Notre Dame’s keys to victory against Navy
By Tyler Reidy Associate Sports Editor
On Saturday night, No. 10 Notre Dame will match up against Navy for the 98th time. And while the Irish have won six in a row this season and seven consecutive games in the Navy series, they cannot overlook an always-pesky Midshipmen team.
Navy checks into the weekend at 7-1 and carries the best in-conference record in the American Athletic Conference.
With four games left to play in the regular season, here’s how the Irish can improve to 7-2 under the lights at Notre Dame Stadium.
Win the turnover battle
It’s well-documented that the turnover margin is one of Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman’s most valued metrics when evaluating his football team on a weekly basis. A positive turnover margin not only speaks to Notre Dame’s ability to change momentum with defensive plays, but also to its desire to avoid beating itself.
The turnover margin is also how the Irish ran a ranked Navy
team out of MetLife Stadium last October. The Midshipmen coughed the football up six times, more often than not without any disruption from Irish defenders. As a result, the game got out of hand in a hurry.
For Navy, which always wants to negotiate its way down the field and shorten the game by eating up the clock, turnovers become a massive difference-maker. If you can suddenly take the football away from the Midshipmen, you disrupt the longevity of their drives and put yourself in a position to score on the other side, open the game up and take Navy’s top-ranked rushing attack out of the picture.
For Notre Dame, defensive turnovers have been everywhere lately. The Irish have accumulated multiple takeaways in six straight games, and the only games this season in which they didn’t win the turnover battle were their two losses against Miami and Texas A&M. By playing mistake-free football on offense and wreaking havoc on Navy’s plans defensively, the Irish can make a blowout of Saturday’s game.
Control the line of scrimmage
I’m sorry to be Captain Obvious here, but when you play against Navy, you have to own the trenches. Especially this year, as the Midshipmen lead all of college football in rushing yards with 317.3 per game.
A week ago, when Navy lost its first game of the season at North Texas, the Midshipmen ran the football well but couldn’t finish drives, committing three turnovers while forcing no takeaways. Meanwhile, the Mean Green were able to capitalize with an efficient passing attack and a dominant rusher of their own. Freshman running back Caleb Hawkins set career highs for North Texas with 197 yards and four rushing touchdowns on 33 carries.
On defense, Notre Dame needs to be assignment-sound against Navy. The Midshipmen demand attention to every detail with their multi-layered rushing attack, led by Blake Horvath, their returning starting quarterback. Horvath has also opened up Navy to throw the ball more often than it has in past years, leading running back Eli Heidenreich
FOOTBALL
to a 575-yard season as a pass-catcher.
When on offense, Notre Dame’s line has to give Navy the business, whether that’s in protecting freshman quarterback CJ Carr or creating lanes for the dominant Irish running backs. Last year, junior running back Jeremiyah Love hit a 64-yard home run against the Midshipmen. If he’s got one or two more of those in him this weekend, he’d become a 1,000-yard rusher with at least four games to spare while propelling his team to a dominant night.
Handle success
Freeman’s Notre Dame teams have always been able to rally back from hard times, whether that meant turning 2022’s 3-3 start into a nine-win season or making the National Championship game last year with a loss to Northern Illinois. Handling success can be a different beast, though – one that teams might not even consider.
The Irish need to consider it, because this week’s first College Football Playoff rankings all but guaranteed that Notre Dame will reach the CFP by winning out.
Their head-to-head loss against Miami clearly does not matter anymore, and the committee views Notre Dame quite favorably relative to the ACC’s leaders and the SEC’s two-loss squads. A 10-2 finish may even have the Irish hosting their first-round game again.
But Notre Dame’s not 10-2 yet. And as last week’s game in Chestnut Hill showed us all, any team can put the Irish in a vulnerable position if they’re not on their game. To get where it wants to go, Notre Dame must maintain for four more weeks the urgency and intensity it has used to climb back into the driver’s seat. That begins this weekend against Navy.quarterbacking seasons in Notre Dame history, which is made even more impressive when considering the program’s historic line of greats. The battle between the two is close, but for now, Carr has the slight edge. If he keeps on progressing at the rate he is, Carr won’t just be any first-round quarterback in 2027. He will be the first-overall quarterback.
Contact Tyler Reidy at treidy3@nd.edu
The storied tradition of ND vs. Navy continues
By Henry Lytle Associate Sports Editor
Notre Dame vs. Navy was the longest uninterrupted intersectional rivalry in college football from 1927 to 2019, until the COVID-19 pandemic caused a cancellation in 2020. It also holds up as the third-longest uninterrupted college football rivalry overall. With this history, fans have been privy to historic games over the years. This season sets up the 6-2, No. 10 Irish against the 7-1, unranked Midshipmen in South Bend for the first night game in this series’ history.
This series has more than just historical significance and is even considered by many fans of both teams to be a sacred tradition between the two universities. Navy and Notre Dame have strong football roots dating back to the late 19th century, but reasons outside of the lines brought these schools together.
Notre Dame struggled with financial difficulties during World War II, especially with the strictly male student body. During this challenge, the U.S. Navy dubbed Notre Dame a training facility for V-12 candidates and paid the University for the usage of its campus to keep the school running. Notre Dame returned the favor by keeping an open invitation for Navy to play the Irish in football every season. The annual repayment of the debt served the University and the country.
This rivalry, while largely onesided in results (83-13-1 in favor of Notre Dame), is characterized by mutual respect between the schools. Both teams stand at attention throughout the playing of their respective alma maters after the game, beginning in 2005. The renewal of the rivalry may as well be a formality at this point, as it is officially slated to continue through 2032.
Flipping back through the history books, it is easy to find memorable moments on both sides.
In 1963, the Midshipmen routed the Irish 35-14 behind the play of Hesiman Trophy-winning quarterback Roger Staubach. One season later, the Irish began what would become a 43-game winning streak with a 40-0 bombshell on the reigning Heisman Staubach. The 1964 winner, Notre Dame quarterback John Huarte, led the effort for the Irish.
Notre Dame set its single-game school record of offensive yards in 1969 with 720 total yards en route to a 47-0 win. In 1976, the Irish held on 27-21 as defensive back Dave Waymer swatted a fourth-down pass from the endzone to preserve the tight victory. Seven years later, John Carney’s field goal helped erase a 17-7 deficit as the Irish hung on to win 18-17. In 1991, Notre Dame earned its 700th school victory against the Midshipmen. Then, in 2007, the streak was broken. In a back-and-forth contest, Navy took the Irish to three overtimes in a game filled with
everything a football fan could ask for. At the end of regulation on fourth and eight at the Irish 26yard line, Navy linebacker Ram Villa leapt over the line of scrimmage, going airborne to sack Notre Dame quarterback Evan Sharpley and send the game to overtime. The teams traded touchdowns until, in triple overtime, the Irish trailed by eight with the ball. Needing to respond with a touchdown, Sharpley led the tying drive, setting up a critical two-point conversion to keep the marathon going. After a pass interference call on the first attempt, the Irish were gifted another chance. Looking to the flats, Sharpley threw a pass that was deflected, causing the attempt to fail and the streak to end.
The most recent Notre Dame loss against the Midshipmen came in 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. Navy’s triple option moved the ball extremely effectively in a contest that it controlled through the second half. The Irish managed to get within one point, 27-28, with just over seven minutes to go in the fourth. Navy, however, ran out the entire clock in a long, leeching drive that included a fourth and six conversion from the Irish 30yard line. This victory is the most recent, but many other games have been close.
In 2022, Notre Dame took on Navy in Baltimore, Maryland and felt comfortable heading into halftime after a one-minute scoring drive contributed to a 35-13 lead. From there, Navy scored 19
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer Notre Dame sophomore linebacker Kyngston Viliamu-Asu charges into the USC line during Notre Dame’s victory over the Trojans Oct. 18, 2025.
unanswered with a field goal and two touchdowns, both accompanied by two-point conversions, to bring the score to 35-32 with just over a minute left in the game. The Irish recovered a desperate onside kick attempt and kneeled out the clock, surviving a near collapse and epic come-from-behind effort from the 3-7 Midshipmen.
Punctuated by drama, spectacle, history and mutual respect, these two teams have produced blowouts and unforgettable finishes, reminding fans that the game is
more than the product on the field.
On Saturday in South Bend, Navy will take on the Irish for the first night game in the history of the series, hoping to add another token moment to the record books in the cathedral of college football. It will take discipline, heart, character and a little bit of magic for the Midshipmen to keep the contest close. Then again, that’s what this rivalry is made of.
Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2025 | VOL. LX, NO. 28
Student Government connects South Bend, ND
Chloe Hanford News Writer
An upcoming scavenger hunt along the Link Trail, beginning on Main Circle at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 14, is student government’s Department of South Bend Engagement’s latest initiative aimed at helping the tricampus community discover and connect with South Bend.
During this collaboration with Visit South Bend & Mishawaka and the University’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications, students will complete a scavenger hunt along the Link Trail, a dedicated running, walking and biking path connecting Notre Dame to downtown South Bend. Participants will have a chance to win a free Notre Dame hockey jersey. The scavenger hunt will end at Manny’s Sports Bar, a new restaurant in South Bend where students can grab a bite to eat and wait for complimentary transportation back to campus.
The scavenger hunt is part of what the department’s director Jacob
part of an initative to help students
Professors speak on ‘shaky’ Israel-Hamas ceasefire
By Will Prisco News Writer
The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Keough School of Global Affairs hosted a panel about the ceasefire in Gaza on Thursday in the Hesburgh Center for International Studies. During the panel, professors Mkhaimar Abusada, Laurie Nathan and Atalia Omer examined the
ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, primarily focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the uncertainty surrounding the region’s future.
The panelists began by explaining the current status of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which was proposed this month and continues to be overseen by the U.S. government. This ceasefire comes two years after Hamas’ initial attack
on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, where 1,200 people were killed, and 251 hostages were abducted.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the ceasefire means “all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen.” Additionally, the agreement calls for Israeli troops to
Arulandu describes as a broader mission: to help the tri-campus community interact with South Bend on a more relational basis and develop connections with the South Bend community.
Arulandu shared what he considered to be the department’s motto, to “bring South Bend to campus with the goal of inspiring students to eventually go back out to South Bend.”
Arulandu is a senior who has been involved in student government for the past three years. He joined the Department of South Bend Engagement last year under the guidance of former director Ethan Chiang. When asked why he focuses on South Bend engagement, Arulandu said, “I really like being the bridge because I’ve had the great opportunity of being out in South Bend and realizing how much of a great place it really is and I think sometimes that’s overshadowed by all the great things we have on
OSE celebrates FLI Week with students
By Maria Alice Souza Maia News Writers
From Nov. 3-7, the Office for Student Enrichment hosted FLI Week on campus, a chance to celebrate students who are the first in their families to attend college or come from low-income households.
OSE hopes to empower firstgeneration students during FLI Week, acknowledging the adversity they face. “We found that a lot of times around the country, and maybe even at Notre Dame, people tell others who haven’t gone to college, like their families, ‘your family doesn’t do this,’ ‘you can’t do it.’ But these people are living proof, no matter where you come from, you can,” OSE director Fr. Matthew Kuczora said.
