THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME, SAINT MARY’S AND HOLY CROSS ESTABLISHED 1966
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 | VOL. LXI, NO. 4
NDSMCOBSERVER.COM
New permanent rectors announced for 5 halls By Observer News Staff
from Fr. Bill Dailey C.S.C., who held the role since Graham Family Hall’s inception in 2024. Wieboldt did not respond to request for comment.
Following the departure of four rectors at the end of last year and another interim rector position that needed to be replaced, five people begin the permanent rectorship position at the University of Notre Dame starting this academic year. Dunne Hall: Collins Hess According to his Notre Dame biography, Hess is a 2020 graduate of Auburn University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in software engineering. Upon graduation, he entered the seminary in the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, studying theology and philosophy at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. “During that time, Collins ministered to a variety of people in numerous pastoral assignments throughout Alabama and Ohio, where he especially enjoyed building friendships, fostering community, and teaching and leading discussions on philosophy and theology,” the biography read. He spent a year in a pastoral assistant role teaching moral theology at a Catholic high school through Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood, Alabama. Hess is the third rector of Dunne
Courtesy of the University of Notre Dame
Five new rectors begin terms. Clockwise from top left, Collins Hess for Dunne, Dennis Wieboldt for Graham Family, Keenan Bross for Keenan, Sammie Van Norstrand for Walsh and Lucia Sgroi for Ryan Hall.
Hall, having assumed the role from Fr. Eric Schimmel C.S.C., who held the position for six years. Hess did not respond to request for comment. Graham Family Hall:
Dennis Wieboldt ‘26 Stated in his Notre Dame biography, Wieboldt received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Boston College. He graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2026.
Sexual assault reported at SMC in residential dorm
By Observer News Staff
“Dennis arrived at Notre Dame in 2023 as the first student to concurrently pursue a J.D./Ph.D. in history,” his biography read. Before being the rector, Wieboldt was an assistant rector in Graham Family Hall. He assumes the role
Keenan Hall: Keenan Bross ‘26 Specified in his description, Bross joined Old College Undergraduate Seminary in 2016, where he earned a bachelor’s in physics and philosophy. His profile in the Congregation of Holy Cross indicates he received his bachelor’s degree in 2020. In 2026, he graduated from Notre Dame with a Master of Divinity, during which time he served as an assistant rector in O’Neill Family Hall for at least the 2025-2026 school year. His biography reads, “During his time in formation with the Congregation of Holy Cross, Keenan worked in parish, education, and outreach ministries both at home and abroad in Chile, Mexico, Bangladesh, and Tanzania. He hopes to serve as a bridge between Holy Cross priests and brothers around the world, especially through the ministry of education.” He professed final vows on Saturday and is expected to be ordained a priest this spring. Bross assumes the role from see “Rectors” on page 3
Rockne Rally canceled for 2026 By Observer News Staff
Saint Mary’s College director of Campus Safety Phil Bambenek informed students of a report of sexual assault at a residence hall via email on Friday evening. The report was made on Thursday evening around 11 p.m. According to the email, the Belles Against Violence Office, Office of Harassment Education and Response and the St. Joseph County Police Department are investigating the incident. “The survivor of the assault reported that she had been with the suspect on a date. The suspect has been identified and is not a member of the tri-campus community,” the email stated.
Bambenek listed on-campus resources, such as OHER, BAVO, the Center for Faith, Action and Ministry and the Health and Counseling Center. BAVO, the counselors at Holy Cross College and ordained ministers in CFAM were listed as confidential resources. The document also included a list of law enforcement agencies from Saint Mary’s, the University of Notre Dame, the St. Joseph County Police Special Victims Unit, the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Police, along with local and national hotlines and organizations. For questions or concerns, Bambenek directed students to reach out to BAVO
or the Saint Mary’s Campus Safety Department. To share information on the incident, Bambenek directed students to the St. Joseph County Police Special Victims Unit. This is the first incident of the 2026-2027 school year to be reported via a Timely Warning Notification system, which The Observer previously reported is employed by Campus Safety only after an incident has been resolved. During the 2025-2026 school year, three sexual assault and sexual harassment incidents were reported via this system. An additional incident, which was not considered under the notification system, was reported off-campus.
NEWS | PAGE 3
OPINION | PAGE 6
SCENE | PAGE 8
SPORTS | PAGE 9
London theater guide Four captains named
ND men’s soccer
For their 11th annual signature event, team members and hall leaders reflect on the activities.
Staff members share why you should join and work for their respective departments.
Scene writer shares how to make the most of studying abroad by exploring London theaters.
Marcus Freeman selected four captains for 2026, including two offensive and two defensive.
Notre Dame beats Harvard in a 3-1 with a home comeback to win its first game of the season.
Dunne Funne Runne
Why work for us
For over five and a half decades, Dillon Hall has been hosting a rally ahead of the first home game. Originally known as the Dillon Hall Pep Rally, it has since shifted locations from the Dillon patio to South Quad in front of the Rockne Memorial and has subsequently been renamed the Rockne Rally. “Due to staffing and logistical considerations of the Jim Gaffigan show occurring at the same time, Athletics will not be putting on the Rockne Rally this year,” Claire Cunningham, associate athletics director for communications and strategy, wrote in a statement to The Observer. “While we are disappointed
in the cancellation of the Rockne Rally, a long-standing campus-wide tradition that involved thousands and all different cultures, we are excited to sponsor different events this fall,” Dillon president sophomore William Negus wrote in a statement to The Observer. “We are looking forward to continuing this tradition in the future,” Negus added. Gaffigan’s performance was announced to students on April 21, originally scheduled on Sept. 11 in Purcell Pavilion. This is not the first time the pep rally has been canceled. In 2008, Dillon rector Fr. Paul Doyle called it off citing insufficient preparation — to the dismay of some residents. The Dillon Hall rector did not respond to requests for
SPORTS | PAGE 9
DAILY
2 | THE OBSERVER
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
What is an item worth splurging on?
Have a question you want answered? Email photo@ndsmcobserver.com
Aria Koberger
Carolina O’Malley
“A gym membership.”
“A good education.”
freshman Flaherty Hall
freshman Flaherty Hall
Ash Wang
Jacob Cresson
Sebastian Lee
“Things that make you happy.”
“An EpiPen.”
“A gaming desktop.”
junior Sacred Heart Parish Center
sophomore Dunne Hall
sophomore Morrisey Manor
SOCIAL MEDIA POLL
PHOTO OF THE DAY | ABRAHAM MEDINA
Have an idea for a poll? Email social@ndsmcobserver.com
What is the best caffeine option? Coffee Energy
12.1%
Tea I don't drink caffeine
12.1%
55.6% 20.3%
THE NEXT FIVE DAYS
CROSSWORD | WILL SHORTZ
Want your event included here? Email news@ndsmcobserver.com
Tuesday Kroc Institute Ice Cream Social DeBartolo Quad 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Join the Institute in celebrating their 40th anniversary.
Wednesday Holy Cross men’s soccer vs. Goshen Saints Field 7:30 p.m. The Saints take on Goshen College.
Thursday Saint Mary’s soccer vs. Indiana University South Bend Purcell Athletic Field 7 p.m. The Belles face off against the IUSB Titans.
Friday Concert: AC/DC Notre Dame Stadium 7:30 p.m. - 10:15 p.m. Come and enjoy music from the iconic rock band.
Saturday Film: “Obsesssion” DeBartolo Performing Arts Center 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Come watch and enjoy this thriller.
