THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 | VOL. LXI, NO. 6
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Irish beat Badgers in season opener in Wisconsin By Noah Cahill
Assistant Managing Editor
The setting Sunday sun cast a soft blue light above Lambeau Field. But unlike many autumn nights in Green Bay, the Packers’ iconic G wasn’t painted between the 50-yard line markers, and it wasn’t a contingent of rowdy Cheeseheads filling the seats. Instead, the Shamrock Series logo filled the oval, and the bowl was split between seas of red and navy blue. The Irish faithful stood full of anticipation, waiting for a preseason national championship contender to take the field. Badger fans didn’t carry the same lofty expectations. But they entered this historic football venue with hope that their revamped squad will make massive improvements on last year’s 4-8 record. After winning the toss and electing to defer, Notre Dame’s highly touted defense took the spotlight first — and delivered. Forcing a quick three-and-out, the ball was
GABRIELLA MARTIN | The Observer
The Irish faced the Badgers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as part of Notre Dame’s Shamrock Series kickoff. The game ended with a 41-13 win, securing Notre Dame’s No. 4 ranking following the matchup.
placed in junior quarterback CJ Carr’s hands for the first time in 2026.
It was a sloppy display. A false start on the first play of the season set the tone for an
error-ridden series. Sophomore left tackle Will Black got beat on the blindside, leading to a strip sack
that, while recovered, forced an Irish three-and-out. The Badgers would get a piece of the subsequent punt, setting them up in Notre Dame territory for their second drive of the night. Capitalizing on the favorable field position, Wisconsin earned a pair of first downs to set up a chip shot from 27 yards, drawing first blood in Green Bay. The Irish were more effective the second time around. Junior rusher Aneyas Williams converted on a pivotal fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive. Carr had some success getting the ball out quickly. And offering a breath of fresh air after the kicking woes of teams past, junior Purdue transfer Spencer Porath knocked in a 52-yard bomb to tie the game. Notre Dame would have the lead just over a minute later but not before a moment of controversy. At first glance, it appeared that senior linebacker Kahanu Kia had recovered a muffed kickoff. The see “Football” on page 12
Trump threatens universities’ tax-exempt statuses
Email specifies AI guidelines
By Observer News Staff
By Observer News Staff
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have issued new proposed rules that would deny tax-exempt status to private colleges and universities if the government determines they use racial preferences in scholarships, admissions or other programs. The Observer could not determine whether the development would affect any programs or policies at the University of Notre Dame. The proposed rules would apply to tax years beginning after May 31, 2027. “These proposed regulations would provide that all forms of racial discrimination in education, regardless of the intent behind or the legality of such discrimination (for example, where such discrimination is defended as serving remedial or diversity-related objectives), are against a fundamental public policy of the United States and thus preclude a school’s exemption from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3). In so
doing, the proposed regulations would make clear that discriminating based on race, color, or national or ethnic origin for any purpose by a private school is contrary to a fundamental public policy of the United States,” the proposed rules state. Tax exemptions under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code allow private colleges and universities to avoid paying corporate taxes in most cases and permit them to receive tax-deductible donations. If the University of Notre Dame did not hold tax-exempt status, it would have been liable for over $500 million last year. The operating budget of the University was $1.8 billion in 2025. While racial, ethnic and nationality considerations are barred under the new guidelines, schools may continue to use criteria for underrepresented students such as “family income, geographic location, first-generation status, individual hardship, military family status, or academic achievement
when awarding admission or financial assistance,” according to an IRS press release. “As a Catholic institution, the University of Notre Dame is committed to defending the dignity of every human person, promoting a just society in which every person can flourish, and attending, particularly, to the needs of the most vulnerable. At the heart of these commitments is the recognition that we are all children of God, deserving of dignity and respect from one another. We are likewise committed to the rule of law. Accordingly, we do not engage in unlawful discrimination, but seek to attract the best and brightest to campus and, once here, to give them every opportunity to succeed,” University spokesperson Erin Blasko wrote to The Observer. Blasko did not directly answer The Observer’s question about whether the University planned to make any changes to its scholarships or programs. Editor’s Note: A longer version of this story appears online.
NEWS | PAGE 3
OPINION | PAGE 6
SCENE | PAGE 10
SPORTS | PAGE 13
SPORTS | PAGE 15
With the new director of bands starting his leadership this year, students share excitement.
Fr. James Martin recounts how he fell in love with Notre Dame’s campus within a week.
Horror movie about evil children’s show falls flat, with a lack of scare factor present.
Notre Dame men’s and women’s soccer teams end early-season non-ACC play.
Noah Cahill explains what went wrong in Green Bay ahead of ranked season matchups.
Band marks 181st
Fr. Martin’s visit
‘Buddy’
In an email to students sent Thursday evening, Ardea Russo, director of the Office of Academic Standards, updated students about the University of Notre Dame’s artificial intelligence policies. Russo began by acknowledging that “the University understands that you will need to be comfortable with the AI tools used by professionals in your chosen field, and that the classes in your major(s) will help you to build fluency.” However, she reiterated the University’s commitment to “making sure that our students learn how to read and think critically, write persuasively, defend a position, and solve problems on their own.” Although AI policies continue to vary on a class-by-class basis, Russo informed students of a few University-wide standards. This year, the Office of the Provost issued new guidance on “the prohibition of unauthorized electronic devices during assessments, including smart
MSOC and WSOC
glasses and other wearables.” Additionally, Russo reminded students of the University’s policy on generative AI. “Remember that representing work that you did not produce as your own, including work generated or materially modified by AI, constitutes academic dishonesty. Use of Generative AI in a way that violates an instructor’s articulated policy, or using it to complete coursework in a way not expressly permitted by the faculty member, will be considered a violation of the Honor Code,” she wrote. In addition to generative AI, Russo informed students that the Honor Code covers AI editing tools, such as Grammarly. Although she noted most professors are not concerned with grammatical checking, many platforms “now do more than simple grammar checking and have the ability to suggest longer blocks of text, or to completely change the tone or style of your writing. This goes see “AI” on page 3
Offensive struggles
DAILY
2 | THE OBSERVER
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
How many phone numbers do you have memorized?
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
Maggie Zaino
Jacob Klatt
Cody Chub
Grace Sparwasser
Rawan Shehayib
“Three.”
“Three.”
“Three.”
“Five.”
“Five.”
sophomore Flaherty Hall
sophomore Dillon Hall
senior Off campus
junior Walsh Hall
junior Flaherty Hall
SOCIAL MEDIA POLL
PHOTO OF THE DAY | KEIRA JONES
Yes
No
123
234
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Did you attend the Notre Dame versus Wisconsin game?
THE NEXT FIVE DAYS
CROSSWORD | WILL SHORTZ
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Tuesday Film: “Raising Arizona” (1987) DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, Browning Cinema 7:30 p.m. A petty thief is pushed by his spouse to have a child at any cost.
Wednesday Holy Cross women’s soccer vs. Saint Francis Saints Field 7 p.m. The Saints take on the Cougars at home.
Thursday Honoring Lizzy Seeberg Riedinger House 4 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Gather in remembrance and stand with victims of assault.
Friday Jim Gaffigan: “Everything is Wonderful” Comedy Tour Purcell Pavilion, Joyce Center 6 p.m. Three-time Emmy-winning comedian comes to ND.
Saturday Notre Dame football vs. Rice Notre Dame Stadium 3:30 p.m. The Irish face off with the Owls in their home opener.
ndsmcobserver.com “TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH AND REPORT IT ACCURATELY” 900 Hesburgh Library, Notre Dame, IN 46556 Editor-in-Chief Gray Nocjar Managing Editor Grace Tadajweski
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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. Opinion 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. Correction: ‘Annual Morrissey game watch continues’ on Sept. 4 originally stated incorrectly that Lambeau Field is in Madison, not Green Bay.
Today’s Staff News
Berhan Hagezom Megan Cornell Soledad Castellanos
Graphics
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Opinion
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Editors Noah Cahill Zack Pohlman Henry Jagodzinski
NEWS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 3
Band starts 181st season with Shamrock Series By Mara Hall Associate News Editor
The 181st Notre Dame marching band heads into the new season under the recently appointed leadership of Paul Popiel, director of bands. Band members shared their excitement about the new director and what his lead could entail. “Dr. Popiel is great,” senior saxophonist Diego Gonzalez Meneses said. “I think it is great that he has been present at the rehearsals. It always gets us excited for a new day, and I think he is a great guy.” Sophomore trumpet player Gustavo Perez-Espina shared a similar sentiment on the director’s consideration for the various University bands. “Dr. Popiel, he seems to care a lot about the bands, and he is very personable with the members of the bands so far,” he said. Sophomore saxophonist Anderson Hughes shared that the new director helps them focus on the music that they need to learn ahead of the performance. “It also seems like he cares a lot about the music and making sure that we are locking in on doing what the sheet music says and not just playing willy-nilly, but it seems like
he actually cares about us sounding good, and all of us really appreciate that,” Hughes stated. Popiel shared that the new season is already off to a great start thanks to the members who contribute to making it possible. “The start of the season has been really exciting! I’ve been so impressed by the dedication, talent, and spirit of the Notre Dame Band students and our terrific staff,” Popiel wrote in an email to The Observer. When asked about what changes have come to the band, Popiel noted he is starting from a place of listening. He wrote, “My approach has been to listen first and learn from the students, staff, alumni, and supporters who care deeply about the band. Rather than implementing changes, I’ve focused on listening to the staff, strengthening communication, supporting student leadership, and finding opportunities to enhance the student experience while honoring the traditions that make the Notre Dame Band so special.” Perez-Espina mentioned that the day to day is typically the same as it has been in the past. Looking forward, Popiel specified that they will evaluate what is working or not working on an ongoing basis.
