61 minute read
scene
THe OBSerVer | Wednesday, OctOber 21, 2020 | NdSmCOBSerVer.COm
dear creepy men: Stop contacting me
Ashton Weber
Living relig-ish
“You look great on CNN.”
“I am a lawyer and winery owner… just so you have some idea of the person who writes you out of the blue… not sure if it gives my name on the message I sent. [Insert Name].”
Two Fridays ago, I was interviewed on CNN.
A few minutes before the hit time, I hid my phone to avoid distraction, and as soon as I signed off of the streaming platform, I retrieved my phone from its hiding place, baffled to see it blowing up. I quickly clicked on one of the incoming notifications and started to understand what was happening.
I had been found. I guess there aren’t many Ashton Webers in the world, and I’m a pretty vocal one on the internet. After seeing me speak on TV for less than 90 seconds, over 100 people tried to add me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Some of them appeared to be kind and congratulatory, but most of them were older men who accompanied their follow requests with messages that sexualized me and established their relative positions of power (see some of the messages above).
To say I was freaked out is an understatement. Although I’ve received creepy messages on the internet before, it’s never happened to this magnitude, and it’s never been from people who had previously seen me… most of the strangers who try to follow me on social media are sugar daddy bots. So, even though this wasn’t an unfamiliar occurrence, it was an incredibly uncomfortable one, made distinct by the fact that these people not only saw and decided to find me, but that they then concluded it would be appropriate to contact me and comment on my appearance.
This isn’t to say that no one should ever contact me on social media again. I’ve loved previous responses to columns, and it’s been touching to see that my words resonate with people. I’m rarely able to respond to emails that people send me, but I still appreciate them deeply, especially those
Letter tO tHe edItOr
I’d like to start by saying that this is not meant to be a partisan letter. I also want to note that when I write about disagreement, I am speaking about political disagreement, and political disagreement only. There are issues of human rights that don’t invite debate (e.g. the rights of people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community and other historically marginalized communities, to name just a couple of examples), and those issues are not what I am talking about. So here goes. 1. If you are at least 18 years old and a citizen of the United States, you are eligible to vote in the 2020 election. This may seem obvious, but it doesn’t just apply to you. It applies to your friends and political enemies as well. If someone is voting for the candidate you oppose, they have the right to do so. I didn’t say it was going to be easy to vote in the 2020 election. 2. The republican and democratic political parties have complex, conflicting histories. The way they look today says little about the ideals they were founded on. Choosing a political party has almost nothing to do with Trump or Biden, and I would argue that every voter should look up the histories of BOTH parties before allowing one to determine how they might vote. 3. Speaking of parties, no one said you have to choose one! Culturally, it feels like we must choose a side and label the other side as just that — “other”. In any election — and I would say that thoughtfully respond to the things I’m saying. There’s nothing cooler than knowing that people are engaging with the things you’ve worked hard to tell them.
Perhaps that’s why this whole occurrence bothered me so much. It’s not just that random men tried to follow me and wanted me to know they think I’m attractive. It’s also that my argument wasn’t given respect and was instead reduced to a reflection of my image.
In my introduction to gender studies course this semester, we’ve been discussing a concept called the mythical norm. Originally coined by Audre Lorde, it essentially means that there’s a perceived “normal” in each society and those who fit it wield the most privilege over those who don’t. In the United States, the mythical norm is widely recognized as white, cisgender, heterosexual, male, Christian and financially stable. Those who don’t fit this norm are marked as other, and their value is determined by how useful they are to those who are mythically normal.
Cool, Ashton, but how does this have anything to do with your being perceived by random men? Upon first glance, I appear to be mythically normal except for my femaleness. In, say, a three-minute CNN clip, there’s not much you can understand about a person beyond things you might ascertain from a first glance. This means that, right off the bat, I was marked by femaleness. A majority of the responses I received came from men who appeared to match the mythical norm and referenced superficial things like my physical appearance or composure. As I mentioned earlier, they also sent me information that established a weird power dynamic. Thank you for thinking I sound smart, but why do I need to know what you do for a living? Why do I need to know where you live and work? Honestly, why would I even need to know that you think I looked composed and sounded eloquent? If your reflections have little to do with what I’m saying and more to do with how I said it, why do you feel the need to relay them to me?
I shared my creeped-out-edness with a few friends who have also made public comments, and especially in this one — voters should choose a candidate, not a party. I’m going to exercise some caution here and note that political parties aren’t bad, but when we allow them to completely determine our actions, we give them a power over our own ability to exercise judgement as independent voters. 4. As students of the Notre dame, Saint mary’s and Holy Cross tri-campus community, we have a number of opportunities in this election that other communities do not have. First of all, we are here (not Here — this isn’t meant to be a joke). We’ve been able to be on campus, which means that we get to be a part of a real, in-person learning community. We can benefit from productive conversation with each other, and as students living away from home right now, we have the space to think critically about our own values and how to uphold them with our vote. Second, we are students of high-level institutions that are dedicated to increasing our factual knowledge. Our libraries (not just places to grind out work, surprisingly) give us unique access to factual, reliable information that is crucial to us as voters. The internet just isn’t always correct, and our libraries aren’t ancient — you can find books written as late as 2020 in them. You can also use library search databases to find information from your own laptop, in any location, so “library” does not necessarily mean “book” or “club Hes.” And lastly, we all enjoy the privilege they remarked that they had also received random messages and follow requests. I started to wonder how often this same phenomenon happens. The news cycle runs 24/7/365 and people are interviewed all the time, so how many other women have received a “you looked amazing on CNN” message and hundreds of friend requests?
Beyond just the news, how does this same occurrence play out in other scenarios? How many times a day do women (or people who defy the mythical norm in other ways) give statements on things they care about, only to be told they sound surprisingly intelligent or that they look hot? How much worse do the messages and objectification get when someone is mythically “abnormal” in multiple ways?
I think the biggest thing I want to say in this column is that it’s important to think more intentionally about the ways we’re interacting with others. There have been multiple times when I’ve reduced people to superficial characteristics instead of listening to what they’re saying in the fullest. On several occasions, I’ve considered myself first when responding to others, instead of giving full attention to what they’re saying. I would invite everyone to join me in thinking about the positions of privilege we find ourselves in and actively considering how they shape our interactions with other people. I also want to say: Please stop responding superficially to people, especially people who are working and thinking long and hard about how to say important things. We don’t care if you think we sound intelligent or if you own a winery. We only care that you’re actually hearing what we have to say.
Ashton Weber is a junior with lots of opinions. She is an econ major with minors in sociology and gender studies, and can often be found with her nose in a book. If you want to chat about intersectional feminism, baking blueberry scones, growing ZZ plants or anything else, she’d love to hear from you. Reach Ashton at aweber22@nd.edu or @awebz01 on Twitter.
