A look back at the 1988 and 1993 seasons
By Ben Hicks and Claire Watson Sports Editor and Associate Sports Editor
Leading up to the tenure of current head coach Marcus Freeman, two of the most successful seasons in recent Notre Dame football memory came under the reign of former head coach Lou Holtz. Holtz, who died Wednesday, enjoyed a wildly consistent and successful 11-year tenure in South Bend. But the two brightest campaigns on his docket came in 1988 and 1993. One season shines for eternal perfection and success, and the other for missed opportunities and robberies.
Just three years after coming to South Bend from Minnesota to replace Gerry Faust, Holtz led the Irish to a perfect 12-0 campaign.
The national championship season, which remains Notre Dame’s last, was capped off by a convincing Fiesta Bowl victory over West Virginia. Five seasons later, the Irish were on the brink of repeating that perfection. After a late season triumph over top-ranked Florida State catapulted the Irish to No. 1, the Irish just had to take down rival Boston College at home in the regular season finale. They did not; Boston College won the Holy War on a last-second field goal. After beating Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl Classic for the second straight year, the Irish finished the season No. 2 — behind those same Florida State Seminoles. Let’s take a deeper dive into both of these historic Irish seasons authored by Holtz.
1988 national championship
The team kicked off the season with a thrilling 19-17 victory over rival Michigan inside Notre Dame Stadium. The prime-time early September blockbuster didn’t prove much about Notre Dame’s offense under quarterback Tony Rice, but it did introduce an unlikely folk hero who would become a Notre Dame legend. Five-foot-five placekicker Reggie Ho, now a cardiologist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, nailed four
field goals in the contest, including the game-winning 26-yarder with just over a minute to go. The walkon, who started his career kicking between lampposts in the stadium parking lot, was the only Irish offense other than an 81-yard Rick Watters punt return score.
The team then headed up to the Mitten State, where it completed its sweep of the Michigan schools with a 20-3 victory over Michigan State inside Spartan Stadium. The high-powered Irish offense finally got things going a week later, when it defeated yet another Big Ten opponent, rival Purdue, back in South Bend. The 52-7 final was one of the most lopsided results in series history, only bested by the 66-7 mark posted just two seasons ago.
Notre Dame entered October ranked in the top five with another home rivalry on tap. Playing complementary football, the Irish dominated the Stanford Cardinal for a 42-21 prime-time win on ESPN. Rice scored two touchdowns on the ground, while the backfield of Mark Green, Tony Brooks and Anthony Johnson added three more.
Now 4-0 on the season, things were just getting started for the ’88 team. Heading into the second week of October, the Irish faced off against Pitt and won 30-20; however, the No. 4 Irish would have to be much better the following week against No. 1 Miami than they were that afternoon at Pitt Stadium.
The game in Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15, 1988, went down as legendary, even by Notre Dame’s high standards. This top-five showdown was hyped up from both sides, mainly due to the 58-7 drubbing handed out by the Hurricanes down in South Beach during Faust’s final game back in ’85. Embodying the hostility between the teams, residents from Dillon and Alumni Halls produced and sold shirts reading “Catholics vs. Convicts,” which was recounted in a popular ESPN documentary from 2016. Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson also had his phone number leaked in the week leading up to the game.
Miami knew that their quest for another national title had to come through South Bend. Notre Dame knew that if it wanted to prove it was the best, then it had to beat the best. The fighting started pregame, with a brawl erupting near the north tunnel as the Hurricanes ran through Notre Dame’s stretching lines. Following the encounter, Holtz implored his players to show “nothing but class,” on the field, but reminded them that if Miami wanted to fight postgame, they should “save Jimmy Johnson’s ass for me.”
Despite Miami being the favorite, the Irish claimed a one-point win. After a back-and-forth first half, Notre Dame gained some separation thanks to a failed fake punt by Miami. A questionable fumble called against Hurricane running back Cleveland Gary also helped the Irish maintain their lead late into the fourth quarter.
After the Gary fumble, Rice turned it right back over, giving Miami one last chance to win. With the score 31-24, Miami “caught” a touchdown pass with under a minute to go to make it a one-point game. Johnson elected to go for two and the win, a decision that Holtz later said that he would have made himself. Safety Pat Terrell broke up the Hurricanes two-point attempt, securing the stunning victory for the Irish.
Moving forward in the schedule, Holtz and the Irish hosted Air Force, claiming a 41-13 win. The following week, Notre Dame, now ranked No. 2, traveled to Navy for its second straight service academy opponent. This time a matinee kickoff, the Irish won comfortably again, overcoming a slow start to win 22-7. In typical Holtz fashion, however, the boss wasn’t pleased.
“We couldn’t control the line of scrimmage. We couldn’t throw consistently, we weren’t mentally alert and that’s my fault. Our offensive line got beat up, we couldn’t run inside. We weren’t good enough to beat them inside. We’re not a very good team right now. We feel fortunate to win,” he said.
Rice was up next for the Irish, who had finally ascended to the top spot in the polls. The Owls were no match as the calendar turned to November, and Notre Dame claimed a comfortable 54-11 victory. After a bye week, Notre Dame had just two more games to complete its perfect regular season.
Notre Dame cruised over Penn State 21-3, before heading to Los Angeles for perhaps the most historically under-appreciated No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup ever. Just the No. 2 USC Trojans, the Irish’s most storied rival, stood between Holtz’s Irish and an 11-0 season. In front of nearly 100,000 spectators inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Irish wasted no time taking the lead over the Trojans. Despite Holtz issuing a controversial suspension to Watters and Brooks, the Irish offense came out strong. On the first play from scrimmage, Rice threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Rocket Ismail. The Irish led the rest of the way from there on the way to a 27-10 victory.
While today’s 12-team bracket is determined by the College Football Playoff committee, that was not the case during Holtz’s tenure. In the ’88 season, the team who won the championship was determined by the AP Poll, and the last opportunity to impress the voters came in bowl season. The matchup between Notre Dame and West Virginia, both 11-0, would ultimately decide who would win the national championship. Notre Dame came out on top with the 34-21 win, capping off a perfect 12-0 season. Rice and Frank Stams captured MVP honors for the Irish, giving the University its first national championship since 1977.
1993: Head-to-head can’t help this time
Similar to 2025’s disappointment of not qualifying for the playoff, Holtz’s 1993 squad was denied the national championship on the grounds of head-to-head. Under the same AP Poll system as in 1988, the Irish went 11-1 and owned a win over the only other national title
contender, but the pollsters denied Holtz a chance at his second national championship.
Ranked No. 7 to begin the season, Notre Dame began 1993 with a comfortable home win over Northwestern. The early season Big Ten slate continued the following week with a rivalry trip to No. 3 Michigan. In another instant classic, the Irish pulled off a razor-thin 2723 win. They wouldn’t face much of a challenge over the coming month and a half, reeling off convincing wins over Michigan State, at Purdue, at Stanford, Pittsburgh, at BYU and rivals USC and Navy. The Irish won those seven contests by a total of 185 points, good for an average margin of victory nearing four touchdowns. From there, it was the Game of the Century. Top-ranked Florida State came to town, as did ESPN’s College Gameday for its first ever on-campus production. The No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown lived up to its hype, and despite being one of several Games of the Century, lived up to its moniker as well. Notre Dame edged the ‘Noles inside the Cathedral of College Football, 31-24, setting up an all-important Holy War the following week in South Bend. The 1993 Boston College Eagles were a top-20 team, but one Notre Dame should have beaten. It didn’t. A furious Irish comeback wasn’t enough as the visitors kicked a long game-winning field goal as the clock expired. Despite a Cotton Bowl win over Texas A&M, the Notre Dame couldn’t overcome that last-second loss inside Notre Dame Stadium. The national championship went to Florida State, the very team Notre Dame had beaten. Despite the disappointing end to ’93, the euphoric triumph of ’88 and the legacy of head coach Lou Holtz live on inside the walls of Notre Dame Stadium and all across campus. Holtz will not only be remembered for the results of these seasons but the memories they created.
Contact Ben Hicks at bhicks2@nd.edu at Claire Watson at cwatson7@nd.edu
A legacy of Notre Dame: Lou Holtz
By Payton Dymek Associate Sports Editor
On Sept. 13, 2025, the student body stood unified in their dark green. “The Shirt” had traded the usual Four Horseman or Irish football logo for the infamous play from 1988: the Irish national championship win over the University of Miami. While students may be distracted by the drawing of the football player on the back under the words of the alma mater, the front serves a deeper meaning, paying homage to a coach whose legacy remains the gold standard here in South Bend: Lou Holtz.
Holtz’s love for Notre Dame was similar to all of ours, rooted in wearing Irish garb since birth, watching
football every Saturday no matter the opponent and believing in the Irish spirit. For Holtz, this was more than a hobby, as he would show his devotion by marching out of his elementary school to the beat of the “Notre Dame Victory March” for recess, already practicing for the tunnel run that he would one day lead. Although the Golden Dome was the dream-destination, Holtz began his coaching career at William and Mary for two years before moving to North Carolina State and having the best four-year record in program history. Holtz spent one year in the NFL, coaching the New York Jets, before deciding to come back to college ball at Arkansas, where he led the team to six-straight bowl games.
