Notre Dame Scholastic Football Review

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III II 11111111111i'" Program Guide , Specialty Shows 7 - 9 pm Daily Request Line: Monday: Jazz Thursday: Reggae ___ _, I(~. a41D ~e~s~ea:~ay:NeS~~;dte°rtsM ~1~~ua~:ay~iP H~~~core 239-6400 , '6 un ay: eta These are the oices of the Fighting Irish

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday - Rlyson Naimoli Mike :red Kathy Jeff 7-9 a.m. "Morning Beat" Montroy Leo Morrey Sepeto ~ ~ Tim Frommer "I Hate Chris AleH Greg 9-11 a.m. "n Pair of Ears is a v~//#'~ ~/.ff.ff/// Bettis Terrible Thing To Nunez Murphy Mondays" Waste' 10:00 am - 1 :00 pm Mike Roe Debbie Wunder Jason Winslade Kelly John Jeff Jotz James 'Jason Jotsom's l1-1p~m. 6' 'We're Jeff Jotz "Blondie's Dugan O'Brien Oscillating nudio McLaughlin Paul Hart and you ••• • Rppetite" Sculo ture' DalJe Mike 1-3p.m. Mark Tim AleH Dan Chris Bintinger McMahon McAdam Schwabe 'Nunez Langrill Scherzinger "Radio SchleD" Poul Solz Kathleen Graham Tina Ualicenti K elJin Chris "R Lool: Boel: 6- 'Power Tools, Jllngly Paul Brian 3-5 p.m. Cindy Petrites Gultllrs, lind other McDonough Infante Into The Future" 'Dolce e Caldo' Electronic Rppllllnces' Broderick Geraghty Jeff Brlnl:er Tim Frommer John Hugh 'R Polr of Ellrs Is II Shawn Brad Matt 5-7 p.m. "Eluls Is Terrible Thing To Euerywhere" Del Alamo Gallagher Wllste' Nowierski Bornhorst Mancini Tara Payton John luis Munoz 2ik Chandler Ted Leo Chris. Ebert 7-9 p.m. News 7-8 6' "Reggae & 6' "Thrllshlng, Bllshlng. Austin Sports 8-9 Chris Malin Feuer" Rdrian Williams Chris Infante . lind Banging' Chris Knous Tom Fellrath "I Clln't Belleue Mike Kelly Boglarsky Pat Greg Murphy Mike 9-11 p.m. & '~Radio Free "Hatchethead It's lUllrm lIuer Bertin. Ninneman Goodwin In R Soc"" Kristen Baumler Micbiana" Sebastian" Erich Straub Greg Athas Keuin Flaherty John Tom Neuins Jennifer Furey Chris Walter & "Ode To Nick 'The Nco-PlatoniC farm ".Stoogefest "let's Grow Old ll-la.m. Report: The "Shapes, I Bob Kuskie DeSines" EHlstentiolist Ycars.· Psychotherapy" lane Need Shapes· Together" 'Two Guys In II BOH" - AT A Note to Our Readers

cholastic's annual Football Review has made fantastic strides in recent years. S Ricky Watters' centerspread shot in our 1987 edition marked the first time color . photography graced the pages of any of our recent issues, much less one entirely devoted to Notre Dame's second religion (or first, depending on the strength of your allegiance). Last year's issue served as a landmark as well. We honored our national champion ship team with a special 5~page spread containing four color shots and an all-glossy Thursday: finish, a first for our publication. With this year's Irish squad boasting the nation's best record against the country's toughest slate of opponents, we felt obligated to go a step further. The 1989 issue features an unprecedented number of pages (64) to go along with our largest color photography display to date (eight photos). Although budget limitations prevent us from publishing an all-glossy edition this year, we're confident you will find the overall quality of this issue to exceed that of past editions. Our DJ's Recall with us a 1989 season that added a special chapter to Notre Dame football lore. From Notre Dame's explosive first half at the Kickoff Classic against Viginia to its inspired second half against Colorado to capture the Orange Bowl Championship, this season hardly paled as a sequel to last year championship campaign, providing mountain Any questions? ous highs along with a few lows. Call us at The school record 23-game winning streak that peaked at Penn State's Beaver Stadium, 239-6940 where ND had never won, may never fall. Who can forget the Rocket's two kick returns to propel the Irish to victory on a soggy day in Ann Arbor, or the defense's goal line stands -, " , against Southern Cal and the Buffaloes? Relive the disappointment of Miami's third and I 44 "Hail Mary" pass to perpetuate Notre Dame's woes in the Orange Bowl, and share in - "I the Irish triumph a month later in the same stadium. It is our sincere hope that this issue will serve as a reminder of the season not only today, but as a keepsake for future consumption. Finally, we wish to extend special thanks to John Heisler and the Notre Dame Sports Information staff, the Dome, the South Bend Tribune, Mike Bennett and John and Vicki Dlugolecki for their assistance. Their contributions, along ,with those of our hard-working staff, were essential in making this issue possible. Enjoy.

" I I - Scholastic"· I \ ,

1989 Football Review 1

'", '- AT A Note to Our Readers

" I I - Scholastic"· I \ ,

1989 Football Review 1

'", '- $ 4

1989 Football Review 1 SCHOLASTIC I III I' I I 8 Virginia by Andy Hilger 12 Michigan by Jim Maggio 16 Michigan State by Brian McMahon 20 Purdue by JonpaulPotts 24 Stanford by BrianMcMahon 28 Air Force 'by Pete.LaFleur

1 ' Southern California' by Dan Flynn 1- 32

! • i • - 36 Pittsburgh by Jonpaul Potts 40 Navy by Kevin T. Kerns Vol. 131, No.11 Editorial Staff: 1989 Football Review 1- , 'Southern Methodist by Kevin Sproule production: , - 44 Sports: Jim Maggio Disce Quasi Semper Victurus Sports Asst.: Brian McMahon Vive Quasi Crasi Moriturus Systems Manager: Matt Langie News: Derik Weldon ,I by Kevin T. Kerns Graphic Arts Manager: Vivienne '\ Penn State News Asst.: Patrick Watkins Founded 1867 Padilla I 47 ~ Copy: Traci Taghon Business: Jim Fitzgerald I Features: Ian Mitchell Editor In Chief: Advertising: Tony Porcelli by Jim Maggio Departments: Chris Fillio Miami Andrew H. Hilger Ad Deslgn:,Beth Kaiser 51 Saint Mary's: Robin Spurr Layout Manager: Patti Doyle I I Photo: Mari Okuda I I Photo Asst.: Ian Johanson I Orange Bowl: Colorado by Jim Maggio I 55 I I

