Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME KYLE MCCARTHY TAKES LEAVE OF ABSENCE On Aug. 14, Notre Dame released an announcement that graduate assistant coach Kyle McCarthy will be taking leaves of absence intermittently from the football pro- gram this season to battle cancer. "A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with a very treatable form of cancer," McCarthy said in a statement released by the school. "[On Aug. 13] I began chemotherapy as the next step in eliminating this disease. I'm truly blessed to have such amazing love and support from family and friends. "Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers over the last few weeks. I expect a full recov- ery and look forward to returning to the team during and after my treatment. Go Irish!" One of the team captains in 2009 as a safety, McCarthy led the Fighting Irish in tackles in 2008 (110) and 2009 (101), and also paced the '09 team in interceptions with five. He joined the staff this spring and assisted defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks, working primarily with the safeties. "Kyle's attitude and outlook toward his treatment is remarkable," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. "We will support him the entire way. We are very confident he'll receive the necessary treatment to make a complete recovery." McCarthy played for the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2010 and 2011, and later signed with both the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders before knee injuries ended his football career in 2013. MCCARTHY Hundreds of books have been written about Notre Dame football and its hallowed turf. Yet nothing has been really documented about what has become sacred land 500 yards west of Notre Dame Stadium as one enters the university on Notre Dame Avenue: Cedar Grove Cemetery. That changed in 2013 with the pub- lishing of The Cemetery Beneath The Golden Dome by Jim and Jane Gillis. Jim is a 1951 graduate of Notre Dame who had previously authored A Son Of Notre Dame. The newest effort brings Notre Dame's 184-year old cemetery to life. The book is only 99 pages, but is replete with his- tory and information on its start and answers numer- ous inquiries, including: "Why isn't Knute Rockne buried in Cedar Grove?" The first 50 pages recount the cemetery's begin- nings, highlighting the work of Rev. Edward Sorin, CSC, the founder of Notre Dame, and Alexis Coquil- lard, credited with the founding of South Bend. The final 49 pages are pictures and stories of some of the grave sites, many told by members of the fami- lies. They include numerous football luminaries such as 1949 Heisman Tro- phy winner Leon Hart, or even the simple grave inscription of "Mother" and a cross on a massive boulder left in the middle of the night many years ago by an unidentified person. It is a tribute to mothers everywhere. Also addressed is the future of Cedar Grove, including the issue of running out of space below ground for burials. This now involves the building of a Mausolea. To many, Notre Dame is sacred ground. This book highlights why it is and what has made it a desired final resting place for so many. Grave Stories