The views expressed in this column are those of the
Voting in the 2020 presidential election
authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. of education (I’m not saying we’re all privileged to the same degree, but we are all students which is a privilege in itself), which brings me to a point of opinion. I believe that as students, we have a duty to use our education as a force for good in the world. The “good” can look like a lot of different things, which is the beauty of our different interests. But I think that there is a “good” we can strive for right now, before graduating, that can have a real impact in our country. We can talk to each other, use factual information, and learn from our classes, which will help us all to make informed votes. An informed vote is something that can greatly help the U.S. right now.
So, in light of these few points, let’s strive not just to vote, but to know who and what we are voting for. Let’s remember that our vote has an impact — it’s a civic duty, and one that holds a significant weight in our democracy. And let’s choose to not allow political polarization to paint an inherently negative picture of those who we disagree with. We are all capable of learning and changing, and at the end of the day, we all deserve to be loved. With that in mind, let’s do this. election 2020, here come the Irish, Belles and Saints.
The observer | Wednesday, october 21, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
Thoughts on political acceptance
Rachel Stockford
bridgend
As a bridgend member, I thrive on having civil political discourse, and I have learned the importance of understanding different perspectives on political issues, especially in the heavily polarized time that we are in today. something I have noticed recently, though, is many people on the left claiming that if someone supports donald Trump, they can no longer be friends or associate with them. I’ve seen what feels like hundreds of tweets saying “If you support ‘x,’ unfollow me” or “if you like ‘y,’ we can’t be friends.”
I think this raises an important question: Is there a line to be drawn where civil discourse can no longer be acceptable? Is there a point that supporting a candidate or an issue causes so much unrest that having well-mannered conversation can no longer be expected?
I don’t think that all situations are the same in regard to this question. If you are a left-leaning person with friends who support Trump, this may be the perfect time to intervene with some good, old fashioned civil discourse. Your first action should not be to stereotype that person by reflecting Trump’s ideals onto them. so, if someone who only supports Trump say, for the economy, and is also politically disengaged, they may not know the
Ella Wisniewski
consider This man, restoration Week was fantastic! I’ve never felt so rested in my life. I got to spend away the rest of my remaining flex points (I choose to blame it on the unfair oat milk upcharge at starbucks) while devoting extra time to coming up with words that start with K (so that I can make convoluted and unnecessary acronyms). With all the restorativity I’ve gotten this week, I’ve been able to fire up the ol’ thinking machine to churn out some fresh new thoughts. And let me tell you, I’ve got one that’ll knock your socks off — an innovative way to give students more rest, relaxation and restorification than ever before.
We should give students a whole week off from classes. racist, xenophobic and misogynistic claims he has made throughout his presidency. having a civil conversation with someone who claims to support Trump because of fiscal issues, by all means, should be expected and encouraged.
That being said, I understand why and how some people are so harmed by Trump’s rhetoric and do not want to associate with anyone who further perpetuates his bigotry. however, I still believe in the power of conversation and explaining how Trump is wrong. obviously, it is up to each individual person as to how they want to go on with this relationship after this, but I think a civil conversation at least allows you to make an informed decision about a person’s viewpoint rather than homogenizing assumptions
I do not think that it is acceptable to automatically judge someone based on whether they support donald Trump. Invoking civil dialogue can help you understand why someone supports the candidate they do, and not until this point can you put a fair judgement on someone’s character. In fact, a political candidate does not reveal the full extent to someone’s character at all.
If we believe that we are at the point that political dialogue can no longer happen because of the assumptions we make about people who support a certain candidate, then I fear for the future of politics in this country. This is the ultimate test of American liberalism, and we must prevail. now I know this sounds a bit preposterous, but hear me out. As much as a week full of restorization helped, a ton of students still had tests, papers and presentations to do! real restorationness comes from taking a break from schoolwork, not making self-care into another chore to tack on to the to-do list. That’s why I’m proposing my brand-new idea of canceling classes for five whole days. of course, this week of restoraciousness would be incomplete if we didn’t identify its mission statement. First, we’d have to make sure that there’s no academic activity of any kind going on, so that students don’t have to worry about schoolwork so much. We should all be free from any sort of scholarly requirements, including lectures, tutorials, labs and discussion sessions. Yeah, I like the sound of that — freedom from all lectures and learning. now obviously, we also need to highlight restorativism. We must bring attention to everything that this week will entail — not just restorality, but peace, serenity and enjoyment. maybe students could get eight hours of sleep for a change, or consume more than just coffee and Flavor-blasted Goldfish. They should get to have a nice, calming few days. okay, I think we should add that this week will bring restoration and ease to everyone.
And we shouldn’t ignore that students have been working diligently up until now. everyone has been doing their very best to hit those books and ace those tests. We would be discrediting all of their hard work if we didn’t appreciate their academic efforts. It’s definitely important that we recognize that students have been acquiring knowledge up
I’m not saying that everyone has to agree or that you have to keep someone in your life who blatantly disrespects you or your views. It’s just worth having that conversation before you end a relationship over politics.
KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer
Rachel Stockford is the director of operations for BridgeND, a non-partisan political education and discussion group that seeks to bridge the political divide and raise the standard for political discourse at Notre Dame. BridgeND meets at 5:15pm in the Notre Dame room in LaFortune. You can contact the club at bridgend@nd.edu or learn more at bit.ly/bridgendsignup.
The views expressed in this column are those of the
What if we had a week off from classes? Haha, jk … unless?
KERRY SCHNEEMAN | The Observer
authors and not necessarily those of The Observer. until the point of this week.
Wow, you guys. I think I’m really on to something! now, all this week needs is a title. something that really captures what it’s all about. something that mentions how all classes will be cancelled in order to reward students for their hard work and dedication with some good old-fashioned restorationality.
I think we should name this break “Freedom from All Lectures and Learning to bring restoration and ease after Acquiring Knowledge.” And since that’s a bit of a mouthful, we could call it F.A.L.L.b.r.e.A.K. for short. Imagine how much the students would love it! “I can’t wait for F.A.L.L.b.r.e.A.K.” “I’m feeling pretty burned out, I’m so glad that F.A.L.L.b.r.e.A.K. is coming up.” “even though we can’t go home this year for F.A.L.L.b.r.e.A.K., I sure am glad that we’re able to take a few days off from classes and schoolwork!” honestly, I’m pretty proud of myself. I didn’t know I had it in me to come up with such a novel idea. hopefully we can get something like it next year. or maybe next semester we can even have a “short Period of rest In order to nurture Growth and boost relaxation for everyone as an Act of Kindness.” s.P.r.I.n.G.b.r.e.A.K. for short. but heck, a girl can only dream!
Ella Wisniewski is a junior studying English and economics. She tries her best not to take herself too seriously. You can reach her at ewisnie2@nd.edu or @ellawisn on Twitter.
