Matt Cashore ’94
For 35 years, Matt Cashore ’94 has captured the most joyous and heartbreaking moments on the field and everywhere in between. As University photographer, he’s shot nearly every home football game, but the home opener this year was different. As he joined the crew in the traffic helicopter, the flyover scene he’d seen from the field dozens of times unfolded below him.
“In that instant, ‘God, Country, Notre Dame’ wasn’t just a motto—it was alive below me. The faith that inspires, the service that sustains, the community that unites—all seen from a new vantage point. This is the importance and meaning people take away from a football gameday experience, far beyond the wins or losses.”
As we enter Advent, what higher view might God be inviting us to take of our lives that sees faith, service, and community not as separate scenes or disparate actions, but as one image brought into perfect focus?
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Lovely story and beautiful shot Matt!
Matt,
You’re picture does bring the pieces together (God,
Country, Notre Dame). The picture
and your comments have helped me to see the
pieces in my life and how they also come
together enabling me to understand a little
more clearly what God wants of us.
Thank you,
Vince Massa 63
exquisite! your photography is so good and made even richer by your commentary. what was your major as your words most skillfull poetry-theology serving conviction
Matt,
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story. I’m sure you realize that you have the best job in the world.
Hey Matt, you nailed it with that photo! And you describe so well in your words and photos why we keep coming back each Fall to ND Stadium, now for 55 years since graduation. Another of your iconic Golden Dome photos was our 50th anniversary gift to ourselves. Thanks for keeping us close to ND, even from afar!
As the parent of an athlete, I have appreciated your photography throughout Robbie’s time at Notre Dame. Thank you for sharing your passion.
Where can I find a copy of that picture?
Gary Gyss
Hi Gary — you can find this photo here: https://photos.nd.edu/image/I0000iDQBo_j_Tr4
Awesome shot! Beautiful and heartfelt words.
Thank you for sharing this moment I time. And yes it’s perfect….God , Country, Notre Dame!
Matt,
I have been a fan of your photography for your entire career. A huge part of my life (90 grad). It was great to see your sacred story. Keep up the great work.
Andy
Wow. Thank you Matt for all your incredible photographic art. ND’72🍀
Thank you. Matt, for your story and your many years of service to Our Lady of the Lake!
Thanks, Matt. That was amazing.
Matt
Said so incredibly beautiful!
God is so so so Good at reminding us of his goodness!
Thank you for reminding me today!
Keep the faith
Fight the fight
This one is excellent!
Thankyou Matt for your breathtaking perspective from on high! Faith, service and community superimposed like your perfect photo – an inspiring analogy.
Matt,
Thank you. Your image above the stadium brought me to tears. I hope you will be sharing this as a print that we all may be able to keep and cherish.
God bless you in all that you do.
Happy Advent and Christmas.
Your photos have delighted us for decades. What a lovely reminder to see life not just as looking through a lens , but looking through the eyes of faith.
Thank you, Matt! What a spectacular picture of a perspective that we rarely, if ever, appreciate!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photo. It is amazing.
Matt, thank you for your lovely Sacred Story. I have always enjoyed your wonderful photographs and have followed your career. That’s because I am a classmate of your Mom’s at Saint Mary’s. Of course I have known your Dad all those years as well. We had a wonderful conversation this June at breakfast at the Saint Mary’s reunion.
He absolutely loved being a librarian and getting to know so many priests and brothers.
I was shocked to learn your Dad had died. What a beautiful family you have, and I know you all support each other and will carry on your Dad’s legacy of love and caring and devotion.
Thank you for decades of exquisite photos and this special perspective on advent.
This photo is so amazing! I’m wondering if the band always does that formation and I’ve never noticed. How blessed you are, Matt, to get to take these beautiful photos. Merry Christmas 🎄
Sir, you are a story teller, in words and images. My daughter, a 2019 grad lived in Lyons Hall and in every one of our visits to campus, I was in awe of the beauty in place and people. As a photographer, I admire the work that you and your team does, capturing the beauty and wonder that God has given us.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!
