Through Irish Eyes

Soapbox - On Notre Dame

2011-03-03T19:38:00.009-05:00

The following is an article that I wrote for the March 2011 issue of Scholastic, Notre Dame's student magazine. It appeared as the "Soapbox" essay, a monthly feature.

As I write for the final Scholastic issue of my Notre Dame career, I cannot help but wonder where the time went, both in terms of the last four years and the two weeks when I could have been writing this essay. It is hard to discuss the passing of time without being cliché or trite. We hear it so often: "Make the most of your time here" or "Time flies. Cherish it." But there is a reason we hear these words so frequently, a reason they have become commonplace — they are true.

I have always been a sentimental and nostalgic person. Anyone close to me knows my affinity for sharing (and often repeating) memorable stories among friends. But rather than recall specific and unforgettable afternoons, evenings or late nights, I will stand on my "soapbox" to remember what makes Notre Dame special and why this university will forever have a place in my life.

I would be lying if I said I understood what Notre Dame was all about when I arrived in August 2007. Like many, growing up Irish Catholic was reason enough to root for ND on Saturdays in the fall and, ultimately, to make the trip to South Bend as I began the college search.

As an 18-year-old from upstate New York, I had my doubts about coming to Indiana. One of the first memories I have of this place is meeting an alumna at a local club event. She told my dad and me about her experience at the university and started tearing up.

Today, as I think about the few short months until graduation, I can understand why she was so emotional when speaking about ND. I cannot imagine having spent the last four years anywhere else. As the admissions brochures say, there truly is "Nowhere Else But Notre Dame." My passion for this university, coupled with the fact that my future is still uncertain, makes me wish it were possible to return for a fifth year — a victory lap around the Dome.

I find myself in a position similar to that which I faced four years ago: not quite ready to leave a place I have grown to love so much. In high school, people could not wait to move on, to get out of town and experience the world on their own.

Still, many left with grand plans to keep in touch with old friends. But now, in 2011, we can probably count those we still call and see during semester breaks on one hand. We realize that we do not have as much in common with those former schoolmates as we once thought. At Notre Dame, we are excited about the opportunities that life will bring, but not as anxious to move on, perhaps not ready to say goodbye.

Earlier this semester, I had the opportunity to attend the senior retreat. The Dr. Seuss theme was a flashback to childhood and also a reminder that regardless of where we go after we receive our diplomas, no matter how many beverages are purchased at Finny's or Kildare's we are still kids at heart.

With friends I have had since freshman year, classmates I knew only by name and others who I had never seen before, we came together in the spirit of Dr. Seuss to discuss "the places we'll go." But we also reflected on all that Notre Dame has given us since we arrived for the absurdity of Frosh-O.

In four years, Our Lady's university has afforded me opportunities and taught me lessons upon which no lofty tuition bill can place a value. When I finally sign that first job contract, I will, of course, appreciate my degree and the academic rigors of Notre Dame.

Yet, more than anything, I will remember how Notre Dame has transformed from a place 719 miles from my home to a place that effectively became home. Ballston Spa, NY will always have a special place in my heart — fond memories, my family and those few friends I will have for life — but eventually, that connection to my hometown may fade.

I am confident that my connection to Notre Dame never will. The Notre Dame spirit is special. It goes beyond a common affection for the Blue and Gold or a shared understanding of du Lac and residence halls.

After we leave ND, life will lead each of us in different directions. Whether in New York or Chicago, London or Tokyo, graduate school or the "real world," there is one place where our paths may cross again — Notre Dame. This university is a uniting force. It is a place where Knights, Kangaroos, Shamrocks and Purple Weasels reconnect, where Zahmbies, Ramblers, Ducks and Chaos will bring their children to pep rallies, Rocco's and Bruno's, tailgates and football games, the Grotto and Basilica and back to the old dorms, carrying on the family traditions that have been passed down for generations or those that have developed in the last four years.

As students and future alumni, we share a familial connection. But part of what makes ND unique is that brotherhood or sisterhood that is shaped in the residence halls. I would never consider myself a loner, but like Alan from "The Hangover," Notre Dame has given me a wolfpack — the 3-West Wolfpack of Keenan Hall, a section I called home for three years (and believe it or not, that was our section mascot back in 2007, before Alan & Co. hit the big screen).

Early in college, I found myself counting down the days until the next break, the next chance I could return home. It has often been said, "Distance makes the heart grow fonder." I am not sure that is necessarily true. But each time I leave Notre Dame, as I spend time away from North Quad, the Keenan "Fratres in Christo," and the Golden Dome, I find that my appreciation for this university grows stronger.

For the underclassmen, if you have not yet recognized and embraced Notre Dame as a true home, I hope you will soon. For my fellow members of the class of 2011, take comfort in remembering the unbreakable nature of the Notre Dame bond. Our time together is running out, but truly, it is just the beginning of our connection to one another and to Notre Dame. We will always be welcome at Notre Dame, a place we can visit in times of celebration and in times of need, a place we can always, and should always, call home.

Sports Bringing People Together

2010-12-09T12:05:00.008-05:00

Last night, the Brigham Young University men's basketball team traveled to Glens Falls, NY for a game against the Vermont Catamounts. The reason for their Wednesday trip more than 2,000 miles from Provo, Utah? A homecoming game for senior guard Jimmer Fredette. One of the best basketball players in Section II history returned home for a game in front of thousands who had watched him grow from a "pudgy" middle schooler to a preseason All-American bound for the NBA.

I recently came across a great article by Ken Tingley, Editor of The Post-Star, the Glens Falls newspaper. Tingley writes about how the evening was about more than just a basketball game. It was "part church social, part Fourth of July picnic, part high school reunion."

I remember play against Jimmer in 7th grade modified basketball, which is why I am so glad to read of his successes beyond the gyms of the Foothills Council. I met Jimmer once in high school through a close friend who had played AAU with him. He seemed like a genuinely nice kid then, and from interviews, it appears he has not changed, despite his stardom.

But I guess the point of my latest blog post is to reiterate just why I love sports. It's their incredible power to bring people together, which I discussed in my Social Foundations of Coaching blog post about the Red Sox.

Last night's Hometown Classic in Glens Falls, NY was another example of what makes sports special. To read Tingley's article and for more on Jimmer Fredette's homecoming to the Capital District, click here.

A Great Day to Be Irish

2010-11-28T00:23:00.021-05:00

In recent years, the Notre Dame football team and November have not been friends. In 2009, the Irish dropped all four of their November games, while finishing just 1-4 in the month during the previous season. In 2010, however, something changed.

After closing out October with one of the most difficult weeks in program and university history, Notre Dame began November with a bye. While the Irish had the week off, their upcoming opponent #5 Utah saw their BCS hopes dashed by #3 TCU. By the time the Utes arrived in South Bend for Notre Dame's Senior Day, they had dropped to #14. Still, the soon-to-be newest member of the Pac-10 came in as the favored team, as the 4-5 Irish were against the bowl-eligibility ropes and dealing with much larger issues off the field.

Yet the Irish came out with a different sense of emotion as they sought to avoid a third consecutive painful loss on Senior Day. As the class of 2011 watched their final game as students, everyone knew they would leave the stadium through the Knute Rockne Gate, but few expected they would be joined by an entire jubilant student body, storming the field in celebration of a 28-3 victory, Notre Dame's first win over a ranked opponent since 2006.

The following week, Notre Dame took over the Big Apple, as thousands of Domers flocked to NYC for the first football game in the new Yankee Stadium. Renewing an historic rivalry with Army, the Irish stormed out of the first base dugout in green jerseys. While the game lacked the Heisman candidates and national championship implications of past match-ups, it had the feeling of something greater than a contest between two seemingly average teams.

A pep rally in Lincoln Center, a standing room only mass in the city’s most famous cathedral, a marching band concert in Times Square and a crowd of 54,251 for a game played on neutral turf, indicated that the Notre Dame spirit is alive and well.

