Irish quarterbacks compete for starting spot
By HENRY LYTLE Associate Sports Editor
As quarterback Riley Leonard heads to the NFL Draft April 24-26, Notre Dame fans are left wondering who will fill the 6-4 sized hole at the helm of the Irish offense. With three options to start at quarterback, senior Steve Angeli, junior Kenny Minchey and sophomore CJ Carr, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has a choice to make.
When asked about the competition, Angeli said, “Competition brings the best out of people and makes everyone better. Competition is a good thing and the world is meant to be competitive.” Irish fans will get the first live look at the competition in the 2025 edition of the Blue-Gold game on Saturday, April 12.
Angeli is the first option to take Leonard’s place at quarterback. Irish fans are certainly familiar with him after his critical drive heading into halftime against Penn State in the College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal. He went 6-7 for 44 yards to set up a field goal and make the score 10-3 before the break. His success through the air in limited opportunities throughout the season even caused some fans to call for him to start, particularly following the NIU loss and shaky
offensive performance against Miami (OH). Despite these concerns, Leonard quickly proved down the stretch of the season why his skillset and leadership was so beloved by the team, leading the Irish to a National Championship appearance. He regained confidence after recovering from lingering injuries and displayed his elite running ability alongside then-sophomore Jeremiyah Love, one of the most dangerous backs in the country, in the backfield in a way that separated the Irish offense.
Asked about his goals for the spring Angeli said, “Just being a complete quarterback, being able to handle everything that comes with it, leadership, extending plays and overall growth.”
Angeli’s resume most notably displays his ability to throw the ball accurately. He was the ideal backup for the last two seasons, filling in for Leonard at critical moments in 2024 and making his first career start in the Sun Bowl in 2023. In that game, he went 15-19 for 232 yards and three touchdowns in the dominant 40-8 Irish victory. In 2024, Angeli recorded an impressive backup statline in limited action, which included going 6-9 for 100 yards and two touchdowns against Purdue, 3-3 for 37 yards and a touchdown against Florida State and
the drive against Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Bringing biggame experience, a strong and accurate arm and leadership capability, Angeli profiles as a great option to take the starting role.
The next quarterback to be considered is junior Kenny Minchey. Rated a four-star recruit coming out of high school due to his athleticism and ability to extend plays, Minchey brings a skillset more similar to Leonard’s. While not as big as Leonard, listed at 6-2 206 pounds, Minchey possesses the dual-threat ability that Mike Denbrock has found success with even before his time at Notre Dame. Minchey appeared once in 2024, recording a pair of rushes against Purdue, the second ending in a sevenyard touchdown, as well as one completed pass. While Irish fans have seen little of Minchey, he is right in the mix for the starting job in 2025-26.
When asked about his growth over the past year, Minchey said, “I definitely feel more comfortable, more in control, and closer with the guys on the team.”
Last, but far from least intriguing is sophomore C.J Carr. Carr is one of the highest-rated quarterbacks the Irish have ever recruited — a consensus fourstar recruit ranked 37th overall and first in the state of Michigan
by ESPN. He was highly touted for his dual-threat ability to run and throw the football. Listed at 6-3, 205 pounds, Carr is a highly mobile passer with confidence to make big throws. He was listed fourth in the depth chart in 2024 and appeared once in the game against Purdue, but suffered an elbow injury in practice during the season. Despite the setback, Carr is expected to be a full participant in the BlueGold game for the Irish.
When asked about his injury and recovery, Carr said, “It definitely helped me physically — the weights and arm care system. It feels better than it did last year. I can throw it better and farther now than I could before.”
In the 2024 edition of the Blue-Gold game, Carr made a multitude of impressive throws on the run, showcasing his ability to extend plays, and displayed confidence pushing the ball downfield. Irish fans may be most excited to see Carr at the helm, but the question remains: is he truly ready? While Carr could be the right choice to one day start for the Irish, he may need time and experience to develop into his full potential.
Looking to the rest of the offense, the Irish have revamped their wide receiver corps with the acquisitions of Will Pauling (Wisconsin) and Malachi Fields (Virginia) in the transfer portal.
Pauling eclipsed 800 yards in his 2023 campaign and Fields comes off recording two consecutive seasons of 800-plus yards and five touchdowns. With the emergence of junior Jaden Greathouse during the College Football Playoff run, putting together two consecutive games over 100 yards, the Irish have more dangerous threats returning in-house. Dual-sport athlete Jordan Faison joins Greathouse to lead the returning group of pass-catchers, the junior putting up over 300 yards in both of his first two seasons along with four touchdowns as a freshman. The Irish also bring back the dynamic running back duo of junior Jeremiyah Love and senior Jadarian Price, who rushed for a combined 2031 yards and 34 touchdowns last season. Love led the charge in the tandem, managing 1125 yards and 17 touchdowns, including a record-breaking streak of scores in 13 consecutive games. With the addition of Fields and Pauling along with expected improvement from returning talent, whoever starts at quarterback will have a plethora of options to turn to.
Fans should expect to see all three players in action on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Notre Dame Stadium.
Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Senior quarterback Steve Angeli prepares to take the snap in Notre Dame’s 27-24 win over Penn State in the CFP Semifinal at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 9, 2025. Standing in for the injured starter Riley Leonard, Angeli led the Irish offense on a big two-minute drill before halftime to set up a field goal that cut the deficit to seven at 10-3 going into the break.
Tri-campus hosts Take Back the Night
Students gathered in solidarity for survivors of sexual violence, hosting a prayer service and discussion
By BERHAN HAGEZOM
Saint Mary’s News Editor
On Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Take Back the Night occurred throughout Saint Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame, hosted by the Belles Against Violence Office (BAVO). The event kicked off at Stapleton Lounge and ended at Ryan Hall for a prayer vigil.
Take Back the Night is a global movement that began in 1976 when a Tribunal Council of 2,000 women came to discuss the lack of protection towards women’s safety and violence committed towards women. This led to various movements across the nation, with some of the first occurring on college campuses.
Preface and Kickoff
Take Back the Night was coordinated by members of the Student Advisory Committee. This includes subcommittees such as empowerment, education and prevention.
Saint Mary’s junior Ally Krause, a student advisory committee member of the BAVO empowerment team, discussed the importance of Take Back the Night.
“Take Back the Night is an empowerment event where survivors can share their stories. It’s where we come together,” Krause said.
The first event of the night was at Stapleton Lounge from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Students were able to enjoy catered food and tote bags while
see TAKE BACK PAGE 3
Students march and chant together in support of spreading awarness across the
The night concluded with a prayer service and candle lighting vigil
ND and Visa renew Fintech program ISLA to become Franco Family Institute
By EMILY BARLETT News Writer
Notre Dame’s Meruelo Family Center for Career Development partnered with Visa to launch the Visa Fintech Foundations Program this spring.
After the first iteration of the program was offered this spring, the program will again be offered in the coming fall. The program will be available to juniors via an application process.
“The University of Notre Dame has a strong alumni base at Visa and is a core school for our campus
recruiting initiatives,” Kelly Mahon Tullier, vice chair, chief people and corporate affairs officer at Visa, shared.
The Visa Fintech Foundations Program is a six-week program that gives students the opportunity to get expert insights on the fintech industry. Through this program, students have the opportunity to learn how technology is transforming the finance field while exploring the career paths aligned with a fintech education.
“We wanted to pilot something
By AVABELLA MITRANO News Writer
Following a donation by Allison and Thomas Franco, the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts (ISLA) has transitioned to the Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good, which aims to
increase public outreach in the humanities.
Thomas Franco is a 1974 Notre Dame alumnus, who graduated with a degree in the program of liberal studies.
Allison Franco is an alumna of Queens College.
The institute formerly known as ISLA supported
undergraduates, graduates and faculty through grants for research. The institute also hosted conferences, student mentorship programs and research development programs. According to ISLA director Kate Marshall, these programs
Political Science dept. adds new required course
By ISABEL TORRES Staff Writer
Starting next academic year, all incoming political science majors and current first-year students at Notre Dame will be required to take a new course titled “Why Political Science?”, designed to help them explore the major’s academic foundations and real-world applications.
Political science professor Angela McCarthy designed the required course, titled “Why Political Science?”, to expose
students to the discipline’s diverse subfields while offering space for academic and career discernment.
“We want to use this first course, as an anchor, or as a semester-long advising session with me,” McCarthy said. “It gives students a chance to map out what they want to do academically and how we can translate those academic goals into career goals.”
The course introduces students to the department’s four major subfields: American
politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Each concentration is covered over a two-week period and supplemented by guest speakers and career-focused discussions.
“We start the course by discussing the difference between politics and political science,” McCarthy said. “We spend a week fleshing out what that means and what we’re doing in this department. Political
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
tri-campus communities.
in the Chapel of St. Anne in Ryan Hall.
Photo Courtesy of Mushfiq Milan
Visa executives join Notre Dame students in a photo. Notre Dame is the first university to maintain this partnership program with Visa.
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QUESTION OF THE
DAY:
Joey Dealey sophomore Morrissey Manor
“Pretzel Sticks.”
Clare Gunther sophomore Johnson Family Hall
“Tru Fru.”
Julia Roe sophomore Johnson Family Hall
“Ginger Kombucha.”
Edward Couri sophomore Dillon Hall “Kombucha.”
Ella Greenbaum sophomore Johnson Family Hall “Air Heads Xtremes.”
Nii Adom Laryea-Adjei sophomore Keough Hall “Jolly Ranchers.”
Senior Caroline Long portrays Gloucester in the Not-So-Royal adaptation of King Lear. The show is produced by the
Shakespeare Festival’s Professional Company, under director Pirronne Yousefzadeh. It will performed between April 10-13,
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Friday
Notre Dame Student Peace Conference
Hesburgh Center for
International Studies
10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Discussion on peace
Mandy Patinkin & Nathan Gunn show
DPAC
7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Showcase from broadway performers
Saturday
‘Nickel Boys’ Browning Cinema, DPAC
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Showing of the 2024 film about Jim Crow
‘Eurydice’ Philibin Studio, DPAC
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Humorous and poetic
reimagining of the classic Greek myth
Sunday
Symphonic winds and band
Leighton Concert Hall
3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Student ensemble performance
‘North Putnam’ Browning Cinema, DPAC 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Presentation of the acclaimed film
5 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Crucifix initiative for a reflective communal Lenten walk
MFA Thesis Exhibition AAHD Galleries
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. By Department of Art, Art History and Design
Tuesday
Notre Dame Men’s Baseball Frank Eck Stadium
5:30 p.m.
Home game against Valparaiso University
‘Tragedies of War’ Hesburgh Library
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Presentation of images of World War II in print visual culture.