Kuczora believes that OSE’s mission for FLI Week reflects the University’s mission as a whole.
“Notre Dame, since its earliest days, set out to educate people who didn’t have maybe other opportunities to go to school. That’s why Fr. Sorin came here from his home to come to a different country to do that. And ever since then, we’ve been doing that. Since 1972,
we’ve been doing that with women as well ... to give those opportunities. So this is who Notre Dame is, not just for first-generation students, but to make sure that everybody knows they can have these opportunities,” Kuczora said.
OSE senior fellow Kim Huynh believes FLI Week is “super important because it creates a space for first-time low-income households.”
To kickoff the week, OSE staff were stationed at Fieldhouse Mall and the north side of DeBartolo Hall from noon to 2 p.m., distributing cupcakes and buttons saying: “We are the Golden Generation 2025.”
Also on Monday, OSE held a volleyball tournament in Rockne Memorial.
One of the week’s marquee events was a first-gen banner signing on Tuesday on the second floor of LaFortune Student Center.
The banner showed the Golden Dome with the saying, “Golden Generation, First Under the Dome.” Students responded
see “South Bend” on page 3 see “FLI” on page 4
Shuler
WILL PRISCO | The Observer
Professors Laurie Nathan, Mkhaimar Abusada and Atalia Omer discussed the ceasfire in Gaza in a lecture this Thursday for the Kroc Institute. Despite the agreement, they concluded that Gaza’s future is uncertian.
Courtesy of Jacob Arulandu.
As
disocver South Bend, Student Government’s Department of South Bend Engagement hosted a South Bend coffee shop event O’Shaughnessy Hall, featuring local vendors.
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‘Holy War’: a historic football rivalry
By Maggie Powell News Writer
Last Saturday, Nov. 1, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish emerged victorious in a rivalry football game against the Boston College Eagles. The Irish won 25-10, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
This victory adds to the Irish’s winning streak against BC, marking their 10th straight victory with an overall record to 18-9 against their rival.
The rivalry, commonly known as the Holy War, as well as the Frank Leahy Memorial Bowl or the Vatican Bowl, is of great significance to many Notre Dame students, alumni and fans. 44,500 fans attended this year’s sold-out game.
Sophomore Fiona James Gallagher attended the game at Boston College’s Alumni Stadium. For Gallagher, the game was “a fun rivalry between my friends and family,” as her mother and friends from high school attended BC. She said the game had a
slow start and that the Fighting Irish’s performance in the first quarter was underwhelming.
Compared to Notre Dame Stadium, Gallagher thought that Alumni Stadium was smaller and “felt more like a high school football game.”
Boston College freshman Andrea Tirado also attended the game. “Overall, this season hasn’t been the best for our team but I think we were all more excited for the game than usual because of the historic rivalry,” she said.
She added that while her peers at BC were hoping for an upset, they realistically were prepared to simply root for their team and enjoy another afternoon with friends.
Compared to other football games, Tirado felt the Holy War brought extra spirit and energy to Alumni Stadium. “The spirit and vibes in the stadium were great and different than in other games. Both fandoms were rowdy, and the game was more thrilling and close than expected, even though we did not come out victorious in the end,” she
said.
BC and Notre Dame first faced off in 1975 and have played each other 27 times since then. For alumni, the Holy War was a staple of their ND experience.
Christopher Letcher, Notre Dame class of 1998, did not know about the significance of the rivalry until he became a Notre Dame student. “I grew up in the Midwest without any real connection to Boston College. I didn’t understand the rivalry until I met other students who were from the East Coast when I was in school. They got me up to speed on the rivalry,” he said.
Additionally, he remembered the BC game as being scarier than other rivalry games, even when Notre Dame was ranked higher than Boston College or had a better record, as “strange things have seemed to happen in that game over the years.”
Juan Ortíz, also class of 1998, remembered arriving on campus “fresh off the gut-wrenching last-minute field goal that BC made to ruin [Notre Dame’s] National Championship chances in 1993.”
“There was a real animosity towards BC for that loss,” he said.
Despite recollections of this animosity, Ortíz generally supports BC football. “You can’t deny the allure of a David vs. Goliath scenario where Boston College has the opportunity to prove that the ‘little guy’ can win if they work hard enough. I find myself cheering for Boston College every weekend they do not play Notre Dame,” he said.
With the modern playoff system, where every game counts toward each team’s playoff chances, Ortíz worries that big or flashy games are replacing decades-old rivalries like the Holy War.
“I hope that the Holy War can survive this era and serve to remind us that there is a place every fall where rivalries still matter,” he said.
The rivalry is set to continue in the 2028 football season, this time with the bout occurring here at Notre Dame.
Contact Maggie Powell at msheeha9@nd.edu
ND welcomes students from Ireland
By Mayte Mendez News Writer
Each semester, students from Ireland swap their universities in Galway and Dublin for a semester in South Bend at Notre Dame. Through their home universities’ exchange program, they experience American college life — from dorm living and classroom participation to game-day traditions.
For Liam Carmody, a business student from Dublin City University, arriving in South Bend felt like stepping into a movie set. “I feel like every weekend I see something that makes me think, ‘Wow, this is like I’m in a movie or something,’” Carmody said. “It’s definitely exceeded my expectations.”
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Carmody, originally from County Kerry (on the southwest coast of Ireland), is spending the semester in the Mendoza College of Business, taking marketing and entrepreneurship courses. He said studying abroad in the United States had always been a dream.
“When I was going to college originally, I had always wanted to move abroad,” he said. “The opportunity to see different cultures was always appealing to me … and I’ve kind of always seen college in America through movies and thought it looked really fun.”
Carmody said his choice
to study at Notre Dame was influenced by his family.
“My cousin went here as an undergraduate,” he said. “I always used to get some merch and hear him talking about it. When I had the choice of five or six colleges, I knew straight away I wanted to come here.”
Living in Morrissey Hall, Carmody said the dorm culture is one of his favorite parts of Notre Dame life.
“The football is unbelievable, but the dorm really feels like a family,” he said. “There’s so much involvement — I didn’t expect it to be so tight-knit.”
For Patrick McGuinness, a student from the University of Galway residing in Keough Hall, communal dorms and shared meals were a major adjustment.
“When I first came here, the dorms were a shock,” McGuinness said. “Back home, everyone has their own room and bathroom, and we cook for ourselves. Here, it’s shared spaces and dining halls. It took some getting used to.”
He said the change, while challenging, helped him meet new people quickly.
“Once I met other Irish students, it started to feel like home,” McGuinness said. “We get together for meals or just to talk about how different everything is.” Both students said they noticed many differences in classroom culture compared to their universities in Ireland.
“At home, you could go the whole semester without attending class and still pass the final exam,” McGuinness said. “Here, you’re constantly graded on participation and
Courtesy of Patrick McGuinness.
Patrick McGuinness (right) and Liam Carmody (middle), originally from Ireland, are spendings the semester studying abroad at Notre Dame, experiencing dorm life, class discussions and ND football culture.
South Bend
Continued from page 1
Continued from page 1 campus.”
So far this year, the department has organized two renditions of the Notre Dame Farmers Market in collaboration with the South Bend Farmers Market, bringing different vendors from the city to campus on Sept. 19 and Oct. 17.
To celebrate National Coffee Day, they hosted a South Bend Coffee Shop on South Quad, bringing coffee and pastries from local shops to campus.
The department also hopes to help the tri-campus community discover local restaurants with the Downtown South Bend Dining Pass, a free digital pass that provides discounts to 25 restaurants in South Bend for students in the area.
Notre Dame junior and dining pass user Finley Shinnick said, “I’ve used it so far to go to two cafes for discounts on the whole meal, and then also at Woochi Japanese Fusion & Bar downtown. And we got free edamame! I don’t think I ever would have gone there if it hadn’t been for the dining pass. So, I’m treating it like a checklist.”
Additionally, the department publishes a South Bend Monthly Digest on student government’s Instagram to inform students of upcoming events in the area. November’s digest, for example, advertises Live Band Karaoke at Cheers Bar and Grill and weekly holiday lights celebrations at the Potawatomi Zoo.
In terms of the department’s future plans, Arulandu highlighted what he considers to be their signature annual spring semester event, Taste of South Bend, which invites local food vendors to offer a food tasting on campus.
In February, the department will launch its Book Buddies program with the St. Joe County Public Library to promote youth literacy, through which Notre Dame studentathletes will read, make crafts and share a snack with children over the course of multiple sessions.
Also in development is a Field Day with South Bend public schools set for late March. Classes from nearby public schools will be paired with Notre Dame athletic teams for a field day of sports and games.
“Our goal is to kind of be a bridge between the campus community and the South Bend community and so a lot of our initiative work and a lot of the stuff that we put on focuses on direct interaction with local vendors, local restaurants, different organizations within the community that really make South Bend what it is,” Arulandu said.
Contact Chloe Hanford at chanford@nd.edu
withdraw from some of their territory in the Gaza Strip and for Hamas to release the hostages remaining from the Oct. 7 attack.
In response, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. The United States also agreed to monitor the ceasefire and pledged to send “full aid” to Gaza “without interference.”
Long-term, the Trump administration laid-out a 20-point plan to demilitarize, stabilize and rebuild the area. According to CFR, the plan doesn’t call for the establishment of a Palestinian state, although it does state that Israel will not occupy any part of the Gaza Strip in the long-term.
The panelists described the current ceasefire framework as “shaky” and “fragile,” with repeated violations by both Israel and Hamas. They also noted that
while the ceasefire places most aggressive actions on pause, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is still very much prevalent.
Specifically, Nathan, a professor of the practice of mediation, described the current agreement as “amateurish” and “deeply risky.”
He continued that “a good ceasefire assumes there will be violations” and must include “clear rules, monitoring and accountability.” According to Nathan, the Gaza ceasefire plan lacks the mechanisms to deter parties from actively violating the agreements.
Abusada, an associate professor of political science at the Al-Azhar University in Gaza, described the scale of the destruction in the region. “At least 70,000 people have been killed, and Gaza’s infrastructure — homes, schools, hospitals, mosques and water and electrical systems — has been almost completely ruined,” he said.
He continued that foreign journalists who recently entered Gaza “could see nothing but destruction and rubble,” as much of the area is completely flattened.
The human cost of the war is personal for Abusada. “I lost some family members in this war — my nephews, their mother and some of their little children,” he said.
According to Abusada, AlAzhar University was one of the first educational institutions to re-open following the breakout of the war. The conflict has resulted in more than 80 percent of Gaza’s homes and civilian infrastructure being destroyed and 2 million Palestinians being displaced.
The panelists also described the various nuances and potential challenges of the negotiated ceasefire. The plan to resolve the conflict united a diverse coalition of nations, including the United States, Turkey, Qatar and Egypt, to pressure both Israel and
Hamas to agree to the temporary ceasefire conditions.
While the framework for the ceasefire is largely in place, debates continue on whether the United Nations Security Council should send an enforcement arm to the region to monitor the ceasefire agreement and oversee efforts to deescalate the conflict.
The panelists concluded by focusing on the ways in which the conflict between Israel and Hamas is shifting dynamics in the Middle East region. New governments in Lebanon and Syria, as well as changes in Israel’s position on the world stage, have cemented the Gaza war as a global conflict rather than a regional one.
Factoring in these changes, the panelists agreed that Gaza’s recovery and long-term economic and political security remain uncertain.
Contact Will Prisco at wprisco@nd.edu
National Vocations Awareness Week
Fr. Brian Vetter,
Abroad
Continued from page 2
weekly assignments. The smaller classes mean professors really get to know you.”
Carmody agreed, noting that engagement is expected at every lecture. “Classes here are a lot more rigorous. You’re constantly being asked questions, and professors notice when you’re not there,” he said.
McGuinness added that Notre Dame faculty, such as communications director Colleen Wilcox, make the experience engaging. “She’s so personable and makes every class interesting. You can tell she cares about her students, and that makes a big difference,” he said.
Outside the classroom, Notre Dame’s campus culture stood out to both students. “The whole football culture here is unbelievable,” McGuinness said. “The tailgates, the marching band, the student section — it’s something we’d only ever seen in movies back home. The first time I went to a game, I couldn’t believe the noise. I even got lifted up for touchdown push-ups once — my glasses broke, but it was worth it.”
Carmody also praised the sense of community on campus. “The dorm culture and student engagement here really stand out,” he said. “Everyone gets involved, and it makes the experience memorable.”
According to Megan Knobloch, senior assistant director of global engagement programs, Notre Dame hosts roughly 40–50 exchange students each semester through bilateral agreements with over 35 partner institutions worldwide.
“Tuition is waived for these students because it’s a bilateral agreement — we send students to them, and they send students to us,” Knobloch said. “The home institutions nominate students based on their own admissions process, and we then finalize admission for Notre Dame.”
Knobloch said students are encouraged, but not required, to participate in clubs, campus activities and cultural seminars. “We try to integrate them fully into campus life and academics,” she said. “They bring different academic perspectives and intercultural experiences that enrich our classrooms and community.”
Students contribute by sharing unique insights from their home universities, adapting to dorm life and participating
in campus traditions.
“Many of them haven’t lived in dorms before, so they bring a lot of independence and new perspectives,” Knobloch said.
Both Carmody and McGuinness said the experience has been transformative and encouraged other students to consider studying abroad.
“It’s probably been the best three months of my life so far,” Carmody said. “There’s no amount of money that could buy the experience you get here — the people you meet and the opportunities you have.”
McGuinness added, “Don’t be afraid to talk to people. Everyone here is welcoming. You’ll only get as much out of it as you put in.”
Contact Mayte Mendez at mmendez4@nd.edu
FLI
Continued from page 1
to the prompt, “Being first-gen means … ”, and signed their names with their answers.
For OSE senior fellow Grecia Alcantar, being firstgen means “realizing the wildest dreams” of her parents and ancestors. “It is a reminder that their sacrifices were not in vain and I have a responsibility to use my education to advance and uplift the Latino community that raised me,” she said.
The banner can be seen in the OSE office on the second floor of LaFortune.
On Wednesday, OSE hosted the “Golden Generation Dinner” in the Legends Clubhouse to support and foster dialogue among firstgen and low-income students while they navigate academic life in Notre Dame.
To conclude FLI Week, OSE held a first-gen faculty panel and networking session on Thursday.
“[This event] is important because we have five faculty members who are going to tell their stories and give their witness at a panel. We have another ten who are here who volunteer just to gather and speak to students informally.
All of them are first-generation,” Kuczora said.
The final event of FLI Week is a first-gen open house and breakfast on Friday, Nov. 7 at the Sister Thea Bowman Center from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Contact Maria Alice Souza Maia at msouzama@nd.edu
Expand the sex abuse investigation
To the Notre Dame family,
After writing my first letter to The Observer about the ongoing investigation of alleged sexual abuse by Fr. Thomas King, I decided to do more research to see how large the problem was at Notre Dame. Were there more alleged clergy abusers than just King?
Unfortunately, I found seven other priests employed by Notre Dame who were accused of abuse of minors or ND students at some point in their priestly careers.
These findings suggest that Helen Cantwell’s investigation of King should be expanded to look at all other cases of clergy sexual abuse on campus as well. Broadening the scope of the investigation now is the perfect time for the University to do justice to all Notre Dame student victims of clergy sex abuse.
I compiled the following list using publicly available online sources, most of which
were Notre Dame or Holy Cross websites. I’ve broken the accused abusers into two categories: those accused of sexually abusing Notre Dame students and those employed by Notre Dame and accused of sexually abusing minors during their priesthood.
Accused of sexually abusing Notre Dame students:
Fr. Wil liam Presley, former rector of St. Edward’s Hall from 1971-76. He was accused of abusing students in the 1970s. Accused of abusing minors at other places as well according to the 2018 Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report. (Sources: The Observer, July 3, 2020 and Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, 2018).
Fr. James Burtchaell, a Notre Dame provost and prominent theologian who was accused of abusing students in the 1980s and resigned in 1991. At the time, the university did not comment
on his case or answer questions about his resignation.
(Source: The Observer, Dec. 3 and 10, 1991).
Fr. Thomas King, former rector of Zahm Hall, resigned in 1997. Accused of abusing students during his tenure as rector, 1980-1997. After this, he continued teaching at Holy Cross College and given two parish assignments (Sources: ABC57, Notre Dame News, Sept. 24, 2025 and Catholic News Agency, Sept. 25, 2025). He is currently under investigation by the University.
Employed by Notre Dame and accused of sexually abusing minors during their priesthood:
Fr. John Fitzgerald, accused of abuse in the 1970s in Illinois. (Source: Congregation of Holy Cross, List of Those Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor).
Fr. Archibald McDowell, accused of abuse in multiple locations in the 1950s
(including Indiana) (Source: Congregation of Holy Cross, List of Those Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor).
Fr. David Verhalen, accused of abuse in the 1970s in Illinois (Source: Congregation of Holy Cross, List of Those Credibly Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Minor).
Fr. Virgilio Elizondo, a prominent theology professor at Notre Dame, accused of abusing a boy in 1983 in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas. When the accusation became known in 2015, Notre Dame, Elizondo’s then employer, declined to comment on the accusations (Sources: ABC57, National Catholic Reporter, May 29, 2015, The Observer, May 30, 2015).
The fact that so many alleged priest abusers had ties to Notre Dame strongly suggests the problem of clergy abuse on campus was much larger than just King and that it may have been a systemic
issue at the University from the 1970s to the 1990s just as it was in the larger U.S. Catholic Church at the time. Multiple victims cited in the sources above have alleged the University was slow to act on their concerns about allegedly abusive priests like Burtchaell and King. Having Cantwell conduct a more thorough and wide-ranging investigation now thus seems the appropriate way for the University to be totally transparent with the larger “Notre Dame family.”
I hope too that the larger “Notre Dame family” will speak out and support the alumni victims and demand real change, contrition and justice from University leadership. The victims, your fellow alumni, need your help and voices right now.
Sincerely, William Kurtz, Ph.D. Class of 2006 Nov. 3
JD Vance is a role model for political dialogue
It’s an unfortunate fact that many of us have lost faith in politicians. Even the word “politician” now pejoratively carries connotations of duplicity, shallowness, wealth and manipulation. I am not here to convince you to view politicians in a favorable light; that is a task which I find myself inadequate, as well as unwilling, to undertake. I do wish, however, to point out a recent moment that reminded me of the potential value of a true American politician.
Last Wednesday night, Vice President JD Vance joined Erica Kirk at a Turning Point USA conference at Ole Miss, where they spoke to a crowd of around 10,000 college students. Many students came sporting their TPUSA gear and were enthusiastic about Kirk and Vance’s speeches, while other less admiring fans eagerly awaited their chance to step up in line and ask a “gotcha” question that would trip up the conservative leaders. Watching the event online, I wondered, now that Charlie Kirk is no longer leading TPUSA, would there still be an opportunity for students to ask questions? Kirk’s signature move was to give people an open microphone and invite them to prove him wrong, but in his absence and with someone as important as the vice president speaking, it seemed likely that this portion of the talk would be omitted. It was to my great surprise, then, when after Vance’s speech, he encouraged students to step up to the microphone and ask him anything they wanted.
For nearly an hour, students came forward to ask Vance
anything from his stance on immigration, to his Christian faith, to the government shutdown. Some came from a place of agreement, while others pressured his views. In the spirit of Charlie Kirk, Vance specifically encouraged students who disagreed with him to ask questions and stressed the importance of a unifying love for America over our political differences.
Can you honestly think of the last time a politician did something like this? Can you name another politician who would willingly invite college kids to ask them anything at all, live and unscripted? Most sane politicians would never put themselves in a situation so unprepared and unprotected in which they risk slipping up, looking ignorant or getting clipped saying or doing something that could wind up
ruining their political career. With no control over the situation, any sort of questions could be posed with very little allowance for reaction time. And sadly, a number of politicians frankly lack the competence to face even a small amount of scrutiny or questioning without the assistance of a script or teleprompter. By contrast, not only was Vance willing to accept questions from the students, he was able to answer them articulately and honestly. This transparency and candor impressed me, and it made me consider how much those simple qualities can make someone stand out in today’s political climate.
There is no question about it: We live in an age of hypocrisy. People online will virtue signal left and right to gain approval and acclaim, but don’t believe a word of what they’re saying. Influencers
carefully curate their social media profiles to project an image of perfection when in reality their lives are incredibly messy once the camera turns off. Politicians campaign on promises never to be fulfilled. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death, people — and politicians in particular — across the country have been calling for the protection of free speech and political dialogue, but other than sanctimonious posts on X saying, “We should … ” and “Society must … ”, nothing concrete has been done. The fact that the vice president, one of the highest offices in U.S. government, was willing to actively stand for freedom of speech and invite open dialogue was incredibly refreshing and reassured me that hypocrisy is not pervasive of all aspects of government.
To me, perhaps the most wholesome part was that by talking
openly, face-to-face and honestly with college kids, Vance embodies the true American spirit of democracy “of the people, by the people, for the people,” as described by President Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address. There should not be a hierarchical barrier between the American public and “loftier” government officials. After all, they are elected from us and their authority comes from us. The temporary nature of elected leaders’ power, freely bestowed, is one of the most amazing qualities of our democracy. I found that the free conversation between Vance and the Ole Miss students emphasizes the concept of the American people as one united group, rather than one that divides us by class or separates us ordinary citizens from our elected leaders.
In my opinion, we shouldn’t be asking why Vance did this, but why other politicians don’t do it, too. Whether or not you agree with our vice president’s personal priorities, transparency, political discussion and unity among Americans are certainly valuable attributes for which to strive (especially in today’s polarized political atmosphere). I hold out hope that perhaps one day, with intentional adoption of such values, politicians can repair their broken reputations and regain the trust of all of the American people, even those with whom they disagree.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Noirin Dempsey at ndempsey@nd.edu
By Noirin Dempsey Columnist, “Through the Overton Window”
BEN SMITH | The Observer
The cool embrace of autumn at Notre Dame
By Ana Prestamo Columnist, “Mind the Gap”
More than a season, autumn marks the arrival of the fall aesthetic. Yes, I think we all know what that means. Whether it’s rewatching “Harry Potter” or “Gilmore Girls,” ordering a pumpkin spiced latte or switching up your wardrobe for cozy hues of orange, tan and brown, most of us — myself included — have been, in one way or another, participants in this unspoken ritual.