“Every season provides opportunities to learn and improve. At the end of the year, we’ll evaluate what’s working well and where we can improve. My philosophy is one of continuous improvement rather than change for its own sake,” Popiel wrote. This year, the band will be at all home games and the season-opener away game, since it is a part of the 2026 Shamrock Series. The band did not travel to any football games during the 2025-2026 season. “The Band of the Fighting Irish plays an important role in creating the game-day atmosphere at Notre Dame for ALL home games since the very first game on November 23, 1887, and we look forward to supporting the football program throughout this season. We are also traveling for the Shamrock Series game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field,” Popiel explained via email. Hughes shared that though there has been good preparation, the routine feels heavier due to having to either relearn or reteach the pregame routine at the start of the season. “It is difficult because further in the season we would already know how to do the pregame routine, so we would only have to learn the halftime shows. But right at the start
of the year, we have to teach all the newcomers how to do the pregame as well, so we are basically learning two different shows at once.” In terms of recruitment, Matt Merten, associate director of band, stated that it begins as soon as a student is admitted to a tri-campus school. Current band members provide letters about the band experience following their acceptance to the University. “One of the unique things about the Notre Dame Band program is that there are so many different ways to participate. The Marching Band is certainly the most visible, but we also have concert bands, jazz bands, basketball and hockey bands, and a number of smaller ensembles. Students come to us with very different musical backgrounds and interests, so a big part of recruiting is helping them find the experience that is right for them,” Merten wrote. Within the recruitment process, band directors support students in program discernment and follow up with emails over the summer about Band Camp. For those looking to join marching band, Band Camp prepares them for their audition. “Once students arrive on campus, Band Camp is an important part of the process for the Marching Band.
Students learn the fundamentals of our marching style and music, meet the returning members, and begin to experience our culture of Tradition, Excellence, and Family,” Merten wrote. Band Camp also helps in building relations with other potential and current members of the band, translating to the school year. “We have worked together as a group to start building that community from day one, and we are really excited for the season and all the halftime shows,” Gonzalez Meneses said. For students looking to pursue the other band opportunities, depending on the group, auditions or registration begin around the start of the semester, according to Merten. Merten noted that recruitment has gone well this year, citing students showing enthusiasm for having a musical community in college even with demanding majors in other fields. “For us, successful recruiting isn’t simply about numbers. It’s about finding students who want to contribute to the community and making sure they know there is a place for them here,” Merten wrote. Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
ND club launches inaugural rosary crawl By Aidan Rush Reporter
Amid the AC/DC concert on Friday, students gathered to pray the rosary. At 5:30 p.m. in the Welsh Family Hall Chapel, the Militia of the Immaculata began its inaugural rosary crawl, which will visit nearly every residence hall on campus. The international organization was founded in Rome by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1917, and Notre Dame’s chapter is responsible for this year’s rosary crawl. According to the chapter president, Rylen Lastrella, the goal of the organization is to “bring more souls to Jesus through Mary.” Speaking with The Observer, Lastrella said that in his home parish, families were asked to bring home a statue of Mary and pray a devotional rosary for the parish community that week. Lastrella said this served as the inspiration for the group’s idea to do a rosary crawl. Similarly, the Militia of the Immaculata plans to bring a statue of Mary to a different residence hall on campus each week throughout the year. In each hall, they will say a devotional rosary. Special intentions of the
AI
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AIDAN RUSH | The Observer
Students participated in the Militia of the Immaculata’s rosary crawl in Welsh Family Hall on Friday. The group’s leader, Rylen Lastrella (center), found inspiration for the rosary crawl from a home parish.
dorms’ residents will be collected during the preceding week and prayed for during the rosary. Lastrella said the group believes the crawl and act of praying the rosary “genuinely strengthens bonds of community.” As planning for the event began over the summer, Lastrella
reached out to Aurelia Smolen, Welsh Family Hall’s faith commissioner, and pitched the idea to her. Welsh Family Hall already has an established rosary gathering with their sister dorm Ryan Hall, and Smolen said that when she was introduced to the rosary crawl, she was “excited that [Welsh Family Hall] was the first
week.” After the first rosary in Welsh Family Hall, the crawl will continue throughout the school year, with several rosaries combining halls, such as Alumni and Dillon, to ensure all 33 residence halls will be accommodated. Logistically, visiting so many halls poses a few challenges.
generate content that is not your own.” For professors who prohibit AI in the classroom, “this includes AI editing tools, unless
they state otherwise,” according to the email. “When in doubt, ask for clarification,” Russo wrote. She also informed students that
they can turn off generative AI settings in Grammarly or turn off the software altogether when writing in Word or Google Docs.
For one, the Student Activities Office process limits the Militia of the Immaculata in the scope of its advertising. The group is not permitted to advertise its entire rosary crawl schedule at once because each event must be approved individually. Given the SAO restrictions, the Militia of the Immaculata spread news of their crawl via GroupMe, f lyers and word of mouth. The Militia of the Immaculata underscored the voluntary basis of participation, emphasizing that the rosary crawl and similar events are low pressure, with optional attendance. Sabrina Richter said that the organization inspired her journey in faith after converting to Catholicism. She stated that the beauty of events like the rosary crawl and community prayer “struck me in a way that I wasn’t even quite able to comprehend.” She added that the ability to gather with her brothers and sisters at Notre Dame has been “invaluable” in her faith life. The rosary crawl plans to move on to Siegfried Hall next week pending SAO approval. Contact Aidan Rush at arush2@nd.edu Russo concluded her email by linking Notre Dame’s AI enablement hub page and inviting students to reach out with questions or concerns.
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THE NORTH 10.15.1988 11.7.2026 REMEMBERS. BEAT THE RUSH. RESPECTFULLY, THE CLASS OF 10.15.1988 † † The Class of 10.15.1988 is a state of being outside the space-time continuum, like Fat Shirley’s Diner or the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. The Class of 10.15.1988 is not affiliated with the University of Notre Dame or Saint Mary’s College.
NEWS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 5
Hall presidents share insights on Hall of the Year By Mara Hall and Alejandro Filló Nastase Associate News Editor and Reporter
Hall presidents and their residents are already preparing to compete for Hall of the Year — an award that will be earned by three dorms over the next eight months. Golden Hall of the Year is the highest title, with two other halls taking home additional Hall of the Year titles after Men’s Hall of the Year and Women’s Hall of the Year were discontinued at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year. In the 2025-2026 academic year, Cavanaugh Hall took home Golden Hall of the Year, while Duncan Hall and Coyle Hall were victorious in Hall of the Year. For many hall presidents, winning a Hall of the Year title is a priority. Junior Teddy Potts, president of Duncan Hall, said, “I have been thinking about it since I was thinking about running for president of Duncan Hall.” “Obviously, we won last year, and it is very, very uncommon to go back-to-back,” Potts said. “I think maybe some dorms might be content with just the one, but we are not quite content with just the one.”