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Senate approves new StuGov departments
By DAVID MURPHY Staff Writer
On Wednesday evening, senate convened for a meeting to reorganize the body. The meeting began with an opening prayer led by vice president Sonia Lumley-Murillo. Following roll call and attendance, the senate heard executive announcements and clarified the voting procedure for incoming senators.
The senate next moved into general orders, beginning with discussion of plans to renew the Department of Student-Athlete Relations, which was suspended two years prior. Robbie Wollan, the nominee for director of the department, argued for its importance, highlighting the
Take Back
creating posters for the march. They wrote slogans such as “Shatter the silence, stop the violence,” “Silence is violence” and “Protect Title IX.”
Krause mentioned the preparation process across departments at Saint Mary’s for Kick Off. She explained how BAVO worked together with Title IX to plan the evening.
Saint Mary’s senior Phoenix McClellan, another committee member of the BAVO empowerment team, said that her favorite aspect of the event is the bonding and connections made.
“Even if I don’t talk to all of the people that I met last year, [there is] just this immediate kinship between all of us. Even if it wasn’t one of those things [where] we’re going to become best friends … we are friends in this moment,” McClellan said.
More than 30 students showed up to create posters in solidarity with survivors. The event allowed for students to feel ready and prepared for the night, whether they
impact of evolving name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation on student-athletes.
“The NCAA is a very different world than it was two years ago,” Wollan said. “There’s going to be potentially 6,000 athletes nationwide who are going to be cut, and so there’s a lot of things that need to be addressed in the athletic world.”
According to Wollan, he wants the department to help build a stronger connection between Notre Dame student-athletes and broader students. Wollan noted that some of the problems studentathletes face create a “disconnect” between them and the rest of the student body. Wollan, a member of the football team, spoke to his own experiences when making his
chose to participate in the rest of the events or not.
“I’m honestly so impressed there’s a lot of people here. I know Take Back the Night is very influential, especially in the tri-campus community, so I am expecting a lot of people … [with] how many people have shown up here, it gives me hope for the rest of the day,” sophomore Daniela Rivera said. Rivera is a also a committee member of the BAVO empowerment team.
For students attending the event for the first time, it offered a chance to witness the visible support for survivors of sexual violence and how the issue is addressed across campuses.
“This is my first time going, so this is kind of new for me. I’m liking it so far, [and] I think it’s really cool how there’s already so many girls that are there. I’m excited for the night,”
sophomore Lucy Vung Nu said.
Kick Off ended at 5:30 p.m. with a planned march to Notre Dame. Due to inclement weather changes, the march was canceled.
Survivor Speak Out
Students arrived on Notre Dame’s
case for the proposed department.
“I came to school here, not wanting to add to that stereotype where it’s the people you see with backpacks around campus and then all the other students ... I think that’s really important for me coming in, being involved in campus, being involved in my dorm … especially with all the new things that are happening,” Wollan said.
The debate next moved toward the potential creation of the Department of Nutrition. Questions surrounding the proposed department primarily revolved around its specific role and how it would be distinguished from the already existing Department of Student Health and Wellness. Several senators provided clarity on the department’s
campus around 6 p.m. for Survivor Speak Out. Booths were available for students with a variety of tricampus and South Bend community organizations, including the Office of Institutional Equity, BAVO and the Family Justice Center of St. Joseph County. A booth with tote bags, shirts, pens and pamphlets were provided to students.
Senior McKenzie McDaniel is a committee member for Take Back the Night and helped plan Survivor Speak Out. She mentioned that the event is a space where students can share their stories without consequences.
“Take Back the Night is really just to give a space for people who want to talk … without feeling like their story is going to be shared or that they’re going to face any sort of retribution,” McDaniel said.
The event concluded around 8:30 p.m. for the march to Ryan Hall, originally planned to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
March to Ryan Hall
The march to Ryan Hall began at 8:35 p.m., where students carried posters from Kick Off and Survivor
proposed function.
“I would say the [Department of Student] Health and Wellness will focus more on mental health resources … as well as things like water quality, but there’s a lot more things in the like on campus as well,” one senator said. “I think we can all tell from our constituents that nutrition is a very big concern for everyone here on campus and is something that’s very important to everyone. We thought it made a lot of sense to have a department dedicated to that when there’s so much going on in that sphere.”
Another senator followed up on these statements, citing the importance of dining hall life and describing it as a place “where we communicate … learn and make our friendships.”
Speak Out to show support for victims of sexual assault. Some chants shouted were “The streets are ours,” “Shine our light” and “We will not be victimized.”
Notre Dame freshman Mekhi Barnett hoped that this march and event provided opportunities for survivors and allies to have their voices heard.
“Typically, people are in their own shell for this and they don’t really get to express their emotions on it … it’s our job for us to let them know that people do care and they can speak out and help will be provided,” Barnett said.
Prayer Vigil
The night concluded in the Chapel of St. Anne at Ryan Hall, where candles were passed out and lit as a sign of solidarity. The audience heard several prayers recited from the Quran, the Torah and the Bible. Near the end, audiences repeated the phrase “Let us believe, so hope is not extinguished.”
Contact Berhan Hagezom at bhagezom01@saintmarys.edu
As questioning and debate wrapped up, the senate called for a vote on the creation of the two departments. Both passed, along with their corresponding senate nominees’ approvals.
Before adjourning, the senate voted on whether or not to extend the Committee on the Constitution. Sam Robinson, student union parliamentarian, was a strong proponent of the motion.
“I do think this would be a good addition ... Apparently, there is some current legislation on the horizon ... so this is just a way to create a forum that may happen outside of the senate meetings,” Robinson said.
Contact David Murphy at dmurph23@nd.edu
Poli-sci
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
science at Notre Dame can look a little different than at other universities.”
The idea for the course arose after McCarthy observed that many students were unsure how to apply their political science degree professionally.
“I started meeting with students and asking, ‘What do you want to do with your political science degree?’ And there was some confusion, a little uncertainty about what political science can actually do for you professionally,” she said.
McCarthy noted the department has been working collaboratively with faculty and students to define a clearer mission and structure for the major. That process, she said, helped lay the groundwork for the new course.
“I had conversations with my colleagues, and it seemed like a viable thing, something good that we could do to get the word out,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy plans to utilize the new “Why Political Science?” course as a means of both dialogue and informative opportunities for its students.
April 14, 2025
Workshops and Keynote Address Featuring Andrea L. Pino-Silva
Andrea L. Pino-Silva is co-author of We Believe You: Survivors of Campus Sexual Assault Speak Out, and co-founder of the national survivor advocacy organization End Rape on Campus. Her work and personal journey is prominently featured in the film The Hunting Ground, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, and she appeared alongside Lady Gaga and 50 other survivors at the 2016 Academy Awards.
Workshops begin at 1 p.m. ET Rice Commons, Student Center Keynote 6 p.m. ET Carroll Auditorium
“I ask guest speakers to come in and talk to the class about what that field is and then we do some other stuff throughout the semester to break it up a little bit. We talk about internship opportunities and study abroad opportunities,” McCarthy said. “How you can get involved in the Political Science Society, Pi Sigma Alpha programs and other programs that are related or adjacent to political science.”
McCarthy also highlighted Notre Dame’s emphasis on research methods as a point of distinction from peer institutions.
Editors Note: This is an abbreviated version. The full version can be found on The Observer’s website.
Contant Isabel Torres at itorres@nd.edu
ISLA
will remain but instead will shift from an internal to a community focus.
“When we changed our name to the Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good, one of the presumptions of the institute is that the liberal arts are a public good. We’re going to be working to support it,” Marshall said.
According to Marshall, the newly renamed institute will include additions such as a community outreach program, a spring research symposium and internships focused on media outlets. The additions seek to allow students and faculty to learn how to engage an audience with their research.
The institute will also fund interdisciplinary research collaboratives, which will involve coordination between groups of students and faculty on a project with a dual focus across fields.
“I think that it’s really important to do this in an age where we are thinking very hard about what the ramifications of changes in computational technology are. Both culturally and for how we produce knowledge at a university too,” Marshall said.
On Friday, the Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good will launch their website, replacing ISLA’s current one. With this, the institute will also announce its first cohort of humanity faculty fellows.
As other institutions face cuts in the humanities, Marshall noted that the institute is making sure the field is emphasized more.
“We’re all ready to meet the expectations and the responsibility of being able to fund and promote the kind of work that we’re doing,” she said.
According to Josh Tychonievich, the managing director of the institute, the Franco Family Institute is not a representation of something entirely new. Rather, the institute will enhance and add to the work that ISLA has been doing to reach a broader audience.
“I’m really excited that we can continue our long record of 40 years of supporting liberal arts research while also adding a new dimension that is focused on public engagement and making sure that South Bend partners with the local community,” Tychonievich said.
Student grants program manager Lindsay Paturalski said she is excited about the change as the institute will be able to offer more programming for current students.
“We don’t really offer student programming right now. We mostly just offer grants and research support. We have one program in the summer that is actually a program, so we’re considering having more of that for both our undergraduates and our graduate students,” Paturalski said.
Visa
new on campus outside of traditional info sessions and branding events,” Tullier said.
The University has a wide network of employers who they engage with every year to discuss their specific interests.
“When talking with Visa, we realized that there is no fintech major or minor at the
Paturalski would like for the institute to be able to offer more hands-on experience to students.
“I would really enjoy that, and hopefully it will contribute to the students being able to think of themselves as public-facing and as producing something for the public. Also, just fitting within the goals of the new Franco family,” Paturalski said.
Contact Avabella Mitrano at amitrano@nd.edu
University, which is the space Visa operates in,” Ryan Willerton, associate vice president for career and professional development at the center, said.
The mutual interest between the University and Visa led to the establishment of the partnership.
“It took 48 hours to get more than 40 students interested and replying. This is definitely a space where there is a lot of student interest,” Willerton said.
Willerton explained that, throughout the program, Visa experts shared their perspectives during in-person sessions. The recruitment team flew to campus every week to provide a number of presentations and one-on-one consultations. Notre Dame alumni also guest spoke during some of these sessions, allowing students to identify potential career opportunities in fintech.
“This program was intended to be more than a one-time interaction with Visa and instead a chance to learn from Visa leaders every week over six weeks to immerse [students] in a learning experience that would help their candidacy in the fintech industry [and] to encourage them to explore opportunities at Visa,” Tullier said.
The program focused on a variety of topics, including financial sustainability, digital currencies, current trends and insights into the recruitment process. The program promoted career development through career exploration opportunities and sessions focused on mainstream fintech technologies and the skills key to specific fintech positions. Additionally, the course highlighted specific career growth opportunities at Visa.
“I was drawn to this
program because of the digital transformation that has been occurring throughout business industries,” BBA student Mushfiq Milan said.
