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Pray Like a Champion Today

Sacred Stories from the Sidelines of Notre Dame Football

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Pub Date Aug 22 2025 | Archive Date Not set

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Description

Pray Like a Champion Today takes you inside the heart of Notre Dame football—where faith, tradition, and teamwork collide. Before every game, as the Fighting Irish take a knee shoulder to shoulder praying the Our Father, their chaplain, Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, leads them in a rallying cry: “Our Lady, Queen of Victory!” The thunderous response—“Pray for us!”—echoes through Notre Dame Stadium, setting the tone for more than just the game.

Now, Fr. Nate invites you beyond the sidelines for an exclusive look at the faith-filled moments that make Notre Dame football truly special. With vivid storytelling, full-color photos, and links to highlight videos, he shares behind-the-scenes experiences that have deepened his faith—and offers inspiration for you to grow as a Christian too.

As both a football chaplain and a professor, Fr. Nate does far more than pray before kickoff—he supports the players, coaches, and staff in their personal and spiritual journeys. Whether he’s continuing the century-old tradition of handing out holy medals, praying with injured athletes, or officiating weddings for former players, he embodies what it means to be a champion of faith.

Through these pages, you’ll:

  • Join the players’ walk to the stadium, where a roaring crowd and the Notre Dame band create an electrifying atmosphere.
  • Step inside practices and the training facility, where the team embraces the motto: “Choose hard” and pursues “team glory.”
  • Discover how faith is embedded in every aspect of the program, from game-day rituals to personal moments of reflection.

For die-hard Irish fans and casual football followers alike, this book is more than a sports story—it’s an invitation to see how God moves in unexpected places. Whether on the field or in our personal lives, we’re all called to pray, persevere, and play like champions today.

Pray Like a Champion Today takes you inside the heart of Notre Dame football—where faith, tradition, and teamwork collide. Before every game, as the Fighting Irish take a knee shoulder to shoulder...


Advance Praise

“In Pray Like a Champion Today, Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, captures something special—a unique exploration of the Notre Dame spirit. From the perspective of the sidelines, he connects the dots between football, family, and faith and illustrates the transformative power Our Lady’s University has on students, alumni, and fans alike.”
Dolly Duffy
Executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association

“St. Paul himself, in the Bible, used sports as an analogy for the most sublime goal of all: reaching heaven. Fr. Nate is in good company as he colorfully and convincingly displays the deep spirituality of Notre Dame football, showing how there is a religious, transcendent side to this celebrated sport and to America’s favorite football team. This is a touchdown!”
Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of New York

“In Pray Like a Champion Today, Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, captures something special—a unique exploration of the Notre Dame spirit. From the perspective of the sidelines, he connects the dots between...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781646804252
PRICE $18.42 (USD)
PAGES 160

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