i I' ! Scholastic 1989 Football Review $ 4

1 ' Southern California' by Dan Flynn 1- 32

i I' ! Scholastic 1989 Football Review •

lQ 1989 Notre Dame Football Honors 'and Awards Tim Grunhard, senior offensive guard Donn Grimm, junior linebacker Tony Rice, senior quarterback Todd Lyght, junior cornerback Newspaper Enterprise Association All-America The Sporting News All-America (honorable Football News '89 College Player of the Year Associated Press, United Press International, The (second team) mention) . '89 Heisman Trophy finalist (finished fourth) Sporting News,FootbaIlNews, Walter Camp Foun· United Press International, The Sporting News and Football News All-America (first team) dation, American Football Coaches Association Football News All-America (honorable mention) Gannett News Service AIl-America (third team) (Kodak), Newspaper Enterprise Association and Invited to play in Hula Bowl United Press International and The Sporting News Football Writers Association of America All- All-America (honorable mention) America (all first team) Domino's Pizza "Coaches' Choice" College Football Player of the Gannett News Service All-America (second team) Year Award nominee (one of 10) Jim Thorpe Award finalist (one of three) Mike Heldt, junior center Tim Ryan, junior offensive guard Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (presented by Kentucky chapter The Sporting News and Football News AII The Sporting News All-America (honorable of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame to the. top Ned Bolcar, senior linebacker America (honorable mention) mention) quarterback in the country) United Press International and The Sporting News Notre Dame National Monogram Club Team MVP (by vote of squad) All-America (second team) MVP in Kickoff Classic (by vote of media; ran for 70 yards and a TO Football News All-America (honorable mention) and threw for 147 more) Associated Press Midwest Defensive Player of the ABC Sports/Chevrolet MVP vs. Purdue (career-high 12completions Week vs. Michigan (19 tackles) on 15 attempts for career-high 270 passing yards; 12 rushes for 67 CBS Sports/Chevrolet MVP and The Sporting News Defensive Stan Smagala, senior cornerback Scott Kowalkowski, junior defensive end yards, 1 TO) Player of the Week vs. Miami (13 tackles, interception return fcirTD) United Press International and Football News The Sporting News All-America (honorable CBS Sports/Chevrolet MVP vs. USC (99 rushing yards and 2 TDs, 5 Invited to play in Japan Bowl and East-West Shrine all-star games All-America (honorable mention) mention) of 16 passing for 91 yards) Invited to play in Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine all-star games Ricky Watters, junior tailback I Football News and The Sporting News AIl-Amer Raghib Ismail, sophomore flanker ica (honorable mention) Associated Press, The Sporting News, Football CBS Sports/Chevrolet MVP vs. Michigan State News, Football Writers Association of America (as (89 yards rushing, 2 TDs) kick returner), Newspaper Enterprise Association Dean Brown, senior offensive tackle Pat Eilers, senior split end and Gannett News Service All-America (all first The Sporting NewsAll-America (honorable Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley Student team) mention) Athlete Award Jeff Aim, senior defensive tackle United Press International AIl-America (s~ond team) Invited to play in HUla Bowl State Farm Student Athlete of the Year Award ABC Sports/Chevrolet MVP, Sports Illustrated Special Team Player Associated Press, Football News and Gannett Maxwell House Spirit .of Notre Dame Award of the Week, Associated Press Midwest Offensive Player of the Week News Service All-America (all second team) and The Sporting News Offensive Player of the Week vs. Michigan Notre Dame Lineman of the Year, Moose Krause '"', . (he returned kickoffs 89 and 92 yards for TDs) Chapter of National Football Foundation and Hall ESPNNISA Player of the Game vs. Air Force (180 all-purpose yards, of Fame . D' Juan Francisco, senior strong safety Chris Shey, senior linebacker two TDs including 56-yard punt return) Invited.to play in Hula Bowl Hesburgh/Joyce Hall of Fame Scholarship ESPNNISA Player of the Game vs. Pittsburgh (153 all-purpose Pat Terrell, senior free safety . Award yards, including 50-yard TO run; led Irish with 74 rushing yards) Gannett News Service All-America (first team) The Sporting News All-America (honorable men Chris Zorich, junior defensive tackle tion) Touchdown Club of Washington, DC, College Invited to play in East-West Shrine all-star game Lineman of the Year Associated Press, United Press International,The Sporting News,Football News, Walter Camp Foun Anthony Johnson, senior fullback Doug DiOrio, senior safety Derek Brown, sophomore tight end dation, Football Writers Association of America The Sporting News AIl-America (honorable Hesburgh/Joyce Hall of Fame Scholarship Gannett News Service All-America (second and Gannett News Service AIl-America (all first team) mention) Award team) Nick Pietrosante Award (by vote of squad to Newspaper Enterprise Association AIl-America (second team) United Press International and Football News Lombardi Award Finalist player who best exemplifies courage, teamwork, All-America (honorable mention) . loyalty, dedication and pride of the late All- . America Irish fullback) Invited to play in Hula Bowl

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4 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 5