The program was a pilot for Visa, to which Notre Dame was the first university that Visa partnered with for this program.
“It was highly successful this past year, so they are coming back again next fall,” director of employer and regional engagement Laura Bellis said.
Visa plans to expand the program to other colleges and universities in the coming years.
“[We] hope to continue to build out this program, refining it each year and trying to hit the mark on what is most compelling to students,“ Willerton said.
Contact Emily Barlett at ebarlett@nd.edu
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Rules I wish to live by
turn away with a no, I label as too busy with other important things, people who just don’t understand. Sometimes I don’t even ask, because then I won’t have to hear the refusals.
Navigating life with a disability is beautiful, hard, anger-inducing, scary and chaotic. It’s a lot. Which is why, over the years, I have come up with rules to help me to live a life of dignity as a blind person.
1. Never apologize for your disability.
Almost every Friday, I am starving for Indian food, and almost always, I give into temptation. One of these Fridays, my DoorDasher calls me. They are minutes away from my dorm, but they are lost in the maze that is Notre Dame. They ask me for the closest visual landmarks. They tell me what they see, and I feel so lost.
I only know one route to my dorm — the route in which I walk past the automatic doors and the carpeted floor of the Morris Inn to get to the front entrance of Ryan. I only know how to walk this route; I don’t know how to explain it with words and directions.
I panic and hesitate and panic, and the words come into my mouth, “I’m sorry, I am blind.”
Do not apologize for your disability.
Just because you interact with the world in ways that are different from what is regarded as normal, never apologize for who you are.
I grind the “sorry” to powder between my teeth and speak into the phone, into the ears of my impatient DoorDasher, “I am blind.”
2. Do not plead when you know that you have the right to receive.
Full disclosure: I’m not so good at following this rule.
My voice hesitates and coats itself in humility when I ask for course materials to be made available in accessible digital formats, for images on online platforms to be accompanied by alternative text and for math lectures to be made more accessible. I call the people who work to change structures for me kind and empathetic. The others who
But I know I have been getting better. At least now I recognize that what I ask for aren’t favors that might be granted, but needs that must be satisfied in order for me to be able to thrive as a student, an employee and a human being.
Believing this truth has made it a little easier to have difficult conversations with my statistics professor, to ask for the digital copy of the new hymnal that is used during Masses.
But it is still hard to make myself vulnerable like this. It is harder to keep asking in a world that is not constructed for me, a world that does not anticipate my needs. It is the hardest to fight, to batter down the refusals, all by myself. But I guess I’ll have to keep asking and fighting until the world changes for the better.
3. Independence should always be a constant goal.
I know I have grown so much in the last few years. I learned to live alone in a new country. I learned to navigate campus on my own.
But I cannot afford to give into the temptation to lock myself into my comfort zone. I have so much more to conquer, like the route to Decio that I have been too lazy to learn. I cannot afford to curl up in my cocoon when I know that I still haven’t lived and worked in the heart of a bustling city, when I still haven’t tasted the Indian curries that I made all by myself.
4. Never give up your agency.
When you have a disability, people treat you like a child. Or worse, they treat you as if you are invisible, and then they steal your voice, your words. I know this reality, and yet, I say nothing in protest as the waiter turns to my friend and asks her what I would like. I say nothing because, in that moment, my brain cannot find words to express the anger and the violation I am experiencing. I say nothing because I am so drained from the long
day, and I just don’t have the energy to educate someone who does not know how to talk to a blind person.
I say nothing when my friend steals my voice and tells the waiter what I need. I know I should tell them, “I felt like you were taking away my agency.” But I am so scared. What if I make my friend feel guilty? What if I damage my relationship with them? So I say nothing.
I am at a counter ordering Subway. My friend is a few steps behind me. The lady asks me a question. For some reason, I don’t catch what she says. Instinctively, I turn back to my friend. I say nothing, but my friend responds to the question in my eyes. She repeats to me what the lady said.
It isn’t until I am walking away from the encounter that it hits me. I could have just said to the lady, “Sorry, I didn’t get you. Could you say that again?” But I turned to my friend like a child who wants her mother to translate what she is incapable of comprehending on her own. After a lifetime of allowing others to steal my agency, I finally gave it away.
In that moment of recognition, all I felt was shame. And all I knew was that I couldn’t go back to that Subway counter and take back my agency. Of all the rules that I want to live by, perhaps this is the hardest. Of course, the easiest way out is to surrender, to cloak myself in silence. But that is not who I am, that is not who I want to be. So I will keep working hard, to find my voice, to find the words, to become visible again.
Hannah Alice Simon was born and raised in Kerala, India, and moved to the U.S. for college with the dream of thriving in an intellectual environment that celebrates people with disabilities. On campus, you will mostly see her taking the longest routes to classrooms with her loyal cane, Riptide, by her side. She studies psychology and English with minors in musical theatre and theology. You can contact Hannah at hsimon2@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Things I find chic
TV Shows
A lot of videos have been popping on my social media feeds of people venting about what they find to be extremely chic. Thus, I felt like it is my duty to participate and provide a short list of my own.
Lip gloss
Blake Lively really hit the nail on the head in Gossip Girl when she said lipstick lasts longer but gloss is more fun, and I couldn’t agree more. Only recently have I added lip gloss to my makeup routine, and now I can’t imagine life without having one in my back pocket. Despite the fact that I lost one of my cherry-flavored Summer Fridays lip glosses at the NIU game and another one is probably in the crevice of an Uber in Nashville, I’m more than happy to spend an unreasonable amount of money on that tiny tube.
One of my favorite random childhood memories is coming home after some variant of a sports practice and eating dinner while my parents watched Game of Thrones together. I have never been big on keeping up with a television series (with the exception of Friends) but making a dessert and sitting down to enjoy a nightly show in real time is so chic. For example, if you are one of the millions who tune in for a weekly episode of White Lotus or Severence, I find you rather cool.
Film photography
I have been taking photos on disposable Kodak cameras since freshman year, and have yet to purchase a real point and shoot, but film photography in its entirety is just so beyond chic. From the process of waiting for your pictures to develop to the way they visually look in comparison to digital photos, this form of art captivates me and I am so glad more and more people are falling back in love with it.
Independence
Leaning on others is a necessity in life, but I will say that learning to enjoy your own company is very chic. Just put me in an airport alone or send me on a solo grocery store run and I will instantly morph into the most confident version of myself. This might just be the oldest daughter in me talking, but I’m not kidding. If I have learned anything in college, it’s that independence is a very chic trait to acquire.
Baseball caps
The most timeless piece of headwear to date, and that’s the truth.
Moira Quinn is a senior at Saint Mary’s College studying communication. When she isn’t writing for The Observer, she can be found with friends, watching a good romantic comedy or missing her basset hound. You can contact Moira at mquinn02@saintmarys.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Moira Quinn Working Title
Hannah Alice Simon Views without Vision
Declan Burke American DOMEland
Ode to what we leave behind
I can’t eat M&Ms anymore without thinking of my grandparents. Sometimes, I still feel as though I can reach out and touch the cool, crisp workbook pages smudged with chocolate residue. I learned to count on that book, matching the different colored M&Ms with the pictures on each page.
When I reflect on my childhood memories, I see them as if they exist behind a golden film; each and every moment seems brighter and fuller than what I see around me today. I can remember the slow ticking of the miniature grandfather clock in the living room and the sun peeking through the window as a sliver of light. My life wasn’t run by the different color tabs on a Canvas calendar. My hours weren’t counted and enumerated by the time I had to spend on homework and assignments. The only thing I was worried about was sneaking more M&Ms from the bag.
These days, I can’t open Instagram without my algorithm presenting me with videos reminding me of my childhood. Each flutter of my hand against the screen shows me a core aspect of my upbringing. I see the Minecraft worlds that exist now only in my mind. I remember the Skylanders
game that I used to play in elementary school. I recall the hot feel of the plastic slide and the soft earthen smell of trampled wood chips.
I think that nostalgia for childhood is a recurrent theme of the human experience. However, it has never been as prevalent as it is now. Social media has presented a new medium to relate to a collective of people who went through and share experiences with you simply by their birth year.
This is especially true within the context of American social standards. The modern collective American consciousness has placed such a high emphasis on the need for individualism and success at any cost that people have come to see life as a constant race. Our society is built to encourage lifelong engagement in the rat race of competition in jobs, housing, schooling, activities, memberships, etc. Modern culture has become a paradox wherein the goal of life is said to be happiness, yet to achieve that happiness, one must engage in endless competition that ends only in the exit of retirement. We put our lives in terms of have and have nots, compare ourselves to the value of others and envy because that is what we are told matters most. Media has perpetuated the idea that every waking hour of one’s day should be spent pursuing something more. More gains at the gym, more activities on a resume,
more connections on LinkedIn, more subtle mentions of the accomplishments we want envied but not flaunted. We seem to have everything but enough.
All this is to say that I miss the simplicity of being a child. I miss the days when life was dictated by the amount of light outside, not the grade on a page. I miss elementary school activities like field day, P.E. and the Christmas pageant. I miss the time when my biggest worry was going to basketball practice or doing a one-page math homework sheet.
I remember lying in bed one night in sixth grade, praying that I would wake up and be in college because the hard parts of being a middle school and high school student would be over. My life has always been framed in terms of the next hurdle, the next challenge and the next expectation for myself. Now that I am here, I wish I had taken the time to notice the small, simple acts of childhood — getting frozen yogurt after school, playing video games in my pajamas and reaching for the last M&M.
Declan is a surviving biochemistry major at the University of Notre Dame. He is usually trying to figure out how to work the printer. Contact at dburke7@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
When a Kennedy becomes an internet troll
In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel six months ago, Schlossberg agreed that his Instagram posts are a form of “public service.” He then explained his goal when creating.
When you picture an internet troll, I bet you don’t envision a Kennedy. Frankly, the two seem to be each other’s antithesis. Kennedys are sharpfeatured, daring and Ivy League-educated New Englanders with a knack for politics. Trolls? Hardly.
However, Jack Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy’s only grandson, is both. In posts typically less than 25 words, he writes the unhinged, speaks the controversial and responds to the other side without fluff or fear. Because of this, his rhetoric is too sharp to be mistaken for another Democrat’s:
“DEI PERVERSION IS COSTING YOU MONEY,” an X post reads.