While he did not wish to concede that the odds were stacked against them, Potts noted that he and his vice presidents are looking to go above and beyond. Brigid McKinley, president of Cavanaugh Hall, said, “To win back to back would be amazing.” “We are the best hall on campus, and I believe that wholeheartedly. I wouldn’t be hall president if I didn’t,” she added. McKinley explained that Cavanaugh will maintain its signature events — including Cavchella, the music festival which was introduced last year. However, Cavchella will shift locations from North Quad to Holy Cross Hill after seeing the setup for the Sorin College bonfire last spring. “We are really interested in getting out into the community more as well,” McKinley said, noting that they have shifted volunteering efforts from ECDC to St. Margaret’s House as the latter offers more frequent opportunities for involvement. Dalton Vaughn, president of Lyons Hall, said that despite moving into the Zahm Building this year while Lyons Hall undergoes renovations, Lyons residents aim to maintain their signature events and
traditions while embracing the new location and opportunity to collaborate with residence halls they have previously been geographically distant from. When asked about the specifics of these new events, Vaughn said that she, alongside her two vice presidents, Guadalupe Perera Rondon and Mary Bridget Molony, is considering the addition of a new signature event allowing Lyons Hall to be “engaged in a new side of campus.” “My vision when I ran for president is not more so for the title,” Vaughn said. “It’s more creating a community where every single girl feels welcome and included, and they feel like they have a home on campus.” According to the Hall Presidents Council bylaws for the 2025-2026 year, Hall of the Year is decided by a review board composed of the two HPC co-chairs, the HPC finance chair, all HPC social chairs, the HPC programming chair(s), the HPC executive assistant(s), one member of senior Judicial Council leadership and one member of the Student Government Executive Board. Members must be present for all presentations in order to be eligible to participate in the review board, unless they are recused from
a presentation. The scores are tallied by totaling five categories based on the following percentage breakdowns: 35% presentation, 50% Rockne awards, 5% Residence Hall GreeNDot Training and MiND Workshop attendance, 3% Hall Council visit score, 7% declared discretionary allotment for a given cause. McKinley explained that Rocknes are presentations given by the respective hall presidents to the Hall Presidents Council about their residence hall’s events. Rocknes occur once per month, according to the council’s bylaws. “Each Hall shall give a final presentation at a date and time prescribed by the Co-Chairs in the month before the conclusion of their term. These presentations are to convey the accomplishments and growth of each hall and its residents over the course of the president’s term,” the bylaws read. “The review board shall receive presentations from a maximum of six (6) members of the hall, one of whom must be the Hall President. The review board shall not hear any presentation in the absence of the Hall President.” The bylaws specify that training and Hall Council visit scores are calculated based on the percentage
of residents having attended the respective events up to a threshold. The declared discretionary allotment, according to the bylaws, “shall be awarded on a predetermined basis to each hall for reaching a defined level of participation or commitment to a contemporary cause important to the Council, the Student Union, and the University, as defined by the Hall Presidents Council Executive Board.” This year’s declared discretionary allotment is to be established in August. However, if determined after the beginning of winter break, the allotment weight shifts to 0%, with the presentation percentage accumulating the additional weight. In an email to The Observer, McKinley wrote that she had not yet been notified of the declared discretionary allotment for this year. Despite the existence of these bylaws, none of the presidents The Observer spoke with had a firm grasp on the percentage breakdown of how titles were calculated. Hall Presidents Council did not respond to a request for comment. Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu and Alejandro Filló Nastase at afillona@nd.edu
Student government leaders outline priorities By Chloe Hanford Reporter
In a series of interviews with The Observer, this year’s student government leaders shared a list of priorities relating to campus resources and furthering student engagement on key campus issues and local partnerships — including promoting faith-based programs, partnering with the South Bend community, improving Campus Dining’s relations with the student body, participating in council meetings and supporting voter registration. The 2026-2027 student government is headed by president Elijah Jones, vice president Riley Evers and chief of staff Kaeleigh Picco, along with 22 cabinet members overseeing various departments. In an interview with The Observer, Jones outlined six main priorities for the 2026-2027 school year, which he divided into two categories: programming and policy. Jones said these particular issues are priorities because “the problem isn’t that there aren’t resources, that there aren’t solutions, it’s that students don’t know about the solutions to something.” Under the programming category, Jones said faith-based programming was a priority from his campaign platform. Student government is beginning the year with a Mass Thursday at 7 p.m. in the KeenanStanford chapel where the Notre Dame community will honor Pandora Simmons, a longtime
employee of North Dining Hall who died this spring after 18 years of service at the University. The Mass will be followed by a service where community members share their favorite stories about Simmons. Student government’s faith department, headed by Julian Mestousis, is also planning to host interfaith dialogues and a Catholic speakers series. Students are also encouraged to submit their favorite Bible verses for student government’s verse of the week. Student government’s second programming priority is engagement with the South Bend community. “We’re just trying to better Notre Dame’s partnership with the community because at times we can be kind of separated, but we are still part of it, and we have students that live off campus in the community,” Jones said. This Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., student government will host a South Bend farmers market on South Quad, where vendors from the area will set up shop for the Notre Dame community to explore. Programming to highlight resources for first-generation and low-income students is the third priority Jones highlighted. “I believe that there are a lot of resources available for first-generation and low-income students, but not a lot of them know of the resources available to them on campus,” Jones said. Jones hopes to make these resources more visible through
workshops and promotion campaigns so that students feel confident accessing the Office of Student Enrichment and can, for example, get football season tickets paid for or get reimbursements for course books. On the policy side, Jones said student government’s work with Campus Dining is a priority, especially after the reopening of South Dining Hall’s kitchen. “So far we’ve heard great things about [South Dining Hall] being reopened and we’re gonna continue to check in. And then if anything ever comes up, we’re kind of at the vantage point to be able to go to Campus Dining and say, ‘OK, this is what students are saying about the dining hall. How can we work to fix that problem?’” Student government hopes to connect Campus Dining with student input on food, hours and theme nights. “We basically go to Campus Dining. They ask us, ‘Hey, how do students feel about this event? And what is your feedback on this? Or, how do they feel about Grab and Go hours?’ So we can provide that information and that data to them to improve the campus dining experience for students,” Jones said. The second policy priority is academic affairs. Four representatives from student government, including senior Charles Sander, the director of department of academic affairs, sit on the University’s Academic Council, alongside University President Fr. Robert Dowd, provost John McGreevy, the deans of
each college and professors from across the University. New this year, Jones, Evers and Michael Budd, the student union secretary, sit in on the council meetings as well. Budd saw the list of student and faculty names for the council and said, “[They are] very smart people, very caring people, and so what’s exciting is seeing some of these names and knowing I get to work with them to improve the community.” The council will discuss topics like the new course instructor feedback system, academic counseling and support for major discernment. The final policy point Jones shared fell under national affairs, specifically, voter registration. Ahead of the 2026 midterms, student government plans to encourage as many students as possible to register to vote by working with NDVotes and other partners on campus. “We’re going to be nonpartisan, but we’re just going to be here to register voters, because I think our job as student government is to foster a better political environment on campus, so registering people to vote and getting people thinking about participating in their election and showing them how to vote by mail, how to vote early,” Jones said. Outside of these six programming and policy priorities, a broader goal for the Jones-Evers administration is to connect students with one another to foster collaboration toward the goals students themselves are
passionate about. Evers, who is also the chairperson of the student senate, said that she is working on empowering hall senators to know “how they can best exercise their legislative power.” She is meeting one-on-one with each senator, “just to get to know what they’re passionate about pursuing, and then also who I can connect them to from other branches of student government so that they know would be able to accomplish what they want to in the most efficient manner.” Evers said senators are already collaborating in groups to address technology safety concerns and resident furniture concerns. Picco, in addition to overseeing the student government department directors, said that she and Jones are reviving the executive committee, a committee of the heads of every branch of the Student Union, to “promote programming collaboration” and “reduce Student Union debt.” As chief of staff, Picco will chair the committee and oversee collaborations. When asked about accomplishments so far, Jones mentioned the work of the department of disability advocacy in soft-launching a new disability studies minor. Jones and Evers also highlighted attendance at the annual Flick on the Field showing of the movie “Rudy” on Aug. 28 as a success, noting that over 2,500 people attended. Contact Chloe Hanford at chanford@nd.edu
OPINION
6 | THE OBSERVER
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
How I fell in love with Notre Dame in a week Of course, I already knew about Notre Dame: its academic excellence, its place in American Catholic history and its storied football team. And I knew many alumni who rhapsodized over the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes; the Holy Cross priests and brothers who taught them; and their interactions with figures like Fr. Hesburgh, Fr. Malloy, Fr. Jenkins and Fr. Dowd. I knew all that. But nothing prepared me for the effect that a week at Notre Dame would have. A few months ago, Fr. Robert Dowd invited me to participate in a conference on religious liberty at the end of August. I had been invited to campus before, but an invitation from the president was something I couldn’t decline. I checked my calendar and said yes. Afterward, I mentioned to a Jesuit friend that I had never been to Notre Dame before. “That’s at least a venial sin!” he said. A few other groups invited me to events during my stay: the Institute for Social Concerns for the annual Rev. Bernie Clark, C.S.C., Lecture; and Campus Ministry for a conversation about my new book, “Work in Progress,” with professor Kathleen Sprows
MATTHEW MORIN | The Observer
Cummings. I booked the flights and asked my Jesuit brothers if I could stay at our off-campus community before decamping to the Morris Inn, where the conference was to be held, and it was set. Jack Consolie, my colleague at America Media, who studied at Notre Dame both as an undergrad and for his Master of Divinity, kindly picked me up at O’Hare Airport and drove
me to South Bend, filling me in on some “must-see” spots. So the next day, my first full day in South Bend, I felt prepared. But I was unprepared for a few standouts. First, the beauty of the campus. I’ve been to many colleges before, but Notre Dame is different. I’m used to urban East Coast campuses, which can be “landlocked,” so the vast green spaces that surround the PAID ADVERTISEMENT
handsome buildings and the feeling that the campus seems to expand forever were new. One evening, I stopped in to pray at the Basilica just as someone was practicing on the organ. What a blessing! But my favorite place was the Grotto, which not only looked like the original shrine in Southern France, which I’ve visited a few times, but was also quieter and an even easier place to pray.