What a spectacular photo! I love it! You are so talented. Do you sell your Notre Dame photos? I would be very interested in purchasing some of your lovely artwork.
BTW….is Addie Cashore from SMC your Mother? If so , please give her my best and convey my condolences to her.
Merry Christmas!
Bibbie Withers
SMC ’69
After the disappointment of ND not making the football playoffs and understand able no bowl game, your divinely inspired photo put everything into perspective. GOD, Country, and Notre Dame!
Thank you, Matt Cashore
Thank you for your talent and dedication to Notre Dame for so many years.
I would like to make a suggestion:
Since you captured the moment of who WE ARE as Notre Dame Family-
WHY NOT MAKE A SWEATSHIRT AND T- SHIRT with the image you captured from the sky.
Your work is inspiring, Matt! Thank you for capturing the very best of Notre Dame!
Matt, Goosebumps! Wow, what a story and perspective! Thanks for sharing and all your work. Have a great Christmas and holiday season.
Wow what a beautiful shot. Congratulations on the experience of flying over the stadium.
Thank you for your beautiful pictures and story, I am amazed . Merry Christmas.
Thank you Matt for sharing this stunning photo from above. I’ve admired your work for years, so it’s nice to see and hear you today in person. Merry Christmas!
Matt,
You continue to inspire, amaze, and capture the essence of Notre Dame!
Our son was blessed to participate in a flyover a couple of years ago (ND/BC) and you captured their EA-18s with the Dome in the foreground. It is a photo that we cherish as much as the moments you share with us!
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Matt! That is another tremendous photo. I have countless photos you have taken over the years on my computer and “set as background.” What you have accomplished over the years is a vocation that inspires the Notre Dame family in ways that you may not realize. May Our Lady continue to look after you, and may “God, Country and Notre Dame” forever be on our lips and in our hearts. Merry Christmas!
Ed Smith, 1970 AB, 1973 JD
Absolutely perfect and breathtaking!! God “steadied” those shots! 🙏🏻💚☘️🇺🇸
<Matt that is an amazing story and even more amazing picture! The whole sacred story was inspiring. Notre Dame, you should give that picture to every student in such a format that they can make it into an ornament themselves. Advent Blessings and Merry Christmas!
Matt,
I have always admired your work. This is a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.
Rick Crowley, 1979 BBA, Alumni Hall
Hi Matt,
As a former Notre Dame photographer from the class of ‘76, I had some similar experiences as you.
Coming in as a freshman, I was amazed that I actually got to go down on the field. Having photographic talents, but limited athletic talents, I realized I had to be ready to take great pictures of athletic moments in time, but also be ready to run for my life with football players twice my size coming from every direction on plays out of bounds. I survived with only one incident, when players came our way, and the photographers in front of me reacted quicker than I, and I ended up with a chipped tooth from a camera that smacked me in the face.
I got to take pictures of games with Ara and Digger who took the time to inspire all students, not just the athletes. Pictures of Eric Penick, Tom Clements, Joe Montana, Adrian Dantley, the UCLA upset, and in my senior year, one of my classmates encouraged me to be ready for an unknown backup player to come off the bench at the end of the game named Rudy.
You have done a much better job than I have ever done, and I appreciate the preparation and forethought and time that goes into getting the perfect photos. I know sometimes the results surprise yourself once you see them after the fact. I didn’t know until I was back in the darkroom in the days before digital photography.
Thanks for your photos that take me back in time to one of the most special places on earth. Notre Dame du Lac.
Ed Brower ND’76
My thoughts this morning went to the memory of Father Hesburgh–who loved all that was Notre Dame–
“God, Country and Notre Dame” was his motto and the way he lived his life for all those who were and are still Notre Dame!
Katherine Mroz RSM ’74
Wonderful! Awesome!
Thank you for sharing your story and pictures.
Matt – I have admired your photography since 2018 when our daughter started at ND. I saw you with your camera in the woods around the lakes one morning, but didn’t realize it was you until watching this. I wish I’d would have started a conversation to thank you. Your work helps strengthen our connection to ND well beyond our daughter’s years there. Merry Christmas to you and your family and friends.
You’re the best, Matt.