For the second consecutive week, the Irish defense held strong, allowing just a field goal in a 27-3 victory over the Black Knights. The win secured a bowl bid for Brian Kelly's squad, guaranteeing a postseason berth and earning important additional practice time for the developing team.

As is tradition for Notre Dame, the season concluded with a west coast road trip. Having played Stanford at home in September, this year's post-Thanksgiving game was against long-time rival USC. For Irish fans, no opponent, not even Michigan, is more detested than the Trojans. From the 1977 green jersey game to the infamous 2005 Bush Push, ND-USC is one of the most storied rivalries in college football.

This year, however, the game was put on the back burner. With USC postseason ineligible and ND just 6-5, ABC/ESPN chose to air the Bedlam game between #13 Oklahoma and #9 Oklahoma State in most of the country. As many local ABC affiliates did not carry the game, fans resorted to ESPN3 and other online sources to see the Battle for the Jeweled Shillelagh.

Early in the game, the Irish defense continued to look impressive, but the offensive could not get much going either. After a USC punt with 10:41 to play in the second quarter, the Notre Dame offense ran off a 16-play, 79-yard, 8:02 drive capped by a 1-yd touchdown pass from Rees to junior receiver Michael Floyd. After holding the Trojans on the ensuing possession, the Irish got the ball back with 44 seconds to play until the break. After a long, methodical drive to get on the scoreboard, the Irish used just 7 plays and 37 seconds to reach the end zone again, capped off with another 1-yd TD pass from Rees, this time to senior receiver Duval Kamara.

The Irish returned from the locker room with a 13-3 lead, but things began to unravel in the second half. The offense could not get anything going and as USC capitalized off of costly turnovers, it appeared the Irish might be headed for a ninth consecutive defeat at the hands of the Trojans.

Down 16-13 with 6:18 to play and a visibly rattled freshman quarterback at the helm, the Irish offense took the field from their own 23. Rees completed an 11-yd pass to Floyd, before sophomore tailback Cierre Wood dashed 26 yards to the USC 40. At that point, senior tailback Robert Hughes took over the game. Hughes rattled off three consecutive runs, giving the Irish a 1st-and-Goal from the USC 9. After a 4-yd reception by Floyd, "HUUUUUUUUGHES" barreled into the end zone for a 5-yd touchdown run.

With the Irish back on top, USC needed a touchdown to regain the lead. Though senior quarterback Mitch Mustain was able to lead the Trojans within striking range, a pair of costly dropped passes and an interception by senior safety Harrison Smith sealed the Notre Dame victory.

The win marked Notre Dame's third consecutive victory and their first over USC since 2001. Brian Kelly also became the first Irish coach to beat USC in his first game against the Trojans since Lou Holtz. After finishing the season 7-5, the Irish are assured a postseason bowl, possibly the Champs Sports Bowl on December 28th in Orlando, Florida or the Hyundai Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve in El Paso, Texas.

Notre Dame's victory over USC will not have many postseason implications. The Irish had already qualified for a bowl game with the win against Army, while the Trojans remain bowl-ineligible through the 2011 season. Perhaps the only influence on the bowl scheme is that a 7-5 finish all but assures the Irish a better bowl opportunity than a 6-6 season would have.

But this victory was special. It was the end of an eight-year curse against the Trojans and it provided a glimmer of hope that the Irish can rise once again. Sure, this year's USC team is different than many of years past. There are no Heisman candidates, no national championship or Rose Bowl aspirations, and no Pete Carroll calling the shots.

But that's the way the ball bounces sometimes. The Irish won on Saturday night, and they won by fighting, by believing and by not giving up when the "breaks [were] beating the boys." No one is going to discount Alabama's national championship because Colt McCoy was injured early in the first half and no one is going to take away from the San Francisco Giants' World Series title because they beat the Rangers instead of the Yankees. No one should discredit the Notre Dame victory either.

Ninety-nine times out of 100, Ronald Johnson would have caught the sure-thing TD pass from Mitch Mustain, but uncertainty and unpredictability are what make sports interesting. The Irish may have gotten a bit of luck on Saturday night, but the Trojans certainly got their share of it in 2005.

What make this victory and three-game winning streak special are how several unsung players have stepped up when it has mattered most. Student-athletes who have overcome personal setbacks both on and off the field have made crucial plays in the closing moments of their careers. Duval Kamara caught two TD passes in the win over Utah, Darrin Walls returned an interception for a touchdown against Army, Brian Smith made several key plays down the stretch against USC, Harrison Smith sealed the victory with an interception near the goal line, and Robert Hughes, on the final drive, seemed to carry the Irish on his back down the field and into the end zone.

The final three games of the 2010 regular season will be remembered for how they instilled hope for the future of Notre Dame football, sending the senior athletes and their fellow classmates out in celebration.

For many college football fans, the Notre Dame-USC game was insignificant - merely an obstacle preventing them from seeing the night's premier matchup. But for those cheering on the blue and gold, the victory lifted a weight off the shoulders of a coach, a team, and a fan base. For the first time in nearly a decade, Irish eyes were smiling after the USC game. Let's hope it's just the beginning of things to come.

Scholastic article: November 11th issue

2010-11-27T23:54:00.004-05:00

The following is an article that I wrote for the November issue of Scholastic, Notre Dame's student magazine. I would like to think that it was the turning point in the team's season ;). In all seriousness though, things were looking pretty bleak for the Irish at that point in the year. While the future remains in question, the final three games of Notre Dame's 2010 campaign demonstrated that the Irish are headed in the right direction for the future:

Wake Up The Echoes: Mending a Football Program Fallen on Hard Times

As my classmates and I stock up on marshmallows in preparation for our final home game in the student section, I reflect on four years of Notre Dame football with mixed emotions. From the first game against Georgia Tech in 2007 to the emotional loss against Tulsa during Halloween weekend, football has been a significant part of our college experience.

Yet when we gather to reminisce at our alumni reunions, few of the good memories will relate to games played int he hallowed Notre Dame Stadium.

Though we will graduate with the most losses in a four-year period in the university's history, losing is only a small reason why we were often shaking our heads in disbelief during candlelight dinners - it is rather the stunning nature in which many of these games have been lost.

During our freshman year, we watched Navy celebrate a triple-OT victory and the end of a 43-game losing streak in the yearly series. USC and Michigan each scored 38 points, while Notre Dame could not muster up a single point against either rival.

Sophomore year brought new hope. The season ultimately ended in Hawaii, with Notre Dame first bowl win since 1994. Although the bowl victory was an enjoyable early Christmas present, many students remember the 2008 season for the agonizing four-OT loss to Pittsburgh and the defeat against low-ranked Syracuse in the final home game of the year.

As juniors, the outcome of nearly every game came down to the final possession. Looking back, it is not out of the question to suggest that if a few plays had turned out differently, the Irish may have finished 12-0.

Unfortunately, it was another season marred by tough losses and missed opportunities.

With three games left in the 2010 campaign, this season has not lived up to the great expectations and high standards that Notre Dame fans have for the Irish. Barring an extraordinary upset of Utah on Saturday, the class of 2011 will graduate without ever witnessing a noteworthy home victory.

No matter what happens, 2010 will be remembered as one of the most difficult years in Notre Dame football history. With the arrival of a new head coach and the departure of Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate, few expected this to be a stress-free year. Still, no one anticipated that so many key players would be sidelined with serious injuries, and no one could foresee that the Notre Dame community would be struck by such a tragedy as that which occurred last month.

As demonstrated by the wonderful Mass celebrating the life of Declan Sullivan, I have no doubt that the spirit and tradition of Notre Dame is alive and well. The passion that Domers share for this university will not fade. Amid the recent stretch of football mediocrity, what remains to be seen, however, is if football Saturdays will continue to have the same magic of decades past.

