A game worth...

A victorious Steds team

...watching! Yes, the Steds interhall football game was the game to watch this past weekend. Coached by Phineas Andrews, the Steds squad took to the field against the perennial powerhouse Fisher Hall. Thanks to the tutelage of Coach Phineas as well as the Steds defensive line, Fisher Hall was completely shut down. With a score of 14 to 0, the Steds team left the field as gentlemen AND victors. On scoring the very first Steds touch down of the interhall football season, Max Kempf said, "Once I was in the end zone, I looked up to the sky to see Harambe (dead Cincinnati zoo gorilla) looking down on me... and he was pleased."

Coach's Corner.

Coach Felton: A rising star

While everyone is focusing on the coaching happening on Saturdays, there has been another coach at Notre Dame who has quietly taken to the gridiron. Without any fanfare, press conferences, or fat contracts, Danny Felton, Steds freshman, has assumed the coaching of PW's flag football team. After a recent practice with the Purple Weasels of PW, I was able to catch up with Coach Felton, and here's what he had to say...

St. Ed: There’s a lot buzzing around the Hall as to why you are the head coach of the PW’s women football team. It's mostly saying you have absolutely no coaching talent at all and are simply a “head hunter” who's looking for a Yacht Dance date- really early I might add. Do you have any coaching experience, and if so, how did you become “Coach Danny”?

Felton: While I can’t deny being somewhat of a head hunter (the early bird gets the worm), I am pouring my blood, sweat and tears into developing these girls into NFL-caliber talent. It is a tradition for boys from my high school, St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, to coach the weasels of PW in Flag Football every year. My sophomore friend Patrick Judd and I are the co-offensive coordinators, and my years of experience in Madden have helped me greatly with my coordinator skills. I am working on running a speed option with our dual-threat quarterback, and after two weeks she still has no idea what I am talking about. I think the other Stedsmen are a little upset that my superior coaching skills have led me to such a favorable position.

St. Ed: As coach, I know that you have to be about fundamentals- passing, running, and scoring- but do you have a coaching philosophy? 

Felton: My number one coaching philosophy is “pain is relative.” They say flag football is “no contact”, but our girls are not scared to hit the ground once or twice, and they learned that from Coach Dan. In addition, I am all about aggression. We are yet to punt on the year, and we love deep passes and quarterback scrambles. 4^th and 25? Slant routes all around.

St. Ed: Coaching today is not for the faint of heart. From player disrespect to fan heckling, fickle owners to expectations of a “W", coaches are under a mountain of pressure and stress. What pressures and stress have you experienced as the PW coach?

Felton: As you well know, the flag football coaching market is in an extremely unstable time. Other flag football teams have coaches such as Malik Zaire or Equanimious St. Brown, and I don’t want the weasels feeling as if they got the short end of the stick. They want wins, and the PW Athletic Director wants wins, plain and simple. However, what I lack in actual football experience, I make up for with passion. In addition, I am not off to the best relationship with certain referees. I don’t think they appreciated my visor slam and choice words for them after they called back-to-back fall start penalties on my O-Line.

St. Ed: If I had money to place a wager on the Women’s Flag Football Championship, should I place it on the Purple Weasels of PW?

Felton: You should absolutely place it on the Purple Weasels. All those South Quad princesses are scared to get a little bit of dirt on their brand new lululemon athletic shorts and complain about how the football fields don’t have A/C, so we can rule them out indefinitely. Everyone knows PW is the beast of North Quad. We have several returning sophomores showing excellent leadership on both sides of the ball, a hungry young freshman class, and an exceptionally handsome coaching staff. All those ingredients are leading towards a big fat championship trophy and possible berth into the real college football playoffs for PW.

Good luck to the PW Purple Weasels and Coach Felton!

What's going on...