... - 1989 Regular Season ,Final Statistics Anyone in terested in applying for the position of RESULTS AND ATTENDANCE Scoring TDR TDP TDRt PAT FG Pts Passing C A Pct Yds TD INT LG Johnson 11 2 o 0-0 0-0 78 Rice 68 137 .496 1122 2 9 52 A 31 Virginia c; W 36-13 71,323(c) 33 Hentrich 0 0 o 44-45 8-15 68 Mirer 15 30 .500 180 0 1 1989-1990 Scholastic S 16 at Michigan W 24-19 105,912(c) 1 0-0 0-0 66 Graham 4 5 .800 64 0 o 37 Watters 10 0 S 23 MICHIGAN ST. W 21-13 59,075(c) Rice 7 0 o 1-2 0-0 44 ~ 87 172 .506 1366 2 10 52 2283 18 24 61 S 30 atPurdue W 40-7 67,861(c) Ismail 2 0 3 0-0 0-0 30 OPP 232 412 .563 o 0-0 0-0 30 Editor-In-Chief o 7 atStanford W27-17 86,019(c) Culver 5 0 Hackett 0 0 o 3-4 7-8 24 Punt Returns NO YDS AVG LG TD 014 at Air Force W 41-27 53,533(c) Bolcar 0 0 1 0-0 0-0 6 021 USC W 28-24 59,075(c) Graham 1 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 Watters 15 201 13.4 97 56 1 Boyd 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 Ismail 7 113 16.1 Please 028 PITT W 45-7 59,075(c) 3.0 3 o call 239-7569 or stop by the Setzer 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 Eilers 1 3 N 4NAVY W41-0 59,075(c) o 0-0 0-0 6 Belles 1 0 0.0 o o West 1 0 o office in 303 LaFortune N 11 SMU W 59-6 59,075(c) AIm 0 0 1 0-0 0-0 6 Mihalko 1 0 0.0 o Student Center 2 N 18 at Penn St. W 34-23 86,025(c) Belles 1 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 NO 25 317 12.7 97 6 OPP 12 88 7.3 20 o N 25 at Miami L 10-27 81,634(c) Levens 1 0 o 0-0 0-0 Application Deadline is February 23 at 5:00 p.m. McNamara 1 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 Terrell 0 0 1 0-0 0-0 6 Kickoff Ret NO YDS AVG LG TD TEAM ST ATISTICS ND opp TD 20 502 25.1 92 2 TOTAL FIRST DOWNS ..... 257 206 Rushing NO YRS AVG LG Ismail . 7 Francisco 2 57 28.5 39 o 80 Rice 174 884 5.1 38 Rushing ...... 193 10 Johnson 3 42 14.0 27 o Passing ...... 59 111 Watters 118 791 6.7 53 3 28 9.3 11 o Johnson 131 515 3.9 35 11 Culver Penalty ...... 5 15 2 Mihalko 1 3 3.0 3 o Ismail 64 478 7.5 50 3rd Down Conv. % ..••...... 47 41 5 Belles 1 2 2.0 2 o Culver 59 242 4.1 15 4th Down Conv. %••...... 60 38 NO 30 634 21.1 92 2 Levens 25 132 5.3 30 opp 56 1075 19.2 42 o TOTAL NET Y ARDS ...... 4818 3550 Belles 15 83 5.5 13 Avg. Per Game ...... 401.5 295.8 Boyd 9 64 7.1 14 1 828 Setzer 17 59 3.5 22 1 Total Plays ...... 845 o Tackles (fotals·Solos.Assists): Bolcar (109-6643), 4.3 Brooks 13 43 3.3 11 Avg. Per Play ...... 5.7 Grimm (9349-44), Zorich (924349), Alm (74-30- Mihalko 12 44 3.7 7 o NET YARDS RUSHING .... .3452 1267 44), Francisco (66-38-28), Dahl (52-27-25), A. Jones Mirer 12 32 2.7 11 o 1·80 at Exit 77 106 (49-25-24), Kowalkowski (51-19-32), Lyght (47-25- Avg. Per Game ...... 288 Jarrell 2 24 12.0 21 o 22), Smagala (45-30-150), Terrell (44-22-22), 52825 US 33 N. Total Rushes ...... 673 416 Eilers 5 18 3.6 8 o 1 McDonald (34-8-26), Ridgley (24-11-13), Flannery NET YARDS PASSING ...... 1366 2283 Graham 7 15 2.1 7 South Bend, IN 1 (23-11-12), G. Davis (23-8-15), R. Smith (14-9~5), S. McNamara 4 14 3.5 6 Avg; Per Game ...... 114 190 o Smith (13-3-10), Simien (9-2-7), Smalls (844), N. ~gan 2 9 9.0 8 Completion %...... 51 56 1 Smith (8-5-3), PooIman (7-34), Bryant (7-4-3), 272-9000 West 2 5 2.5 4 o DuBose (7-34), E. Jones (7-34), S. Davis (3-0-3), Had Intercepted ...... 10 24 R. Griggs 2 0 0.0 2 42 McShane (3-1-2), Ratigan (3-2-1), Crounse (2-0-2), PUNTS/AVERAGE ...... 38/40.7 62/37.9 673 3452 5.1 53 ND 5 deManigold (1-0-1), Callan (1-0-1), Marshall (1-1-0), OPP 416 1267 3.0 36 *FREECONTINENTALBREAKFAST PENALTlES/Y ARDS ...... 58/483 54/417 Bodine (1-1-0), McGill (1-0-1), DiOrio (0-0-0). *PRIV ATE IN ROOM JACUZZI SPAS FUMBLES/BALL LOST.... 28/16 30/14 23 Receiving NO YDS AVG LC TD Fumbles Recovered/Caused: Ridgley (3-0), Zorich TOUCHDOWNS ...... 51 --~..:.....-...:...::..:.....--.-:.:..:...:.--.=..:.-...:.=.. (2-1), Kowalkowski (2-0), G. Davis (I-I), Smagala (1- *FREE HBO, CNN, ESPN Rushing ...... 42 5 Ismail 27 535 19.8 52 0 0), Terrell (1-0), McDonald (1-0), Simien (1-0), Rati- . *IN ROOM MOVIESNCR (over 50 titles) Passing ...... 2 18 Brown 13 204 15.7 38 0 gan (1-0), A. Jones (0-1), AIm (0-1), Bo1car (0-1). Retums ...... 7 0 Watters 13 196 15.1 32 0 *FREE LOCAL CALLS . TIME OF POSSESSION..... 378:06 341:54 Johnson 8 85 10.6 27 2 Passes IntlBroken up: Lyght (8-6.5), Terrell (5-9), *KlTCHENE1TES Eilers 5 53 10.6 20 0 Francisco (4-5.5), Grimm (2-3), Alm (1-6), Bolcar (1- Pollard 4 117 29.3 42 0 3), Flannery (1-0), S. Davis (1-0), DiOrio (1-0), *LAUNDRY Jarrell 4 37 9.3 16 0 Smagala (0-6), E. Jones (0-3), Zorich (0-2), Dahl (0-2), G. Davis (0-2), PooIman (0-2), Ratigan (0-2), Kow SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 TOT AVG Belles 3 29 9.7 17 0 Levens 3 27 9.0 12 0 alkowski (0-1), McDonald (0-1), Ridgley (0-1), R. dB ND ...... 91167 68 80406 33.8 Mihalko 3 44 14.7 33 0 Smith (0-1) . II Opponent ..•...... 4445 29 65183 15.3 T. Smith 2 26 12.0 18 0 - I. Smith 1 6 6.0 6 0 Sacks: McDonald (4/-15), Dahl (3.5/-10), Zorich (3/- .. Iii PRIVATE IN ROOM SPAS R. Griggs 1 7 7.0 7 0 27), Kowalkowski (3/-12), A. Jones (2/-26), Bolcar (2/ (For Two) ND 87 1366 15.7 52 2 -21), E. Jones (1/-23), McShane (1/-7), Alm (1/4), OPP 232 2283 9.8 61 18 Ridgley (1/-1), Flannery (0.5/-3).

