Celebrating South Bend and Notre Dame
If you’ve been watching Notre Dame football or lacrosse over the last few years, you know the name Jordan Faison. But even for the most dedicated Irish fans, his rise from a “who is that?” walk-on to one of the most dynamic athletes in South Bend has been nothing short of legendary.
Continue reading “The Jordan Faison Story: From Walk-On Wonder to “Flax” Star”Review of Pray Like a Champion Today
Pray Like a Champion Today by Fr. Nate Wills offers readers an inspiring and practical guide to enriching their prayer lives. With engaging stories and clear strategies, it not only encourages consistent prayer but also fosters a deeper relationship with God. This book is filled with encouragement, making it perfect for anyone looking to enhance their spiritual journey. Its uplifting message resonates especially for fans of Notre Dame, highlighting the pivotal role prayer plays in the lives of those who aspire to live with purpose and faith. Truly, everyone who loves God and Notre Dame owes it to themselves to read this book!
Notre Dame Hospitality creates distinctive special events and experiences to help our guests celebrate the spirit of Notre Dame.
Source: Notre Dame Hospitality
This video features Peyton and Eli Manning’s visit to Notre Dame to explore the legacy of legendary football coach Knute Rockne, accompanied by current Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and Brady Quinn. I also saw Marist Liufau and a few others in there…
A look inside Notre Dame’s historic theater. Source: Washington Hall Restored | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame
I’m thoroughly enjoying the book Unbeatable by Jerry Barca. It’s the story of the 1988 football season. I’ve always admired Lou Holtz but I didn’t realize that he was responsible for a couple of Notre Dame’s greatest game day traditions:
“George Stewart walked into the maintenance shop in the Athletic and Convocation Center and handed Laurie Wenger a piece of paper. Stewart was acting on the direction of Holtz, who wanted a sign up in the locker room tunnel. The players would tap it as they headed to the field. Wenger looked at the paper and the five words PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY. The South Bend native’s job was to paint signs for functions. Some routine assignments included painting game balls and signs for Junior Parents Weekend. This project took her about a week to complete. Her co-workers cut a three-foot by four-foot piece of wood. Wenger primed it and then painted it in a yellow-gold. She let the color dry and then used blue paint to brush on the phrase in all capital letters. Notre Dame lore has it that shortly after Holtz became the head coach he went through books on Fighting Irish football history and found a photo of the sign. However, nobody, including former coaches, remembered it being posted anywhere. Regardless of where the photo came from, the Notre Dame players who left the locker room to take on No. 3 Michigan in ’86 were the first to touch the sign.
Barca, Jerry. Unbeatable: Notre Dame’s 1988 Championship and the Last Great College Football Season (pp. 56-57). St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.”
Continue reading “Lou Holtz and Traditions”
Well, we finally know what we suspected all along; Deuce Knight might be playing for Auburn next year. Might? Tyler Wojciak (who I think has the best Notre Dame podcast out there) did a great job of summarizing the career arc of college quarterbacks going back to 2019 and the results might be surprising to you. Listen in starting at about 5:00 and see a summary of his comments below:
Yes, this press release is from 2001 but it sums up the Jim Flanigan, Jr. I know nicely…
“Former Notre Dame football standout Jim Flanigan was named co-winner of the Walter Payton National Football League Man of the Year Award, which recognizes community service as well as playing excellence. Flanigan is the third Notre Dame graduate to win the award, joining Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann (’82) and Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson (’87). Past winners includes 12 members of the Hall of Fame.
Flanigan, an anchor of the Chicago Bears defensive line for seven years, makes a difference with the James Flanigan Foundation, which raises awareness of child literacy through efforts such as the Great American Book Drive, which delivers more than 700,000 books to 400,000 underprivileged children.
His programs include Reach Out & Read Chicago, the Flanigan Foundation Literacy Advocate Award, Mission 99, the James and Susan Flanigan Endowed Scholarship at Notre Dame, and the Jim Flanigan Charity Golf Outing.
Continue reading “Jim Flanigan, Jr.”
You haven’t heard the Victory March until you’ve heard it reverberate just inside the Rockne Gate in the North Tunnel vestibule on game day!
“For those who know Notre Dame, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t, no explanation will suffice.” Lou Holtz
Considered for many decades to be the most influential priest in America, Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh played what many consider pivotal roles in higher education, the Catholic Church, and national and international affairs. American Priest examines his life and his many and varied engagements – from the university he led for 35 years to his associations with the Vatican and the White House – and evaluates the extent and importance of his legacy.
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