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Home , Ara Parseghian, Art Best, Cartier Field, Chuck Fairbanks, Dan Devine, Darrell Royal

NOTRE DAME CHAMPIONSHIPS NATIONAL

The late led Notre Dame to its tenth consensus national championship in 1977. National Championships The national championship team in generally is considered to be the Year Team Record Coach Selector top-rated squad in the final rankings issued each year by the poll of sportswriters and Ohio State 10-0-1 FACT, NCF (tie), Poling broadcasters (Associated Press) and the poll of coaches (United Press International (tie), Sag. through 1990, USA Today/CNN since 1991-1996, USA Today/ESPN since 1997). Since the AP began certifying the winner of its national crown in 1936, Notre Dame 1977 Notre Dame 11-1 Dan Devine All but Berry, FACT (tie), has won more national championships than any other team in the country. The Irish FR (tie) have won eight titles (1943-46-47-49-66-73-77-88) — with Oklahoma second on the list Alabama 11-1 Paul “Bear” Bryant FR (tie) with seven. Arkansas 11-1 FACT (tie) The coaches’ poll has voted a national champion since 1950. Notre Dame has won Texas 11-1 Berry, FACT (tie) three UPI titles (1966-77-88) during that period. Only USC and Oklahoma with five each have won more. The UPI poll was taken following the of the regular season each 1988 Notre Dame 12-0 Lou Holtz All but Berry, Sag. year until the 1974 season when the coaches first waited until the bowl games were con- Miami (Fla). 11-1 Berry, Sag. ducted to issue their final rankings. The Football Writers Association of America has presented the Award Here are the other 10 seasons Notre Dame received some mention: since 1954, with Notre Dame earning the trophy in 1966, ’73, ’77 and ’88. The National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame has presented the MacArthur Bowl to its nation- al champion since 1959. Notre Dame has won it on five occasions — 1964, ’66 (tie with 1919 Harvard 9-0-1 Bob Fisher Unanimous State), ’73, ’77 and ’88. Notre Dame 9-0 Davis (tie), NCF (tie) A variety of other rating systems have been recognized over the years in attempting to Illinois 6-1 Bob Zuppke Davis (tie), FR (tie), Boand determine the top team in college football each season. Texas A&M 10-0 D.X. Bible NCF (tie) Notre Dame generally is considered to have earned 11 consensus national titles (1924- 1920 California 9-0 Andy Smith Helms, FR, Houl.,NCF 29-30-43-46-47-49-66-73-77-88). But there have been 19 seasons in which Notre Dame has qualified as a national champion from at least one legitimate poll, with all teams Notre Dame 9-0 Knute Rockne Davis (tie) receiving national championship mention and their individual selectors noted. Princeton 6-0-1 Bill Roper Davis (tie), Boand (tie) Here are Notre Dame’s 11 consensus seasons: Harvard 8-0-1 Robert Fisher Boand (tie) 1927 Illinois 7-0-1 Bob Zuppke DS, Davis, Helms, NCF Year Team Record Coach Selector Yale 7-1 T.A.D. Jones FR 1924 Notre Dame 10-0 Knute Rockne Bill, DS, Helms, Boand, Notre Dame 7-1-1 Knute Rockne Houl. FR, Houl, NCF, Poling Georgia 9-1 George Woodruff Boand, Poling Pennsylvania 9-1-1 Lou Young Davis 1938 Tennessee 11-0 Bob Neyland Bill, Dunkel, LS, Boand, 1929 Notre Dame 9-0 Knute Rockne Bill, DS, Dunkel, Boand, Houl., FR, Poling, Sag. Helms, FR, NCF, Poling TCU 11-0 Dutch Meyer AP,WS, Helms, NCF 9-1 Davis Notre Dame 8-1 DS USC 10-2 Howard Jones Houlgate 1953 Notre Dame 9-0-1 All but AP, UP, FRI, INS, 1930 Notre Dame 10-0 Knute Rockne All but FR, tie for Davis Berry Alabama 10-0 Davis (tie), FR Maryland 10-1 AP, UPI, INS 1943 Notre Dame 9-1 Frank Leahy Unanimous Oklahoma 9-1-1 FR, Berry 1946 Notre Dame 8-0-1 Frank Leahy AP, Berry, Bill, Dunkel, 1964 Alabama 10-1 AP, UPI, LS, Berry LS, Devold, NCF, Helms Arkansas 11-0 Bill, FWAA, Helms, FR, (tie), Boand (tie), NCF, Poling Poling(tie) Notre Dame 9-1 NFFHF, Devold, FN, Sag. Army 9-0-1 Red Blaik Houlgate, FR, Boand (tie), Michigan 9-1 Dunkel Helms (tie), Poling (tie) 1967 USC 10-1 John McKay All but Dunkel, LS, Poling Georgia 11-0 Wally ButtsWS Notre Dame 8-2 Ara Parseghian Dunkel 1947 Notre Dame 9-0 Frank Leahy AP, WS, Helms (tie) Tennessee 9-2 LS Michigan 10-0 Berry, Bill, Dunkel, LS, Oklahoma 10-1 Poling Houlgate, Helms (tie), 1970 Nebraska 11-0-1 AP, Bill, FWAA, Dunkel, Boand, FR, Devold, NCF, Helms, FR, Devold, FN, Poling FACT (tie), NCF 1949 Notre Dame 10-0 Frank Leahy All but FR, Bill Texas 10-1 Berry, UPI, LS, NFFHF Oklahoma 11-0 Bud Wilkinson FR, Bill (tie), FACT (tie) 1966 Notre Dame 9-0-1 Ara Parseghian AP, UPI, FWAA,Poling Ohio State 9-1 Woody Hayes NFFHF (tie) (tie), Dunkel, LS, Devold, Notre Dame 10-1 Ara Parseghian FACT (tie), Matthews, Sag. FN, Matthews, Bill, NCF, State 11-0 Pol Sag., NFFHF (tie), Helms (tie) 1989 Miami (Fla.) 11-1 Dennis Erickson All but Bill, Berry, FACT Alabama 11-0 Paul “Bear” Bryant Berry (tie), Sag. Michigan State 9-0-1 FR, Helms (tie), NFFHF Notre Dame 12-1 Lou Hotlz Berry, FACT (tie), Sag. (tie), Poling (tie) Florida State 10-2 Bill 1973 Notre Dame 11-0 Ara Parseghian AP, FWAA, NFFHF, 1993 Florida State 12-1 Bobby Bowden All but NCF, Matthews Helms, FN, NCF (tie) Auburn 11-0 NCF (tie) Alabama 10-1 Bear Bryant UPI, Berry Nebraska 11-1 NCF (tie) Oklahoma 10-0-1 Bill, Dunkel, FR, Devold Notre Dame 11-1 Lou Holtz Matthews, NCF (tie) Michigan 10-0-1 Glenn “Bo’ NCF (tie), Poling (tie) Schembechler