As losses have piled up, the student body has developed a sense of apathy. Though we still look forward to the weekends, the reasons why we get excited stray from the core purpose of why thousands of people flock to South Bend on Saturdays in the fall - to watch the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, a team once considered the best in the nation. The tailgating, reunions with family and friends, and the incredible pageantry of the college football atmosphere continue to attract visitors to campus, but many wonder if the aura of the golden helmet is losing its luster.

By no means do I believe that football should be the be-all and end-all of life at the university. Notre Dame is about much more than football - that is what separates it from many other BCS schools. At the same time, Notre Dame's Catholic atmosphere and traditionally successful athletic teams, particularly football, are traits that differentiate our university from others of similar internationally recognized prestige.

Having a competitive and successful football team is essential to maintaining the university's unique character. Football always has and always should be part of what makes this Catholic university in northern Indiana like no other place on earth. Today, Notre Dame football is at a crossroads. There has not been a truly great Irish team since Lou Holtz's tenure, and no Notre Dame undergraduates are old enough to appreciate the 1988 national championship run.

Coach Brian Kelly is a proven winner in college football, but he has arguably never been presented with challenges like those he faces both on and off the field today. Although his first season has had its share of disappointments, now is the time to rally behind him rather than call for another rider on the 15-year Irish coaching carousel.

There is no guarantee that Notre Dame football will return to the level of football excellence that once helped build the university's tremendous reputation. For now, however, all we can do is hope and wait. We can hope that Kelly is able to improve a damaged Irish program in the same way that he developed the unheralded Grand Valley State Lakers into national champions and a Division II dynasty.

And maybe part of this process is to wait for my classmates and I to receive our diplomas next May. Perhaps only then will Notre Dame be able to make progress towards becoming a dominant football powerhouse once again.

Why I Love Sports

2010-10-20T20:12:00.005-04:00

Check out this post from Sports Illustrated's Joe Posnanski. He breaks down 32 of the best announcer calls in sports history.

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/10/14/thirty-two-great-calls-2/

Simply amazing.

The Power of Sport

2010-10-12T19:56:00.003-04:00

The following is a blog post that I wrote for my Social Foundations of Coaching course at Notre Dame. It can also be found on the Play Like A Champion Today blog:

As a Red Sox fan, the 2010 baseball season will be remembered as a lost opportunity, a season of wondering what could have been, if injuries had not plagued the Sox throughout the summer. Although Terry Francona and his players will be watching this year’s playoffs from their couches, and Boston sports fans will anxiously await the start of the NBA season, ESPN’s latest episode of its documentary series, 30 for 30, took Sox fans back to a happier time. Four Days in October, which debuted on Oct. 5, 2010, allows viewers to relive the magic of Games 4 through 7 of the 2004 ALCS, with an inside look at how the Red Sox rallied from a 3-0 series deficit against their longtime nemesis, the New York Yankees.

I understand that I have some bias towards Four Days in October. As someone who has followed the Red Sox closely for several years, the hour-long documentary did not teach me anything new or groundbreaking. Instead, what made Four Days in October a great trip down memory lane was that it reminded me of the power that sports have in bringing people together. Reliving Dave Roberts’ steal, Curt Schilling’s bloody sock and David Ortiz’s walk-off hits took me back to that exciting time during my sophomore year of high school. The TV and radio broadcast clips can make any diehard Sox fan a bit misty-eyed. However, watching the Red Sox defeat the Yankees, break the “Curse of the Bambino” and ultimately win their first World Series since 1918 was only part of what made 2004 a special year.

Four Days in October, the other documentaries and DVDs that chronicle the season, and the countless books that retell the incredible story, serve not only to reminisce about the events that took place between the baselines, but also those moments in schools, sports bars, and the living rooms of people across New England and “Red Sox Nation.” The clips of fans on the edge of their seats at Cask’n Flagon and the stories of generations of Bostonians long-awaiting a championship are a reminder of how the Red Sox improbable victory was about more than simply a team winning a few baseball games.

In 2004, the city had a long track record of success on the hardwood and recently, on the gridiron. The Celtics had won 16 NBA titles and the Patriots dynasty was in its heyday. Boston however, was truly a baseball city. But since 1919, when Babe Ruth was sold to the New York Yankees, Red Sox fans had experienced disappointment time and time again.

After generations of frustration and decades of hearing “wait until next year,” things changed in 2004. Against incredible odds, the Red Sox, the self-proclaimed “idiots,” finally brought home a World Series title. The unlikely playoff run brought together families and friends, fathers and sons, and mothers and daughters who had hoped and prayed that they would live to see a championship flag raised at Fenway Park.

Every true fan knows who they were with when the Red Sox defeated the Yankees in 2004, just as every Phillies fan can recall where they were when Brad Lidge recorded the final out of the 2008 World Series and how many Americans remember exactly what they were doing when Al Michaels shouted, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” during the 1980 Winter Olympics. It’s the moments like these that make sports special. Though we usually do not, and probably will never have any real connection or relationship with the athletes we cheer for, the power of sports to bring friends, family and even total strangers together is what makes them worth following.

Just as Domers strike up conversations when they pass someone wearing ND apparel, any Red Sox fan that sees an unfamiliar face with a “B” on his hat might be apt to yell, “Go Sox!” While some are critical of fandom and the occasionally obsessive nature of sports aficionados, many people view the teams they cheer for as part of their identity, as they do their hometown or alma mater. Just like we can identify with other people who have a connection to Notre Dame, we share a common bond with people who root for the same teams that we do.

Whether it is on an athletic team of our own or through one that we cheer for, follow faithfully and identify with, sports are a powerful means for bringing people together. We come together with families, friends, classmates and co-workers. We share memories of hope and elation, stories of disappointment and frustration and we feel unity with a group of people with whom we may have nothing else in common other than the logo on our baseball hat.

Josh Flynt
Class of 2011
Social Foundations of Coaching

The Decision will forever tarnish The Legacy

2010-07-09T12:43:00.026-04:00

It's hard to believe, but it has been exactly five months since my last post on Through Irish Eyes. The majority of the posts in this blog focus on life at Notre Dame and my experiences as the Hannah Storm intern with the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Although the internship is over, yesterday's news out of the Greenwich, CT Boys & Girls Club prompted me to want to document my thoughts and reaction, not so much for others to read, but for my own time capsule, and something to look back on in a few years.

As anyone in the civilized world is probably now aware, LeBron James is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier. The pride of Akron, OH has decided to take his game to South Beach, teaming up with friends Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to form the newest iteration of a Big Three in hopes of securing a championship ring. No one can blame LeBron for wanting to add "NBA Finals champion" to his résumé. As the story goes with most other professional athletes and sports, legacies are often measured in terms of championships won. Rightfully so, LeBron does not want to go down in NBA and professional sports history, as the superstar that never won a title. On some level, trading northern Ohio for southern Florida, seems like a logical move. LeBron will now join a team with two of the game's brightest young stars, and a proven leader, Pat Riley (of Schenectady, NY) at the helm of the franchise.

But for many other reasons, The Decision may come with a huge price tag, not only for LeBron's wallet, but for his place in NBA and sports history. LeBron is leaving a city where he was loved. Although many other cities have been deprived of championships, Cleveland is perhaps the hopeless romantic of American sports. After suffering decades of heartbreak, many Ohioans thought LeBron was The One. The One to finally deliver a championship to the city, thus establishing the hometown star as a legendary city icon. An icon with the same beloved hero status as Jordan in Chicago, Bird in Boston, and Magic in Los Angeles.

I will admit, I am a bit of an idealist, especially when it comes to sports. Last night was further proof that we, the fans, are more loyal to our teams than the athletes themselves. We schedule our dinners, our weekends, and our vacation plans around our teams, and oftentimes, our moods are directly correlated to how our teams are playing. We remember our teams' biggest games and championships as if they were important moments in our own personal lives. Yet in most instances, these teams never give us anything tangible, except for the priceless emotional rollercoasters and memories.

