THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026 | VOL. LXI, NO. 2
Conboy contract extended to 2030
By Observer News Staff
Saint Mary’s President Katie Conboy’s contract has been extended by two years, an Aug. 12 press release stated. The decision was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees, who cited Conboy’s continued work with Saint Mary’s Revere and Revise plan as central to the extension. “President Conboy has earned the full confidence of the Board through her thoughtful leadership, her unwavering commitment to the mission of Saint Mary’s, and her bold vision for the future,” Chair of the Board of Trustees Maureen Smith stated in the release. Smith highlighted Conboy’s work developing academic programs and structures such as the Prikkel Advising, Career and Experience Center and The Avenue Experience. With a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, Conboy oversaw the construction of the Center for Integrated Healthcare Innovation in Regina Hall, which houses departments such as nursing science,
speech-language pathology, social work, gerontology and autism studies. “Under Katie’s leadership, the College has achieved unprecedented success through a combination of enrollment, fundraising, and academic innovation, while remaining firmly rooted in its Catholic identity and the values that have defined Saint Mary’s for generations,” Smith stated. Smith pointed to the college’s financial growth as another reason behind the extension. Launched on June 6, the Ring Out, Ring True capital campaign has already raised $180 million in its development phase. According to Conboy, prior to this renewal, she had already gone through two renewal contracts: one on a three-year contract that would last until 2023 and the next a fiveyear contract that would last until 2028. Due to her accomplishments and initiatives, the Board went through the approval process see “Contract” on page 4
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
Former Alumni rector dies after four-decade career By Mara Hall Associate News Editor
Fr. George Rozum, a Holy Cross priest who served as rector of Alumni Hall from 1978 to 2019, died Saturday after a short illness. Rozum’s 41-year career that made him the longest-serving rector in Notre Dame history. He was 87. Rozum was born on Feb. 1, 1939 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He grew up as an adoptee with his brother John and five additional siblings. He attended the University of Notre Dame as an undergraduate studying philosophy, and graduated in 1963. According to his alumni profile, he resided in Farley Hall. However, he professed first vows on Aug. 16, 1961, prior to his undergraduate graduation. He professed final vows on Aug. 16, 1964 before earning a masters in Theology from Holy Cross College, Washington D.C., in 1967.
He was ordained in the Holy Cross order on May 5, 1968. From 1968 to 1976, Rozum was an associate pastor at St. Ignatius Martyr Parish in Austin and worked with several schools for the deaf. He returned to campus and spent a year in Moreau Seminary, followed by a year serving as an assistant rector in Holy Cross Hall. In 1978, Rozum began the role that would define most of his ministry at Notre Dame: rector of Alumni Hall. “When I walked in his door for the first time in August 1978, even though he had just arrived as rector, he popped up from the chair behind his table, and knew my name having studied it from a picture book,” Fr. Jim King, a 1981 Notre Dame grad who lived in Alumni Hall as an undergraduate and is now the rector of Knott Hall, said. King said that his book, “Known by Name: Inside the Halls Of Notre Dame” is
dedicated to Rozum. “It is the essence of any kind of ministry. You can’t minister to people if you don’t know who they are,” he said. “I wrote a note to the hall announcing Fr. George’s death and one of the things that I said in it was, perhaps it is appropriate that Fr. George passed away as we prepare to welcome our newest freshman, because that was such an important part of his ministry as a rector,” current Alumni rector Br. Dennis Gunn said. Gunn also noted that Rozum will be remembered as part of Alumni Hall Wake Week in the spring. Now a longtime tradition, Rozum started Wake Week in 1980. Wake Week involves a longtime rivalry with Dillion Hall, and former Dillion rector Fr. Paul Doyle remembers participating in contests with Rozum. “One of the featured see “Rector” on page 3
Mass punctuates welcome of new ND students By Matthew Morin Associate News Editor
on God’s glory and love, while the Gospel reading emphasizes Jesus turning to his disciples and asking them who they say he is. Quoting from Allen Levi’s bestselling novel “Theo of Golden,” McCormick said. “For anything to be good, there must be love in it.” McCormick advised incoming students to choose their paths based on a decision rooted in love, not necessarily one that is the easiest or guarantees success. This, McCormick said, is what St. Paul and the other saints did. “Choose the path of love, allow it to be your guide,” McCormick said. “The God, my friends, who receives everything, you can understand, is also the one who comes near to us, that desires to be known. I pray that during your time at the University, you may come to know that God more profoundly and deeply.” McCormick concluded by reminding students that despite inevitable hardship, “when you pursue a path of love, you find God.” At the close of the Mass, McCormick returned to speak to the
On Saturday, Aug. 22, members of the Notre Dame class of 2030 and transfer students were welcomed to campus with a first Mass in the Purcell Pavilion. University President Fr. Bob Dowd presided over the Mass, which began at 4:30 p.m. and was a central event of the Welcome Weekend programming. New students attending the Mass wore Welcome Weekend T-shirts and sat with their residence halls. Fr. Brian Ching, rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, began the Mass by welcoming everyone in attendance. “It’s a pleasure to welcome you all this afternoon, especially all of our newest Notre Dame students along with their families and friends as you begin your time here at Our Lady’s University,” Ching said. The readings for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time Mass came from the Book of Isaiah, St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans and Matthew’s gospel, read by deacon Mel Tardy, academic adviser in the Office of Undergraduate Education.
Following the readings, assistant vice president of Campus Ministry Fr. Pete McCormick gave the homily, in which he addressed the excitement and anxiety that new students might be facing beginning their time at the University. “Some of you are thrilled to be here, some of you are overwhelmed and most of you are some
combination of the two,” McCormick said. McCormick assured the class that while students may wonder if others in their class have everything all worked out, “the answer is absolutely not.” He continued, “They don’t. They won’t, and it won’t be for a while.” Addressing the readings,
McCormick addressed the theme of belovedness and all people being beloved children of God. “Never allow it to feel overwhelming, but trust that God will give you the grace and the strength and the wisdom necessary,” McCormick said. St. Paul, McCormick said, addresses the theme of meditating
NEWS | PAGE 3
OPINION | PAGE 6
SCENE | PAGE 8
SPORTS | PAGE 9
Women’s soccer
2026 schedule
Holy Cross College welcomed students arriving to the new Holy Cross Hall on Friday.