300 2004 Notre Dame Football Nowhere But Notre Dame FWAA Football Writers Association of America (1954-current); the No. 1 team of the RATING SYSTEMS year is determined by a five-man panel representing the nation’s football writ- ers. The national championship team receives the Grantland Rice Award. ALD Alderson System (1994-current); a mathematical rating system based strictly on a point value system reflecting competition as well as won-lost record. INS International News Service (1952-57); a poll conducted for six years by mem- Developed by Bob Alderson of Muldrow, Okla. bers of the International News Service (INS) before merger with United Press in 1958. AP Associated Press (1936-current); the first major nationwide poll for ranking college football teams is voted on by sportswriters and broadcasters. It is prob- Helms First Interstate Bank Athletic Foundation (1883-1982); originally known by ably the most well-known and widely circulated among all of history’s polls. this name from 1936-69 and established by the founding sponsor, Paul J. Helms, a Los Angeles sportsman and philanthropist. After Helms’ death in Berry Berryman System (1990-present); a mathematically based power rating system 1957, United Savings and Loan Association became its benefactor during based on a quality point rating formula developed by Carl P. Berryman of 1970-72. A merger of United Savings and Citizen Savings was completed in Washington, D.C. Predated national champions from 1940-1989. 1973, and the Athletic Foundation became known as Citizen Savings Athletic Bill Billingsley Report (1970-current); a mathematically based power rating system Foundation. In 1982, First Interstate Bank assumed responsibility for its final developed by Richard Billingsley of Nashville, Tenn. His work is published rankings. In 1941, Bill Schroeder, managing editor of the Helms Athletic annually as the Billingsley Report through his own company, the College Foundation retroactively selected the national football champions for the Football Research Center. Predated national champions from 1869-1970. period beginning in 1883 (the first year of a scoring system) through 1941. Boand Boand System (1930-1960): known as the Azzi Ratem System developed by Thereafter, Schroeder, who died in 1988, then chose, with the assistance of William Boand of Tucson, Ariz. He moved to in 1932. Appeared in the Hall board, the annual national champion after the bowl games. many newspapers as well as Illustrated Football Annual (1932-42) and weekly Houl. Houlgate System (1927-58); a mathematical rating system developed by Deke in Football News (1942-44, 1951-60). Predated national champions from 1919- Houlgate of Los Angeles, Calif. His ratings were syndicated in newspapers and 1929. published in Illustrated Football and Football Thesaurus (1946-58). Davis Parke H. Davis Ratings (1933); a noted college football historian, Parke H. LS Litkenhous System (1934-1976); a ‘‘difference-by-score’’ method syndicated Davis, went back and named the championship teams from the 1869 through by Fred Litkenhous and his brother Edward. the 1932 season. He also named a national champion at the conclusion of the 1933 season. Interestingly, the years 1869-75 were identified by Davis as the Matthews Matthews Grid Ratings (1966-present); a mathematical rating system devel- Pioneer Period; the years 1876-93 were called the period of American oped by college mathematics professor Herman Matthews of Middlesboro, Ky. Intercollegiate Football Association, and the years 1894-1933 were referred to Has appeared in newsapapers and The Football News. as the Period of Rules Committees and Conferences. NCF National Championship Foundation (1869-present); established by Mike Riter of Germantown, N.Y. Issues an annual report. Predated national champions DeVold DeVold System (1939-current); a mathematical rating system developed by Harry DeVold from Minneapolis, a former football player at Cornell. He even- from 1869-1979. tually settled in the area and worked in the real estate business. The NYT New York Times (1979-current); a mathematical rating system introduced by ratings have appeared in The Football News since 1962. Predated national the newspaper. champions from 1939-1944. NFFHF National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame (1959-current); the National DS Dickinson System (1924-40); a mathematical point system devised by Frank Football Foundation and Hall of Fame named its first national champion in Dickinson, a professor of economics at the University of Illinois. Dickinson 1959. Headquartered in Larchmont, N.Y., the present National Football divided teams into two categories, those that had a higher than .500 winning Foundation was established in 1954 to promote amateur athletics in America. percentage and those below. Dickinson mentioned his method in class one day The national champion was awarded the MacArthur Bowl from 1959-90. In and the Daily Illini sports editor featured a story which came to the attention 1991 and 1992, the NFF/HOF joined United Press International to award the of Chicago clothing manufacturer Jack Rissman, who decided he would like to MacArthur Bowl, and in 1993 the NFF/HOF joined with USA Today to present use Dickinson’s ratings to select the top team in the Big Ten each year so that the Sears MacArthur Bowl. he could present a trophy to the winner. When Notre Dame coach Knute Poling (1924-84); a mathematical rating system for college football Rockne heard about this, he invited both the professor and the clothing manu- teams developed by Richard Poling from Mansfield, Ohio, a former football facturer to lunch at South Bend and said, “Why don’t you make it a national player at Ohio Wesleyan. Poling’s football ratings were published annually in trophy that Notre Dame will have a chance to win?” Never one to miss out on the Football Review Supplement and in various newspapers. Predated nation- a good thing, Rockne also persuaded Dickinson and Rissman to predate the al champions from 1924-34. whole thing a couple of years so that the 1924 Irish — the Four Horsemen Sag Sagarin Ratings (1978-current); a mathematical rating system developed by team — could be the first official, system-rated national champion. of Bloomington, Ind., a 1970 MIT mathematics graduate. Runs The annual Dickinson ratings were emblematic of the national championship annually in USA Today. Predated national champions in 1938, 1956-77. and the basis for awarding the Rissman Trophy and the Knute K. Rockne SI (1981-present); voted on annually by a committee of writers Intercollegiate Memorial Trophy. Notre Dame gained permanent possession of representing various regions of the country for this nationally circulated the Rissman Trophy after its third victory in 1930. Minnesota retired the magazine. Rockne Trophy after winning it for a third time in 1940. Subsequently, the TSN The Sporting News (1975-current); chosen by editorial staff. Associated Press annual national champions were awarded the Williams USA USA Today/ESPN (1982-current); introduced a weekly poll of sportswriters in Trophy and the Rev. J. Hugh O’Donnell Trophy. In 1947, Notre Dame retired 1982 and ranked the top 25 teams in the nation with a point system. The poll the Williams Trophy (named after Henry A. Williams, Minnesota coach, and results are featured in USA Today, a national newspaper, and ESPN, a national sponsored by the M Club of Minnesota). In 1956, Oklahoma retired the cable television network. Took over as the coaches’ poll in 1991. USA Today O’Donnell Trophy (named for Notre Dame’s president and sponsored by Notre also formed a coalition with the National Football Foundation in 1993 to Dame alumni). Beginning with the 1957 season, the award was known as the named the MacArthur Bowl national champion. Poll was co-sponsored by the AP Trophy, and since 1983 the award has been known as the Paul “Bear” Cable News Network, another national cable television network, through Bryant Trophy. 1996. Dunkel Dunkel System (1929-current); a power index rating system devised by Dick UPI United Press International (1950-96); in 1950, the United Press news service Dunkel, Sr. (1929-71); from 1972 by Dick Dunkel Jr. began its full poll of football coaches (replaced as coaches’ poll after 1990 sea- FACT FACT (1968-current); a computerized mathematical ranking system developed son). When the United Press merged with the International News Service in by David Rothman of Hawthorne, Calif. FACT is the Foundation for the 1958, it became known as United Press International. The weekly UPI rank- Analysis of Competitions and Tournaments and began selecting a national ings were featured in newspapers, radio and television nationwide. UPI and champion in 1968. the National Football Foundation formed a coalition for 1991 and 1992 to FN Football News (1958-current); weekly poll of its staff writers has named a name the MacArthur Bowl national champion. national champion since 1958. WS Williamson System (1932-63); system of syndicated power ratings chosen by FR College Football Researchers Association (1919-current); founded by Anthony Paul Williamson of New Orleans, a geologist and member of the Cusher of Reeder, N.D., and Robert Kirlin of Spokane, Wash. Announced its committee. champion in its monthly bulletin and No. 1 team determined by top-10 vote of Sources: Robert A. Rosiek, Dearborn Heights, Mich.; The National Championship membership on a point system. Predated national champions from 1919-1981. Foundation, Germantown, N.Y.