Almost everyone who knows me is aware of my love for the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics. Still, as a sports fan, I admire the Derek Jeters and Kobe Bryants of the world, if for nothing more than the fact that they have spent their entire career with one team. There is something to be said about loyalty, and as LeBron showed the world last night, allegiance to a team is often a figment of our imagination - something that perhaps only we, the fans, still believe in.

Like Favre and Damon before him, LeBron snubbed a city that adored him. Cleveland fans, the "Witnesses" to LeBron's greatness, finally had a reason to be proud of their sports. Favre and Damon left Green Bay and Boston to join their bitter rivals, and although at this point in time, Heat-Cavs is not an NBA rivalry, that will soon change. Fans in Wisconsin and Massachusetts might curse their former stars like our Founding Fathers cursed Benedict Arnold, but they can appreciate and celebrate the fact that both Favre and Damon captured something that LeBron failed to deliver in Cleveland. A championship.

It is LeBron's failure to raise a championship banner to the rafters of "The Q" that makes his departure that much more bitter for Cavs fans. Several months ago, LeBron made a promise to the city ("I got a goal, and it's a huge goal, and that's to bring an NBA championship here to Cleveland. And I won't stop until I get it."), and it is his breaking of this promise that explains why The Decision will alienate thousands, if not millions, of The King's fans.

While the Heat have more star power than the Cavaliers, perhaps giving LeBron the best chance to win now, it is difficult to say that winning in Cleveland would not have been possible. The Cavaliers were the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season, and they have been one of the best teams in basketball in recent years. Under the leadership of new head coach Byron Scott, a three-time NBA champion and former Coach of the Year, the Cavaliers could certainly contend in 2010-11 with LeBron as their on-the-court leader. Winning in Cleveland would not have been easy, but it would have been more meaningful than winning in Miami. The Heat won a title in 2006 and the Florida Marlins have won two World Series titles in the last fifteen years. By no means is Miami a sports powerhouse, but the city is certainly in better shape than Cleveland with regards to championships.

Winning multiple titles in Miami may cement LeBron’s place as a basketball icon, but he will never be loved in south Florida as he was in Cleveland. The Heat are Dwayne Wade’s team. As long as he continues to play in Miami, he will be the leader of that team, and the face of that franchise. D-Wade will always be Batman, while LeBron will just be his sidekick, Robin - still important, but not the player the team is built around. As with Boston’s Big Three, Kevin Garnett may be the best player of the group, but Paul Pierce is still the centerpiece and captain of the franchise.

I have never been a LeBron fan. I have nothing invested in the city of Cleveland, other than the fact that I drive through it on my way to Notre Dame, that I enjoyed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and that I have been to a couple of games at Progressive (Jacobs) Field. Without a doubt, he's one of the best basketball players of our generation, but the egotistic attitude that LeBron and so many other sports superstars have today makes it difficult to cheer for him. The spectacle of The Decision, the wall-to-wall ESPN coverage, the highly publicized meetings with team representatives, and the fact that LeBron joining Twitter was a recent headline, are among the many reasons he has become an unlikable star. With last night's decision, he had an opportunity to show fans that sports stories actually can play out how we all wish they would - with a storybook ending.

Only time will tell if Wade, Bosh, and LeBron can make Miami the center of the basketball universe, or if Dan Gilbert's Cavaliers will be able to back up the bold proclamation he made last night on the team's website. LeBron may ultimately go on to win several championships, whether in Miami or another city later in his career, but The King's legacy took a hit when he went on national television and seemingly struggled to say, "This fall, I'm gonna take my talents to South Beach and the Miami Heat."

Twenty years from now, when LeBron has retired and is being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, we will look back on The Decision as a turning point in his career. Perhaps the point that separated him from being The King, the leader of a franchise, and the face of a city, to being just another superstar with dozens of accolades and in the big scheme of professional sports, a couple of meaningless championship rings. If LeBron had gone on TV last night and said, "I'm staying at home," we would still be hearing the cheers coming from his home state, and he would have kept himself in position to be mentioned in the same breath as the all-time greats. The Jordans, Birds, Magics, Russells, and Kobes of basketball lore.

Winter in South Bend

2010-02-09T15:51:00.008-05:00

Being from Upstate New York, I'm used to getting bombarded with snow each winter. Out here at school, it seems as if we are always getting snow, but that it is never really accumulating. Within the next 24 hours however, South Bend could be getting slammed with more than a foot of snow. All of this snow reminds me of high school when a big storm would mean the possibility of the beloved SNOW DAY. There were few things better on a winter morning than waking up and checking the news stations to see "Ballston Spa Central School District - CLOSED."

Unfortunately for me, the days of the snow day are gone. I think you can count the number of times that ND has cancelled classes for snow on one hand. Since so many students live on campus and ND is not a commuter school, there have been very few times when the weather has gotten in the way of those lectures in DeBartolo. So although it's very unlikely that tomorrow's classes will be cancelled, the weather gives me a chance to reminisce a bit about the glorious snow days of years past.

Here's a quick look at some of the articles I've been working on:

- Next month, the University is taking its annual Medical Ethics Conference to the home of the Catholic Church. To mark the 25th anniversary, the conference will be held in Rome this year. Highlights will include a week of sightseeing and the annual J. Philip Clarke Family Lecture presented by Fr. Michael S. Sherwin, O.P. The conference will join medical professionals from across the U.S. and Europe.

- As ND prepares to open a new cancer research center, many professors are working hard to fight against this disease. Amanda Hummon, the Walther Cancer Institute Assistant Professor of Biochemistry is preparing to begin her research study, focusing on the chemical equilibrium within cancer cells. She hopes to discover individual drug targets and the protein imbalances that exist in a cancer system.

- In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for more information about the annual Hesburgh Month of Service. Started in May 2007 to celebrate Father Ted's 90th birthday, this program is now in its fourth year. As part of the Hesburgh Month of Service, all members of the ND family are invited to join in service projects being hosted by ND clubs around the world.

- While everyone is familiar with the famous "Play Like a Champion Today" slogan, many may not yet be aware of Double Domer Drew Mitchell's real estate business, Rent Like a Champion. Started with two ND classmates, RLAC links alumni, students, families and fans with affordable rentals in South Bend. Their offerings are great for football weekends, JPW and Commencement. Check out the upcoming Young Alumni e-Newsletter for more information on Drew and his company.

I've been keeping busy with articles for ND Today, Onward to Victory, and the Young Alumni e-Newsletter. As we approach the middle of February, the semester is also getting more hectic academically. It's hard to believe the semester is nearly one-third complete and JPW is just around the corner, with spring break to follow shortly thereafter. This semester is flying by and I know it's only going to get faster once the snow melts and the sun comes out in SB.

It's Revue Week!

2010-01-19T16:27:00.008-05:00

It's time once again for...THE KEENAN REVUE! Since 1976, the Keenan Knights have been making fun of Notre Dame, college life and American pop culture. This year, the theme of the show is RevUe.S.A. vs. RevUe.S.S.R: A Cold War Revue. The Revue highlights the musical and comedic talents of Keenan's residents and is widely considered one of the most popular dorm events on campus. This year, the free tickets "sold out" in under 12 minutes. I think it's safe to say, it is THE most popular dorm event.

Without question, Revue Week is the best time of the year for us Keenan Knights. The fun starts the weekend prior to the Revue with skit tryouts and callbacks. On Sunday evening, the Revue staff meets to decide which skits make the cut. Then, it's right to work on Monday with the first rehearsal at St. Mary's O'Laughlin Auditorium. On Tuesday and Wednesday, we continue to polish things up, before the big premiere on Thursday. The show starts at 7 p.m. in O'Laughlin, and it runs through Saturday night. Following Saturday's performance is the annual Revue Dance in NDH.