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Policies The Observer is the independent, daily newspaper published in print and online by the students of the University of Notre Dame du Lac, Saint Mary’s College and Holy Cross College. Editorial content, including advertisements, is not governed by policies of the administration of any institution. The Observer reserves the right to refuse advertisements based on content. The news is reported as accurately and objectively as possible. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the majority of the
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NEWS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 3
Dunne Hall hosts 11th annual signature event By Mara Hall Associate News Editor
On Saturday, Dunne Hall hosted their 11th annual Dunne Funne Runne — a North Quad relay featuring an obstacle race, lawn games and cookout. The obstacle course saw team members bend over and spin in a circle five times on a bat, lacrosse stick or golf club before participating in an egg and spoon race, with a ping pong ball substituted for the egg. Participants then had to do a ladder toss, where Dunne residents administering the game directed people to do “one throw and go.” After scaling an inf latable slide, participants found themselves at a cornhole setup where they had to get a bean bag on the board before running through a pool of water and tagging their next teammate. Shoes were scattered across the quad during the event, as most participants opted to compete barefoot. Students registered to participate in groups of four, with the team entry cost coming in at $20. Four teams competed per heat. Junior Austin Marchand, Dunne Hall president, explained the event is a fundraiser for Andre House of Arizona, a Holy Cross Order resource house for those who are unhoused or in need of support, in Phoenix. Dunne Hall has been partners with the house since Fr.
Eric Schimmel C.S.C. was rector of the dorm. Prior to working as a rector, Schimmel served as director of Andre House. The hall has done various fundraisers and fall break trips over the years to support the house. Marchand explained the hardest part of organizing the run was the time frame. With the event always occurring on the first Saturday of the school year, the majority of the planning has to happen over the summer months when students are geographically distant from one another, and campus offices are functioning in reduced capacities. Marchand noted the event, “brings people together in a way that goes far beyond fundraising and shirts and Hall of the Year even.” According to Marchard, raising over $2,000 would be “a really huge win.” One team participating in the event, named DunneFar Run, consisted of juniors Jayden Wang, Ellie Sebright, Erin Weger and Carter Greenwald. “It is always fun starting off the year well with this,” Dunne resident Greenwald said. Wang, another Dunne resident, explained the team had originally planned for Greenwald and Wang to give Sebright and Weger Dunne merch and for Sebright and Wegar to give the two Farley merch — hence the team name. However, Sebright explained, “Last minute, we
could not come through on our end of the outfit, so we decided to pivot and make a better outfit.” The team wore crop tops, shorts and skirts, some of which featured sequins. Speaking on her team, Farley’s Angels, sophomore Katie O’Brien said, “We live in Farley, so it is right in our backyard. Dunne is our brother dorm this year, so we are very excited, and Farley runs North Quad.” Farley’s Angels noted Farley Hall had at least four teams running, including a showing of freshmen. Paetyn McCurry, a sophomore in Farley, explained she was racing because the event was located on North Quad: “Farley’s home turf.” “I think our team did well. We put up a good fight,” McCurry said postrace. “We took off some skirts off some of the guys, so that was always a good time.” The Horns Up Chins Down team consisted of four Farley freshman: Mary Lisa Bradshaw, Dani Nakis, Anna Walsh and Audrey Cushman. The team attributed the origin of their name to a friend not on the team. Donned in unicorn-horn headbands, they explained they wanted to look cute and have fun. The Black and Better Than Ever team consisted of Dunne sophomores Brendan Campbell, Tochi Orji, Evan Villinski and Aiden Kim. Orji said they were present
MARA HALL | The Observer
The Dunne-Far team poses ahead of the race where teams compete in heats. The annual signature event fundraises for Andre House each fall.
because, “We love charity.” As the heats progressed, Dunne Hall opened the dunk tank. According to Marchand, the dunk tank was also a part of the fundraiser as event attendees could pay a couple dollars for a throw. Graduate student Colin Farrell, an assistant rector in Dunne Hall, was in the dunk tank wearing a Patrick Star costume, following Dunne Hall rector Collins Hess. When asked about his experience in the dunk tank, Farrell said, “It felt like my natural habitat. Patrick Star costume here. Fish out of water. Fish in water. Whatever you want to call it. It felt great.” Farrell also spoke on the inspiration behind his costume: “I had it in my closet.” One of the times in which Farrell was dunked came after a throw from Hess. “It was a little humiliating,
to be honest, because when he was up there before me, I completely missed,” Farrell said, speaking on the experience. “In fact, I actually threw it at him, like the person, so, he got some good revenge.” To advertise the event and raise more money, Marchand explained the dorm duct taped their rector to a board in the foyer of North Dining Hall and charged at least $1 per piece of tape. “I asked Collins, ‘Hey, we are doing this Dunne Funne Runne, and in the past, we have done this taping the rector. Would you be willing to go up?’” Marchand said. “He has been here like three or four weeks. He was like, ‘Yeah, I would love to.’ He is so willing to support us and do whatever we can to bring the fellas together.” Contact Mara Hall at mhall27@nd.edu
SMC launches new partnership with prayer app By Observer News Staff In an email that began with “Good News” on Aug. 24, Vice President for Mission Molly Gower at Saint Mary’s College announced a five-year collaboration with Hallow, an app that provides daily prayers and meditation. The announcement specified that the app is free to all
Rectors
Continued from page 1 Cory Hodson, who held the position for three years. Bross did not respond to request for comment. Ryan Hall: Lucia Sgroi ‘24 A South Bend native, Sgroi graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology and studio art from Notre Dame in 2024. Following this degree, she joined
students, staff and the Board of Trustees, along with emeriti and current faculty. Access is consistent and renews automatically if users maintain status in the aforementioned groups. According to Gower, the platform “offers many ways to deepen your relationship with God, including Scripture reflections, the Rosary, the examen, novenas, sacred music, and audio Bible stories. Its content is grounded in Scripture
and Catholic tradition.” To supplement this purpose, Hallow will have a student ambassador from the Center for Faith, Action and Ministry, who will also be present for Catholic prayer and celebration of the sacraments. Through the partnership with the app, the College hopes to enhances communal prayer for users from the campus community alongside key components
of the Catholic faith. The platform will be featured on the Saint Mary’s community page under CFAM events. Students received a welcome message from Hallow and directions to access their own personal account, with the email titled, “Welcome to Hallow! Join From Sinner to Saint.” The welcome message is credited to Alex Jones, the CEO and co-founder of
the app, who was the 2026 commencement speaker at Holy Cross College. Jones and Rebekah Smith, a senior partner success lead at Hallow, have sent emails nearly daily to campus community members promoting talks with guest speakers, sharing quotes of the day and encouraging students to join the platform. These emails are sent whether an individual has signed up
the Echo Graduate Service Program housed within the McGrath Institute for Church Life and served at St. John the Baptist Parish in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Sgroi is not the only current Notre Dame rector to be an Echo graduate, joining alongside current rector Ireland Majewski ’23 from Pasquerilla East Hall. She is the seventh rector of Ryan Hall and assumes the role from Ally Liedtke, who held the role for five years. Liedtke is now the assistant director of housing assignments in
Residential Life and presently serving as the McGlinn Hall interim rector. Sgroi did not respond to request for comment.
After graduating, the biography explains she spent two years as a House of Brigid fellow at Newman University Church in Dublin, Ireland. In May 2026, Van Norstrand graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Masters in Divinity. “During her time in graduate school, Sammie served as the music director for the Notre Dame Vision program in the McGrath Institute for Church
Life, an Assistant Rector in Lewis Hall, and a graduate student intern with the Notre Dame Folk Choir,” her biography reads. Van Norstrand assumes the role from Richard Mazzei ’78, known by students as Mazz, who served as acting rector after Cheyenne Joseph left the role on March 17. Van Norstrand did not respond to request for comment.
Walsh Hall: Sammie Van Norstrand ‘26 Van Norstrand is a 2021 graduate of the University of Portland. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and theater. The biography notes that as an undergraduate, she served as resident assistant and retreat leader.