Second, the devotion of the students. At a few Catholic colleges, I have seen so many students at prayer. One day, I was moved to see many students lined up for confession in the Basilica. On Sunday, I celebrated an evening Mass at Flaherty Hall. Because it was early in the semester, many of the women seemed nervous, as freshmen always are. But when they approached to receive the Body of Christ, they were all smiling. Third, the Holy Cross spirituality. One of the most memorable parts of my stay was concelebrating two Masses with the Holy Cross community. The profession of vows in the Basilica and the diaconate ordination the following day in the chapel in Moreau Seminary were beautiful liturgical experiences. As an aside, I’m a huge fan of 1960s church architecture (it reminds me of my childhood church), and I love the recently renovated seminary chapel with its blond bricks, clean lines and bright blue stained-glass window behind the main altar. It was fascinating to learn more about Blessed Basil Moreau and Fr. see “Visit” on page 7
OPINION
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Visit
Continued from page 6 Edward Sorin and to come to understand the spiritual roots of the university. Fourth, the welcome. I was met with a lot of goodnatured teasing about my never having been on campus
By Diego Gonzalez Columnist, “Legalist Realities”
If I were to ask a random person, odds are that they would not be able to name even one person from the Dark Ages (fourth through ninth centuries A.D.). The misnomer of “The Dark Ages,” which the “enlightened” thinkers of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment applied to the early and middle medieval periods, has done much damage to how seriously people take the era. Granted, it is hard to make history fun for the public, and the era is more distant to us today compared to the Renaissance or the Enlightenment. The fact that “medieval” also has some negative connotations does not help. But still, despite the shade that the period gets, I argue that we should all recognize its importance in shaping
before. “How can that be?” said at least a dozen people. A few protesters showed up to protest my talks because of ministry with LGBTQ+ Catholics (they follow me everywhere, so I wasn’t surprised). But overall, I was bowled over by the warm welcome, especially after my book talks — when I met students, faculty, staff and
alumni and heard about their time at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s, which I was also able to visit. As I passed undergrads on campus, I was unfailingly greeted with a cheerful “Good morning, Father!” Fifth, the Notre Dame charism. In spiritual circles, we talk about a “charism,” which comes from the Greek word
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for gift. It’s used to refer to the spiritual gift passed down, say, from Blessed Basil Moreau to the Holy Cross fathers and brothers, an “animating spirit” that is often hard to define. As I left campus, I thought that this must be the answer to what I was feeling: the school itself has its own charism. It is Catholic, prayerful, welcoming,
A short case for medievalists or reiterating foundational ideas that we today take for granted. A way to encounter the medieval is by attending or viewing the annual Conway Lectures, hosted by the Medieval Institute, which occurred this past week. This year’s topic was “Religion and Law in the Medieval World,” and all three lectures demonstrated a period of activity. Through my time here at Notre Dame, I have garnered a great deal of respect for the medieval ages, with figures such as Charlemagne, Justinian I and St. Maximus the Confessor. But the Conway Lectures not only reinforce, or create, respect for the era’s innovation, but they also show the liveliness of the scholarship on the period of history. All lectures, including past ones, are available online if they are of interest to you.
We should be kinder and recognize the innovations of the medievals. One foundational and overlooked invention is the separation of words and modern syntax. For example, how do you interpret this sentence: Is it a statement of atheism or a statement of faith? If I did not know the author’s intent, I could read it as God being “now here” or “nowhere” to be found. These sentences can get only more complicated with the introduction of commas, semicolons and other structure-making syntax. Today we take for granted that we don’t need to know the context or the reading order beforehand to understand a text. The Carolingian Renaissance (ninth century) is what brought us this convenience. It was not the Greeks or the Romans who utilized spaces or capitalization, but some unenlightened
Western Europeans. Another reason, among the many that the Medieval Institute can provide, is the development and codification of law under leaders like Justinian I. Through his monumental legal work, the Code of Justinian, he sought to create one unified system that would make sense of the mess of conflicting and archaic laws that had accrued over centuries. This code not only became the model that later Renaissance lawmakers would seek to replicate, but it also remains the bedrock of civil law in much of the modern Western world today. For instance, upon its rediscovery in the 11th century, Justinian’s texts formed the basis of legal study at the University of Bologna. Legal traditions are always inextricably linked to their origins, and whether one
hopeful and at peace with itself. I was happy to experience that and to realize that, quite by surprise, and in just a week, I had fallen in love with Notre Dame. Fr. James Martin, S.J. Jesuit priest, editor at large of America Media Sept. 6
studies canon law, common law or any later law, you have to recognize the legacy of the medieval period. While, admittedly, the “Dark Ages” seemed to be marked by turmoil, the period was far from being a void of ignorance. I highly encourage everyone to engage with the Medieval Institute to hear a much richer and more comprehensive case for the era. It hosts a variety of events on the seventh floor of Hesburgh Library with more coming this semester. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Diego Gonzalez at dgonza38@nd.edu
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Hon. Brett M. Kavanaugh, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
James J. Dunne III, Notre Dame trustee; vice chairman and senior managing principal of Piper Sandler
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Jennie Bradley Lichter ‘04, senior advisor to the March For Life Education and Defense Fund
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
PHOTO
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AC/DC Concert AC/DC and The Pretty Reckless performed on Sept. 4, 2026 in Notre Dame Stadium. By photo editor Mariella Taddonio
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
‘Buddy’ is too family friendly for horror By Marguerite Marley Scene Copyeditor
For a long time, one of my guilty pleasures has been keeping up with the independent horror scene. There are so many good pieces of media that have come out of this genre and also some bad ones. The newest mascot horror movie, “Buddy,” is unfortunately one of the latter. “Mascot horror” is a fairly broad genre which mostly refers to independent video games — i.e., the “kids thing but made horror” games that sprung up after the success of the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise — and I have been interested in it for a while. It is always fun to see what children’s toy the developers have decided to make scary this year, so when trailers for the film “Buddy” started showing, promising a horror-movie version of Barney the purple dinosaur, my interest was piqued. The titular character (KeeganMichael Key), who usually teaches lessons about cleaning, dancing and how to be brave, slowly starts to terrorize a group of children: Freddy (Delaney Quinn), who also carries a talking backpack named Strappy (Patton Oswalt); Oliver (Tristan Borders) and Hannah (Madison Skyy), who’s new to the show. While it might be more comedy than horror, and while the story
DIONE PAHILAN | The Observer
might not be all the way there, the artistry behind this film is amazing, and it keeps you laughing enough to be entertained the whole time. We only really get to see two “regular” episodes of the show before things start to go haywire as Buddy kills Josh (Luke Speakman) for not wanting to
participate in that day’s activity. The kids quickly get wise to the fact that Buddy is evil and burn him with some of the cleaning supplies under the sink. We then cut to the real world where Grace (Cristin Milioti), an average mother, is starting to remember the fact that she might have a child that she has been forced
to forget. She ends up finding the “Buddy” show on TV and gets sucked into the show, ending up as the new nurse after Nurse Nancy is murdered. We then cut back to the kids and basically follow them for the rest of the story. This choice of flipping away from the action for such a long period of time makes the film feel
unfocused, though I can deal with a little bit of jank. But the biggest sin of “Buddy” is staying loyal to the soft plushie style for its lead villain. The whole world, with the exception of a few scenes, sticks to the very plastic, artificial look common in these types of children’s television shows. Despite the film’s best efforts, it never looks quite as scary as it wants to be — with the exception of the final fight. At my showing, Buddy’s murder of Nurse Nancy drew a chorus of laughs because it is kind of ridiculous to watch a massive orange unicorn mascot costume strangle a woman. Still, the film does not want us to find it funny — it wants us to be scared of Buddy at that moment. Though I can appreciate all of the artistry of always showing Buddy in a suit of some kind, whether it’s a burnt and bloody version of the big unicorn suit or the scary black version he gets for the finale, neither version of it is particularly scary enough to make it a true horror movie. Though it leans more into the comedy than the horror, “Buddy” is still a fun watch, though, as my dad likes to say, maybe wait till it hits streaming before checking it out. It’s a fun time but not exactly what it says it is on the tin. Contact Marguerite Marley at mmarley01@saintmarys.edu
The perfect free t-shirt doesn’t exist — and that’s okay By Aislynn Fuller Scene Writer