After moving North and spending two seasons with Minnesota, Holtz came to Notre Dame in 1985 and became the last coach to earn a national championship for the Irish. Holtz immediately made a lasting impact on the program, choosing to remove player’s last names from the back of their jerseys to emphasize how they are each a crucial part of a greater team, not just individuals. Behind his frame-wired glasses, he immediately demanded respect from the players and wanted them to look him in the eyes when he spoke. Despite the 1986 season being the same record as it was the year prior, the team was entirely different, losing five of their six games by a combined total of 14 points, demonstrating
how Holtz transformed the program into a new force to be reckoned with. This would go on to be Holtz’s only losing season with the Irish. In 1987, Holtz coached Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, while leading Notre Dame to a 8-4 record, before heading into his strongest season. The Irish defeated their first five opponents and gained a high ranking that sent them into the national championship against Miami, which became coined as the “Catholic vs. Convicts” game still mentioned today. Pat Terrell knocked down Steve Walsh’s twopoint conversion with no time left on the clock, securing the national championship and winning Holtz his second Eddie Robinson Coach
of the Year award. What made Holtz special for Notre Dame was that he showed respect for opponents while simultaneously boasting team morale by saying, “You know, we don’t have it in our TV contract, that we have to keep the game close,” and they ultimately shut their opponents down. Holtz later joined ESPN where he continued to make his love for the Irish known, picking them in even the most lopsided of matchups. He credits the spirits of the students and fans that makes Notre Dame a special place to coach at.
Contact Payton Dymek at pdymek@nd.edu
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Legendary football coach Lou Holtz dies at 89
By Observer Sports Staff
Lou Holtz, head coach of the 1988 national championship Notre Dame football team, died on Wednesday at the age of 89. A beloved icon in Notre Dame history, Holtz guided the Irish from 1986-1996. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Despite ongoing health issues throughout the final years of his life, Holtz remained present around Notre Dame football. He appeared at the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game loss to Ohio State, as well as back on campus in South Bend for this past season’s game against Texas A&M. The former head coach at both Minnesota and Arkansas Holtz also made an appearance at September 2025’s contest in Fayeteville between the Razorbacks and the Irish.
A lifelong Catholic, Holtz’s impact for the Notre Dame community extended well beyond
the field boundaries inside Notre Dame Stadium. His former players developed Holtz’s Heroes, a
foundation with the mission of supporting former student-athletes facing financial, physical or mental
hardships. The nonprofit also provides scholarship aid to deserving youth and serves communities
in need through charitable work. Holtz’s family also endowed The Beth and Lou Holtz Family Grand Reading Room on the first and second floors of Hesburgh Library on Notre Dame’s campus. The Holtz family also supported the Rockne Heritage Fund, and in 1991, they endowed the Lou and Beth Holtz Family Scholarship to assist undergraduate students with financial need.
Holtz is survived by his four children, Luanne, Lou ‘Skip’ Jr., Kevin and Elizabeth, with the latter three all graduating from the University. More to come.
In a Notre Dame athletics news release, University President Fr. Robert Dowd said, “Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather. Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher,
see “Holtz” on page 4
70 march for immigrants at Saint Mary’s College SMC student harassed in Uber
By Aynslee Dellacca and Soledad Castellanos Assistant Managing Editor and News Writer
“The people, united, will never be divided,” rang aloud as Saint Mary’s students, faculty and staff as well as sisters of Holy Cross and South Bend residents marched on the College campus late Tuesday afternoon.
The protest, hosted by the club Belles Unite Borders, was advertised as a “March for Unity” and a demonstration of support for immigrants in the United States.
From last year’s lecture events, the club shifted its sights to push for more active initiatives on campus. When reflecting on the current political climate after a homily given on Feb. 8 from Fr. Bill Lies, who encouraged students to “walk in their faith and do something about it,” Belles Unite Borders president and junior Natalie Ortiz felt called to action.
By hosting a march, Ortiz saw the opportunity to bring
NEWS | PAGE 4
Holy Cross elections
Juniors Abigail Fouts and Carlos Vera won HCC SGA student body president and vice president.
Belles Unite Borders led a “March for Unity” in solidarity with immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, drawing students and staff.
the diverse community of Saint Mary’s together and hoped to make a bigger impact and change on campus.
“I want them all to know where this part of our campus stands, and that being a message of love and a message of hope and unity, because that is what we do,” Ortiz said. “That is what the core values are of Saint Mary’s. We need to respect everybody around us, and I feel like Saint Mary’s has been
OPINION | PAGE 6
One coffee a day
Columnist Ana Prestamo limits her coffee intake for Lent and reflects on its effects.
pretty good at that thus far. I think from this, I just want every community member to be inspired and actually be part of the change.”
Roughly 70 people were in attendance, holding up dozens of signs that included “All people are God’s people,” “Immigrants built America,” “No human is illegal” and “Good luck silencing the Belles of Saint Mary’s.”
see “March” on page 4
By Observer News Staff
Saint Mary’s director of campus safety Phil Bambenek released a statement to students through an email Tuesday afternoon detailing a sexual harassment incident reported Friday night.
The report stated that upon returning to campus in an Uber ride, the driver, “who claimed to know her from a previous ride,” attempted to make advancements on the survivor. After several efforts were made to touch her and hold her hand, all of which were not consensual and rejected, the driver “touched her in an inappropriate way.”
The survivor told Campus Safety she was able to remove herself from the situation by exiting the vehicle. Since the incident, the Uber driver has been identified and, after the student filed a complaint with Uber, was discharged as an employee from the Uber driver program.
Campus Safety noted the survivor still “retains the right
to file a police report and have the incident investigated by law enforcement.”
After the brief report, Bambenek provided safety tips and concerns to be aware of when using rideshare services of any kind for students. These tips include sharing one’s trip information with friends and family, sitting in the back seat, passenger side of the vehicle and to not hesitate to exit a vehicle if a student feels something is wrong. Bambenek also provided a link to a list of resources and additional contact information.
“Unusual behavior should always be reported to Lyft or Uber immediately. The same driver who made you feel uncomfortable may pose a danger to another passenger in the future. Do your part to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Bamenek wrote. “If you get into a dispute with an Uber driver, use their customer service number to file a complaint. You can always contact Campus Safety or dial 911 for assistance if you feel unsafe.”
SPORTS | PAGE 12 Family, Holtz and ND
Chris Dailey recounts a history of Holtz, told by his grandfather, his father and now him.
MARIELLA TADDONIO | The Observer
Courtesy of Vincent Wehby | The Dome
Lou Holtz, the Notre Dame football head coach from 1986-1996, died Wednesday. He led the Irish to their most recent national championship in 1988, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Keenan navigates approval for Revue jokes
By Zach Ford News Writer
The Keenan Revue, an annual sketch comedy show performed by the men of Keenan Hall, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Taking place Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the last week of February, the show displayed the talent and creativity of Keenan Hall for crowds of around 1,500 each night.
The event is known for its edgy comedic style and inside jokes that capitalize on common stereotypes of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s students. The show was originally performed in Washington Hall in the 1970s before moving to O’Laughlin Auditorium at Saint Mary’s two years after its inception. However, the annual contract between the Keenan Revue and the College was decidedly not renewed in 2010 partly because of the “disparaging remarks about women and sexuality.”
The show found a new home at Notre Dame’s Stepan Center and continues today as one of the most popular dorm events on campus. Part of that popularity stems from the show’s edginess, which provides students a break from the
political correctness of daily life.
One of the more controversial skits this year, titled “Make Notre Dame Great Again,” hyperbolically explored what Donald Trump might be like as president of Notre Dame. The skit included a joke about Trump blowing up the “Hamas Bookstore” and referencing a sexual encounter with a McGlinn Hall resident.
Keenan resident Jack Latilla-
Campbell said he was somewhat surprised the skit made it into the show but noted that the head writers “really wanted that one.”
“Something the University does that we deeply appreciate is that they’re not just like a ‘hard yeshard no’ on a lot of things,” head writer Daniel Mayer said. “We are given the opportunity to make the case for ourselves in a way.”
“I think the University was a little worried just because it was political,” director Josh Dobashi said. “But we kind of pushed back and said we’re not making any political claims or anything. We were just making fun of a public figure.”
The process of getting skits approved begins with the student-led head staff of the Revue. In recent years, the group has become more proactive about editing potentially
controversial material before it reaches administrators.
“[Students] have gotten so much better with lines or entire skits being cut, amended or reframed before they even get to me,” Keenan Hall rector Cory Hodson wrote in a statement to The Observer.