NEWS
4 | THE OBSERVER
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
New dean appointed for SMC career center By Sofia Flores Reporter
The Prikkel Advising, Career and Experience Center, located in Le Mans Hall at Saint Mary’s College, has welcomed a new addition to their staff as the school year begins. Megan Piersma has assumed the newly created role as the dean of career integration. Among other responsibilities, she will help to increase student opportunities for experiential learning as well as implement new career programming to help students find success after graduating from the College. Piersma possesses an extensive background in higher education. She “comes from a family of educators,” with three of her grandparents having been teachers. According to Piersma, her family’s career history has instilled in her “the importance of and the joy of learning” and has inspired her throughout her educational and professional endeavors. As an undergraduate at Calvin College, now known as Calvin University, Piersma was introduced to what would become her future career path. When she was in her senior year, she was an intern and special assistant to the vice president for student life.
“The opportunity to learn with and from her really set me on the trajectory that I’ve been on for the whole of my career,” Piersma said. “She allowed me to shadow her, to work on significant projects and [she] taught me a lot about what it means to be a woman in leadership.” Following her time at Calvin College, Piersma earned her master’s in education with a focus on higher education administration from the University of Michigan, where she worked for 18 years across four different roles — program and events coordinator of student services, program manager of student philanthropy, associate director of the Office of Action-Based Learning and director of the Living Business Leadership Experience. Her most recent positions prior to her new role were in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame. She served as director of experiential learning from June 2022 to May 2024 and senior director of career success and external engagement from May 2024 to June 2026. “In that role, I was leading a team of 17 professionals who were dedicated to equipping graduate students, in particular, with the tools, connections [and] the confidence to
thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape,” Piersma said. When discussing how her role in the Mendoza College of Business prepared her for her position at the College, Piersma shared that her work of growing specific programs for students in advanced degrees will be similar to the work she would like to do at Saint Mary’s. “One of the things that I am most proud of from my time at Mendoza was launching the Grow Irish suite of immersive, off-campus experiential learning programs. And those were for our MBA students, for our specialized master’s students and our executive MBA students,“ she said. ”A lot of the work I did in that space, I think there [are] exciting parallels for things that we are doing already here at Saint Mary’s and that we’d like to do even more of for students across the whole of their four years with us.” Piersma also described what drew her to the College, including it being an all-women’s college and its focus on cultivating students’ academic experiences. “Saint Mary’s certainly offers a very unique value proposition. It’s a women’s liberal arts college that is academically excellent and mission driven, and it’s one of only
a handful of women’s liberal arts colleges in the country and in the Midwest, and so there is something very special about those elements,” she said. Piersma also shared that the College’s recent initiatives, such as the $200 million Ring Out Ring True campaign, place it in a spot to adequately support and enrich students’ journeys within the institution. “Also, with the Ring Out Ring True campaign that has been happening, the fundraising campaign, it’s clear that Saint Mary’s is very resource rich and dedicated to this work of the Avenue Experience and ensuring that we are preparing students to live well, to succeed professionally and to contribute to the common good,” she said. Piersma expanded, saying it is apparent the College has a tight-knit community that ”provides not only students, but particularly students with personal attention, healthy challenge and support for people of all identities,” which aligns with her values and the impact she wants to make. Piersma hopes to create various initiatives that promote students’ careers and future prospects within her new role. “Three key initiatives for this year are delivering a
sophomore career launch program, piloting career treks and scaling up the student alumnae mentorship program,” she said. Provost and vice president Megan Zwart shared information on the hiring process and how it aligns with the curriculum structure being developed at the College. “As we were building the Avenue Experience, our four year curriculum to career program, we knew that we needed to hire someone with deep expertise in career development and experiential learning. So, we worked with the Career Leadership Collective, a national organization with expertise in helping colleges develop integrated career ecosystems, to imagine the new role of Dean of Career Integration and conduct a national search,” Zwart wrote in an email to The Observer. She further explained why Piersma was chosen for the role, writing, “But what stood out most to me about Megan was her curiosity and her thoughtful questions, her ability to listen and synthesize information, her thoughtful judgment, and the invitational way she brings others into the work.” Contact Sofia Flores at sflores01@saintmarys.edu
Scholars program at SMC promotes STEM fields By Sophie Lewandowski Staff Reporter
This year, as early-arrival students stepped onto campus, they were joined by a new group of classmates preparing for the year. The Craig Scholars recipients settled into their dorms and attended special events to get ready for the new academic year. Saint Mary’s College has introduced its new Craig Scholars program, an organization that seeks to support math and computer science students academically while building their community on campus. Craig Scholars have already begun to prepare incoming and returning students for the upcoming year. Arriving on campus, participants in the program were able to move into their dorms early and participate in special activities and classes to get to know one another, with the goal of making a degree in STEM feel less daunting. Sessions ranged from classes on solving Fermi problems and cipher decoding to conversations about living at Saint Mary’s
and different research opportunities available to students. Additionally, peer mentors organized games and scavenger hunts for the participants. Helena Fischer, a senior physics and applied mathematics major at Saint Mary’s, an Aerospace Engineering major at Notre Dame and a peer mentor for the program, felt the early arrival events provided students with a chance to learn about the opportunities available to math students. Fischer noted that, in her opinion, many believe that degrees in mathematics are only for students in engineering or those who wish to become a professor or teacher. “I feel like a lot of the sessions that they hosted were really good for kind of expanding the girls’ views of what options they had available to them. Teaching them about stuff that they probably wouldn’t learn otherwise,” Fischer said. The Craig Scholars program was created through an endowment by Saint Mary’s alumna Frances Bardello Craig, a math
major from the class of 1964. The fund, called the “Frances Bardello Craig ‘64 Leadership Program in Mathematics and Computer Science” endowment, intends to support women interested in the fields of math and computer science by inspiring academic confidence, providing a pipeline for students to get involved in research, internships and leadership roles and presenting an opportunity for students to build community early. The program currently hosts ten first-year students, one sophomore and two seniors who serve as peer mentors. It has been modeled after Saint Mary’s other scholar programs, Belles Connect and Kessler Scholars. The program’s leaders, Dr. Kristin Kuter, associate professor and chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, and the newly hired Dr. Lauren Grimley, the Frances Bardello Craig ‘64 endowed professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, plan to grow the program over the course of the next few years.
Kuter shared that she hopes to collaborate with programming at Notre Dame in the future. Additionally, she would love to bring students to campus during the summer to see research happening in real time, among many other ideas that s he and her team are brainstorming. The biggest hope that Kuter shared is that the first cohort of Craig Scholars will continue to return to the program to help the next year of incoming students, building a stronger community and program as the years go on. Fischer believes that the impact of these first few weeks can already be seen in the community the scholars have formed. “They were all pretty close with each other, and then even within that group, they had three friend groups that all got along really well and it was good to see that they had people going into the year that they already knew, and they were already friends with, and already getting along with,” Fischer said.
