Date: March 15, 2004
To: The Notre Dame Family
From: Board of Directors, Notre Dame National Monogram Club
The Notre Dame National Monogram Club Board of Directors believes a response is warranted to the recent letter received by the Board of Trustees from some alumni expressing concerns about the status of the football program.
By way of background, the Notre Dame National Monogram Club consists of approximately 6,100 Notre Dame alumni who have been endowed with the University varsity insignia for their athletic or team endeavors as students or as honorary monogram recipients.
The Board of Directors of the Notre Dame National Monogram Club is made up of 21 voting members (including six former football players) representing a cross-section of varsity sports offered at Notre Dame. In addition there are eight non-voting members made up of board advisors, legal counsel and a director emeritus of whom three are past presidents and two are former football captains. The largest number of monogram winners are former football players, which is reflected in the composition of the board and advisors.
We are writing this letter with the approval of the Monogram Club Board. It is our opinion that although the authors of the January 26, 2004, letter have a right to their opinion and although they may have been well intended, the content of their letter contained assertions that rendered it detrimental to Notre Dame. It has been said that "there is nothing more dangerous than energetic ignorance." Instead of limiting the letter and issues raised therein to University Trustees, the authors of the letter provided it to the media which created a multiplier effect of news frenzy that is consistent with the type of exposure when there is a negative story about Notre Dame. For instance, a story about the letter appeared in the Chicago Tribune followed by a Chicago Sun-Times article entitled "Golden Doom: Notre Dame's Lost Cause," which focused on what the author referred to as "a contentious letter to the school's board of trustees." This kind of verbiage damages the school's image and becomes an obstacle in attracting future students as well as a negative impact on the morale of current student-athletes. The letter's effect has hindered rather than helped the overall administration of the University and specifically the duties of the athletic department staff and coaches. This type of misinformation exposed to the public also has a negative impact on existing and potential revenue resources that are so vital to provide the programs and physical facilities that our student-athletes deserve.
Although we have been endowed with the University's athletic monogram, we recognize that we do not have the necessary knowledge to identify and resolve issues of the Athletic Department. However, having been participants in Notre Dame athletics we have a better insight than most in forming our own opinions. The members of the Monogram Club have elected and entrusted their representation to the Board of Directors. In that capacity, with the guidance of the President of the University, we have worked closely with the Athletic Department staff and coaches in carrying out their responsibilities related to the success of our student-athletes in the classroom and in their athletic endeavors. The Athletic Department utilizes the sound management principle of delegation by giving oversight responsibility for each varsity sport to senior members of the staff, with football and men's and women's basketball under the auspices of the Athletic Director. We have encountered nothing but a dedicated group that have very high standards in carrying out their mission in the best interest of Notre Dame. With all they have achieved in this regard, they are quick to recognize shortcomings and are willing to take whatever action is necessary and appropriate to bring them to a satisfactory resolution in a reasonable time frame with due diligence. The football program is not excluded. Recently, the University completed a successful negotiation of a long term television contract. The following compelling statement was made by NBC Sports and Olympic Chairman Dick Ebersol when announcing the extension of the TV agreement. "With Tyrone Willingham, the football program is in the right hands. He embodies Notre Dame's core values, and his leadership, character and drive assure Notre Dame's return to its traditional place among the elite national powers."
Notre Dame is family. It is this sense of family that manifests Notre Dame's character. As a family we should resolve our differences together in a respectful and responsible manner. We urge our fellow members of the Notre Dame family to join the National Monogram Club in support of those who are accountable to carry out the mission of the University of Notre Dame's Athletic Department.
OFFICERS:
David R. Duerson, President
Julie Pierson Doyle, 1st Vice President
M. Marc Kelly, 2nd Vice President
Kenneth M. Haffey, Treasurer
Joseph W. Restic, Secretary
James S. Carroll, Past President