The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | wednesday, OctOber 21, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
The observer | WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
By ELIZABETH GREGORY
scene Writer
“The haunting of bly manor” succeeds in symbolism, mystery and emotional execution. however, it struggles with pacing, nuance and frights. The show is a sequel to “The haunting of hill house,” which captivated and spooked audiences with its unabashed jump scares, eerily well-developed bent neck lady ghost and authentic depiction of family dysfunction. creator mike Flanagan’s ambitious ensemble project brilliantly mastered the virtues of a terrifying, suspensefilled atmosphere. It faced critiques, though, for its ending.
“The haunting of bly manor” seems to have processed this complaint and moved forward to new challenges. Flanagan has refined his long form storytelling skills but loses some of “hill house’s” punch despite the clear exercise of his creative muscles.
The lack of spooks is perhaps the most immediate difference between “The haunting of bly manor” and its predecessor. The first season promised at least one big scare in every episode. In “bly manor,” though, the biggest ghostly jump scares are over by the fourth episode. From then on, there is little else that would require the use
By RYAN ISRAEL
scene editor trailed by the city’s police force and watched by people across the country, he became the unofficial spokesperson age and notoriety of the car chase made the vehicle forever synonymous with The Juice and his infamous trial. When the car was discontinued in 1996, it left no chance for any rewriting of its history — until now. the vehicle’s namesake and original pitchman, cowboy derdog stories of all time,” is told for the first time in the documentary. never existed. The film is a mockumentary, a fictitious tale introduction as a chance to explore the vehicle’s cultural significance with the help of a created character. The result is a film that combines the historical car stories of “Ford v. Ferrari” with the humor and comedy of the
of wheresthejump.com.
Aside from that potential shortcoming, “The haunting of bly manor” leans into atmosphere, symbolism and the “slow-burning” feel of a thriller. The ’80s-style clothing, foggy countryside, creepy little kids and assortment of odd dolls give the season an essence that is spooky but playful. This different type of horror works better in some episodes than others. episode five especially succeeds in delivering the story of hannah, the dazed but strong housekeeper. slowly, the gravity of hannah’s fear and devotion traps her. We discover that she’s been dead all along, clinging to an illusion through her repetition and stubborn will. momentum is definitely a challenge for “The haunting of bly manor.” For example, the penultimate episode introduces the manor’s backstory in a predictable and thematically repetitive tale of two sisters. This choice disrupts the energy right before the big finale. Furthermore, pacing struggles because of narration that seems to pop up in odd places. The format of a story within a story, told by Jamie the Gardener at a wedding years later, works thematically. however, it drags the plot in odd places and adds little. still, the show manages to pull at viewers’ heartstrings. For one, the cheesy romance
Walton Goggins, a versatile actor often placed in minor his best to fill the role of a mythical figure. With a Texas bit “rough around the edges,” is also an unlikely hero who speaks to the American ideals of hard work and traditionalways unfiltered, displayed prominently in every advertisement for the bronco. people who knew of him, like fellow spokesperson and sessed Ford historian. They recount his rise to fame, fall from grace and mysterious disappearance while dennis Quaid narrates the search for bronco. on the screen. The character is ridiculous yet recognizable. comedic result. When specific, preposterous stories and in, the film shines. It falls short, however, when the 2021 between Jamie and dani the au pair is a win for sapphic women — the last episode paints their relationship quickly, but sweetly. however, the finale is most effective in depicting dani’s demise. dani knows she is going to die. The bly manor ghost resides within her, waiting to take them both back to the haunted lake. eerie moments of dani staring into the overflowing bathtub at the ghost’s face or suddenly dropping the dishes work well. Whether you interpret her tale as a symbol for debilitating mental illness or as something else entirely, the show seems to champion the embrace of an uncertain present. certainly, amidst the loss and fear of this semester, this is a meaningful message.
Contact Elizabeth Gregory at egregor4@nd.edu
Starring: Carla Gugino, Katie Siegel, Victoria Pedretti, T’Nia Miller
Favorite Episodes: “The Altar of the Dead,” “The Beast in the Jungle”
If you like: “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Ratched,” “American Horror Story”
When o.J. simpson took off down the Los Angeles interstate in a white 1993 Ford bronco driven by Al cowlings, for the sUv. The vehicle had been around almost 30 years when o.J. went on the lam in 1994, but the pictures, cover-
The new hulu short film “John bronco” introduces turned hollywood-star turned long-forgotten hero John bronco. his story, described as “one of the greatest unof course, it’s not actually a documentary. John bronco written by marc Gilbar and directed by Jake szymanski, who utilize the recent announcement of the bronco’s re-
mockumentary genre, most recently perfected in IFc’s “documentary now!”
roles, stars as the one and only John bronco, and he does twang and a propensity for profanity, bronco, who is a a alism. his boots are always dirty and his personality is bronco’s story is told both by the people who knew him well — like Tim meadows as John’s hilarious manager and actress bo derek as John’s former girlfriend — and by the nbA star Kareem Abdul Jabar and Tim baltz as an ob-
The film is at its best — and funniest — when bronco’s bronco combines two well-known figures — the western cowboy and the Tv advert pitchman — to produce a details such as bronco’s one true weakness are thrown Where to watch: Netflix
Ford bronco becomes the focus, making the film feel like a whacky, alternative advertising strategy, as well as when some of the uncharismatic interview subjects are given their time.
The exact message of “John bronco” isn’t quite clear, either. It’s somewhat of a critique of celebrity and advertising. There’s some commentary on ‘60s and ‘70s culture. The story is redemptive, but that doesn’t seem to be the important part. so when the film ends, there’s justification in wanting just a bit more from it.
“John bronco’s” greatest asset may be its runtime; at 47 minutes, the film is an incredibly easy watch, a small dose of mockumentary comedy that doesn’t try to be more than it has to be, even if it’s not quite sure what it is supposed to be.