After review by the student staff and approval from Hodson, the script must receive approval from Zack Imfeld, director of Residential Life.
In past years, Revue producers also reached out to cultural clubs or student organizations that might take offense to certain skits. This year, however, the process stayed largely internal.
According to Revue producer Douglass Tackney, every skit stayed “in house” and none required approval beyond Residential Life — except “Make Notre Dame Great Again,” which mentions University President Fr. Robert Dowd’s name and therefore required approval from the Office of the President.
“We didn’t have to talk to other clubs like we had in years past because we were so proactive,” Tackney said. “We worked with Residential Life and tried to see what crosses the line and what
doesn’t.”
Another skit that nearly crossed the line featured a twist on the traditional Spider-Man character, in which Spider-Man’s webs shoot from a body part below his waist as he defends campus from the villain “Goon Goblin.”
“None of us are really sure how that made it through,” Mayer said. “I don’t think any of it’s particularly offensive, but it’s just over the top.”
“That was even something a lot of alumni came up and asked us about after the Saturday show,” he added. “They were like, ‘How in the world did you guys get these through?’”
Still, Mayer said toning down the Revue would be a disservice to an audience that expects outrageous humor.
“A lot of the audience has that perspective of the Revue,” Mayer said, “and that’s kind of what they’re looking for.”
The writers’ goal, he said, is not to be edgy simply for the sake of offense but to make the audience laugh.
“If the joke is you saying something offensive and that’s what people are supposed to laugh at, it’s probably not that good of a joke in the first place,” Mayer said.
Dobashi described the tradition of the Keenan Revue as “Fifty years of serving the community.” The show raises money for charity each year alongside providing entertainment. This year, the Revue raised more than $10,000 for Dismas House of Indiana, a local nonprofit that supports formerly incarcerated individuals.
“It’s hard to see campus or think of campus and not have the Revue in it,” Dobashi said.
“Thinking about your time at Notre Dame without the Revue is really hard. It’s the biggest studentrun event on campus and there’s so much money that gets donated.”
Jack Kuka, co-producer of the Keenan Revue and Keenan resident assistant, emphasized the opportunity the show provides for students.
“I don’t ever see it going away,” Kuka said. “As RAs, we see so many talented people in our sections who just need an outlet to express themselves.”
Kuka also thanked Imfeld and Residential Life on behalf of Keenan Hall for helping make the show possible.
Contact Zach Ford at zford@nd.edu
Vera, Fouts wins Holy Cross SGA election
By Berhan Hagezom Saint Mary’s News Editor
For the first time in several years, only one ticket appeared on the ballot for Holy Cross College’s student government association election (SGA). The previous year featured 13 candidates for students to choose from.
Juniors Abigail Fouts and Carlos Vera won the SGA election for the 2026-2027 school year after nearly a week of campaigning from Tuesday, Feb. 24 through Monday. Election day took place the following day, and results were announced Wednesday. Fouts and Vera were selected as the incoming president and vice president, respectively.
Vera, a business major who lives in University Edge, was involved in SGA before running for office. He served as one of three senators representing his class and was one of 15 senators in the organization. He is also a member of the International Students Club.
Vera said he decided to run after seeing the College grow over the past several years and wanting to contribute to that development. He said he was inspired by the steps
Holtz
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leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime. In the years since leaving the head football coach position, Lou, together with his beloved wife,
administrators have taken to transform the institution.
“The main thing that drew my attention was what Marco Clark and the staff and the faculty are already doing at Holy Cross,” he said. “There are so many new projects expanding the school and making room for more students to be here on campus and improving student life here. I really do love the narrative changing in the process — the culture itself is changing.”
Fouts, a biology major, holds several extracurricular positions. She is captain of the women’s soccer team, a chemistry tutor and a student ambassador. She also previously served in SGA on the programming board within the social advocacy section.
Fouts said she joined the campaign after being inspired by her experience on the programming board and the opportunity to make changes that directly affect the school and its students.
“Looking into my future, I would love to look back at Holy Cross and be like, ‘I helped make those goals happen,’” she said.
Because they were the only candidates on the ballot, the pair said they were able to focus less on competition and more on developing
Beth, supported Notre Dame in innumerable ways, among them making possible the refurbishment of four residence hall chapels and the construction of the Beth and Lou Holtz Grand Reading Room on the first floor of Hesburgh Library — tangible signs of their great love for their Catholic faith and the mission of Our Lady’s University. Whenever
their goals for the upcoming year. According to Vera, the campaign prompted them to focus more on potential change than simply winning votes behind the motto, “Vera Vision, Fouts Forward.”
“We started asking ourselves, ‘How can we actually take this seriously and make change, rather than just impressing the audience?’” Vera said. “That was different from previous years, where people were competing and trying to win votes.”
One overarching goal of their campaign is to advocate for students and strengthen communication between students and the administration.
“I think something that comes with the vice presidency and presidency is that we have connections to make things happen,” Fouts said. “So, hearing out the students here at Holy Cross and making changes for them for the better.”
Vera said he would also like to further promote the athletic department at Holy Cross, particularly by increasing recruitment and encouraging tri-campus students to attend games. The pair hopes to pursue these goals through weekly meetings with director of student
Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed. The prayers of the entire Notre Dame community are with his family and many friends in this time of sorrow. May he rest in the peace and love of Christ.”
“Lou and I shared a very special relationship. He welcomed me to the
activities Carolyn Kitz, as well as regular collaboration with the programming board and senate.
Vera said the priorities of the new administration reflect the broader changes happening at the College.
“In the past, people have relied mostly on social media, word of mouth or posters,” he said. “But now that the school is receiving more donations, the marketing and overall quality of communication is improving as well.”
They also hope to make the senate more involved in student life through stronger communication across campus.
One initiative they hope to pursue is creating a late-night chapel Mass, particularly with the development of the new dorm, so students will not need to travel to another campus to attend.
They also hope to build a new tennis court for the College’s tennis teams, which currently use Notre Dame’s courts for practice, as well as create a year-round locker room.
Fouts emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between students living on campus and those living at University Edge.
“More than 70% of the population here at Holy Cross lives on
Notre Dame family immediately, offering me great support throughout our time together. Our relationship meant a lot to me as I admired the values he used to build the foundation of his coaching career: love, trust and commitment,” football coach Marcus Freeman said in a Notre Dame football twitter post. “Lou’s impact at Notre Dame has gone well beyond
campus,” she said. “I think it’s really important that we find a way to connect with the U-Edge residents, even though they’re five minutes down the road.”
“I think it would be a huge step forward if we could find a way to get more U-Edge residents coming back to campus and participating in SGA events,” she added.
The pair also hopes to continue improvements to campus facilities as the College receives increased donations.
Vera said he looks forward to the upcoming year and hopes to continue building on the changes already taking place at Holy Cross.
“I’m excited for the new year and what it brings,” he said. “We’ll have new challenges with the new dorms and the changes happening on campus, and when that happens, we’ll be ready for it.”
Fouts said she shares that enthusiasm and hopes to make a positive impact on the campus community.
“I’m excited to help make a difference,” she said. “I’m willing to do whatever I can for the students here at Holy Cross.”
Contact Berhan Hagezom at bhagezom01@saintmarys.edu
the football field. He and his wife, Beth, are respected across campus for their generous hearts and commitment to carrying out Notre Dame’s mission of being a force for good. On behalf of the Notre Dame Football program, we send our love to Lou’s family, friends and former players, wishing you all comfort and peace during this difficult time.”
Faculty senate discuss OIT updates, attendance
By Mara Hall News Writer
After opening in prayer followed by a land acknowledgment, this month’s meeting of the faculty senate delved into an update from the Office of Information Technology, updates from various committees and later a resolution regarding attendance policies, which received a motion to postpone.
Notre Dame’s faculty senate is composed of elected representatives who share concerns and comments from their colleagues while also passing resolutions to bring proposals up for faculty consideration.
Technology update
In November, the faculty senate passed a technology resolution on software licensing. The resolution noted some shared goals of OIT and the faculty while simultaneously raising concerns over how Adobe Creative Cloud licensure works — requiring faculty to pay an annual $120 fee effective October 2025.
This resolution also included requests for OIT to move at a slower pace to enable time for voices from the University Committee on Academic Technologies and faculty to be heard and considered.
OIT reported in this meeting’s update to the senate that changes to data storage continue, with Box storage access ending this summer. Additionally, the Google and Microsoft workspaces are moving away from offering unlimited free storage. As this transition occurs, faculty will only have 5 terabytes of free data storage. Faculty exceeding this limit will be able to buy extra storage for the cost
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Just after 5 p.m. at the Spes Unica circle, community members lined up following a short prayer and welcoming remarks by Ortiz. The group then marched up Brother Andre Drive, crossed south and walked along SR 933 before turning a third time down The Avenue, shouting chants. The march ended on Le Mans Green.
Junior Lucy Vung Nu, an attendee of the march, said she wanted to express solidarity with other immigrants and refugees as a refugee herself from Myanmar.