Nowhere But Notre Dame 301 2004 Notre Dame Football Four Horsemen Help 1924 — 10-0-0 Notre Dame and Knute • On the gridiron fields of football fame, Ride the four great horsemen of Notre Dame, From Princeton East to Nebraska West Rockne Enjoy Ride They have charged through the lines of the country’s best “They shall not pass,” the Army cried, To First National But nothing could stop the horsemen’s ride On to victory and immortal fame Still rise the four great horsemen of Notre Dame. Championship —Pittsburgh Gazette Times

• “There’s a kick in Notre The 1924 Notre Dame football team game, played indispensible roles, too. Dame; not alone in Notre Dame will always be known best for New Each week in 1924, seventh-year football, but in every effort, York Herald Tribune sportswriter Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne every endeavor, every activity Grantland Rice’s account of the Notre started his second stringers, his Shock that its men undertake. It is a Dame vs. Army game played October Troops. training camp for more than 18 at the Polo Grounds in New York: When Rockne felt his Shock Troops famous backfields, mighty “Outlined against a blue-gray had done their job, he brought in the captains, invincible October sky, the Four Horsemen rode Four Horsemen and the Seven Mules, Horsemen. There's where again. a group so good “that the Holy Ghost the kick is — in the knowl- “In dramatic lore they are known as couldn’t have broken into that line- edge that America’s famine, pestilence, destruction, and up,” said Harry O’Boyle, a kicker and acclaimed champions of the gridiron death. These are only aliases. Their reserve halfback on the Shock Troops. are the representatives of an ideal that works, and will work for all real names are Stuhldreher, Miller, Center Adam Walsh was the heart of time to come, like a strong leaven in our national soul — the ideal of manli- Crowley, and Layden. They formed the the Seven Mules, a group that also ness, sportmanship, chivalry, of friendly rivalry and inspiring competition.” crest of the South Bend cyclone before included ends and —Charles Phillips which another fighting Army team Chuck Collins, tackles Rip Miller and was swept over the precipice at the , and guards and • “Sing a song of Notre Dame, Polo Grounds this afternoon as 55,000 John Wiebel. Walsh characterized the Shout their praises wide. spectators peered down on the bewil- win over Army with a late intercep- Tell of Crowley’s sturdy might, dering panorama spread out on the tion—which he made with two broken Sing of Layden’s stride. green plain below.” hands. Spread the news , full- The combination of the Shock of Miller’s speed, back Elmer Layden, and halfbacks Jim Troops, the Seven Mules, and the Four Speak of Walsh’s game, Crowley and Don Miller were the cor- Horsemen worked 10 times in 10 tries Fighters of the bulldog breed, nerstone of a team considered one of in 1924 against a national schedule Here’s to Notre Dame.” the best in college football history. that took the Irish to New York, — Ford C. Frick The Fighting Irish won the Army Princeton, N.J., Madison, Wis., Soldier game 13-7, as the Four Horsemen Field in Chicago, and Pittsburgh dur- played magnificently. Miller rushed for ing the regular season while giving 148 yards, Crowley for 102 and Layden them only four home games. In addi- legendary coach and stand in the fourth quarter to come up for 60, while Stuhldreher orchestrated tion, at the end of the season, Rockne quarterback . Rockne was with the 17-point win. the offense masterfully from the quar- was able to convince the University concerned his players might not be “That would always be my favorite terback position. It was the third vic- administration to permit the football ready physically for the heat of the team,” Rockne once said. “I think I tory of the season for the Irish, it came team to travel to Californa to play West Coast, so he arranged for a slow, sensed that the backfield was a prod- against a foe considered the toughest Stanford in the Rose Bowl, where the cross-country train trip that included uct of destiny. At times they caused me on the schedule, and it spurred the Irish clinched the Helms Athletic stops in Louisiana, Texas and Arizona a certain amount of pain and exasper- Irish on to a perfect 10-0 season and Foundation’s national championship so players would have time to adjust to ation, but mainly they brought me the school’s first recognized national with a 27-10 victory. warmer, more demanding weather. great joy.” championship. In the Rose Bowl—Notre Dame’s It worked, as Elmer Layden scored — Willie Shearer Rice’s account led to near-mythic only bowl appearance until the team Notre Dame’s first touchdown on a status for the Irish backfield, but the began making regular bowl trips with three-yard run and returned intercep- Seven Mules, who did the blocking, the 1970 Cotton Bowl— the Irish were tions of Nevers’ passes 78 and 70 yards and the Shock Troops, who were per- faced with stopping an undefeated, for two more touchdowns. The Irish haps the best second string in the once-tied Stanford team that included took advantage of eight Stanford turnovers and made a critical goal-line

302 2004 Notre Dame Football Nowhere But Notre Dame as bad as ever, but the team needed Irish Follow Lead him. The Notre Dame-USC tradition was already a great one, and the first half foretold the kind of game every- of Elder and Savoldi one expected, with the teams battling to a 6-6 tie. In the locker room, the To Undefeated Fighting Irish were in desperate need of one of Rock’s famous speeches, but he was nowhere to be found. So for- 1929 Season mer Irish Paul Castner stepped up to do what he could, and in If the Great Depression wasn’t rea- the middle of his oration, who should son enough for Notre Dame football two Irish managers wheel into the partisans to be a little down, then the room but Rockne himself. fact the Irish were without a home for He was in great pain and had the 1929 season was surely undergone quite a strain — not enough to bring some only from making the trip to Paul Castner anxiety into the minds of Chicago but also from watching both the team and its fol- his team struggle in the first half. the players dashed out for the opening lowers. Plans were underway He gave an impassioned speech kickoff. at Notre Dame for a new stadium with what strength he had, during The first quarter was scoreless, but to be built, and 1929 was the transi- which a blood clot in one leg broke in the second period Army drove deep tion year in which the Irish had no loose, passed through his heart and into Irish territory. When Red Cagle home. settled safely in the other leg. His lofted a pass for his end, Carl That didn’t keep Notre Dame from speech worked, as the Irish escaped Carlmark, it looked like a certain score winning, however, something the Chicago with a 13-12 win and an for the Cadets. But Notre Dame’s Jack team had accomplished only five times unblemished 7-0 record. Elder came out of nowhere to snatch in nine tries in 1928. Knute Rockne The Irish still had traditional foes the ball away. He took it 93 yards for had promised to return Notre Dame Northwestern and Army left. the game’s only touchdown. The extra football in 1929 to what had become Northwestern fell relatively easy, as point was added to make it 7-0 Irish, its customary level of excellence, the Irish posted a win on the Wildcats’ and that’s the way it stayed. homefield advantage or not. He would home field. But the November 30 Notre Dame was 9-0 and the season not be stopped from fulfilling that matchup with Army at Yankee was over. The team had survived with- promise. Stadium proved to be a real battle. out a home, Rockne had survived his The closest the Irish came to having The game was played on turf illness and Notre Dame had its second a home game in 1929 were three that was frozen solid, and nei- national championship. games contested at in ther team was able to accom- Chicago. The Irish defeated Wisconsin plish anything. It was eight —Willie Shearer there, 19-0, October 19, Drake, 19-7, degrees at gametime and a bit- November 9, and USC in the ing wind cut across the field as most important game of the year, 13-12, before 112, 912 fans on November 16. The lack of home turf was not the accompany the team on its trip to 1929 — 9-0-0 only major difficulty of the 1929 sea- Baltimore to face Navy. Line coach son for Notre Dame. The team’s leg- took over for Rockne that endary coach was in battle with day, as the Irish won 14-7. But back in • “Yeah, fair, just fair.” phlebitis, which doctors said stood a South Bend, doctor’s orders couldn’t — Knute Rockne on the prospects of his 1929 team 50-50 chance of taking Rockne’s life if keep Rock away from practice at he tried to coach that season. But , where he set up his com- • “Keep on going, Joe! Don’t stop when you are tackled! Keep those legs coach the team he did, through one mand post in his car and used a loud- going! Don’t stop even when you are on the ground with half of the other dramatic victory after another, either speaker to direct activities. team on top of you. Keep on going until you can’t wiggle a toe! Don't stop till by telephone from a hospital bed or By the time the USC contest rolled the referee takes the ball from you. Keep on going, keep on going!” from a wheelchair on the sidelines. around, the Irish were 6-0, and recog- — Assistant Coach to Joe Savoldi, Rockne’s leg problems began during nized as one of the top teams in the who scored two of three touchdowns against Wisconsin the following week and the announce- nation. Running back Joe Savoldi had ment was made that he would not earned acclaim in the • “Notre Dame football is, apparently, too much in demand to allow any Wisconsin game with appreciable let-up in the matter of booking straight high-grade attractions dazzling touchdown through the season. Rockne tries hard to say no to the various schedule-mak- runs of 71 and 40 ers who want Notre Dame on their cards, but they all want the Irish so yards, and he provided intensely that it’s hard to turn ’em down. Besides, Rock’s natural tendency is the only score of the to ‘Take em all on!’” game in Notre Dame’s — John W. Stahr in his “Lookin' On” column 7-0 win at Carnegie Tech October 26. When the Irish faced USC at Soldier Field November 16, Rockne’s status was Jack Elder