From garbage dump to art park: the corner of Angela and Eddie

...at the corner of Angela and Eddy Streets? Great question. Earlier this summer there were two massive dirt mounds at the corner of these streets; however, now, they have disappeared. Word on the street is that the dirt went to covering the recent tunnel and sewer works south of the stadium. With the dirt out of the picture, the area can go back to being the ND sculpture park. Oddly enough, the sculpture park is where Fr. Sorin placed Notre Dame's first garbage dump. On the dirt being removed, Ned Vogel said, "It's really a shame to see the University so drastically changing our landscape, no matter how natural or unnatural it is."

Days Three and Four.

It wasn't an accident

The games continue! Day Three saw the floors compete in a trivia contest while Day Four was marked by an egg toss and a good helping of controversy. Trivia played out where the third floor walked away with gold with first floor and fourth floor taking silver and bronze respectively. But, when it came to the egg toss, there was controversy since the winning team was a "mixed floor team" with participants being from both the third and second floors. While a medal was awarded to Brandon Ruggles and Max Kempf, the Hall Olympic Committee (HOC) is reviewing this unique situation and will have a ruling next week. Still, Kurt Roemer and Alex Schelhorn took silver while another third floor team took the bronze. On the controversy, Fr. Ralph said, "I hope the HOC will investigate this matter fully. These games need their integrity preserved."

They're getting...

Ellie and Connor

...married! Amid family and friends, former Stedsman Connor Ryan '13 proposed to Ellie Peck '13 of Farley Hall on Friday, September 16th before the Michigan State game. The proposal was a surprise, and suffice it to say, it was a nerve wracking weekend as many secrets had to be kept. But despite keeping family and friends hidden, Ellie wasn't having any of "Let's go for a walk around the lakes." In order to get Ellie out and about as well as the photographer (conveniently hidden in a bush) to capture the moment, Connor's fellow Stedsmen convinced Ellie that they ALL wanted to go for a walk around the lakes. Without doubt Steds teamwork allowed Connor the opportunity to pop the question at just the right spot!

On the nerve wracking weekend, Debbie Ryan, mother to Stedsmen Connor and Brandon Ryan, said, "All were a bit nervous about "pulling it off." Everyone was also a bit nervous about the game because Gavin (Connor's dad) attended MSU (booooooo!!!!!).  No doubt ND lost the football game because Gavin insisted on wearing his “lucky” MSU socks to the game. In the end, we may have lost the game, but we won with Ellie saying YES!" Yes, you did Debbie... yes you did indeed!

Congratulations and best wishes to Ellie and Connor!

Ellie and Connor with Stedsmen

Your Sunday picture...

Look at the very top and see Fall is near

...from Notre Dame. After another trying Saturday, it's a quiet Sunday on campus. Fall is here and soon will be in full swing. One way to tell that's the case is to look at the tree in front of St. Edward's. Why? The very top branches always have early changing leaves. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

Saturday's Squirrel or...

Taking five and catching some rays.

...Saturday's critter. When waiting for Fr. Terry, theologian and biologist, for lunch, I happened to spy this lady bug sunning itself on the Corby porch.  This is about the time when campus is inundated with these brightly colored insects. When I shared my finding with Fr. Terry, he was less than excited. On this lady bug Fr. Terry said, "It's an Asian lady bug." Wow, didn't know there was more than one kind of lady bug!

Day Two.

Saltine Challenge: Not for the faint of heart

With the spelling bee over, it was now on to the second event of Hall Olympics- The Saltine Challenge. The Saltine Challenge contest was a seemingly was easy event, a gold medal for the taking, but if truth be told, it actually was a grueling and demanding challenge. What was the challenge? Seeing who could eat six saltine crackers the fastest without drinking any water. Many tried, but only three medaled... Michael Moynihan, of the 1st floor, took gold with John Haley, of the 3rd floor, took silver and Ben Graf, of the 2nd floor, took bronze. On losing the Saltine Challenge, Jake Miller, pictured below, said, "I was thirsty for a victory, but my mouth was dry with defeat."

The sting of defeat and a dry mouth

Day One

The competition had people on the edge of their seats!