A welcome letter from Fr. Robert Dowd offers a message for students for the school year.
A fantastic return to the beloved cartoon show provides an appealing taste for audiences.
No. 8 Irish Notre Dame women’s soccer team gains its first win over Murray state, 3-0.
Ellie Collins pushes back on the criticism on this year’s slate of Notre Dame football games.
Holy Cross dorm
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
The first Mass was held at Purcell Pavilion on Saturday. It inducted the Notre Dame class of 2030 and transfer students, beginning at 4:30 p.m. University President Fr. Bob Dowd looked over the evening Mass.
President’s Letter
New ‘Avatar’ film
see “Mass” on page 4
SPORTS | PAGE 11
DAILY
2 | THE OBSERVER
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026
What are you most looking forward to this semester?
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
Emily Stadter
Luke Tocco
Vance Toth
Dane Weninger
Rees Lane
“Spending time with friends.”
“Trying all of the spices on the spice rack at NDH.”
“For the football games.”
“Building a strong community with fellow brothers in Sorin.”
“Getting to do all of the traditions in Sorin.”
junior Pasquerilla West Hall
junior Dunne Hall
sophomore Dunne Hall
freshman Sorin College
freshman Sorin College
SOCIAL MEDIA POLL
PHOTO OF THE DAY | MARIELLA TADDONIO
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Do you feel ready for the first day of class? 100% ready Kinda ready Not ready at all 27.9% 34.5%
37.6%
THE NEXT FIVE DAYS
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NEWS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026
Rector
Continued from page 1 events was the staring contest between rectors, and George always won. I blinked before he did every time, and that went on for 23 years that I was rector,” Doyle said. Another one Alumni’s hallmark traditions, the Quance, began during Rozum’s tenure. Short for Quad Dance, the tradition involves Alumni residents rushing onto South Quad at 12:31 p.m. on Fridays before home football games wearing costumes to perform a dance routine, which includes a clip of Rozum’s voice. The Alumni Hall motto — “Notre Dame by choice, Alumni by the grace of God” — is a direct quote from Rozum, according to Gunn. Rozum also incorporated tradition into the hall’s weekly mass. Mikey Terranova ’20, who served as an Alumni Hall sacristan, explained Rozum was “very particular about making sure the Mass was done with reverence, and so that everyone could appreciate and participate in it.” Mike Hennessey, class of
1984, described Rozum as “a soft-spoken man that really transformed in front of you as he was preaching and celebrating Mass.” Alumni agree his preaching was inspiring, and King said that in addition to Mass, “the best preaching he did was through his witness.” Fr. Brian Vetter, a 2017 graduate and former Alumni Hall resident assistant, said, “I am a priest because Fr. George.” During Rozum’s tenure in Alumni Hall, the rectorship became endowed as the Philip J. and Kathryn K. Faccenda Family Rectorship at Alumni Hall in 2015. The endowment was established by Philip Faccenda Sr., an Alumni Hall resident who graduated in 1951. His sons Phil Jr., class of 1989, and Michael, class of 1993, were Alumni residents during Rozum’s time as rector. Phil Faccenda Sr. held university leadership roles as general counsel, trustee, and special assistant to University President Fr. Theodore Hesburgh. According to Doyle, rector of Dillon Hall from
1997-2020, Rozum was the “first rector to ever be endowed.” Before the endowment, alumni set up a chapel fund for the hall to purchase new vestments, a missal and a lectionary. Doyle added that if a new chapel was opening on campus and did not have many vestments beyond the standard issue ones, Rozum would pass along vestments from Alumni Hall’s chapel and replace them using the fund. The endowment ref lected the enduring relationships Rozum formed with Alumni residents, sometimes spanning multiple generations of the same family. Some suspect he may have pulled in their kids into the hall rather than going through the random selection process. Mike Hennessy came in as a transfer student living off campus. His brother, Bill Hennessey III, class of 1983, was already an Alumni resident and asked Rozum if he was able to get Mike Hennessy on campus. Rozum later welcomed the transfer into Alumni. Two of Mike Hennessy’s sons attended Notre Dame, and the PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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younger son, Peter, lived in Alumni as well. “Once I realized that you might be able to talk to Fr. George about maybe getting some opportunity to maybe get a wink and a nod to get it, I approached Fr. George and he was very generous and said, well I will do what I can to get your son Peter in,” Mike Hennessy said. “The theory is that I somehow got pulled in. There was rumors that Fr. George had some magic that he could pull, but I think the word was you had to go introduce yourself. You had to say why you wanted to be in Alumni Hall,” Peter Hennessy said. “I had the privilege of meeting him right after I had gotten admitted.” According to Fr. Gil Stoy, an assistant rector in Alumni Hall from 20182019, stories about Rozum’s presence were not unusual. “I think everyone who has ever lived in alumni has a version of impersonating Fr. George,” he said, referring to common catch phrases like “oh my, oh my.” “He never really realized
how much of an impact he had and he wasn’t trying to get the attention,” Vetter said. “It’s not what he wanted. He was just a humble servant who loved us, loved God and wanted us to love God.” Stoy explained that when the email came out about Rozum’s departure from Alumni, the hall went quiet and residents began gathering in his room and the rooms of other RAs to process the news. “It was the unthinkable. Fr. George was an institution that seemed like he was already there when Alumni’s doors opened,” he said. “It definitely was a feeling of sadness when he announced that he was leaving, but I think we understood,” Peter Hennessy said. “I think the running joke was Fr. George had been there for a million years.” Rozum was celebrated at a wake held Thursday, Aug. 13, at Moreau Seminary, and his funeral was held on Aug. 14 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
NEWS
4 | THE OBSERVER
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026
Holy Cross opens seventh new dorm after a decade By Berhan Hagezom Saint Mary’s News Editor
Holy Cross Hall, an all-male residential dorm, welcomed its inaugural cohort on Friday, becoming the seventh residential building at Holy Cross College. The opening of the hall occurred during Saint’s Welcome Weekend, when students were greeted and checked in outside the dorm by resident assistants. After a selection process last year, the hall now holds a total of 113 people, with seniors given priority. Several rooms are reserved for freshmen students as well. The new dorm comes more than a decade after the latest residential building, North Hall, was developed. For students who choose to have a single, with seven rooms available, it is a $1,000 surcharge. Linda Thorpe Gordon, academic director of business, shared her excitement about faculty seeing students move in and observing parts of the strategic plan becoming actualized. “We were part of the process, it’s a part of our long-term strategic plan that President Marco Clark developed when he came here four years ago. So it’s a culmination of that strategic plan coming into fruition, so it’s very exciting,” Thorpe Gordon said. “We broke ground in May of 2025, and we began the planning process about a year earlier,” Clark said in an interview with The Observer. The process involved multiple partnership, including the University of Notre Dam, University Housing Solutions and ND Federal
Contract
Continued from page 1 for it to be extended until 2030. Conboy received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas in 1981 and a doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in 1986. Previously, she was provost at Stonehill College, where she had worked as a faculty member since 1987. She then served as the provost and senior vice president at Simmons University from 2013 to 2020, where she supervised the addition of two additional online degrees. Conboy shared her experiences in higher education administration and how they have contributed to building her leadership at the College. “Before coming to Saint Mary’s, I worked at two different academic institutions: Stonehill College—a Catholic College in Easton, Massachusetts, founded by the priests in the