“The benefits and the blessings that I’ve received here happened because of the fact that my parents decided that they wanted a better life for themselves and for me,” Vung Nu said. “This was a way for me to show who I am and a way to remind the nation of what they are, starting from a very small community such as
of $150 per additional terabyte, or cut down the amount of data they are storing. According to OIT’s report, this will only affect about 50 accounts right now, and they are working with those accountholders.
The resolution’s request for a slowed pace on another issue appears to be working as following input from the UCAT team, OIT has delayed turning off Okta SMS verification for faculty in order to provide time to assist staff in setting up additional verification systems. Vice president for information technology Jane Livingston said this delay was made so that, “when we turn it off, they are not going to be dead in the water from a technology perspective.”
Susan Ostermann appointment
Regarding the recent news surrounding the appointment of professor Susan Ostermann to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and her later declining of this offer, Amy Stark, the chair of the faculty senate and a biology professor, assured senators that their concerns on the matter were being heard.
“I have heard from many of you, as well as preliminary discussions within the Administrative Affairs Committee today and earlier last month, regarding concerns across the spectrum with the Ostermann appointment and changes in that respect. So what I will be doing, as chair of the senate, will be reaching out directly to the provost and Fr. Dowd to try and get a little bit more clarification about what the takeaways of the situation might be moving forward from their perspective and
South Bend and Saint Mary’s.”
Sharing in the sentiment of marching for a cause was Sister Verónica Fajardo. Having immigrated to the United States at the age of 8, Fajardo noted the importance of participating in activities that promote peaceful demonstrations of unity. The Sisters of the Holy Cross have different “corporate stands” iterating their public positions, one of them being on the rights of immigrants.
“In Catholic social teaching, we promote the dignity of every human person, and being able to cross borders basically working and helping each other. Because we know that that’s not going to help us to solve all our issues, but we can come together and be welcoming and helpful,” Fajardo said.
Marching alongside Ortiz and fellow Belles Unite Borders members, was student government president senior Ivory Munoz. Emphasizing the importance of unity and standing together despite different backgrounds, Munoz said, “I
from the faculty perspective at large. We are not going to debate that or discuss it tonight. We are going to reach out directly to the sources to sort of see if there are further clarifications of information and what the takeaway messages will be moving forward,” she said.
Preprofessional studies supplementary major Sociology professor Richard Williams said considerations for a preprofessional studies supplementary major available to all students outside the College of Science are in the works. He noted he would have liked to see the proposal address what existing gap this is filling because “somehow A&L people get into med school” as it currently stands, but with no objections, faculty senate did not vote on the matter.
Accommodations
Alan Hamlet, a civil and environmental engineering professor, highlighted conversations with Laurel Daen, an American studies professor whose work centers on disability studies, surrounding accommodations and accessibility for disabled students. He explained that on one hand, universities’ goal of attracting the best and brightest is inherently ableist. Describing physical and mental disability as two sides of the same coin, he suggested, “Notre Dame has done a pretty good job of trying to address some of these via centers like the Wellness Center, Sara Bea Center, Kaneb Center, [and] Center for Student Support and Care.”
He both suggested that due to the large number of centers involved in supporting
think right now, with the immigrant community under attack, it’s super important that we show students here who do come from an immigrant background that they are just as loved and supported as any other student on campus.”
Assistant director for justice and solidarity at the Center for Faith, Action and Ministry Sarah Neitz was also in attendance, both representing those in CFAM and as a supporter of immigrant rights. Neitz believes the march offered students the opportunity to take advantage of the “Saint Mary’s education” and put into practice what it means to express oneself as an empowered woman.
“You know the mission of this march is completely in line with Catholic social teaching on immigration. It’s an important part of our stances at Catholic university, and we’re excited to get to raise our voices on campus,” Neitz said.
Leonard Sanchez, professional specialist of social work and a faculty adviser for Belles
students with disabilities, “we lack a centralized response for disabilities” and due to the variability between departments, “a one size fits all is not necessarily going to work.”
Hamlet noted some concerns about students abusing the accommodation system but said the existence of such abuse appears to vary across departments.
Williams noted that he talked to Christine Caron Gebhardt, the assistant vice president for student health and wellness, about how some faculty’s concerns that the accommodations they are providing in the classroom will not be provided to students in the real world.
Other faculty members echoed this concern.
Williams reported that Caron Gebhardt said there are some legal obligations that befall the University that private employers do not have.
Attendance polices
The meeting wrapped up with music theory professor Johanna Frymoyer presenting a motion on attendance policies sponsored by mathematics professor Katrina Barron, Hamlet, Williams and herself. Frymoyer explained that the motion generally aims to create a centralized system to better keep track of absences. She suggested that AI could be integrated into such a system.
“The other advantage of having a centralized system would be to be able to track and even use AI technology to sort of flag when there do really seem to be larger aggregate problems for particular students, and even maybe trigger some kind of mental health flags,” she said.
Unite Borders, also credits the College as providing a space for professors to teach students “to advocate and to make their voices known, especially when there’s injustices presented upon themselves.”
“I think students are trying to answer the call that they’ve heard nationwide, and whether they want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, I think this is maybe a small component to it, but I think it just allows them to have that opportunity to show it to their community and be a part of that community,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez, alongside social work program director and coordinator of the gerontology program Kathryn Lyndes, who also serves as a Belles Unite Borders faculty adviser, offered short speeches at the end of the march on the front steps of Le Mans Hall.
“As a social worker, our code of ethics asks us to be aware of injustices, advocate for human rights and advocate for
Article C of the proposal quickly came under scrutiny. Part one of this article offered to “establish a standard for the maximum number of permissible absences per semester, calculated as a percentage of total contact hours to account for inherent variations in instructional meeting frequency; this framework shall be implemented as a flexible guideline to preserve faculty autonomy within different pedagogical models, while defining a threshold beyond which the academic integrity of a course is compromised.” Part two aimed to “protect the right of faculty to prioritize non-negotiable milestones — such as exams, labs, collaborative projects, or unique experiential learning (e.g., visiting guests, off-campus field trips, clinicals) — over excused absences, utilizing a logic similar to ‘reasonable accommodations’ in ADA protocols.”
Law professor Richard Garnett was the first to raise concerns over article C, expressing his view that it undermined the faculty senate’s motivation of being seen as a legitimate entity by offering unrealistic power to faculty to decide what absences were and were not excused. He added he was sure borrowing from the language of the ADA would stand up legally.
As discussion ensued with a handful raising their virtual hands to share their perspectives, the senate quickly decided to pass a motion to postpone voting on the attendance policy motion until the meeting next month so that it had more time to listen to the issues being raised and move forward accordingly.
Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
that same justice. I believe this unity march is a strong symbol of those three actions standing in our social work code of ethics,” Sanchez said. “I believe peaceful events like this one can bring people to common ground, helping them to move forward and not live in fear.”
Lyndes spoke after Sanchez, closing the march.
“What we offer in patience, we obtain in calm. When we listen to others, we receive empathy. What we extend in understanding, we get back in clarity. What we give in curiosity, we get back in amazing, expanded possibilities,” Lynds said. “Thank you so much for being here today, open to learning about the real reasons people seek asylum, making this world a better place, where people are treated with dignity and celebrated to remain wholly and fully in a modern day.”
Contact Aynslee Dellacca at adellacca01@saintmarys.edu and Soledad Castellanos at scastellanos01@saintmarys.edu
One coffee a day: What Lent taught me
By Ana Prestamo Columnist, “Mind the Gap”
This Lent, I gave up nothing dramatic. Not sugar. Not Instagram. Not alcohol. Just excess coffee.
I allowed myself one cup a day. That’s it.
For someone who treats coffee less like a beverage and more like a survival strategy (I drink it more than water), this felt … ambitious. I’m a senior balancing seminars, deadlines and a never-ending stream of assignments. Coffee for me is more than a ritual; it’s my assurance of productivity and comfort.
So why reduce it? And trust me, I still get mad at myself for choosing to. But at the end of the day, when I think about Lent, it isn’t
about punishment — it’s about recalibrating.
The first cup of coffee wakes me up; it sharpens my mind; in a sense, it feels earned.
The second cup is a habit. The third is — I admit — pure anxiety (the same could be said for the fourth, fifth and so on).
What I noticed during the first week of Lent was not caffeine withdrawal (though that was real). It was the way I reached for coffee automatically — mid-afternoon slump, social break, mild stress, slight boredom. Coffee had quietly become my solution to everything.
Tired? Coffee. Writer’s block? Coffee. Existential dread in a seminar? Coffee.
Limiting myself to one cup forced a small but
uncomfortable question: What am I actually trying to fix?
We often imagine sacrifice as subtraction, but what it really does — at least in my case is reveal attachment.
I wasn’t addicted to caffeine. I was attached to its stimulation — to the feeling of being constantly “on.” Coffee had become sacramental: the liquid, unconscious, proof that I was busy, driven and serious.