In my opinion, one of the most ubiquitous parts of the college experience is the free T-shirt. Nearly every student encounters one eventually and for good reason; T-shirts are relatively inexpensive giveaway fodder that can serve as advertisements and conversation pieces. Plus, if you can get a photo of everyone wearing their complimentary shirts at the same time, it looks good on a social media page. Not all shirts are created equal, however. Many are destined to collect dust at the bottom of a dresser drawer or fade away on the clothing racks of the local Goodwill. So what makes a freebie shirt worth wearing? I conducted a study of my shirts as well as the offerings at the Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame involvement fairs to answer this question and identified some aspects of freebie t-shirt design that one should consider when preparing to add another garment to student dressers and closets. While I could spend this piece listing off principles of design such as visual hierarchy, color balance and so on, many designers of these shirts aren’t putting too much thought into
DIONE PAHILAN | The Observer
the technicalities — they just want something that “looks good.” Sometimes simplicity is the way to go; a small logo or wordmark on the front pocket area is hard to mess up. Other times, if you want your club to stand out, a bigger design on the front is better. I tend
to gravitate toward shirts that choose one or the other and stick to it. I’ve never been too much of a fan of the “small design on the front, large design on the back” approach — if I’m wearing a jacket, half of the design goes unseen. Then, there is the matter of
text. Fonts like Comic Sans or Papyrus have a bad reputation, but I believe they can be used well, often in an ironic fashion. In fact, I think nearly any font can work as long as it is readable and fitting for the occasion. I have seen many shirts that fail at both. As for the text
that is on the shirt itself, your mileage may vary. Often it is as simple as writing the name or slogan of whatever the shirt is representing. I understand the motive behind using an acronym if you can’t fit your organization or event’s full name on a T-shirt. However, if you are not going to write or explain what the acronym represents on the shirt, or if the organization or event is not well established within the campus community, I think it’s a bad idea. Although it could spark a conversation between the wearer and a person who asks what the acronym stands for, I don’t want to have to put extra time into decoding a shirt. Just as art is subjective, so is T-shirt design. Nothing will ever please everyone. But when all is said and done, a mediocre or even bad T-shirt can be outweighed by the memories attached to it. At the risk of sounding sentimental, every freebie T-shirt tells some kind of story, whether it’s connected to a building or an event or a group of people. Keep on saving these shirts, and maybe by the time you graduate, you’ll have enough for your grandmother to make a quilt out of them. Contact Aislynn Fuller at afuller01@saintmarys.edu
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Life could be a dream: ‘Cars’ as we grow up By Nolan Scozzaro Scene Writer
We are gathered here today to celebrate the glorious 20th anniversary of the release of Pixar’s “Cars,” which Cinemark is showing today and tomorrow. I believe myself to be one of the foremost experts on “Cars”: I’ve seen it over 100 times in my life. And yet, I keep coming back to it. I keep finding myself immersed in the story of Lightning McQueen, friendship and personal growth. The last time I saw “Cars”? Monday, in 3D at Cinemark. It was glorious. During this watch, a realization dawned on me: I believe “Cars” may be exactly what the young men of today need. We have become so immersed in our own worlds, with our unique and different algorithms and environments, that there is no longer any semblance of a consensus culture for young adults today. This applies not just to men; however, it seems to especially amplify loneliness for men, and they suffer because of it. We’re growing a new batch of Travis Bickles in the world, and it’s not OK. “Cars” is different. “Cars” calls us back to the way things used to be, not the way that surrounds our young adulthood. In a world more focused on isolation and opposition, “Cars” reminds us that no matter what you do to live, thrive and survive, there are still some things that make us all the same. You. Me. Them. Everybody, everybody! First and foremost, the appeal of “Cars” is about as close to universal as you can get. For example, I personally
ASHLEY ZHENG | The Observer
have no ties to NASCAR. Still, I’m enraptured by the cars zooming by at the start of the film (the whole opening scene is a masterpiece). I don’t particularly like Sheryl Crow, yet when “Real Gone” hits my ears, I somehow enter a f low state. Why? Because it’s rad. The older we get, the less we like things just because they’re too darn cool not to like. “Cars” helps break us from the bonds aging has placed on us. The opening lines, “Speed. I am Speed. One winner, 42 losers. I eat losers for breakfast,” intercut with exciting sights and sounds of racing are cool. Lightning McQueen using an overturned car as a trampoline to imitate Michael Jordan
is cool. Reject the impulse to call things corny just because you think others might laugh at you for liking them. Be your own man. In addition to being awesome, “Cars” is funny. Actually funny, not just for kids. The jokes are not dated to the pop culture of the time (except for Jay Limo and the Arnold Schwarzenegger car, but those are hilarious nonetheless). Most of the jokes aren’t focused on potty humor or slapstick. In fact, I’d venture to say that young kids probably wouldn’t understand about half the jokes in the movie. This is part of why “Cars” holds up so well 20 years later. It’s not just that it looks beautiful (it does).
It’s not just because it’s nostalgic (it is). It’s because it’s a movie with such a wide audience that as you grow up, the film grows up with you. Shockingly, I watch it with totally different eyes than I did at 2 years old. “Cars” still hits, but, more importantly, it contains lessons to be learned. When is it more pertinent to be reminded of the importance of friendship than in college? At the beginning, Lightning’s got it all. He’s the young hotshot with a stellar career ahead of him — the metaphorical Notre Dame graduate. But it’s hollow. His aims are materialistic and shallow. He’s got his head in the clouds about attracting what he wants in
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life through a snazzy Dinoco deal (pay attention, finance majors). Inside, he longs for association, for friendship. We see a totally different Lightning when he talks with his agent Harv, the one guy he could maybe call a friend. He’s unhappy and irritable to work with. He even pushes his pit crew away. In this, we can see that career success doesn’t lead to happiness. What does bring happiness? Relationships in a community and meaningful work. Lightning McQueen seems happiest when he takes a drive through the beautiful countryside with Sally or does something nice for his new friends by paving the road and supporting their shops. Lightning finds joy in his developing relationships with others and in accomplishing meaningful work that produces some good in the world. Take note, men. How many nights have you wasted by yourself, searching after some unattainable ideal that advertisers have pushed upon you? How often have you wished your life was different after a night of boozing or doomscrolling? Start finding communities. Start filling your time with a fight club work that produces tangible, rewarding results. And maybe you ain’t as slick as Lightning McQueen. Maybe you can’t find yourself a Porsche because they keep falling for the Corvettes of the world. “Cars” shows us the rewarding nature of male friendship. Lightning finds meaning in his friendship with Mater and Doc’s mentorship. It is because of these relationships that he grows. Lightning would never have given up his materialistic aims to help Strip “The King” Weathers finish his last race had he not grown as a man in his relationship with Doc. Lightning would not have thought of others rather than himself when Tex offered him a favor had he not become friends with Mater. Never does Lightning seem happier than when he does these things, which are so contrary to his mindset at the beginning of the picture. Relationships. Community. Meaningful work. A turn away from your manufactured bubble. These are the messages of “Cars.” The lessons don’t stop here; I’ve merely hit the word limit. I’m not saying “Cars” holds all the answers to solving male loneliness. I’m just saying you might start thinking about what you really want your life to be after spending an hour or two in the town of Radiator Springs. Life could be a dream (Sh-Boom). Contact Nolan Scozzaro at nscozzar@nd.edu
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Football
Continued from page 1 replay was a lot less clear-cut, with Kia appearing to lose control of the ball while falling out of bounds. No matter, the close call went the way of the Irish, setting them up deep in the red zone with a chance for the game’s first touchdown. After getting to third down, the Badgers shot themselves in the foot yet again with an unnecessary roughness penalty. Notre Dame needed two plays from there, with Carr tossing it to sophomore tight end James Flanigan on the play-action fake for a storybook score: the sophomore, a Green Bay native, reused a celebration from his father’s NFL career. “I saw some clip of my dad — there’s this highlight reel out there I’ve watched before,” Flanigan explained. “I used to make fun of him for doing it, but now it’s becoming my thing … three generations of Flanigans have been on this field and made some plays, and that’s really special.” While the Irish forced a three-and-out on the following Wisconsin drive, they wound up pinned at their goal line after
what can only be described as the greatest punt of all time. That’s not hyperbole. Watch the punt. It proved to be a setup for the Badgers’ own touchdown drive, as Notre Dame had to punt out of its own end zone to about midfield. Then, on the second play of the Wisconsin drive, wide receiver Malachi Coleman broke open after sophomore cornerback Jayden Sanders bit too hard on a double-move. It was the simplest throw of transfer quarterback Colton Joseph’s career. On the next drive, Carr got to stretch his arm, connecting with junior wide receiver Micah Gilbert (18 yards) and senior wide receiver Jordan Faison for his longest completion of the day (30 yards). After the drive stalled, Porath connected on his second field goal of the day from 26 yards to make it 13-10. The Irish would take that lead into the end of a disappointing half. Despite several attempts to establish the run against Wisconsin’s six-man front, Notre Dame’s best gain on the ground was a measly 5 yards. The trio of sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. and junior running backs Kedren Young