Mass
Continued from page 1 freshmen, inviting them to applaud and thank their parents
Credit Union. Alongside faculty and staff, Clark highlighted that students were also involved in the design of the hall, including bathroom and room layouts, furniture selection and color schemes. The new residents will also be responsible for bringing in new traditions, finding a dorm motto and adopting a saint. He shared that the dorm is meant to be a “learning and living community” to facilitate and grow relationships between class years. The new dorm will allow Pulte Hall to become an all-women’s residence, which was formerly a co-ed dorm housing men on the first floor and women on the second floor. In terms of the future prospect of developing an all-women’s residence hall, Clark shared that they hope to develop both another residence hall and a Student Union within the next three-to-five years. “So these were meant and are meant to be done in tandem. We anticipate having a twin building to this one within a few years. We also are in the design process and the fundraising process for a new Student Union, so as our population has grown by 50% over the last four years, being able to have those community spaces — the amenities that student unions provide on college campuses has become the next goal,” he said. This also alleviates problems regarding off-campus housing. According to Clark, 185 sophomore students lived at University Edge a year ago, but the number has now decreased to 68 students. He shared that this brings benefits to the campus itself.
“This is great for campus life, for campus culture, for campus energy, for leadership, for mentoring on campus,” he said. “You don’t have the leadership brain drain of all the older students living off campus; they’re here now as well.” Freshman Grace Murphy, a student in the Gateway program, decided to live in Holy Cross Hall due to it being a new building and being able to be the first group of people to enjoy these amenities. “I first heard about the new residence hall, I believe, on my visit day,” she said. “I chose to come here because everything is going to be brand new and clean, so I just thought that would be super nice and all of the facilities just look amazing.” She added that the lighting also gave ambience to the room, sharing that it “doesn’t feel like a warehouse or anything like I’ve seen with other dorms. It feels like a place I’d be comfortable living in for a full year.” Harold Lee, father of freshman Ford Lee, shared that he was similarly impressed. “I think it’s one of the nicest college dorms I’ve ever seen visiting multiple campuses throughout the country,” Lee said. According to Allen Machielson, dean of student engagement, the amenities that are now featured within the building include lounge rooms, TVs, study pods, kitchenettes and free laundry rooms on each floor. Additionally, the building has features not found in any other dorm on campus — tap access for student-only areas and elevators. Machielson explained that the
study pods were one of the most requested spaces when the College asked students about what they would like to see on campus and in the new dorm. They will also be able to have access private conference rooms for use. The chapel, named Our Lady of Guadalupe, is currently under construction and will be consecrated on Dec. 12. Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend will give the blessing during the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The first priest-in-residence at the dorm will be Fr. Michael DeLaney, who currently serves as the assistant to the vice president of mission and ministry and College chaplain. In the meantime, Clark shared that students can practice their faith in other spaces around campus, including Our Lady of Sorrows and the Devotional Shrine of Our Lady of Holy Cross. Several other buildings also have prayer spaces that students can occupy. Male resident assistants are
located on each floor. Junior Tyler Hexamer, a resident assistant in the new dorm who formerly lived in Legacy Hall, shared how he feels about Legacy Hall being converted from six-person to four-person apartment rooms. “I lived in a six-man my freshman year [and] it was kind of chaotic, kind of crowded,” he said. “But at the same time, it was really nice because I got to meet more people that way and I’m still friends with those people today.” Clark hopes that the new building becomes a space that students utilize to change their own lives and paths at the college. “One of our donors I spoke with just a couple of days ago, his comment was, ‘Marco, lives will be changed, they will be formed, friendships will be made, lifetime friendships will happen in that new building,’” Clark said.
Congregation of Holy Cross— and Simmons University, a secular women’s college in Boston, Massachusetts,” she wrote. “When I was nominated for the Saint Mary’s presidency, I didn’t think I wanted to leave the Boston area. But as I learned more about the College, the opportunity became more and more intriguing because it combined the mission of Catholic education and the mission of women’s education in a way that spoke to me.” During her time at Simmons University, she was given the responsibility of creating a new core curriculum that undergraduate students would be enrolled in and reorganizing the administrative structure of the University. She explained how she redid the academic structure and provided a stronger foundation for the faculty there. “I was able to work with deans and faculty members to move from College to University status, and I then worked to organize the academic program into
four schools and to hire deans for those schools. I was also able to participate in the work of bringing several graduate programs online and scaling them to larger enrollments,” Conboy wrote. “I learned a lot of new things in that environment, and when the Saint Mary’s presidency was offered to me, I felt prepared—for everything except a global pandemic!” During her tenure, Saint Mary’s became a member of the Great Lakes Colleges Association, a group of private liberal arts colleges in the Midwestern region. Alongside speaking at national organizations and conferences, Conboy has served on boards such as the Council of Independent Colleges and the Women’s College Coalition. She is also a designated director with the Independent Colleges of Indiana. In terms of the tri-campus partnership, under her leadership, she switched the dining system for the College to utilize
and collaborate with Notre Dame Dining. She also spoke about her academic partnership with the other institutions and how they facilitate students’ academic progress. “Beyond the regular course exchange, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross regularly offer classes that can be used toward students’ degree progress on the other campus. And during my time at Saint Mary’s, we have added six direct-entry accelerated dualdegree programs with Notre Dame, where an SMC student can complete her undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s and her graduate degree at Notre Dame,” she wrote. These master’s programs include fields in digital marketing, finance, management, accountancy, nonprofit administration and the accelerated Master of Science in Engineering, Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence program. In the future, she hopes to create more accelerated Master’s
program with the University of Notre Dame and other institutions, further develop The Avenue Experience, create criteria for developing AI-based skills, build the campus master plan, collaborate with the new Heritage and Research Center on research opportunities for students and finish the Center for Integrated Healthcare Innovation. Conboy shared her gratitude for the board’s decision and continued support for her leadership. She hopes to continue Saint Mary’s impact with the help of students and faculty. “I am deeply honored by the Board’s confidence in me and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Saint Mary’s College,” Conboy expressed in the press release. “Together, our dedicated faculty, staff, students, alumnae, and supporters are building on our rich tradition while preparing the next generation of women leaders to make a meaningful difference in the world.”