“I’m having a son!! So excited about this. Cannot wait for the birth of my next child because today was the best day of my life. Out of wedlock, yes. But we might get married,” he wrote on X, adding to a fictional narrative that he and Usha Vance, JD Vance’s wife, were planning on having a child. At a time when most Democrat activist platforms are informative — but not mirroring Republicans’ sharpness — Schlossberg’s gutsiness thrives. Currently, he has over 1.5 million followers across X, Instagram and TikTok. Schlossberg has also been a political correspondent for Vogue since 2024. He is a growing force to be reckoned with. Schlossberg’s trolling is random and sometimes extreme. It’s grown an audience with two prerogatives: young Gen Z viewers intrigued by a funny Kennedy-gone-troll or progressives looking for an ambitious force to be seen and heard by the far right. Because of this, he keeps catering to both.
“What I’m trying to do in my [TikTok] videos is to bring some levity and some humor to serious political issues,” he said. “My videos, maybe they’re a little crazy, but maybe they’re just crazy enough to work.”
Schlossberg is tired of misinformation and the current state of political discourse. So, he is redefining a new form of media content, bridging comedy and politics in a way hardly done before.
For example, he posted an edited screenshot to Instagram of Usha Vance’s Wikipedia page, claiming she was “the wife of Newark York Governor Jack Schlossberg.”
He could post long paragraphs of political nuance or current events, but he doesn’t. Instead, he relies on short posts that speak for themselves. He knows that the young internet would yawn at anything too serious or too long. Why not push the boundaries?
Simply, there are too few notable internet personalities with bold enough voices to do what he does. Progressive activist accounts spread awareness, and can be viral, but don’t captivate the right. Traditional meme accounts don’t lean into politics with the same edge. They are often too general and aim for an all-internet audience. Schlossberg uses a new form of political communication to argue, point with a critical eye and create a new audience.
In doing so, Schlossberg has reinforced the decades-old idea that being outlandish in media — regardless of content, character or controversy — will land a spotlight. Extreme right-wing
media personalities from the past, like the late radio host Rush Limbaugh and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, have had similar attention-grabbing abilities (with highly offensive commentary and incorrect, heinous judgments).
Unlike Jones or Limbaugh, Schlossberg’s trolling is satire, or a “bit,” not meant to seriously put down marginalized groups or to further political violence. (He has openly decried political violence: for example, when President Trump survived the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler.)
Simply, he’s creating his own internet audience via trolling. What does this mean for future political communication? I think Schlossberg is pioneering the way for more humor-political personalities to emerge. If a Kennedy being out-ofpocket creates shock, but ultimately an online demand for new-age political communication and satire, then others from more established political families may become savvy trolls.
The future of political trolling will have to rely on pushing the bounds of humor. Instead of posting long commentary or snappy fact checks, there’s a large potential for simple humor. Especially with AI-generated videos and photos on the rise, satirical content can expand the audience for politics. Posts will likely rely on Gen Z’s short attention spans, less on policy.
Redmond (Reddy) Bernhold is a junior studying biochemistry and journalism. He originally hails from Minster, OH but calls Siegfried Hall his home on campus. When not writing, he explores South Bend coffee shops and thrift stores. You can contact Reddy at rbernho2@ nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Redmond Bernhold Born Reddy
By CHRISTOPHER COPE Scene Copyeditor
Earlier this evening, I attended the Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of “King Lear.” Inspired by “The Wizard of Oz,” this adaptation was staged in an intimate, sparsely-lit space on the second floor of Washington Hall. It was an energetic performance, full of confident and skilled actors. I do not regret attending.
Before I get into all that I enjoyed, I want to make a single critique. It pertains to the inclusion of the dancing scene. The choreography was not well executed, the scene dragged, and its length felt unnecessary. While the actors were meant to appear inebriated, and perhaps the butchering of the dance was intentional, the entire sequence felt out of place and awkward, even considering the unusual setting. It disrupted the otherwise tight rhythm of the production.
The first half of the show, before intermission, was highly entertaining. We were introduced to King Lear (Tommy Liddy) and his three daughters, the traitorous duo Regan (Isabel Olesinski) and Goneril (Miriam Rice), as well as the authentically doting
and tragic Cordelia (Lily Brustkern).
The production shone brightest in its more serious, tragic scenes. The performances between Gloucester (Caroline Long) and Edgar (Will Barrett) were among the most memorable. Their chemistry was powerful, and their acting impassioned. Both the beginning of their relationship, which was a veiled reunification, and Gloucester’s revelation that the man leading her around was her son Edgar, were stellar when I watched them, and bordering on sublime as I replay them in my head.
I found that Edmund’s (Meaghan Northup) performance was decent when the play began, but became exponentially more charming as the play progressed. The scene of her death was particularly well executed — from the angle of my seat, it was cinematic.
Here are some miscellaneous appreciations: Goneril — despite being limited by the script, having fewer opportunities for theatrical display — still delivered a consistently strong performance. Her delivery was always clear and focused, steady, consistent and well acted.
The costume design in combination with the calm yellow lighting did more than enough to bring the
audience into a Dust Bowl atmosphere — an effect that seems hard to attain with such a minimal set. While I criticized the dance sequence, I found the choreographed fight scenes to be a standout aspect of the production. All fight scenes were — in my mind — executed perfectly. The prime example of their prudent effort was a particularly well-feigned head bump into one the pillars of Washington Hall’s Lab Theatre performed by the Duke of Albany (Luke Monson) that filled me, and I imagine the rest of the audience, with a sense of reverence — starry-eyed awe.
Lastly, I was impressed with the actors’ line memorization. I was impressed not only by the quantity of lines memorized, but also the complexity and the non-mnemonic nature of what they were reciting made it much more noteworthy.
In all, this “King Lear” was an ambitious, engaging and moving production. It offered a fresh and memorable take on a classic tragedy. Go see “King Lear” this weekend, if they’re not sold out yet — Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 13 at 4:00 p.m.w
Contact Christopher Cope at ccope@nd.edu
TREY PAINE | The Observer
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Regan (Isabel Olesinski) and Cornwall (Danny Hincka) ruthlessly blind Gloucester (Caroline Long) while she wails in agony. Olesinski’s delivery was frantic and matronly.
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Gloucester (Caroline Long) smokes a Marlboro cigarette. Long was featured in “Migrant Mother” –themed promotional material, in line with the production’s Dust Bowl staging.
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Edgar (Will Barrett) — homeless, insane, tortured and donning a wife beater — grovels on the ground. Barrett’s performance was eclectic and electricfying, rife with physicality.
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
King Lear (Tommy Liddy) drunkenly dips his partner under the dim light of a lone lantern. The set design, while minimal, more than sufficed to create the right atmosphere.
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Irish face Pittsburgh in crucial ACC road game
By CHRIS DAILEY Sports Writer
With only two games remaining in the regular season, the Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team will head to Pittsburgh for a clash against Pitt this Saturday at noon. Both teams sit 1-6 in ACC play, holding 10th and 11th place in the league standings, respectively. With only the top eight teams in the conference advancing to the ACC Tournament, a win would be crucial as both programs look to close the gap on eighth-place Virginia Tech.
Notre Dame is coming off of a heartbreaking 8-7 loss to No. 10 Stanford on senior night. The Irish held a 7-5 lead with 11:11 left in the fourth quarter,
SMC LACROSSE
but the Cardinal scored three unanswered goals to spoil the celebration. Sophomore midfielders Kathryn Morrissey and Meghan O’Hare led the charge for Notre Dame with two goals apiece. The game followed the same path as much of the season had for the Irish. Four of their six conference losses have come by two goals or less, and all of those losses have come against ranked opponents. This loss leaves Notre Dame at 6-7 overall.
Similarly, the Panthers are also 6-7. However, the team is scheduled for a game against Robert Morris prior to their fixture against the Irish. Pitt is led by senior superstar, Jenna Hendrickson, whose 36 goals are nine more than the next
closest player on the team. She has proven to be a differencemaker on defense as well. Hendrickson has chipped in for 18 ground balls and 12 caused turnovers. She produced a fivegoal performance on March 25 against Temple and is by far Pitt’s most potent attacker.
Sydney Naylor, Avery Moon and Kaitlyn Giandonato supplement Hendrickson’s ability, with the three tallying at least 18 goals thus far.
Pitt has also gotten stellar play out of its goalkeeper, junior Molly Cain. Cain has recorded 113 saves en route to 8.69 saves per game, a mark that ranks her 35th in the country.
Notre Dame will look to continue to employ a well-balanced offensive attack. Leading
goal-scorer and midfielder Madison Rassas, one of the best freshmen in the country, did not play against Stanford, and it remains unclear whether she will return. Regardless, the Irish have five other players with at least 10 goals. Among those players, Morrissey has been the most consistent playmaker. She boasts a team-high 35 points on 20 goals and 15 assists. Graduate student midfielder Kristen Shanahan trails just behind with 34 points. Shanahan has scored seven goals in the last three games, including a five-goal performance against No. 9 Syracuse.
On paper, the Irish will march into Pittsburgh as the favorites to win. Both teams have faced Syracuse, Stanford,
Cal, No. 1 Boston College and No. 11 Duke, with, while losing a few, Notre Dame showing better results than Pitt.
The match should be a highenergy affair with both teams in desperate search of a conference win. Head coach Christine Halfpenny has repeatedly emphasized how proud she is of her young team for competing against some of the best teams in the country, while noting the importance of now turning these close losses into wins.
The Irish have a prime opportunity to do just that on Saturday at noon. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
Saint Mary’s lacrosse takes a win over Adrian
By CLAIRE WATSON
Associate Sports Editor
In a thriller against Adrian, the Saint Mary’s lacrosse team took a close, 10-9 win after heading into overtime. With this win, the team moves to 5-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Adrian took control of the first quarter, scoring the first unassisted goal at the 10-minute mark thanks to Sarah Gross. Almost a minute later, Gross added on her second goal with an assist from
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Mariana Miller. Miller went on to put in two goals in the next two minutes before Adrian’s Madeline Turcotte put in the final unassisted goal to end the quarter at 5-0 in Adrian’s favor. Heading into the second quarter, the Belles put themselves on the board as sophomore attacker Rachel Speckhard put in a goal with an assist from sophomore attacker Kathryn Kalinowski, bringing the score to 1-5. Adrian, not affected, quickly came back as Miller put in another goal
within the next minute. Ending out the quarter, sophomore attacker Cate Krema added her first goal of the day to bring the score to 6-2.
Early on after the half, Adrian put in another unassisted goal thanks to Kacie Woodall to bring the score to 7-2. Nearing the end of the quarter, Saint Mary’s junior midfielder Mary Grace Heekin put in a goal with an assist from Kalinowski, and freshman midfielder Annabelle Spruill put in the final goal of the
quarter to bring the score to 7-4. Saint Mary’s took control of the fourth quarter to continue its comeback. Sophomore attacker Lana Skibins put in an unassisted goal, followed by another by Spruill to close the score gap to one. In the next minute, Adrian put in another goal, but Spruill quickly scored one for the Belles, followed by a free position shot by freshman midfielder Piper Downey to tie the score. Spruill added on another goal to give the Belles the lead, but a
last-minute Adrian goal tied the score at nine, forcing the game to head into overtime. In overtime, Saint Mary’s Speckhard put in the final goal with an assist from Skibins to give the Belles a 10-9 win. Spruill led the Belles on the field with four goals, followed by Speckhard’s three. The team now prepares to face Trine at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 12.
