the game was way closer than you would expect. Ohio State’s QB, CJ Stroud, will have his first experience with a top defensive unit, leading to severe issues. Luckily the Buckeyes have a great defense similar to the Ducks. Oregon has a real shot at winning this game, but I believe the Buckeyes win a close one.

Apart from No. 10 Iowa @ No. 9 Iowa State, Oregon @ Ohio St. is the best College Football game this weekend. Ohio State’s CJ Stroud was unimpressive last weekend versus Minnesota, looking quite bad in the first half. I do not think he got a lot better in the second. He may have posted a much better statistical performance, but that was due to the WR core breaking out for big plays. I anticipate the Oregon defense to be better at rushing the passer, so the game hits the under, the Ducks cover, but the Buckeyes walk away with the win.

Ohio State looked shaky in the first half against Minnesota, but they picked it up in the second half en route to a two-touchdown victory. Oregon will punish the Buckeyes if they start the same way. The Duck defense, led by star DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (one of the nest names in CFB), has the potential to dominate the game and make life miserable for redshirt freshman QB CJ Stroud. That being said, it is tough to pick against the talent the Buckeyes have. It will be closer than the Ohio State -9.5 line suggests.

Oregon 27, OSU 35

Ohio State 30, Oregon 24

Like with Penn State @ Wisconsin last week, this is a game between two programs trying to bounce back from two rough seasons. Rutgers got off to a great start by beating Temple 61-14, while Syracuse beat Ohio 29-9. The offensive display Rutgers showed is not sustainable but is an indicator that they are good on that side of the ball. So I give Rutgers this one, and they beat the spread, but the under feels right.

Syracuse and Rutgers are two teams coming off rough

Ohio State 21, Oregon 14 Rutgers vs. Syracuse will be an action-packed game; at least that’s what I am telling myself. Both teams had terrible seasons last season, and it is looking the same way this year. Neither team drastically improved, but I am willing to watch this game because matchups like these can lead to some insane statistics being put up, which

Rutgers 24, Syracuse 21

Paid Advertisement

campaigns in 2020. The Orange finished with a dismal 1-10 record while the Scarlet Knights were slightly better at 3-6. Neither team is very good, and since Syracuse’s opener against Ohio of the MAC is either a toss-up or the Orange are slight underdogs, I am going to take Rutgers in this one. This one will probably be tough to watch.

Rutgers 26, Syracuse 23 A classic matchup between service academies, this is sure to be a ground-and-pound matchup. Air Force led the nation with 306 rushing yards per game last season, so expect there to be very few clock stoppages and even fewer passes.

I really like Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo and Air Force had to replace eight starters from a year ago, so I will go ahead and take Navy in this one.

road, especially if star defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux is sidelined with an ankle sprain.

Ohio State 42, Oregon 24 Rutgers and Syracuse both had strong Week 1 performances against weak competition, and the Scarlet Knights’ defense is going to be the X factor in this matchup. Rutgers forced five turnovers against Temple, one of which was a pick-six, and they will need to continue to be aggressive against the Orange. Syracuse has an explosive running game with dual-threat quarterback Tommy DeVito and running back Sean Tucker, and the Scarlet Knights will need to keep them in check. Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano has the program on the rise, and I see them winning a close one in New York.

Rutgers 27, Syracuse 24

Navy 27, Air Force 17 Matt Smith — Sports Writer Although Ohio State had some early struggles against Minnesota in their opener, the Buckeyes turned it up in the second half due to an impressive debut performance from quarterback CJ Stroud and elite receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. Stroud will still have his growing pains, but the best wide receiver duo in the country will ensure this offense remains explosive. Oregon barely squeaked past Fresno State last week, and I think they will have a lot of trouble containing the Buckeyes on the Paid Advertisement

Air Force dominated in Week 1 while Navy got throttled at home, but service academy games always seem to be close, even if the matchup appears one-sided. The Falcons and Midshipmen were effective on the ground last week, piling up 370 and 337 rushing yards, respectively.

Both attacks rely almost completely on the triple-option, so I think an unexpected passing play could be the difference-maker. Navy had four quarterbacks throw a pass last week, while Air Force relied solely on Haaziq Daniels. Having that see ROUNDTABLE PAGE 12

16

The observer | Wednesday, September 8, 2021 | ndsmcobserver.com

FOOTBALL

Men’s Soccer

Observer on the Ground: FSU

By EMILY DeFAZIO Associate Sports Editor

Tallahassee may be the state capital of Florida, but FSU is the capital of Tallahassee.

