The month of November has brought a 10-0 record for Notre Dame Football and the first-ever Jesse Harper Council Founders’ Weekend. Did someone say best month ever?
Thank you for your continued leadership and commitment to our student-athletes. The launch of the Jesse Harper Council has been an incredible experience for Notre Dame Athletics. We are truly humbled by the generosity of each and every one of our Founding Members, and we were so glad to see many of you at Jesse Harper Council Founders’ Weekend. Please find a few highlights from the weekend below:
Behind the Scenes with Ron Powlus and ND Football
The weekend began with a private Q&A in the Schivarelli Players’ Lounge with Ron Powlus, former Fighting Irish quarterback and current Associate Athletics Director for Football Operations. Ron gave our Founders an in-depth analysis on the state of Notre Dame Football before leading a walk through of the home and visiting locker rooms in Notre Dame Stadium. Ron is just one Notre Dame Athletics staff member who directly witnesses the impact your generosity has on student-athletes every day. Thanks to all who attended this event and asked Ron the hard hitting questions!
Jesse Harper Council Founding Members join Ron Powlus in the Schivarelli Players’ Lounge, the home Locker Room, and the visiting Locker room before Saturday’s game against FSU.
Jesse Harper Council Founders’ Brunch
The main event of the weekend, the Founders’ Brunch, was a morning full of great food and drinks, and even better company. Jack Swarbrick spoke to the group about the legacy of Jesse Harper before Notre Dame on-air talent Jack Nolan hosted a Q&A with Kevin McDougal and Marc Edwards, two stars from the ’93 Notre Dame Football team. Notre Dame Football legend Joe Theismann also stopped in to greet our group and thank Founding Members for their impact on the lives of Notre Dame student-athletes. All present Founders received their Founding Member gift, which will be shipped to each one of you in the next week. Please keep an eye on your mailbox!
Saturday’s Founders’ Brunch featured appearances by Notre Dame Football’s Joe Theismann, Kevin McDougal, and Marc Edwards as well as a Jesse Harper themed speech by Jack Swarbrick.
Ask Jack
The final Ask Jack of the 2018 Football season kicked off with a salute to the 40 Founding Members of the Jesse Harper Council and was followed by an informative conversation between Jack Swarbrick and two special guests: former Irish basketball student-athlete, former FSU Athletics Director, and current EVP of Regulatory Affairs with the NCAA, Stan Wilcox ’78; and chair of the University’s Faculty Board on Athletics and NCAA Faculty Representative, Tricia Bellia.
Sara Liebscher presented the Founding Members of the Jesse Harper Council to the group (including Founding Member Dr. Bob) before the final Ask Jack of the season.
Football Indoor Practice Facility Tour
What would Founders’ Weekend be without a Notre Dame Athletics sneak peek? Thanks to those of you who braved the cold and joined us for a tour of the newest addition to the Notre Dame Athletics landscape, the Indoor Football Practice Facility. We look forward to the completion of this state of the art facility for our student-athletes!
Vice President and University Architect, Doug Marsh, led Founding Members on a tour of the facility and answered questions on current and upcoming projects around campus.
Kimberly Borza DIRECTOR, ROCKNE ATHLETICS FUND DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT
