Remembering my Uncle, Guy Stricherz through Sport, Spirituality and Americans in Kodachrome

In the center of my grandparents' living room stood a stately fireplace with a wooden mantle, adorned with six framed 8" × 10" photographs of my grandfather, my father, and four uncles. The portraits were arranged chronologically from oldest to youngest—three on the right and three on the left. I can still recall with remarkable clarity details about each one. But, one in particular was extra special.

Coach and Family. Enumclaw, WA. 1952

Looking at that photograph, I remember asking my parents, "Who is that?"

"That's your Uncle Guy," they replied. Guy lived in New York City, so I hadn't yet met him. Even though I was only three or four years old, I vividly recall thinking, "Wow! I have another uncle! Lucky me!" To this day, that's exactly how I feel. Call it luck, a blessing, or both—I am forever grateful to have had an uncle like Guy.

I share this memory because I would like to write a tribute in his honor. Guy passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at his home on Vashon Island, in Washington. His life's work and passion offer a unique perspective on the intersection of sports and spirituality.

In 1981, Guy started the Color Vision Imaging Laboratory, in a the Little Italy neighborhood of Manhattan, to make dye transfer prints of color photographs. "An offshoot of the Technicolor film process that revolutionized the movie industry, dye transfer printing was invented in 1946; the process dominated the advertising industry and graphic arts for nearly half a century, until 1994, when Kodak discontinued discontinued making the materials for the process and sold its remaining stock of film, paper and dyes to master printers like Stricherz" (An Eggleston to Dye for).

I met him when I was seven years old at my Uncle Mark and Aunt Jolyn's wedding. I was their flower girl and he was the uncle who sought to get me out on the dance floor. I saw him again when I ten years old as he came home to Washington state for my grandfather's funeral. He offered a compelling eulogy. I still remember some of what he said. He was easy to love and as cool as his name.

In the years to follow, he would visit us in California as he worked with a specialist at a store near by to restore his Harley (see the aforementioned nod to cool). During that time he did what a good uncle does. He gave us hugs and brought so much life to our house. When we went out for Mexican food, he let my sister and I try his margarita. We were ten and twelve. He would leg wrestle with my brother (think arm wrestling but using one's leg). He wore a black t-shirt, jeans and stylish eye glasses. He lived up to that name.

The stories that emerge about our loved ones after they have died are legion. Perhaps some are undeserved. Those about Uncle Guy are anything but undeserved. He did after all hitch hike to New York!

Each day, my class, Sports and Spirituality begins with prayer. While my students are the leaders of this class ritual, after my Uncle Guy died, I wanted to make mention of his life and this loss. Before asking for their prayers, I went in search of a a connection between his life's work and our course curriculum. I had to know if his masterpiece Americans in Kodachrome featured any photographs about sports. 

As written by my Uncle Guy

Americans in Kodachrome 1945–1965 is a portrayal of daily life during these formative years of modern American culture. It is comprised of ninety-five exceptional color photographs made by over ninety unknown American photographers. These photographs were chosen from many thousands of slides in hundreds of collections. Like folk art in other mediums, this work is characterized by its frankness, honesty, and vigor. Made as memoirs of family and friends, the photographs reveal a free-spirited, intuitive approach and possess a clarity and unpretentiousness characteristic of this unheralded photographic folk art. Conceived as a book and a nationwide exhibition, Americans in Kodachrome is an evocative and haunting portrait of a historic generation of Americans.

I decided I should go straight to the source and find my answer.

The book includes photographs from all 50 states. Most feature Americans with family—at table for birthdays and holiday gatherings, by their car or with friends. Several show weddings, prom and date nights. I started to wonder if the closest I would get to sport would include the pictures of Americans hunting or fishing, but at long last, I found one that clearly portrays (popular) sports are we know it:  Baseball Player —Wanakena New York, 1953. Jim Wark.

When you look at this photograph what do you see? Where does your mind go? 

I can't help but think this is no "turn back the clock" game. This is baseball in 1953. I can only imagine the player—maybe a short stop or centerfielder—driving home after what surely must have been a win. By the dirt on his pants, I see that the words "put me in coach" were in effect. Was he heading to a restaurant named Geary's for post-game fuel? Truly, something of this man's spirit and the spirit of the game emerges in and through the printing process.