Contact Ryan Israel at risrael1@nd.edu
Director: Jake Szymanski
Starring: Walton Goggins, Tim Meadows, Tim Baltz
Genre: Mockumentary
SuDOku | The mePhAm grouP
happy birthday: keep an open mind, look at every angle, question what you don’t understand and make decisions that will position you for a better future. change takes courage, time and effort, and being responsible for your actions will make a difference. be the master of your destiny instead of procrastinating or letting someone else take over. keep life simple, moderate and manageable. your numbers are 8, 12, 21, 27, 33, 35, 42. ArIes (march 21-April 19): you’ll face opposition if you question what someone is doing. concentrate on what will help you get ahead. discuss what you want to happen with someone who can help you reach your objective. don’t let a sensitive issue hold you back. TAurus (April 20-may 20): don’t be fooled by hidden costs. map out your plans, and address issues that are questionable. With opportunity comes responsibility. make sure you are up to taking on a new or unexpected challenge. do thorough research before you begin, and proceed with intelligence. gemInI (may 21-June 20): Proceed with caution. If you want to avoid an emotional roller coaster, listen carefully, verify the information before passing it along and don’t make a move based on innuendoes. Avoid conflict, lies and joint ventures. cAncer (June 21-July 22): Take the road less traveled. It’s ok to be different; in fact, it will help you avoid getting into a dispute with someone focused on something that doesn’t interest you. Agree to let everyone do their own things. leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Put some muscle behind whatever you decide to pursue. The less interaction you have with others, the easier it will be to follow through with your plans. don’t present what you are working toward until you are satisfied with the results. vIrgo (Aug. 23-sept. 22): keep your emotions hidden. The less others know about you or what you are doing, the better. bring about the changes you want to make, and stop worrying about what others think or do. be your own master. lIbrA (sept. 23-oct. 22): Problems at home will mount if you don’t take care of your responsibilities or are too lax with your spending or behavior. make a point to concentrate on getting things done on time. keep the peace, and defuse discord. scorPIo (oct. 23-nov. 21): A change someone makes will play into your plans. look for a diverse way to use your skills, and find out what those around you have to offer to be most productive. learn as you go, and opportunity will follow. sAgITTArIus (nov. 22-dec. 21): confusion will set in if you are gullible or let your heart rule your head. Protect your health and physical well-being. Abide by rules and regulations when in public. A thrilling experience may entice you, but consider the consequences. cAPrIcorn (dec. 22-Jan. 19): An unusual opportunity will lead to changes regarding how you work and live. look at the pros and cons before you decide to change your lifestyle. A relationship will influence the decisions you make. romance is on the rise. AQuArIus (Jan. 20-feb. 18): be a leader, not a follower. Tend to responsibilities, and avoid outside interference. If you appear to be uncertain about what you want to do, someone will step in and take over. go about your business, and finish what you start. PIsces (feb. 19-march 20): refuse to let your emotions take over. It’s essential to be realistic, especially if you are helping others. offering empty promises will not go over well when you cannot deliver. being a good listener will be more helpful than misleading someone. birthday baby: you are well-liked, smart and innovative. you are mysterious and unpredictable.
JumBlE | dAvId hoyT And Jeff knurek
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Pats disappoint in Foxborough
Mannion McGinley
sports Writer
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Oct. 20.
This weekend, I got to see a true Gronk spike for the first time in a year and a half.
I was so excited about it until I reminded myself, once again, that it occurred in buccaneer orange and not Patriots navy. setting those emotions aside, let me start again.
This weekend for the Pats did not go as planned. With cam newton back from covId-19, the only other covId victim in the usual starting crew was sony michel, who has already been on Ir. Thus, it should have been a successful game and an easy win against the 1-3 broncos, especially since the Patriots were home in Foxborough.
“should have” being the key phrase, as neither team was really all that stellar. both teams had less than 300 yards of total offense for the game.
The Pats led the passing game 171-164, and the broncos led the rushing game 135-117. The game really came down to the defense. What should have been a blow out for the Pats had the potential to become one in the other direction.
While newton was back on the field, accompanied by his full arsenal of offensive weapons, something was off.
The main issue resided in the offensive line on sunday.
While Tom brady was able to praise the buccaneers offensive line, newton could not do the same.
The problems started in the first quarter, when the line left a gaping hole for shelby harris to get through and cause a tipped pass, leading to an interception. The broncos defense had four sacks on the day.
Additionally, the line couldn’t establish enough gaps for running backs rex burkhead, James White and damien harris to use. The three backs had 15 of the 25 carries between them and only 41 of the 117 rushing yards.
When the line did make time and space for a play to develop, the offense couldn’t hold onto the ball. newton had that first interception and two fumbles.
Tight end ryan Izzo also had a fumble. The game was signed, sealed, delivered to the broncos when newton threw one more pick in the fourth quarter.
The biggest indicator of a bad game for the Patriots, though, is when Julian edelman, the star wide receiver and secret college quarterback gets to throw not once, but twice in a game.
It’s even worse when those throws amount to more yardage than he had receptions. edelman completed two passes for 38 yards but had only two receptions for eight yards.
The only saving grace was the defense which, after all these slip ups, managed to prevent any touchdowns from the broncos.
I’m not willing to give up on the Pats just yet. I’ll chalk this game up to still rebuilding from coIvd losses, but saying that this game was tough to watch would be an understatement.
Contact Mannion McGinley at mmcginl3@nd.edu
The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Please recycle The Observer.
Less is more for Major League Baseball
Thomas Zwiller
sports Writer
With the beginning of the mLb World series, featuring the Los Angeles dodgers and the Tampa bay rays, an excellent series to conclude what has been an exciting mLb postseason. FiveThirtyeight gives the dodgers a 70% chance to beat the rays and projects the series as most likely going six games. however, I’m not here to break down the series, (for that, go read the great work done by Andrew mcGuinness and his column Previewing the 2020 World series) instead, I’m here to look at the 2020 mLb regular season itself.
To begin, major League baseball might actually benefit from a shorter season, a season similar to the model used this year — 60 games. Traditionally, mLb plays out a 162-game schedule, which is easily the longest in American sports. It is a little over 10 times the length of an nFL schedule — which plays 16 games — and double both the nhL and nbA schedule— which play 82 games apiece. The mLb wasn’t intending to trot out this new 60-game model, the plan was to as always play 162 games.
That plan got changed, like everything, by covId-19. After a covId shutdown and tense negotiations between players and owners, the 60-game season was played out in an effort to salvage the 2020 season. At first, the season looked shaky — both the miami marlins and st. Louis cardinals had massive covId outbreaks, causing a number of games for multiple teams to be postponed. however, mLb plowed through it, rescheduled games and made it through. This season has been viewed as a relative success — nowhere near as good as the nbA or nhL — but it was a successful placeholder for a truly unique year. however, I think the mLb should look really hard at changing to a shorter season every year. here’s why:
Games are more meaningful
In the standard mLb season, a team will play will 162 games. This means one game can be valued at 0.00617% of a season, which is a small fraction of a season. This can tend to lead to an attitude of it being okay if you lose a game, games don’t matter. Winning or losing one game will tend not to make or break a season in mLb, and so it’s not compelling to watch or to see in person. There are so many games that it is relatively easy to miss a couple and it doesn’t matter. The nFL, on the other hand, plays a 16-game season, and each game makes up about .0625% of a season, or in other words a fairly significant chunk of a season. each game becomes much more meaningful when you only play 16, a loss or a win can really make a big difference in your season. It is also must-watch television. A fan of an nFL isn’t just going to casually skip a game; it means too much to their season. now I’m not saying mLb needs to play a 16-game season — that’s going too far and making the season too short. What I am saying is that mLb needs to cut its season in half, it should play 82 games much like the nhL and nbA. doing so would make games twice as valuable — both teams and fans can’t really blow off games.