To have only one cup, I had to accept something: I will get tired. I will slow down. I will not optimize every hour. And maybe that’s the point.
I think we don’t normalize saying “This is enough.”
Enough caffeine. Enough stimulation. Enough output.
One coffee a day doesn’t make me less productive (at
least not yet). It has made me more intentional. Now, when I do take my first (and only) coffee of the day, I savor it. I don’t scroll while drinking it or gulp it between emails. Drinking my coffee has become more of a moment than a mechanism.
Lent asks us to practice restraint, not because desire is bad — but because, sometimes, unexamined desire ends up running the show. And, really, the second (third, fourth or fifth) cup is rarely about the coffee — at least not for me.
Fasting, in any form, confronts us with a truth: Most of what we consume is not for survival — it is for comfort, distraction. Almost to the extent that unconscious consumption outweighs the
conscious.
As with anything, when you take something small away, you discover what is underneath it. For me, I took four coffees a day away and discovered it was restlessness. And in that restlessness, I found an invitation: Maybe I don’t need more energy; maybe I need more stillness.
One coffee a day won’t change the world, but it might change the way I move through it — and sometimes, for 40 days, that’s enough.
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
Spring break is not all about relaxing
By Sophia Anderson Columnist, “Transfer Tales”
My friends and I have been counting down to our upcoming spring break trip for months, and we’ve been preparing for weeks: trips to Target, bathing suit shopping, booking nail appointments. If everything goes according to plan, we will all look and feel perfect for this trip: We should have a perfect trip.
Taking vacations in college can be an emotional rollercoaster. You hype it up so much in your mind, but the trip never quite lives up to your expectations. The sun at the beach is as nice as you imagined, but you get sunburnt on the second day; you plan activities for every day of your trip, but by your fifth museum trip you would rather just stay home, and by the end of the trip you’re sick of the nice restaurants on your itinerary and just want Chick-fil-A. I compare it to New Year’s Eve: What is supposed to be the most fun night of the year often falls flat precisely because of the high standards we set for the night.
We have these expectations for good reason: Spring break is expensive and for most of us requires a lot of saving, among other things. Working extra hours, skipping your weekly off-campus Grubhub, taking money out of your summer savings or whatever extraneous measures you take to afford your trip mean that it better be a good trip; after all, months of sacrifices should be for a worthwhile cause, right?
Along with the financial burdens, planning a trip
with a group of friends is an ordeal in and of itself. Taking time away during midterms to do group FaceTime calls, compare flights and even order necessities on Amazon (shopping is a little less fun when it’s sunscreen and travel size shampoo), can add to the stress of the season. It’s hard, but we do it: Spring break has to be worth it?
Right?
I’m not trying to ruin your excitement for your big trip. After all, college is one of the only times in your life you and all your friends will have the same week off and be able to so easily take a trip together, even if it’s before you all have the funds to comfortably take a vacation. My
point is simply that we have to acknowledge one thing — spring break isn’t just a “relief” from school: It actually adds to our burdens in many ways. Even people just going home for the week (which I have also done and honestly recommend) have extra laundry, flights to book and overall life adjustments that have to be made in advance of the trip. My advice is to leave as soon as possible and make your trip end a few days before you return to class. Everyone has that one professor who assigned a midterm assignment due right after spring break, and you’re going to be tired when you get home from all the traveling
and excitement. There’s nothing worse than coming home the night before a busy week with a suitcase full of dirty clothes and piles of outstanding assignments. I also recommend choosing a relaxing destination over an action-filled one. I’m a person who always believes a true vacation is lying on the beach, not athletic endeavors or sightseeing, but even if you love skiing, hiking or some other physically demanding vacation, you should choose peace for spring break. All we do at this school is go, go, go. For once, I think we all need to sit, sleep and eat.
If you’re anything like me, you need something to look
forward to if you’re going to get through this week; midterms with no end in sight would be exhausting and possibly impossible. Don’t downplay the relief that spring break is going to bring; just remember to take it easy and keep an open mind about how your trip will go. After all, you aren’t going to get a vacation from this vacation. You’re coming back, full speed ahead, to midterms 2.0.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
Contact Sophia Anderson at sander38@nd.edu
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
Remembering Lou Holtz
Photography by Gray Nocjar (Top Left), Andrew Romanck (Top Right), Gwen Davis (Middle Left and Bottom Right), Lee Taddonio (Middle Right) and Mariella Taddonio (Bottom Left)
‘Bridgerton’ season 4, part 2 delivers
By Marguerite Marley Scene Writer
After the first half of season four of “Bridgerton” surpassed my expectations, I was very excited to see how the show would conclude its return to form, and I’m happy to report that the second half was just as incredible as the first.
“Yes and No”
This second part picks up almost instantly where the last one left off. Despite their status and all the reasons they should not, Sophie Beak (Yerin Ha) and Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Tomson) fall into bed with each other before the episode ends.
Meanwhile, Benedict’s younger sister, Francesca Stirling, nee Bridgerton (Hannah Dodd), is busy making friends with her new houseguest, Michela Striling (Masali Baduzaher) the husband’s cousin, though by the end of the episode, they seem to have resolved all of their issues with each other. I felt like this plot point was a bit rushed, very roundabout and should have probably been stretched out a tad longer.
“The Passing Winter”
One of the subplots I hated last season was the one where Benedict realized he was bisexual, but I thought it was handled much better here. I am glad he told Sophie and it wasn’t tossed aside the way other plotlines were at the end of last season.
Some of the costumes this season have been truly horrible. The production seems to forget that the appeal of much Regency fashion is its
simplicity and adds far too much to each gown, trying to make it look interesting, which makes the costumes look cheaper.
This episode also saw the return of Anthony and Kate Bridgerton, nee Sharma, (Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley) and the new heir to the viscount title, Edmund Bridgerton. Their children are so adorable, I can almost forgive the fact that they have not been in much of this season.
“The Beyond”
Having read the books and knowing that John was going to die did not make it any easier to watch the inevitable on screen. I think his death was handled well, and I did get a bit teary eyed during the funeral scene. However, it was odd that Anthony and Kate were not there.
Dodd provided an incredible performance this episode
Is anything a secret anymore?
from avoiding the fact that her husband died to her eventual breakdown. It makes me excited to see her flex her acting muscles more in the seasons to come.
“Dance in the Country”
Episode eight wraps up all the subplots in a way that feels satisfying enough while leaving room for new ones that will likely show up next season. The leads get plenty of time to be with each other this episode; however, I don’t understand why their wedding was reduced to a midcredit scene when it would fit perfectly into the end of the episode. But I do appreciate that we at least got a wedding with them.
Season four of “Bridgerton” returns the show to its Regency-era roots, and though it’s a bit less steamy than previous seasons, it delivers in all the ways that matter. From the several incredible performances not only from its leads but also from the supporting cast, it leaves me incredibly excited for what the next two seasons will bring.
Contact Marguerite Marley at mmarley01@saintmarys.edu
By Sydney Jansen
Scene Writer
The new generation of Pokémon is upon us with “Pokémon Winds and Waves,” officially announced by Nintendo on Feb. 27, but some fans have long been aware of what this new season of tropical creatures has to bring.
Living in the same scummy realm as telephone scammers, hackers own much of my personal hatred. Through data breaches, internal threats and unauthorized access, digital content continues to be at risk for premature content leaks to the public, threatening the welfare of both the content and its creators. Imageboard websites like “4chan”, “8chan” (now “8kun”), “Soyjak.party” and “Endchan” have all been major proponents of these leaks, allowing users to anonymously discover and leak content to a wide audience.
With this new brand of Pokémon came a slew of prematurely leaked content, but this is not the first time this has happened in the Japanese video game world. Preceded by a smaller breach releasing Nintendo’s “Space World 1997” demos for “Pokémon Gold and Silver”, what is known as the “Nintendo Gigaleak” started in March 2018 and contained early Pokémon designs, iQue Player ROMs and internal debug files
all sourced back to “4chan.” Then, in Oct. 2024, the “Teraleak” hit the company as a large-scale leak, where an eleventh batch of information was harvested from their second-party developer, “Game Freak,” releasing source code for Pokémon Legends, Z-A and other assets for various Pokémon games. From more than 2,600 pieces of personal information on Game Freak employees, source code, concept art, placeholder assets, extensive write-ups on the series’ lore and company meetings regarding
current and prospective multimedia adaptations, the thirdparty unauthorized access to Game Freak left all of Nintendo’s cards on the table without the ability to fold. A major development mentioned in the leak was the creation of the “Nintendo Switch 2,” so far the only platform on which “Pokémon Winds and Waves” will be playable, available for purchase in 2027. So, how did Nintendo respond to these attacks? Nintendo is persistent in ensuring its intellectual property in both hardware and software is protected,
as proven by the subpoena filed by the company in April 2025.