With the opening fanfare now in the rear view mirror, it’s down to business, playing for keeps and gold medals. The first day of competition saw a showdown in the “Flounge” (first floor lounge) with a good old fashion spelling bee. In attendance were residents of the floors and various elected Hall government officials. Still yet, members of the glitterati show up too. The evening was filled with many gaffs, misspelled words, and upsets. “Safe bet” Kirk Hansen, Steds junior and a middle school spelling bee champion who competed on ESPN for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, went down. In the end, the evening saw the emergence of a dark horse, Paddy Millican, who won a victory for the third floor by spelling correctly “Melchizedek,” the ancient priest of Salem found in the Book of Genesis. Congratulations Paddy!

On the spelling bee, John Haley, Steds Vice President said, “It was an electric atmosphere, and if you missed it, I'm sorry to hear that - be sure to come back for more excitement as the greatest tradition in sports, Sted's Hall Olympics, continues tomorrow with… well, you’ll just have to show up.” 

We have...

Harambe: More than just a gorilla

...a budding artist in the Hall! You are aware that we have a wise sage who live in room 319, but we also have a roaming artist who for unknown reasons imparts his craft on residents' white boards. It's all very much like the English graffiti artist Banksy who mysteriously "paints" works of art in unexpected places. Still, like Banksy who has never been seen so too with our hall artist. Affectionately called "Bensky," the Steds dry ease artist said of his art, "I've been called revolutionary for my art, but I just like to think of myself as an everyday citizen standing up for what I believe in. With my Harambe piece, which I've titled 'In memoriam, or: How I Lost My Best Friend,' I really just wanted to challenge the societal construct of what it means to be a gorilla and how that affects the life of the collective 'we.' Stay tuned for more of my work coming out soon." 

The games have...

The Olympic flame burns bright above the TV.

...begun! With much pomp and circumstance, the Hall Government opened the Hall Olympics. Much like Pierre de Coubertin, who revived the ancient Greek games, the Hall Government restarted the Steds games of times past, bringing back something that was not only cherished but also a point of pride for the winning floor. So, in the first floor lounge, there was a "lighting of the Olympic flame," a verbose proclamation, and an ice cream social. And what are the games that will pit floor against floor for the next two weeks? Well, you will just have to stay tuned! 

On the opening ceremony, Kurt Roemer, Steds Vice President, said, "The opening ceremony will go down in history as a beautiful and inspirational event. The togetherness of the crowd was truly palpable - it warms my heart to see men of all floors united as one. If there has ever been a single defining moment in Steds, nay, American history, Sunday night would have been that moment."

A Stedsman in...

Maillie doing something important 

...in the spot light. Luke Maillie, Steds junior, recently graced the front page of the coveted www.nd.edu under the section "Student Spotlight." Maillie is a physics-in-medicine major, and during this past summer, he returned to Tanzania with a solution to a problem that encounter while there- power blackouts. What's the solution? Gravity lights. Of course... why didn't I think of that! On Maillie recent work, an Stedsman speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, "We all knew that he was wicked smart...but not this smart."

To hear more about Maillie work, click HERE.

Your Sunday picture...

A beautiful view...

...from Notre Dame. Here's a view from the 50 yard line, home side. You can see both the east building and the south building, but can see an Irish victory? Too soon? Without a doubt. Still, Stedsman AJ Tablada, said, "There's nothing like being back on campus and visiting the Notre Dame and St. Ed's family!" There you go folks... a silver lining for your Sunday after!

Saturday's squirrel...

Here one moment, gone the next...

...or rather Saturday's critter. Today's critter is one the hawks that has taken up residence on campus, and seeing him reminds us that we are living in the proverbial "circle of life." Swooping down, seemingly from nowhere, he caught a chipmunk off guard. Pausing for bit, he allowed a photo or two to be taken, but then, just as he came in, he was off into the wild blue yonder.  On seeing the life and death drama before his eyes, Fr. Terry Ehrman, C.S.C. said, "It all reminded me of Mutual of Omaha's 'Wild Kingdon.' Intense."

Finally...

But who won the ping pong ball game?