In the past, the Revue has been known to stir up controversy, and oftentimes Keenan is criticized for some of the jokes. The Revue is all in good fun. No one is meant to be offended or hurt by the skits, as they are simply meant to satire life and Notre Dame life in 2010. Revue Week brings out the best in Keenan, it brings the St. Mary's and Notre Dame communities together, and it consistently provides one of the most entertaining shows on campus each year.

This year's Revue covers a wide array of topics, from Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Clausen, to duLac and bad party themes. It's an absolute blast for all of those involved and it's one of the reasons I'm proud to call Keenan home.

Why I Love Sports

2010-01-08T17:05:00.011-05:00

Towards the end of 2009, ESPN aired a couple of decade review specials, highlighting the best sports images of the past ten years. The annual 'Sportscenter of the Year' special is one of my favorite things to watch as we count down the days, hours and minutes until the ball drops in NYC. The 'Images of the Decade' montage has special meaning to me because The 00's were the first decade that I really witnessed from start to finish as a sports fan.

The 00's had the good, the bad, and the ugly, in sports and otherwise. Although many incidents, controversies and scandals might suggest that sports are on the downfall, it's video clips like these that let us know there is still hope for the future of athletics. These athletes, coaches and fans have demonstrated passion, emotion and pride amid the triumphs and tragedies of sports and life.

Bittersweet Send-off

2009-12-08T15:30:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate announced their plans to enter the 2010 NFL Draft. While many people had expected Clausen and Tate to forgo their senior seasons at ND, this was the announcement that fans were hoping would never come. We dreamed of seeing that familiar TD duo - #7 to #23 - for one more chance at Irish magic in 2010. Every Division 1 college football player may aspire to "play on Sundays," but only a small percentage have the tools necessary to make it to that next level. After speaking with their coaches and families, Jimmy and Golden decided they were ready for the challenge. It was time to make their own dreams come true.

For soon-to-be second semester juniors like myself, it comes as a disappointment that we won't have a chance to watch Jimmy and Golden (Keenan Hall's most famous Knight) shine on Saturday afternoons next season. During that nightmare season of '07, I remember thinking to myself, "This team is going to be dangerous when I'm a senior." The talent and potential were evident in glimpses during 2007, they began to emerge in 2008, and I thought with another couple of years playing together, this team could legitimately make a run at a national title in 2010. But things don't always work out as hoped.

The Irish struggled in 2009, losing several games that looked like easy wins when the schedule was first released. Despite these team struggles, Clausen and Tate managed to shine in nearly every game. Up until back-to-back losses to Navy and Pittsburgh, setting the Irish at 6-4, both were consistently being mentioned in the Heisman conversation. Whether in victory (15-18, 315 yards, 4 TD vs. Nevada) or defeat (23-30, 340 yards, 5 TD vs. Stanford), Clausen established himself as one of the premiere QBs in the nation. Like Clausen, Tate did everything in his power to help the Irish, racking up 93 catches for 1,496 yards and 15 TDs. Not to mention Tate was electrifying out of the "wildcat" formation and his catches, broken tackles and athleticism left fans speechless on several occasions. Even during games when it seemed like the Irish were down and out, Clausen and Tate kept things exciting, offering highlight reel after highlight reel for Sportscenter and the ND football archives.

As a member of the Class of 2011, I've now seen three of the most frustrating seasons in ND football history. Watching Jimmy and Golden has been one of the highlights of these disappointing seasons, and like so many others, I was hoping for another chance to watch #7 and #23 shine for the Irish. Ultimately however, deciding to enter the draft was the right decision for both of them. 2010 will feature a yet-to-be-determined head coach (Brian Kelly possibly?) and a new system. There is the risk of injury, a problem that plagued Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford after he decided to return to Norman for another year. There's no doubt that these factored into Clausen's decision to leave.

With Batman heading out the door, it only made sense for Robin to follow him to the NFL. Nothing against Dayne Crist, as I think he has the potential to emerge as a great player himself, but it would be difficult for Golden to improve his draft stock, by coming back to ND for a season with a young, inexperienced QB at the helm.

At the end of the 2007 season, if anyone told me that Clausen (the QB who was sacked 34 times) and Tate (the receiver who could only run fly patterns) would declare for the draft after their junior seasons, I would've called them crazy. Now here they are with the potential to make a profound impact on a team at the next level. Clausen could be a top 10 pick. Only time will tell where Tate ends up. As he said, "I’ve talked with a few people, and I think they predict me to go between the first and the seventh (final) round." Whatever the case may be, Clausen and Tate have made Irish fans proud, and given us something to cheer about during the last 3 seasons. May they have good luck and may God bless them as they strive to excel in the NFL.

The search for a new coach

2009-12-03T14:22:00.002-05:00

Over the last few days, I've been hearing countless names around campus, on the web, and on ESPN as potential candidates to replace Charlie Weis. Stoops, Meyer, Gruden, Dungy, Kelly, Edsall, Davis, Johnson, Ferentz, etc. The list goes on. Since Monday, there have even been two conflicting reports that coaches have already come to terms with ND and that an announcement would be coming, possibly as early as this weekend (Stoops and Kelly). It surprises me that any journalist would publish this type of report, not knowing if the information they are reporting is actually true. I think one thing has been established in this coaching search - We won't know the next head football coach of the Fighting Irish until Jack Swarbrick and the University issue a statement and hold a press conference.

The prospect of ND hiring a new coach has created a buzz around campus. These rumors have been among the most talked about topics. It seems as though every time I'm in the dining hall, the conversation somehow gets back to football, and who might lead ND back to glory. People have their hopes set high. Though I've never been an avid reader of NDNation, I've found myself constantly checking the site within the last few weeks because something tells me that the fans who post there will know before any of the major sports networks or websites. But evem with their knowledge and dedication to ND, the last couple of days have proven that we really won't know until we hear it from Swarbrick. Still, it's fun to think about what might happen.

Though many of the coaches who have been mentioned as possible candidates have denied their interest and/or contact with Notre Dame, I'm still holding out hope that we can find a home run coach. I appreciate all that Coach Weis did for ND football. He worked his tail off and he loves and respects this University. I think he will be a major asset to an NFL team if/when he returns to the professional game. It's unfortunate that things did not work out for him at his alma mater, but it's time for ND to find a coach who can motivate and lead college players. Maybe ND can bring back The Rocket, even if it's just to give a pre-game pep talk. But really, I hope we can find a coach who continues to uphold the values of the University, while also having the experience, passion and motivation necessary to wake up the echoes and put ND football back on the map. In a ideal scenario, Meyer or Stoops would welcome this challenge. I would be shocked if either of them wavered from their previous denials, but hey, I can dream right?

Giving thanks

2009-11-28T15:24:00.006-05:00

In the midst of papers and projects, exams and quizzes, it's easy to go through our daily lives without pausing for a moment to appreciate all that we're blessed with. We forget about what's important in life. At the end of the day, a high GPA and Dean's list honors are great, but what we will take away from ND is something much greater than anything that can be quantified on a résumé.

What Notre Dame helps teach us is the incredible strength of community and family. Although I come from a close-knit family, I've never experienced anything quite like the family that exists at ND. My life will be forever changed because as I define myself as a Domer, I will always share a bond with this University and with the tens of thousands of alumni around the world. Though I've always been an ND fan, it was not until I became a student that I began to recognize anything ND related. Now, whenever I am away from campus/South Bend and see someone wearing Fighting Irish gear, I feel a sense of pride in knowing that I attend this amazing university.

As the song goes, "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," I believe my appreciation for Notre Dame grows when I leave campus. Getting "out of the bubble" helps you understand just how special of a place Notre Dame truly is. It struck me while I was walking around Midway Airport on my way home for Thanksgiving. The community, the Catholic character, the academics and the athletics that we might take for granted hit you much deeper when you realize that this incredible combination of qualities just might not exist anywhere else in the world.

