Sept. 22, 2009
Notre Dame, Ind. –
Click Here to see photos from the weekend.
It was a weekend of reunions and receptions for the Monogram Club as it welcomed back its board of directors along with members of the 1949 national championship football team and Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Brown.
To kickoff the weekend, the Monogram Club Board of Directors held its annual fall board meeting on Friday. Thirty-five Monogram winners who serve on the board of directors gathered to discuss the state of the club and to set new goals for the upcoming year.
Following a productive day, the Monogram board and members of the athletics department coaching and administrative staff held a reception to surprise outgoing Monogram Club executive director Jim Fraleigh ’88 who was recently promoted to associate athletics director of community relations and facility administration.
Monogram Club president Joe Restic `79, past president Marc Kelly `82 and new executive director Beth Hunter each offered congratulatory remarks and thanked Fraleigh for all his dedicated service and loyal friendship to the club.
On Saturday, the Monogram Club welcomed back a group of Leahy’s Lads who played for legendary Irish football coach Frank Leahy between 1946-49 in celebration of their 60th Anniversary of the 1949 National Championship.
Returning players were honored on the field during the first quarter of Saturday’s game and many attended the Monogram Club’s pregame reception and postgame Mass. Among those who returned were 1949 Heisman Trophy winner John Lujack, All-America quarterback Bob Williams and four time Monogram winners Walt Grohaus and Ralph McGee.
The Monogram Club also welcomed back 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown in honor of his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Brown was honored at halftime of Saturday’s game. Joining Brown on the field was athletics director Jack Swarbrick and College Football Hall of Fame Executive Director Lisa Klunder. Brown’s Hall of Fame certificate will soon be displayed in Sports Heritage Hall.
To conclude the weekend, the Monogram Club held its second Postgame Mass 30 minutes following a thrilling victory over the Michigan State Spartans. On the heels of a successful inaugural postgame Mass two weeks ago, attendance grew with nearly 250 Monogram winners and their families attending. Led by athletics department chaplin Rev. Paul Doyle C.S.C. the postgame Mass is bringing together Monogram winners from all generations.