And so there I was, watching “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” warm coffee in one hand, blanket in the other, thinking: I love these rituals, and unapologetically so, but why do we keep coming back to them? Why are they unspoken yet so faithfully followed? No one sends me a reminder to rewatch my comfort series or to trade iced coffee for pumpkin spice, and yet, as fall rolls in, I and many others do it instinctively.
As if obeying some collective rhythm, fall feels less like a trend and more like a shared agreement — a subtle understanding that when the leaves begin to turn, so do we.
At Notre Dame, that shift is
impossible to miss. One morning, the lakes start to look like they’ve been painted in gold, the walk to DeBart suddenly feels cinematic, the Dome glows a little earlier each day, you begin seeing people holding warm beverages instead of iced coffees and holding their jackets a little tighter on the quad. Campus, as if mimicking our same rhythms, slows down — like it’s exhaling at once after the chaos of midterms and break.
In a more technical perspective, I think it’s worth wondering: Is our love for fall so deep that brands have capitalized on it, or is it so deep because of their own promotion? Are our fall rituals self-imposed or market driven?
Between the pumpkin candles and the overpriced pumpkin spiced lattes, it’s hard to tell where nostalgia ends and marketing begins. But then maybe that’s the point: It doesn’t really
matter whether these trends are incentivized or not, because deep down, we return to these little rituals willingly. In one sense or another, they make time feel more stable, reminding us that even when everything else changes — our classes, our friendships or our plans — some things will always stay the same.
I think maybe this is what empowers these quiet trends: They are markers of time passing, yes,
but also reminders of life’s circularity and stability. Unlike other seasons that demand we reinvent ourselves or act fast — draft your new year’s resolutions, buy your partner a proper Valentine’s gift, host a perfect Christmas dinner — fall calls us to embrace change gently — light the candles, smell the coffee, walk by the lakes and rewatch the movies that feel like home.
These are the months that let us slow down without feeling guilty, the season that romanticizes routine instead of novelty — calm over chaos.
And maybe that’s why these rituals matter. Rewatching nostalgic TV shows and ordering hot coffee are somehow our small acts of resistance against our ever-accelerating lives. Ultimately, fall is there to remind us to live gently, to emphasize that there’s meaning in the mundane; some things are worth repeating, again and again, every year.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Ana Prestamo at apresta2@nd.edu
It’s a terrible day, thanks be to God
It’s easy to write about the despondency of Camden. A deindustrialized city of 72,000 with poverty and violent crime rates far above the national average, public officials have found it increasingly convenient over the last several decades to turn their backs on the city, leaving it to a steady population and economic decline, comparable to that of Detroit. So why did one priest from Ireland stick around for nearly 50 years in this same city, in the same parish?
Born in 1934 in County Longford, Ireland, Fr. Michael Doyle was ordained a priest in 1959 and soon assigned to the Diocese of Camden in New Jersey. Appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church in 1974, he wasted no time in beginning his ministry, starting with home ownership. Doyle realized that “If you want to have a neighborhood, you’ve got to have owners,” and he began with one man facing foreclosure. He solicited the owner of the property, bought the deed and within three years, had the man repay him back and secure full ownership of his home, thus beginning the so-called Heart of Camden program, which has led to the creation of over 270 first-time homeowners in this microcosm of South Jersey. Doyle couldn’t stop there. He worked with
developers to build green spaces, renovate movie theaters into gyms and rec centers, rehabbed public spaces and utterly transformed what South Camden looked like to the outside world.
He did more than alter the landscape, however. He ensured liturgy was at the forefront of all that he did, from the scores of memorials for the still very present deadly violence in the city to his packed Sunday Masses. Every venture, connection and transformation had that same teleological orientation, and in the end, was how he was able to do more in his tenure than any other multimillion-dollar governmentordained “redevelopment
project.” The people of South Camden treasured Doyle not only for what he had brought in terms of physical development, but also for how he approached each and every person. Everyone is a gift to God, and Doyle held this belief to the fullest, continuously reaching out to those most in need, filling the void where municipal agencies didn’t dare venture. Doyle was more than the ultra-sympathetic and diligent parish priest, however. He was a fierce pacifist, so much so that he was a part of the 1971 raid on a draft board office in Camden, when a group of 28 Catholic activists broke in and destroyed extensive documents on draft registrants. Arrested,
charged, but ultimately acquitted, being part of the “Camden 28” was a formative part of Doyle‘s time in Camden, and reflected not only his pacifistic nature, but also his resolve to fight for his community, something that he certainly carried throughout the entirety of his life.
Doyle‘s only publication in circulation is a collection of letters to the world, functioning as a release of information and a call to action. Entitled, “It’s a Terrible Day: Thanks Be to God,” this book is a testament to perseverance, prayer and gratitude. The intriguing title is inspired by Doyle’s own father, who, after coming back to his family home after a long,
rainy day out in the fields on their farmstead, would proudly proclaim the titular phrase. Imagine that. You’re the only provider for your family in destitute central Ireland, and after a cold and wet day of manual labor, your first instinct is gratitude.
Among the myriad traits I hope we all seek after that were found within Doyle, gratitude is perhaps the most subtle, one that can be integrated into so many little aspects of our lives. Certainly, we will experience this on Thanksgiving Day, when so many of us congregate together specifically to offer up our gratitude, religiously or otherwise. Yet what about the Sunday or Monday we return from break and immediately go back to grumbling about that imminent project or the final exams that will be a mere two weeks away? Even still, it is here where our gratitude should shine forth, in the fact that we are given so many chances each new day to learn and grow in God’s image. Remember each new day, rain or shine, is a gift. It may be a terrible day, but that day is a gift, and thanks be to God for it.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Michael Doyle at mdoyle25@nd.edu
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
By Michael Doyle Columnist, “Our Thread”
BEN SMITH | The Observer
Why are boyfriends out of Vogue?
By Genevieve Le Leux Scene Writer
Not to go very “Barbie” movie monologue on you, but it seems to me that nothing a woman does can satisfy the culture — new critiques are always entering the zeitgeist about what women should and shouldn’t be doing.
As soon as the gripping Vogue article “Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” crossed my FYP, I was immediately thrilled and found it very funny. Yet, as I read through the article, I began to question my initial reaction. It seems to me that there is something sinister afoot, not having to do with boyfriends, per se, but to do with the idolization of gold-star independence and self-reliance in women, and in culture as a whole.
I definitely respect certain aspects of Vogue writer Chanté Joseph’s article. I love the idea of decentering men, of questioning personal motives for seeking relationships and of examining how creators present their identities online and what symbols they use to chase clout. Such ideas inspire women and men alike to find validation outside of other people’s opinions or attention, which can only be a good thing, since it encourages individuals to be more authentic and to stop using relationships as a way to cope or hide. Authenticity is the coolest thing, in my opinion, yet authenticity often bleeds into individualism, a tool which, wielded wrongly, can spoil
into a sour self-reliance.
Some who critique feminism fear that women will no longer need men when allowed to exercise a certain level of autonomy. If women are allowed to make their own money, choose how they spend it and choose who they spend their time with, then men might no longer be necessary for women at all. My issue with this idea is the term “necessary.” Sure, in the modern world, a woman doesn’t need a man to complete her life or fill her identity, but that doesn’t immediately mean pursuing a romantic connection is wrong or “extra” in an annoying way. Just because something isn’t strictly necessary, doesn’t mean it should be done away with completely, and it definitely shouldn’t
be considered taboo by society.
Women are socialized to be as small as possible, not just literally, but in an emotional sense as well: Women are shamed for taking up space, for needing more help or attention, for being a little too loud or a little too opinionated, so it makes sense that women will keep chipping themselves down to their bare bones, eliminating their identities in order to please others. Not only does this tend to manifest itself in forms of individual self-denial in terms of pursuing dreams, personal interests, personal style, healthy friendships and relationships, etc., but this also takes the form of self-harm in other ways — eating disorders,
substance abuse, inordinate promiscuity or even physical self-maiming. All of these things are rampant among our young girls (and boys, too) and can all be derived from or made worse by the evil self-dependence and fear of pursuing help, for fear of being “too much,” of inconveniencing someone else, that plagues our culture. It pains me as a woman to see myself and others stop pursuing interests to the point of hurting themselves. Self-harm in any form won’t end in social acceptance, but can only end in isolation and continued selfhatred. In this way, using selfreliance as a means of virtue signaling goes way beyond just thinking a boyfriend is uncool: It can potentially lead to
serious repercussions to individuals and communities. We actually do need each other to be healthy, not necessarily in romantic connections, but in communities and as mentors and friends.
To all you ladies out there: No, you don’t need a man, but there’s nothing wrong with having something that you don’t strictly need, even if that thing or person is a bit imperfect. Whether it’s a boyfriend, a sweet treat, a new lip stain, a day off, a more comfortable pair of shoes, etc., it is good to add joy to your life. Now, whether men actually add joy to the lives of women is another question altogether — but I won’t get into that here. The bottom line is that it is up to both men and women to form their identities strongly, grounded in their own true values and desires, with acceptance of their own needs and difficulties, in order to ensure their egos are not squashing or infringing on others. Maybe having a boyfriend is embarrassing, but we all need to be more willing to be embarrassed. If you’re comfortable all of the time, you’re not living much of a life, and if you’re frequently triggered by seeing other people’s personal choices, then maybe that is a you problem. Certainly, embarrassment and inconvenience are the costs of community, and nothing good is going to be handed to you without some cost.
Contact Genevieve Le Leux at gleleux@saintmarys.edu
‘C.S. Lewis On Stage’: Earnest but awkward
By Mara Hall Scene Writer
Max McLean played C.S. Lewis in a production of “C.S. Lewis On Stage: Further Up & Further In,” written by McLean, at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center on Nov. 5. The real C.S. Lewis died on Nov. 22, 1963 and is well known for his writings on faith and his fictional series “The Chronicles of Narnia.” This production was a cross between impersonation, stand-up comedy and theater that depicted the life of C.S. Lewis through a series of monologues, revealing his journey of grappling with faith and sharing his understanding of faith with others.
The show featured elaborate projections, bringing the audience into the show with a montage through space to Earth and leaving the audience with that montage playing in reverse at the end. While they were clearly designed to deepen the audience’s
understanding of the show, they often came off as a cringy afterthought which appeared merely to give McLean a break from talking. Additionally, the slow fade in and out of layered graphics left long and unimpressive moments of blurry stacked pictures. This was especially rough in the series of graphics incorporating stained glass windows, trees and then a series of doors while discussing Jesus as either a “lunatic” or “Lord.”
While music was not a significant part of the show while Lewis spoke, music was often present to carry the audience between settings and accompany changing projections. Often, the audio served more as a sound effect than as music.
The story leaned into Lewis’s writings, discussing the different perspectives of his various books, sometimes looking at Earth from the perspective of heaven and sometimes looking from that of a demon.
Lewis had a conversation
about faith through a series of letters exchanged with an anonymous fan in the outside world. Lewis posited that, while we might not be able to see faith, it will come to seek us out, and at some point, we will come to realize that even if we cannot fully understand it, it is the best possible explanation for why we exist.