6 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 7

, ~~---=- -. -.. _-- ~------___ ~_~ ______~ ___ ~ ~_~ ______~ __ ...L.______1989 Regular Season ,Final Statistics Anyone in terested in applying for the position of RESULTS AND ATTENDANCE Scoring TDR TDP TDRt PAT FG Pts Passing C A Pct Yds TD INT LG Johnson 11 2 o 0-0 0-0 78 Rice 68 137 .496 1122 2 9 52 A 31 Virginia c; W 36-13 71,323(c) 33 Hentrich 0 0 o 44-45 8-15 68 Mirer 15 30 .500 180 0 1 1989-1990 Scholastic S 16 at Michigan W 24-19 105,912(c) 1 0-0 0-0 66 Graham 4 5 .800 64 0 o 37 Watters 10 0 S 23 MICHIGAN ST. W 21-13 59,075(c) Rice 7 0 o 1-2 0-0 44 ~ 87 172 .506 1366 2 10 52 2283 18 24 61 S 30 atPurdue W 40-7 67,861(c) Ismail 2 0 3 0-0 0-0 30 OPP 232 412 .563 o 0-0 0-0 30 Editor-In-Chief o 7 atStanford W27-17 86,019(c) Culver 5 0 Hackett 0 0 o 3-4 7-8 24 Punt Returns NO YDS AVG LG TD 014 at Air Force W 41-27 53,533(c) Bolcar 0 0 1 0-0 0-0 6 021 USC W 28-24 59,075(c) Graham 1 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 Watters 15 201 13.4 97 56 1 Boyd 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 Ismail 7 113 16.1 Please 028 PITT W 45-7 59,075(c) 3.0 3 o call 239-7569 or stop by the Setzer 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 Eilers 1 3 N 4NAVY W41-0 59,075(c) o 0-0 0-0 6 Belles 1 0 0.0 o o West 1 0 o office in 303 LaFortune N 11 SMU W 59-6 59,075(c) AIm 0 0 1 0-0 0-0 6 Mihalko 1 0 0.0 o Student Center 2 N 18 at Penn St. W 34-23 86,025(c) Belles 1 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 NO 25 317 12.7 97 6 OPP 12 88 7.3 20 o N 25 at Miami L 10-27 81,634(c) Levens 1 0 o 0-0 0-0 Application Deadline is February 23 at 5:00 p.m. McNamara 1 0 o 0-0 0-0 6 Terrell 0 0 1 0-0 0-0 6 Kickoff Ret NO YDS AVG LG TD TEAM ST ATISTICS ND opp TD 20 502 25.1 92 2 TOTAL FIRST DOWNS ..... 257 206 Rushing NO YRS AVG LG Ismail . 7 Francisco 2 57 28.5 39 o 80 Rice 174 884 5.1 38 Rushing ...... 193 10 Johnson 3 42 14.0 27 o Passing ...... 59 111 Watters 118 791 6.7 53 3 28 9.3 11 o Johnson 131 515 3.9 35 11 Culver Penalty ...... 5 15 2 Mihalko 1 3 3.0 3 o Ismail 64 478 7.5 50 3rd Down Conv. % ..••...... 47 41 5 Belles 1 2 2.0 2 o Culver 59 242 4.1 15 4th Down Conv. %••...... 60 38 NO 30 634 21.1 92 2 Levens 25 132 5.3 30 opp 56 1075 19.2 42 o TOTAL NET Y ARDS ...... 4818 3550 Belles 15 83 5.5 13 Avg. Per Game ...... 401.5 295.8 Boyd 9 64 7.1 14 1 828 Setzer 17 59 3.5 22 1 Total Plays ...... 845 o Tackles (fotals·Solos.Assists): Bolcar (109-6643), 4.3 Brooks 13 43 3.3 11 Avg. Per Play ...... 5.7 Grimm (9349-44), Zorich (924349), Alm (74-30- Mihalko 12 44 3.7 7 o NET YARDS RUSHING .... .3452 1267 44), Francisco (66-38-28), Dahl (52-27-25), A. Jones Mirer 12 32 2.7 11 o 1·80 at Exit 77 106 (49-25-24), Kowalkowski (51-19-32), Lyght (47-25- Avg. Per Game ...... 288 Jarrell 2 24 12.0 21 o 22), Smagala (45-30-150), Terrell (44-22-22), 52825 US 33 N. Total Rushes ...... 673 416 Eilers 5 18 3.6 8 o 1 McDonald (34-8-26), Ridgley (24-11-13), Flannery NET YARDS PASSING ...... 1366 2283 Graham 7 15 2.1 7 South Bend, IN 1 (23-11-12), G. Davis (23-8-15), R. Smith (14-9~5), S. McNamara 4 14 3.5 6 Avg; Per Game ...... 114 190 o Smith (13-3-10), Simien (9-2-7), Smalls (844), N. ~gan 2 9 9.0 8 Completion %...... 51 56 1 Smith (8-5-3), PooIman (7-34), Bryant (7-4-3), 272-9000 West 2 5 2.5 4 o DuBose (7-34), E. Jones (7-34), S. Davis (3-0-3), Had Intercepted ...... 10 24 R. Griggs 2 0 0.0 2 42 McShane (3-1-2), Ratigan (3-2-1), Crounse (2-0-2), PUNTS/AVERAGE ...... 38/40.7 62/37.9 673 3452 5.1 53 ND 5 deManigold (1-0-1), Callan (1-0-1), Marshall (1-1-0), OPP 416 1267 3.0 36 *FREECONTINENTALBREAKFAST PENALTlES/Y ARDS ...... 58/483 54/417 Bodine (1-1-0), McGill (1-0-1), DiOrio (0-0-0). *PRIV ATE IN ROOM JACUZZI SPAS FUMBLES/BALL LOST.... 28/16 30/14 23 Receiving NO YDS AVG LC TD Fumbles Recovered/Caused: Ridgley (3-0), Zorich TOUCHDOWNS ...... 51 --~..:.....-...:...::..:.....--.-:.:..:...:.--.=..:.-...:.=.. (2-1), Kowalkowski (2-0), G. Davis (I-I), Smagala (1- *FREE HBO, CNN, ESPN Rushing ...... 42 5 Ismail 27 535 19.8 52 0 0), Terrell (1-0), McDonald (1-0), Simien (1-0), Rati- . *IN ROOM MOVIESNCR (over 50 titles) Passing ...... 2 18 Brown 13 204 15.7 38 0 gan (1-0), A. Jones (0-1), AIm (0-1), Bo1car (0-1). Retums ...... 7 0 Watters 13 196 15.1 32 0 *FREE LOCAL CALLS . TIME OF POSSESSION..... 378:06 341:54 Johnson 8 85 10.6 27 2 Passes IntlBroken up: Lyght (8-6.5), Terrell (5-9), *KlTCHENE1TES Eilers 5 53 10.6 20 0 Francisco (4-5.5), Grimm (2-3), Alm (1-6), Bolcar (1- Pollard 4 117 29.3 42 0 3), Flannery (1-0), S. Davis (1-0), DiOrio (1-0), *LAUNDRY Jarrell 4 37 9.3 16 0 Smagala (0-6), E. Jones (0-3), Zorich (0-2), Dahl (0-2), G. Davis (0-2), PooIman (0-2), Ratigan (0-2), Kow SCORE BY PERIODS 1 2 3 4 TOT AVG Belles 3 29 9.7 17 0 Levens 3 27 9.0 12 0 alkowski (0-1), McDonald (0-1), Ridgley (0-1), R. dB ND ...... 91167 68 80406 33.8 Mihalko 3 44 14.7 33 0 Smith (0-1) . II Opponent ..•...... 4445 29 65183 15.3 T. Smith 2 26 12.0 18 0 - I. Smith 1 6 6.0 6 0 Sacks: McDonald (4/-15), Dahl (3.5/-10), Zorich (3/- .. Iii PRIVATE IN ROOM SPAS R. Griggs 1 7 7.0 7 0 27), Kowalkowski (3/-12), A. Jones (2/-26), Bolcar (2/ (For Two) ND 87 1366 15.7 52 2 -21), E. Jones (1/-23), McShane (1/-7), Alm (1/4), OPP 232 2283 9.8 61 18 Ridgley (1/-1), Flannery (0.5/-3).