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
Irish tennis teams wrap up regular seasons
By TYLER REIDY Associate Sports Editor
This weekend, the Notre Dame men’s and women’s tennis teams will write an end to their regular seasons with three combined matches. The Irish women will stay home to take on Boston College and Syracuse, while the men will travel a few hours south to Louisville.
Women’s tennis
Coming off two impressive home wins against No. 4 Clemson and No. 26 Georgia Tech, No. 24 Notre Dame will host Boston College at 4 p.m. on Friday and Syracuse at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The Irish have won five of their last six after sweeping the Tigers and downing the Yellow Jackets by a 4-2 score last weekend.
Junior Akari Matsuno continues to climb the rankings as Notre Dame’s No. 1 singles player. She currently ranks 64th nationally among singles competitors and owns a 10-5 individual record for the season. Senior Nibi Ghosh has heated up lately in No. 3 singles, winning each of her last six matches to reach an overall record
of 10-1. Junior Bojana Pozder, who debuted at No. 4 singles last weekend, keeps rolling along with a 14-4 record and a 6-2 mark in her last eight.
Notre Dame’s top two doubles teams both found success last weekend, with senior Carrie Beckman joining Matsuno to go 2-0 and junior Rylie Hanford doing the same with Ghosh. Hanford and Ghosh now rank 60th in the country among doubles pairings after taking down Georgia Tech’s 57th-ranked duo on Sunday.
The Irish shouldn’t have too difficult of a time sweeping Boston College to start the weekend. The Eagles check in at 5-15 (1-9 ACC) and have lost seven consecutive contests, five of them being sweeps. Last weekend, they lost two home matchups to Virginia and Virginia Tech and before that were swept by the two squads Notre Dame beat a week ago. Most notably, Boston College has not won away from home with an 0-8 record in true road and neutral-site affairs.
Freshman Olivia Benton leads the Eagles with a dual record of 21-10.
Syracuse, at 8-9 overall but also
1-9 within ACC play, should bring a bit more competitiveness into South Bend. However, the Orange also come in on a lengthy losing skid of six games, with all six matches taking place against ranked opponents. Virginia Tech and Virginia each defeated Syracuse last weekend, though the Orange were close with the 60th-ranked Hokies.
The Orange actually carry more nationally ranked singles players than the Irish, with Serafima Shastova positioned at No. 101 and Miyuka Kimoto at No. 108. Shastova, who has become Syracuse’s No. 3 singles option as of late, holds a 10-3 overall record with a 5-2 mark in ACC action. Kimoto works in the No. 1 slot and has struggled in conference play but owns a 7-6 record overall. Unranked Monika Wojcik has fared quite well in No. 5 and No. 6 singles, matching Shastova with a 10-3 record.
Men’s tennis
Since occupying the 35th
national ranking in late February, the Irish have plummeted, going 1-11 in ACC play with a nasty losing streak against ranked opponents in March. At 13-13 overall, they’ll end the regular season with a more winnable trip to Louisville at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Last weekend, Notre Dame hit the road and lost to No. 19 Florida State and No. 33 Miami. Junior Sebastian Dominko took a rare loss against the Hurricanes, but his dual record and national ranking still hold strong at 17-3 and 18th, respectively. He’s 8-3 against fellow ranked players and 8-1 within the realm of ACC play. Sophomore Chase Thompson, his playing partner on the nation’s 22nd-ranked doubles team, has Notre Dame’s second-best singles winning percentage with an 11-7 record.
In doubles action, the Irish have struck gold with their No. 3 doubles pairing of freshmen Luis Llorens Saracho and Peter Nad. The two have yet to lose together
this season, going 11-0, with nine of those victories coming against ACC competition.
This weekend’s opponent, Louisville, also carries a 1-11 conference record. However, the Cardinals were significantly worse in non-conference play and come off a Thursday clash with mid-major Middle Tennessee, the No. 44 team in the country. They also took on Miami and Florida State in the Sunshine State last weekend, dropping both contests.
Expect Will Mayew, Louisville’s only ranked singles competitor at No. 85 nationally, to oppose Dominko in the No. 1 matchup. Mayew leads the Cardinals by a wide margin with his individual record of 13-5. Louisville’s No. 2 doubles team of Natan Rodrigues and Hamza El Amine ranks 90th nationally with a 4-4 record this spring.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
matters. Personal and home improvements are favored.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Put emotions aside, be realistic, and set your sights on your dreams. Changing your direction or course of action will take research, learning, and fine-tuning the skills you require to reinvent your next adventure. You may not be able to please everyone, but you can please yourself.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put thought and energy into earning more and building your savings investments. Domestic and home improvements will boost your assets and make your life easier and more enjoyable. A change regarding institutions you deal with will be favorable and give insight into longterm possibilities. Romance is on the rise.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep an open mind, listen, learn, and put what you discover to work for you. Take any opportunity to meet new people or reconnect with someone you lost touch
VIRGO
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Creative
PISCES
probably even higher.”
Freeman’s assessment of Bowen is accurate. As a rising junior, Bowen has accepted the sacrifices that come with his newfound position, and has been growing into the role by leaning on the lessons he has learned in the linebacker room throughout his first two years in South Bend.
“Yeah, I just like I had to grow each and every year,” Bowen stated. “Being behind JD [Bertrand] and Kiser and learning how leaders are supposed to be, how you’re supposed to act and carry yourself, especially as a linebacker everyone is looking at you on the defense.”
Bertrand, who last played for the Irish in 2023, was a two-time captain of Notre Dame — one of 28 players in the Irish’s illustrious history to hold that honor
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multiple times. Meanwhile, Kiser was the heart and soul of Notre Dame’s journey to the National Championship and holds the distinction of the most games played in the program’s 138-year-old existence.
Emulating two veterans who left an indelible imprint on the team is a wise move by Bowen.
The rising junior noted one key characteristic he picked up from the history-making duo.
“Kiser was never going to be late, he was never going to do the wrong thing,” Bowen said.
“The way you pick your teammates up, the way you hold others accountable, just kind of all the good things about what leadership is. I feel like him and JD both really taught me that.”
Bowen’s progress hasn’t gone unnoticed by the defensive staff either. Notre Dame’s young, fiery linebacker coach, Max Bullough, has been singing his praises this spring.
“He’s now the head of the
defense, the mouth, the commander and the leader of it, along with the other guys,” Bullough said. “They all played a lot of football and had equal snaps so I’m not anointing anyone. You talk about a guy who went from being a young guy last year to having to be in the front of the room and be a veteran and a leader in a lot of different ways. He’s answered that bell.”
It’s apparent that Bowen has followed in the path that Bertrand and Kiser forged. However, while leadership is important, so are results. Bowen feels he and the rest of the team have unfinished business after Notre Dame’s storybook run to the title game resulted in a bittersweet ending as the Ohio State Buckeyes emerged victorious. It’s primarily for that reason that Bowen decided to focus solely on football this spring.
In the midst of all the goals that Bowen is striving to
achieve — from establishing himself as the vocal presence on the defensive side of the ball to beginning the quest of finishing what last season’s team started — came one major change. Defensive coordinator Al Golden was offered a dream job in the same position with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Understandably, Golden accepted the offer and left his post in South Bend with nothing but positive things to say about the “greatest 1,000 days” of his professional career.
Golden’s void was filled by Marcus Freeman’s hire of former Rutgers head coach, Chris Ash. This move left questions for Bowen on whether the defense he had become acclimated to, and the one he was trying to be the vocal stronghold of, would be uprooted. Luckily for Bowen, his questions have been answered in Ash’s first few months on the job.
“It’s pretty similar,” stated
Bowen on his experience with Ash thus far. “He wasn’t lying when he was saying he was going to come in and keep everything basically the same. We got a lot of different things in regards to technique and zone drop and stuff like that. But it’s been pretty similar, and he’s very similar to Coach Golden in the way he coaches and the way he acts. It wasn’t much of a change.”
The seamless transition between coordinators has put Bowen at ease, and his mind is now firmly fixated on elevating into a larger role in 2025 both on and off the field.
Ranked the ninth-best returning linebacker in the nation by Pro Football Focus, expectations are high for Bowen. But as Freeman put it, “[Bowen’s] expectations for himself are probably even higher.”
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
Irish look for third straight ACC series victory
By CHARLIE MORRIS Sports Writer
The Notre Dame softball team has a chance to win their third straight Atlantic Coast Conference series this coming weekend as they travel to Blacksburg to take on No. 12 Virginia Tech from Friday, April 11 through Sunday, April 13. The Irish took down thenNo. 22 ranked Virginia and Pitt in their last two conference sets, winning the first two games of both before dropping the finales. However, the schedule gets much more challenging in the future, including this matchup against the top team in the ACC.
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The Irish are coming off an 8-0 run-rule win over DePaul on Tuesday. Senior Shannon Becker earned the win with four shutout innings. The righty has seen her earned run average drop to 3.52 and leads the team with three saves.
In the batter’s box, Addison Amaral is the unquestioned leader. The sophomore infielder leads the team in nearly every offensive category, most especially batting average (.388), slugging percentage (.647) and runs batted in (36). She knocked home four with a home run and a walk-off fielder’s choice against DePaul after an equally productive three-game
series with Pitt last weekend. She must continue to thrive in the three-spot of head coach Kris Ganeff’s batting order to give the Irish a chance to take games off the Hokies.
Freshman Caroline O’Brien is riding an eight-game hitting streak in her increased role. Her average is up to .275 on the season. The third baseman has walked twelve times and only struck out five times and is Notre Dame’s hottest hitter heading into Blacksburg.
Ganeff is still searching for her first road series win in ACC play as the Irish head coach and first sweep in all. Her Irish are 6-9 in
the conference after their first five series but have won four of their last six.
Virginia Tech sits atop the ACC with an 11-1 conference record and 33-5 overall mark. They have won nine games in a row in conference play to propel them to the top. Bench boss Pete D’Amour leads the Hokies in his seventh year at the helm. He has not missed the NCAA Tournament since his first season and is well on track to get there once again this spring.
The Hokies are strong in both the box and the circle. All four pitchers who have appeared in games have an ERA below four,
with two (Emma Lemley and Sophie Kleiman) at 2.04 and 1.19 in 110.0 and 47.0 innings pitched, respectively.