He proceeded to suggest that once we accept that Jesus is not a lunatic, the rest falls into place. However, Lewis did worry that his defense of Christianity had left himself distant from the faith.
“Am I too busy defending Christians that I give too little attention to Christ?” Lewis asked.
At one point, Lewis questioned the effectiveness of prayer, wondering if it merely attributed things of chance to human action. Furthermore, he considered how — given that God is omnipresent — it seems silly to feel the need to tell God problems and to tell him how to fix them. While he
did not present a clear conclusion in this case, his broader conclusion was that there is not necessarily proof for faith. Rather, it is the most logical conclusion given what we can observe.
The struggle of faith reached a climax when Lewis grappled with the concept of final judgment. The audio increased in volume, and the energy tightened before thunder clapped. Then, Lewis asked, “What if this is the world’s last night?”
A quiet moment of reflection followed, with a dark stage and only soft background music, as Lewis’s words sunk into the hearts of the audience.
The show closed by bringing the audience to Lewis’s writing of “The Chronicles of Narnia.” In a post-show discussion with the audience, McLean explained that not including “The Chronicles of Narnia” would have left a hole in the show. He wanted to highlight the ways in which Lewis did not believe that “The Chronicles of Narnia” would
ever become what it has today. Despite talking about the importance of relationships and God’s creation of many people so that we can live in community, the play only had one character, which limited the depth with which the theme of friendship could be developed. While Lewis broke the fourth wall at times in an effort to connect with another person, this theme was often told more than it was shown. This event was one of the Moreau First-Year Seminar co-curricular event options, bringing many first-year students to this performance with tickets compensated by the Moreau program. As the Moreau program this semester examines the topic of “living well,” the event highlighted this theme by illustrating how faith can go from being a concept that one does not believe in to a core identity lived out daily. Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
BEN SMITH | The Observer
Notre Dame women’s basketball opens with win
By Andy Caron Sports Writer
Following a 40-point win over Miami on Feb. 20, Notre Dame looked poised to make a run in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Irish had earned a record of 24-2 with key wins over USC, Texas and UConn. The team boasted a four-headed monster with the likes of sophomore guard Hannah Hidalgo, graduate guard Olivia Miles, 6-foot-1 senior Sonia Citron and graduate forward Liatu King. When it was all said and done, all four of these stars averaged doubledigit points.
It seemed to all be moving in the right direction until Notre Dame lost three out of the last five games to end the regular season and failed to get past TCU in the Sweet Sixteen. Less than three weeks after a brutal end to their season, Olivia Miles announced her entry into the transfer portal along with Sonia Citron and Liatu King declaring for the 2025 WNBA Draft. In what seemed to be a title-contending year for the Irish in late February, had turned upside down and led to the Irish’s season ending and the band breaking up.
As Notre Dame approached the 2025-26 season, it was evident that head coach Niele Ivey and her staff would have to dip into the transfer portal. Coach Ivey did just that, successfully recruiting graduate guard Vanessa de Jesus (Duke), graduate student forward Gisela Sanchez (Kansas State), junior
guard Kelly Ratigan (Loyola Maryland), graduate forward Malaya Cowles (Wake Forest), graduate student guard Iyana Moore (Vanderbilt) and graduate student guard Jordyn Smith (Holy Cross College).
With returning players of star Hidalgo (23.8 ppg), 6-foot-3 senior guard Cassandre Prosper (5.8 ppg) and senior guard KK Bransford rounding out the squad, the Irish were awarded a preseason rank of No. 15.
Leading up to Wednesday night’s season opener versus FDU, the Irish were coming off of a 119-54 exhibition win against Purdue Northwest. FDU began their season on Monday night falling at the hands of Purdue by a score of 67-48.
Bransford wasted no time in her return for the Irish scoring on a mid-range pull-up just five seconds into the game. Additionally, she recorded a steal and a layup on the other end which forced a FDU timeout less than three minutes into the game. Throughout the first quarter, FDU never seemed comfortable offensively, however, their scrappy play cut the deficit down to nine with 1:17 left in the first quarter. Hidalgo made it clear that the offseason had gone on long enough. She finished with 13 points in the first quarter. After a slow first quarter from both teams, the Irish led 27-13.
Transfer Sanchez showed off her shooting stroke all night long, including a pick-and-roll mid range jumper off of a graduate student guard Vanessa de
Jesus assist to start the second quarter. Bransford continued to impress, including a sharp spin move to the basket to increase the lead to 20 for the Irish midway through the second quarter. De Jesus scored her first points as an Irish player with a fast break pull-up three. The backcourt duo of de Jesus and Hidalgo will fight to be one of the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) this year.
Hidalgo responded to sharing the backcourt with de Jesus, “Vanessa is a great player and she is a great leader so, playing alongside her is going to be very dangerous.”
Another backcourt contributor, Ratigan, scored her first points in an Irish uniform off an assist from Prosper. A steal from Prosper led to a layup on the other end for Hidalgo, which gave her 20 points and the Irish a 30-point lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, de Jesus continued to impress in her Irish debut. On back-to-back possessions, she recorded a three-pointer, steal and layup on the other end. Ivey called on a press with less than halfway to go in the third quarter immediately leading to a Ratigan steal and Hannah Hidalgo layup that prompted an FDU timeout. The Irish made nine out of their last 11 field goals to end the third quarter, including a short jumper in the paint by Sanchez at the buzzer. The Irish boasted a 42-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Irish continued to play
FOOTBALL
with a sense of urgency highlighted by a beautiful transition bounce pass from Hidalgo to Bransford for a layup in transition to start the fourth quarter. A pair of threes from transfers Sanchez and de Jesus capped a successful opening night win for the Irish.
After losing many of her running mates to a combination of the transfer portal and WNBA Draft, Hidalgo’s return to the court was one to remember. Hidalgo recorded 27 points, six rebounds, alongside three assists and three steals. Despite being just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc, Hidalgo constantly found ways to get to the rim or stop and find her mid-range shot. Hidalgo has been thrust into a newfound leadership role.
“Last year and the years that I’ve been here, I’ve been led by other people and I’ve figured out how to lead my teammates,” she said.
Sanchez recorded a doubledouble (14 pts, 12 rebounds) while shooting 6-for-8 from the field. When asked about what she saw in Sanchez when recruiting her, coach Ivey said Sanchez was “somebody that [the coaching staff] said was going to shock the world.”
Vanessa de Jesus finished with a career high 22 points, including four threes. With heavy experience on the court, she wasted no time fitting in with the Irish looking relaxed all night. Her four years of playing experience at Duke has crafted her into a player that coach Ivey loves. Ivey said “we played
against [Vanessa] for the last four years so we knew what she was capable of.” It is plain to see that coach Ivey is instilling confidence and trusting these transfers despite being just one game in.
Transfers Cowles and Moore will only add to the already skilled transfer class that Notre Dame boasts. Both women are dealing with minor injuries and should return to the court soon. Coach Ivey described Moore as a “sharpshooter [who] is very smart” and on Cowles said, “gives [the Irish] presence inside.” The best is yet to come with this year’s Irish transfer class.
The Irish defense was suffocating tonight forcing 19 turnovers and capitalizing for 32 points off of them. There were a multitude of possessions where FDU would hoist up a shot with little time left on the shot clock due to the constant pressure from the Irish. Last season, the Irish gave up 84.4 ppg which ranked sixth-worst in the country.
Coach Ivey mentioned how this year’s mindset is different. With a new configuration of players this season, coach Ivey and the Irish are prioritizing defense as a focal point.
Notre Dame (1-0) returns to Purcell Pavilion on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. against the Cougars of Chicago State where the Irish will debut their new “The Bend” jerseys.
Contact Andy Caron at acaron2@nd.edu
Leonard Moore emerges as leader for Irish
By Chris Dailey Sports Writer
Notre Dame sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore is as consistent as they come. The former three-star recruit seems to put on a five-star clinic every time he dons the gold helmet. After an impressive freshman campaign in which he recorded a team-high 11 pass breakups and was named the PWFA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, Moore has progressed to new heights in 2025 through a sharp attention to detail.
“You want your coach to be able to say you go out there and guard that man and don’t let him touch the ball. That’s something I take a lot of pride in: not letting my man catch the ball,” Moore said. So far, Moore has done just that. Against speedy USC wideout Makai Lemon, who is projected to be one of the most highly-coveted wide receivers in
the 2026 NFL Draft, Moore was lockdown. Notre Dame’s golden goose in the secondary played out of position and only allowed Lemon to record 28 yards against him. The performance drew national praise from pundits and fans alike.
But for Moore, he isn’t content with dwelling on his stellar showing against the Irish’s bitter rival. Instead, he’s focused on remedying his mistakes against Boston College. Despite recording five tackles, Moore was beaten in man coverage by Reed Harris due to a slip as he backpedaled in pursuit of a lofted pass into the end zone. The play resulted in Boston College’s lone touchdown of the game.
“I didn’t make him earn it, to be honest. That one stung, for sure. Obviously, I slipped going into the end zone. I thought I was going to have an interception,” Moore said.
Later in the game, Moore had another chance for an interception but wasn’t able to haul it in.
“You want every ball that goes up in the air to be yours. Obviously you got to go to the next play, but something I never want to do is drop an interception,” Moore said.
Now set to face a Navy offense that boasts one of the most distinctive systems in college football, Moore is adamant on getting back to his usual, shutdown coverage self.
“Navy presents a challenge because of the triple-option stuff. You don’t really expect it but then the ball will be right there in front of your face, so you got to be ready to come down and make some hits,” Moore said.
That constant readiness will play a large factor in the Irish’s scheme to silence a Navy offense that has been humming all season long. Led by star senior quarterback Blake Horvath, the Midshipmen have totaled 466.3 yards of total offense per game. While the bulk of those yards come from the Midshipmen’s
nation-leading rushing attack, the Midshipmen also always have a trick up its sleeve through the air. It’s for that reason Horvath was able to sling for 339 yards against Air Force in early October.
In that game against the Falcons, Horvath’s right-hand man Eli Heidenreich caught for a school-record 243 yards and three touchdowns. Standing at an even 6-feet tall, Heidenreich poses a threat to the Irish defense thanks to his unique blend of size, speed and strength. In addition to his sublime routerunning, Heidenreich has chipped in for 342 yards and three touchdowns on the ground this season.
Between Horvath’s running capability and Heidenreich’s do-it-all style, Moore will have his hands full. However, if he plays anything like last year, the mountain of a challenge won’t be too steep for Moore to climb.
In Notre Dame’s 51-14
thrashing of the Midshipmen a season ago, Moore made a leaping interception in the end zone. With the Irish already up big early in the fourth quarter, Moore’s interception squandered any chance Navy had to do the improbable and mount a comeback.
It’s moments like those that make Moore a leader in the locker-room. Despite being an underclassman, Moore has lined up in man-coverage 56.3% of the total snaps he’s played – tied for the national-lead alongside Irish teammate junior Christian Gray. The trust placed in Moore by the staff speaks volumes to the type of player he is.
Moore stated that defenses “want you to fall asleep.” With four games left in the regular season and the Irish firmly in “win-out or go home position,” it’s safe to say that Moore is wide awake.