and Williams looked indecisive. An offensive line with five players playing out of position struggled to create gaps. The Irish needed answers. Coming out of halftime, they seemed to have found them. The first drive of the second half was a testament to the patience and poise of CJ Carr. The Heisman Trophy favorite methodically picked apart the Badger defense one checkdown at a time. For all the struggles the running backs had behind the line, their contributions in the passing game proved invaluable. The duo of James Jr. and Williams collected 39 receiving yards before Williams muscled it in on the ground from 3 yards out. 4 minutes, 31 seconds later, it was 20-10Irish. The nine-play, 70-yard drive was a statement, one that set the tone for what would be a dominant second-half display. On the fourth play of Wisconsin’s ensuing drive, fifth-year cornerback DJ McKinney picked off Joseph’s errant pass and returned it for a touchdown, extending the lead to 27-10 in the blink of an eye. Senior safety Adon Shuler described the impact that kind of playmaking has on the entire defense.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
“It’s contagious,” the captain said. “Somebody’s gonna make a play. It doesn’t matter who it is. You just have to be ready for your time.” Even with over 9 minutes to play in the third quarter, it felt like the dagger. Wisconsin kept the game within two scores with a field goal late in the quarter, but the Irish pulled away in the fourth. Whether the product of scheme changes or simply wearing Wisconsin down, the Notre Dame rushing attack finally came to life. Ignited by a 29-yard completion to Faison on the last play of the third, Williams tallied 39 yards and found the end zone for the second time, giving the Irish a resounding 34-13 lead. Approaching the two-minute timeout, James Jr. put the cherry on top, catching a short pass from Carr and running it 28 yards into the end zone. Minutes later, the Irish were taking turns making Lambeau leaps into the traveling student section, celebrating a 41-13 win and 1-0 start to the season. Head coach Marcus Freeman emphasized offensive efficiency approaching week one. When asked about how well his team achieved that goal in the second
half, it’s safe to say he was satisfied. “Three drives, three touchdowns,” he said. “There you go. Pretty efficient.” He attributed that success to in-game adjustments from not only the coaching staff but also from Carr. “The things that probably the naked eye doesn’t see is what impresses me the most,” Freeman said. “The ability to check plays, the ability to keep our offense out of negative situations… he’s a coach on the field.” After Notre Dame’s first-half display, there were sources of real concern. The Irish still have several questions to answer on offense over the course of the 12-game regular season, especially if they want to make that season longer. But for this game, there was one clear message from Freeman: “Let go of what you thought this game was gonna be like and focus on the moment.” His team did just that in a dominant second half. Notre Dame will leave Green Bay with reason to believe it can be the team that it’s spent the offseason talking about being. Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu
FOOTBALL
Key moments from Irish win over Wisconsin By Ethan Laslo Associate Sports Editor
On a picturesque night at one of football’s most storied venues, Lambeau Field, Notre Dame took the field for the 13th edition of the Shamrock Series. It was a sluggish first half as the Irish headed into the locker room up just 13-10. However, they emerged with force in the second half as they powered their way to a dominant 41-13 win over Wisconsin to start the year off on the right foot. Notre Dame breaks through after muffed kickoff Following junior kicker Spencer Porath’s 52-yard bomb to knot the game at 3-3, Wisconsin returner Harrison Bortolotti muffed the ensuing kickoff. Senior linebacker Kahanu Kia dived onto the loose ball for a seeming recovery for the Irish. After a lengthy review regarding whether or not Kia kept possession of the ball before his left foot hitting out of bounds, the referees ruled it a turnover, and Notre Dame began its third drive from the Wisconsin 13-yard line. Wisconsin was called for unnecessary roughness for a late hit on sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. Two plays later, junior quarterback CJ Carr dumped a short pass to sophomore tight end James Flanigan for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Irish their first lead of the game at 10-3. Flanigan, whose grandfather and father both
played for the Packers and himself grew up in Green Bay, explained after the game that his first career touchdown meant just a bit more. “It was awesome,” Flanigan said. “There’s three generations of Flanigans that have been on that field and, you know, made some plays and that’s really special.” Colton Joseph responds After opening the second quarter with a three-and-out, Wisconsin punter Sean West booted what could wind up going down as the punt of the year. It may have even been one of the greatest ever. The 69-yard kick landed inside the Irish 5-yard line and proceeded to roll sideways before going out of bounds at the Notre Dame 1-inch line. After holding the Irish to a threeand-out, Wisconsin responded. On the first play of the drive, Notre Dame was called for illegal hands to the face, pushing the Badgers to the Irish 28. On just their second play, Colton Joseph connected with wideout Malachi Coleman for the deep score to knot the game at 10-10. Sophomore cornerback Jayden Sanders bit hard on the play-action fake from Joseph and paid for it dearly as Coleman easily beat him to the pylon. A red-hot start to the second half Notre Dame started the second half with a commanding nine-play, 70-yard drive. The Irish moved the ball far more
efficiently, particularly on a 28-yard dump off from Carr to sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. Two plays and one illegal substitution from Wisconsin later, Aneyas Williams punched in his first touchdown of the season to push the Irish lead to 20-10. Wisconsin got off to a solid start of their own in their first drive of the half. Unfortunately for the Badgers, an errant pass from Joseph spelled disaster. His outside hitch intended for wideout Chris Brooks Jr. was thrown behind the receiver, and fifthyear cornerback DJ McKinney capitalized on the opportunity, snagging the interception and cruising 55 yards untouched for
a touchdown, accompanied by an entourage of several other Irish defenders. After Porath’s third extra point conversion of the night, the Irish had pushed their lead from three to 17 in the blink of an eye. Nolan James Jr. puts the dagger in Wisconsin After forcing a Wisconsin punt from the 50 with just under eight minutes left to play, the Notre Dame offense took the field for what it hoped would be the final nail in the coffin for Wisconsin. What ensued was exactly that: a crushing 12-play, 88-yard drive that put together every adjustment, improvement and schematic plan the Irish had
to that point. Williams culminated his first night as lead back for the Irish with several solid carries on the drive, most notably a 13-yard scamper on 2nd-and-10 to give the Irish their second first down of the drive. Carr also showed off his arm and ability to push the ball downfield throughout the drive, capping off a 239-yard passing effort. The drive ended with Carr’s second touchdown pass of the night, connecting on a swing route with James, who sprinted 28 yards toward the raucous student section for the game’s final score. Contact Ethan Laslo at elaslo@nd.edu
GABRIELLA MARTIN | The Observer
Sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. prepares to catch a pass during Notre Dame’s dominant 41-13 victory over Wisconsin on Sept. 6 at Lambeau Field. James Jr. ended the night with 4 catches for 67 yards.
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ND MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SOCCER
DECLAN LEE | The Observer
Junior midfielder Ian Shaul boots the ball during Notre Dame’s 2-1 victory over Michigan on Sept. 6 at Alumni Stadium. Shaul scored Notre Dame’s first goal in the contest’s 86th minute to equalize the score between the Irish and the Wolverines. The win improved head coach Chad Riley’s team to 2-1-2, continuing a string of exciting matchups to begin its season.
MSOC and WSOC end non-conference play By Chris Dailey Sports Writer
If somebody said Notre Dame women’s soccer would be unranked and Notre Dame men’s soccer should and could be ranked by the end of nonconference play, would you have believed them? Probably not, and understandably so. Ahead of the season, experts believed women’s soccer was the superior soccer program at Notre Dame, at least according to preseason rankings. Now, at the end of nonconference play, Notre Dame women’s soccer is unranked, and there’s a strong argument that Notre Dame men’s soccer could and should be ranked. The women’s team was ranked No. 2 in the country heading into the season, and nearly every major outlet expected the Irish to cruise to another ACC Championship title game. A 0-0 draw against Samford to open the season was the first sign of the shaky start that followed. Over the course of their next six games, the Irish finished on level terms with four opponents. The lone two wins came over Murray State and IU Indy — not particularly top-level competition. Even their best result, a 2-2 draw against No. 4 Michigan State, felt like a loss. The Irish were up 2-1 before the Spartans equalized with 3 seconds on the clock to send shockwaves throughout Alumni Stadium. Still, there is reason for optimism, as Notre Dame’s two strongest performances of the season have come in its past two matches. The men’s team, meanwhile, has been a revelation. Although
its record of 2-1-2 isn’t glamorous on paper, ninth-year head coach Chad Riley’s team has become a must-watch for the high-f lying transition style of play. Freshman forwards Michael Capretto and Tristan Tropeano have emerged as the frontmen in Riley’s rock-androll band, setting the tempo for an action-packed attack. Here is a brief synopsis of both teams’ seasons thus far and what to expect in the weeks ahead. Notre Dame women’s soccer Notre Dame’s 0-0 season-opening draw against Samford stands as one of the biggest upsets in all of collegiate women’s soccer this season. The Irish controlled 79% of the ball, outshot the Bulldogs 21-5 and still didn’t win. Just unlucky, right? Four days later, Notre Dame found itself down to Penn State 2-0 in the second half. Junior Lily Joseph scored two goals to salvage a result for the Irish. At this point, concern began to creep in around head coach Nate Norman’s side. If the 2-2 draw against the Nittany Lions was the moment worry set in, Notre Dame’s 1-1 draw at Nebraska was the moment of panic. As the second-ranked team in the country, the Irish were supposed to f ly through their nonconference slate with relative ease. The team’s back half of the nonconference slate was undoubtedly interesting. The Irish finally picked up a win with a 3-0 win over Murray State before drawing at Michigan 1-1. By the time Michigan State came to South Bend in what was expected to be a top-five fixture, the Irish were 1-0-4 and unranked.
