Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 6, 2017 61 WHERE HAVE YOU GONE? "I looked at the life I'd built and the career I'd been fortunate to have … it felt like the right time. "The great thing about winning a Super Bowl was everything I be- lieved about myself came true for other people as well. I love encour- aging other people to achieve their wildest dreams, and financial literacy is a huge portion for me. … I really look at speaking as a great service to my community and some of the ways I overcame failures." THE NOTRE DAME BENEFIT As a Muslim, Harris never felt out of place at Notre Dame. In fact, he prospered through the experience. "Notre Dame taught me what we can be in terms of tolerant, respect- ful and encouraging of diverse re- ligious backgrounds," Harris said. "At Notre Dame, I became a better Muslim. There are over 330 masses per week on campus. As a Muslim, you pray as a daily ritual, and to be around people who practice a similar ritual and encourage you to sit with them at the dining hall was enriching. "The school has a student Muslim association, and when I was recruited they brought me to the mosque near the campus. When I went to Notre Dame I saw what we can be when we respect each other, encourage each other and partake in each other's diversity. "Sixty-five percent of Americans don't know a Muslim, so I really see it as my job that when people do want to talk about Islam that I give them a space to ask every question and any question. I've been asked 'What do Muslims laugh at?' Hey, we watch movies like you guys." As a 17-year-old, Harris made the life-altering decision to attend Notre Dame, and now nearly half a lifetime later at age 32 he is more convinced than ever he made the right choice. "I wanted to play against the best and compete against the best in foot- ball and school," Harris said. "Notre Dame provides that better than any university in the nation." ✦ Call 877-630-8768 to advertise in Blue & Gold Illustrated! Want a prayer published? Call 800-421-7751 M A R K E T P L A C E MEMORABILIA MEMORABILIA Vintage Notre Dame Memorabilia Augie's Locker Room ND Stadium Items, Jerseys, Helmets, Autographs and One of a Kind Rockne Items. COME INTO THE STORE TO SEE OUR RARE NOTRE DAME HELMET DISPLAY, 1900 - PRESENT!! Voted Best Notre Dame Collectables in the Country! 1811 South Bend Ave. South Bend , I n 46637 574-277-NDND (6363) www.augieslockerroom.com FACEBOOK.COM/AUGIESLOCKERROOM NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES on VHS or DVD for sale, from 1928 to present. Contact Peter Rahas at 7700 Golden Filly St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 or call 1-702-395-2974 Head Of The Classes Over the past 25 years, no football recruiting class at Notre Dame has had a better overall combination of team impact, balance, depth and pro potential than the one signed in Feb- ruary 2003 that included offensive tackle Ryan Harris. Both left tackle Harris and center John Sul- livan (now with the Los Angeles Rams) had or have rare 10-year NFL careers. The passing combination of Brady Quinn to Jeff Samardzija was the most prolific at Notre Dame, with Quinn twice finishing in the top five of the Heisman Trophy balloting and Samardzija, a Major League Baseball pitcher, becoming a two-time All-American. Tight end John Carlson was a second-round selection, while running back Travis Thomas was a rare two-time captain. Defensively, the line featured second-round NFL selections Victor Abiamiri and Trevor Laws; safeties Tom Zbikowski (also a two-time captain) and Chinedum Ndukwe, who each played at least five years in the pros; line- backer Joe Brockington; cornerback Ambrose Wooden and punter Geoff Price. Perhaps most telling is they spearheaded back-to-back major bowl bids as juniors and seniors in 2005-06, the only time that has hap- pened for the Irish since 1995. — Lou Somogyi Harris, a Muslim who earned two degrees at Notre Dame, played 10 years in the NFL and started all 19 games on the Denver Broncos team that won the 2016 Super Bowl. PHOTO BY ERIC BAKKE/COURTESY DENVER BRONCOS