Craig continues to actively participate in the program named for her, attending virtual events to meet the students and share her experiences. Jane Funk, a sophomore physics and mechanical engineering major at Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame, respectively, is a recipient of the Craig Scholars program. For her, meeting Craig was an inspiring moment that showed her how supported she was. “She was very inspiring. She believed in us, and she was very supportive of us, so I feel like that’s really cool to have a mentor like that,” Funk said. The Craig Scholars program is still in its early stages, but it is an opportunity for support that is really helpful. “Having someone - a support pillar, someone supporting you, someone really knowing you as a student, and, you know, having access to that on a deeper level … I really appreciate that, and I intend to use that for my education, my academics,” Funk said. Contact Sophie Lewandowski at slewandowski01@saintmarys.edu
OPINION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 5
For five days, Notre Dame was home By Christopher Saenz Columnist
My first week as an admitted Notre Dame graduate student was bookended by lacrosse tournaments. On Father’s Day, I was in Oceanside, California, coaching my son’s lacrosse teams. The following morning, my oldest son, Gabriel, and I boarded a flight from Los Angeles, connected through Dallas and landed in South Bend. Five days later, when my summer symposium ended, we headed east toward Delaware for another tournament. That probably says something about what being a graduate student looks like at this point in my life. I am not 22 years old. I did not move to South Bend and build my life around graduate school. I have a full-time career, a wife, children and all the responsibilities that come with them. Most of the time, I experience Notre Dame from California. But for four days in June, I got to experience Notre Dame differently. I had taken courses at Notre Dame during the previous academic year as a non-degree student, but this was my first time coming to campus after officially being admitted to the master of arts in theology program. That distinction mattered more to me than I expected. I had visited Notre Dame before. I had walked around campus, gone inside buildings and experienced the University as a visitor. This time, I had somewhere to be. I had a classroom. I had classmates. I had a professor waiting for us. I had a reason to walk into Coleman-Morse other than wanting to see what was inside. Our symposium included
classes with professor Gabriel Reynolds, conversations with classmates, Mass, films, meals together and visits to the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. We studied Christology, the Church and the sacraments, Nicaea and Chalcedon, Islam’s understanding of Jesus and the relationship between the Quran and the Bible. Those were the academic reasons I had traveled across the country. Some of the moments that affected me most, though, were much smaller: eating lunch at North Dining Hall, using Duncan Student Center and even sitting in a classroom among other students felt significant. Those are completely ordinary experiences for thousands of Notre Dame students. For me, they weren’t ordinary at all. For years, Notre Dame had been a place I admired from the outside. Now I could swipe into a student space, grab food at the dining hall, walk into class and sit down as someone who actually belonged there. There was also something special about having my son with me. While I was in class, Gabriel would sometimes hang out in the common areas of ColemanMorse or walk around campus. He met Reynolds — which became amusing during the week because I was constantly distinguishing between “professor Gabriel” and “my Gabriel.” He met some of my classmates. He wandered around Notre Dame enough to have a little experience of independence on campus. And, being an 11-year-old who loves sports, he somehow managed to meet Notre Dame athletes along the way. Dylan Faison and Khary Adams were especially kind to him and took a few minutes to make him feel welcome. It may have seemed
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
like a small gesture to them, but it made his day. As his dad, I was grateful. If any of them happen to read this, thank you. Meanwhile, he also got to watch his dad go to school. I don’t know whether that meant much to him. It meant something to me. One of my favorite experiences of the symposium was one of the simplest: Mass with our class in Malloy. At other points during the week, we attended Mass in the Basilica. There was something powerful about moving back and forth between studying theology academically and then actually practicing the faith we were studying. That is difficult to recreate through a computer screen. For most of the year, theology classes fit in around the rest of my life. I read after work. I write papers around family obligations. My classmates and professors live inside little rectangles on a screen.
In South Bend, the experience suddenly became tangible. The people were real. The classroom was real. The Basilica was right there. And Notre Dame was no longer somewhere 1,800 miles away. When the symposium ended Friday evening, I was genuinely sad to leave. That surprised me. I wasn’t sad because I wanted a longer vacation. I wanted more time being part of the University. I wanted another class. Another Mass. Another lunch at the dining hall. Another afternoon walking across campus knowing that I wasn’t simply visiting Notre Dame. I felt like I belonged there. One of the challenges of being a hybrid graduate student is knowing that my time physically at Notre Dame will always be limited. My master’s program will pass quickly. There will be organizations I never
have enough time to join, events I cannot attend and experiences that geography simply makes impossible. But that has also made me want to participate wherever I can. This past June changed the way I think about my relationship with Notre Dame. I arrived in South Bend excited to attend my first symposium. I left wanting something more difficult to describe. I wanted to be part of the place. And now that I finally am, I want to make the most of however much time I am given. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer. Write to Christopher Saenz at csaenz@nd.edu
I don’t mind the back-to-school hauls By Sophia Anderson Assistant Opinion Editor
If you’re anything like me, back-to-school clothing hauls have dominated the last few weeks of your For You page. Whether it’s high schoolers, our college peers or even (a recent development for me) law students, I always eat up everyone’s reveal of the newest Garage sweatpants or Aritzia tops. I get this type of video every year. I usually don’t think too hard about them. If I see something I like, I’ll add it to my cart and usually forget about it. Occasionally, I’ll really buy something I see in one of these hauls; for the most part, I just enjoy the dopamine of someone else’s shopping experience, as I assume most viewers do. I always viewed these videos less
as advertisements and more as entertainment. Senior year, however, has me viewing every aspect of college in a new light, including my shopping habits and student fashion as a whole. Watching hundreds if not thousands of girls buying the same clothes on TikTok made me contemplate my own style, which is admittedly heavily inspired by my media consumption, for the first time in a long time. I sit writing this article in a pair of barrel-leg sweatpants and New Balance 530s; I’m hardly immune to the temptation of clothing trends. For sustainability’s sake, I try to avoid Shein and some of the other worst offenders, but I definitely fall victim to fast fashion (especially around back-to-school). Notre Dame students,
specifically, are prime trend offenders. Nowhere else have I seen so many students that regularly wear their university’s merch (myself still included). My family has even commented to me before that all I wear over breaks is ND merch; people here have sweatshirts, sweaters, T-shirts, backpacks, pants, PJs, shoes, you name it: Will we still wear it all after we leave? I took some time to ref lect on all my choices; do my clothes ref lect my personal style? Do I attend class every day trying to fit an aesthetic, be comfortable, be stylish or a mix of them all? Here’s what I found: I love athleisure, like the Midwestern college girl I am, but I also acknowledge the evidence that dressing up sometimes can improve academic and cognitive
performance. There are days I like to feel casual, days I like to feel “chic” and days I don’t care either way and wear pajamas. The conclusion I’ve come to is, at the end of the day, that what we wear is less important than we think. The multi-billion-dollar fashion industry profits whether you buy expensive, long-lasting “quiet luxury” or cheap, trendy “dupes.” Even thrifting/vintage clothing has been “green-washed” by the industry. While I encourage everyone to be conscious about their choices, I think shaming people for wearing basic clothing is as bad as shaming them for wearing something unique. Similarly, while the backto-school hauls have become unrealistic and (according to some) out of control, there’s really nothing wrong with
enjoying this form of online window shopping. Finally, if all your ND merch isn’t as wearable when you one day leave campus, keep it for a return visit or even to wear as pajamas. The societal forces that have led us here are much broader and harder to change than individual choices. This back-toschool, as I enjoy a couple of new items of clothing that are keeping me comfortable and happy (and yes, basic) for my senior year, I am keeping that in mind. 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
OPINION
6 | THE OBSERVER
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
Editorial: Commit to The Observer The Observer Editorial Board As thousands of us make our annual pilgrimage to our respective activities fairs, a coalition of clubs and organizations, 500-orso strong, lie in wait. If you’re new to this, you will likely join a few dozen email chains. You will meet a seemingly endless stream of recruiters, many displaying candid devotion to their group of choice. Hopefully, you will also make off with a hefty supply of free merchandise and snacks. And of those dozens of potential commitments, after four years, you may only stick with one. The Observer, your tri-campus newspaper, is like many of these organizations. Our activity is to provide you a service — diligent coverage of the events that transpire here each day. This is accomplished through a twice-weekly print newspaper and daily publishing through our website and newsletter. We offer team meetings and social occasions in our offices on the ninth floor of Hesburgh Library. We provide benefits like press passes to concerts and football games, an opportunity to be read and seen by thousands of people and to be modestly paid for doing so. And you are always welcome to our durable supply of pretzels and coffee. But above all, what we want is what every student group aspires to — a devoted community, rich with friends and brimming with a future filled with what will become a foundation for your college years. Below, please take a brief look at The Observer’s seven departments — each representing their own unique slice of what it means to work here. News As a writer for Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s or Holy Cross news, you are entrusted with the responsibility to cover stories that may otherwise go unnoticed. We cover everything: breaking campus news, administrative affairs, student life, academics and more. News meetings gather a frenetic group of writers and editors who are dedicated to tri-campus representation and collaboration. With an average of 25,000 visitors to our news site per year, each story provides insight that reaches beyond the student body. Our work informs alumni, parents, community members, professionals and others who value the stories and perspectives our writers bring to light. Leadership opportunities abound as your experience grows, including the chance to direct a team of writers as an editor. No experience is required to join, and we welcome students of all majors and grade levels. Join us to improve your writing and communication skills, gain experience interviewing and make a tangible impact.