Above all the rankings, accolades and prestige, what truly makes Notre Dame a special place are the people. The rectors, professors, classmates, and roommates help foster the tremendous sense of community that exists at Notre Dame. There is no doubt in my mind that dozens of other colleges and universities can provide many of the same academic challenges and resources that ND students are blessed with. But perhaps what they cannot provide is this sense of community that exists at ND. From dorm masses to section dinners to interhall athletics, the ND family is what I love most about attending this small, private, Catholic university in Northern Indiana.

Baseball Hall of Famer and New York Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio once said, "I'd like to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee." I am a Red Sox fan through and through, but on this Thanksgiving weekend I'd like to steal one from DiMaggio and I'd like to thank the good Lord for making me a Domer.

Rumors Swirling Around ND

2009-11-20T11:16:00.013-05:00

As ND prepares for the final home game of the 2009 campaign, Saturday's matchup with UConn seems to be overshadowed by a potentially bigger issue affecting the football program. Since starting the season 6-2, the Irish dropped back-to-back games against Navy and Pittsburgh, leaving the team in danger of a fate similar to that of '08. Within the last week, much has been written, said and speculated about the future of Charlie Weis as head coach of the Fighting Irish. Many people seem to be looking past the final two regular season games, only to await the decision that will come from Jack Swarbrick and Father Jenkins.

As a long-time fan of Irish football and now as a student, I can see both sides of the debate. Coach Weis is an ND man. He saw a national championship during his time as a student. He knows what the Irish Faithful want to see from their football team and he's worked hard to return ND to football prominence. In players like Jimmy Clausen, Michael Floyd and Manti Te'o, he's attracted some of the top football talents in the nation to South Bend. He's dedicated to helping children who have developmental disabilities through his Hannah & Friends Foundation and he's a true Domer.

On the other side, I can see the argument for why this Saturday should his final home game as ND's coach. Unfortunately, none of Weis's positive traits have translated to the expectations that Irish fans and the national media have set for his recent football teams. It's been 21 years since ND last won a national championship, and although expecting a title contender each year is unrealistic, it would be nice to see the Irish return to BCS prominence. In his first two years as head coach, Weis took ND to back-to-back BCS appearances, but in each case the Irish lost. After struggling in '07 and '08, this was the year that the team was supposed to 'return to glory' and make an impact on the BCS or national championship picture. The funny thing about the '09 campaign is that if a couple plays had ended differently, we could be looking at a 10-0 team. On the other hand, we could also be looking at a 2-8 team. Instead, the Irish sit at 6-4. With wins over UConn and Stanford, the best case scenario for the Irish is a New Year's Day matchup (possibly with Miami) in the Gator Bowl. The worst case however, could be a return to the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve.
Many big names have been tossed around in the last couple of weeks as potential replacements, if Weis is in fact let go at the end of this season. Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, Brian Kelly and Jon Gruden have been at the forefront of this discussion. Other darkhorse candidates include Chris Petersen, Kirk Ferentz, and Gary Patterson. If someone other than Coach Weis is to lead the Irish in 2010, I would like to see the University swing for the fence on this one. Go out and get a coach that's proven he can win at a high level, proven he can recruit, and proven he can inspire and motivate college players.

Urban Meyer: Coach Meyer seems to have it made in Gainesville. The Florida weather, an abundance of top recruits and a team that is in position to contend for its third national title in four years. On the other hand, Meyer's quarterback and team leader, Tim Tebow, will be graduating after this season. If the Gators win another national championship, Meyer could be in search of a new challenge. He's Catholic, and familiar with ND, as he spent five seasons as an assitant here. Meyer has also been quoted as saying, "Notre Dame is my dream job."

Bob Stoops: Coach Stoops is Midwestern, Irish and Catholic, three elements that define Notre Dame. He won a national championship with Oklahoma in 2000 and has led the Sooners to six Big 12 Championships. Like Meyer, his star QB will be leaving after this season. His name has been mentioned recently, and like any other coach in the middle of a season, he has brushed the rumors aside, saying that "Notre Dame doesn't have a job." The way he responded to the question has left some wondering if Stoops could be a potential candidate, if there is a job opening in a couple of weeks.

John Gruden: Gruden's name has also been mentioned amidst the rumors, but it's difficult to tell if there is any truth to ND's potential interest in the former South Bend resident. Gruden grew up in South Bend and attended Clay High School, when his dad was an assistant at ND. The former NFL coach just signed an extension with Monday Night Football, but his ties to the South Bend area have some wondering if he could be in the mix to replace Weis.

This being said, if Saturday is Weis's final home game as head coach, he deserves a proper send-off. No booing, no taunting, but in this Thanksgiving season, thanks for his hard work. He knows that 6-4 is not where ND Nation expected to sit at this point in the season, but he's given it is best effort, and deserves respect for it.

Saturday will also be a send-off for 33 seniors, and it may very well be the last home game for Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate. So here's to hoping Clausen and Tate provide another glimpse of excellence, and that the Irish go out and win one against the Huskies. Win one for Charlie. Win one for the 33 seniors. Win one for the Class of '10, who will be seeing their last game as students in the stadium. GO IRISH! BEAT HUSKIES!

The semester so far...

2009-11-06T11:39:00.006-05:00

Three weeks from today, millions of Americans will be crowding Best Buy, Toys 'R Us, Sears and hundreds of other stores on "Black Friday." Some in the hopes of scoring Christmas deals. Others, will be out people-watching and reveling in the fact that they do their shopping online. But the crowded mall offers many things that the convenience of Amazon.com cannot provide. Christmas tunes. Excited children running to see Santa. And more former classmates than I'll probably ever see at a high school reunion. A time for family, friends, food, fun, and faith, the holiday season is approaching, and I can't wait.

But before I can get into the holiday spirit, there's a lot of work to be done here at ND. With less than three weeks until Thanksgiving break, and after returning, only another two until finals start, the end of the semester is approaching quickly. It's crunch time.

Here's a quick look at a few of the things I've been working on for ND Today:

Last month, Notre Dame hosted the Excellence in Teaching conference, welcoming educators from across the country for a weekend of seminars and workshops. Teachers and administrators came away with tips on multiple intelligences and awakening the genius in every student. For me, this was a great weekend because I got to spend time with my dad, who flew in from NY to attend the conference.

Recently, ND welcomed Professor M. Brian Blake, to its faculty as an associate dean in the College of Engineering. Prior to coming to ND, Blake was an accomplished leader at Georgetown. At ND, Blake will develop faculty and graduate student recruitment and diversity strategies, and act as a liaison between the college and corporate and foundational partners. Professor Blake explained that he enjoyed his time at Georgetown, but here at ND, he has been especially appreciative of the community's welcoming support and incredible spirit. And the football weekends aren't half bad either.

In January, the ND Alumni Association will welcome alumni back to the University for the 2nd Annual Alumni Sports Weekend. The weekend will be highlighted by a pair of hockey games against Ferris State, as well as men's and women's basketball games against West Virginia and Villanova, respectively. For many fans, this may be the first opportunity to see the Irish in the recently renovated Purcell Pavilion. For more information on this upcoming weekend, be sure to check out the ND Alumni Association website over the next few weeks.

These are just a few of the many projects I've been working. I'm also writing a few stories for the Young Alumni eNewsletter, and several others for the December issue of ND Today. Classes have started heating up. Exams, projects and papers are looming on the horizon. It will be a busy and exciting few weeks until Thanksgiving, and in the end, the stress will be worth it. After all, we're about to enter into "the most wonderful time of the year." :)

A Look Inside Keenan Hall

2009-10-27T15:34:00.016-04:00

Before arriving as a freshman at ND in '07, I knew very little about the University's dorm tradition. Over the summer, I logged onto the "Home Under the Dome" site through Residence Life & Housing to find out which of 14 male residence halls I would be calling home. This system reminded me of The Sorting Hat in Harry Potter. While Harry was destined to Gryffindor, I soon found that I would be spending much of my time in Keenan Hall.