Cori McMillan is one of the best players in Division One softball. She leads the ACC with a 1.567 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) and 17 home runs. She is nearly impossible to get out, and a threat on the basepaths with eleven steals on the year.
Game one on Friday is set for 6 p.m., with game two at 2 p.m. on Saturday and the finale back under the lights Sunday at 6 p.m.
Contact Charlie Morris at cmorri27@nd.edu
Irish men’s lacrosse play final ACC home game
By NOAH CAHILL Sports Editor
The Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team fell to 5-3 and 1-1 in conference play after their 14-9 loss on the road to Syracuse. They now prepare for their final home game of the ACC regular season slate against Virginia on Saturday evening in South Bend.
State of the Irish
Right when it appeared that Notre Dame had turned the corner, head coach Kevin Corrigan’s team took a step back against Syracuse. Barring their 3-0 start to the contest, the Irish were outplayed for the entire game. Their nine-goal output was only the second time they failed to hit double digits this season, the other coming against No. 2 Ohio State. Their attack was held scoreless for 39 minutes and 53 seconds, a scoring drought
uncharacteristic of any team, nonetheless one of the best in the nation. Notre Dame didn’t expect to hit the heights of last year’s historically dominant squad, but they still have the pieces to remain contenders for championship weekend. However, Saturday was another reminder that the rest of the field is right there with them, if not passing them by in 2025. That said, they will have a bounce-back opportunity this Saturday with a Virginia team that has yet to defeat a ranked opponent. It is a game they both should and need to win.
Virginia in a down year
With offensive stalwarts Connor Shellenberger and Payton Cormier out the door, along with several other key contributors from last season, Virginia entered 2025 prepared for what head coach Lars Tiffany called a “depth chart year.” The duo of Shellenberger
and Cormier accounted for a whopping 97 goals and 65 assists in their final season, leaving behind a tall task for the Cavaliers as they sought to replace that production. Despite a rollercoaster regular season and a 1-3 mark in ACC play, Virginia pulled off an upset against a higher-seeded Johns Hopkins team in double overtime of the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal to advance to the last four, where they fell short against Maryland.
The Cavalier attack has leaned on a trio of returners in McCabe Millon, Ryan Colsey and Truitt Sunderland. Millon, who featured in last year’s starting group and profiled as the leader going into this season, has tallied 19 goals and a team-high 22 assists. Sunderland leads the group in points with 43, sharing the team-high 25-goal mark with Colsey. Griffin Schutz anchors the midfield alongside
graduate Jack Walshe, who has been a welcome addition to the lineup after battling injuries throughout his senior campaign.
Ben Wayer’s return has been pivotal for Virginia’s rope unit, but their defensive struggles have nonetheless carried over from last season. After finishing as the 37th-ranked unit in the nation in 2024, improvement on that end was going to be essential for the team’s success in 2025. Unfortunately for Tiffany’s squad, that improvement hasn’t come. If anything, the Cavaliers have taken steps back, ranking 46th nationally and surrendering 12 or more goals in six of their 11 contests. After a nightmare end of the season for netminder Matthew Nunes, one that saw Virginia’s three-year starter pulled against Duke and late in the win over Johns Hopkins, Kyle Morris emerged as a contender for the starting job
in the offseason. The junior, however, was unable to take advantage of early season opportunities, leaving Nunes to man the cage for the majority of the season, albeit shakily. The senior has posted a career-low .494 save percentage and most recently watched 18 fly past him against North Carolina.
Sitting at 5-6 on the year and 0-2 in their first two conference games, it’s now or never for Virginia as they hope to remain in contention for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Making the trip to South Bend will present a massive challenge, as they have fallen to the Irish in their past three matchups.
The ACC clash will take place at Arlotta Stadium on Saturday with face-off set for 5 p.m.
Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu
Irish in hopes of another successful season
By CLAIRE WATSON Associate Sports Editor
Coming off of a storybook 2024-2025 season that took the team all the way to the National Championship in Atlanta, the preseason No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are preparing for another successful season ahead of the Blue and Gold game this Saturday.
Aug. 31: at Miami
The preseason No. 14 University of Miami will be first up for the Irish and will be the first time the two teams faced since 2017. Going 10-3 last year, the Hurricanes suffered losses to Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Iowa State in the Pop Tart Bowl. They finished their season averaging 43.92 points per game with a total of 4,527 passing yards and 2,456 rushing yards.
Following their early spring practices, fourth-year head coach Mario Cristobal described the state of a new-look offense that sees the departure of Heisman finalist quarterback Cam Ward to the draft, setting up Georgia transfer Carson Beck to replace him.
“The offense is doing a really good job running the ball and then throwing the football, a little bit inconsistent today,” Cristobal said in a recent press conference. “I give credit to the defense in two areas: the way they affected the pocket and affected the passer was really effective and then coverages they were on point, really snug, really
just locked up and very competitive. Every ball seemed to be contested at some point in time. A little bit of success in the red zone, but overall, I think the defense had a better day than the offense today.”
Sept. 13: Texas A&M
In their first home game of the season, the Irish will face off against preseason No. 12 Texas A&M in a rematch of last season’s opener, where the Irish took a 23-13 win in College Station. The Aggies went 8-5 on the season and 5-3 in the SEC, with their losses being to Notre Dame, South Carolina, Auburn, Texas and USC.
The Aggies will turn to sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed, who emerged as the replacement for week one starter Connor Weigman in 2024-25. As a redshirt freshman, Reed did not get much action on the field until later in the season, when he competed in 11 eleven straight games, which included a three-game winstreak. He finished his freshman season with a total of 1,864 yards passing and 31 yards rushing.
Speaking about his new starter, head coach Mike Elko said, “I think it’s a good opportunity for him to start to step forward as QB1. And I think obviously this year was challenging for the quarterback spot. There was a lot of up and down in terms of how it played itself out. Marcel is a young kid and we have a tremendous amount of confidence in what he’ll be in the future and
certainly what he’ll be next year.”
Sept. 20: Purdue
Purdue will be the second home game for the Irish. Last year, the Boilermakers fell 66-7 against Notre Dame and finished their season 1-11 overall, going 0-9 in the Big Ten conference.
After spending two seasons at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Darin Hinshaw has made his way to West Lafayette where he’ll serve as the quarterbacks coach. Commenting on the Purdue offense in spring practice, Hinshaw stated, “We are learning these guys as we go, but we have a vision of what we want to get accomplished and to be one of the top offenses in the country.”
Sept. 27: at Arkansas
This game will be the first meeting between the Razorbacks and the Irish since 2020. Arkansas finished their season 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the SEC conference.
When asked in an interview about the pre-season practices and player standings for the starting lineup, head coach Sam Pittman commented, “I think the answer for that would be, I think we’ll know fairly quickly who our top 10 offensive linemen are or where they play per say. It might take a little while.”
Oct. 4: Boise State
This will be the first time that the Irish and the Broncos have
met on the football field. Last season, Boise State went 12-2 on the season and 7-0 in conference play, finishing their season with a 31-14 loss against Penn State in the College Football Playoff (CFP) Quarterfinal.
The loss of superstar running back and Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty is obviously a monumental one and it will leave new offensive coordinator Nate Potter with big questions to answer. The Broncos have made two key transfer additions, kicker Colton Boomer and cornerback Jaden Mickey. Boomer (UCF) played four games during the 2024-25 season, converting three field goals and 19 extra points. Mickey comes in from Notre Dame, where he played four games over the stretch of his junior campaign. Mickey recorded two solo tackles in the first game against Texas A&M.
Oct. 11: NC State
The last time these two teams played each other was on Sept. 9, 2023 where Notre Dame took the 45-24 win after a lengthy firsthalf weather delay. Last year the Wolfpack went 6-7 on the season and 3-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
This season, they welcome new co-defensive coordinator Charlton Warren. Commenting on his role as the newest member of the staff, Warren said, “I don’t want them to follow me and do what I say just because I am the co-defensive coordinator or secondary coach. No, I want them to believe in me and see the work I put in for them.”
Oct. 18: USC
The rivalry matchup of USC and Notre Dame will take place in South Bend this year. Overall, Notre Dame leads the all-time series with USC 52-37-5, with the most recent matchup being last year. The 2024 edition of the storied rivalry was an offensive duel, with Notre Dame coming out on top with a 49-35 win thanks to thensophomore cornerback Christian Gray’s 99-yard pick-six followed immediately on the next series by an 100-yard interception return by Xavier Watts for the game-sealing touchdown.
Nov. 1: at Boston College
The last time that these two teams matched up was on Nov. 19, 2022 where Notre Dame took the overwhelming 44-0 win in a full-on snow game. Last year, the Golden Eagles rounded out their season going 7-6 overall and 4-4 in ACC games.
Commenting on what he has seen in spring practices, new head coach Bill O’Brien commented, “You need to have some quarterbacks who can spin the ball so that you can evaluate the wide receivers and the DB’s. I think both groups have worked very, very hard and have had their moments. It’s great to see.”
Nov. 8: Navy
Nov. 15: at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh and Notre Dame have faced each other 70 times historically, with their most recent matchup coming on Oct. 28, 2023, where Notre Dame took the resounding 58-7 win. The Panthers finished their 2024-25 campaign going 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the ACC, starting the year 7-0 before dropping their last six contests. Now preparing for spring play, head coach Pat Narduzzi commented on the progress of the squad and importance of constant improvement, “We need improvement on the O-line the D-line, linebackers, running backs, receivers, quarterbacks, you know everybody ... it’s tough love in those means, we’re never satisfied.”
Nov. 22: Syracuse
Last season the Syracuse Orange finished 10-3 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, losing to Stanford, Pittsburgh and Boston College. The Orange welcome a new offensive specialist Josh Gattis. Gattis is a former Broyles Award recipient at Michigan, an award handed out to the best assistant in college football. Additionally, he contributed on the offensive staffs of four different conference title-winning teams and has led two teams to the College Football Playoff. He will join offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon as the team looks to revamp the offense after the departure of quarterback Kyle McCord to the NFL Draft. Speaking on his new role, Gattis commented, “I’m privileged to be part of a staff with some great coaches and learn a new offensive system, that’s really taking over college football in terms of excitement under Coach Nixon.”
Nov. 29: at Stanford
Stanford and Notre Dame faced each other last year in Notre Dame Stadium, where the Irish took a dominant 49-7 win. Last season, the Cardinal went 3-9 and 2-6 in their first season in the ACC. Interim head coach Frank Reich commented on the importance of small details in practice, saying, “We talk about dominating the details and that takes a real consistency from the players and a commitment by the players to take good coaching, to coach themselves and to coach each other. You could really see the progress day by day.”