Better home attendance
In a typical year, every single mLb team will play 81 regularseason games at home. That is a huge amount of games. That’s both an nhL and nbA season, just at home. on the road it’s another 81 games. both the nhL and nbA have only 41 games at home. According to esPn, the nbA averages about 17,800 people per game, which is around 95% capacity. mLb, on the other hand, has the capacity for 43,000 fans in the average stadium but has an average attendance of 28,000 which is roughly 65% of capacity. To me, there is a correlation between attendance and the number of games. The more games overall, the less your attendance per game will be. I think the main reason this exists, like I said earlier, is because there are too many games. however, you shorten the season and cut the games in half, I think you would see a jump in attendance per game, more people coming to each game because there are fewer games. Fewer games make each individual game more valuable.
it can change the calendar
If baseball were to cut its season in half, one of two things could happen. It would spread out when games are played, allowing for more rest, and more time to travel in between games. What I think would happen would be that the calendar length of the season would shorten along with the number of games. This can be valuable because the mLb season often overlaps with other sports. The 2018 mLb season started mar. 29 and ended oct. 30, meaning that the season lasted 215 days — or just about 7 months. That also means that it was overlapped by the nbA playoffs, which took place from may 30 to June 13. It also means that it was overlapped by the nFL regular season, which began on sept. 5. but if you were to shrink the mLb season, and shrink the time frame of when games are played, you could schedule it so that it experienced less overlap with the other professional leagues. This could seriously help with baseball’s declining viewership, which is best demonstrated by World series viewership. In 1973 almost 35 million people watched the World series, but by 2019 that number had declined to just under 14 million people. I think this is largely due to its overlap with the nFL season. The nFL has an average regular-season game viewership of 16.5 million people. but, if mLb changed up when it plays the World series — to sometime before september — it wouldn’t overlap with nFL games, and I think it could see a drastic increase in the number of people viewing.
here’s how it could work:
The 2020 mLb season will be 97 days long. It started July 23 and will end oct. 28. now if you assume that you need to add 20 days to the season to make it an 82-game season instead of 60 games, it would be a 117-day season, so I’ll round it to 120 days. To minimize being overshadowed by other leagues, the World series needs to be finished before september — to avoid the nFL season. To play a 120-day season that ends before sept. 1, the mLb season would need to start on may 4. While this does create some conflict with the nbA, which wouldn’t finish until June 13, this lets mLb dominate the summer and still wrap up its season without the nFL overlapping. This should increase viewership numbers — for the World series, at least — something mLb desperately needs. dear major League baseball, shorten your season!
Contact Thomas Zwiller at tzwiller@hcc-nd.edu
The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
conTInUed From PAGe 16
with a no. 14 ranking from the United soccer coaches’ Poll, the Irish were dropped from the top-15 when the weekly rankings were released monday. notre dame out-possessed and outshot both the demon deacons and clemson, but Irish head coach nate norman said he would not discount the late goals as simply unlucky.
“They both were actually similar plays,” he said. “They were services from longer, deeper areas that we just didn’t do well clearing. We need to have better balance in our backline in those scenarios and make sure we’re dealing with where players are at, who’s going for the ball and things like that.” sunday went much better for Louisville, as the cardinals earned a crucial 1-0 win at virginia Tech. The victory in blacksburg virtually assured Louisville a spot in this year’s Acc tournament. With two conference games left for each team still in contention, the cardinals currently sit in fourth place on 12 points, five points ahead of ninth-placed Wake Forest.
The situation is much more nervy for the Irish, who currently occupy the eighth and final qualifying spot with nine points. While notre dame closes out the season at no. 1 north carolina, the demon deacons have two winnable games at home to Pittsburgh and virginia Tech, who currently reside seventh and 10th in the Acc table, respectively.
The immense difficulty of getting a result against Unc in chapel hill means the Louisville match looms even larger for the Irish. norman said he would not attempt to downplay the significance of sunday’s clash.
“I think you acknowledge [the pressure] and you just lean into it,” he said. “We got to embrace that pressure. We got to enjoy playing games when the stakes are high. That’s why you come and play college soccer at a really, really high level.” notre dame is 11-4-1 alltime versus the cardinals, but the fixture has been much more competitive of late. Last year the two programs played to a tense 0-0 draw at Alumni stadium after two overtimes, and Louisville earned their first home win against the Irish on the sixth attempt when the cardinals prevailed 2-0 in 2018. current junior cardinal midfielder maisie Whitsett opened the scoring that september day. notre dame also hosted the cardinals in september in the Irish’s only exhibition match of the truncated season. While the Irish romped to a 4-0 victory, norman is wary of taking too much out of the preseason matchup.
“I even know they are playing a very different way than they played us in that game,” he said. “That was kind of a wide-open game, which I think actually helped us a lot. I don’t know if we’ll have as much space as we had in that first game, and obviously, teams just get better.”
The Irish have recently struggled a bit in front of goal, scoring only five times on 84 shots during the fourgame homestand.
“We just didn’t feel like we were as efficient as we need[ed] to be in front of goal,” said norman. “I felt we probably were creating chances, but we just need[ed] to be more efficient. And then it actually burn[ed] us a little bit again against Wake Forest.”
Against clemson, norman tinkered with his first-team line-up to spark some more offensive production. senior sammi Fisher, who is second on the team with 3 goals, was moved from her usual position as an attackingmidfielder to the centerforward role. In the second half, however, Fisher went back to her more natural position in the midfield to make way for ellie ospeck, and the two linked up under a minute after the break for the equalizer and the first goal of ospeck’s young career. norman was very pleased with how the freshman from danville, california, was able to impact the game.
“obviously she scored the goal, but just her activity level and her ability to get behind people and honestly make [clemson] drop off gave us more space to play in front of them,” he said. “I thought she did a wonderful job.” considering the Irish faced a deficit twice, however, it was surprising to see one of the most prolific forwards in the country remain on the bench. notre dame’s Kiki van Zanten entered the clemson game first in the nation with 1.2 goals per game and currently leads the Acc with six goals in conference play, but she only featured for 14 minutes at the end of the first half against the Tigers.
When asked about van Zanten’s lack of action, norman emphasized that it had nothing to do with the talented striker herself.
“I think it end[ed] up being some of the tactical things that we ha[d] to deal with against clemson,” he said. “sometimes another player may just be doing well inside that game and you don’t do your normal rotation.” regardless of who plays upfront, the Irish will likely need to be clinical given Louisville’s stingy defensive record this season. The cardinals are tied for sixth in the nation with a .500 goals-against average. every Louisville victory has come via shutout, and senior goalkeeper Gabby Kouzelos has posted a save percentage of .921, which ranks fourth for all ncAA goalkeepers who have played five games or more.
The cardinals also carry a substantial scoring threat. senior midfielder emina ekic leads Louisville with five goals, which is tied for fifth-most in the country. norman said he expects a strong reaction from his squad as they look to put two disappointing results behind them.