Sports Sports are the pulse of campus life at Notre Dame. At the sports department, you get to put your finger directly on that pulse. Whether it be in the press box at a football game or through an interview with a student-athlete, you contribute your voice to some of Notre Dame’s most exciting moments. Joining the sports department means becoming part of a tightknit community with incredible mentors, all of whom are devoted to your individual growth. By putting in the hours, you create lasting memories as a writer, reporter, production worker and friend. We leave no doubt about that. Scene An actor meets his friends, who have come to see a performance of his, in the lobby after the show. They congratulate him on a job well done, and he is beaming with joy — flowers are exchanged. Later that night, however, as he lays under his blanket and stares at the ceiling, he wonders, “Did they say, ‘Job well done,’ because it was, indeed, a job well done, or merely because, being my friends, they had to?” Although he suspects he really did do a good job, and despite having no actual reason to doubt the honesty of his friends, a sneaking suspicion that the performance was not, in fact, a job well done nevertheless robs him of the joy with which he was beaming not too long ago — the flowers wilt on his desk. The actor can know with ease that people came to his show, but he cannot know with certainty that anyone bothered to watch it once they got there. Scene, the arts and culture arm of The Observer, is after a campus on which nothing goes “unwatched.” If that is our duty to art-makers, then our duty to art-consumers is simply to let them know whether the art is worth their time and/ or money. We also try, though the dour tone of this little manifesto might suggest otherwise (mea culpa), to have some fun. Opinion On the first day of class, one of the worst feelings is flipping over the syllabus to see about 10 writing assignments, an in-class essay and a final that is basically as long as a senior thesis. Writing about the results from a dataset you barely understand or on a 1,000page book that you totally did not just use NotebookLM to read turns writing from something cathartic and reflective into something that just needs to get done. Being a columnist presents a chance to love writing again, allowing you to put something into words that means something to you. Opinion is an opportunity to share your expertise and perspective with the broader tri-campus. It’s the ultimate, deeply fulfilling writing assignment. Your only grade is public opinion, and your only submissions are the 12 or so columns you write in an academic year. It can be anything you make
it. Columnists have written letters from London, tales of their first time on campus and insightful, biting political commentary that provides everyone the chance to explore a complete and unfettered range of opinions. Whether it is adoring praise or biting retribution, every word someone writes you will mean something: they read your work, and they took time to tell you about it. Writing a column is not just about meeting a deadline and throwing something together; instead, it is a chance to create a community of people who care about what you care about. Opinion is worth writing now more than ever. It’s never what you write but how your work can affect the lives of our communities in a notable way. Photography We are among the most unique departments you can join at the newspaper. We offer opportunities to capture campus life from the concert floor, in the press box or on the field of Notre Dame Stadium. We cover our communities on the road as well, occasionally traveling thousands of miles for UConn or USC. By joining the photo department, you not only gain an incredible experience, but you can boost your portfolio for a bountiful career as all of your friends go-to artist. Graphics Here at The Observer, the graphics department is tasked
GRAY NOCJAR | The Observer
with the valuable role of bringing other departments’ stories to life. Articles can be about anything, so the sky really is the limit regarding what we’ll make. We’ve made everything from simple illustrations to complex photobashes to a recreation of the “it insists upon itself” scene from “Family Guy” during our production shifts. Typically, we use visual software like Photoshop and Procreate to create our graphics and closely collaborate with copyeditors to make a satisfactory final image. While you’ll never be able to predict what you’ll make during a graphics shift, you can count on being creatively challenged and fulfilled after leaving. Social media Our social team collaborates
to spread the stories of all departments across our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook channels. We are always coming up with new ideas, like our Instagram polls, to keep our content fun and provide our team with a chance to exercise more creativity at The Observer. Our platforms collectively receive millions of views each year, bringing our stories directly to communities far beyond our tri-campus. Beyond sharing content, we give readers a place to comment, share their opinions and engage with the news that matters to them. If you care about getting important news in front of as many people as possible while being creative and having fun, social media is the department for you.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
PHOTO
THE OBSERVER | 7
Notre Dame Men’s Soccer Notre Dame Fighting Irish captured their first win of the season against Harvard, 3-1, on Aug. 31, 2026. By Sports Editor Ben Hicks
SCENE
8 | THE OBSERVER
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
A study-abroad guide to London theater standout aspect of this show was the puppets. Based on a children’s novel, it tells the story of a boy, Alfred, whose beloved horse, Joey, is sold into service in W WI. Since Alfred is too young to serve, he lies about his age and enlists in hopes of reuniting with Joey. The puppet teams were truly mind-blowing, and sometimes I forgot that I was looking at a puppet and not a living horse. The end of Act 2 was incredibly intense, and I couldn’t help but hold my breath; you could hear a pin drop in the auditorium. Another standout aspect of the show is the soundtrack, which is simultaneously haunting and whimsical. Overall, it was quintessentially English and a true, moving theatrical spectacle.
By Harry Penne Scene Copy Editor
During my six-week neuroscience summer in London, I saw 22 performances across the West End, South Bank and Shakespeare’s Globe. Theater in London is surprisingly accessible, both in ticket prices and ease of getting seats. I now want to share some of the insights I’ve acquired for making the most of it, including purchasing tickets and the quality and variety of shows playing.
General advice
Whenever possible, I bought tickets in-person and day of, usually midday while leaving class. Fischer Hall is in the heart of the West End, making getting to theaters easy. My strategy was asking for the cheapest seat with the least obstructed view, and I had some stellar seats with an average ticket price around £30. Another plus for going to the box office is getting a physical ticket, which became some of my favorite souvenirs. Go out of your comfort zone and be open to seeing every thing; don’t be picky or feel obligated only to see “safe” hits. It’s a great way to see theatre theater without breaking the bank bank, as more popular shows often cost more. Standing tickets sound daunting, but they aren’t that bad. Aside from the Globe, theaters generally only release these incredibly discounted tickets for sold out sold-out nights. I did this several times and the shows were well worth standing for. Don’t skip waiting by the stage door post-show. It’s not uncommon forbig-name actors to headline on the West End, and this summer I was able to meet Sandra Oh, Catherine Tate and Aaron Pierre. If you decide to stage door, bring a pen and ask the whole cast —not — just the stars, for you never know who might hit it big — to sign your ticket. Another fun part of doing this is talking with the other theater fans and debriefing the show; it becomes a special community moment.
“The Producers”
The surprise favorite of the summer, “The Producers,” is an offensive, hilarious riot. It concerns two producers who realize they can make more money with a Broadway f lop than a hit, so they mount a show sure to fail, “Springtime for Hitler,” which inadvertently becomes successful, landing them in trouble. This staging was the first major revival of the show since the original
“Operation Mincemeat”
12-time-Tony-winning 2001 run and subsequent 2004 London debut. Mel Brooks is a comedic genius, writing moments that are simultaneously smart and low brow. “Springtime” in act two was a true show stopping number, thanks especially to the campy portrayal of Hitler. My favorite number from the show was “I Wanna Be a Producer,” a tribute to Broadway sung by Leo Bloom in act one. This number’s choreography was especially notable, echoing old-school musical theater. I enjoyed “The Producers” so much. I returned for a second time with friends and a third with my family when they visited at the end of term. Originally, I purchased unobstructed seats at the back of the grand circle for £19.26, but, by chance, I got upgraded for free at both. There is merit to seeing shows again: I picked up details I missed the first time and appreciated the smaller parts. I was also able to see understudies perform, some for their first times. It was neat to see their interpretations of the role, and sometimes I preferred them.