Nowhere But Notre Dame 303 2004 Notre Dame Football loose for three touchdowns on runs of However, in practice, Rock had Another National 45, 52 and 65 yards. O’Connor and Hanley trade jerseys, The Notre Dame winning streak and not a single soul suspected any- Championship stood at 15 games over two seasons, thing unusual. and it quickly grew to 17 as the Irish When the game got underway, Notre sprinted past Drake and Dame had one of the speediest full- Finds A Home Northwestern. All that remained backs the Trojan defense had ever between Notre Dame and another seen. O’Connor scored two touch- In national title were games against downs, including one on an 80-yard Army and USC. dash, and the Irish dominated the Brand new stadium, same old third week of the season, Notre Dame On a November 29 afternoon that favored home team to the tune of 27- result— another national champi- played its third straight home game, saw rain and sleet turn Soldier Field 0. onship for the Notre Dame football defeating Carnegie Tech, 21-6, to cap into a swamp, the Cadets and the Irish It was a fitting script to what turned team. off a successful first homestand. squared off, and it appeared that nei- out to be Rockne’s final game as the The 1930 football season marked the Preseason prognosticators across the ther team was going to budge. Near Notre Dame head football coach. The opening of Notre Dame Stadium, just country considered the 1930 Notre the end of the game, however, team won its second consecutive another in the long line of Knute Dame team to be Rockne’s strongest Schwartz broke loose for a 54-yard national championship, and the fol- Rockne masterpieces, only this was a yet. Rockne had said as much himself scoring run. The all-important extra lowing winter Rockne died in a plane football stadium instead of a team. prior to the start of the season, and he point gave the Irish a 7-0 lead. Army crash in . With typical meticulosity, he had had good reason for such high expec- scored quickly thereafter, though, on a — Willie Shearer supervised every minute detail of the tations. , Marchy blocked punt, and it appeared that construction of the stadium. Schwartz, Marty Brill, and Jumpin’ things would be knotted up. But Notre In addition, Rockne had for the first Joe Savoldi made up a latter day ver- Dame blocked the extra point, and time a full-time equipment manager, a sion of the Four Horsemen in the that’s the way it ended. trainer, a doctor who traveled with the backfield, and all of them earned All- To finish off the season, Rockne used team, a business manager, several sec- America status on one team or anoth- all his psychological expertise in a ploy retaries, a staff to handle the complex er for that season. The Fighting Irish that helped the Irish get ready for sale and distribution of tickets. On top were not only stocked with an explo- USC. Injuries during the season left of all that, Rockne was healthy again. sive collection of running backs, but the team with only one healthy full- The doctors at the Mayo Clinic had the team also sported a tremendous back, Dan Hanley. So Rock decided to given him a thorough going-over from crew of linemen. Center , turn Bucky O’Connor, a second-team head to foot during the offseason and guards Nordy Hoffman and Brent halfback, into a first-string fullback. had given him a clean bill of health. Metzger, tackles Joe Kurth and Al All the Rock had to do was coach, Culver, and end Tom Conley all made and what a job he did. All-America teams either that season 1930 — 10-0-0 On October 4, 1920, the Fighting or the following one. Irish opened their season in the The Irish left home three times in imposing new stadium — an impres- the fourth through eighth weeks of • “I asked them, before the game, to do the best they could and they sive ampitheatre of dull red brick the season but continued to roll. Notre played perfectly. A coach can’t ask more than that.” trimmed with limestone. Rockne had Dame traveled to Pitt and beat the — Knute Rockne on his team’s performance against USC the original sod from Cartier Field Panthers, 35-19. A 27-0 romp over transplanted just for good measure. Indiana followed, before the Irish visit- The Irish christened the good earth ed a 60-20 walloping on the Quakers of • “The 1930 backfield has plenty of the guile and also the heft and the with a 20-14 win over Southern Pennsylvania. Marty Brill, who had bone and sinew to smash on when guile won’t do. When they have to, those Methodist. The stadium was officially transferred to Notre Dame from boys simply tramp them down.” dedicated the following week, as Notre Pennsylvania, played the greatest — Knute Rockne Dame trounced Navy, 26-2. In the game of his career that day, breaking

304 2004 Notre Dame Football Nowhere But Notre Dame Irish March to 9-1 Mark and Fourth Consensus National Championship Behind Heisman Winner and Frank Leahy’s T-Formation

At the beginning of the 1943 season that year, the Irish rolled to a 50-0 many experts called Notre Dame’s victory over Wisconsin and a 47-0 schedule its most difficult in school bashing of Illinois following the history. The Irish faced seven teams win over Michigan, to extend their in the greatest drive that season that were ranked among record to 5-0. I’ve ever seen. Nobody is to blame the nation’s top 13 teams in the final Those wins were followed by a colos- for that last Great Lakes touch- Associated Press Poll. sal matchup between top-ranked down. It was just a fine play, splen- Frank Leahy’s squad only had two Notre Dame and third-ranked Navy in didly executed.” returning starters from the ’42 squad . The Irish cruised to a 33-6 Despite the season-ending loss, that finished 7-2-2. To make matters win but lost their quarterback. The Notre Dame picked up several awards worse, seven of the 10 games in ’43 Marine Corps called Bertelli into serv- that would become commonplace for were on the road. ice with four games left in the season. the school. The Irish were crowned The Irish were still in the early stages Leahy called on a sophomore to be national champions by the Associated of adjusting to the T-formation, which Bertelli’s replacement in the following Press for the first time ever and Leahy installed the season before, week’s game against Army, the third- Bertelli became the first Notre Dame moving away from the traditional ranked team in the country that week. player to win the . Notre Dame “Box Formation.” The All Bertelli’s replacement did was Bertelli easily outdistanced Bob new offense enabled the ’43 team to throw for two touchdowns, run for O’Dell of Pennsylvania and Otto score 340 points, 156 more than the another and intercept a pass to lead Graham of Northwestern for the season before. The T-formation also the Irish to a 26-0 win. A new star was Heisman. led to the emergence of Angelo born— the incomparable John — Jeff Spelman Bertelli, who moved from tailback to Lujack. quarterback to lead the Irish offense. With Lujack calling the signals, the 1943 — 9-1-0 Bertelli led the Irish to a 6-0 start as Irish defeated two more top ten teams the team outscored its opponents 261- in the following two weeks, 31. Included in that stretch were key Northwestern and Iowa Pre-Flight. • “They had speed, power and deception in their attack, and they looked victories over second-ranked Michigan All that stood between Leahy’s first like one of the best teams I have seen in years.” and third-ranked Navy. undefeated and untied season was — Coach Bill Alexander A record crowd of 85,688 witnessed Great Lakes, a team the Irish had tied the 35-12 Irish win in Ann Arbor. in their two previous meetings during • “Even the business manager was calling friends and asking if they had Bertelli was brilliant, completing five the 1918 and 1942 seasons. an extra ticket. Not even the scalpers had any; you couldn't buy one from of eight passes for two touchdowns Notre Dame scored first but trailed them for love nor money for the simple reason that they didn't have any.” while All-America running back 12-7 late in the fourth quarter. Miller — Jim Costin, South Bend Tribune sports editor averaged 16 yards capped off an 80-yard drive with a per play against Michigan. touchdown to put the Irish ahead 14- • “It would be most ungracious for me to say that the 1943 team, which Led by Bertelli and All-America tack- 12 with 1:05 to play. I coach, was better than the 1929 team on which I played. What would my old le Jim White, both of whom finished in With 33 seconds remaining, Great teammates think of me if I said such a thing? There is honor and glory the top 10 in the Heisman balloting Lakes quarterback Steve enough for all Notre Dame teams, winning or losing, and I, for one, refuse to Lach connected on a 46- be drawn into any arguments over which was the ‘best’ Notre Dame team. yard pass to Paul They are all great in my book. But, it would be unfair for me and most unkind Anderson, who fielded to my present players, however, if I did not give them the credit they so rich- the ball at the six-yard ly deserve.” line and then went into — Irish Frank Leahy the end zone for the game-winning score, ruining Notre Dame’s perfect season. After the game, Leahy told his team, “You’re still champi- ons to me, boys. You fought your hearts out every inch of the way Creighton Miller