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
What would you sacrifice for a national championship?
Arisa Custodio senior Undergraduate Community at Fischer
“Pinky.”
Rob Gonzales sophomore O’Neill Hall
“My parents.”
Kirra Halfman sophomore Le Mans Hall
“My Saint Mary’s degree.”
CROSSWORD | WILL SHORTZ
Ryan Illikman sophomore Siegfried Hall
“My American citizenship.”
Adrian Kaufmann sophomore Siegfried Hall
“Hearing in one ear and sight in one eye.”
SOCIAL MEDIA POLL
Have an idea for a poll? Email dstangel@nd.edu
In light of the renaming of the International Security Center, how important do you think it is for students to learn aboust international security today?
In a recent Instagram poll conducted by The Observer, students shared how important they believe it is to learn about international security. 51% of students said that it is very important, while 28% claimed that it is only somewhat important. Alternatively, 17% of students believe there are greater domestic issues to learn about. Minimal students voted that international security is not that important, with 3% of respondents.
THE NEXT FIVE DAYS
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Friday
Notre Dame Glee Club fall concert
The Glee Club performs music of varying genres. Leighton Concert Hall 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday
Notre Dame football vs. Navy
The Irish face the Midshipmen. Notre Dame Stadium 7:30 p.m.
Sunday
“Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” film sing-along A nun transforms misfit students into a talented choir. DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 1 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Monday
Recovery is Spoken Here training
The McDonald Center offers a certification opportunity. LaFortune Dooley Room 4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Tuesday
Notre Dame men’s basketball vs. Eastern Illinois The Irish take on the Panthers. Purcell Pavilion 7:30 p.m.
KEIRA JONES | The Observer
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, two students face off in Baraka Bouts, a boxing tournament hosted by the Women’s Boxing Club, the largest women’s club at Notre Dame. Baraka Bouts raises funds for schools in Uganda.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
By Payton Dymek Sports Writer
Notre Dame volleyball is currently coming off a two-game losing streak against the Louisville Cardinals, going 1-5 in their previous six games to move to 8-12 on the year and 5-7 so far in ACC play.
The standouts on the Irish roster continue to be the same, as the best work has been done at the net. Sophomore outside hitter Morgan Gaerte is still leading the team in kills at 307, hitting a 0.253 percentage and averaging 4.26 kills per set. These metrics make her 31st in the NCAA in hitting percentage. On the other side, junior transfer Sydney Helmers has 187 kills on the
Notre Dame volleyball travels to North Carolina Irish prepare for Detroit Mercy matchup
By Harrison Brown Sports Writer
After a comfortable win against Long Island University to start the season, Notre Dame men’s basketball is 1-0. The Irish will look to remain undefeated as they host the Detroit Mercy Titans Friday night.
The matchup between Notre Dame and Detroit Mercy is a historic one, with the first matchup dating all the way back to 1912. Since then, the two programs have met 55 times. The Irish have dominated the series, winning the first 24 straight games and holding an overall record of 43-12. For games in South Bend, they have an even more commanding
season, with 2.79 kills per set. Additionally, Helmers has played all six rotations because of her exceptional defense, ranking second in digs for the Irish with 119. Maya Evens leads the team with 247 digs over the 20 games.
Freshman Chichi Nnaji has 86 kills and, more impressively, 38 total blocks on the year, leading the young group. Defensively at the net, the Irish are led by sophomores Anna Bjork and Grace Langer, who have a combined 166 blocks. These two sophomores have single-handedly led Notre Dame in out-blocking opponents in most of the matches this season.
Junior setter Lily Fenton has stepped up these past few matches when junior setter Harmony
Sample has been out. Fenton didn’t play in any matches in her freshman or sophomore year, but has played in six sets this year, earning herself 24 assists and 12 digs. Fenton leads her high school program as the all-time assist leader.
The Irish travel to play Wake Forest on Nov. 7, 2025, who are currently 10-13 on the year and 4-8 in ACC play. Offensively, the Deacons are led by senior outside hitter Paige Crawford who has 263 kills on the year so far, averaging 3.25 kills per set. Crawford has built a name for herself with the Deacons, earning the 2025 Wake Forest Invitational MVP award and making the Wake Forest Invitational AllTournament team. In her junior
ND MEN’S BASKETBALL
year she led the team with 335 kills and had 39 service aces. She hit her 1000th career kill in a home game against SMU. Following close behind her is junior outside hitter Patrycja Lagida, hailing from Poland. Lagida has 200 kills on the year and has earned 234.5 points for Wake Forest this season alone. Senior libero Emma Farrell demands control of the back row, leading her team with 337 digs and averaging 4.11 digs per set.
After taking on the Deacons, Notre Dame travels to Raleigh, North Carolina to play the North Carolina State Wolfpack, who are 12th in the ACC at 4-8 and 11-11 overall. NC State is led offensively by senior outside hitter Courtney Bryant who has 261 kills on the
year and has already earned 305 points for the Wolfpack. The sets would not be able to find the hands of the NC State offense if it weren’t for freshman libero Zuzia Maciejewicz who defends the back row productively, earning 246 digs.
Redshirt freshman setter Alyssa Forelli, although only playing in a handful of sets, is coming into her own on the Wolfpack as she gains more experience. Although not appearing in any matches her freshman year, she’s already played in 25 sets this year and has 41 assists.
The Irish will return home on Nov. 14 to take on No. 18 Miami.
Contact Payton Dymek at pdymek@nd.edu
lead with a 21-4 record. This will be the first meeting of the two teams since the 2020-21 season, when Notre Dame took a 78-70 victory.
Detroit Mercy opened their season with a 71-91 loss at the hands of the UIC Flames. Coming off records of 8-24 and 1-31 in the last two seasons, the Titans are hoping to turn their fortunes around. An upset win against the Irish would jumpstart their ability to do so.
After transferring from Walsh University, junior Ayden Carter was Detroit Mercy’s leading scorer with 18 points. In addition, Carter recorded five rebounds and two steals in his season debut. Another player to watch is senior Orlando
Lovejoy. Lovejoy averaged the fourth most points per game in the Horizon League last year and began this season with 11 points and four rebounds.
On the flipside, Notre Dame began the season strong with an 89-67 victory over LIU. Last year, the Irish finished 15-18 and were eliminated in the second round of the ACC Tournament. After bringing back a lot of top talent and landing one of the best recruiting classes in the country, hopes are high this year for Notre Dame.
Junior guard Markus Burton averaged over 20 points per game last season, leading the ACC in scoring and has been building off that momentum in
ND WOMEN’S SOCCER
the onset of this year. Against LIU, he led the team with 24 points. Averaging the fifthmost points per game of any player in the nation last season, Burton is one of the leaders of the Irish and a core piece of the team’s scoring. One of the standout performances of the young season belonged to sophomore guard Cole Certa. In the previous season, Certa appeared in 18 games for the Irish, averaging 2.5 points per game. This year, Certa has taken on a much larger role, going from around eight minutes played per game last season to 25 in the first outing of the year. In the season opener, he was on fire from beyond the arc, sinking six
threes on nine attempts.
The depth of the Irish will be a crucial factor in their success against Detroit Mercy and throughout the season. Led by Certa, the bench unit scored 52 points in the first game. Another key to victory is success from beyond the arc. In their respective season openers, the Irish shot a staggering 51.9% from three, whereas the Titans shot just 20.0%. Maintaining the hot shooting streak will be critical.
The matchup between Notre Dame and Detroit Mercy will tip off Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Purcell Pavilion
Contact Harrison Brown at hbrown23@nd.edu
ND defeats Duke, advances to ACC Championship
By Jack Muething Sports Writer
Notre Dame and Duke faced off in a women’s soccer matchup for the second time this season. The first game went the way of the Irish, who won 3-2 in a thrilling contest that came down to the final minute. The second matchup between these two teams was no different. Facing off in the ACC Tournament Semifinal, Notre Dame took down the Blue Devils 2-1, advancing to the final, where they will play top seed Stanford on Sunday. Notre Dame, being the No. 2 seed, got a bye into this round, while Duke overcame Louisville 1-0 to set up a date with the Irish. Notre Dame is still seeking their first-ever ACC Tournament Championship. They now only need one more win to bring it home.
The game started with Duke in full control. They had far more opportunities, and their press made
getting out of their own half a challenge for the Irish. When a team does those two things well, it normally results in a goal or two, but the Blue Devils were unable to capitalize on the chances they created. About midway through the second half, Notre Dame began creating a few of their own. Sure enough, the 2025 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and team leader in goals, Izzy Engle, netted yet another one to get the Irish on the board in the 27th minute. The sophomore forward received a probing pass from junior midfielder Charlie Codd, leaving her one-on-one with goalkeeper Caroline Dysart. After an extra touch sent her around the Duke netminder, Engle was able to convert. Codd got her fourth assist of the season, and her sixth total point as well. Despite Duke having more chances to start the game off, the Irish were more productive with the opportunities they got and ended up with a 1-0 lead.
The next ten minutes were relatively even and uneventful until Duke produced a response. With four minutes left in the first half, they finally got their first. Junior forward Kat Rader positioned herself on the right corner of the box and was able to fire a shot through the outstretched arms of sophomore goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica into the left side of the goal to tie the game. The half ended at 1-all, but Duke had all the momentum.
The second half again started with more Blue Devils chances. One actually led to a goal, only for it to be ruled offside. VAR took a closer look at it after the call, confirming the decision. From there, Notre Dame regained control of the game, outshooting Duke and keeping most of the possession. Neither team was able to break the deadlock, and both teams seemed content to let it go to extra time. That was until Anabelle Chukwu
had other ideas.
In the 87th minute, the sophomore forward delivered the winner that Notre Dame was looking for. Junior midfielder Morgan Roy drove past a defender into the final third, heading towards the goal. At the 18-yard box, she slid a ball through to the on-running Chukwu. Sliding to get a foot on it, she was able to poke it through the legs of Dysart for the gamewinning goal. Chukwu’s goal was a continuation of her season-long attacking play, as she picked up her 12th goal of 2025, second on the team behind only Engle. Roy tallied her eighth assist, as well, good for second-best on the team behind only sophomore midfielder Grace Restovich.
Duke wasn’t going to go away easily, though. With two minutes remaining, Rader struck the left post with a rocket of an attempt – an incredible effort that was just a couple of inches off. Duke ultimately
fell 2-1 to the Irish, ending their run in the ACC Tournament. Their season will continue in the NCAA Tournament.
This win was huge for Notre Dame, and not just because they stayed alive in the ACC Tournament. The Irish had finished the season with a tie to Wake Forest and a loss to Pittsburgh, matches that left them behind Stanford in their race for an ACC regular-season title. They needed at least one more win before heading into the NCAA Tournament. There isn’t a much better way to get one than in the thrilling fashion they did. Stanford now stands between Notre Dame and their first-ever ACC Tournament crown. Kick off is set for Nov. 9 at noon at WakeMed Soccer in Cary, North Carolina, with ACC Network providing the broadcast..