“Austentatious”
“Austentatious,” an outing sponsored by Notre Dame London, is an improvised Jane Austen novel based on a title suggested by the audience, which, our night, was “The Devil Wears Bonnets,” running roughly 90 minutes and accompanied by a live pianist. This was my first improv show, and I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing a new f lavor of comedy theater. My favorite moments were when the actors broke each other;
I can’t fathom how difficult it must be to come up with material on the spot! I understood about 85% of the jokes, as many were tailored for British audiences, which I just was not in the loop about. After the show, our assistant rector debriefed a few of the English-specific references, which was very much appreciated. Be assured, the show is accessible enough that anyone — even those having no knowledge of Austen’s work — can have a good time.
“The Phantom Opera”
of
the
This is one of the world’s most legendary musicals and is worthy of the hype. “Phantom” is one of the few remaining mega-musicals that embrace excess. The orchestra, costumes and set pieces are all unapologetically big. I admit: When the “Overture” hit its first chord, I had goosebumps. The standout performance was Christine, whose vocals outperformed the cast album; on the other hand, I wasn’t particularly impressed by the Phantom’s vocals, which felt too much like contemporary pop theatre for my taste. One of my classes, “The Art and Science of Learning,” sponsored this trip to complement the day’s topic of skill learning in the context of London’s West End. In the afternoon, we had a workshop with an actor who was in “Phantom” last season. He taught us the choreography for the Act 2 opening, “Masquerade.” It made watching the number that night much more enjoyable; it was like we knew the secret code! It was also wonderful
LIAM FLYNN | The Observer
to share the experience of watching live theater with my classmates.
“Witness for Prosecution”
the
“Queen of Mystery” Agatha Christie spins a murder mystery and courtroom drama into one. If you decide to see either Christie’s “The Mousetrap” or “Witness,” don’t Google any thing beforehand; go in blind! My seat was classified as an obstructed view, but I caught all the action by leaning forward. This happened at other shows, too; unless the seat is “severely obstructed,” don’t be too deterred from these cheaper seats. The show is performed in what used to be an actual courtroom, so seats weren’t designed with sightlines in mind; however, County Hall was one of the coolest venues I visited. The story was incredibly engaging, hooking me from start to finish. I won’t comment on the plot here so as not to spoil any thing, but I highly recommend it. I will tease I was shocked by the outcomes and all of my predictions were wrong.
“War Horse”
The National Theatre offers an incredible student discount. An hour before the show, students can get any unsold seat in the house for £30 with a student ID. This is general study abroad advice: Wherever you go, always ask about a student discount. Most places have one. My “War Horse” seats were amazing: I was down in the stalls, center of the auditorium. “War Horse” was absolutely beautiful, and the
This was a wickedly funny musical I was surprised to get tickets for. “Mincemeat” is one of the West End’s hottest — and more expensive — tickets. I entered the free lottery for £30 tickets, and I won. You enter your email online, and winners are randomly drawn every other Friday. If selected, you have 24 hours to claim your seats within an allotted calendar window. I knew nothing beforehand and left hurting from laughing. Based on a true story from W WII, it’s played in a way that is hilarious and is still respectful to the source. It features a wide variety of musical genres, parodying music from the 1940s to the present. There are only five actors playing all of the roles, leading to humorous gender bending. My favorite song was the heartbreaking “Dear Bill” sung by MI5 secretary Hester Legatt. The “Glitzy Finale” was hysterical, despite a technical malfunction which the cast played off so well I thought it was intentional. If you’re a fan of history and comedy, then “Mincemeat” will be a hit. I chose only to comment on six shows that stood out positively and were especially meaningful, although I wish I had time to dive into the other amazing performances I saw: “Mother Courage,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” “Glengarry Glen Ross,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “The Play that Goes Wrong,” “Grace Pervades,” “Les Misérables,” “Mamma Mia!,” “The Misanthrope,” “Oh Mary!” and “The Book of Mormon.” Contact Harry Penne at hpenne@nd.edu
SPORTS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 9
ND MEN’S SOCCER
Irish top Harvard 3-1 for first win of season By Mariella Taddonio Photo Editor
As the sun set on Alumni Stadium after an hour-long rain delay, fans filled the bleachers to watch the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame take on the Crimson of Harvard. This is the first time in the history of the Notre Dame men’s soccer program that the Irish have faced Harvard. Notre Dame came into the matchup 0-1-2 following a tie with then-No. 8 Saint Louis Friday night after a late goal by freshman forward Tristan Tropeano. Notre Dame looked to improve their record and get their first win of the season. Harvard started the season with a dominant win against the Massachusetts
Minutemen, winning 4-1 on Aug. 28. Senior midfielder Ben Kelly was named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week following his goal and assist performance. Even though the start of the first half was heavily dominated by Harvard, the Notre Dame controlled possession late in the half with three shots on goal, but they were unable to pull ahead of the Crimson. Both freshman forward Michael Capretto and senior midfielder Nico Bartlett rang the right post, marking Notre Dame’s two best chances. Harvard forced Notre Dame junior goalkeeper Blake Kelly to stand tall in goal, managing five shots on frame, all of which were denied. The Crimson’s most
opportunistic chance came in the final minute of the frame, when freshman midfielder Gil de Souza forced Kelly down to his right to def lect a wellpaced right-footed shot. After a scoreless first half, Harvard quickly put a tally on the board within the first six minutes of the second half. De Souza’s goal sailed past Kelly to the top right corner. “We knew Harvard was good. We knew they were dangerous. Obviously, they found a goal in a quick moment,” eighth-year head coach Chad Riley said in a post-game interview with The Observer. Just as it seemed like the game took an unexpected turn in favor of the Crimson, in the 61st-minute, junior forward Stevie Dunphy sent one into
the bottom center of the goal after receiving a pass from senior midfielder Nolan Spicer. This marked Dunphy’s first goal of the season. The Irish found their confidence after Dunphy’s goal and had two other shots on goal denied, but would pull ahead of Harvard with twelve minutes left in the game with a header to the top left corner by Capretto. The momentum continued as Notre Dame earned a penalty kick off a handball from junior Harvard defender Nayan Das. The spot kick was converted by fifthyear transfer midfielder Vlad Walent in the 82nd-minute. “We weren’t relieved after a goal. We didn’t overreact when we went down a goal. I was pleased with the response
of just, playing the next play,” Riley said. Riley also commented on Kelly’s performance in goal, saying, “He’s so consistent. At this level, you’re gonna have to make a couple saves. Overall, I think his play was really good tonight.” Kelly had 6 saves and allowed only one goal. The Irish will be back in Alumni Stadium on Sept. 6 at 3:30 p.m. to face the Michigan Wolverines. “We were pleased with the result,” Riley concluded. “It was good to see their keeper having to make saves, hitting the post, getting corners. I thought our offensive production was much better.” Contact Mariella Taddonio at mtaddonio01@saintmarys.edu
FOOTBALL
Marcus Freeman names four captains for 2026 By Henry Lytle Associate Sports Editor
On Friday, Aug. 28, Notre Dame announced four captains for the 2026 season. Senior safety Adon Shuler and senior linebacker Drayk Bowen were named as repeat defensive captains, while junior quarterback CJ Carr and senior receiver Jordan Faison received honors for the first time in their careers. Notably, the Irish selected only four captains, the lowest total since the 2023 season, with arguably the best player on the roster, Leonard Moore, not selected by teammates. Shuler and Bowen were both obvious picks. Bowen led the team in tackles from a season ago with 67 and 4.5 for loss, while Shuler tallied 52 tackles from the safety position alongside two interceptions. Both will be essential leaders for a defensive unit expected to shine on all three levels. But with only four captains, it is easy to question why Moore was not selected. The junior cornerback led the team with five interceptions and seven pass def lections in 2025, earning unanimous All-American honors as a sophomore. He has a pedigree as one of the best lead-by-example players in the country, and yet, his reportedly quiet personality is certainly contrasted by the more outspoken style of Shuler in the same secondary. Only a season ago, Jeremiyah Love was not named a captain despite being the clear best player on offense. That decision proves to be consistent with this year’s for Moore. On the offensive side of the ball, Carr and Faison take the
mantle from Billy Schrauth, Aamil Wagner and Will Pauling. Faison is the first national champion lacrosse player to be a Notre Dame football captain, and has been an outspoken leader for a wide receiving unit that expects big transfer contributions this year. He has been a consistent and reliable threat on the outside, and one of Carr’s favorite targets from a season ago. Carr is the first quarterback named as a captain since Sam Hartman, but his value to the team is more akin to Heisman Trophy finalist and former captain Brady Quinn. He is the offensive engine for a group that lost its top two running backs, top receiver and starting tight end. As the current odds-on Heisman favorite, Carr will be expected to shoulder a huge responsibility, and the team views him as their undisputed leader for the season. This 2026 season marks the first year since 2006 in which neither an offensive nor defensive lineman was selected as captain. One year ago, the Irish named linemen Billy Schrauth and Aamil Wagner captains, as part of a six-man group. The reason perhaps speaks to the current Irish personnel. Notre Dame returns three upperclassmen to the offensive line, one of whom, junior Charles Jagusah, is still dealing with an arm injury from an ATV accident that cost him the entire 2025 season. Senior center Ashton Craig is coming back from a second ACL tear that held him out of last year’s campaign as well. Junior and three-year starter Anthonie Knapp has also moved to offensive guard for the upcoming season. As a result, every
DECLAN HUGGINS | The Observer
Junior All-American cornerback Leonard Moore returns an interception for a touchdown against Syracuse at home on November 22, 2025. Moore recorded five interceptions over the course of the 2025 season.