In Catholicism, Richard P. McBrien  asserts that: "To be spiritual means to know and to live according to the knowledge, that there is more to life than meets the eye." To be spiritual means, we are forever seeking to find God in all things and in all things find God. We are invited to see things anew—to find deeper meaning, truth, love and light. And it is in with this understanding that my search for an image featuring sport became a meaningful and memorable moment. A spiritual one.

The image that kick started my Uncle Guy's love for Kodachrome is entitled "Coach and Family. Enumclaw, Washington. 1952. James P. Hughes."  The coach is my grandfather, Ed. My Dad is in the middle. My Uncle Guy is in my grandmother's arms. My uncles Tim and Jay are on either side of my grandpa. My Uncle Mark has yet to come. 

Guy writes 

A Kodachrome slide of my family taken in 1952 arrived in the mail at my parent's home in 1985. It was made by an old friend of my folks from South Dakota who had visited us one summer in our hometown of Enumclaw, Washington. As I am the self-designated family historian, as well as a color photographic printer, my mother forwarded the snapshot to my studio in New York City. I was astonished by the vivid color and well-preserved quality of the tiny relic, a miniaturized reality from 33 years past. The scene is startlingly familiar, yet lost to me. It was as if a long forgotten memory had been suddenly recalled. 

There is my father, coach of our hometown, champion Hornets, his blue football jacket over a white T-shirt, and my mother, the immaculate homemaker with a Mona Lisa smile in her yellow blouse and multicolored skirt. They stand with their four blue jean clad sons on the verdant lawn in front of our modest home. For me, the picture symbolizes how far my folks had come from the dust bowl that was the Great Plains of their youth to the green grass. We stood on beneath the foothills of Mount Rainier, which on clear days cast its purple hues through the paint of our living room windows. This picture portrays us as we wish to be remembered and remains as documentary proof that my parents had realized the American dream. Transcending its private meaning, the image serves as a poignant metaphor for the often idealized memory of postwar America.

I almost missed that this photo is both directly and indirectly about sports. My Uncle Guy named it "Coach and Family." That wasn't just a title for my grandfather; "Coach" was integral to his identity (so much so that his copy of Sports Illustrated was addressed to Coach Ed Stricherz).

This photograph hung in my grandparents living room. Much like my feeling about my Uncle Guy, I loved it  from the start. And, the more I see it and study it, the more it means to me. I just learned why they rolled their jeans....with four boys (and one more to come), once you start growing taller, the length of the cuffs could adjust. My Dad recently told me he's not smiling because he had a strong overbite. Fortunately, he got braces. I began to wonder where my grandmother purchased her stylish clothing. Could this photo not resonate with many American families? Truly there is more to life than what meets the eye. The art form of photography rests on that principle.

What I might love the most about my copy of Americans in Kodachrome is that it once belonged to my Godfather, my Uncle Tim. Inside, he wrote "January 4, 2003: For my brother Tim, with Love." When he died in 2019, my Uncle Guy urged me to keep Tim's edition. He had the foresight and vision to sign it once again when it became my own. Next to the note for my Uncle Tim, he wrote "February 3, 2018. For my niece, Anne, with Love."

As captured in Newsweek, December 8, 2002, my Uncle Guy believed "each image is a mystery with a private meaning unknown to us, yet each holds a truth common to us all."  It's safe to say through his work and focus on color and printing he not only invited us into that mystery, he enabled us to see our fellow Americans and my own family with a new lens—a spiritual one.

I would be remiss if I were not to include that Guy is survived by his wife, Irene Malli, and children—my cousins Matilda and Guy. As written in his obituary, "In 1989, while looking to hire a studio assistant, Guy met Irene Malli. She soon became the love of his life and his business partner. They were married at St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York on November 4th, 1989, and spent 35 beautiful years living and working together. He always said Americans in Kodachrome, could never have been completed without her persistent help." I cannot forget the love and affection that these three gave to one another at Guy's funeral. Unsurpassed. Beautiful.

Thank you, Uncle Guy for your love and your legacy. May perpetual light—and color—shine upon you.

Photo Credits
Baseball Player
Americans in Kodachrome
Coach and Family

Head Coach Marcus Freeman on Leadership—One Homily Worth Seeing

At today's Good Friday service, Father Michael quoted  Pope Paul the IV who said, "I would rather see a sermon than hear one." I couldn't help but think that truth characterizes what was the highlight of my most recent visit to Notre Dame. To the surprise and delight of 350 alumni and friends in attendance at the Notre Dame Alumni Association's annual leadership conference, Coach Marcus Freeman spoke on the topic of leadership. While he offered some important insights on this topic, the real message has been learned from who and what we saw. Thank you, HCMF.