Keenan Hall was constructed in 1957. Some would say it lacks the history of Alumni, Morrissey and Zahm, while others would argue it's missing the luxuries of Duncan, Keough, and O'Neill. What Keenan lacks in beauty and stories of yesteryear, it makes up for in its incredible dorm spirit.

One of the first things I noticed about Keenan was the unbelievable sense of brotherhood that existed among the Knights. The dorm slogan "Fratres in Christo" ("Brothers in Christ") becomes evident from the minute you arrive on campus and the Frosh-O staff helps assure you, an apprehensive 18-year old, and your worried parents, that Keenan Hall is a place you will be able to forever call home. As you begin to settle into your dorm room, upperclassmen pass by to introduce themselves and other freshmen stop by to discuss the most efficient ways of fitting everything into a 16' x 11' room. You quickly realize that this place is going to become your home for 8 months out of the year, and that when you and your family come back to ND 20 years from now, these are the guys you'll be meeting up with at a tailgate.

Keenan is one of the largest male residence halls on campus, with a capacity of 291 over 4 floors. One of the nicest things about the interior of Keenan is the basement. Here, there are several study locations, a workout room, a big-screen HDTV and a projection HDTV, and Zaland - Keenan's pizza shop.

For the most part, each of Keenan's four floors is configured the same way. Each is divided into two sections, West and North. For the last three years, I've lived in 3West (more information to come about 3W in a later post!). With the exception of a few singles, and senior doubles, most of the rooms are identical. After freshman year, you can set up quads and six-man room configurations. This year, I have a six-man. We build lofts, saving space on the ground and allowing us to efficiently use the three rooms alloted to us. Two of the rooms are for sleeping and studying, with three beds and desks in each, and the third is a common room shared among the six of us. When all is said and done after a few days of building and organizing at the beginning of the year, you've built yourself a place you can call home.

What really makes Keenan special however, is the tradition of events that we host each year.

Sine 1976, the Knights have hosted the Keenan Revue, a variety show and the dorm's signature event. Each year, the Revue is held in the O'Laughlin Auditorium on the campus of St. Mary's College. Over the years, the Revue has been the subject of much controversy, due to the often off-color humor. But at the end of the day, the Revue is all in good fun. It's not meant to offend anyone, only to poke fun at pop culture and the lives of Notre Dame students. Revue Week is without question one of the most exciting and enjoyable weeks of the year. The Revue is held for three nights each January, and the weekend culminates with a formal SYR in NDH.

Another event that Keenan is known for is Muddy Sunday. Since 2005, Muddy Sunday has been held just before the last week of classes during the spring semester. The mud volleyball tournament draws a huge turnout, and the money raised is donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Each fall, the Keenan Hall SYR is held at USA Skate in Mishawaka. The dance is known as Disco Roll, a night featuring eccentric clothing, some old-school tunes (as well as chart-toppers from today) and college kids attempting to rollerskate. The 70's theme gives us a taste of what it was like for our parents growing up.

The first weekend back after Thanksgiving, Keenan hosts the Reindeer Roast. For many people, the day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the Christmas season. Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby are added to the iPod, and Home Alone and Christmas Vacation take a spot right next to the DVD player. The Reindeer Roast is another great way to get into the spirit. Highlights of the Reindeer Roast include mass in the Keenan-Stanford Chapel presided by Father Poorman, a cookout, and the lighting of Keenan's Christmas display (The slogan reads "Twas the Knight Before Christmas").

Later this week, we will be hosting The Great Pumpkin. For this event, we work with local Boys & Girls Clubs to provide children in the South Bend area with a fun afternoon on ND's campus. We set up a haunted house in the Keenan basement and then take the children trick-or-treating around to many of the other dorms. It's great to see the excitement on the faces of the children as they get to hang around us "cool college kids." Not to mention, I think the haunted house brings us back to our youth.

Though Keenan doesn't have the air conditioning, wide hallways, or super-quads that some of the other dorms are lucky to enjoy, I wouldn't trade it for any other hall on ND's campus. When I graduate from ND in 2011, Keenan is certain to be one of the places I'll miss most, and one of the places I'll always come back to visit whenever I return to campus as an alum.

USC Weekend

2009-10-15T15:57:00.011-04:00

It's finally here. The weekend that Notre Dame students have had marked on their calendars since they saw the 2009 football schedule. Not only does this weekend include a visit from the USC Trojans, but it also marks the beginning of a much needed fall break. The last time we saw the Irish take the field was October 3rd versus Washington - a thrilling game that taught us two things about this year's team. 1) They are resilient and 2) They will never disappoint fans looking for an entertaining game. Many students called the game the most exciting game they've seen during their time at ND (The Class of 2009 had the fortune, or misfortune, of witnessing the infamous "Bush Push" as freshmen in '05).

The Washington game preceded a two-week stretch of midterms that were the most challenging academic days of the year so far. With ND's bye week falling during the middle of this stretch, SYRs (like Keenan Hall's Disco Roll) gave students something to break up the studying last weekend. Now, with most students' exams and papers wrapped up, the campus is buzzing for football again.

So here we are today, less than 48 hours from a matchup with the University of Southern California, or in the words of our beloved former football coach and favorite ESPN analyst, Mr. Lou Holtz, the University of Spoiled Children. Though Notre Dame is known for its compassion and generosity, there is no team that ND students despise more than USC. Maybe it's the Hollywood lifestyle many of their players are known to live, the off-the-field controversies surrounding athletes such as Reggie Bush and O.J. Mayo, or even their recent dominance of the historic rivalry. One thing is for sure - There is no other team in the country that Notre Dame students would be happier to see the Irish beat than USC.

Yes. Michigan and BC are big rivals. But those games have not generated the same excitement, at least in my time as a student, that has been generated by the looming arrival of Pete Carroll's crew this Saturday. Between the chalk art outside of DeBartolo and the dining halls, the posters of USC's troubled former running back who also shares the name of a popular breakfast beverage, and the slew of "Go Irish! Beat SC!" Facebook groups, the student body is ready for the "Fall of Troy."

With a "green-out" being planned, a typical ND Football Saturday weather forecast on the horizon, and a QB being mentioned as a potential Heisman frontrunner, things are looking bright for the Irish. These factors have left many students wondering if maybe - just maybe, that this will be the year when Notre Dame returns to glory versus their bitter rival. Winning on Saturday would do wonders for the morale of the team and the Notre Dame family's football spirit - erasing recent years of misery caused by Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, Mark Sanchez and company. Knocking off the Trojans would be the most significant victory in Weis' tenure at his alma mater, and it would put Jimmy Clausen right in the thick of the Heisman race. Only time will tell how the Irish will do against USC on October 17th. Win or lose, one thing is certain. The ND Nation is ready to cheer loud and proud behind the Irish come Saturday.

Go Irish! Beat SC!

My experience so far

2009-10-09T11:01:00.004-04:00

It's been a little more than a month since I started working in the ND Alumni Association as the Hannah Storm Journalism Intern. So far, it's been a great experience. Everyone I've come in contact with has been very friendly and helpful. It seems that people are always willing to help a fellow Domer out.

On my second day working with the alumni association, Angela Sienko, the Senior Editor in Alumni Communications, and the person I work most closely with, gave me a stack of assignments for ND Today. At first, it was a little intimidating. With Scholastic, I usually work on one, maybe two stories at a time, but now I had the responsibility of covering five. After doing some research and contacting several of my sources, I soon realized that it was going to be easier than I had anticipated. Here are a few highlights from my first round of contributions to ND Today:

The first story I began working on was a profile of Professor Tracy Kijewski-Correa, associate chair in the College of Engineering. Professor Kijewski-Correa is a Triple Domer ('97 B.S., 2000 M.S., 2003 Ph.D.) and soon after earning her Ph.D. she was hired to begin teaching at the university. Like myself, she is a huge sports fan, and served as a guest coach for the Irish men's basketball team during their 2005 upset win over #4 BC.