Nowhere But Notre Dame 305 2004 Notre Dame Football more than half the game. On the foot- Leahy Returns From ball field, the Irish had strength in 1946 — 8-0-1 numbers, and Leahy fought a war of attrition. • “Prayers work better Service to Lead Irish To The season began with the Irish when the players are big.” routing their first five opponents — First of Four Consecutive Illinois, which went on to win the — Frank Leahy on the Western (now Big Ten) conference cover of Time magazine Oct. 14, championship, Pittsburgh, Purdue, 1946 Undefeated Seasons Iowa, and Navy before facing top- ranked Army. Coached by the great • “I have told our players Earl (Red) Blaik and featuring Doc that they can expect the same World War II had finally ended and disciplinarian, and enduring his prac- Blanchard and in the thing (losing a game) to happen the United States was ready to think tices wasn’t much more fun than backfield, Army had won two straight to them at any time if they let about something more pleasant than being a soldier. But it sure produced national championships and 25 down or get to believeing they international conflict for a change — results. The Irish usually straight games, including two defeats are the champions after playing like Notre Dame football. The year was had two separate pla- of Notre Dame in the previous two sea- only one game.” 1946, the coach was hard-driving toons ready for sons by a combined score of 107-0. Frank Leahy and it was the beginning each game, and The showdown was set for November — Frank Leahy of a for Notre Dame football. often the first 9 in where 74,121 In 1943, Leahy had guided the string didn’t fans turned out to see a 0-0 tie. Notre • “Fifty-nine and forty- Fighting Irish to their first wire-serv- play much Dame advanced to the Army four-yard eight, this is the year we retali- ice national championship, and line in the second quarter for the ate!” fourth overall, behind Heisman game’s deepest scoring threat, but the — impromptu battle cry Trophy winner Angelo Bertelli Cadets held on downs. Blanchard fashioned by the squad for the and future Heisman win- broke into the clear once and 1944 and 1945 losses ner John Lujack. World appeared to be headed for a to Army War II took many foot- score, but an open-field tackle ball players from col- by Lujack saved the Irish • “You know, we started to lege, including from defeat. plan for the national champi- Bertelli in the mid- Army retained its top onship when spring practice dle of his Heisman ranking in the Associated opened last April. I told the boys campaign in ’43, Press poll after the that I thought we could make but many game. But the Irish it, but that it would take hard returned to the walloped their final work and lots of it; long, tire- gridiron after the three opponents by some hours of sweat and toil on war ended, includ- a combined score the practice field. The players ing Lujack, who of 94-6 and were dug in right from the start and would go on to win named national cham- gave everything they had and the Heisman in pions in the final poll of the were rewarded with the nation- 1947. season. When the smoke cleared, al championship.” For the players who the Irish found themselves the returned to Notre Dame nation’s statistical leaders in — Frank Leahy in ’46, losing a college football game total offense (441.3 yards per was not to be one of their post-war game), rushing offense experiences. From 1946 to 1949, (340.1 yards per game), total Notre Dame went 36-0-2 and won defense (141.7 yards per three national championships in one game) and scoring defense of the most successful four-year peri- (2.7 points per game) and ods in college football history. had allowed only Illinois, The 1946 season started it all. Purdue, Iowa, and USC to Halfback and linemen score points against them. Bill Walsh, Bill Fischer, and John For the season, Notre Mastrangelo were among the group of Dame outscored its oppo- returnees from the previous season. nents 271 to 24 in nine There were several new faces who games. came to Notre Dame after Navy hitch- It was only the begin- es had interrupted their respective ning. careers at Holy Cross and Texas A&M. — Willie Shearer There were also players for whom the war had postponed college football, like end Jim Martin and running back Emil (Red) Sitko, and there were freshmen like . Returning to Notre Dame along with Lujack were veterans such as tackle Zygmont (Ziggy) Czarobski, end , and fullback . Even Leahy was coming back to Notre Dame after a couple years in the service. Leahy was a perfectionist and strict

306 2004 Notre Dame Football Nowhere But Notre Dame schools had met. fessional football but opted to coach Dominating ’47 Squad Following three impressive instead. shutouts, the Irish faced Army, a team The great ’47 squad also included six that had become such a fierce rival in players who were elected into the Runs to Perfect Record previous years that the series was dis- National Football Foundation Hall of continued for 10 years after the 1947 Fame — Lujack, Connor, Hart, As Heisman Winner game. The two teams Fischer, Sitko and Ziggy Czarobski. battled to a 0-0 tie in And to top that off, their coach, Frank 1946 in one of the Leahy, wound up the second win- Lujack Heads List most famous games in ningest coach in college history just Notre Dame history. behind his mentor, Knute Rockne. Of All-Stars Notre Dame entered The Boston Herald called the ’47 the game as the top- Irish team, “the greatest Notre Dame In any discussion of college football’s The mainstays ranked team in the coun- squad of all time. Its third string could greatest teams, one team that always on that team try while Army was rated whip most varsities.” comes to mind is the 1947 Notre included con- eighth. The Irish struck The immortal sportswriter Dame squad. The Irish never trailed in sensus All- first when Brennan broke Grantland Rice added after the final any game that year and compiled a 9- Americans loose for a 97-yard kickoff game of the season, “There no longer 0 record, their first unblemished George return. Notre Dame built a is any doubt as to the best team in col- record in 17 years. Connor, Bill 20-0 lead before Army finally lege football, it happens to be Notre scored. The Irish won 27-7 Dame. College football never before Fischer and Leon Hart John Lujcak, before a record crowd of has known a team so big, so fast and so who won the Heisman Trophy that 59,171 at Notre Dame experienced.” year. The team also included future Stadium. His words may still hold true today. Heisman winner Leon Hart and the The next week was the only close — Willie Shearer man who later succeeded Leahy as game of the year. Northwestern head coach of the Irish, Terry became the only team in 1947 to come Brennan. within two touchdowns of the Irish as 1947 — 9-0-0 The Irish began the season with six Notre Dame won 26-19. turnovers against Pittsburgh, but The Irish ended the season with a 59- • “Yes, if they let us use the Lujack scored three times to lead 6 thrashing of Tulane and an impres- two-team system — two teams at Notre Dame to an easy 40-6 win. sive 38-7 win over third-ranked one time.” Leahy’s squad stumbled a little bit in Southern California. When the final — Tulane coach Henry the next game, too, but came out national polls came out, Notre Dame Frank when asked if his squad had ahead of Purdue, 22-7. was No. 1 for the second straight year. a chance to upset Notre Dame. Notre Dame then exploded for three Just how good was this ’47 team? Larry Coutre consecutive shutouts over Nebraska Well, consider that several of the first • “A team that won’t be beat (31-0), Iowa (21-0) and Navy (27-0). string players that year (such as can’t be beat. That’s the story of Notre Dame held its opponents to The win over the Cornhuskers Brennan) didn’t even try out for pro- the Army-Notre Dame scoreless under six points a game while averag- avenged a 17-0 loss that Knute battle in Yankee Stadium.” ing over 32 points. Only one team — Rockne’s 1925 squad suffered to — Bill Corum, Northwestern — scored more than Nebraska, the last time the two New York Herald-American one touchdown against the Irish that year. But maybe the most impressive • “A new Notre Dame football note about the squad is that it sent 42 comet soared over the gridiron of players to professional football. Memorial Stadium this afternoon and crushed Illinois’ champi- onship hopes into dying embers, 26-6. It is a comet which promises to grow in brilliance as the season progresses and eventually light up the gridiron picture with victories over Navy, Army, Northwestern and Southern California for an undisputed national title.” — Gene Kessler, Chicago Times