We saw was a content and confident man. He smiled, he listened and made us laugh. He said a lot with a little. He made time for Q&A and to my utter delight, I offered a question of my own. He is gifted and grateful, humble and happy. We saw a great homily.

To our surprise, Coach Freeman entered in the room nearly unannounced. There was no walk up song, victory march, spotlight, fire or flags. He smiled and gave high fives to those who lined the walk-way. My friend Kristina turned around to look at my reaction. Although I smiled, I just kept shaking my head as if to say "no." I couldn't believe it and yet, I could (Is there a name for this sentiment?!). WAY TO GO NDAA!

Coach Free sat down with Dolly Duffy—executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association and associate vice president for University Relations—for a 20 minute conversation. He acknowledged his audience and said leaders must be adaptable. Given the reality of injury for players, the challenges of travel, weather and life events it's easy to believe he practices what he preaches.

He stressed the importance of maintaining a micro-focus on the task at hand (think one game at a time) while planning far ahead. It's his job to do both—He is the one to take the team where it needs to go. In light of that mindset, he said "you must fix the process. You hear trust the process—sure, but being adaptable means you will need to fix it, too. That's critical."

He said "good leaders are unorthodox. You go against the grain. You make those around you better." I kept thinking of what my friend Father Paul Kollman said to me at lunch that day "there's so much wisdom to be gained from sports." I'm not convinced that Marcus Freeman is a "player's coach," but he did stress that not everyone is coached in the same way. He listens to his players, especially the captains. He noted, "Their input is invaluable." 

Coach Freeman addressed the devastation of losing to Northern Illinois University (16-14) in the home opener. This loss was significant as it marked the first time a Mid-American Conference (MAC) team had defeated an AP Top 5 team. He said, "one week prior, we went into College Station and had a great win over Texas A&M. Coming off that win, I realized, we had to learn how to handle success, mentally and physically. Game two exposed that need."

He could have left the recount at that. Instead, he said "I left the office late that night. It was dark and obviously a long day. While sitting at a stoplight, I decided to count the days. I asked myself How many days have passed between our official start date and today? I realized it was 40 days. That number has incredible significance."

Coach Freeman's reflection resonates with my experience of prayer. For me, my most authentic experience of prayer is when I can connect the Word, the lived experience of God's people to events of my own life. Those connections provide solace and comfort, clarity and understanding. In Scripture, the number 40 symbolizes testing, trial, or probation. I am led to believe Coach Freeman decided to acknowledge that time as a period of hardship and yet one that is the seedbed for spiritual growth.

Coach Freeman emphasized the three pillars of his program: talent, development of that talent and culture. He said "we can control two of those three pillars. We recruit the talent and it's our job to develop it and build a culture that supports and sustains excellence. I call it the Gold Standard (TGS). It's what I want you to feel when you walk into our locker room. We are going to challenge each other. I ask every one in the building to "choose hard" and maintain a competitive spirit. You must choose love. In other words choose to put the greater good, in this case Notre Dame football above yourself."

Knowing there would be Q&A, I decided now was the time. Why? I have served on the Notre Dame Women Connect Alumni Board for the past six years, and my tenure was up. I prepared my introduction, commentary and question and raised my hand. I almost couldn't believe my luck when Dolly nodded in my direction. (think Jake Ryan nodding at Sam in Sixteen Candles. Who me?). I stood up and spoke into the microphone totally pumped and ready to share my stuff.

I said, "Coach Freeman, thank you for encouraging young people to 'Choose hard.' I think that's so important. Second, thank you for beating USC." (when my Dad met Tony Rice, he said that and I've always loved it). The crowd clapped and cheered.

I added, "you inspire so many people. Can you tell us about an athlete or someone from this season who inspires you? I know it's not easy to choose just one, but who is someone that inspires you."

I've been in the business of teaching and coaching young people long enough to know that THEY have just as much of an impact—both positive and negative—on us as we have on them. We need to hear those stories. As my Uncle Jay has told me, "inspiration comes from players to coaches, students to teachers, children to parents, kids to adults, etc., but we seldom acknowledge that." I genuinely wanted to hear what he had to say.