Contact Jack Meuthing at jmuethin@nd.edu
Boxers compete in 23rd annual Baraka Bouts
By Ellie Collins and Payton Dymek Sports Writers
Semifinals
Mia “The Sugar Cookie” Simon def. Anna “The Banana” Polking
“The Sugar Cookie” started not so sweet, delivering significant blows to Polking’s head and chest, barely allowing Polking to get a hit on her. Polking came to fight in the second, keeping Simon on her toes and delivering significant punches everywhere she could. Simon attempted to fight back, using her height and speed to her advantage to move the duo around the ring, using every inch of the floor to box. Polking was quick to jump on Simon and come for every exposed part of her body, forcing Simon to practically push her off. The rest of the bout was very aggressive with both of them delivering quick head or torso shots that would easily knock anyone else out. By unanimous decision, Simon walked away with the win to cap off her semifinals experience.
Hope “The Wonder” Wanken def. Aracely “Chelas” Gonzalez
The bout started immediately after the bell with Wanken delivering many jabs to Gonzalez’s face in a routine manner. Gonzalez would attempt to get swings in going low, but Wanken read the moves and was able to shut her down and deliver harmful punches of her own instead. Wanken started the second immediately going low, delivering what felt like a minute-worth of blows to Gonzalez, forcing a midbout pause to clean up some blood. Gonzalez came back ready and fought hard against Wanken who was barely taking a second between her blows. The third mirrored the others as Wanken was fast to deliver aggressive blows that would make Gonzalez back track and stumble over her next punches. By unanimous decision “The Wonder” will walk away with a semi-final win.
Emily “Punches” Poruczynski def. Avery “Rapid Fire” Meyer
Despite boxing in her converse high tops, Porucynski was quick to deliver the first blow, Meyer being able to read it, ducked out of the way just escaping the punch. Poruczynski delivered quick blows, forcing Meyer to turn around at times; however, Meyer came back and finished the first very strong and carried this momentum into the second causing Porucynski to tire out and for the rest of the second to be a very slow, defensive game on both ends. Meyer came out strong delivering low punches to Porucynski, using her size as an advantage and even had Poruczynski back against the wire. Meyer was tiny, but mighty, receiving multiple very close blows to the
face in the corner of the ring before the bell rang for the final time. By unanimous decision, Poruczynski took home the semi-final win.
Lily “Lil’ Knockout” Mesler def. Charlotte “Charmander” Tang
Mesler began the bout with fast punches straight to Tang’s face; however, Tang displayed high boxing IQ, playing a defense that barely allowed any more shots to hit her face. Coming in with her hands high for the second, Tang was scrappy, getting any punch she could to land on Mesler, even though she received hard swings to the face soon after. For the rest of the second, the two danced around the ring very close to one another, delivering small punches where they could. Tang came out in the third quick with the headshots, while Mesler came out with multiple to the torso, causing the crowd to erupt in cheers. The rest was extremely aggressive and multiple punches were thrown, allowing for Mesler to win by unanimous decision,.
Quarterfinals
Maribella “The Bomb” Fues def. Bailey “Baller” Chavis
The first round of the night started aggressively with Fues coming out to a quick start, meeting Chavis in the middle of the ring to deliver multiple shots to the face. Fues forced Chavis to craft a strong defense and it became a match of who would put their hands down first. Although Fues stuck with headshots, significant blows were delivered to Chavis’ chest towards the end. In the second, Chavis started to fight back and got more swings against Fues, forcing her to play defense for once and found lots of crowd support in doing so. In the third, Fues came back hungry and threw harder punches, forcing Chavis back into the corner. Fues aggression made her the unanimous winner of the box.
Mallory “Bing Bang” Turner def. Chloe “Carsmasian” Maitrejean
The aggression continued to climb in Dahnke Ballroom when Maitrejean came out and immediately delivered an aggressive headshot, making both boxers stay on their toes to deliver quick punches in response. Maitrejean found significant crowd support, giving her the confidence to take her punches lower and deliver shots to Turner’s torso. Maitrejean, staying aggressive in the second, seemed to deliver three punches to Mallroy’s one and was very fast to return anything rough that came in her direction. Maitrejean played more defense in the third, displaying her versatility. Despite support from the crowd, the remainder of the bout was slow until the very end when Turner had Maitrejean up against the edge of the ring, almost ending up in the corner. In an unanimous decision,
Turner won the bout.
Lindsey “The Beater” Weeter vs. Yoonseo “Korean Zombie Jr.” Han
Junior Weeter, from Arlington, Virginia and Flaherty Hall, came out with an aggressive offensive front; the sophomore representing Suwon, South Korea and Ryan Hall, returned the energy, as both fighters traded quick jabs to the head and moved around the ring throughout the first round. Han began the second strongly, immediately cornering Weeter with shots to the face and chest, using her speed to her advantage. The third spent a majority of time in the middle of the ring, before Han pushed Weeter against the ropes. Weeter, however, finished strong, forcing off Han to the other side. Weeter prevailed in the end, winning by split decision.
Caoilinn “K.O.” Flinn def. Lucy “Alpha” Noris
Senior Noris came out with aggression in the first round but Flinn mirrored her quick with a offensive approach before being forced to the ground midway through; Noris continued to dominate throughout the round. But Flinn came out stronger in the second with relentless head-hunting, constraining Noris to a defensive stand, unable to place punches. Noris came out with more energy in the third, quickly pushing Flinn into the ropes. While Noris returned persistent jabs to the head and chest at the end of the third, Flinn stood her ground and won by unanimous decision.
Maddie “Mad-Dawg” Orchard def. Courtney “Karsmashian” Callard
The bout began with immediate
and fast movement as freshman Callard attacked fellow Johnson Family Hall resident, junior Orchard, who followed. The second round started with more confrontational jabs from Callard, but Orchard was able to throw off the rhythm with combinations of chest jabs and hooks. Orchard established her offensive front in the third with her consistent strength and speed; Callard remained powerful throughout the round, but Orchard took home the win by unanimous decision.
Marisol “Mac Fury” FloresGarcia vs. Lucy “Alpha” Graceffo
Graceffo came out swinging, and her stark height advantage enabled her to dominate in the first round with consistent right and left hooks that left Flores-Garcia in a defensive position. Flores-Garcia responded with power in the second, but lost fuel by the end of the round as Graceffo’s relentless jabs to the head established her force. Both fighters shared jabs in the third before Graceffo won by unanimous decision.
Showcases
Corinne “Core Power” Mansour def. Mary Pat “Ambulance Chaser” Peterson
Peterson showed a strong demeanor even when climbing into the ring, showing everyone that she was there to display her most talented shots. The box was extremely close, as both delivered small punches to each other until towards the end of the first when Peterson delivered blows that landed Mansour against the apron of the ring, while delivering a piercing stare-down.
Peterson came out hot again, having the whole crowd talking about her technique and ability to deliver quick, but hard blows. The round seemed to finish quick as Mansour struggled to play defense and took the punches as they came. Despite delivering the first blow, Mansour was quickly driven into the apron by Peterson and remained around the border of the ring for the rest of the round. Although Peterson delivered aggressive blows and kept Mansour under control, by split decision Mansour won.
Mary “The Real MJ” Jordan def. Megan “Megatron” Kalail
Jordan began the bout scrappy, delivering big blows to Kalail’s face and chest before playing defense and taking some of her own. Jordan found early crowd support, giving her the confidence to back up Kalail into the wires before finishing the first. Jordan kept Kalail against the wire to start the second and barely let her off, despite a slower attack, Kalail delivered a few blows to Jordan’s face before ending the second the same way she did the first. Kalail danced around the ring to start the third and delivered strong punches; however, had been hit too many times to deliver strong punches towards the end. By unanimous decision, Jordan took home a showcase win in front of a sea of supporters.
The next round of the bouts will be the second round of semifinals and will be held on Nov. 11 in Dahnke Ballroom at 7 p.m.
Contact Ellie Collins at ecollin9@nd.edu and Payton Dymek at pdymek@nd.edu
KEIRA JONES | The Observer
Two boxers facing off during the 23rd annual Baraka Bouts in a Quarterfinals bout in the Dahnke Ballroom in Duncan Student Center on Nov. 5, 2025. The boxing event raises money for Catholic schools in Uganda.
Hicks: Navy is Notre Dame’s most important rival
By Ben Hicks Associate Sports Editor
Accompanying all the online tension and discourse surrounding Notre Dame’s independent status is the question of which opponents, and specifically which rivals, are most important to Notre Dame. The potential end of the historical intersectional series with USC has sparked debate over whether the annual showdown is more important to the Irish or Trojans. Even fans of universities within the super-conferences of the Big Ten and SEC have decried Notre Dame’s “privileged” status as college football’s lone relevant (sorry, UConn) independent. The fact of the matter is that if any school could survive as an independent as Notre Dame has for over a century, they would choose that route instantly. The Irish possess immense monetary, branding and scheduling power due to their independence, playing out in one way through the importance of preserving rivalries. And the
University’s most important rival, regardless of what the talking heads from La La Land say, is the United States Naval Academy.
Since first meeting on the gridiron in 1927, Notre Dame has dominated Navy, winning 83 (two vacated) of the 97 meetings. The series continued without interruption until the COVID-19 pandemic, making it college football’s longestplayed intersectional rivalry. Notre Dame has rattled off an infamous 43-game winning streak. But the importance of this rivalry extends well beyond the playing field, with its impact reaching the battlefield.
Like many universities during the Second World War, Notre Dame faced extreme financial struggles due to dwindling enrollment. As an allmale Catholic institution, still decades prior to its academic revitalization, many of Notre Dame’s prospective students were forced to put down the books and pick up the weapons to defend their nation from fascism abroad.
To help combat this decline and improve the technical training of its officers, the United States Navy designed the V-12 College Training Program. Naval soldiers could attend classes at select universities before returning to combat with expertise in fields such as medicine, engineering and foreign language. Alongside Cornell, Northwestern and Villanova, Notre Dame was one of four flagship Midshipmen Schools in the program. The Navy invested in facilities, which, along with the enrollment bump, helped to keep Notre Dame afloat. Speaking before the 2004 edition of the rivalry, famed Notre Dame President Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., stated, “All I can say is without the Navy during the war, this institution would have gotten down to a few hundred students.”
Although Navy and Notre Dame were both football powerhouses at the advent of the game’s growth on college campuses, the Midshipmen’s glory days are now long behind them. Navy can still field competitive
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teams, occasionally cracking the top-25, and usually defeating their arch-rivals Army. But none of that matters to Notre Dame, the sport’s most iconic and important brand. Playing Navy every year is a way for the University to display its appreciation and admiration for the Navy’s assistance during a time of crisis, both for the University and the nation. The rivalry allows Notre Dame to repay its debts, and the games, though mostly lopsided, personify that mutual respect.
While nearly all of Notre Dame’s rivalries are scheduled out with contracts, which is what has led to the dispute with USC, the annual meeting with Navy is to be played indefinitely. Although there is a traditionalist mindset behind competing with Michigan, USC or even newer rivals like Clemson, the primary motivations of these contests are success and money. That is not the case with Navy. While winning is still important, especially for both teams this November,
Notre Dame and Navy play for something more. Both schools, though one public and one private, one secular and one religious, one on the Eastern Seaboard and one in the Midwestern heartland, play for the sacred honor and duty of upholding the traditions of America, not against each other, but collectively.