“hopefully we just have a really bad taste in our mouth from this past weekend, and we just go make sure we make it right,” he said.split up into a north and south region, with every team playing six conference games against division opponents over a nine-week period to minimize travel and other risk factors associated with covId-19. The Panthers join the Irish in the north region, and both squads will meet again in Pittsburgh on oct. 30 to play their conference matchup. notre dame was picked to finish last in the north region in the Acc coaches’ preseason poll. The Panthers were picked to finish second, receiving two first-place votes behind runaway north region favorites, defending Acc champions and 2019 national runner-up virginia.
Last Thursday’s victory over Kentucky suggests the Irish could be a dark horse in the conference this fall, however. despite periods of sustained pressure from the Wildcats, the veteran Irish back line held firm and did not allow a single shot on target in the final 14 minutes. senior keeper Keagan mcLaughlin looked assured in just his fifth game for notre dame, making a career-high four saves in difficult goalkeeping conditions. The Zanesville, ohio native has yet to concede a goal in an Irish uniform.
The breakthrough came courtesy of freshman debutant daniel russo off the beach, who headed home a corner taken by senior midfielder Aiden mcFadden in the 62nd minute. Jackson, n.J. native russo and mcLaughlin were awarded Acc offensive and defensive player of the week, respectively.
Freshmen matthew radivojsa — who led all players with four shots — and Paddy burns, sophomores reese mayer and ethan o’brien and senior michael Lynch joined russo in making their notre dame debuts against the Wildcats. After the victory, notre dame head coach chad riley said he was excited by what he saw from his freshmen as the rest of the squad continues to mature.
“It was good all around for the young guys,” he said. “I think we have a good, deep group. I think we’re kind of … turning the corner to become more of a veteran team.”
The Irish also possess leadership and a goal scoring threat with junior forward Jack Lynn, who was one of the eleven players highlighted on the Acc preseason watch list. The st. Louis, mo native led notre dame with 10 goals last season. Five were gamewinners, which was tied for second in the Acc and 11th in the country, respectively. one of those matchwinners came against Pitt last november, as his 17thminute strike proved to be enough in a 1-0 victory at Alumni stadium.
Leading the line for Pitt is edward Kizza, a senior forward who was also featured on the watch-list. Kizza is coming off two consecutive All-Acc first-team selections. he finished fourth in the conference with twelve goals in 2019 and also scored five match-winners.
Last year, the Panthers advanced to the second round of the ncAA tournament, where they were thumped 5-0 by eventual champions Georgetown. saturday’s game will be Pitt’s official season opener, but they are coming off a 5-0 home win over Louisville sunday. Kizza scored the opener 25 minutes in before fellow senior forward Alexander dexter, who led the Panthers with six assists in 2019, added a brace before halftime. sophomore midfielders valentin noel and veljko Petkovic added goals of their own after the break to complete the rout.
Kickoff at Alumni stadium saturday is scheduled for 7 p.m. no in-person attendance is permitted, but the match will be available to stream on Acc network extra.
Contact Greg McKenna at gmckenn2@nd.edu
Week 7: Claypool makes a name for himself
John Kalemkerian, Jamison Cook, Andrew McGuiness, Sam Ouhaj
Sports Writers
You know the drill. Fantasy Corner Week 7 — let’s get to it.
Sam Ouhaj
Must start: Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
Stafford has always been a quarterback who looks great sometimes and at other times, looks like he is completely lost. However, the one thing Stafford has going for him is facing up against a terrible Falcons team.
The Falcons secondary has looked lost at times and while they were able to force three interceptions on Kirk Cousins, Cousins still finished the game with three touchdowns, mostly in garbage time — but this is fantasy, and points are points. The Falcons are currently allowing 335 yards a game to opposing quarterbacks as well as an average of three passing touchdowns a game. I believe Stafford is in for a big day against a Falcons team that finally got their first win against the Vikings last week.
Must sit: Travis Fulgham, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Travis Fulgham has established himself as the Eagles number one wideout in wake of the constant injuries that have plagued this team. After being cut by the Lions just a few weeks early on into the season, Fulgham has been on fire since joining his new team. Fulgham has found the end zone three times in three games and has averaged about 95 receiving yards a game against some notable defenses that include the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. The issue I have with Fulgham this week is that he is the only target left, it seems, in Philly. James Bradberry is playing out of his mind for the New York Giants, and I expect that to carry over this Thursday. While I like Fulgham as a pick up for future games, I advise sitting him out against the Giants.
Who to pick up:
Demarcus Robinson, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (Owned in 1.9% of fantasy leagues)
Hunter Renfrow, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (Owned in 27.7% of fantasy leagues) TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Waller has been an outstanding option three of the last four weeks, putting up 85+ yards in two of those performances and finding the end zone in two of them as well. Coming off a bye, Waller should be well-rested to take on a Bucs squad that ranks in the top half of the NFL in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. Waller continues to be one of the most productive players at his position; you’re gonna be hard-pressed to find a tight end with higher upside than Waller right now.
Must sit: John Brown, WR, Buffalo Bills
Just like he did in 2019, Brown began this season with a hot start, stringing together consecutive games with 70+ receiving yards and a touchdown in the season’s first two weeks.
However, he’s been dealing with a nagging knee injury basically ever since, and it shows in his production. Brown has been held off the fantasy scoresheet in three of the last four weeks, and with head coach Sean McDermott acknowledging Brown isn’t at 100%, that may not be changing soon.
There’s a fair chance Brown is given the week off to rest up, but if he plays, even against the wasteland that is the Jets secondary, he’s not worth starting given his current condition and recent results.
Who to pick up:
D’Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions (Owned in 76% of fantasy leagues)
Jamison Cook
Must start: Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Claypool followed up a record-breaking, fourtouchdown performance in week five with four catches for 74 yards and a rushing touchdown in Pittsburgh’s dominant win over the Browns in week six.
He has established a strong connection with Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, and his touchdown production — five in the last two weeks — is very encouraging. Claypool’s usage in the running game adds another dimension to his game and even more value to his fantasy owners.
With fellow WR Diontae Johnson still listed as questionable and a matchup with the Titans defense, who has given up the 28th most passing yards per game at 272.8, Claypool should be locked into your lineup for the time being.
Must sit: Le’Veon Bell, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Bell did not play this past week after signing with Kansas City on Oct. 15 but is expected to suit up in week seven assuming he fulfills the required six straight days of negative COVID tests.
His new backfield partner, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, rushed for a career-high 161 yards in week six, his first 100-yard game since week one.
Edwards-Helaire is clearly a competent back, and it is uncertain how Bell will fit into the Chiefs offense.
Presumably, he will take more of the receiving load, one area in which Edwards-Helaire has not stood out, but it is hard to justify starting Bell right away. Wait at least one week to see where Bell fits into the Chiefs offensive scheme before putting him back in your starting lineup.
Who to pick up:
Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos (Owned in 18.4% of fantasy leagues)
John Kalemkerian
Must start: Jerick McKinnon, RB, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers backfield has been a mess this season, and lead back Raheem Mostert went down with a high ankle sprain in week six which is poised to send him back to IR, opening the door for McKinnon to shine.