The Nintendo Northern District of California court order was directed towards online Discord user “GameFreakOUT” in demand of the user’s identity, address and contact information to be released. This is similar to the smaller leak of “Pokémon Sword and Shield,” where the culprits were required to pay for their illegal actions.
Such occurrences pose the question as to whether or not anything is really secret if it can just be released by online
pirates; do we have to anticipate waiting for that next album or video game anymore?
We are fortunate to endure the wait for what comes next in our lives, especially in the realm of entertainment. While the past three years have been grueling for us Harry Styles fans as we crave new content, the end of our wait now brings that much more zeal for the soon-to-come content. Building hype for what’s up and coming is equivalent to a weightloss goal or a lifetime dream; it’s something that is hopeful for the future and brings joy to the fan purely for its own sake, keeping us faithful to what we love.
Leaks are a threat, but they aren’t inevitable; many companies protect their data well enough to avoid such scandals, while others’ content simply is not as sought after. But when these breaches do present themselves, we must do our best to avoid spoilers, as it is our best defense against these internet hackers and their search for clout through leaking content. In order to keep sacred the content we look forward to experiencing, we must steer clear of potential threats and let the art be presented the way it was intended
Contact Sydney Jansen at sjansen2@nd.edu
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
ISABELLE RUTLAND | The Observer
QUESTION OF THE DAY: DAILY
Who is the greatest coach in Notre Dame football?
Sarah Nicolson Sophomore Lewis Hall “Lou Holtz.”
Maria Souder Sophomore Lewis Hall “Knute Rockne.”
Daniel Nguyen Sophomore Sorin College “Lou Holtz.”
James Gogon Freshman Basil Hall “Lou Holtz.”
Matthew Counselman Freshman Basil Hall “Knute Rockne.”
Lou Holtz season-by-season winning percentage PHOTO OF THE DAY | THE
THE NEXT FIVE DAYS
Thursday
Ethics and Public Policy Lecture Diplomat Samantha Powers to give 32nd Hesburgh Lecture. 5 p.m. 215 McKenna Hall
Friday
Men’s Tennis vs. George Town The Fighting Irish take on the Bulldogs at home. 5 p.m. Eck Tennis Pavillion
Saturday
Get Inked: Teen Writing Conference Workshop ideas and improve writing with published authors. 11:15 a.m. Virtual
Sunday
Film: “Cool Runnings” (1993) A failed Olympic sprinter sets sights to qualify in a better way. 1 p.m. Browning Cinema DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Monday
Doctor of Nursing Practice Virtual Information Sessions. Office of Graduate Admission Q&A session on post-grad jobs. 6:30 p.m. Virtual
Irish drop final home game to Cardinal
By Dan Kilcoyne Sports Writer
A rainy Wednesday night in South Bend saw the Stanford Cardinal come to town for an ACC matchup and the final home game of the 2025-26 season. Despite the seasons underwhelming nature, Notre Dame’s hopes of making the ACC tournament were still alive and in their own hands. Coming off the back of a huge overtime win over NC State, it was win or bust once again for the Irish. In particular, all eyes were on sophomore guard Cole Certa after his second half brilliance to inspire the comeback.
The game started off slow as Notre Dame went 2 for 7, but consistent fouls from the Stanford defense kept things close. Freshman forward Brady Koehler got off to a strong start, putting up eight of Notre Dame’s first nine points. Freshman guard Jalen Haralson also impressed when he made his way onto the floor. However, the half was shaped by Stanford’s
incredible shooting as they found their bearings midway through the half, landing an incredible five straight threes to fly into the lead and ended the first half 8 for 13 from the arc.
In particular, it was freshman guard Ebuka Okorie who, after a quiet start, set the floor alight with not only his pinpoint shooting, going 3 for 4 from range, but slicing through the Irish defense like butter with his dribbling.
Okorie has had a very impressive freshman year, averaging 22.7 points per game, and unless Notre Dame could find a way to stop him, their hopes looked slim from the start.
The Cardinal shooting was so impressive that they matched their 40 points from the team’s previous matchup with six minutes to go in the first half. This was nothing like the cagey affair that played out in California, in which the teams combined for only 107 points. Instead, both sides were playing free-flowing offense in an entertaining encounter, with
the Cardinal taking a 45-37 lead into the break. The Irish were still playing well on offense, with Certa finding his stride to end the first half as he looked to replicate his heroic 32 points against NC State. The Irish would need a similar second-half performance if they wanted to keep their ACC tournament hopes alive.
The second half kicked off just as lively as the first, with both teams’ offenses impressing, though the Irish seemed to lack the end product to match their buildup play. With the Cardinal holding onto their seemingly comfortable lead, a huge dunk for graduate student forward Carson Towt followed by a three from Certa, one of few as he went a disappointing 4 for 14 from the field, sparked a roar around Purcell as hope seemed to fill the arena. The Irish were unable to build on it, with fouls letting the side down on defense as the Stanford lead returned to 10. The only thing that separated the two sides was Stanford’s seven steals and six
HOCKEY
blocks compared to three a piece for the Irish. The Cardinal were more active on defense all night.
Certa took his total for the night, gaining 17 points from free throws, building upon his 90% shooting percentage from the line this season. With four minutes to go, the Irish found themselves in a similar position as they were against NC State. A three from junior guard Logan Imes, followed by two from junior guard Braeden Shrewsberry, saw the Irish get within one possession as the clock hits two minutes. Stanford then found an unlikely hero in sophomore forward Jaylen Thompson, who hit only his second threepointer of the season to stretch the lead to six. Despite the relentless effort from Haralson, the Irish could not find a way back.
The dagger came from graduate guard Jeremy Dent-Smith. An unlikely star for the Cardinal, the sixth man had 21 points in his season high since joining from Division II Dominguez Hills, as he went 6 for 7 from the field, in-
cluding going 5 for 6 from three to join Okorie in leading the Cardinal charge. They led the way as the Cardinal completed the 86-78 victory.
For the Irish, it was Haralson who was the bright spot, as he showed incredible composure shooting 13 for 15 at the line which included a number of crucial free throws which kept the Irish alive. Free throws were an aspect that Notre Dame can be happy with, shooting 89% from the line compared to Stanford’s 62%.
It’s a disappointing result to end the Irish’s home campaign, as the Irish came up just short once again. Luckily, Florida State squeaked a one-point victory over the Pitt Panthers, meaning the Irish still have a shot at the ACC tournament. They will need a victory at Boston College on Saturday and for Pitt to lose to Syracuse in order to secure their spot in the ACC tournament.
Contact Dan Kilcoyne at dkilcoyn@nd.edu
Hockey travels to Ohio State to close Big Ten slate
By Nikki Stachurski Associate Sports Editor
As the regular season nears its end, Notre Dame travels to face Ohio State for the second time this season. Puck drops for Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6 are both at 6:30 p.m. at Value City Arena. The conference matchup concludes regular season play for both teams as the fifth- and seventhplace teams in the Big Ten look to make a playoff push.
Last weekend, Notre Dame hosted No. 5 Penn State for its last home series of the regular season. The Irish emerged with a tie in the first game on Friday,
Feb. 27, with a final score of 3-3.
The following night, Notre Dame was electric at Compton Family Ice Arena on its senior night. Once again, the Irish took the Nittany Lions to overtime before senior defenseman Axel Kumlin scored for the picture-perfect ending to bring home the win.
The victories were aided greatly by sophomore goaltender Nick Kempf, who returned to the starting lineup after an injury against No. 1 Michigan State on Friday, Feb. 19. He started both games versus Penn State, recording a combined 51 saves and keeping the Nittany Lions out of the win column.
The Irish victory was not the only
buzz in the Big Ten conference last weekend as the Buckeyes beat No. 1 Michigan State at Michigan State. On Friday, Feb. 27, the Buckeyes swept the top-ranked team in a 5-1 victory before recording a tie the following night.
In late January, Ohio State traveled to Notre Dame as the teams met for the first time this season. The Buckeyes won the first game 4-2 on Friday, Jan. 23, but the Irish secured a 6-1 win the next night, resulting in a split series.
As both teams are more confident after their upset victories last weekend, tensions will undoubtedly be high as each team looks to keep itself in serious playoff competition. In the
Big Ten, all teams are guaranteed a playoff spot; however, each team must tighten its play to contend with heavy hitters like No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 6 Penn State and No. 11 Wisconsin, the top teams in the Big Ten.
On the Irish offensive line, junior forward Evan Werner leads the team with 15 goals on the season. Similarly, junior forward Cole Knuble holds the team-high of 21 assists. Co-captain junior forward Danny Nelson was named this past week’s Big Ten Second Star of the week, and it appears as if the Irish are finally getting more recognition for their improvement this season.
Ohio State is led by junior forward
Max Montes with 14 goals and freshman forward Jake Karabela with 14 assists. Although the numbers are lower than those of the Irish leaders, the Buckeyes have displayed a wellrounded style of play that is less reliant on star players and skill.