position up front has shuff led under offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, presenting a potential question mark for a group starting sophomore Will Black at left tackle. On the defensive line, Boubacar Traore was another captain option on the line of scrimmage. The junior defensive end was Notre Dame’s sack leader last season, forcing 6.5 sacks, along with one fumble. Senior defensive lineman Jason Onye, who saw an increased role in 2025 with 26 tackles and 1.5 sacks, also could have been considered. The Irish have also added
three transfers to the interior defensive line: Junior Francis Brewu from Pittsburgh, as well as seniors Keon Keeley from Alabama and Tionne Gray from Oregon. It is important to establish early chemistry under Bowen’s command at middle linebacker. In past seasons, Notre Dame honored defensive tackles Donovan Hinish in 2025 and Rylie Mills in 2024, both guys who established physicality against the run and disrupted the passing game. How this new Irish front develops camaraderie throughout the course of the season will be a huge point of emphasis.
As Irish fans prepare for the season opener at Lambeau Field, the gold C embroidered on the jerseys will stand out for four key contributors as they walk out for the coin toss. You should still expect to hear the names Moore and Traore numerous times throughout the year as leaders of a defensive unit with its sights set on the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame kicks off against Wisconsin at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 6. Contact Henry Lytle at hlytle@nd.edu
SPORTS
10 | THE OBSERVER
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
ND VOLLEYBALL
Takeaways from the first weekend of volleyball By Payton Dymek Staff Reporter
Notre Dame women’s volleyball opened up season play this past weekend at home against Ball State and Xavier. The Irish fell in five sets to the Cardinals and in four to the Musketeers, but the box
scores ref lected the efficiency of the Notre Dame offense and its ability to control the ball. On Friday night, the Irish faced off against Ball State, where they came out hot, winning the first two sets by only allowing the Cardinals to score 8 points in the first and
21 in the second. However, head coach Salima Rockwell’s team lost momentum and ended up in a five-set battle where Ball State found the Notre Dame defensive holes. Using outside hitter Ava Smith and middle hitter Tiffany Snook, Ball State forced Notre Dame out of
ABRAHAM MEDINA | The Observer
Sydney Helmers (14), Anna Bjork( 31), Chichi Nnaji (19) and others celebrate after scoring a point against Xavier on August 30, 2026 in Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame fell 3-1 to the Musketeers, moving 0-2 overall.
their system taking away the counterattack. It all starts with a pass, but Notre Dame struggled to find anything consistent, normally relying on passes to the right front where the setter has all four setting options. Although the Irish were scrappy and would pick up some defensive balls, those touches were not smart enough for the setter to give quality looks to the pins. After a while, the Cardinals’ defense was easily able to read and defend against the strongest hitters for Notre Dame, forced out of their comfortable system. Despite the defensive struggles, senior setter Lily Fenton and sophomore setter Maya Baker ran a smooth 6-2 offense, attempting to diversify their sets, but they struggled to feed the middle hitters later in the game where much of their success came from in the first two sets. On the net, however, the Irish were extremely successful when given the chance. Not only did the team outblock Ball State 14 to 8, with junior middle hitter Anna Bjork leading the cause with eight, but senior outside hitter Sydney Helmers caught fire solidifying her outside starting spot with 16 kills. On the other side, freshman middle blocker Isabella Sangha had an incredible start to her
collegiate career with 10 kills and 7 blocks. Notre Dame will need to have these two hitters playing well together in the front row to maximize this rotation’s efficiency. The Irish could also utilize Helmers in the back-row outside to have a full three rotations to hit and keep Sangha in the starting front-row opposite so the two are hitting at different times. Similarly to their Ball State match, the Irish didn’t necessarily struggle offensively against Xavier, as they had 38 kills. The loss ultimately came down to the lack of hitting diversity and adjustment. Sophomore transfer Angie Desamours made her collegiate debut in the third set, recording 4 kills and was single-handedly responsible for the energy shift in Purcell. Helmers and Sangha also contributed to the offense with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. The loss to the Musketeers can be attributed to a loss of energy and mis communication on defense, as too many balls hit the ground without an Irish player diving after them. Despite facing two early losses, some of these errors can be fixed as the Irish continue to work out rotations and find chemistry with each other, which will come naturally as the season progresses. Contact Payton Dymek at
ND MEN’S SOCCER
Notre Dame men’s soccer ties No. 8 Saint Louis By Nikki Stachurski Associate Sports Editor
Fans in kelly green packed Alumni Stadium Friday night as the Irish hosted the Saint Louis Billikens for their second regular season home game. After an early goal from Saint Louis senior midfielder Tanner Anderson, the Irish possessed most of the match but remained scoreless until the final seven minutes of the second half when freshman midfielder Tristan Tropeano tied the game. The Irish have played inconsistently to get the season started, losing the opener 3-1 at then No. 22 Indiana on Aug. 20. Three days later, Notre Dame earned a disappointing 1-1 draw against Northwestern, despite controlling much of the match. While preparing for their next game against Atlantic 10 opponent Saint Louis, the Irish looked to regroup and refresh connections on the offensive end to produce more shots on goal. Although it was early in the season, the stakes were high on the Notre Dame bench. Immediately after the first
JONATHAN KARR | The Observer
Junior forward Stevie Dunphy controls the ball in the midfield in Notre Dame’s 1-1 draw at home against No. 8 St. Louis on August 28. He made 11 appearances as a sophomore and has played in each game in 2026.