and families who accompanied them to Welcome Weekend. “All of us are beneficiaries of incredible love, accompaniment, mentorship and guidance,” McCormick said before adding
that the families must leave the University confident in the seeds they have planted in the students. McCormick, recalling his own experience, explained that to become a priest, he realized that
he must leave his home parish. However, McCormick noted that, just as he moved away from home, the families must also leave, allowing the students to grow. The Mass concluded with
participants singing of the Alma Mater and the closing hymn, “Christ, Be Our Light.”
BERHAN HAGEZOM | The Observer
The new dorm at Holy Cross College opened its doors to students moving in for Saint’s Welcome Weekend on Friday, as activities commence.
Contact Berhan Hagezom at bhagezom01@saintmarys.edu
Contact Mattthew Morin at mmorin2@nd.edu
NEWS OPINION
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026
THE OBSERVER | A
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dowd: “Help shape the University” As a new academic year begins, I want to extend a warm welcome to each of you. Whether you are arriving on campus for the first time or returning after a summer away, we are truly glad you are here. Notre Dame’s mission is distinctive. We offer an undergraduate education that is second to none and ref lects our commitment to educating the whole person. We cultivate
scholarly excellence and advance human understanding through top-tier research and postbaccalaureate programs. And in all that we do, we ensure that Notre Dame’s Catholic identity informs our efforts. As you know, the University has a rich history. Generations of Notre Dame graduates have been shaped by their experiences here, and they, in turn, have left their mark on the
University. We invite you to do the same. You are now part of the Notre Dame family, and you have a unique opportunity to help shape the University. Individually and collectively, you have extraordinary talents and gifts to share. I invite you to approach every day and each conversation as an opportunity to learn. Take time to listen to and engage with those whose perspectives and backgrounds
might be different from your own, and be an active participant in building a community where every person experiences a true sense of belonging. You are Notre Dame, and we are better because you are here. To mark the beginning of the new academic year, I warmly invite you to attend the University-wide Opening Mass of the Academic Year at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, August
24, in the Purcell Pavilion of the Joyce Center. Please join me as we gather to ask for God’s blessing on the journey ahead. Once again, welcome. Know of my prayers for you. Sincerely Yours in Notre Dame, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. President University of Notre Dame
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Clark: “You belong here” As a new academic year begins, there is a particular energy that returns to our corner of the 46556. Students arrive with boxes and backpacks. Families make one more trip to the store and offer one more goodbye. Faculty prepare classrooms and syllabuses. Staff members across campus complete the countless details that make the beginning of a new year possible. And slowly, a college becomes itself fully again. At Holy Cross College, we enter this academic year with tremendous gratitude and hope. First, I want to thank our faculty and staff. The work of education is deeply personal work. It happens in classrooms, certainly, but also in offices and residence halls, on athletic fields, in the chapel, over meals and during conversations that may seem ordinary in the moment but can remain with a young person for years. Our faculty and staff understand that forming students requires
more than providing information. It requires presence, example, patience and genuine care. I am equally grateful to our parents and families. When you entrust a son or daughter to Holy Cross, you entrust us with someone precious to you. We never take that responsibility lightly. You remain essential partners in the work of educating and forming these young men and women. And to our students, especially those joining us for the first time: welcome. You belong here, and we are glad you are here. Pope Leo XIV offers an especially fitting reflection for this moment in his apostolic letter “Drawing New Maps of Hope.” Writing about the mission of Catholic education, he reminds us that “Christian education is a collective endeavor: no one educates alone.” That idea resonates deeply
with the Holy Cross tradition. Education at its best is a shared undertaking. It is a community of people willing to accompany one another in the search for truth, to ask difficult questions, to discover gifts, to encounter people whose experiences differ from our own and ultimately to discern how those gifts might be placed at the service of others. That is what makes this place so special. Holy Cross occupies a unique place within one of the most remarkable environments in American higher education. Our students share the 46556 with the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College, with opportunities to learn, worship, compete, build friendships and participate in the life of a broader tri-campus community. But Holy Cross also offers something distinctly its own. Here, education is
rooted in the charism of Blessed Basil Moreau and the Congregation of Holy Cross. We seek to educate both the mind and the heart. We challenge students to become engaged scholars, courageous citizens, virtuous leaders and passionate disciples. And we ask them to develop the competence to see the needs of the world clearly and the courage to act in response. This year will bring accomplishments worth celebrating. There will also be challenges, unexpected turns and moments when the map ahead is not entirely clear. That, too, is part of education. Pope Leo writes that Catholic education can be “a beacon: not a nostalgic refuge, but a laboratory of discernment, pedagogical innovation and prophetic witness.” His words remind us that our Catholic identity does not call us away from the questions facing our world. It
calls us more deeply into them, equipped with faith, reason, compassion and hope. So as another year begins in the 46556, my hope for our students is not simply that they earn degrees or prepare for successful careers, important as those things are. I hope they encounter people who change them. I hope they discover something about themself they did not know when they arrived. I hope they learn to recognize the dignity of the person in front of them. I hope they grow in wisdom, faith and courage. And I hope that together, students, parents, faculty and staff, we continue drawing new maps of hope for a world very much in need of them. Welcome to a new year at Holy Cross College. Ave Crux, Spes Unica, Dr. Marco J. Clark President Holy Cross College
An ode to having an accent By Maria Eduarda Grill Columnist, “Below the Dome”
There is a certain kind of intriguing, exciting insanity in being an international student and willingly choosing a small town in Indiana as the place to spend the next four years of your life. A continent you had maybe never set foot on, and a town small enough to disappear inside a larger map of a country that was never yours to begin with. But you picked it anyway. While you navigate a new life built by your own choices, one part of you stays unchosen through all of it: your accent. It follows you into every seminar, every dining hall table, every introduction you will make for the next four years, a signature written before you had the language to consent to it. Formation comes before freedom. A language, a household,