Ohio State is steadily climbing the conference rankings as regular season play concludes, and this series is the Buckeyes’ last opportunity to earn additional wins. However, Notre Dame has rekindled its fight, and there is nothing more dangerous than a team with nothing to lose but everything to gain.
Contact Nikki Stachurski at mstachu2@nd.edu
Irish bludgeon Eastern Michigan 11-1
By Zachary Jones Sports Writer
Notre Dame baseball won its 2026 home opener on Tuesday, run-ruling Eastern Michigan 11-1 in eight innings. It will open Atlantic Coast Conference play this weekend with an away series at Duke.
On Tuesday afternoon, against the backdrop of a steely late-winter sky, the Irish opened their 2026 home campaign. After playing their first nine games in warmer confines, the Irish returned to Frank Eck Stadium for a 4:30 p.m. game against regional opponent the Eagles. The Irish acquitted themselves
well against a slate of nonconference southern opponents and sported a 6-3 record going into the contest. Eastern Michigan, also facing chilly home weather, began its season with 12 straight games as the visitors. The Eagles arrived in South Bend at 4-8 overall after a series split at SIU Edwardsville.
Freshman righty Aiden Zerr got the starting nod from Irish coach Shawn Stiffler. Zerr escaped a two-out jam in the top of the first with a rare 3-1-3 putout. After pitching around a leadoff walk in the second, Zerr was replaced by senior righty Xavier Hirsch in the third. Hirsch inherited men on first and second with
one away, but a liner to shallow right put the Eagles up 1-0.
The Irish responded with seven runs in the bottom of the inning to take control of the game. Freshman outfielder Brandon Logan knocked in second baseman Mason Barth to begin the rally. After two walks, a Mark Quatrani hitby-pitch added another run. Sophomore designated hitter Bino Watters continued the rally with a single through the right side, scoring graduate outfielder Drew Berkland and sophomore shortstop Noah Coy. Sophomore third baseman Parker Brzustewicz joined in on the fun with a bloop single to score
Quatrani. Watters came in on a walk, and sophomore right fielder Jayce Lee crossed home on a sacrifice fly, making the score 7-1 Irish after three innings of play. Notre Dame added a run in the fifth inning and another in the sixth. With the score 9-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Lee hammered a triple to right field, scoring graduate Andrew Graham and putting the Irish up by nine. Barth, the next batter, walked it off with a short flare to right, scoring Lee and making the final score 11-1 due to the 10-run rule.
Hirsch, freshman righthander Will Jaisle, sophomore submariner Chase
Van Ameyde and freshman right-hander Garrett Snyder silenced the Eagles’ lineup with five scoreless innings in relief, giving up two hits and walking two while recording nine strikeouts. The Irish were led at the plate in hits by Lee and Barth with two each. Quatrani, Watters, Brzustewicz and Barth tied for a team-high two RBIs, and Lee showcased his speed with two triples, scoring three times as well. This is an abbreviated version of this story. The full version can be read online at ndsmcobserver.com.
Contact Zachary Jones at zjones3@nd.edu
Lou Holtz accepts post as football coach
By Jeff Blumb Sports Editor, 1985-86
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on December 3, 1985.
It was a very happy day for one man and a very sad day for another man yesterday at the ACC.
Arriving around noon was new football coach Lou Holtz, set to begin his task of revitalizing the Notre Dame program. Packing up his belongings was former coach Gerry Faust, uncertain about what the future might hold for him.
The first priority for Holtz will be to assemble his staff. He met early yesterday afternoon as a group with all of Faust’s assistants, and later began to speak with each on an individual basis. Determinations on their status will be forthcoming soon, and it shouldn’t be long before a full staff is in place.
Later in the day, Holtz addressed the team for the first time when he went to a meeting where player awards and next year’s captains were being selected.
Meanwhile, Faust was preparing to move to a vacant office in the rear of the ACC, where he will spend at least the rest of this week tying up loose ends.
At the press conference announcing his hiring last week, Holtz showed the wit that has been part of his repertoire wherever he has gone.
One of the many questions from reporters was whether or not he had seen the high-powered 1986 Notre Dame schedule before accepting the job. “Yes, sir, I did,” was the response from Holtz, whose son Skip is a student at Notre Dame. “Unfortunately, I might have been
looking at the basketball schedule.”
Then Holtz quickly ticked off next year’s schedule in order. “I think that’s right,” he said when finished. At that point he turned to Athletic Director Gene Corrigan and added, “unless you’ve upgraded it since I looked.”
After being assured that no such upgrading had taken place, Holtz addressed the issue of the pressures which the Notre Dame coach faces.
“I attended one game here,” he said. “I noticed that the fans are unarmed.
“I’m not looking at Knute Rockne’s record, or Frank Leahy’s record or Ara Parseghian’s record. I looked at that and thought it was a misprint. I don’t see how anybody can win that many football games and lose that few. I just want to do the best I can, and I hope I can add to the tradition of Notre Dame. ”
Holtz is known as a quick fix artist, bringing rapid change to downtrodden programs he has inherited. At Minnesota, he took the Gophers to a 6-5 finish and an Independence Bowl bid in only his second season at the school.
In his first season, Minnesota went 4-7 after finishing the two previous years with a combined 4-18 record.
Incidentally, Holtz will coach the Gophers against Clemson in the Dec 21 Independence Bowl. Upon getting out of the last three years of his contract at Minnesota on the basis of a “Notre Dame clause,” Holtz gave assurances to Minnesota officials that he would make himself available for the Clemson game if they so desired.
Minnesota has since said it would like him to coach the game.
Still, despite his past successes, Holtz made no promises when he accepted the job at Notre Dame.
“I’m not a miracle worker. I’m not a genius, ” he said. “Don’t lay any belief in the fact that we are going to be successful because I’m here. I think the people (at Notre Dame) expect a minor miracle every Saturday and probably a major one occasionally.”
The length of Holtz’ Notre Dame contract was not announced, but when asked its duration, the new Irish coach cracked, “Day to day. ”
He also was asked if there were any clauses in this contract which would allow him to leave, to which he responded, “Other than for survival, no.”
Holtz’ salary was not disclosed, but almost assuredly he took a substantial pay cut from his Minnesota salary, which was in the $100,000 range. Many observers feel his salary at Notre Dame is probably closer to $60,000, which is about what Faust made.
Undoubtedly, salary was not all that important to Holtz. For him, getting the Notre Dame job was something he had dreamed of ever since his days at St. Aloysius grade school, a place where the students marched out to lunch, recess and dismissal to the tune of the Notre Dame Victory March.
It was awful tough to leave Minnesota, Holtz admitted, but the draw of Notre Dame was just too much.
“It was difficult to leave Minnesota,” he said, “but I tell you, it would have been more difficult to say no to Notre Dame. That, I found to be impossible to do. This is a dream of a lifetime and not many people at age 48 get a chance to still
chase their dream.
“I never thought I would have this opportunity. I mean, I’m 5-10, 152 pounds, wear glasses, speak with a lisp and have a physique that appears I’ve been afflicted with beriberi and scurvy most of my life.
“I ranked 234 in a class of 278 coming out of high school,” Holtz
continued. “I couldn’t get into Notre Dame. I couldn’t even get into St. Vincent’s of Latrobe ( Pa.). I had to go to a state institution (Kent State) because they had to take you. And here I am as head football coach at Notre Dame. I just couldn’t say no.” And Notre Dame couldn’t say no to Lou Holtz.
Holtz not affected by hype, hard hours
By Jason Kelly
Associate Sports Editor, 1993-94
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on Novemer 10, 1993.
Lou Holtz doesn’t work any harder for a game as big as Saturday’s clash with No. 1 Florida State.
If he did, he might not last until game time. After a 14 or 15 hour day, he returns home where he watches game and practice films from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Then he sleeps in the chair in front of the television until about 12:30, when he wakes up for three more hours of film study. At 3:30 a.m., he goes to bed until 6 a.m. when he begins the cycle again.
“I have a real weird setup and I’ve fallen into a habit which I wish I hadn’t,” Holtz said of his unusual hours. “You fall into that rhythm and it’s terrible to do that. I’ve got to guard against being too tired.”
The media crush has descended on South Bend, making preparation even more difficult for Holtz and his players.
Notre Dame has been in games
like this before, most recently the 1988 No. 1 vs. No. 2 game against Southern Gal.
“The difference is the game was out there we didn’t have to have press conferences because everybody was at that sight,” Holtz said. “That’s why I made the comment I’d like to move (the game) to Florida. They did call the next day and offer to do that.”
Despite the extra attention, Holtz has tried to make this as normal a week of preparation as possible.
“For us this is business as usual,” Holtz said. “As far as I know, they are not going to give (a national championship) plaque to the winner.”
Holtz believes his team must win to have a shot at the national cham pionship, a change from a week ago, when he said he would consider playing for a tie if the situation developed.