NDAA asked that we refrain from posting videos of Coach Freeman, but I can tell you he mentioned both Irish quarterback Riley Leonard—especially after the NIU loss and Irish safety D.J. Brown. Next time you see me, ask me about his answers and I'll say more.

The last question from the audience was about Coach Freeman's recent conversion to Catholicism. His answer was just beautiful. He said "I'm not a demonstrative or outspoken guy when it comes to my faith." His admission did not surprise me. In fact it reminded me of St Francis of Assisi who said "preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words."

What Coach Freeman did say however was "before you know, you have to trust. Trust beyond knowing. Building that trust, living in that trust—it's all a different way of saying have faith." At this point, I wasn't sure if he was talking about sport or about spirituality. Probably both. 

One of the first quotes I have my students in Sports and Spirituality write down is also from Pope Paul VI. He said, "Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses." Attending the Spring Alumni Association meeting has made me—a teacher into a witness as well. Our time with Coach Freeman was a gift. His insight on leadership, relationships, striving for excellence and faith was powerful and poignant. I heard a great homily, but what I saw will stay with me for years to come.

Photo Credits
TGS
Dick Corbett
Mass at ND

Friendship as a Contributing Factor to Rory McIlroy's Masters Championship

The conclusion of the 2025 Masters for Rory McIlroy was historic, impressive, and incredibly emotional. We witnessed him best Justin Rose by sinking a clutch birdie in sudden death. The tears McIlroy finally released after years of near-misses and disappointment resonated with viewers worldwide. I smiled watching the tender embrace with his wife and the long, loving hug he shared with his daughter Poppy. But one additional moment made me pause and take notice: on his way to Butler Cabin, McIlroy encountered Shane Lowry, and their exchange radiated the joy, beauty, and love of true friendship. In fact, I believe this friendship might have been a crucial element in McIlroy's first major victory in eleven years and his first green jacket—a fitting shade among Ireland's legendary forty shades of green.

Rory and Shane have been professional golfers for a collective 34 years (Rory in 2007 and Shane in 2009). As written by Golf.com "Lowry and McIlroy's relationship was forged more than two decades ago on Ireland's junior golf circuit. McIlroy's star ascended faster, but Lowry, a dogged competitor, worked hard to keep up. As elite professionals, they've traveled the world together and battled as teammates in international team events." They are much more that competitors on the tour. They share a common homeland, stateside residence (Jupiter, FL) and connection. As mentioned in "Full Swing" Lowry said, "I feel like I'm good for him, but he's also really good for me." I didn't need to see their shared moment at the Masters to admit they do. Plenty has transpired in the past year to reveal that truth.

In addition to a shared victory in the 2023 Ryder Cup (Europe over US 16½-11½), the Irish duo won the 2024 Zurich Classic in New Orleans. As written in the PGA.com post, 

To win any PGA TOUR event is very cool, but to do it with one of your closest friends — we’ve known each other for a long, long time, probably like over 20 years,” McIlroy said. “To think about where we met and where we’ve come from, to be on this stage and do this together — really, really cool journey that we’ve been a part of.

Evidently, the night before the final round the Irishmen received a standing ovation when they "showed up at historic, creole French Quarter restaurant Arnaud’s on the eve of their final round at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event." And, you might have caught sight of the two of them the night of their victory as they showed up on stage at the tournament's after party to karaoke and sing Don't Stop Believin' with their fans. I swear I saw a performance of "Sweet Caroline" as well, but I can't seem to find it.

Shane said, “He’s getting old, but he still moves the needle a little bit,” Lowry joked as McIlroy chuckled. “Rory brings a crowd and people love him and we’ve gotten a lot of love in New Orleans. We’ve had just the best week.” 

Safe to say, these two enjoyed another good week in February 2025at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The Guardian reports, 

Rory McIlroy celebrated a hole-in-one on his way to a score of 66 in the opening round at California’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The 35-year-old Northern Irishman found the cup with a sand wedge on the par-three 15th hole at Spyglass Hill Golf Course and will now head into Friday’s second round two shots behind leader Russell Henley.

McIlroy’s was not the day’s only hole-in-one. Irishman Shane Lowry landed one of his own on the famous par-three seventh at Pebble Beach, with the ball landing short of the pin and rolling in. Lowry used social media site X to call it the “shot of my dreams."