a country, a childhood you did not consent to made you before you had any say in the matter. Most people get to forget this because their own formation passes as neutral. But an accent does not offer that forgetting. It is a small, constant reminder that nobody actually arrives anywhere as a blank page, no matter how much a place built on new beginnings might want a student to believe otherwise. That does not make your background easy to carry. It rarely is. But it is closer to an advantage than a flaw if you are willing to treat it as one. To every freshman arriving this week, international or not: You will be offered, in a hundred small ways, the choice to smooth down whatever gives you away as having come from somewhere else. Soften the accent. Trade the reference nobody in the room recognizes for the one they already know. Let
the parts of you that do not immediately translate quietly disappear. Do not take that offer. It might be the only proof available to you that someone built you before you started building yourself. That same offer does not stop at how a student sounds. It comes back later, dressed differently, in the choice of a major and then a career. For international students especially, there is already a path laid out and worn smooth by many who walked it first: Finance, engineering, the visa-safe job that makes the whole decision to leave home look justified on paper, which answers, in a language everyone already understands, the question of why you came. It is tempting, because it is legible. But it is the same offer as before, dressed up as practicality instead of pronunciation. First, the pressure is to sound like
everyone else. Later, it is to dream like everyone else. This week, Notre Dame welcomes a class that had to be brave in a dozen different ways just to get here. My hope is that you hold onto that obstinate first version of yourself. The one still willing to speak the way you actually speak, study what you actually love and
build the life you actually want, long after orientation ends. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Maria Eduarda Grill at mgrill@nd.edu
OPINION
6 | THE OBSERVER
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026
Why it’s ok to be a procrastinator By Sophia Anderson Opinion Copy Editor
As I begin writing this, T-7 days until the official beginning of my senior year, I have yet to pack a single item. My class schedule is not finalized; all of the game day outfits in my cart remain unordered, and I haven’t even considered how I’ll decorate my last-ever dorm room. Nobody in my life is surprised by this information. I’m pretty well known as a chronic procrastinator, and I’m someone who can’t feel secure in a decision unless I make it at the last possible moment. The adrenaline of an approaching deadline invigorates me; problems don’t feel serious until they’re imminent, and there’s always something closer and more pressing to focus on. I think procrastination is kind of beautiful. My type-A friends, who stress about things like moving back to school for weeks or months ahead of time, have to live (at least partially) in the future. I spend nearly every moment in the present, and I don’t
worry too much about things before they’re happening. I like to be in the moment. Of course, there can be consequences to living the procrastinator’s lifestyle. It can frustrate your friends: Not everyone likes arriving at the airport 15 minutes before boarding (I’ve never missed a flight, and the two-hour rule is a scam). If it gets out of control, it can obviously hurt you academically; I am fortunate to have grown out of procrastinating schoolwork (there’s pretty much no time for it anymore). But as a general way of life, I believe in embracing procrastination. It’s not just a habit to me, but the way I’m wired and part of my personality. I’ve learned to take pride in being intentional about the important things. Putting off everything, down to eating my meals or texting someone back, makes it that much more meaningful to prepare early for what matters. Studying for and taking the LSAT during my junior year, for example, allowed me to prove to myself how
much I care about law school. The difficulty I had forcing myself to plan and execute a study schedule across months made my sense of accomplishment so much greater. I’ve also learned to manipulate myself out of my own procrastination tactics. I like to set false deadlines for assignments and exams to simulate the “cramming” feeling, and it helps to hide my phone from myself while I’m at the library. Sometimes, finishing my work before the deadline can feel like a game; the productive feeling I get from sending an email days before I need to or starting a paper the day it’s assigned is rewarding, and it makes relaxing more enjoyable. People have told me countless times that being a procrastinator won’t work in college. What I’ve learned, entering my fourth turbulent year of undergrad, is that you have to make procrastination work for you. There’s nothing wrong with being type B or saving four loads of laundry to do at once or waiting to plan your birthday until the week
before. The best way to avoid problems with procrastination is to understand it — learn what helps you get moving and use it. To the new freshmen, especially my fellow procrastinators, know that you don’t have to change yourself or your habits to be successful at Notre Dame. All you have to do is find a way to get motivated and finish it all on time. No 6 a.m. alarms or colorcoded planner necessary. It’s true that working on a Saturday morning, when the pressure’s off and
you have an Alani and a fall library outfit, is fun. But it’s also true that pulling an all-nighter on a Tuesday, in a pair of pajamas (but still with an Alani), can be fun. At least for some of us. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Sophia Anderson at sander38@nd.edu
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OPINION
THE OBSERVER | 7
Steelers Camp Former Notre Dame cornerback Max Hurleman and defensive end Gabriel Rubio feature at the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia on Aug. 16, 2026. By Mariella Taddonio Photo Editor
SCENE
8 | THE OBSERVER
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026
‘Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender’ appeals to all By Claire Watson Scene Writer
Growing up, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra” were two of my favorite television shows. Over the summer, after rewatching both series, I finally got to watch “Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender” — for me, the most anticipated movie of 2026. The movie aired on July 25, 2026, on Paramount+, three months earlier than the anticipated release date in October. I was thoroughly impressed by the storyline, character development, callbacks to the original series and animation. One of the things that I always felt was missing between the original animated series and “The Legend of Korra” was an answer to the question, “What happened to Aang and the gang in between?” 13 years after the end of the Hundred Year War, the movie follows Aang (Eric Nam), Katara (Jessica Matten), Sokka (Román Zaragoza), Toph (Dionne Quan) and Zuko (Steven Yeun) on their newest adventure to take down “the Denied,” a group of non-benders with plans to eliminate the benders of the four nations. Along the way, they meet an airbender named Tagah (Dave Bautista) who teaches Aang new ways of airbending as well as how to connect deeper with the element, only to find out that Tagah plans later to take over Republic City. The movie displays intense but beautiful character development. For example, Katara
has grown not just into a master of waterbending but also into a representative in Republic City and an advocate for peace among the four nations. We get a look into the Fire Nation and how Zuko is handling it as a fierce but fair ruler. Sokka, who has returned to the Southern Water Tribe, is still an inventor and coming up with new ideas. Toph is a teacher and mentor to young metalbenders, and Aang is traveling the world with Appa to collect airbending relics. This meshes the gang’s new hope for peace with their original personalities.