...the Gentlemen's Billards Room is complete! After much waiting, the final touches have been made, making the room truly fit for rest and relaxation. In this unique room, the Gentlemen can either play ping pong or a game of pool, and if playing a game isn't their cup of tea, then they can read either Wall Street Journal or the Economist in a comfortable leather chair. Whether playing or reading, they are surrounded by historical photos of their beloved Hall. On the Gentlemen's Billards Room, Maciej Olszewski, Steds sophomore, said, "It's perfect." Well said Maciej... well said indeed!

What's cooking...

Ed's: Great food, great smiles

...at Ed's? Great question. Ed’s, the in-Hall eatery, opened, ironically, on Labor Day. Under the direction of Ed’s manager, Max Kempf, the residents of St. Ed’s are once again enjoying pizza sticks, paninis, smoothies, and much more. Still, thanks to Kempf’s creative genius, Ed’s goers will notice new items most notably the lemonade smoothie- something to cool you down on a hot day. On Wednesday’s night at Ed’s, Quinn Schwartz, Ed’s server and pictured above, said, “While everyone has their favorite item, everything is served with a smile.”

And the winner AGAIN is...

Game Day opener against Nevada

...Steds and, well, the entire Notre Dame nation! Yes, with plenty of sun and agreeable weather, it was a beautiful day for a football game. As usual, the ND Marching Band got things off to a great start and that was only continued by the football team's performance. In the end, Irish fans were not disappointed. On the win, James Yurkovich '13, visiting from California, said, "I can't take full credit for the win and the great weather, but you're welcome."

And the winner is...

World Series bound...

...Steds! Once again, Steds is finding itself the winner as its baseball squad defeated Carroll Hall. Under the tutelage of Coach Nick Olmanson, the Steds baseball squad brought their proverbial A game, smashing Carroll with a score of 7 to 1. On stealing two bases while hitting in the 4 spot, Alex Schelhorn, Steds game MVP, said, "They give you a round bat and they throw you a round ball.  And they tell you to hit it square."

And the winner is...

The Champions: Cote, Ruggles, and Hilly

...Steds! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the Battle for the Shadow 2106 is Steds!!! The team of Steds seniors, Ben Cote, Griffin Hilly, and Brandon Ruggles, won the tourney after defeating another Steds team of. Yes, for the second year in a row it was a Steds vs Steds championship. On the win, Ben Cote said, "For the first time in my life the prize for winning was better than the win itself," while Ruggles said, "while the fans got the 'young calf' last year, we were pleased to be able to give them the 'old bull' this time around."

Not to be left out, Hilly said, "That final game was well fought, and I've got the utmost respect for those guys. It was a great way to go out on top, and I wouldn't be surprised if BFTS sees something similar next year... a 'rolling of the guard' if you will. Either way, as long as Zahm isn't represented in the final, it's a win for Steds."

The coveted BFTS trophy

Your Sunday picture...

Take a break everyone.

...from Notre Dame. After a weekend of football, thank God for the sabbath, Sunday! We can all use some Sunday rest and quiet. Enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

The quiet before...

 Is it done yet?

...before the storm. Today's game against Nevada is the home opener for the 2016 Notre Dame football season.  Of course, there is much anticipation for today's game... a restoration of hope, learning from previous mistakes, better play calls, and a win. Still, there is much anticipation for something else... the completion of the football stadium renovation and expansion! On his recent trip from Austin to Notre Dame, world traveler, Bobby Weltner '14, was able to take this amazing shot of the stadium. On the stadium construction and today's game only one thing can be said... Go Irish!

The word in the hallway...

Confident of an Irish win

...is all about football. With most over the disappointment of last week's game, attention has been fixated on the rest of the season. Still, one Stedsmen, Austin Proehl, is not getting ahead of himself or the rest of the schedule but rather is focused on the here and now... Nevada. On the upcoming Nevada game, Proehl said, "Playing Nevada is like having a by week but with tailgates." 

Oh, the things...

All things moderating 

...the Gentlemen write on their dry erase boards. Witty and insightful, and in this case, full of wisdom. Still, is the resident of 311 a modern day "wisdom character" or just a "character?" More to come...

It seemed like...