The two found their way to the iconic tap room that evening where everyone in house was treated to a beverage of their choice by the Irishmen. #jealous!

In these instances, I see much of what Shasta Nelson—author, speaker and relationship expert names as the three relationship requirements in a healthy, close friendship. To illustrate the metric, she draws an equilateral triangle—with positivity at its base. Consistency and vulnerability come together at the apex. This is how she defines each side.

Positivity: The pleasant emotions we feel that makes the relationship rewarding and satisfying.
Enjoyable moments that characterize positivity include: love, trust, enjoyment, affection, enthusiasm, appreciation, silliness/fun, special, validation, happiness, excitement and hope.

Consistency: The repetition of time and behavior that makes the relationship feel reliable and safe.

Repetitive time together involves providing time and space, finding "excuses" to gather, showing the other the relationship is important to you, and so forth.

Vulnerability: The mutual sharing and listening that leaves both people feeling known and seen.

Understood as expressing the full spectrum of emotions from pride and joy to loss and failure. Can also be known though asking for help, apologizing, forgiving as well as initiating tough or challenging conversations. Vulnerability gives permission to be authentic. 

The Netflix golf reality series Full Swing, Season 3, Episode 2 entitle "Through Thick and Thin" demonstrates how Rory and Shane share a healthy and viable friendship. Rory admits, 

The tour can be a lonely place at times so to have a friend like Shane, who is always up for a laugh and always wants to do fun things—this year, more than any other year has really shown its importance to me 

I'd say the weeks that we are home, we probably see each other five times a week?! It's nice to have someone like that, to who you can pick up the phone and chat about anything—whether its about golf or stuff going on away from golf...

That's positivity, consistency and vulnerability in Full Swing ;-)

Shane added, "We've known each other probably 21 or 22 years. When you're Rory McIlroy who is the greatest player of our generation, people are not themselves around you. So you meet people and you hang out with people and they are not themselves. But, when I hang out with him, I'm just myself. I think I'm probably a breath of fresh air to his life at times where he can just get away and be himself and be normal..."

Shasta Nelson would describe Lowry and McIlroy as "relationally fit."

It was a joy to watch the Lowrys and McIlroys share the green at The Masters Par-3 contest. And hard not to love the way Shane's daughter picked up Poppy to congratulate her for putting out the hole. Perhaps all of this put Rory is a calm, clear headed state of mind for what was one of the more memorable Sunday at the Masters. The power of friendship is not to be underestimated. 

Photo Credits
Family
Talking
Video
Holding a trophy

What a "Deep Cut" Reveals

As we waited for the next session of the retreat to begin, I glanced at a sophomore I didn’t know. He was wearing a "God, Country, Notre Dame" Under Armour t-shirt.

“It’s Henry, right?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Did your mom or dad go to Notre Dame?”

“No.”

“Oh, the reason I ask is because of the shirt you’re wearing. That one seems legit. Where did you get it?”

“I ordered it online from the bookstore,” he said.

“Huh. Well, it’s not unusual to see people wearing a Notre Dame sweatshirt or tee—look at Mark, for example. That shirt could’ve come from any store. But yours? To me, that’s sort of an insider’s pick.”

Another teacher nearby chimed in, “Ah yes, a deep cut.”

“Deep cut?” I asked.

He explained, “Deep cuts are usually early songs by an artist—tracks that might be less popular or well-known than others on the same album.”

“I love that,” I said. “Springsteen fans know a legion of deep cuts—the B-sides, the songs he let other artists record that became hits. His 1999–2000 reunion tour even centered around many of them, blending Tracks with the classics. And as Boss fans know, Tracks 2 is set to drop on June 27. Deep cut city!”

Whether it's a song, a reference to a book or movie or an article of clothing, deep cuts (which has its own entry in the Merriam-Webster dictionary) offer two insights into our humanity: authenticity and identity.

Identity
What someone believes, where they grew up, who they root for, and what they value—these all shape our sense of identity. We come to understand ourselves and others through these frameworks.

Phrases like “born and raised Catholic,” “Bills Mafia member,” “C & E Christian,” or “I bleed blue and gold” are common in both spiritual and sports communities. People aren’t shy about waving their flag, singing Hallelujah, or spending Sundays with their faith community or favorite franchise. Many of us want to be known by our tribes and traditions. It connects us. Sometimes it divides us. But it always reveals something fundamental.