One of the most impressive parts of the film was the callbacks to the original animated series which first aired in 2005. This included Aang referring to Zuko as “Hotman,” a name that originates in the third season of the animated series in which Aang first starts working with Zuko. I love that their friendship is heavily emphasized in the movie, just as it was in the show. The movie also uses lines that appear in the show, such as Toph’s “I’m the greatest earthbender in the world” and Zuko’s infamous “honor” lines. Also featured is, of
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
course, one of the most iconic characters from the original series: the cabbage man who screams, “My cabbages!” Another important part of the movie that I want to highlight is the animation. I noticed pretty immediately that the animation of the movie is not the same as the show’s, but honestly, I didn’t mind — in fact, I thought it made it better. The swift and smooth movements of the characters during the fight scenes were beautifully done. Another element of the animation that I enjoyed was the way different elements moved around
the screen. For example, air behaved smoothly while earth and metal behaved sharply and quickly. The movie was great in all of these aspects, but I believe there were a few things missing. At the beginning of the movie, we are presented with Aang and Katara’s developing relationship, but we are never given answers to questions such as, “Did they get married?” I also wonder about their kids who appear in “The Legend of Korra.” Additionally, I would have liked to know more about Sokka and Suki’s relationship and what happened between them. Additionally, what happened to Aang in the end was unclear. We know from “The Legend of Korra” that he passed away, but I would have liked to know how. Finally, I was disappointed by Zuko’s character, not because of the writing — which was amazing — but because he was voiced by a different actor. This is not to say that Yeun did a bad job, but because I believe that Dante Basco, who played Zuko in the original series, was unique in his voice acting. I felt we lost a bit of Zuko in the new movie. Overall, the movie was a 10 out of 10. I would recommend watching it if you are a fan of the Avatar world. It brings new elements to the table while still keeping the same humor and love for the original series present in its language and character development. Contact Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
Fifty Something tour: Rush is back in action By Harry Penne Scene Copy Editor
If you told me last year that I would find myself at a Rush concert, I would have laughed, not believing you. Yet, despite the belief they would never tour again, I found myself at the United Center in Chicago on July 16 amid a sold out crowd, where the average age was nearly four decades older than me, for a Rush concert. I was able to share this concert with my family, and it was a truly special moment because my dad is who first introduced me to Rush many years ago. Did we drive about 10 hours from Tennessee to Chicago the morning of the concert? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely. This tour marks Rush’s first since R40 Live in 2015. Original members Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee returned alongside the additions of keyboardist Loren Gold and new drummer Anika
Nilles. Long-time drummer Neil Peart passed away from glioblastoma in 2020, and Fifty Something is dedicated to his memory. The band has created several lovely tribute videos to the drummer which play throughout the show, and Lee offers many words and fond memories. The performance of “Bravado” was dedicated to him as well. The song was one of Peart’s favorites, resonating with him emotionally. It’s safe to say that it also resonated with the whole United Center that night. Rush is a live act that sounds just as good in person as on the record. After decades of touring, Lee and Lifeson still have it. What impressed me the most was that Lee was still able to hit his iconic high notes. He had a few hiccups early in the show where he didn’t quite get up high enough, but it seemed he just needed to warm up because by the third song,
he didn’t miss another. This is also quite impressive as Lee was recovering from a cold. Nilles had enormous shoes to fill and executed Peart’s notoriously difficult compositions with apparent ease. The opening track was the 11-minute prog-rock epic “Xanadu.” Before the show started, a wrap-around screen was lowered around the stage, and as the song began to crescendo, the screen slowly rose to reveal a stage covered in fog and Lee and Lifeson, standing ready to go. This was an epic opening number, signaling that Rush had truly returned. The show was very theatrical in its design. Pyrotechnics were used, the stage had several steampunk inspired set pieces and several of the indoor fireworks genuinely startled the crowd. Lee always laughed when this happened. The band had a great sense of humor about itself.
Before “Xanadu” started, a video played in which fans looked for Rush in a haunted nursing home, playing into the fact that the bandmates are getting older. Also in the video, Paul Rudd and Jason Segel reprised their Rushobsessed characters from “I Love You, Man.” Both hits and deeper cuts were played, and the band offered a wonderful survey of their discography. You had classics — “Tom Saw yer,” “Y YZ,” “Time Stand Still,” “Red Barchetta,” “Subdivisions” — some newer songs — “The Garden” and “Caravan” — and incredible prog instrumentals — “La Villa Strangiato” and the overture from “2112.” “Villa” was a true spectacle. The song is technically dense, and the layering and sound of the instruments in person was majestic. Of course, everybody went crazy for both “Tom Saw yer” and “Y YZ,” and almost the whole crowd stood
for them. The show concluded with a two-song encore, playing one of their earliest forays into prog “By-Tor And The Snow Dog” from “Fly By Night” and “Working Man” from their first album, “Rush” from 1974. These were two great send-offs that harkened to the band’s roots 50 years ago. The show was fairly long, with the setlist alone running about two and a half hours not including the interval, video transitions and the Peart tributes. Given how long it was, the show began shortly after 7:30 p.m. There was no opening act. Despite the show’s length, it absolutely f lew by, and the energy never dwindled. I am so glad I was able to experience such a legendary rock band live. If you’re able to catch Rush on tour, do it. They’re spectacular. Contact Harry Penne at hpenne@nd.edu
SPORTS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 9
ND MEN’S SOCCER
No. 8 Irish pick up first win of fresh season By Ben Hicks Sports Editor
After an injury-riddled start to a highly anticipated autumn, the No. 8 Notre Dame women’s soccer team earned its first win of the season with a 3-0 finish over Murray State at Alumni Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Junior forward Lily Joseph opened the scoring from the spot in the 36th-minute, before freshman forward Kate Kemmerley recorded career goals one and two in the second
half to seal the victory. Ninth-year head coach Nate Norman’s Irish, who entered the year ranked second nationally after a historic 2025 campaign, have been without the services of numerous key upperclassmen all throughout the pitch to begin 2026. Junior forwards Izzy Engle, the 2025 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and Annabelle Chukwu, a 2025 All-ACC First Team selectee, have each missed matches. Junior midfielder Grace Restovich is still recovering from a lower-body
injury that prematurely ended her 2025 season while senior defender Morgan Roy and junior goalkeeper Sonoma Kasica have also gone down with injuries since the regular season commenced on Aug. 12. Despite the slew of adversity thrown Notre Dame’s way thus far, Norman expressed pride in how his group has responded. “It’s all character building and being able [to] bounce back and really grow,” he said postgameSunday. Norman specifically
ELLA BERGSTROM | The Observer
Then-sophomore forward Lily Joseph controls the ball in the midfield in Notre Dame’s 4-3 win away at No. 22 North Carolina on Sept. 24, 2025. Joseph has three goals in four games to kick off the 2026 season.