“I said that we’d kick (an extra point rather than attempting a two-point conversion to win the game) and I meant it, thinking that we would be big underdogs
and maybe have another crack at them,” Holtz explained.
“After thinking about it, I don’t want to play them again. In all probability, we’d go for two.” Offensive linemen Ryan Leahy and Jeremy Akers appear to be at full strength after missing several weeks with knee injuries. Leahy is expected to start Saturday and Akers will also see some action.
Tailback Lee Becton is nursing a sore hamstring and fullback Ray Zellars is still hobbling on a bruised knee, but both have been practicing and are expected to be in the lineup Saturday.
All the excitement doesn’t seem to be affecting Holtz, but he does enjoy watch ing his players experience the excitement.
“The real fun comes when you’re in the locker room before the game, and the closeness of the football team and all the hopes and the expectations,” Holtz said. “I’m very happy to be involved in this for our players. As far as me enjoying it, there isn’t anything special in it for me.”
Not yet.
PETE LACHES | The Observer
Lou Holtz speaks to the media at his introductory press conference. The coach took a large salary cut to leave Minnesota for his “dream job.”
FOOTBALL
Courtesy of Mike Bennett | The Dome
Lou Holtz hunches down on the sidelines and stares at the field during a 24-19 win over No. 2 Michigan in Michigan Stadium on Sept. 16, 1989.
Lou Holtz’s Catholic faith is bigger than football
By Henry Lytle Associate Sports Editor
Legendary Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz might be remembered for his greatness on the field, but his enduring Catholic faith led him to be a positive and enduring force shaping Notre Dame football and its reputation for years to come.
Holtz died March 4 at age 89. The 1988 national championship winner began his tenure in 1986 for Notre Dame to help resurrect a struggling Irish team. In addition to giving ten years, 100 wins, five New Year’s Day bowl victories, an undefeated 12-0 season and a national championship, Holtz left his mark with his visible Catholic faith and commitment to cultivating virtuous men on the football field.
Holtz’s early life was formed by the Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Aloysius Grade School in East Liverpool, Ohio. Holtz once told the National Catholic Register that the nuns and early education “influenced my life tremendously. This was due to the fact that they encouraged you always to make sure that God is the focus of your life, and they didn’t allow you to do anything except to the very best of your ability.”
Holtz told the Register that he
prayed to God to be a great athlete, only to have been made a coach instead. Holtz’s weekly attendance and trust in the Church on religious principles helped “bring meaning and lasting happiness to life.”
Holtz took on his position at Notre Dame after various stops along the way, including William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas and Minnesota. The opportunity at Notre Dame was not only a larger one in the public eye, but inherently had faith tied into football on the field as a world-renowned Catholic university. Holtz immediately embraced the rich football and Catholic tradition, publicly sharing his faith, re-instating a mandatory Mass attendance prior to games and prioritizing moral messaging to players. His teams began to take the virtues of fortitude, prudence and temperance onto the football field and quickly translated to success for the Irish. Holtz leaned into the distinctiveness of Notre Dame as a truly Catholic and faithful university, which reflected and shared the faith on a national stage. He helped reassert that the football program wasn’t separate from the University’s religious mission — it was part of it.
Holtz posted the famous “Play Like a Champion Today” sign in
1986 hoping to inspire players as they entered the field. After spotting the sign in a college football book, he felt that it “was appropriate for Notre Dame” and brought it along with the team for road games to encourage players and remind them of the sacrifices it took to get to their position. These actions helped make a lasting impact and shape the modern landscape of Notre Dame football that fans across the world recognize today.
Holtz’s time at Notre Dame is certainly remembered for his undefeated national championship season in 1988. However, he is also remembered as a legend for his unforgettable pregame speeches and instillment of virtue in his players. He shared that he wanted “Good people who happen to be good football players” for Notre Dame football. His messaging for speeches was often focused on integrity in the players, respect, self-control and academic excellence, aligning directly with the pillars of Notre Dame. Holtz made Notre Dame’s Catholicism visible on a national stage and reinforced its intimate ties with football.
Lou Holtz retired from Notre Dame in 1996 for a few years before picking up his final job at South Carolina for six seasons.
Holtz began to appear in commentary roles for ESPN and other televised programs, bringing his witty sense of humor and passion for the game to every broadcast. In 2020, Holtz earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump as the White House described him as “one of the greatest football coaches of all time” and a “philanthropist, author and true American patriot.”
Lou Holtz “is remembered for his enduring values of faith, family, service and unwavering belief in the potential of others,” his
family said. They posted a statement sharing a Mass of Christian Burial at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame to be announced as details are finalized. As the University of Notre Dame and nation remembers Lou Holtz for his football excellence and transformation of collegiate programs, it is important not to forget the ways he impacted players and communities beyond the game through his Catholic faith.
Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
Dailey: A tale on family, Holtz and Notre Dame
By Chris Dailey Sports Writer
Whenever I asked my late grandfather about Lou Holtz, his response was always the same:
“He was the best Notre Dame football coach I’ve ever seen.”
As a young boy in the 1940s, my grandfather listened to every Notre Dame game on the radio as Frank Leahy guided the Irish to four national championships. He never missed a moment of the Ara Parseghian and Dan Devine eras. So for him to say this,
having witnessed coaches now enshrined on campus, was bold.
But, he stuck to his guns. An honest, devout Catholic, my grandfather didn’t mince words. He always called it like he saw it.
Throughout my childhood, I clung to my grandfathers side as we watched the Irish every Saturday in the fall. On these sacred days, he would tell me countless stories of all the legendary golden domers.
I learned a great deal about Notre Dame football history by listening to my grandfather recall
tales of old despite battling from an aggressive form of Parkinson’s Disease.
During those hard times, when my grandfather was hallucinating and could barely speak, stories of Notre Dame football ignited a spark in his body. For a moment, he was his true self again.
More often than not, Holtz would be mentioned one way or another. I heard how he was a winner. I heard how he was a trash-talker – an amazing one at that. I heard how he represented everything Notre Dame stood for.
There was also one story in particular I heard all the time.
My grandfather and my dad were on campus in 1988 for the Notre Dame vs. Penn State game. At the pep rally before the game, Coach Holtz gave the most Coach Holtz quote of all-time.
“This school’s got so much spirit you could put pads on the band and we’ll kick their ass.”
The next night, Coach Holtz delivered on his promise. The Irish trounced the Nittany Lions 21-13 and somehow, someway after the game, my grandfather and dad managed to jump onto the field. From there, they naturally wandered outside the locker room. Nobody seemed to bat an eye.
Suddenly, Lou Holtz appeared, emerging from the darkness in his iconic blue sweater and Notre Dame hat. He walked over to my
grandfather and dad, shook their hands and thanked them for their support.
37 years later, I became the first Dailey to step foot onto Notre Dame’s campus as a student after transferring from Holy Cross College.
Only a few weeks into the year, I came across my first big break: covering Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M for The Observer.
I wanted my article to be perfect, so I skipped out on tailgating for the day.
Looking for something to do, I roamed around campus, eventually finding a landing spot at the Morris Inn.
About an hour into watching games alongside Notre Dame alumni, my Dad called to tell me Holtz was spotted at the Morris Inn earlier. I told him I didn’t see him. Even if I did, I figured he would have more security than the President.
Two minutes after hanging up with my dad, I decided I wanted to get a move on. But while walking outside the Morris Inn, I was stopped in my tracks.
Two seconds later, I realized why.
Lou Holtz was sitting outside... smoking a pipe.
A small line had formed to take photos with him and I immediately hopped in. Coach Holtz smiled for photo after photo as the crowd
grew increasingly larger. When it came my turn to sit on the bench next to Coach Holtz, his manager told the crowd this would be the last photo of the day. I quickly whispered to him, “I transferred to Notre Dame from Holy Cross, just like your son Skip.”
Although frail, Coach Holtz uttered back, “Holy Cross is a terrific school.”
A kind man snapped a few photos of us. I then stood, shook Coach Holtz’s hand, and walked back to Duncan Hall in awe of what had just happened. Once in my room, I called my family to share the news.
My dad was ecstatic. My mom was in shock. My uncles were all jumping for joy.
And in heaven.
My grandfather was pumping his arms.
In my family, Holtz is more than just a football coach. He has transcended that label. Rather, he is, was and will forever be the golden standard.
May Holtz rest in peace. A true Irish legend, he embodied everything that makes this school so special. If we all strive to lead like Coach Holtz did, this campus and this world will certainly become a better place.
Contact Chris Dailey at cdailey2@nd.edu
Courtesy of Notre Dame Sports Information
Lou Holtz mans the sideline during a game in 1991. A lifelong Catholic, Holtz’s philanthropy embodied Notre Dame as much as his coaching.
Courtesy of Jeff Roth / The Dome
Lou Holtz discusses with quarterback Rick Mirer during a game in the early 1990s. Holtz totaled 100 wins during his 11 years at Notre Dame.