• “Be a fighter, gents. Not only out there on the football field, but out in life as well.” — Irish coach Frank Leahy

Nowhere But Notre Dame 307 2004 Notre Dame Football 28-7, and 17th ranked Southern Cal, Irish Exceed All 32-0. All that remained was what was 1949 — 10-0-0 sure to be an easy win over Southern Methodist in . SMU would be • “We’ll have the worst team Expectations With Third without its top player, 1948 Heisman Notre Dame has ever had.” winner Doak Walker, and the nation — Leahy in April of 1949 Title Under Leahy had virtually conced- ed the national • “Of course, I suppose I am November 15, 1945 ranks as one of Soon enough, championship to always sort of a pessimist.” the most important dates in Notre they got it. In the Notre Dame. — Frank Leahy Dame football history. Check the sixth game of the Notre Dame jumped record books, though, and you won’t season, against to an early lead before • “It’s the greatest college find one of the greatest games in Irish Michigan State Mustang running back team I’ve ever seen.” history played on that day. on November 5, came to life in — November 15, 1945, was a Thursday, quarterback the steady afternoon not a Saturday, and that was the day drizzle. Running at will, • “We shall always want Notre Lieutenant Frank Leahy was dis- stepped to the he scored two quick Dame men to play to win so long charged from the Navy. He returned to fore. He led touchdowns and thanks to as there is a Notre Dame ... to win Notre Dame campus, signed a 10-year the top- a missed extra point by cleanly according to the rules ... contract, and began what was to be ranked Irish SMU, the score was tied at because Notre Dame men are one of the most successful four-year to a 34-21 20 with seven minutes to go. reared here on the campus in this runs in college football history. victory over the Notre Dame’s back was to spirit and because they exemplify The 1946 and 1947 seasons brought 10th-ranked Spartans in a game at the wall for the first time all this spirit all over the world, they national championships to Notre East Lansing that the press thought season, and the offense rose to the are the envy of the nation.” Dame. The 9-0-1 1948 team was run- would knock Notre Dame from its occasion. In blitzkrieg fashion, the — Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, ner-up to Michigan. But a national lofty perch atop collegiate football. Irish simply pushed SMU straight back C.S.C. championship in 1949 would allow Williams continued to shine in sub- into its own endzone with 10 deter- Notre Dame to close the decade in sequent games. He was at his daring mined rushes that covered 54 yards • “From the first ringing magnificent style. best the following week in a game ver- and put Notre Dame up by a touch- impact of kuckle upon nose ... And that is exactly what happened. sus North Carolina played at Yankee down, 27-20. Saturday’s No. 1 spectacle was as Notre Dame went 10-0 which made for Stadium. Leahy had given Williams The drive was so quick, however, that one-sided as an election in a four-year mark of 36-0-2. End Leon instructions that he was never to pass SMU still had time to score. But in the Moscow.” Hart won the Heisman Trophy and the football on the fourth down situa- shadow of the Notre Dame goal post, — Walter Stewart, Leahy had his fourth championship tion on their own 19-yard line with the when Rote tried to pass for the tying Memphis Commercial Appeal and the school’s seventh. score tied 6-6 in the second quarter. touchdown, Notre Dame’s Jerry on the Tulane game Before the season, however, nobody He couldn’t help himself. Knowing Groom made a game-saving intercep- expected a championship team to that if he failed he’d have to head to tion. • “Make mistakes against the emerge from the South Bend campus. the nearest exit to avoid Leahy, the It was the final play of the game and average team and you’re in trou- The Irish needed somebody to emerge self-assured Williams completed an of a decade that saw Frank Leahy lead ble. Make mistakes against Notre as a leader and attention was focused 18-yard pass to Larry Coutre for an the Fighting Irish to three national Dame and it’s suicide ... even a on Leon Hart, already recognized as Irish first down. Notre Dame went on championships in four years. perfect team couldn’t have turned the finest end in the college game, to a 42-6 win, and Williams soon —Willie Shearer back this great Irish squad.” along with Emil Sitko, Larry Coutre became recognized as the nations best — Braven Dwyer, Los and co-captain Jim Martin. But most quarterback. Angeles Times observers agreed that the Fighting The Irish eased through their final Irish would need more than that. two home games, rolling over Iowa,

Bob Lally and stop SMU’s Kyle Rote just short of the tying tally.

308 2004 Notre Dame Football Nowhere But Notre Dame racking up 31 points versus the Irish Win National Midshipmen, 40 against Pitt, and a 1966 — 9-0-1 whopping 64 against the Blue Devils. The game of the century took place • “There’s pressure in every Championship on November 19 when number-one coaching job, but winning makes ranked Notre Dame traveled to East it a lot easier to accept. At Start of Notre Dame’s Lansing, Mich., to play second-ranked Fortunately, we have been win- Michigan State for all the marbles. ning. But like one fan told me, Notre Dame fell we’re with you Ara, win or tie. You Era of Ara behind 10-0 in the notice he didn’t say anything second quarter, but about losing.” Coach Ara Parseghian, in his third Notre Dame trav- O’Brien, who had — Ara Parseghian season at Notre Dame, made a difficult eled to been diagnosed with decision at the start of the 1966 sea- Northwestern for diabetes only a few • “Man, those cats hit and son, picking sophomore Terry the second game of weeks earlier and was stick to you. That game was Hanratty as his starting quarterback the season and still adjusting, brought rough.” over classmate Coley O’Brien, yet the won, 35-7. The the Irish back to tie in — , decision proved without a doubt to be Irish defense gave the second half. The Michigan State the correct one. Hanratty and split up its last points Spartan offense was end Jim Seymour, also a sophomore, for the next unable to net a single • “Sure I do. Absolutely. I turned out to be one of the best pass- three games yard running the ball in have no qualms about it, but ... ing combinations Notre Dame fans and showed the second half, and when there’s not enough difference have ever seen. the kind of Notre Dame intercepted a between No. 1 and No. 2 to say The two had begun working togeth- stiffness that Coley O’Brien and pass and returned it to the that whoever wins, it could be an er during the previous winter, develop- ensured Notre Spartan 18-yard line in the upset.” ing their timing, moves, and patterns Dame would never be out of any con- fourth quarter, it looked like Notre — Ara responding to so they would know each other’s test. Notre Dame returned home for Dame’s chance to win. But three plays a question about entering the habits inside out when the 1966 sea- the next two games and defeated Army and minus-six yards later left the Irish MSU-ND game as the number-one son began. Seymour was a good bet to and North Carolina by a combined with a 41-yard field goal attempt, team take over one of the end positions that score of 67-0, setting the stage for a which sailed wide to the right. was being vacated after the ’65 season, showdown with Oklahoma. Notre Dame had the ball again on its • “I knew there was going to but Hanratty had no such assurances Notre Dame traveled to Norman for own 30 with 1:24 left in the game. But be a winner and a loser, and I of whether or not he would be the what was supposed to be anybody’s rather than gamble with passes deep thought we were going to win. I number-one quarterback. ballgame. The game was billed as a in their own territory, the Irish never thought about a tie. The last Fortunately for Hanratty, Parseghian matchup between the small, quick, attempted to run the ball out of dan- thing Duffy Daughtery or I wanted decided to balance an already steady strong Sooners and the big, slow Irish. ger. The game was a 10-10 tie. was a tie.” running game, manned by , But Oklahoma was out of its depth. The Irish held on to their top rank- — Ara Parseghian Larry Conjar and , with Although the Irish lost Seymour to an ing and traveled to Los Angeles to play the passing talent of Hanratty. ankle injury that would cost him two Rose Bowl-bound USC. The Irish tore • “The was not as The decision bore fruit in the first games, the Fighting Irish rolled to a the Trojans apart, 51-0, posting the big as that Michigan State-Notre game of the season, as Hanratty and 38-0 victory and their third straight team’s sixth shutout in 10 games and Dame game.” Seymour hooked up 13 times for 276 shutout of the young season. ensuring another unanimous num- — Captain Jim yards, Notre Dame records for recep- Notre Dame pounded its next three ber-one selection for the national Lynch, who also played in Super tions and yards, and three touch- opponents—Navy, Pittsburgh, and championship. Bowl IV, remarks on the MSU-ND downs, which tied a school record. Duke, giving up only one score, a — Willie Shearer game 25 years later The Irish defeated Rose Bowl-bound touchdown to Navy. Meanwhile, the Purdue that day, 26-14 in South Bend. offense was hitting on all cylinders,