highlighted senior goalkeeper Jackie Hollomon, who stepped in to make her first career start on Thursday in Lincoln, Nebraska, after Kasica was injured during warmups. “Jackie’s been great because as a backup keeper, it’s a hard position because you have to always be ready for your name to be called,” Norman said. The Seattle native was ready when her name was called just minutes before Thursday’s match with the Cornhuskers, in which she recorded three saves and only allowed one goal in a tough road environment. She was ready again on Sunday, collecting her first career clean sheet with two saves, including a one-on-one breakaway denial of Racers star forward Breece Bass midway through the second half with the scoreline still sitting at 1-0. That save flipped the momentum of the match back in favor of Notre Dame, when yet another unlikely and inexperienced Irish player flipped the game on its head. Kemmerley, a first-year from just outside Philadelphia, tallied her first career score in the 70th-minute off a beautifully lofted pass from senior midfielder Charlie Codd. Just 10 minutes later, she calmly slotted home a deflected pass to complete the brace and put the match on ice. Norman spoke highly of the freshman class, which has played the most total minutes of any class on the Irish roster thus far, saying, “They’ll have some growing pains when you throw them in there so quickly.
The plan was to ease them in more, but I think it’s been great to keep their confidence high, and they get going here.” Norman was also complimentary of the junior forwards leading the way up front, Ellie Hodsden and Joseph, the goal-scorer. After an impressive rookie campaign in 2024 in which she tied Hodsden for second-most on the team with eight goals en route to an AllACC selection, Joseph struggled last season. She scored twice late, including an 88th-minute equalizer to ignite a comeback against Penn State last weekend, marking her first goals since her brace led the Irish into the Sweet 16 back on Nov. 24, 2024, against Kentucky. “She’s one of our veterans that is steadying us and helping keep this team connected with all the younger players,” Norman said of the Connecticut native. Now sitting at 1-0-3, the Irish will continue their difficult nonconference slate later this week at Michigan before returning home on Sept. 3 to host No. 5 Michigan State. The Wolverines sit at 0-0-2 after opening the season with a pair of draws in Utah before inclement weather forced Saturday’s home tilt with Xavier to end in a nocontest. Thursday night’s showdown between the Irish and Wolverines is set for 7 p.m. first touch at U-M Soccer Stadium. Streaming from Ann Arbor, Michigan, will be provided by B1G+. Contact Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu
ND MEN’S SOCCER
Notre Dame finishes level with Northwestern By Ben Hicks Sports Editor
After Thursday’s disappointing season-opening 3-1 defeat at No. 22 Indiana, the Notre Dame men’s soccer program returned to Alumni Stadium for the first time this autumn to host another Big Ten rival in Northwestern. Freshman forward Michael Capretto netted his first collegiate goal to open the scoring in the first 45 minutes before Northwestern senior midfielder Baraka Tarleton equalized in the 76th minute to earn a share of the spoils for the visitors. Ninth-year head coach Chad Riley’s Irish sprinted out of the handshake line to fire up their home crowd with free T-shirts and carried that energy into the early portions of Sunday evening’s match. The Blue and Gold controlled the possession throughout the opening half hour, resulting
in numerous opportune chances at goal. The freshman combination up top between Capretto and midfielder Tristan Tropeano showed f lashes of brilliant creativity that the Irish have lacked for the better part of two seasons now. Riley expressed pleasure with the freshmen postgame, commenting, “Every time they’ve played together, they’ve caused havoc on the other team’s defense.” He continued by saying, “I think they both have a very, very high end.” The first real moment of havoc engineered by Capretto and Tropeano came in the 17th-minute when Tropeano back-heeled a through ball from senior defender Sean McDowd to set up a Capretto shot which was def lected away by the Wildcat defense. Another brilliant pass from McDowd just five minutes later would get the
Irish on the board as Capretto chipped Northwestern goalkeeper Gino Cervoni, who was caught off his line, from just inside the 18-yard box. The Irish would seemingly double their advantage as the minutes waned on the first half, but senior midfielder Nico Bartlett’s finish off the crossbar was all for naught due to a controversial offside f lag lifted by the assistant referee. The offside ruling was upheld upon video review, despite a wideangle view that suggested Wake Forest transfer midfielder Vlad Walent, who played the pass to Bartlett, remained onside during his initial run. That call and the halftime intermission, seemed to f lip the momentum of the match, with the pitch tilting heavily in favor of the Wildcats during half two. “We had two spells that we didn’t like, where we weren’t
connecting. That’s credit to Northwestern, especially in the second half,” Riley said. Northwestern finished with 6 shots on goal to Notre Dame’s 3, and many of those quality chances came after the break. Junior midfielder Gabe Smyth near leveled matters in the 58th-minute, but his right-footed strike off a nice 1-2 combination was cleared off the line by McDowd after it sneaked past the dive of junior goalkeeper Blake Kelly. The Canadian would contribute to the eventual equalizer, as he assisted Tarleton’s top-bins screamer that knotted the score at 1-1 late in the match. Capretto and junior midfielder Brady Hilden each had chances in the dying minutes to snatch 3 points for Notre Dame, but Northwestern’s back line stood strong to preserve the draw. The challenging