From the moment we landed in Charlotte, there were hoards of passengers piling onto flights, decked out in their Seminole gear. They wanted it known: They would be there at 7:30 p.m. Sunday night, and they meant business. The small group of Irish that came with us from South Bend ended up lost in the sea of red, and it felt as though the match had already started.

Everyone’s mind was on the game, and you could feel the energy in the air. Any snippet of conversation overheard at the gate had something to do with FSU: When they attended, where they were traveling to campus from, how they anticipated the night to shake out.

The Seminole nation had already banded together.

Our group from The Observer toured campus that afternoon. The impressive stadium

Notre Dame falls to Kentucky on the road

loomed over everything, dwarfing the rest of already generally tall school. The Notre Dame stadium may be historic, but Doak Campbell is palatial.

The design itself mimicked the spires of a castle, and even the Irish fans we encountered on our walk could not help but be distracted by the towers of red brick. By then, a good amount of tailgating tents had been set up in designated areas, a precursor to what was to come the next day.

From the moment people got up, they were ready to head over. Several groups passed by our hotel rooms talking about their seats, how they would get to the stadium, who they would be meeting when they arrived. And they were right to do so: Entire streets had been shut down to accommodate the 68,316 people attending the game, derailing some travel plans.

Since any restaurant would have over an hour long wait, we simply passed through the

GABRIELLA PENNA | The Observer

After two impressive performances against Indiana and Northern Illinois University, Notre Dame suffered a difficult 1-0 loss against Kentucky.

The Fighting Irish men’s soccer team traveled to Lexington, Kentucky, for their first road game of the season last Friday to face off against the #16 Wildcats.

Notre Dame’s squad was coming off a dominant 2-0 victory at home against the Northern Illinois University Huskies. Their first two performances of the season had showcased the Irish defensive unit’s cohesiveness and the scoring potential of the Notre Dame offense.

Notre Dame’s offense missed senior star Jack Lynn in Lexington. The Irish attack struggled to create scoring opportunities in their Friday matchup, shuff ling their forwards in and out throughout

see DeFAZIO PAGE 13

Irish freshmen forwards Eno Nto and Matthew Roou go for the ball during Notre Dame’s 2-0 home win over NIU at Alumni Stadium.

see M SOCCER PAGE 14

Observer Sports Staff

Football Column

Volleyball

Ward: Strengths and pitfalls of season opener

Irish fall 0-3 in Shamrock Invite

By J.J. POST

Jimmy Ward

Sports Writer

Associate Sports Editor

A lthough Notre Dame was able to avoid disaster in their season opener against Florida State, they only escaped it by the skin of their teeth.

Their play was plagued w ith inconsistencies that left many questions still begging to be answered.

However, at the end of the day, they were able to get it done on the road in a difficult atmosphere against some good competition.

The game, and even the press conferences that followed, were not free from a gaff or two, but the Irish are 1-0.

Jack Coan was able to lead the Irish w ith a nearly f lawless stat line, and although the run game see WARD PAGE 14

Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online on Sept. 7.

NATHANIAL GEORGE | The Observer

Irish graduate student quarterback Jack Coan awaits the snap during Notre Dame’s 41-38 win over FSU on Sunday.

Notre Dame volleyball played host to the Shamrock Inv itational over the weekend, play ing three games against Bowling Green, Cincinnati, and U W Milwaukee on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The Irish’s first game was their most difficult, as the v isiting Falcons of Bowling Green swept aside the hosts in three straight sets, 25-19, 25-23, and 25-18.

Petra Indrova led the way for the Falcons, putting up 19 kills, while Caroline Meuth and Lindsey Miller both posted a teamhigh nine kills for Notre Dame.

On Saturday, it was Cincinnati v isiting Purcell Pav ilion, prevailing over

Notre Dame in four sets.

The first set proved crucial, as the Bearcats won a game where the Irish had pushed them to match point on multiple occasions 34-32. W hile the Irish would rebound the next set for a 23-25 v ictor y, Cincinnati then took the next t wo 25-14, 25-21 to w in the game.

Maria Mallon led the Bearcats w ith both 24 kills and 25 digs. Charley Niego was the chief offensive force for Notre Dame, notching 14 kills, as well as the team’s only ace.

The final match of the inv itational pitted Notre Dame against UW-Milwaukee, where the Panthers would hand the hosts their third loss of the weekend in four sets, 25-19, 25-22,19-25, 25-18.

U W M’s Madi Malone led all players w ith 19 kills, and Aubrey Hamilton kept pace see VOLLEYBALL PAGE 13