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dive, providing the man, often Watters, seemed to find his way Irish with a 13-0 into the secondary. Watters finished with 80 margin .. yards on 12 attempts. Bygame'send,eleven In dominating the. members of the Notre Dame team had carried .line of scrimmage, the ball a total of 59 times accumulating over Notre Dame piled up· 300 yards. 333 first half yards "We were just a prepared team," summed The while limiting the up Chris Zorich, Notre Dame's junior nose Cavaliers to a ,mere tackle. Zorich led the charge of the defensive 1, 60, thus assuring it line, making several stops and constantly i 1989 self of extending the harassing Shawn Moore when he dropped nation's longest win back in an effort to throw the ball. Kickoff ning streak to 13 After an initial 15 plays and 13 points of games. At the same grind it out, option football, the 1989 Irish Classic time, Virginia squad finally took to the air. The game's watched its personal biggest gain came when, following a play five game streak em fake, Rice found Ismail for a 52-yard strike. phatically approach One play later, sophomore Rodney Culver its end in front of scored from two yards out At this point, it 77,323 people, the ~ Moore (right) had defenders on his heels all evening. seemed safe to say the game was outof reach. largest crowd ever to . Johnson and Rice closed out the fIrst-half see a college football game at the Meadow- Quarterback Rice, halfback Watters and scoring with short bursts of one and three Off binds. . ' flanker Raghib Ismail spent a good portion of yards, respectively. Notre Dame took to the In the past, playing on astra-turf presented the evening blazing through the a problem for the Irish. They stniggled toget . Cavaliers' secondary. Mean by Navy and Pittsburgh in the previous year while, Lyght anchored a defense which was nothing short of domi As the Meadowlands scoreboard shows, Watters and the Irish had their way with the imd were handed their last loss on the turf of and Cavaliers in ths first half. the Cotton Bowl facing Texas A&M. This nating while the outcome of the game would be different. The surface al game was still in jeopardy. lowed the Irish to showcase its blinding "We just wanted to go out Notre Dame's awesome display speed. there, have a good time, drive the ball down the field and be the best offirepower buries Virginia team we can be," said Rice who RUNNING received the Flynn Award as the game's most valuable player. For the first twenty-five minutes, graduated Mark Green, Andy Heck, Frank annual Kickoff Classic. the offense appeared to be un BY ANDY IDLGER Starns, Wes Pritchett, Reggie Ho and George "It's one of those games where you bum the stoppable. Rice led the way, fin Streeter- all essential components of the films," said Virginia coach George Welsh. ishing the contest with 217 all Aug. 31, East Rutherford, NJ~ . 12-0 team from the previous year. . After a TOdd Lyght interception the Notre purpose yards . n 1988, Notre Dame was suppose<;l to . But these graduations had been expected. ··1 Dame offense took to the field. After two Scoring early and often, Notre be "a year away." Lou 'Holtz was only In addition to deficiencies resulting from plays of negligible gain, Tony Rice, who led Dame appeared content to keep in his third year and most of the skill graduation, various difficulties unexpect the option attack, scurried 10 yards on a the ball on the ground. "Before positions were filled with underclassmen. edly sidelined Michael Stonebreaker, Tony keeper for the key play of the drive. A Much to the delight of the Irish fans, the 1988 we went out, our offensive line Brooks, Braxston Banks and George WH- personal foul at the end of the play moved the team responded with the national champion~ told us, 'We're going to run the . Iiams. Not only was overall talent depleted, ball to the Virginia Seven yard line. Three ship "a year early." ball down their throat. No matter but the surprises were bound to upset delicate plays later, Riee pitched to Ricky Watters for Now, Notre Dame took a seasoned, talented team chemistry. How the team would react to what, '" said Rice. a two-yard touchdown putting the Irish on the The offensive line was right on squad to the field. But true to form, Head such adversity weighed heavily on the mind board early. Coach Lou Holtz spent much of the week of the Irish faithful. the money. All five touchdowns Quickly stuffing the Cavaliers on downs, came via the run. Running the preceding the Kickoff Classic doubting his By halftime of the contest, the Irish an team's chance for success. Notre Dame forced the first of Ed Garno's option with tremendous preci swered virtually all questions. Scoring seven punts. Watters' return of 24.yards set In the wake of several recent events, it sion, Rice tallied 70 yards on just touchdowns on its first five drives, Notre up a nine-play drive featuring five Anthony Mart Okuda appeared as if Holtz may have had genuine eight carries. If the Virginia Dame was well on its way to a 36-13 thrash Johnson carries. The final run foundJ ohnson This Cavalier wasn't congratulating Rice, who cause for concern. After all, the Irish had With the game In control early, Holtz defense contained Rice, the pitch ing of the Cavaliers of Virginia in the seventh sprawled out in the end zone after a one yard pondered plays for backup 08 Mlrer (left). earned the game's MVP honors. 8 9 Scholastic 1989 Football Review J .. ]

locker room with an in time, it was too late," #1 in seven of the 14 surmountable halftime said Wilson~ a junior major pre-season lead of 33-0. who totalled 8S yards on polls. Lyght, who finished 15 carries. At 8:10 on Thurs with two interceptions, While Wilson noticed day, August 31, appeared to be all over an improvement in the Craig Hentrich the field. The junior play of the Cavaliers, kicked off the 1989 'i,. dedicated his perform Lyght attributed their , college football sea i~ ance to the players unex two second-half touch son and Notre pectedly sidelined be downs to an emotional Dame's drive for a fore the contest. "I let down. "Their two second consecutive played this game for touchdowns should not national champion Michael Stonebreaker, have been on the board. ship, and the Irish George Williams; Tony We came in at halftime became the fourth Brooks and Braxston feeling pretty good. The defending national Banks," said the AlI second team went in and champion to open " . America cornerback. didn't play welL Butwe its season in the " - All four players have young players and Kickoff Classic. 'I: - missed the entire 1989 it was a good learning Soon after, they " . season. Stonebreaker experience for them." became the third was ineligible for disci Prior to the game, such team to do so plinary reasons, Tony Holtz mentioned the successfully. The Brooks was not re-ad kicking game as one unit that was no mitted to Notre Dame particular concern. longer "a year following summer Apparently missed ex away" was off and school, George Wil tra points from a season running and refus· liams was sidelined due ago were still causing ing to slow down. to academic ineligibility him sleepless nights. Players like Smagala helped the Irish secondary hold the Cavs to 95 passing yards. and Banks suffered a Holtz hoped the tandem knee injury. of Billy Hackett and • Though the first team freshman . Craig Hen did not seem to mis.s the trich could help cure his four .projected starters, insomnia. . Notre Dame appeared The two eventually short on depth. The turned in a solid cam early Irish dominance paign, but on this occa allowed Holtz to test sion gave Holtz cause several reserves in ac- for concern. Both had tual game situations Watters rushed 12 times for 80 yards and one touchdown. quite a workout. Hen· prior to squaring off with highly ranked general, had a difficult time getting un trich connected on one of two field goals and Michigan. He was less than impressed with tracked. Moore, who eventually became one his seven kickoffs reached the ten yard line the results. of the nation's highest rated passers, con- on the average. Meanwhile, two of the Irish "For the fIrst 2S minutes we were a top 20 nected on only 3 of 12 first half passes while touchdowns resulted in six points following team. For the last 3S minutes we were a throwing two interceptions. conversion attempts. Hackett missed one, bottom 20 team," said the fourth year Irish The Virginia ground attack boasted and Rice was stopped on a two-point attempt coach. Marcus Wilson, a returning starter and lead- after the next touchdown. Welsh appreciated the sight of Tony Rice ing rusher from the previous season, along Even an impressive win failed to erase and company watching from the sidelines with his backup, Terry Kirby, one of the genuine concern from the mind of Holtz. prior to the end of the first half. "I think he nation's most highly regarded freshmen. The "We won't be a good team until we are a was nice to us. It could have been much tandem combined for 116 yards but only 18 dominating defense." worse. They are awfully good," said Welsh, of those came in the first half. The polls tended to disagree with the the ninth year head coach of the Cavaliers. "At a point you have to say, 'We're going coach's definition of a "good team." Coming , . The game was billed as a battle of quarter- to do it' and that point never came in the first into the game, Notre Dame was ranked #2 AP backs, but Shawn Moore, the Virginia field half. It came in the second half, but by that ::1' and #1 UP!. Furthermore, they were ranked