nonconference slate for the Irish will continue this Friday as No. 4-ranked St. Louis travels to South Bend for 7:30 tilt. “We challenged [ourselves] in preseason. I think we need to recover and then you’ll see another layer of sharpness and then we can start to put together 45 minutes at a time instead of 30,” Riley said, assessing his team’s approach to the earlyseason schedule. The Billikens, who have captured 10 national championships in their illustrious history, could come to town with the top ranking after the three teams ahead of them all dropped points across the first week of play. Friday’s contest between the Irish and Billikens will be the annual Irish Wear Green game, with streaming available on ACCNX. Contact Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 11
FOOTBALL
Collins: Enough about the schedule already By Ellie Collins Associate Sports Editor
A part of me wants to disregard the seemingly neverending, trivial evaluations of Notre Dame’s 2026-27 football schedule, most often heard from a talking head on ESPN or in the comment section of any post mentioning this season’s Irish. Of course, I am referring to the claim that the team will be deemed a “paper tiger” this season, given the unreasonable number of cupcake opponents on its slate. But such remarks lack context. Let me get this out of the way first — as a fan, I know that Notre Dame’s schedule is not as challenging as I would like it to be. I would rather watch the Irish take on the USC Trojans at the L A Memorial Coliseum than watch them take on a UNC team in Chapel Hill that has been most notable for offfield drama under head coach Bill Belichick. Since the formal schedule release earlier in 2026 and having perceived the aforementioned
critiques, I began to question how many teams truly have challenging campaigns and how many share comparable slates but are not being scrutinized or lambasted quite like the Irish. Here are my newfound presumptions: if No. 4 Notre Dame’s schedule, which includes three ranked opponents in No. 14 BYU, No. 7 Miami and No. 19 SMU, is “soft” then so is Miami’s, No. 6 Indiana’s and — hold your breath — No. 2 Oregon’s. Based on preseason rankings, the Irish’s most difficult competitor will be the Hurricanes. The same holds true for Miami, except Notre Dame will face additional tough teams down the road. Here is Miami’s schedule: Stanford, Florida A&M, at Wake Forest, Central Michigan, at Clemson, Florida State, Pitt, UNC, at Notre Dame, Duke, Virginia Tech and Boston College. Based on preseason evaluations, I believe the Hurricanes have only one expectedly difficult matchup, the one in South Bend.
The defending National Championship runnersup will likely be very good, and the Nov. 7 showdown with Notre Dame should be epic. But the Canes’ schedule leaves a lot to be desired, and I am by no means blaming Miami’s program. Unlike many so-called experts, I understand that these schedules are often made years in advance or subject to annual vagaries of program performance. No one knew that contests against Clemson or Florida State would not be as daunting as in prior years. The same can be said for Notre Dame’s matchup at Wisconsin and at home against Michigan State. Yet if the Irish — who are not a part of the ACC — are playing an arguably more difficult ACC schedule than Miami with SMU on their calendar, it seems only fair to apply the same standards to the Hurricanes. Indiana, meanwhile, is slated to play North Texas, Howard, WKU, Northwestern, at Rutgers, at Nebraska, No. 1 Ohio State, at No. 16 Michigan, Minnesota, No. 14
USC, at No. 17 Washington and Purdue. Frankly, I believe the first three games for Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti are unbecoming for a defending national champion and deserve condemnation. Oregon, in a similar vein, is playing Boise State, at Oklahoma State, Portland State, at USC, UCL A, Nebraska, at Illinois, Northwestern, at Ohio State, Michigan, at Michigan State and Washington. Both Indiana and Oregon play one team in the preseason top seven — No. 1 Ohio State. Notre Dame plays one team in the top seven — No. 7 Miami. Indiana and Oregon both play No. 14 USC, tied with Notre Dame opponent No. 14 BYU in the poll. Indiana and Oregon both play No. 16 Michigan. Notre Dame plays No. 19 SMU. Therefore, if one bastardizes Notre Dame’s slate, they should be criticizing many others. Additionally, the difference between the top-ranked Buckeyes and Miami needs to play out on the field as the Canes proved to be superior in last year’s playoff.
Just because the jerseys say BYU and SMU does not mean those teams take a backseat to bigger name brands in the AP poll. Yes, Notre Dame’s schedule could use more heft. However, the continuous campaign against the Irish schedule is nothing but a dull effort to force them to join a conference and reinforce the narrative that the Big Ten and SEC boast superior depth of quality. Let the games be played. SMU could be horrible. So could Michigan and even the almighty Alabama, who is ranked its lowest since 2008, Nick Saban’s second season. Alternatively, Wisconsin could put together a turnaround campaign, and Belichick could put it all together in year two at UNC. Power rankings do a great job of adjusting for schedule, luck and performance against expectations. Notre Dame’s schedule should be judged on that score instead of preseason fodder. Contact Ellie Collins at ecollin9@nd.edu
DECLAN LEE | The Observer
Head coach Marcus Freeman and then-sophomore quarterback CJ Carr join in singing the Alma Mater after defeating Boston College 25-10 on Nov. 1, 2025, at Alumni Stadium in Boston. The preseason No. 4 Irish will take on the Eagles again this season at home on Nov. 14, one week removed from the most critical rematch of the season against No. 7 Miami.
12 | THE OBSERVER
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The Observer, page 13, August 20, 1988:
BEAT THE RUSH.
HATE MIAMI
NOW. RESPECTFULLY, THE CLASS OF 10.15.1988 †
GO IRISH! † RESPECTFULLY, THE CLASS OF 10.15.1988 † The Class of 10.15.1988 is a state of being outside the space-time continuum, like
Fat†Shirley’s Diner or the Restaurant at being the End of the the Universe. The Class of 10.15.1988 The Class of 10.15.1988 is a state of outside space-time continuum, like is not affiliated withRestaurant the University of End Notreof Dame or SaintThe Mary’s College. Fat Shirley’s Diner or the at the the Universe. Class of 10.15.1988 is not affiliated with the University of Notre Dame or Saint Mary’s College.