Mostert missed weeks three and four, during which McKinnon was the clear lead back, receiving an average of 14 carries and five catches per contest over that two-week span.
Even better, he scored a touchdown each of those weeks and was a solid fantasy start. Those numbers should be replicated again in week seven, with the 49ers taking a trip to Foxborough in a game where the Niners are unlikely to be playing from behind, which should translate to plenty of work for McKinnon.
Must sit: Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys looked entirely lost on Monday night in their first game without star QB Dak Prescott.
The 38-10 blowout was tough for Cowboys fans to watch, but also confirmed what many fantasy
PAID ADVERTISEMENT managers had dreaded: Andy Dalton is not Dak Prescott.
Prescott, who still leads the league in passing yards despite having missed a game and a half, was able to feed the Cowboys threeheaded WR beast (Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and rookie CeeDee Lamb).
It’s now clear that Gallup will be most affected by Prescott’s season-ending injury, especially in week seven, where America’s Team will go up against a Washington secondary that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to the WR position group all year. Definitely keep Gallup on your bench this week.
Who to pick up:
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (Owned in 52.4% of fantasy leagues)
Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos (Owned in 18.4% of fantasy leagues)
Contact Jamison Cook at jcook22@nd.edu, John Kalemkerian at jkalemke@ nd.edu, Andrew McGuiness at amcquinn@nd.edu, and Sam Ouhaj at souhaj@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Observer.
them a little bit too much in practice, and we’ve got to be able to pull off a little bit in terms of making sure that our guys have got fresh legs. They’re practicing so hard and so well for me that we’ve got to be able to see the benefits of that on saturday. so it’s just work in progress. and we’ll continue to work on the details of the passing game with those receivers going forward.”
Kelly also acknowledged that injuries among the wide receiving corps have been a big concern. speedster junior braden Lenzy has been struggling to get healthy, Kelly said.
“We couldn’t even get braden Lenzy up to his full speed,” Kelly said. “This kid is a gamer. … he’s trying to play. We’re hoping he’s going to be better this week.” one of the positives from saturday’s game was the play of the irish defense.
Kelly gave credit to young players stepping up in the absence of some veterans.
“as it relates to our run defense, we took away their best play, which is the outside zone play,” Kelly said. “i was very pleased with the run defense. i really liked the play of [Jacob] Lacey and [howard] cross iii being in there without myron [Tagovailoa-amosa] and Kurt [hinish] being a bit banged up for us.”
Kelly acknowledged that the irish do not have a balanced attack on the offensive side of the football at the moment.
“i’ve always talked about the ability to be equally as effective throwing it as running it, and right now we’re so much better running it than throwing it,” he said. “i want the ability for teams to respect our ability to throw it.”
Kelly said he knows that his team needs to improve and continue to grow as the schedule gets tougher over the next few games.
“That’s going to continue to be a priority in our focus that we’re going to push the ball vertically down the field,” Kelly said. “We have got to continue to grow. We got to continue to get better. We need to get better moving forward and that is by attacking defenses down the field in our passing game.” although senior defensive lineman Kurt hinish has been banged up this season, Kelly discussed the impact that hinish has had on the team this year.
“he’s played a lot of football, and he’s smart. he can reach stances. he can sense where the back is lined up. he’s a guy that watches a lot of film and knows football really well,” Kelly said. “he not only has the strength and and the physical ability, but he’s a smart football player. he’s a high-iQ guy who knows what they’re trying to do scheme-wise, and he can defeat that scheme in front of them because of his veteran experience and his ability to watch a lot of film and know the opponent.”
This saturday’s game against pittsburgh will be the first road game of the season for the irish. in this covid-19 era of college football, traveling on the road presents a whole new set of challenges. because of this, the irish will do their normal pregame friday activities while on notre dame’s campus. They will then take a plane to pittsburgh friday evening.
“We have looked at all the things necessary for us to be successful on the road relative to travel and coordination,” Kelly said. “We will treat friday on the road just like it’s friday here at notre dame stadium, which includes eating our dinner downtown at century plaza and then getting on the plane after a big meal so there’ll be no food on the plane.”
Kelly saw his team adjust to the changes in procedures a few weeks ago after some positive covid-19 tests, and he is confident his team will adapt for this saturday’s game.
“We’ll talk about what the expectations are of everybody, and that we just follow the procedures and protocols that we lay out for them,” Kelly said. “similarly to what was new for them here on campus when we made some changes here two weeks ago, they’ll have to follow them the same way.”
When asked about pittsburgh, Kelly praised the panthers’ coaching staff.
“They’re always well coached,” Kelly said. “[head coach] pat narduzi knows defense and mark Whipple is one of the best options for offensive coordinator in the country.”
Kelly also discussed the difficulties of playing at heinz field.
“going on the road to heinz field, that’s obviously a difficult place to play,” he said. “Last time we played there, we had to squeak out a tough victory in the last minute. We know what to expect from a really well coached tough and physical football team.”
Kelly said the physicality of the pittsburgh defense is what worries him the most ahead of saturday’s game.
“a pat narduzzi coached football team is tough and rugged,” Kelly said. “They’re always going to play notre dame hard, and they’ve got some game wreckers on defense. and quite frankly, they’re going to get after the quarterback. They’re going to play physical, and they’re well coached. That’ll keep little bit too much in practice, and we’ve got to be able to pull off a little bit in terms of making sure that our guys you up at night.”
Contact Nate Moller at nmoller2@nd.edu
out soon against teams like clemson and unc.” i don’t think i would go this far. and i might suggest these individuals ask their doctors for some Xanax. notre dame has a good football team, and with their offensive line, tight ends and running backs (and a game manager quarterback who refuses to play like a third-year starter), they will beat every team they should. and i think that last person might feel a little different now considering unc has since lost to the florida state team notre dame beat two saturdays ago.
“Lost all optimism about beating clemson.” again, i wouldn’t even go this far. seeing north carolina lose to florida state, it just reaffirms for me that notre dame is the only acc team that has a legitimate shot at knocking clemson down a peg this season. i have at least a little faith in that because of all the weapons i just mentioned.
They definitely need someone to emerge as the go-to guy at wide receiver. Javon mcKinley’s performance against the seminoles seemed more like a pleasant surprise than the makings of a go-to guy, so it’s imperative that Kevin austin become that no. 1 wideout in addition to braden Lenzy staying healthy and keeping defenses (especially one defense in particular) aware of him streaking up the field.
Just pray that there’s no wind.
“Worst coaching job of Kelly’s tenure here.” i would point you to a certain rain-soaked loss last season to a blue and maize team that shall not be named. or perhaps to a loss nearly a decade ago (against a recent visitor of notre dame stadium) in which Kelly’s face turned a shade of purple best defined as “byzantium.”