Scholastic 1989 Football Review 11

, ,[ $ I ,I locker room with an in time, it was too late," #1 in seven of the 14 surmountable halftime said Wilson~ a junior major pre-season lead of 33-0. who totalled 8S yards on polls. Lyght, who finished 15 carries. At 8:10 on Thurs with two interceptions, While Wilson noticed day, August 31, appeared to be all over an improvement in the Craig Hentrich the field. The junior play of the Cavaliers, kicked off the 1989 'i,. dedicated his perform Lyght attributed their , college football sea i~ ance to the players unex two second-half touch son and Notre pectedly sidelined be downs to an emotional Dame's drive for a fore the contest. "I let down. "Their two second consecutive played this game for touchdowns should not national champion Michael Stonebreaker, have been on the board. ship, and the Irish George Williams; Tony We came in at halftime became the fourth Brooks and Braxston feeling pretty good. The defending national Banks," said the AlI second team went in and champion to open " . America cornerback. didn't play welL Butwe its season in the " - All four players have young players and Kickoff Classic. 'I: - missed the entire 1989 it was a good learning Soon after, they " . season. Stonebreaker experience for them." became the third was ineligible for disci Prior to the game, such team to do so plinary reasons, Tony Holtz mentioned the successfully. The Brooks was not re-ad kicking game as one unit that was no mitted to Notre Dame particular concern. longer "a year following summer Apparently missed ex away" was off and school, George Wil tra points from a season running and refus· liams was sidelined due ago were still causing ing to slow down. to academic ineligibility him sleepless nights. Players like Smagala helped the Irish secondary hold the Cavs to 95 passing yards. and Banks suffered a Holtz hoped the tandem knee injury. of Billy Hackett and • Though the first team freshman . Craig Hen did not seem to mis.s the trich could help cure his four .projected starters, insomnia. . Notre Dame appeared The two eventually short on depth. The turned in a solid cam early Irish dominance paign, but on this occa allowed Holtz to test sion gave Holtz cause several reserves in ac- for concern. Both had tual game situations Watters rushed 12 times for 80 yards and one touchdown. quite a workout. Hen· prior to squaring off with highly ranked general, had a difficult time getting un trich connected on one of two field goals and Michigan. He was less than impressed with tracked. Moore, who eventually became one his seven kickoffs reached the ten yard line the results. of the nation's highest rated passers, con- on the average. Meanwhile, two of the Irish "For the fIrst 2S minutes we were a top 20 nected on only 3 of 12 first half passes while touchdowns resulted in six points following team. For the last 3S minutes we were a throwing two interceptions. conversion attempts. Hackett missed one, bottom 20 team," said the fourth year Irish The Virginia ground attack boasted and Rice was stopped on a two-point attempt coach. Marcus Wilson, a returning starter and lead- after the next touchdown. Welsh appreciated the sight of Tony Rice ing rusher from the previous season, along Even an impressive win failed to erase and company watching from the sidelines with his backup, Terry Kirby, one of the genuine concern from the mind of Holtz. prior to the end of the first half. "I think he nation's most highly regarded freshmen. The "We won't be a good team until we are a was nice to us. It could have been much tandem combined for 116 yards but only 18 dominating defense." worse. They are awfully good," said Welsh, of those came in the first half. The polls tended to disagree with the the ninth year head coach of the Cavaliers. "At a point you have to say, 'We're going coach's definition of a "good team." Coming , . The game was billed as a battle of quarter- to do it' and that point never came in the first into the game, Notre Dame was ranked #2 AP backs, but Shawn Moore, the Virginia field half. It came in the second half, but by that ::1' and #1 UP!. Furthermore, they were ranked

Scholastic 1989 Football Review 11

, ,[ ..

translated into 12 points and the difference in And who could really blame him? i seemed destined for a full day of. trench BY JIM MAGGIO Notre Dame's 24-19 win over Bo Ismail's second-half explosions were the warfare. But as slow as the first 30 minutes Schembechler's second-ranked squad. exception to Notre Dame's rule of playing seemed, the second 30 began at warp speed. Sept. 16, Ann Arbor, MI- Ismail gave a prelude of things to come conservative, possession football on a rainy Carlson's kick to open the third quarter hen someone asked Lou Holtz last November when he returned kicks of 87 day. After all, the Rocket's lone return of the rose, then descended into Ismail's waiting W if he had a name for the play . and 83 yards for touchdowns in a 54-11 first stanza netted only 11 yards, and the Irish hands at the Irish 12. Remembering Holtz' that buried Michigan on this shellacking of the Rice Owls. But the Owls were content to grind it out on the slick catchy name for the task at hand, he sped up soggy Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, he were a winless team at the time, and while no Michigan Stadium turf. the middle at the first wave of blockers .. A responded with a shrug. "Middle," he re one questioned the abilities of the sophomore With fullback Anthony Johnson and key Ryan Mihalko block enabled Ismail to plied, almost embarrassed by the moniker. speedster, no.t many would have bet on the quarterback Tony Rice carrying the bulk of dart to the right sideline, and from there it was "We're not real clever." same thing happening against the defending the load, Notre Dame rushed on 27 consecu· a footrace. The Wolverines' Corwin Brown Holtz didn't have to be, not when he Big Ten champions. Certainly not Holtz, tive offensive plays in the first half before appeared to have the angle on him, but the could unleash Raghib Ismail on kickoff re who quickly jumped to Schembechler's de~ throwing a pass. Following Scott Rocket's 4.28 speed took it away as he raced turns.Twice the Wolverines elected to kick fense for giving Ismail two chances. "Bo's Kowalkowski's second quarter fumble re unhindered into the end zone. Hentrich deep to the "Rocket" in the second half, and won a lot of games doing that," he explained. covery at the Michigan 24, the Irish ran converted the extra point, and after just i 1 twice they walked away kicking themselves "He sort of went against his trend, but I never Johnson left, right and center to a first and ticks of the' clock the Irish led by eight. for it. Ismail's returns of 88 and 92 yards , The play seemed to light a fire under the . question anything Bo does in a game." goal at the two. An illegal motion penalty ... and scored from six yards out to give Notre Dame a 7-0 lead.

12 . Scholastic 1989 Football Review 13 ..