This matchup last year went in favor of Notre Dame in a 51-14 rout. Navy finished 10-3 overall and 6-2 in the American Athletic Conference with losses to Notre Dame, Rice and Tulane. One of the perks for the team this year is having an upperclassman heavy team. Head coach Brian Newberry commented, “It’s time for those guys to kinda separate themselves, kinda stand-up and lead this football team. We got, you know, a really good senior class so I’m excited.”
Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
FREEMAN FEATURE
Freeman faces new challenges in year four
By BEN HICKS Associate Sports Editor
Throughout the last century, third-year success has become a revered expectation for the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame. For Frank Leahy (1943), Ara Parseghian (1966), Dan Devine (1977) and Lou Holtz (1988), the third year brought national championships. For Knute Rockne (1920) and Brian Kelly (2012), it was undefeated regular seasons.
Current head coach Marcus Freeman’s third season began with a shocking home defeat to Northern Illinois. Then, exactly 100 days later, he was rewarded with a massive contract extension that made him one of college football’s highest paid coaches. So what happened in between and directly following?
After some in the passionate Irish fanbase mercilessly called for his firing in early September after the crushing loss to NIU, Freeman masterfully guided Notre Dame to a 13-game winning streak which included the program’s first major bowl victories in over three decades, culminating in a National Championship game appearance. Although Freeman’s Irish fell in a heartbreaker to his alma mater Ohio State, Freeman’s
leadership throughout his third year garnered unrelenting love and support from the fans, as well as national recognition amongst the sport’s top coaches.
Despite the turnaround, Freeman still faces immense expectations as he enters his fourth season in South Bend. Following the National Championship loss, there were rumors he would bolt for the NFL before his mastermind defensive coordinator Al Golden actually did.
Additionally, fan-favorite quarterback Riley Leonard exhausted his eligibility, meaning Freeman and company are faced with an open competition at the game’s most important position. All this to say, Marcus Freeman still has work to do as he aims to bring a hungry program, administration and fanbase its first national championship in 37 years.
“That’s the reality of the profession as a head coach. You don’t have much time to recalibrate,” Freeman reflected as he returned to the Guglielmino Athletics Complex in preparation for the spring season.
The reality of the hyper-fluid landscape of college athletics is that there isn’t much time to take a step back and reflect.
This was evident when Golden, the mastermind of
the nation’s No. 1 defense in 2024, took the Cincinnati Bengals job just 72 hours after the Irish got burned on third-and-11 to close out the National Championship. Less than a week later, Freeman turned to former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash to lead the defense. Freeman has now had six coordinators in just four years, but he’s been impressed with the camaraderie his defensive staff has shown since materializing.
“I’m really pleased with the leadership and unity coming from the defensive staff,” Freeman said. “It’s all going to reflect in the way that our defense plays.”
While All-Americans Howard Cross III, Jack Kiser, Rylie Mills and Xavier Watts are all gone to the NFL, the defense does return key starters in the secondary, including junior Christian Gray, sophomore Leonard Moore and sophomore Adon Shuler. Freeman expressed that much of the strategy with these returners will carry over under the new defensive regime, but added, “For those guys it’s just about continuing to learn the different details that coach Ash is emphasizing with how he wants the defense to play schematically.”
While offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s return
provides some continuity on the other side of the ball, Leonard’s departure represents even more uncertainty. In his first two offseasons at the helm, Freeman turned to the transfer portal to pluck talented ACC signal callers in Sam Hartman of Wake Forest and Leonard from Duke. But this offseason was different.
Freeman and company opted to turn in-house, setting up a competition between three returners: the steady senior Steve Angeli, the mobile junior Kenny Minchey and the talented sophomore CJ Carr. Although a new approach in his tenure, Freeman is looking forward to the contest.
“I’m excited because I love competition and I think it’s going to make all three guys better,” Freeman said. Speaking on how he and the staff are approaching the evaluation process, he added, “As a coaching staff you want to get them all more reps, but they all have handled it perfectly focusing on the reps they get and doing the best job they can.”
Freeman has said that a decision has no set timetable, implying that the competition will run through the summer and potentially into fall camp. He has been impressed with each quarterback so far.
“All three quarterbacks in that competition have done a
good job rallying the offense,” he said. Their initial success is not a surprise to him, however. “They’ve been exactly what I thought they would be: mature guys who take care of business and take advantage of the opportunities they’re given.”
As the Irish wrap up the spring season and officially turn their attention to 2025, Freeman recognizes the importance of growing on the collective experiences of the past. But he also understands that progress doesn’t come from basking in prior glory.
“I have a strong belief that your past creates the foundation for your present,” he said. “We have to use the good and the bad that we went through last year to make sure that our foundation as a football program in 2025 is higher than it was in 2024.”
So yes, Marcus Freeman has certainly established himself as the face of the Notre Dame football program. But can his new-look coaching staff and fresh roster compete on the biggest stage as he enters year four? Only time will tell as Miami awaits on Aug. 31, but Saturday’s Blue-Gold Game may provide some insight in the meantime.
Contact Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
Fourth-year head coach Marcus Freeman roars in celebration in Notre Dame’s season opening 23-13 win over Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station on Aug. 31, 2024. The win would set the tone for the magical season as Freeman led Notre Dame football to a 14-2 record that culminated in their first National Championship game appearance since 2013.
By NOAH CAHILL Sports Editor
On Jan. 20, head coach Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame played the final game of their magical 2024-25 season against the Ohio State Buckeyes in MercedezBenz Stadium. Quarterback Riley Leonard took just about every snap for that offense. Tight end Mitchell Evans served as his most reliable target, and did the same for multiple quarterbacks before him. Linebacker Jack Kiser stood in the center of one of the nation’s best defensive units. Defensive linemen Howard Cross III shared leadership duties on the front lines while safety Xavier Watts did the same a few strides behind him. Captains defensive linemen Rylie Mills and corner back Benjamin Morrison watched their final game at Notre Dame from the bench, their presence still felt from the sidelines. Between those players who spearheaded the veteran Irish group of last season, leadership came in droves.
Just over two months later, as Notre Dame football takes to the turf inside the Irish Athletics Center for their first spring practice, it is among the biggest questions to answer for Freeman and his staff. Last year’s core is gone, and a program record 14 wins are wiped off the board. It’s time to start over.
With that said, the notion that a team many predict will win 10-plus games and return to the College Football Playoff (CFP) is “rebuilding” would seem a tad
Cahill: The case for Carr
reductive. But considering the turnover on both sides of the ball for this Irish squad, it is a fitting description. They do have answers to many of their personnel questions, answers they found through the transfer portal. Additions of Jared Dawson (Louisville) and Elijah Hughes (USC) may not replace the production of Mills and Cross, but they will join Jason Onye, Gabe Rubio and Donovan Hinish to form a solid rotation up front. Jalen Stroman (Virginia Tech) will slot in for Watts at safety alongside sophomore star Adon Shuler. Cornerback
DeVonta Smith may be the most capable newcomer, joining from Alabama where he started every game in the slot for the Crimson Tide. Will Pauling (Wisconsin) and Malachi Fields (Virginia) come in as day-one starters in the wide receiver corps and Ty Washington (Arkansas) profiles as a reliable blocking tight end. Noah Burnette (North Carolina) rounds out the group as yet another plug-and-play starting kicker acquired in the portal for the Irish. One question remains unanswered, however, and it is the biggest of the bunch: who will play quarterback for this team?
Unsurprisingly, Freeman has been questioned by several media personnel in post-practice press conferences about the quarterback competition, which he describes as a true three-man battle.
“They are all going to get reps with the ones,” Freeman explained. “At the end of the day, when one clearly shows that he’s the best person to lead our offense, then he’ll be named the starter.”
Senior quarterback Steve Angeli has the leg up in terms of experience, leading Notre Dame to a 40-8 Sun Bowl victory in his first start, and stepping in for an injured Riley Leonard to orchestrate a pivotal field-goal drive before halftime against Penn State in the CFP semifinal. Sophomore CJ Carr and junior Kenny Minchey are right there with him from a talent standpoint. Carr likely possesses the best arm in the group, while the playmaking ability of Minchey’s legs stands out among the three. As spring practice has progressed, the staff has expressed praise to all three for their improvement and maturity throughout the competition.
“All three of the guys are playing very consistently, they’re making good decisions with the ball, they’ve got a good understanding of our offense,” Denbrock said. When asked about the final decision, Denbrock admitted, “At this point, I would tell you it’s going to be incredibly difficult.”
While it may disappoint many eager fans and media members, the chances of a starter being named this spring are minimal. Beyond that, the man taking snaps in week one is far from guaranteed to be taking them in November. The Irish go on the road to face preseason No. 14 Miami in their first game before returning to South Bend for a rematch of last year’s opener with Texas A&M. Throwing either Carr or Minchey into the fire for those games may not be in Freeman’s best interest, regardless of who gains the edge in practice. Angeli’s experience
is appealing. He’s performed on the biggest stage. He is the closest in the room to a known quantity. Could he take what ESPN’s Greg McElroy, who called every game of Notre Dame’s playoff run, a “Joe Burrow-type leap?” Ignoring the hyperbolic nature of claims made in April, one could be convinced that Angeli has it in him to thrive as a starter. His command of the offense and standing in the locker room is unquestionable. His commitment to the program is undeniable, staying for two consecutive seasons as the Irish back-up, a rarity in this new age of college football with the transfer portal. When asked about earning the starting role this season, Angeli responded definitively.
“It would be everything,” he said. I just don’t quite see it. Angeli is the safe option, but nothing more. He is serviceable, and serviceable is not good enough to win a national championship. Jack Coan was serviceable. Drew Pyne was serviceable. Tommy Rees was serviceable. Rees and Pyne led solid nine-win seasons culminating in bowl game wins against Rutgers and South Carolina. Coan managed 11 wins as the starter, leaving the Irish one spot out of the playoff in a New Years Six matchup with Oklahoma State, a game they narrowly lost after the abrupt departure of former head coach Brian Kelly. Even Ian Book, the most winningest quarterback in Notre Dame’s storied history, was a bit too limited to take the Irish into the upper echelon of legitimate contenders. His two playoff appearances, in 2018
and 2020, ended in embarrassing losses, games that were over before they even started. The common thread across the title-winning teams of past seasons in college football is a quarterback who elevates the offense.
That could be Carr. Grandson of all-time great Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, I’m not concerned about his leadership or ability to rise to the moment. He has had a year to develop and integrate himself into the Mike Denbrock offense, and according to the entire staff, has more than proven his capability to operate in it. The flashes he has shown are tantalizing — from dropping one in the bucket for sophomore Micah Gilbert in last year’s Blue and Gold game to ending last Saturday’s open practice scrimmage on a 25-yard connection to freshman Elijah Burress with pressure bearing down. Yes, it’s just practice. But these are the kind of throws Notre Dame needs, throws they have not seen in a long time. Carr can make them better than anyone in the room.