Rocky Bleier and Don Gmitter clear the path for Nick Eddy en route to a 26-14 Irish win over eighth-ranked Purdue.

Nowhere But Notre Dame 309 2004 Notre Dame Football Clements and Talented 1973 — 11-0-0

Irish Backfield Clinch • “It was the kind of game you could sink your teeth into.” — Bear Bryant on the ‘Bama-Notre Dame Sugar Bowl

Title With Sugar Bowl • “I really thought it was going to be intercepted.” — Irish quarterback on his 38-yard pass out Win Over No. 1 Tide of the end zone to help Irish run out the clock against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl Every college football season seems speed in the 100-yard dash, while Best to have its own game of the century, checked in at 9.7. • “This was not only a great game for Notre Dame, it was a great game for but the 1973 matchup between Notre The Irish were ranked in the eighth college football.” Dame and Alabama was special. It spot with wins over Rice and Army, — Ara Parseghian after the Alabama game came in the Sugar Bowl, and it was to setting the stage for what everyone be a dream game. considered to be Notre Dame’s first • “I just remember breaking free . I can't remember anything else.” Two undefeated, highly-ranked real test of the year, a home battle with — Eric Penick commenting on his 85-yard touchdown that teams with long and storied gridiron sixth-ranked USC. gave Notre Dame its first victory over USC since 1966 traditions were set to battle for the The Trojans came to town riding a national championship. 23-game unbeaten streak, and Notre • “How does it feel? It feels like the end of four long waiting years. It feels The prognosticators’ predictions Dame was full of memories of the pre- like the top of the world. And only one thing could possibly beat this — rang true as the Fighting Irish vious season’s clash, which saw run- 11-0.” emerged 24-23 victors over the ning back Anthony Davis romp for six — Brad Doherty after the Miami win Crimson Tide of Alabama in a thriller touchdowns in a 45-23 Trojan win. that saw the lead change hands six Squib kicks were the solution to the third-ranked Notre Dame that seemed the sidelines where he took a return times. problem of Davis returning kicks, and to deserve every phrase of its high- pass from Strock and went in for the Bob Thomas, who had missed two a fired up defense held him to just 55 powered buildup. The Irish opened the score. earlier attempts in the game, kicked a yards on 19 carries. Quite simply, the contest with a superb defensive effort But Alabama missed the conversion 19-yard field goal with 4:26 remaining day belonged to Notre Dame, as that held the Tide without a yard in try and the Tide had only a slim two- to give the Irish and coach Ara Penick ran for 118 yards, 50 more the first period as Notre Dame took a point lead. Parseghian the one-point triumph than the entire USC squad. The Irish 6-0 lead. Alabama’s thoroughbred Notre Dame then marched 79 yards over top-rated Alabama. The win pulled off a 23-14 win and jumped to backs made it out of the starting gate in 11 plays. Strong runs by Hunter, clinched Notre Dame’s sixth wire-serv- fifth in the polls. in the second period, however. They Penick and Clements and a 30-yard ice national championship and ninth Notre Dame cruised through the produced three long drives that result- pass from Clements to overall as the Irish finished the season remainder of the schedule. Navy was ed in a pair of touchdowns, the first of carried the drive to the Alabama 15- with a perfect 11-0 record. an easy victim, 44-7, and 20th-ranked which put the Tide up 7-6. yard line.The Irish got to the three, The balanced Irish attack was keyed Pittsburgh played the docile host to Early in the fourth quarter, the game but couldn’t get any closer before the by four backs who gained over 300 the Irish and fell 31-10. The Irish fin- took a wild turn with three turnovers call went to Thomas. His kick was yards apiece: fullback Wayne Bullock ished off Parseghian’s first perfect reg- in 90 seconds. Alabama took charge true, the game belonged to the Irish, (752), halfback (700), half- ular season with a 48-15 win over Air and put in its own version of the raz- and so did the national championship. back Eric Penick (586) and quarter- Force and a 44-0 whitewashing of zle-dazzle. — Willie Shearer back Tom Clements (360). It was one Miami at the . With the ball on the Notre Dame 25, of the fastest backfields Notre Dame The stage was set for the contest quarterback Richard Todd handed off had ever assembled, as Penick had 9.5 between number-one Alabama and to halfback Mike Strock, then raced to

Quarterback Tom Clements throws out of the end zone to Robin Weber to seal a victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

310 2004 Notre Dame Football Nowhere But Notre Dame boost from the offense that gave Notre But the key regular season win came Then There Were None — Dame the national championship in in a mid-season 49-19 thrashing of 1977. Quarterback and fifth-ranked USC in Notre Dame running back Jerome Heavens both Stadium. In that one, the Irish Irish Defeat Top-Ranked, rebounded on offense, teaming with warmed up in their usual blue jerseys, All-America tight end Ken MacAfee, only to emerge in green just prior to Unbeaten Texas who led the team in receiv- kickoff. That triumph helped wipe out ing for the third straight the memory of Notre Dame’s second- year. game road loss, a 20-13 defeat at Ole For ’77 Title The offense came on strong Miss that proved its sole ’77 blemish. in 1977 as Montana threw for The Irish ran out to a 24-10 halftime Who could forget the cover of Sports over 1,600 yards and 11 touch- lead in the Cotton Bowl and then Illustrated the week after Notre Dame downs and Heavens led the added touchdowns in each of the final had defeated Texas 38-10 in the 1978 team with 994 rushing yards. quarters for an overwhelming 28- Cotton Bowl? A fierce Terry Eurick Montana earned a reputation as point victory. Few questioned who was was pictured fighting through a hole “The Comeback Kid” with per- number one. in the offensive line, the caption read- formances like the one he had in Notre Dame leapfrogged over the ing, “The Irish Wake the Echoes.” On the third game of the season four teams ranked ahead of it to grab the inside, “Shakin’ Down the when, in his first appearance in the nation’s top position. Thunder” was the title of an article over a year, he engineered the Irish The Irish did, indeed, wake the about how Notre Dame’s victory over to 17 fourth-quarter points in Notre echoes and shake down the thunder. the previously-unbeaten Longhorns Dame’s come-from-behind 31-24 — Willie Shearer was enough to vault the Irish from win at Purdue. Later in the season, fifth to first in the wire-service polls at one end and at the other, supported by a tough, mobile group of the Irish traveled to Death Valley to and give the University its seventh play the 15th-ranked Clemson Tigers, 1977 — 11-1-0 wire service national championship headed by All-American . The Irish forced six Texas and Montana scored two fourth-quar- and 10th overall. ter touchdowns to bring the Irish to a • “Pressure comes from with- The theme for that January 2 in turnovers in the Cotton Bowl, and an opportunistic offense capitalized on 21-17 win. in the family. There’s no pressure Dallas could have been “and then Heavens was healthy again in 1977 hanging over our heads. We’ve got there were none.” For there was not five of them. Notre Dame’s devastating strength in the trenches roped up and he joined the explosive Vagas this guarded optimism.” one unbeaten team remaining after Ferguson behind Montana. Heavens — Irish head coach the Irish had knocked Texas from its Texas’ Heisman Trophy winner . He managed a tough 116 proved himself fully recovered with Dan Devine during the preseason No. 1 ranking. 136 yards against Michigan State and Third-year Irish coach Dan Devine yards on 29 carries. Notre Dame’s defensive strength followed his outburst against the • “You have to remember that made sure his charges were ready to Spartans with a Notre Dame-record defenses are made on the football take care of America’s last undefeated came as no surprise in 1977, and it was the primary reason the Irish were near 200 yards rushing versus Army. Two field, not in the preseason polls, team. An unrelenting defense was the weeks later he went for 100 against not in newspaper or magazine reason why. The defense featured 1976 the top of the polls in the preseason rankings. But it was an unexpected Navy. articles and not at press confer- Outland Trophy winner ences.” — Irish captain Willie Fry