That game ended up being one of the most memorable 90-minute clashes at the stadium in recent memory. The Irish took the lead off an unreal long-range cross-turned shot from freshman Reese Canada. The Spartans equalized soon after. Then, with 6 minutes left, senior Charlie Codd curled a stunner into the far post to seemingly seal the deal. With 90 seconds left, chaos transpired. Junior superstar Izzy Engle missed a penalty just minutes into her return from injury. Just 87 seconds later, Michigan State scored a header to leave the Irish stunned. Notre Dame ultimately wrapped up its nonconference slate by thrashing IU Indy on Senior Day. Engle’s hat trick and fellow junior Ellie Hodsden’s brace led the way. The game was everything the Irish had been hoping for throughout the entirety of the nonconference slate — but better late than never. The result also leaves Notre Dame in a strange place headed into ACC action. On the one hand, the team previously ranked second in the nation is now unranked; on the other, the glass-half-full mindset is right there: Notre Dame remains unbeaten despite dealing with a depleted roster. Senior Morgan Roy and juniors Grace Restovich and Ally Pinto are just three of the many Irish players out with injuries, while Joseph and fellow junior Annabelle Chukwu will miss the next few weeks at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Its performance against Michigan State proves Notre Dame can still compete against
the nation’s top competition despite these setbacks. Freshmen Bristol Kersh, Kate Kemmerley and Canada have all impressed. Looking ahead, the Irish face an absolute gauntlet in the ACC. The Irish are set to travel to No. 2 Duke, No. 9 UNC, reigning national champions No. 15 Florida State, Cal and No. 1 Stanford. As more players integrate back into the team from injury and Notre Dame continues to find its form, it has the pieces to make some noise in the ACC. And if there is one thing to note about Norman’s teams, they always find ways to weather adversity. Notre Dame men’s soccer Notre Dame men’s soccer is 2-1-2. On paper, that’s nothing spectacular. Watch the Irish play, though, and a much different picture emerges. Notre Dame has done more than enough to pass the eye test. The Irish opened their season with a 3-1 loss at No. 22 Indiana before drawing Northwestern 1-1 at home. They then picked up a gigantic result, drawing 1-1 to thenNo. 8 St. Louis — the same St. Louis program that reached the College Cup one season ago. Notre Dame picked up its first win of the season in late August against a respectable Harvard side. The Crimson took the lead first, but three unanswered goals courtesy of junior Stevie Dunphy, classmate Vlad Walent and freshman sensation Capretto launched Notre Dame to victory, scoring the game-winner. Capretto has been the bright spot for Notre Dame through the nonconference slate. His
first goal of the season, a chip over Northwestern’s goalie, was an early testament to his unique blend of superb technical ability and elite athleticism, which has made him an integral piece to Riley’s team. The Irish ended the slate with a 2-1 win against a solid Michigan side. The Irish had plenty of possession in the attacking third but found themselves down 1-0 for much of the game. Finally, in the final 5 minutes, Notre Dame’s efforts were rewarded. A Michigan handball paved the way for an Ian Shaul goal from the spot. Two minutes later, Capretto found himself on the ball in the attacking third and delivered a delicious back-post ball to senior Nate Zimmermann. The New Jersey native buried the ball into the back of the net to seal the deal for Notre Dame. Between Capretto and classmates Tropeano and Evan Lim, Notre Dame’s young core is one of the best in the country. The freshman class is living up to its top overall ranking from TopDrawerSoccer. Notre Dame will certainly be tested in the ACC. An away day against a Clemson team that features arguably the nation’s best player in Ransford Gyan kicks off an unforgiving conference road slate. The Irish travel to No. 1 Stanford, Cal, UNC and No. 22 Louisville. Notre Dame will need a lot to go right in order to survive this grueling schedule with a winning record. But, with the way the team has been playing, there is plenty of reason to believe the Irish are up for the challenge. Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
SPORTS
14 | THE OBSERVER
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
ND MEN’S SOCCER
ND men strike back late to beat Michigan By Jacek Kawczynski Associate Sports Editor
While hundreds of Irish football fans made the drive up to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the season opener, loyal soccer followers filled the bleachers at Alumni Stadium for a showdown against Michigan. Last weekend, the Notre Dame men’s soccer team turned around its slow start to the season, finishing level with then-top-10 Saint Louis and defeating Harvard 3-1 to finally get a tally in the win column. The Irish entered this Sunday’s matchup 1-1-2, with hopes of getting above .500 and building momentum. Meanwhile, the Wolverines entered 2-0-1, with consecutive
wins over Niagara and SIUE. Notre Dame came out guns blazing, firing off five shots to Michigan’s zero in the first 15 minutes. Efforts by senior forward Jack Flanagan and junior midfielder Ian Shaul sailed just over the crossbar, bringing supporters to the edges of their seats. Despite an overall strong first half for the Irish, Michigan found itself up 1-0, courtesy of senior midfielder Duilio Herrera’s header in the 21st minute. Notre Dame’s sophomore midfielder Diego Green fired the only other shot of the first 45. The Irish remained aggressive in the second half, earning two free kick opportunities in the 58th minute, both of which
were blocked. Notre Dame freshman forward Tristan Tropeano delivered a powerful strike in the 82nd minute, but Michigan’s junior keeper Alen Bean dived low and made the stop. Tensions soared as the teams battled for possession, forcing the referee to show yellow seven times in the second half. In the 86th minute, the Irish earned a penalty kick after senior forward Nate Zimmermann’s shot glanced off a defender’s hand. Shaul converted with a composed finish, leveling the scoreline. With both teams in a deadlock and the 90-minute mark fast approaching, Notre Dame freshman forward Michael Capretto lofted a gorgeous ball
from outside the box, finding Zimmermann’s head for the winning goal. The late surge lifted Notre Dame above .500 for the first time this year, quieting concerns over the poor start to the season. The Irish finished with 19 shots to Michigan’s seven, holding possession for the majority of the game. However, junior goalkeeper Blake Kelly was made to work, saving five shots compared with Bean’s two. Shaul was undoubtedly the man of the match, getting off five shots, including his penalty goal late in the second half. In spite of the win, there will be little time for celebration, as the Irish travel to South Carolina Friday, where they will face No. 18 Clemson in the
ACC opener. Led by Ghanaian midfielder Ransford Gyan, Clemson is riding a two-game winning streak and a 4-1 record into the match and, with the home crowd behind it, will be a tough adversary to face. Fortunately, Notre Dame has shown flashes of brilliance, especially in second halves against Harvard and Michigan. If the Irish get off to a better start, their firepower and resilience should make them a formidable match for the imposing Tigers squad. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Historic Riggs Field with streaming available on ACCNX. Contact Jacek Kawczynski at jkawczyn@nd.edu
ND WOMEN’S SOCCER
ND women shut out IU Indy 8-0 By Nikki Stachurski Associate Sports Editor
The Irish scored eight unanswered goals on a scrambling IU Indy team, earning an impressive 8-0 home shutout win against the Jaguars Sunday afternoon. Notre Dame scored three goals in the first half and five in the second, highlighted by junior forward Izzy Engle’s hat trick. The first half had a slow start, but the Irish did not take long to secure their offensive advantage. In the 22nd minute, junior forward Ellie Hodsden opened the scoring off a beautiful pass from freshman forward Bristol Kersh, getting the Irish on the board first. Five minutes later, the Jags began to up the physicality, and a particularly intense pair of fouls on Madelyn Chappa and Elle Blessinger allowed for an Irish penalty kick. Sophomore defender Gabi Poretto, a transfer from Kentucky, nailed the kick for her first goal of the season and doubled the lead. From there, both benches called in relief players, and IU Indy was far less hesitant to change its shape. The fresh legs were not as helpful as the Jags hoped, and Engle scored her long-awaited first goal of the season with an assist from senior midfielder Chayse Ying in the 39th minute. The early 3-0 start for the Irish clearly reignited the home team’s desire to dominate, and they could not be stopped in the second half. Freshman forward Kate Kemmerley assisted on a goal by Kersh at the 51-minute mark, putting the Irish up 4-0. Ten minutes later, after a foul by IU Indy in the penalty box, Engle scored her second goal of the game, this
time from the penalty spot. For Engle, it was a well-deserved reprise following a disappointing miss from the spot against Michigan State on Thursday evening. Engle just could not be stopped on the attack, and she scored her third and final goal at the 67-minute mark. Freshman forward Marley Adams connected with Engle to finalize her hat trick, putting the Irish up 6-0 with 23 minutes left. Less than a minute later,
Engle decided to share the love and dropped a beautiful ball to Hodsden, who calmly put the Irish up 7-0. The coaching staff decided to substitute some players after the rapid success of the second half, and Kemmerley scored off the bench in the 75th minute. The goal was the eighth and final for the Irish, with an assist from freshman defender Gracie Milam. The end of the game was a battle of defense for the Irish, who wanted to add the shutout
to their record. Notre Dame successfully kept IU Indy from scoring, despite a last-ditch substitution effort from the Jaguars bench. The Irish had every reason to be proud of their performance, especially Hodsden, who led the team in shots (6) and shots on goal (4), and Engle, who dominated the scoring drive. Senior Jackie Hollomon and junior Madeleine Agee shared the shutout in goal, marking the third of the season for a Notre Dame netminding crew
that has dealt with a heavy barrage of shots all season. Although it was Senior Day, the freshman core had a strong showing both on offense and defense and will only continue to grow in importance to the Irish depth. The Irish return to Alumni Stadium against Clemson Friday at 8 p.m. Friday’s ACC play opener will be streamed on ACCNX. Contact Nikki Stachurski at mstachu2@nd.edu
EMMA SMITH | The Observer
Irish junior forward Ellie Hodsden prepares to strike the ball during Notre Dame’s 2-2 draw against Michigan State on Aug. 27 at Alumni Stadium. Hodsden attempted 4 shots on goal against the Spartans, and shone the next week against IU Indy on Sept. 6, scoring twice in the 8-0 win.
