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Writer’s Blocking Scheme

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"It's been a busy week on Lakes St. Joseph and St. Mary." I tried to snap myself out from under my writer's block by channeling Garrison Keillor. It didn't work. So I tried some Earnest Hemmingway: "Brian Kelly's fingers ached. Great drops of rain plonked against the window. He hated Twitter." But neither worked. I did, however learn, that I might be able to write as well as Brian Kelly and I might know as much about Notre Dame sports as does the creator of A Prairie Home Companion. As the … [Read more...]

Good Fridays w/Padre: Unexpectations

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What an unexpected year! No one should have been surprised that 2016 followed 2015; but the manner in which it followed was surprising: Not so much as night follows day, but more as a troop of rabid baboons follows the tourist who went to relieve himself behind the bushes and missed the bus back to the safari lodge, all while having his pockets stuffed full of beef jerky and hard candies. The Fighting Irish 4-8: We began the 2016 season ranked tenth and widely expected to vie for a place in … [Read more...]

Good Fridays w/Padre: On Trial

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For the 175th anniversary, they’re “retracing” my route from Vincennes to Notre Dame. I’m flattered…I guess. They’re doing it in late August – Indiana in late August. You know, dangerous heat, violent monsoons, and tornado season. I wouldn’t have undertaken the journey in August! Are they going to cart in mosquitoes carrying Yellow Fever to complete the effect? And by the way, the hellacious trek from New York to Vincennes was much more harrowing that the last 270 miles through pancake-flat … [Read more...]

Good Fridays w/Padre: Lost in Translation

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The Agricultural College of the State of Michigan is coming to town for a football game. Well, that was their first name; but they soon changed it to State Agricultural College. Realizing that this was dangerously vague – how would the students know which state’s agricultural college they were attending – the name was tightened up to Michigan Agricultural College. But there’s so much more to Michigan than growing cherries and Christmas trees; so the name was elaborated to Michigan State College … [Read more...]

Good Fridays w/Padre: Sunday Services

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I haven’t had to perform too many theological gymnastics in order to accept that we start this year’s Football March to Victory on a Sunday. Yes, it is The Lord’s Day. But you can go to Mass on Saturday evening and it still counts. The Lord is just happy to see you, and He appreciates that you stopped in for a visit. Besides, we don’t take the Bible literally. If we did, there would be a lot of eyes plucked out for looking at filthy images (like USC and Alabama playing with each other), and a … [Read more...]

Scouting Report: Syracuse

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If this were basketball, and it were the early-Nineties, Notre Dame's recent performance against Syracuse would be somewhat understandable, for the Irish are 2-2 against 'Cuse as we approach the fifth meeting of the teams since 2003 and the second-straight at MetLife Stadium.  NEW COACH Take everything you now about Syracuse and throw it away. Except for the horrible colors and the ridiculous mascot. For whatever reason, those things are staying. But under first year head coach Dino Babers, … [Read more...]

Good Fridays w/Padre: Bring It! (or not)

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An errant flyer was slipped under my door recently. It was a series of lists from the Office of Housing, instructing incoming freshmen in “What to Bring to Campus.” I found this amusing, because the Office of Housing used to be Brother Paul the Hermit; and “What to Bring to Campus” was “Whatever You Can Fit into Four Saddle Bags or One Steamer Trunk.” So I found these lists…quaint: Personal Supplies - Shower Caddy: This better not mean a fellow who carries your soap into the scrub room … [Read more...]

Playing Football in Baseball Stadiums is Awesome

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Debate This is a recurring series on Her Loyal Sons in which two writers take opposing sides on a hot topic. Yesterday, you learned why playing football in a stadium designed for baseball is "dumb." Today, you learn why it's awesome.  Many moons ago (these moons) (not that moons) (bless his heart), I wrote about the subway and the importance to the University of Notre Dame of its formative footballing years and how they helped build a national brand out of the little school on the shores of … [Read more...]

Spy Wednesday w/Padre: Faith, Hoops, and Charity

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Normally I write on the last day of the week, and I title my article “Good Fridays w/Padre.” For religious reasons, this is the one week of the year during which I simply cannot write that column. I also consider Maundy Thursday off limits because of the whole Last Supper thing. That left me with Palm Sunday, which was otherwise occupied by watching the basketball lads defeating a giant leprechaun and his Texan team (and I must applaud the cheerleaders’ intensity during that Pom Sunday game); … [Read more...]