Notre Dame defense,·· as they in jitters, but I settled in after that. I just came out hitting. Taylor kept the wanted to lead the team." , ,,', ball on a third and eight from his He nearly led Michigan to victory. Start own 33, running for four before ing from his own 39, Grbac came out sling linebacker Ned Bolcar nailed ing. His completions of 19 and 23 yards to " him from behind. Bolcar's hit split end Greg McMurtry helped move the knocked Taylor out of the game . ball to the Irish five, where Grbac finished off with a bruised back, and sud the 12-play drive with a touchdown strike to denly Michigan's fate was left to tight end Derrick Walker. The two-point a redshirt freshman named Elvis. conversion attempt failed, but the rejuve Elvis Grbac, that is. nated freshman had brought the Wolverines Grbac's first series in a back to life. Michigan uniform consisted of a Just as the 105,912 fans in Michigan Road In the second quarter, Johnson took a Rice pass... running play for minus yardage Stadium began to rock the house, someone and two incomplete passes. pulled the plug on all their fun. You could pushed them back to the six. before Rice When Eduardo Azcona's 35-yard punt en sense what went through every Wolverine completed his first pass of the afternoon to abled Notre Dame to answer with Hentrich' s fan's mind as Gulam Khan's ensuing kickoff Johnson for the touchdown. Cnlig 3D-yard field goal, the Wolverines' chances sailed high and deep. Oh no, not to him to Hentrich's point after gave Notre Dame a 7- appeared doomed. Grbac would have to again. olead. mature fast, and- Domers be damned- the kid The Rocket took Khan's kick and The Wolverines responded on their next shook it off, making like the King himself headed straight up the middle once more. drive to close the gap. Desmond Howard's with a stellar performance. Dodging three tackles, he broke to the left 38-yard kickoff return gave Michigan the "Coach (Offensive Coordinator Gary) sideline and had only the kicker io beat. ball at their own 41, and the offense began to Moeller told me, 'If you screw up,justgo on Rodney Culver took care of that problem, Victory click after collecting a measl y 40 yards in the and forget it; "'.said Grbac about his introduc waylaying Khan (who broke his left arm on first 25 minutes. Quarterback Michael tion to college football. "The first series I was the play) and giving Ismail clear sailing for a Taylor's 14-yard completion to Chris Cal The Rocket's two kick returns· loway, along with a string of Irish penalties, helped Michigan to a first and goal at the six. for touchdowns spark Notre Taylor tossed to Calloway again on third and nine for the touchdown, but J. D. Carlson's Dame to its third straight win point after attempt hit the left upright and sent Michigan to the locker room at the half trail over the Wolverines ingbyone. The respective defensive units con Ismail's second-half fireworks sealed Michigan's fate. trolled much of the first half as Michigan (99 total offensive yards) and Notre Dame (115) translated into 12 points and the difference in And who could really blame him? i seemed destined for a full day of. trench BY JIM MAGGIO Notre Dame's 24-19 win over Bo Ismail's second-half explosions were the warfare. But as slow as the first 30 minutes Schembechler's second-ranked squad. exception to Notre Dame's rule of playing seemed, the second 30 began at warp speed. Sept. 16, Ann Arbor, MI- Ismail gave a prelude of things to come conservative, possession football on a rainy Carlson's kick to open the third quarter hen someone asked Lou Holtz last November when he returned kicks of 87 day. After all, the Rocket's lone return of the rose, then descended into Ismail's waiting W if he had a name for the play . and 83 yards for touchdowns in a 54-11 first stanza netted only 11 yards, and the Irish hands at the Irish 12. Remembering Holtz' that buried Michigan on this shellacking of the Rice Owls. But the Owls were content to grind it out on the slick catchy name for the task at hand, he sped up soggy Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor, he were a winless team at the time, and while no Michigan Stadium turf. the middle at the first wave of blockers .. A responded with a shrug. "Middle," he re one questioned the abilities of the sophomore With fullback Anthony Johnson and key Ryan Mihalko block enabled Ismail to plied, almost embarrassed by the moniker. speedster, no.t many would have bet on the quarterback Tony Rice carrying the bulk of dart to the right sideline, and from there it was "We're not real clever." same thing happening against the defending the load, Notre Dame rushed on 27 consecu· a footrace. The Wolverines' Corwin Brown Holtz didn't have to be, not when he Big Ten champions. Certainly not Holtz, tive offensive plays in the first half before appeared to have the angle on him, but the could unleash Raghib Ismail on kickoff re who quickly jumped to Schembechler's de~ throwing a pass. Following Scott Rocket's 4.28 speed took it away as he raced turns.Twice the Wolverines elected to kick fense for giving Ismail two chances. "Bo's Kowalkowski's second quarter fumble re unhindered into the end zone. Hentrich deep to the "Rocket" in the second half, and won a lot of games doing that," he explained. covery at the Michigan 24, the Irish ran converted the extra point, and after just i 1 twice they walked away kicking themselves "He sort of went against his trend, but I never Johnson left, right and center to a first and ticks of the' clock the Irish led by eight. for it. Ismail's returns of 88 and 92 yards , The play seemed to light a fire under the . question anything Bo does in a game." goal at the two. An illegal motion penalty ... and scored from six yards out to give Notre Dame a 7-0 lead.

12 . Scholastic 1989 Football Review 13 yards. The ball bounced Holtz characteristi- feebly before the soggy cally downplayed his turf stopped it dead in its team's accomplishments tracks, three yards from while showering praise on its starting point. It was the opposition. "We very a fitting end to humbly accept this win, " Michigan's chances as said Holtz. "I thought it the Irish ran out the was an outstanding foot- clock to seal the victory. ball game, and of course For Michig~n, the we're very happy. 'Any- loss extended their time we come up here to opening game losing Ann Arbor and walk out streak to three (all at the with a win, we are happy." hands of the Irish). Last Meanwhile, the year's bitter 19-17 de- Rocket was busy fending feat in South Bend fll- off the hordes of media eled a year-long desire trying to extract some- forreverige, and the thing from college Wolverines' failure to football's newest phe- make good on their vow.' nomenon. He quickly dis- 10 win this game left missed any chances of them mentally drained. winning the Heisman Tro- "I've been involved Joe Vitacco phy and deflected praise to in football all my life, After stopping the Wolverines on a key play, the defense rests. his teammates. "I told and this one's got to be the hardest to swal- Ismail's superhuman effort as the difference Coach (Holtz) I wish I could find somewhere low," mourned mammoth offensive tackle in the game. "Two kick returns did us in," he in the budget to give all the guys on the Greg Skrepenak. "I could just cry right now, grumbled. Never one to concede much, kickoff team a game ball," he said modestly. go off in a corner and be by myself, thinking Schembechler offered that "Notre Dame is And why not? As long as Holtz kept what could have been done differently." better than Michigan, but it might not be so at calling "Middle," Ismail could afford to be in Schembechler could only acknowledge the end of the year." a giving mood. • Rice rushed for 79 yards on a day where he attempted only two passes ... 92-yard touchdown return. That, capped by Hentrich's PAT, put the Irish up by 12 with 12:4610 play.