“We are back to charlie Weis era.” in terms of the score? no, we’re more in the dan devine era since that was the last time the irish scored so few points in a home win. That’s pretty much the only connection i can draw here. This defense is far better than any Weis threw out on the field during his time in south bend. on the other side of the ball, ian book, despite what his statistics may say, is also nowhere near the player brady Quinn was under Weis — nor the player he could have been with the defense and line play book possesses. it’s like the Weis era has been perverted, and because of that notre dame is now 4-0 in 2020 and 37-6 in the last four seasons, with 22 straight home wins and 28 straight over unranked opponents. no Xanax necessary for you, but perhaps a chill pill.
“exhausted (nine rosaries and paced the entire game).” i’m sure your efforts for the team were much appreciated.
“Terrible… my freshman daughter said ushers killed the spirit of the students.”
That’s what you’re upset about? The offense scored 12 points. i think they did more to sap the energy than even notre dame ushers could.
“Wins are wins thank god nd is playing football this fall.” i can agree with you there. although some people don’t…
“i don’t care!!!! i do not give a single s--t!! we shouldn’t have football this is a pandemic!!!!!” oK, now this person definitely needs a Xanax. in all seriousness, i will grant you that there are several sec schools who seem to not be handling this pandemic appropriately (looking at you Texas a&m and ole miss). at this point though, i really don’t know what to tell you. i would suggest not consuming sports content in any form if it really upsets you this much.
We could write a thesis on this topic and i’d really rather not. i respect your opinion on this issue because you seem to prioritize health and safety above all else. i’d like to think these schools are doing that for their players as well, which is the least they can do considering the lack of compensation. it’s a problem if universities are misleading them about attendance numbers and they don’t know what they’re getting themselves into, but for the most part people are willing to take the risk whether you like it or not. so long as nothing goes horribly wrong, all parties involved in collegiate sports are going to continue as planned.
That’s all i have to say on that. now back to the fun stuff.
“happy for the win. confused by the offense.” agreed.
“hnnghhhhhhhgh.” pretty much in line with how i felt.
“meh.” / “bruh.” i feel that.
Well this was fun! don’t you think? We should do this again soon, preferably after a pittsburgh game that provides a bit more clarity on what we can expect from notre dame come time for the only game that actually matters in the regular season.
Contact Hayden Adams at hadams3@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
The observer | WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21, 2020 | ndsmcobserver.com
FOOTBALL
smith leaves nd football program
ND WOMEN’S SOCCER
Irish look for crucial road win against Louisville
By Emily dEFazio
sports Writer
notre dame head coach brian Kelly announced in a press conference monday that junior running back Jahmir smith would be leaving the football team. This conference was held ahead of notre dame’s matchup with the University of Pittsburgh this weekend. smith chose notre dame over several other scholarship offers, enrolling at the University in January 2018 following an undefeated regular season his senior year of high school. At that time, he was ranked as the no. 26 running back in the country by 247sports.
As a member of the Fighting Irish football team, smith carried the ball six times for 28 yards and had a reception against stanford his freshman year, playing in two games. during his 10 games on the field his sophomore year, he rushed 42 times for 180 yards and scored twice. In this year’s season opener
FOOTBALL
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Oct. 20.
In his monday press conference, head football coach brian Kelly reflected on notre dame’s 12-7 victory over the Louisville this past weekend and also discussed the Irish’s first road game of the season against the Pittsburgh Panthers this upcoming saturday.
The Irish offense struggled for the majority of the game on saturday, raising concerns about the passing game going forward. Kelly discussed the wide receiver situation and the fine line between practicing too hard and being successful on saturdays.
“There has been a revolving door at the wide receiver position,” Kelly said. “I think we probably push against duke, smith rushed five times for a total of 15 yards. he did not play in any other game this season.
This year there are several running backs on the roster, with sophomore Kyren Williams, freshman chris Tyree, junior c’bo Flemister, senior Jafar Armstrong and sophomore Kendall Abdur-rahman also being listed at the position. In saturday’s game against Louisville, only Williams and Tyree saw the field. The crowded backfield paired with the talent of his teammates may have prompted smith’s decision to leave, as he was not receiving as much playing time.
At the press conference, Kelly was asked why smith did not appear on the team’s weekly depth chart.
“Jahmir smith has left the team,” Kelly said in response. “he has decided that he is not going to play football. We’ll have some further conversations about what his plans are moving forward, but he has decided at this time that he is not going to be playing football.”
Contact Emily deFazio at edefazio@nd.edu
Editor’s Note: A version of this story was published online Oct. 20.
After notre dame came away from saturday’s contest against Louisville with a clunker of a a poll on Twitter asking fans how they felt following the game. seeing as I have my own opinions on the matter, here’s a look at their responses (all anonymous).
“Great run game. Great defense. every game flow is differwin. Go Irish.”
You, sir or madam, have the type of optimism I found it difficult to muster after this game. I grant you the point about how the run game and defense looked good, and yes, every game flow is different. say there is a need for panic.
I’m more in the camp of the person who was…
ERIN FENNEssEy | The Observer
Irish sophomore midfielder Maddie Mercado aims to pass during Notre Dame’s 3-0 home win against Syracuse on Oct. 4, 2019.
By GrEG mCKEnna
sports Writer
notre dame will look to bounce back from two consecutive home losses this sunday when the Irish (33-0, 3-3-0 Acc) travel to Louisville to face the no. 13 cardinals (4-2-0, 4-2-0 Acc) at dr. mark & cindy Lynn stadium.
The last road trip of notre dame’s regular season comes off the back of an extremely disappointing end to the Irish’s lone homestand of the year. on Thursday, Wake Forest forward shayla smart snapped notre dame’s three-game winning streak with an 87th winner to prevent a scoreless draw before clemson piled on the misery sunday with a megan bornkamp goal six-and-a-half minutes from time to give the Tigers a 2-1 win. After entering the week
Kelly reflects on Lousiville, talks away game at Pitt
FOOTBALL COLUMN
Irish fans react to 12-7 victory
By natE mollEr
sports Writer
Hayden adams
sports editor
12-7 win, The observer posted
ent. no need to panic. A win is a
however, I must disagree and
see W soccer PAGE 13
“Frustrated & disappointed. sure, ugly wins count, but it’s not encouraging moving forward.”
The Irish run game, while consistently getting yards and first downs, is not the explosive unit the 2017 notre dame offense possessed. Kyren Williams is slippery, but he can’t burst through a crease like Josh Adams, and chris Tyree is still relatively inexperienced. They can move the chains but are having trouble finding pay dirt, especially in the red zone.
Without a competent passing game to complement the ground attack, clemson — and this is all about clemson because their 73-7 disintegration of Georgia Tech was panic-inducing — is going to take advantage. still, though, I don’t quite feel like the people who said they felt…
“Awful. We will lose 105-0 to clemson” / “Like notre dame is bad at football” / “vindicated. I’ve been saying it for months now, nd does not have a good