On Halloween, the Irish will take on Washington State at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Another story I covered for this issue of ND Today discussed the alumni association's service project with the Healy-Murphy Center. By covering this trip, I also learned that those joining the team in San Antonio will be treated to many of the festivities of a South Bend gameday experience, including a pep rally, tailgate and pre-game concert. It is sure to be a fun weekend.

Since 2005, the College of Engineering's Peer Mentor progam has served freshmen transitioning to the college environment. One of the things I enjoyed about writing this article was seeing how the Peer Mentors almost serve as a "Frosh-O" staff, for the college. Last year, I was part of Keenan's staff and I thought it was a great way to get the freshmen involved and help develop camaraderie within the dorm. With all the long hours that engineers spend in the Learning Center, I understand why building community is a top priority.

Another great thing about working in the alumni association is the people I have met. Everyone working here shares a love for the university. Home Football Fridays are great. With campus and town both being very hectic, a different department orders lunch to be delivered each week and we all share a meal (Nothing against NDH, but it's a nice change!). It's been a lot of fun so far. I've met some great people and been fortunate to write some interesting articles to share with the ND community.

Big news from Father Jenkins

2009-10-08T14:07:00.011-04:00

In an e-mail to the student body yesterday, Father Jenkins announced that beginning in May 2010, future Notre Dame Commencement ceremonies will be held in Notre Dame Stadium rather than the Joyce Center. Not only does this change mean that ND students will make their final memory as undergrads in the historic stadium, but it also means that students will no longer be forced to choose which family members can attend the ceremony.

While I think the JACC has been a great place to see Irish basketball, I was excited when I heard about the changes coming with the Purcell Pavilion. The JACC provided an outstanding home court advantage for ND, but it will be exciting to see how the changes improve the great basketball environment. One of the things I questioned however, was the impact that this change would have on graduation. The new configuration will seat approximately 2,000 less spectators, essentially meaning that each graduate would be allowed two tickets instead of three. While two or three tickets allow parents and one other lucky guest to attend, it often means choosing between family members, which simply seems unfair. One of my first memories of college was flying to Chapel Hill when I was five, to see my cousin graduate from UNC. His graduation was held in the football stadium and I've often wondered why ND couldn't do the same (even if the weather is nicer in NC than Indiana - It's May! It can't be that bad).

Apparently the Commencement Committee read my mind. To the joy of many ND students, yesterday's announcement solved this ticket problem. Unless Taylor Swift comes back to campus with an entourage of thousands, students will be free to have as many guests attend the ceremony as they would like (The country/pop star was on campus with her family yesterday because her brother was visiting as a prospective student. From what I've heard though, Taylor's far too humble to sport such an extensive crew, so we shouldn't have to worry, even if he does end up attending ND).

I'm excited by this change of venue. Not only does it mean my parents and brothers will be able to attend, but it also provides the opportunity for some of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends to possibly make the trip to South Bend. With my classmates, I'll be able to enjoy one last time together in the stadium where we've witnessed so many thrilling football games.

I'm looking forward to it. For now though, I want time to slow down. Thinking about graduation is a scary thought. I want to enjoy these next two years first.

Welcome to my blog!

2009-10-06T14:36:00.011-04:00

Hello, I'm Josh, a junior at Notre Dame and this year's Hannah Storm Journalism Intern in the ND Alumni Association. Over the next several months, I hope to provide readers with a glimpse of what life is like for an ND student in 2009, and what my experiences have been like through my work with the alumni association. Being able to work with the alumni association as the Hannah Storm Journalism Intern has been a great experience. In this position, I typically write articles for ND Today and Onward to Victory, as well as other alumni publications. The ND Alumni Association is arguably the best in the country, and it's an honor to work with them. Please feel free to e-mail me or leave comments. I would love to hear stories of your life as a Domer!

Here are five things you should know about me:

5. I am a marketing and English major. When I tell people this, I often get the same reaction, "Hmm...that's an interesting combo." Well, they may be right, but I do have reasons behind these choices. After graduation, I would love to pursue a career in sports, whether it be sports journalism, marketing, management, etc. For as long as I can remember, sports have been a big part of my life. In high school, I made a lot of my best friends and most vivid memories on my athletic teams, and although my career is over (except for a few section football and interhall basketball games), I haven't lost my love for playing, watching and talking about sports. Hopefully, studying marketing and English will provide me with opportunities to pursue a sports-related career after leaving ND.

4. I'm from Upstate New York. When people ask me where I'm from, I always precede "New York" with "Upstate." It seems like the common assumption is that if you're from New York, you are from NYC. Sometimes, even by saying, "Upstate," I get questions like, "Oh, so how close to The City are you?" or "Are you near Buffalo?" It's alright though. Sometimes I think it's funny. I'm from the Albany area, specifically from Ballston Spa. I guess you could say our claim to fame is that Abner Doubleday, the credited inventor of baseball and Civil War general, was born in Ballston Spa. More people have probably heard of nearby Saratoga, famous as a summer tourist spot, especially during "track season," when thousands rush to the Saratoga Race Track. I love living in Upstate NY with my parents and two younger brothers.

3. I live in Keenan Hall. Dorm life at ND has been unlike anything I've ever experienced. For many of my friends at home, the whole dorm system is difficult to understand. At many of their schools, it's typically a year in the dorms, then moving into an apartment or joining a fraternity/sorority. What has been awesome about Notre Dame and Keenan, is that when you're welcomed onto campus for Frosh-O, you immediately become part of a community. From the time the Frosh-O staff helps you unload your car to the time they wake you up at 6 a.m. on the first Football Saturday, you really get a sense that you're part of something special. Now, I'm sure living in Duncan or Keough provides a more luxurious lifestyle, but I wouldn't trade it for The Great Pumpkin, Reindeer Roast, the Keenan Revue and the other great events our dorm hosts each year.

2. I work with NBC at Notre Dame's home football games. In addition to working in the alumni office, I also work in the TV truck at ND's home games this season. It has been an interesting and unique experience. The Irish have certainly kept the games entertaining, and it's great to see them winning here at home. I miss cheering in the student section, but the atmosphere of live TV is exciting because you are right in the thick of things with the broadcast. I operate a program called QBStat, which NBC uses in connection with other software to display graphics throughout the game. I see the game from many different angles and I get to see just how Tom Hammond, Pat Haden and Alex Flanagan shape the broadcast and the stories they bring to fans' living rooms along with the action of the game.

1. There's no place I'd rather be a student than Notre Dame.Though none of my family attended ND, from an early age, I was an ND fan. I guess that's part of being from an Irish Catholic family. It wasn't really until after my junior year of high school that I considered applying to Notre Dame. I visited ND during the summer before my senior year and loved it. When I got my acceptance letter, I knew this was the place I wanted to spend my next four years. Fast forward to today, and it's hard to believe that I'm in my junior year already. The time has flown by, and from talking to friends, I've heard that the last two move even quicker than the first two. As a student at ND, I've had opportunities that I never would have imagined. It's been an unbelievable experience. In the midst of the busy college schedule, it's easy to forget how lucky I am to attend ND. I've found that it's not until you are away from school, that you truly appreciate how blessed you are. Over the last couple of years, I've attended many events hosted by my local alumni club, the ND Club of Northeastern NY, and it's truly amazing to see how ND can bring people together. I always enjoy going to these events beacuse when you meet another Domer, it seems like you can talk for hours because of that love you both share for the university. I'm proud to be a student at Notre Dame and a member of the ND family.

Thanks for reading! What are some of your favorite memories of Notre Dame?