Corey: a St. Ed's Gentleman of old

...a good idea at the time, but... Yes, it seemed like a good idea to go rollerblading in the afternoon, but when the blades hit the pavement, Corey Gayheart, Steds sophomore, began to have second thoughts about his "good idea." While the unique pavement and bricks of Notre Dame made the skating challenging, requiring upping his skill level, it was worth it. On his roller blading around campus, Gayheart said, "Through roller blading, I was more than just exercising. I was honoring and celebrating the long held Steds tradition of roller staking. In the day, the Gentlemen of St. Ed’s would roller skate at the St. Edward’s gym and annex…but then Zahm Hall decided to show up and paradise was lost.” Indeed, Corey… Paradise was lost indeed!

Texas continued.

Before the game...

No, I am not trying to be a doctor who likes to reopen old, or in this case fresh, wounds, but there is more to share from the weekend in Austin. Indeed, there were beautiful vistas from the stadium's upper deck not only of downtown and the festivities on the game field but also in the air (see video). On being at the game, Fr. Ralph said, "Though I was surrounded in a sea of orange, my heart did not fear... the courtesy and sportsmanship of the Texas Longhorns was commendable and something that we all might learn a thing or two from, really."

VIDEO: C-130 FLYOVER AT GAME

... and at game time.

The Labor Day...

Austin: The only thing missing was a win...

...holiday is much needed after yesterday's night game that was an emotional roller coaster and so much more. Despite the heat, humidity, and occasional rain shower, Irish fans cheered on their team in a stadium that broke a new attendance record of 102,315 fans. In attendance was Matt McClimon '92 and his son Drew. On being in Texas for the game, McClimon said, "Everything was great about Austin. The food, the bars, the people, the campus, the fans .... until it wasn't."

On assignment: Austin

Austin: The state capitol (L) and the Texas stadium (R)

While it's true that Sunday is always dedicated to brining you a picture from campus, this Sunday demanded something else. Yes, you needed to see where America's favorite college football team, Notre Dame, is playing. This Sunday's picture shows you a view of downtown Austin. Temps are high, but spirits are higher...and victory is not far off. SO, wherever you are, cheer for old Notre Dame. Go Irish!

Saturday's Squirrel.

Hi there...

Our furry friends are not just out wondering about campus but they are also in our chapels! Really? As someone pointed out, a squirrel has been immortalized in a campus chapel's stain glass window. Again, really? Sounds hard to believe, but it's really true. Which chapel? Before we name it the chapel, does seeing a bigger picture? Can you name the chapel, moreover, can you see where our friend is? Take a look at Mary's foot, and if you really want to get a great view, go to...

... Holy Cross Chapel in the Stinson Remmick Engineering Building.

It's on...

Ryan's stab at being informative AND artistic

...once again! Today marks another Battle for the Shadow (BFTS) three on three basketball tourney between the good guys and, well, the less then good guys... St. Edward's and Zahm Hall. Originally started by Frank Soler '14 in 2012, the tourney brings out basketball talent of all calibers. Even if you don't have an "A game," players nevertheless make an appearance for the love of the game and Hall. On this year's BFTS, Brandon Ryan, Steds president, said, "Battle for the Shadow will be our kick off event this year in Steds. We want to get everyone up and involved, put burgers in their bellies, and make sure everyone remembers how to beat Zahm on the court. We have some old fan favorites returning for one last battle, with the likes of Brandon Ruggles and the rest of the RAs , but Im also excited to see what the newest Stedsmen will be bringing to this years tournament."

La Fortune is...

Looking better than ever...

...open! And it WAS open in time for the arrival of new students for Welcome Week. The renovation of the west entrance included a complete refurbishing of the overhang, the concrete steps going up and down and below ground patio area. The refurbishing also included a complete overhaul of the iron railing which is still not complete. So, it the meantime, there is a wooden substitute keeping students from taking dangerous spills. On the exterior refurbishments, Tim Sherman, Steds junior and mailman, said, "The unstained wooden railings truly bring to light the aura Fr. Sorin was attempting to create around this place."