SPORTS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 15
FOOTBALL
Cahill: Irish need to change offensive identity By Noah Cahill
Assistant Managing Editor
On Sunday night, Notre Dame went into Lambeau Field for this year’s edition of the Shamrock Series game and won in dominant fashion against Wisconsin. After the 41-13 victory, Irish players took turns Lambeau-leaping into the traveling student section. So why such a harsh headline? Well, before winning the second half 28-3 with three touchdowns from three drives, Notre Dame played an uninspiring first half of offense. The Irish managed a mere 29 rushing yards on 16 attempts — less than two yards per carry. Junior running back Aneyas Williams had the longest rush of the half — a 5-yarder. Mike Denbrock’s attempt to establish the run failed miserably. But struggling on the ground against a six-man Badger front with a backfield in need of experience and an offensive line full of players out of their usual position is not my issue. My issue is that this Notre Dame coaching staff committed
to that part of the game as if there were no other answers. All the while, the answer stood right in front of them, wearing number 13. Junior quarterback CJ Carr didn’t complete a pass over 20 yards until 10:48 in the second quarter. It was a layered throw, dropped on a dime between three Wisconsin defenders into a soft spot of the zone. Senior wide receiver Jordan Faison caught it without breaking stride, making a couple of men miss for a 30-yard gain. One play, and the Irish were in field goal range, eventually converting for a 13-10 lead they took into halftime. That one play gave us a glimpse of what this Heismancaliber talent can do. But it was only a glimpse. And that is the problem. Denbrock called the first half of this game similar to how he did against Miami last season and against A&M the season before. Conservative, balanced, very few passes on first down and a lot of 5-yard comeback routes. I mean, seriously. Enough with these comeback
routes. I excused it with a transfer quarterback coming off an injury in Riley Leonard. Despite the loss to Miami, I even excused it with Carr being a first-time starter. But the 2026 version of CJ Carr is on a different level than those quarterbacks. And perhaps more importantly, the 2026 running back corps is on a different level than the duo of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. While the trio of Williams, Nolan James Jr. and Kedren Young showed flashes, particularly in the second half, they also had countless moments of indecisiveness. None of these three can be Love or Price, but that’s not what this team will ask of them. What they will be asked to do is attack gaps and get downhill, and in the case of Young in particular, take a few defenders with him. I don’t believe the rushing attack should be abandoned. Not even close. I do believe, however, that it should be secondary. If Sunday was any indication, these backs can contribute more to the pass game than
they can to the run game anyway. The three combined for 89 yards through the air, with James Jr. hauling in the majority (67 yards) and catching a touchdown. Their production is yet another testament to Carr’s impressive skillset, which extends beyond elite arm talent to decision-making and intangibles. These are what Marcus Freeman called in the postgame, “things that probably the naked eye doesn’t see,” including “the ability to check plays, the ability to keep our offense out of negative situations.” Those are the traits of a captain and a leader, someone who is, as Freeman described, “a coach on the field.” I’m well aware that there remain question marks at the receiver position. It is still a position group with a lot of talent, between guys who Carr has built connections with over the years — Faison, Jaden Greathouse, Micah Gilbert — and new faces who have produced elsewhere — Mylan Graham, Quincy Porter (when healthy). That is more than enough for him to
work with. I also acknowledge how difficult it is to alter an offensive identity that has been Notre Dame’s for over a century. Freeman has emphasized physical line play and a foundational ground game from the moment he was hired in 2021. In my ideal offense, the run game will not be neglected. It will just become a complementary piece. Notre Dame was fortunate to face a Wisconsin team that, while formidable, does not compare to a team like Miami. The Irish would lose that game playing the way they did in Green Bay. The good news for Freeman and Co. is that they have two months before hosting the Hurricanes and a month and a half before their first ranked test against BYU. Nonetheless, they shouldn’t waste any more time transforming this offense into a pass-first one and, in doing so, embrace Carr as the superstar that he is. Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu
FOOTBALL
Flanigan embodies ND-Green Bay connection By Ethan Laslo Associate Sports Editor
Just a few plays after Notre Dame recovered a muffed kickoff by Wisconsin in the red zone, it began its third drive of the game from the Badger 13-yard line. After a late hit on sophomore running back Nolan James Jr., the Irish moved to the Wisconsin 3-yard line. Junior quarterback CJ Carr dropped back, rolled to his left and dumped a pass off to sophomore tight end James Flanigan in the flat, who turned around and stepped into the end zone for the Irish’s opening touchdown of the season. His celebration was simple: he raised his right arm and pumped his fist to the crowd. What many didn’t know at the time was that
the celebration wasn’t originally James Flanigan’s; it was Jim Flanigan’s. Irish roots in Green Bay James Flanigan was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. His father, Jim Flanigan Jr., had a stint as a defensive tackle for the Packers after spending most of his career with the Chicago Bears. Before that, he also played at Notre Dame, as his son later would. His grandfather, Jim Flanigan Sr., may not have played for Notre Dame, but he did play for Vince Lombardi’s Packers. The late Flanigan Sr. was a linebacker who competed in 40 games for Green Bay from 1967 to 1970, including a Super Bowl II victory.
Notre Dame through and through Before attending Notre Dame, James Flanigan also attended a high school that shared the name. In Green Bay, he was a standout at Notre Dame de la Baie Academy. He was a consensus four-star recruit, with many outlets ranking him as the top recruit in Wisconsin. Outside of football, he was a standout hockey player and thrower on the track and field team. He captured two consecutive hockey state championships for the Tritons and set school records in both shot put and discus en route to state titles in both events. Despite his family history, Flanigan didn’t always plan on playing college ball for the Irish. He held offers from several other
INDIA DOERR | The Observer
Sophomore James Flanigan prepares to attack the Badgers’ defense during Notre Dame’s 41-13 victory over Wisconsin on Sept. 6 at Lambeau Field. Flanigan caught a 3-yard pass for the game’s first touchdown.
Midwestern programs, including Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Louisville and his hometown Wisconsin Badgers. Ultimately, his connection with former Notre Dame offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Gerad Parker, who is now the head coach at Troy, inspired Flanigan to sign with the Blue and Gold. Luckily, his commitment didn’t waver after the departure of Parker — a decision that is finally starting to pay dividends. Everything comes full circle Going into Sunday night, Flanigan knew that he had a little extra riding on the Shamrock Series game in his hometown. Following the matchup, he described it as an “unbelievable experience.” Before the game, Flanigan’s emotions were understandably high. Coming home to Green Bay wearing the same uniform that his father once did, he knew that he had to ensure his head was in the right place by game time. “I think my plan for it worked, which was pregame warmups, go out on the field, soak it all in,” he explained. “If I see family, say hi, wave, and then once we run out of the tunnel after warmups, it’s all business from there. After the first play, I really just tend to lock in and focus on playing football.” He also had a plan coming into the game to use his father’s signature fist-pump celebration. Before the game, Flanigan hadn’t
scored a touchdown in an Irish uniform yet. He knew that if and when he scored at Lambeau, it had to be special. “I used to make fun of [my dad] for doing [his celebration], but now it’s kinda become my thing. It’s super fun.” Going forward, both Flanigan and the coaching staff expect his role to be much more involved in the Irish offense. He had just two catches Sunday night, one of them a touchdown that put the coaching staff’s confidence in the young tight end on full display. He also felt that Sunday was a great example of how this year’s Irish squad plans to conduct itself, explaining that he felt that the offense was able to effectively wear down Wisconsin over the course of the second half especially. Regardless of what else happened in the contest, though, the touchdown made everything worth it. Lambeau Field. His family in the crowd. The student section ahead of him. His teammates behind him. Flanigan couldn’t have drawn up a better first collegiate touchdown for himself if he wanted to. It seemed like it was a moment tailor-made just for him. “It was awesome,” Flanigan described. “There’s three generations of Flanigans that have been on that field and made some plays, and that’s really special.” Contact Ethan Laslo at elaslo@nd.edu
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