Whether it’s a rare alumni sweatshirt or the belief that “lifelong Cubs fan” should be etched on a tombstone—identity matters.

Of course, our lens of identity can shift over time—as it should. Life isn’t static. A recent Notre Dame Magazine article titled "Out of Practice" Ken Woodward (a Notre Dame alum and former Newseek religion editor and Christian Smith—a sociologist on campus. 

KW: Readers like me, who came of age in the 1950s, will surely argue that there are other, stronger reasons for being religious. One would be group identity. “This is my crowd. These are my people.” Does traditional religion no longer provide group identity?

CS: For some people, it clearly does, but I think it’s more challenging now to get an identity from religion than it used to be. The boundaries are more porous. People are involved in many other communities. The internet has opened up people to the entire world. So, it’s still there, but it’s just less effective and clear.

KW: Would you say that other identities have superseded this? “I’m female.” “I’m LGBTQ.”

CS: Yes, exactly. The rise of identity politics. If you look at what people think matters for being a good American or for having a strong personal identity, very few younger generations are going to say, “I’m Catholic” or “I’m Jewish” or something like that. It’ll be much more around sex, gender, political affiliation. 

While not true for all Irish fans, wearing a Notre Dame deep cut usually signifies that "Catholic" is or was part of one's identity. I would argue that it might serve as an invitation for a conversation about that and so much more: midwest roots? working class/first generation student? Irish or Polish heritage? football fan?! etc.

When my student wore this particular IRISH sweatshirt, I had to ask her about it. I can't tell you how many of my classmates and I owned this specific sweatshirt (or its sibling which was grey with navy lettering). It's screams of 90's ND in the same way these baseball caps are now the poster child for the decade. That deep cut brought back memories for me of shopping at the former Hammes Bookstore. Turns out, her dad was two years ahead of me. "He lived in Grace Hall." (another identity marker). 

Authenticity

While not true for all Irish fans, wearing a Notre Dame deep cut often signals that “Catholic” is—or was—part of one’s identity. But it can also open the door to broader conversations: Midwest roots? Working class? First-gen college student? Irish or Polish heritage? Football fan?

For example, when I saw a student wearing a particular IRISH sweatshirt, I had to ask her about it. That sweatshirt (and its gray-with-navy-lettering sibling) was practically a uniform for my classmates and me in the ’90s. A deep cut like that brought back memories—shopping at the old Hammes Bookstore, bumping into dorm mates. Turns out, her dad was two years ahead of me. “He lived in Grace Hall,” she said. Another identity marker.

I haven’t studied identity politics or sociology in depth, but I do know this: once we begin to understand identity, we start asking questions about authenticity.

We want to know what’s real. We crave it. We want to be known—truly known—for our passions, our loyalties, our roots. Some people hold 30-year season tickets. Others reminisce about the old ballparks, long gone. We stake our pride on those loves. And we should.

That’s also why we’ve developed language for what isn’t authentic—terms like bandwagon fan or fair-weather follower. And this is where deep cuts come in.

Owning or recognizing a deep cut implies history, loyalty, and pride. It’s the T-shirt version of “I was here before it was cool.” It’s literal—people wear it on their sleeves. And it’s encoded. Not everyone gets it. That’s the point. I’m not usually a fan of the acronym IYKYK, but in this case? It fits.

For example, I once saw George Kittle and other 49ers wear a specific shirt in press conferences. I found it online and wore it to the gym. My friend Greg, a San Francisco native, saw it and said, “I love those. They used to be practice shirts. We had so many they became rags.” I told him those “rags” now sell for $199 to $299 on eBay.

For some, that’s a small price to pay to be seen as an authentic Niners fan. And given the team’s last-place finish in the NFC West this year (6–11), that shirt may speak louder now than it did after Super Bowl LVIII. IYKYK.

In conclusion, one of my favorite sweaters is a navy cardigan with the university logo on the patch. They gave them to us at graduation. I kept mine—and I wonder how many of my classmates did the same. When people compliment it, I get to tell the story.

Yes, Notre Dame is a big part of my identity. And no one who knows me questions whether I’m an authentic fan—of the Irish, the Giants, the Niners, the Warriors—or an authentic follower of my faith. These aren’t just labels. They’re deep cuts. All have been called in to question for both discussion and defense. Each one matters to me.

Photo Credits