20 Questions with... Sean Cwynar

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As a Marian Central graduate and a lifelong Michigan fan, I was at once delighted and dismayed at Hurricanes two-way lineman Sean Cwynar’s choice of schools, Notre Dame. On one hand, it’s always great to see a Marian kid commit to a high-profile Division I program. On the other … Notre Dame? What could be worse?

Cwynar, a senior, orally committed to the Irish in March after an outstanding junior season – 83 tackles, 15 sacks, Class 5A All-State honors – and an extremely short recruiting process. Notre Dame was the first school Cwynar visited.

This fall the 6-foot-4, 284-pounder, who plays tackle and defensive end for the Hurricanes, will try to lead his team into the state championship game for the second consecutive year. That I’m for. As for his college choice? I offered an alternative, but Cwynar wouldn’t budge.

1. I’ve got to ask – how does a kid who spends four years listening to Michigan’s fight song (Marian incorporates “Hail to the Victors” into its fight song) end up at Notre Dame?

“I’ve definitely got to get used to a new theme song, that’s for sure. Basically, once I stepped on Notre Dame’s campus – I was never a fan growing up, or anything – I really like what I saw. The academics are great, they give you a lot of alumni support. I was never really a fan until I stepped foot on campus, but I just fell in love with it. It’s a good, small Catholic school, just like Marian Central is, and I feel really comfortable with my decision.

2. Did your decision change the way you feel about “Hail to the Victors?” Are you going to be in the middle of a game, hear the Michigan anthem, and think, “Hmm?”

I don’t think so. Right now I’m all about Marian Central. That’s what I’m focused on. I’m focused on the upcoming season – getting us to the next level and just doing some work in the Suburban Catholic Conference and in the playoffs.

3. What do you think [Notre Dame head coach] Charlie Weis would say if he caught you singing, “Hail to the victors valiant, hail to the conquering heroes …?”

[Laughs] After a Marian Central win?  I’m not quite sure. I definitely think he’d be happy to hear us singing after a win, but …

4. So really, why Notre Dame?

It was the academics. It’s really the only school I could look at that had a high level of both academics and football. I just thought it was a great fit. I love the small, Catholic-school feel, I love the coaching staff – I just love it there. I’m real excited to get out there.

5. Did they give you any money under the table? Any recruiting violations I can tip the NCAA off to?

[Laughs] I can’t tell you about that stuff.

6. It suddenly came to me, why you’re heading to South Bend. Illinois kid from a Catholic school, plays defensive line … You’re trying to be Rudy, right?

I don’t know about that. I’m definitely hoping to get in there, make an impact as soon as possible. I don’t really want to wait until my last year, last game to get on the field, like Rudy.

7. Can we really take that movie seriously any more, now that [actor Sean Astin, who played Rudy] is famous for playing a hobbit in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy? Is there any way can use CGI, put someone else in there?

[Laughing] I’m not sure I’m the one to answer that question. I’ve only seen the movie once. But keep that quiet – seriously, Notre Dame fans get weird about that movie.

8. Is there still that “Notre Dame mystique?” Especially for a kid of your age – the program’s last national championship came before you were born, and the team is winless in its last nine bowl games!

There is. You can feel it as soon as you step on the campus. The Grotto, Touchdown Jesus, Notre Dame Stadium … you can just feel it in the air. With the new coaching staff they have in there now, I think everything is beginning to go back to the way it was. I really think Notre Dame is going to get back on top before long.

9. How was the stadium itself? Did you get a chance to step on the field, touch the famous “Play like a champion today” sign?

It’s real cool. When you go for a visit they bring you through everything, they take you to the Grotto, let you see Touchdown Jesus from the field, they take you to the locker room. And the locker room is awesome. I got to go down and touch the “Play like a champion today” sign, I got to walk down that stairway, see all the national championships on the boards, walk through the tunnel … it’s awesome.

You can feel that mystique in the air. I got to go to the Blue and Gold game, and the fans are crazy. Even as a recruit! The fans know who you are, they’re coming up asking for autographs and everything.

The Notre Dame fans are just amazing.

10. Considering the politically correct era we live in, is it time to update the “Play like a champion” sign to something a little more positive, like, “Whatever happens out there, you’re already a champion?”

[Laughing] No way. I love the tradition. You think about how long that sign has been around, it’s awesome. Everybody knows about that sign.

11. What about the Leprechaun – is it time for that to go?

Absolutely not! I like the Leprechaun. That guy knows how to pump up the crowd.

12. But it’s a short guy dressed in green! Stanford’s Tree might be more menacing.

I don’t know about that – you should see the crowd respond to that guy. The crowd goes absolutely wild. I think it’s a great tradition.

13. If Notre Dame wasn’t your school growing up, who was?

I really didn’t have a team growing up. I just watched the Big Ten as a whole.

14. Was there a favorite heading into the recruiting process?

Not really. I didn’t have a favorite going into the recruiting process, and I was real surprised when I went to Notre Dame and loved it, because that was my first visit. I went to a couple of other schools, Wisconsin, Iowa, but I really didn’t want to go anywhere else. Notre Dame was just that great of a fit. I knew I could end [the recruiting process] in March, so I did.

15. Time for some word association. South Bend?

Notre Dame.

16. Michigan?

Notre Dame.

17. I had to try and see how you felt. You know, Bryan Bulaga (Iowa) went to the Big Ten, Jon Budmayr could go to the Big Ten, all the Hartliebs went to the Big Ten – you’re one of the first Marian football players to buck that trend. Do you ever think, “maybe I should have gone there, too?”

That’s where I was thinking of going. Before I even looked at Notre Dame I thought, “I’m going to go to the Big Ten.” And it would be cool to play against those guys, but I’ll be able to see Bryan on TV, I’ll be able to see Jon on TV. At one point it was like, maybe we’ll all be able to go somewhere, but it could be nice to be spread out. Marian has a good tradition sending kids to Wisconsin, Iowa, but maybe, with me going to Notre Dame, we can get a new run going here. Because we have some good kids in our lower classes.

18. Signing day is still far away – is there any chance …

Nah.

19. I didn’t even get a chance to ask the question! Is there any chance you’ll end up in Ann Arbor?

I knew where you were headed! Absolutely not.

20. Please?

[Laughing] No. I can’t help you out there.

• Timothy Wolfmeyer is a sportswriter for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at twolfmeyer@nwnewsgroup.com