In a time of great tumult and uncertainty surrounding college sports and higher education as a whole, it is important to remember the sanctity of Notre Dame’s unofficial motto, sculpted into the exterior of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. It doesn’t mention conferences, strength of schedules or even Southern California. It speaks of what Notre Dame and its students hope to uphold and embody everyday, traversing beyond the football field. For this University to prosper, both then and now, it needed only God, Country and Notre Dame.
Contact Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu
2025 Dean’s Speaker Series Presents:
Leading in the Coming Era of Technology
JOHN DONOVAN CEO, Qudit Investments and retired CEO, AT&T Communications
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | Fri., Nov. 7
The Dean’s Speaker Series is sponsored by the Burns Family endowment.
By Claire Watson Sports Writer
Since Notre Dame sent safety Xavier Watts to the NFL to play for the Atlanta Falcons, a new, up-and-coming star for the Notre Dame defense has emerged. He is from Irvington, New Jersey, and his name is Adon Shuler.
In his press conference on Monday, head coach Marcus Freeman said, “I always say that, what’s more important than the opponent is the obligation we have to each other to get our jobs done.”
Shuler has done just that for the Irish.
Across his three seasons in an Irish jersey, the redshirt sophomore has appeared in 29 games, starting 23, logged 109 total tackles, 63 solo tackles, 46 assisted tackles and five tackles for loss. He has a knack for finding the football, as shown by his three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and five interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He’s been sound in coverage as well, defending 14 passes, breaking up nine to go along with the takeaways.
In his first season with the Irish in 2023, Shuler appeared
A defensive leader: Adon Shuler
in just five games and didn’t see much game action. In game three against Pittsburgh, he finished with two solo tackles, one while on special teams, the other while playing his main position of safety. Against Wake Forest, he registered a solo tackle while playing on the kicking unit. In his final game of the season against Oregon State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, he managed a then-career-best three tackles.
Going into the 2024 season, Shuler saw much more time on the field, as he was a starter in all 16 games for Notre Dame. He would record his first college interception against Texas A&M in the season opener and take it 12 yards the other way. He also matched his career-high mark at the time of three solo tackles. Later in the season, Shuler created chaos against Georgia Tech. He would get his first pick-six to go with three tackles (two solo and one assisted). To end the season, he finished with 59 total tackles, three tackles for loss, three interceptions, 94 return yards and one pick-six.
Now in the 2025 season, Shuler has continued his upward trajectory on the field, starting all eight games for the
Irish so far. Kicking off the season against Miami, he finished the game with one solo tackle and one assisted tackle. In a rematch with Texas A&M, Shuler led the team with a total of seven tackles, three solo and four assisted.
He wreaked havoc in a later game against Arkansas, with nine tackles (four solo and four assisted) and a forced fumble, which eventually led to a Notre Dame touchdown. Shuler has continued to be a force on the field in recent games, as he got a career-high in tackles against USC with 11 (five solo and six assisted) and finished with another career high in tackles for a loss with two.
Last Saturday against Boston College, Shuler pulled off an important interception that led to an Irish touchdown, finishing the game with four tackles (three solo and one assisted). He broke down the play in a press conference after practice on Tuesday.
“Coach wanted to put a little pressure on them, we sent a six-man pressure,” Shuler said. “I was able to read the quarterback, the d-line, the linebackers. I got to him, he threw the ball up, I followed and made a great play on the ball.”
Shuler had one of his best games in last season’s contest with Navy, as he finished with seven total tackles. He commented on the excitement of facing the Midshipmen and his performance last year.
“It’s downhill, it’s a physical game, you have to be on your keys,” he said. “I feel like that’s where I was last year, being on my keys and making sure that I knew where I was going and just finding the ball.”
Shuler also commented on the team’s mindset going into this game.
“We have to be on our keys every play,” he said. “It’s the brotherhood, it’s the Notre Dame locker room.
Brotherhood is always going to be the brotherhood. I feel like we’re building every game, every week, as a brotherhood. You get to know and learn everybody on your team, and that makes you play harder.”
But every game brings a challenge, especially rivalry games like Navy.
“Each game that you play presents different challenges throughout the game that you have to overcome,” Freeman said. He also harped on the
need for defense against Navy and the importance of having leaders on that side of the ball like Shuler. “The experience of understanding how fast it is going to happen is so important,” he said. “There’s so much value in being a person that has played against Navy or Army in previous experiences.”
Of course, Shuler is not alone in this defensive battle. He is surrounded by a rapidly improving Irish defensive unit.
“Their consistency, their work ethic, they give tremendous effort,” defensive line coach Al Washington said about his guys. Shuler rounded out his press conference with what Notre Dame needs when closing these games out.
“Start the second half fast,” he said. “When the coaches come in with the game plan for the second half, we have to hone in and make sure that we are on everything. I feel like we have been doing that in the second half.”
Notre Dame will host Navy this Saturday, Nov. 8, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Contact Claire Waton at cwatson7@nd.edu
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Sophomore safety Adon Shuler takes in the victory in the rain after the Fighting Irish beat the University of Southern California Trojans at home in a 34-24 victory. The sophomore from Irvington, New Jersey, is one of the Irish captains for the 2025-26 football season due to his outstanding leadership on and off the field. Shuler and the Irish face Navy Saturday.
Football beat picks: Notre Dame vs. Navy
By Observer Sports Staff Football Beat
Noah Cahill
Last season’s edition of this historic matchup had some College Football Playoff stakes. It seemed it would look similar this time around, until Navy fell to North Texas last weekend. Nonetheless, the 7-1 Midshipmen should expect to compete on Saturday.
Turnovers stifled any attempt at an upset a year ago. Notre Dame’s upward trend on defense has coincided with forcing more of them. Despite putting together another stellar season, quarterback Blake Horvath has been more prone to giving the ball away, already tossing five interceptions in a low-volume passing offense. On the other side of the ball, the Irish, as they often do, have the advantage in the trenches. Should they get their hands on the football and continue to rush effectively, they will cruise to a seventh-straight victory.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 42, Navy: 17
Chris Dailey
I’m a big fan of what Navy head coach Brian Newberry has built. In his third year in charge, he’s got the Midshipmen out to a 7-1 start. Quarterback Blake Horvath is always primed for a big-time play and the do-it-all Eli Heidenreich has accumulated 575 yards in the air alongside 342 yards on the ground. However, for as explosive as the Navy offense is, Freeman has experience defending the triple-option dating back to his
days at Cincinnati. While Navy does present one of the more unique challenges for Notre Dame this season, the Irish are pound for pound the superior team.
On the Notre Dame side of things, it would be nice to see Eli Raridon get back into the mix. The mammoth of a tight end is six-foot-seven and has tallied 406 yards this season.
When Raridon gets going, the Irish offense feels more complete. He had a measly 1 reception for 5 yards against the Trojans before getting things going with a 59 yard performance versus Boston College.
Aside from the big-man, the Irish’s running-back tandem nicknamed “the fleet” elevates this offense from really good to elite. Expect the fleet to sink the Midshipmen.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 41 , Navy: 17
Ben Hicks
Notre Dame seemed to get their one letdown of the season out of the way last Saturday in Chestnut Hill, but the service academies always present a difficult challenge. Despite a defeat at North Texas a week ago, this is a very good Navy football team traveling to South Bend, and their hybrid wing-T, triple option attack will require additional preparation for Chris Ash’s defense. Factor in the rivalry game emotions, and this duel has all the makings for a nail-biter.
The Midshipmen have both the talent and the scheme to keep this game close in the first half, much like a greatly inferior Boston College team
did a week ago. At the end of the day, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame have simply too much at stake to play below their capacity for longer than that, however. The favorable positioning in the initial CFP rankings would seem to suggest that winning out would see Notre Dame continue its season into the Playoff, but with multiple two-loss SEC teams on their tail, the Irish will need to look good over their final four contests. Notre Dame’s defense should settle into the old-school Midshipmen approach, and Jeremiyah Love seems hellbent on singlehandedly running the Irish to the postseason if necessary. Notre Dame will beat Navy on Saturday, setting up a crucial battle with Pittsburgh next weekend.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 42, Navy: 20
Henry Lytle
Notre Dame has not had a close game against Navy since 2022, where a near miracle comeback by the Midshipmen cut the game close in the fourth quarter. Last season, the Irish slammed the doors shut on Navy’s chances at the Playoff, and I expect a similar outcome this weekend. In the first night game in the history of this series, look for some extra life inside Notre Dame Stadium that will set the tone for the Irish to begin hot.
Last week, Notre Dame struggled on the road with kicking and special teams against Boston College. This is certainly a major facet of the game to straighten out and it’s an opportunity for the kicking to get
its footing at home. The Irish still controlled the turnover margin last week in large part to help win the game; I think it will be the same case here. Navy suffered its first loss last week against North Texas by giving away three turnovers and scoring under 20 points for the first time in its season. North Texas rushed for four touchdowns as well, and with the fearsome duo of Love and Price capable of breaking a long run at any moment, I think the Irish offense is too much for Navy to handle. Navy is extremely reliant on the run, leading the country in yards per rush and yards per game. They have yet to play a defense remotely the caliber of the Irish, who are quietly boasting an extremely strong rushing defense. The matchup is bad for the Midshipmen, so I expect Notre Dame to comfortably win big.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 31 , Navy: 13
Tyler Reidy
For me, this game is all about turnover margin. A year ago, when the Irish mastered the Midshipmen in a top-25 matchup, Navy turned the ball over six times and exited contention in a flash. And last week against North Texas, even though they moved the ball well and established their identity on the ground, the Midshipmen still committed three turnovers to kill otherwise impressive drives and lost 31-17. Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s got the hot hand as far as turnover generation goes. The Irish have forced three takeaways in each of their last three games
and they haven’t lost or tied the turnover margin in a single game since Sept. 13 against Texas A&M. Navy might produce a bit more on offense with Notre Dame’s defense less experienced than it was last year, but I still expect the Irish to win sizably via their ability to run the ball and take the football away.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 40, Navy: 20
Claire Watson
Coming off a lackluster 2510 win over Boston College, the Irish now gear up to face Navy at home in another edition of the traditional rivalry. While most wanted or expected the margin to be higher against the Eagles, Notre Dame still continued its winning streak on the road to keep Playoff chances alive.
Notre Dame struggled this past weekend as the offense did little outside of a 94-yard touchdown from junior running back Jeremiyah Love. The backfield duo of Love and fellow junior Jadarian Price only totaled 159 rushing yards, a significant drop from the 306 rushing yards against USC a week prior.
On the other side of the ball, the Notre Dame defense held its ground and performed well, holding the Eagles’ offense short on multiple fourth down attempts. Should they continue this strong performance and get an offensive display akin to earlier in the season, the Irish should be able to take the win over Navy.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 35 , Navy: 21
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Junior running back Jeremiyah Love blasts through the USC defensive line to secure a touchdown for the Irish on Oct. 18, 2025, in Notre Dame’s biggest rivalry game of the year. Love rushed for over 200 yards in the 34-24 victory and after a 94 yard touchdown run against Boston College last weekend, has emerged as a contender for the coveted Heisman Trophy. FOOTBALL