• “I don’t like to say it was easy, but ... well, the way we played today, we could have dominated any line in the country.” — Irish offensive tackle Tim Foley on the Irish win over Texas

• “We earned it on the field. We played number one and we beat them.” — Irish head coach Dan Devine

• “At least the team that beat us was a good one. Everyone can’t say that.” — Texas coach Fred Akers

Terry Eurick romped for two touchdowns and caught a 12-yard pass to set up a Vagas Ferguson score in the Irish win over top- ranked and previously unbeaten Texas in the ’78 Cotton Bowl.

Nowhere But Notre Dame 311 2004 Notre Dame Football in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Again, it Hold-Your-Breath was defense that dominated for Notre 1988 — 12-0-0 Dame in a 27-10 victory. Stams had nine tackles, two and a half sacks and • “If you look at it on paper, Season Ends Perfectly fumble recovery and made life miser- there is no justification for Notre able for Trojan standout Rodney Peete. Dame to be rated in the top 20.” With National Title Cornerback — Irish head coach Lou ran an back Holtz in the preseason 64 yards for a 20-7 halftime In lead after Rice had skirted • “If we are number one, I don't care who is number two.” left end for 65 yards for the — Irish coach Lou Holtz It wasn’t long after Lou Holtz’s Irish wel- first points of the game. arrival as head football coach at Notre comed top- The Irish prevailed despite • “I was so tired, I was won- Dame that he opined that the Irish ranked going 29 minutes in the sec- dering if we’d ever get off the couldn’t expect to be a great team Miami and ond and third periods com- field.” until they were great on defense. its 36- bined without a first down — — Defensive End Frank That prophesy came true for Holtz game and in spite of the fact leading Stams after the USC game and the Irish in 1988 - ironically, just regular- rusher Tony Brooks and leading a year after Notre Dame’s Tim Brown season receiver Watters, both sopho- • “I think this team is under- had captured the Heisman Trophy. unbeat- mores, were suspended the day rated even if we are No. 1. I've read But with his departure came a revital- en streak before the game. articles that people have sent to ization of the defense, led by senior to Notre Notre Dame met third-ranked me all year saying we were lucky defensive end Frank Stams, junior Dame Stadium. The streak bit the dust and unbeaten West Virginia in the against this team or that. Our Michael Stonebreaker, that day by a 31-30 count, as Notre Fiesta Bowl in hopes of claiming the football team is prettier than I am, sophomore Chris Dame forced seven Hurricane championship — and the Irish rode but that’s about it. We don't play Zorich and senior linebacker Wes turnovers and made use of a bevy of early leads of 16-0 and 23-3 to an even- pretty all the time, but we sure Pritchett, all of whom merited some heroes, lastly , who knocked tual 34-21 victory banking on another play together as a team.” sort of All-America honors. They were down Miami quarterback Steve staunch defensive effort. — Irish coach Lou Holtz supported by cornerback , Walsh’s two-point conversion pass Rice ran for 75 yards and completed linebacker and defensive with 45 seconds remaining. seven throws for 213 more yards. • “The poll is great and it cre- tackle , who went on to earn Terrell previously ran an intercep- Meanwhile, Stams had two sacks on ates a tremendous amount of that same All-America acclaim a year tion back 60 yards for a score, Stams his way to the defensive MVP award, interest. But I only pay attention to the last one. It's amazing. Here later. forced two Walsh fumbles, recovered and the Irish dominated a heralded another and tipped the pass Terrell Mountaineer offensive line that had we are number one and I'm scared The end result was a consensus to death of a team that hasn't won national championship for the Irish in intercepted — and quarterback Tony been one of the main reasons West a game.” 1988, thanks to a perfect 12-0 cam- Rice threw for a career-high 195 yards. Virginia had never trailed in a game all — Irish coach Lou Holtz paign. The title came in Holtz’s third The Irish took the lead for good mid- season. The more physical Notre season as Irish head coach, much as way through the third period after Dame team knocked quarterback • “I’m exactly the same today Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian and Dan thwarting a by Miami and Major Harris out of the contest early as when I woke up yesterday. The Devine before him had claimed then held on down the stretch. due to a bruised shoulder and limited players are the same, we're not national crowns in their respective Though Walsh threw for 424 yards, the potent Mountaineer ground game bigger. We're not stronger. We're third seasons as Irish head coach. It the stingy Irish front line limited the to 108 yards. not faster. We're not going to came thanks to riveting regular-sea- ‘Canes to 57 rushing yards. Holtz’s final pronouncement: “This change our uniforms. If you start son triumphs over Michigan, Miami The season finale found the 10-0 and team will go down as a great football worrying about No. 1 and try to and USC — and it ultimately featured top-ranked Irish underdogs against team because nobody proved other- defend it, the pressure would be wins over teams ranked first, second second-rated and also unbeaten USC wise.” tremendous.” and third in the polls when they faced — Irish coach Lou Holtz Notre Dame. When the 13th-ranked Irish debuted • “Winning the national against ninth-rated Michigan in Notre championship was never in my Dame Stadium, Holtz knew his youth- thoughts. I have been asked the ful offense would be tested, particular- question did I ever dream about ly with a green group of receivers fea- winning the national champi- turing at flanker in a onship. switch from tailback, plus rookies “Yeah, you dream about it, and . His but I never really though that it would happen to me. I never concern was borne out when Notre thought I would coach a national Dame did not score a touchdown from championship team. It still hasn't scrimmage. sunk in on me yet.” But Watters returned a Michigan — Irish coach Lou Holtz punt 81 yards for a touchdown, and unheralded walk-on kicker Reggie Ho • “We’re going on a mission knocked through four field goals, this year, a couple of weeks of sac- twice bringing the Irish from behind rifice for something that we’re including the game winner with 1:13 going to be able to enjoy and cele- remaining. A field goal miss from 48 brate the rest of our lives. That’s a yards as time expired by the small price to pay.” Wolverines earned Notre Dame a 19- — Senior tailback Mark 17 opening victory. Green Four wins later, the fourth-rated Tony Rice

312 2004 Notre Dame Football Nowhere But Notre Dame