With all due respect to Minchey, I see this as a two-man race, one that will set the ceiling for this Irish team in 2025-26. Ride with Angeli and that ceiling is limited. Ride with Carr, even through the potential ups and downs, and the sky’s the limit.
Contact Noah Cahill at ncahill2@nd.edu.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Mitchell will show FSU what they’re missing
By CHRIS DAILEY Sports Writer
Nobody except Drayk Bowen himself could have predicted the ascent he would undergo in Notre Dame’s memorable 2024 season. Perhaps that stems from the fact that the 6-2 linebacker arrived at summer camp having missed spring practices due to playing on the Irish’s baseball team. Perhaps it’s because Bowen delivered a modest 14 tackles in his freshman year. Or maybe it was because the Irish employed an already stacked linebacker room. Whatever the reason, Bowen didn’t let anything deter him from reaching his goal of becoming a mainstay in Al Golden’s defensive scheme. After 78 total tackles and a team-high three fumbles forced, including one in the National Championship, it’s safe to say that Bowen accomplished his goal.
Now, following the departure of sixth-year senior linebacker Jack Kiser, Bowen
has set his sights on a new goal: becoming a leader. After opting not to return to the baseball team, the St. John, Indiana native has shown strong signs of answering the call through the first month of spring practices, so much so that head coach Marcus Freeman publicly declared Bowen as one of the Irish’s top leaders. In his April 5th press conference, Freeman rhetorically asked and answered, “So what do I need from Drayk? Continuing to lead when it’s necessary because people respect him cause he’s played high level defense for us. But also continuing just to be the best version of Drayk. Continue to improve himself as a player, helping guys get lined up, and correcting guys when they’re wrong.”
Freeman concluded his statement about Bowen stating, “My expectations of Drayk are really high, but his expectations for himself are
RICHARD TAYLOR | THE OBSERVER
Junior linebacker Drayk Bowen flexes after a big tackle in Notre Dame’s 28-3 over Miami OH at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025. Bowen will lead the defense from the middle in the upcoming year.
DRAYK BOWEN FEATURE
Notre Dame football position breakdown
By TYLER REIDY Associate Sports Editor
On Saturday afternoon, Notre Dame football will take the field in front of fans for the first time since the College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship in the annual Blue-Gold Game. Many players will see the gridiron for the Irish – some household names carrying high expectations into 2025, others depth pieces aiming to announce their presence as impact players. Here’s a breakdown of Notre Dame’s roster in terms of what to expect from each position group this weekend.
Quarterbacks
It remains a quarterback competition, and that’s no secret. If we can say anything with certainty about the signal-callers right now, it’s probably that one of them will hit the transfer portal shortly after the Blue-Gold Game, just like Tyler Buchner did in 2023.
Senior Steve Angeli and sophomore CJ Carr figure to have the best looks at the starting job week one at Miami. Angeli leads the group in terms of experience, having played 21 games with one start. He’s done no wrong with his opportunities and sparked Notre Dame’s offense just before halftime in January’s Orange Bowl Win. Carr and junior Kenny Minchey each appeared once this past year at the end of the Purdue game, but Carr profiled higher than his classmate as a prospect and at this point looks to have a better shot at battling Angeli for the starting job.
Freshman Blake Hebert, a flip from Clemson on the heels of Deuce Knight’s move away from Notre Dame, and sophomore Teddy Rezac round out Notre Dame’s rostered quarterbacks.
Running backs
For now, it’s a loaded position group, one that may slim down just a bit when the portal opens up next week. Junior Jeremiyah Love, a highlight-reel Heisman candidate, will lead the backs no matter what after an 1,125-yard, 17-touchdown season. Senior Jadarian Price may not stick around given he could start practically anywhere else, but sophomore Aneyas Williams’ breakout at the end of last year should make Irish fans feel a bit better about that possibility. Williams became Notre Dame’s true thirddown back for the CFP run, tallying 66 receiving yards in the Orange Bowl.
Senior Gi’Bran Payne is set to return from a season-long injury after totaling 168 rushing yards
two years ago, adding depth to the room. If he or Price heads to the portal, expect sophomore four-star Kedren Young to see a bit more action in 2025.
Wide receivers
With bonafide rushing quarterback Riley Leonard gone, Notre Dame’s wideouts will have to do a bit more. Good thing junior Jaden Greathouse is primed to become the No. 1 guy after amassing over 100 yards in both the Orange Bowl and the national championship game. He and slot-based junior Jordan Faison will spearhead a group of pass-catchers that still does have more questions than answers behind them.
Though we won’t get a look at senior transfer pickups Will Pauling (Wisconsin) and Malachi Fields (Virginia) on Saturday, we will see the group of youngsters Notre Dame needs an emergence from. It includes junior KK Smith and sophomores Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert and Logan Saldate. None of them did a whole lot outside of blowout games last season, so keep an eye on their performances and chemistry with their different quarterbacks in the Blue-Gold Game.
Tight ends
Not disrespecting projected starter Eli Raridon, but rather tipping the cap to recent Irish anchors like Michael Mayer and Mitchell Evans, it’s hard to say for sure that tight end will be a major strength for Notre Dame in 2025. Raridon, a senior, just hasn’t proven that much since his two ACL tears, recording only 90 yards on 11 catches last year. It also doesn’t help that junior Cooper Flanagan’s fall status is in question due to an achilles injury picked up in the Sugar Bowl, leaving the Irish to look elsewhere for their No. 2 guy.
They can begin with Arkansas transfer Ty Washington, who will play at his old stomping grounds with Notre Dame on Sept. 27. The former Razorback operated as more of a pass-blocker in Fayetteville, never topping 170 receiving yards in a season. Incoming freshman James Flanigan should see a good amount of action in the fall behind those two, as he checks into South Bend as Wisconsin’s topranked player.
Offensive linemen
Losing Rocco Spindler, Pat Coogan and Sam Pendleton to the transfer portal a few months ago shouldn’t concern Irish fans in the short term. None of those guys were expected to occupy starting roles in 2025 after stepping up out of injury-related
necessity in 2024. Instead, the Irish should roll with sophomore Guerby Lambert, junior Charles Jagusah, senior Ashton Craig, senior Billy Schrauth and senior Aamil Wagner from left to right on the line.
There’s some fluidity to that projection given that Lambert may not be ready to start and Craig’s timeline of recovery from last September’s ACL tear. Sophomore Anthonie Knapp, a 15-game starter at tackle in the fall, could patch up one of those holes by playing at guard or center early in the season. Additionally, if the Irish need to deploy Jagusah at guard and leave the left tackle spot vacant, they’ve got a fivestar in freshman Will Black coming in to potentially inherit that position.
Defensive linemen
The losses of Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III up front won’t just take care of themselves, although the Irish last year didn’t have both of those guys on the field fully healthy for the full season and still held their own up front. They retain strength on the ends with junior Boubacar Traore, who flashed last September and returns from a torn ACL, and senior Joshua Burnham, who has gotten better each year in an Irish uniform. With sophomore freak of nature Bryce Young and experienced senior Junior Tuihalamaka also in the mix, the Irish shouldn’t have much issue generating pressure off the edge.
The larger question lies on the interior, where vocal leaders Mills and Cross leave significant voids to fill. Graduate Gabriel Rubio, who took over for Mills in the postseason due to an injury, will get his first look as a full-time starter. Sixth-year Louisville transfer Jared Dawson lines up
to join him, making for a respectable top pair of defensive tackles. However, because they don’t carry the same upside as their predecessors, the Irish will need depth at the position, beginning with senior Donovan Hinish, graduate Jason Onye and USC transfer Elijah Hughes, among others.
Linebackers
Even with the loss of Notre Dame games played recordholder Jack Kiser, the Irish have a lot to like at this position. Highlytouted junior Drayk Bowen, coming off his first full year as a starter, should inherit Kiser’s role in the middle of Notre Dame’s defense and thrive. Junior Jaiden Ausberry makes the most sense to line up beside him in the fall, but sophomore Kyngstonn ViliamuAsa has the disruptive capacities to be just as involved. Senior Jaylen Sneed, who was around for every game last season, should mix in well with those three. If you’re looking for a true freshman to impact the Irish defense sooner rather than later, keep an eye on Madden Faraimo. A highend four-star joining a handful of five-stars in the linebacker lineup, Faraimo might have the splashplay ability that rendered guys like Viliamu-Asa and Young such active first-year defenders in 2024.
Cornerbacks
Despite the departures of superstar Benjamin Morrison to the NFL and Jaden Mickey to Boise State, it’s hard not to feel excited about a Notre Dame cornerback room in this day and age. Arguably the program’s strongest position during the Marcus Freeman era, the cornerback position welcomes back sophomore stud Leonard Moore – now wearing No. 2 – and junior Christian Gray. You can count on Moore as the lockdown guy, but the
high-upside Gray showed all sorts of inconsistency down the stretch last year, most notably against pass-heavy USC and Ohio State. If his game stabilizes in a positive sense, Notre Dame’s secondary goes from great to elite.
Alabama transfer DeVonta Smith should operate as the third Irish corner after recording 30 tackles for the Crimson Tide last season. Fellow Cincinnatian Karson Hobbs, a sophomore, projects to lead the second string with true freshmen Dallas Golden and Mark Zachary IV, who won’t arrive on campus until the summertime.
Safeties
Notre Dame will certainly feel the absence of two-time All-American Xavier Watts here (how could you not?), but there are worse options than sophomore Adon Shuler for handing the keys over. Shuler broke out next to Watts in 2024, racking up 59 tackles and intercepting three balls. He’ll likely line up with fifth-year Virginia Tech transfer Jalen Stroman, who comes off an injury-riddled season but tallied nearly 100 tackles between 2022 and 2023. We won’t see Stroman this weekend, though, due to a surgical procedure that addressed his broken clavicle.
On account of his recently spotty track record, Stroman could cede a fair amount of fall playing time to any one of juniors Luke Talich and Ben Minich, sophomores Kennedy Urlacher and Tae Johnson and freshman JaDon Blair. The faster a few guys in that group can take a step forward, the better, as Shuler (NFL Draft) and Stroman (loss of eligibility) may both be gone by the summer of 2026.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
MARIELLA TADDONIO | THE OBSERVER
Sophomore runningback Aneyas Williams comes up just short of the goal line after his big reception in Notre Dame’s 27-24 win over Penn State at Hard Rock Stadium in the CFP Semifinal on Jan. 9, 2025.