whistle, the physicality and skill of Saint Louis was easy to notice. Notre Dame’s greatest advantage was speed, especially with swift midfielders like fifthyear transfer Vlad Walent and senior captain Nolan Spicer. The Irish defense was sluggish to start, and a series of opportunistic playmaking by the Billikens allowed for Anderson
to redirect a tip-in off his right foot and open the scoring in the sixth-minute. Any time the Irish had a chance to advance on offense, the Billikens defensive midfield was able to break up combinations and quell the Notre Dame attack. Similarly, when Saint Louis managed a chance of possession, Notre Dame used their
speed to prevent any tangible plays from forming. Midfield was a dizzying battle that hardly resulted in any concrete play. The well-matched style of play seemed to carry on into the second half until the Billikens finally ran out of steam. The Irish had worn them out, and they relied on endurance to beat Saint Louis’ sticky defensive structure
to the net. Finally, as fans were debating leaving to beat the traffic, freshman forward Michael Capretto connected a lengthy pass to Tropeano, who leveled the match with a crucial diving header in the 84th-minute. The freshmen duo have unmistakable chemistry on the pitch, and their ability to produce under pressure is likely to prove vital as the season progresses. Alumni Stadium was buzzing with the late goal, but the Irish could not replicate their success and pounce on the fatigued Saint Louis back five to pull ahead as time ran out. Midfield passing appeared to be Notre Dame’s most consistent weakness in the run of play. The Irish played a spontaneous and instinctive game, relying on their young talent that has proven to be able to react intuitively. The budding Irish take the pitch next in a match against Ivy League opponent Harvard at home. Monday’s game will start at 7:30 p.m. at Alumni Stadium and will be streamed on ACCNX. Contact Nikki Stachurski at mstachu2@nd.edu
SPORTS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
THE OBSERVER | 11
FOOTBALL
Irish in the NFL: a season preview By Ethan Laslo Sports Reporter
The 2025-26 NFL season was full of success for former Notre Dame players, as was the 2026 NFL Draft. Last season, the Irish produced a 1,000-yard rusher, three Pro Bowlers, two All-Pros, a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate and two Super Bowl LX champions. This season, both NFL veterans and newcomers alike will continue the Irish legacy at the professional level. The Rookies All six former Notre Dame players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft made their teams’ initial 53-man rosters. First-round running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price made the rosters of the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, respectively, despite both being shut down in the preseason with injuries. Each enters this season as their team’s potential lead back, but the roles could look vastly different. New head coach Mike LaFleur will lean on Love to be one of, if not the singular focal point of an offense that sputtered for most of last season and enters a new system. For Price, the loss of Zach Charbonnet to injury and Kenneth Walker III to free agency have left Seattle with a running-back deficit that Price will have the chance to fill until Charbonnet returns. The Irish also had a pair of third-round picks in the most recent draft: wideout Malachi Fields and tight end Eli Raridon. Fields found his way onto the New York Giants’ initial roster, while Raridon
projects to be the third tight end for the defending AFC Champion New England Patriots. Fields notably made a highlight reel touchdown grab in the Giants’ first preseason game, echoing his lone season at Notre Dame. Rounding out the Irish rookies, offensive lineman Billy Schrauth was selected in the fifth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On the other side of the ball, defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio had to wait just a bit longer on day three before the Pittsburgh Steelers came calling in the sixth round. Both have found their way onto the 53-man roster as potential depth pieces heading into this season.
Offense
The Irish returning for NFL action this season on offense range from league sophomores to seasoned veterans. Riley Leonard is the only quarterback of the bunch, having started one game for the Indianapolis Colts in his rookie season after Daniel Jones went down with an injury. Currently, Leonard and Anthony Richardson are battling to decide who will be QB2 behind Jones. Beyond Love and Price, the Irish also return two solid running backs at the pro level. Kyren Williams is entering his fifth season in the league, and fourth as the feature back for the current Super Bowl favorite Los Angeles Rams. After rushing for 1,000 yards each of the previous three seasons, he’ll look to make it a fourth in 2026. Audric Estime also returns for year three, and his second with the New Orleans
Saints. Although he will not be a feature back on account of the deep running back room in New Orleans, he will likely see time situationally. Cole Kmet also returns this year for his seventh season with the Chicago Bears. Notre Dame has historically been a tight end factory, and Kmet is one of a long line of successful Irish tight ends at the professional level. He has become a mainstay of the Chicago offense in his time there, though he will likely split time with Colston Loveland following Loveland’s breakout rookie campaign in 2025. Finally, the current slate of former Notre Dame players in the NFL would be incomplete without highlighting arguably its most outstanding position group: the offensive line. The Irish have produced countless offensive line talents over the years, and entering 2026 three of the league’s best and most reliable big men hail from the Irish. Tackle Ronnie Stanley enters year 11 as one of the elder statesmen of the Baltimore Ravens. In his time in the NFL, Stanley has made two Pro Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2019. He has started 120 games in his NFL career, all of them for the Ravens. Guard Quentin Nelson has emerged over the course of his eight seasons in the NFL as arguably the league’s best interior offensive lineman. Entering his ninth season in the league, all with the Colts, the eight-time Pro Bowler was ranked as ESPN’s No. 2 guard in the league. He has made 129 starts for Indianapolis
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thus far, not missing a game in seven of his eight seasons. For his efforts, Nelson has been recognized as a six-time All-Pro: a first-team selection in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and a second-team selection in 2021, 2024 and 2025. Finally, tackle Joe Alt is widely considered one of the league’s brightest young talents. Entering year three with the Los Angeles Chargers, Alt missed the second half of last season with an ankle injury. Despite the injury, he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2025 and ESPN ranks him as the No. 9 tackle in the league entering 2026.
Defense
Defensive lineman Rylie Mills remains a name to watch entering year two. After tearing his ACL in Notre Dame’s 2024 playoff win over Indiana, the Seattle Seahawks took him in the fifth round of the 2025 draft. While he spent most of the season recovering, he returned for the team’s playoff run and had an incredible sack in Seattle’s Super Bowl LX win, becoming one of Notre Dame’s two newest Super Bowl champions. The Irish have built an established record at safety, producing three of the league’s best at the position. Xavier Watts is the youngest of the three, entering year two with the Atlanta Falcons. Last season, he was among the league’s best rookies, notching five interceptions en route to a fourthplace finish in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He was also named the September Defensive Rookie of the Month as he firmly established
himself as one of the league’s premier young safeties. Julian Love, a former cornerback at Notre Dame, transitioned to safety after he was drafted by the Giants in 2019. The Seahawks signed Love in free agency prior to the 2023 season, and since then, he has excelled in Seattle. A 2023 Pro Bowler, Love also notched an interception in Super Bowl LX as, alongside Mills, he became the second of the two newest Irish Super Bowl champs. Without a doubt, though, the best former Notre Dame player in the NFL right now is Kyle Hamilton. The former Irish Swiss Army knife has had an immensely successful fouryear NFL career thus far, most recently named ESPN’s No. 1 safety entering 2026. He has also been to the Pro Bowl each of the last three seasons, a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and 2025 and a second-team AllPro in 2024. This season, he’ll play under new head coach Jesse Minter and continue establishing himself as the NFL’s premier safety.
Special Teams
Notre Dame may have plenty of production on offense and defense, but one would be remiss not to discuss the current Irish in the NFL without highlighting the specialists. Brandon Aubrey, now entering his fourth season with the Dallas Cowboys, has emerged as one of the strongest kickers after time with the Birmingham Stallions. Since joining the Cowboys in 2023, he has been named to three consecutive Pro Bowls and All-Pro teams. He was named a first-team All-Pro in 2023, and a second-team selection the previous two seasons. Spencer Shrader is entering his third season in the league after winning the Colts’ kicking battle over Blake Grupe. He has gone under the radar as one of the league’s most accurate kickers, drilling all 14 of his PAT attempts last season and 13 of his 14 field goal attempts. One name that may not ring much of a bell for both Irish and NFL fans alike is J.J. Jansen. However, the Carolina Panthers long snapper is now entering his 19th season in the NFL and 18th with the Panthers. After walking on at Notre Dame, he started his career with the Green Bay Packers before joining Caro lina the rest of the way. Today, his 285 games played with the Panthers are the most in team history and he now stands as the longest-tenured current player in the entire NFL. Contact Ethan Laslo at elaslo@nd.edu
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“WHAT ABOUT THE BELIEF OF HOPE? YEAH? THAT’S WHAT I WANNA MESS WITH. BELIEVING THAT THINGS CAN GET BETTER. THAT WE WILL GET BETTER. OH MAN. TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. TO BELIEVE IN ONE ANOTHER MAN, THAT’S FUNDAMENTAL TO BEING ALIVE.” -THEODORE “TED” LASSO
THEN…
RESPECTFULLY, THE CLASS OF
10.15.1988†
†The Class of 10.15.1988 is a state of being outside the space-time continuum, like Fat Shirley's Diner or the Restaurant at the End of the Universe. The Class of 10.15.1988 is not affiliated with the University of Notre Dame or Saint Mary's College.