,1 > Both teams traded possessions before Michigan had the ball once more with under eight minutes 10 i play. Grbac came out throwing again from his own :' 33, and 13 plays later had pulled the Wolverines back in it with a four-yard scoring pass to McMurtry. Gibac's success through the air (17 for 21, 134 yards, 2 touchdowns) was a factor the Irish had not counted i . on. • 1 • "We thought he'd be a little off balance," said Bolcar. "We should have pressured him more, but Grbac played really well. He found his receivers and stayed in the pocket well." Trailing 24-19 with just over foUr minutes reo maining, the Wolverines opted for the onside kick. As if Schembechler wasn't peeved enough with Carlson for his missed extra point, imagine his disgust , Joe V~acco ... whlle the Notre Dame defense stuffed Michigan's vaunted ,running game. after Carlson's attempt failed to travel the required 10 14 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 15 yards. The ball bounced Holtz characteristi- feebly before the soggy cally downplayed his turf stopped it dead in its team's accomplishments tracks, three yards from while showering praise on its starting point. It was the opposition. "We very a fitting end to humbly accept this win, " Michigan's chances as said Holtz. "I thought it the Irish ran out the was an outstanding foot- clock to seal the victory. ball game, and of course For Michig~n, the we're very happy. 'Any- loss extended their time we come up here to opening game losing Ann Arbor and walk out streak to three (all at the with a win, we are happy." hands of the Irish). Last Meanwhile, the year's bitter 19-17 de- Rocket was busy fending feat in South Bend fll- off the hordes of media eled a year-long desire trying to extract some- forreverige, and the thing from college Wolverines' failure to football's newest phe- make good on their vow.' nomenon. He quickly dis- 10 win this game left missed any chances of them mentally drained. winning the Heisman Tro- "I've been involved Joe Vitacco phy and deflected praise to in football all my life, After stopping the Wolverines on a key play, the defense rests. his teammates. "I told and this one's got to be the hardest to swal- Ismail's superhuman effort as the difference Coach (Holtz) I wish I could find somewhere low," mourned mammoth offensive tackle in the game. "Two kick returns did us in," he in the budget to give all the guys on the Greg Skrepenak. "I could just cry right now, grumbled. Never one to concede much, kickoff team a game ball," he said modestly. go off in a corner and be by myself, thinking Schembechler offered that "Notre Dame is And why not? As long as Holtz kept what could have been done differently." better than Michigan, but it might not be so at calling "Middle," Ismail could afford to be in Schembechler could only acknowledge the end of the year." a giving mood. • Rice rushed for 79 yards on a day where he attempted only two passes ... 92-yard touchdown return. That, capped by Hentrich's PAT, put the Irish up by 12 with 12:4610 play.

Belles at the 11. The quick-strike score gave the Irish a 14- Raghib Ismail olead, yet that was all the scoring they would exploded up the muster until late in the second half as Notre middle for six Dame miscues allowed the Spartans to creep \: ' and Watters fol back. After a Michigan State four-and-out lowed with a series, the Irish got the ball on their own 34. gain of three, They moved it down to the MSU 49 before setting the stage Rodney Culver fumbled, courtesy of a hit by for a Rice pitch defensive tackle Chris Soehnlen. Bobby to Watters, who Wilson recovered for the Spartans on the scored un MSU 44, setting up Langeloh's 36-yard fIeld touched from goal to make the score 14-3. the two. Craig MSU Head Coach George PerIes had said Hentrich's point all week that he would not kick to Notre after gave the Dame's Raghib Ismail. That strategy could Irish a 7-0 lead. have burned him when the 'ensuing kickoff gave Notre Dame great fIeld position at their I, - Six mimites , .. , into the second own 41. Rice got scorched instead three i,- "- 'i' ... quarter, Notre plays later, overthrowing Ismail over the II j , : Dame was on middle into the hands of Spartan safety Mike I: ... Ian Johanson Watters capped Notre Dame's first scoring drive with a the move again Iaquaniello, who returned it 16 yards to the two-yard touchdown ... as the ball ap- Irish 49. I' ! : = proached The Spartans took advantage of Notre I' .... I , I!! ... don't want to say we feel fortunate; because midfield. On second and seven, Rice Dame's second giveaway as Langeloh . , . ! • I think our guys will grow from this win . dropped the snap but recovered in time to kicked another fIeld goal, this one from 38 ! .. They faced adversity, things weren't going pitch to Watters, who ran left behind Mike yards out as time expired in the half to close ," .. well and we played badly .... We had four Brennan's block and cut right behind a An Notre Dame's lead to eight. ; - ~ Ian Johanson turnovers, and you just can't do those thony Johnson block en route to a 53-yard The result could have been worse for the Johnson's one-yard plunge provided the Irish with the winning margin. , . things." touchdown run. Irish, though. One play before the kick, Enos 1;,; .. Keyed by a IS-yard completion from dropped back on fIrst and 10 from the 13, 1 - quarterback Dan Enos to Courtney Hawkins only to be sacked by defensive end Devon anda21-yardrun by Hyland Hickson, Michi McDonald for a loss of eight. It was

I ' gan S tate marched to the Irish 27 to open the McDonald's second sack of the series and the i ...... game. On fourth and six, Spartan placekicker crowning play for a defensive unit that held d Enough John Langeloh lined up to attempt a 45-yard the Spartans to two fIeld goals after turnovers I- field goal. had given them excellent fIeld position. I 1 ' , The low snap from center forced Spartan The Irish offense continued to struggle as , It looks ugly, but Notre Dame gets by the Spartans in its home opener 1 -- holder Josh Butland to attempt a pass, only to the second half began, as two incompletions ,! . throw incomplete to Langeloh. It wasn't the . and a stuffed running play forced another "i' :'1 last opportunity the Spartans would squander Notre Dame punt. But with the Spartan :1'1 on the day, but was their only real scoring offense taking advantage of excellent fIeld ji play in front of their loyal fans. ;: BY BRIAN MCMAHON September Saturday, yielding four turnovers threat until late in the second quarter. position and driving to the Notre Dame six, The invited guests were fIred up as well. (three of which lead to Spartan scores) and The Irish offense took over and executed the Irish defense held off the threat. On third Although the game wouldn't count in the Big sputtering offensively for much of the after· ' a balanced, impressive drive that consumed and goal, Enos lofted a timing pattern to Sept. 23, Notre Dame- I! Ten standings, the Spartans desperately noon. Expected to be the life of the party, 6:16 and 72 yards on 14 plays. On third and Hawkins in the deep right comer of the J he wind-whipped air was fIlled wanted to avoid the same rough start that saw Notre Dame quarterback Tony Rice had what five from the Notre Dame 33, Rice hit tail endzone. This time Irish cornerback Todd T with excited anticipation when them lose four of fIve to start the 1988 cam he would call later the "worst" game of his back Ricky Watters for a gain of 10. Irish Lyght made the big defensive play, picking top-ranked Notre Dame hosted its paign. The Spartans were on a roll after career, throwing two interceptions, complet fullback Anthony Johnson kept the drive off Enos' bid and denying a touchdown once - fIrst party of the 1989 season against Michi demolishing Miami (Ohio) 49-0 the previous ingjusteight of 15 passeS and fumbling once. alive on fourth and one at the Spartan 48, again. . gan State. With the last two games of their week, and a victory at Notre Dame would It wasn't pretty, but when it was allover .plowing for a first down behind a phenome The Irish had dodged one bullet but 1988 national championship season away vault them into the Big Ten season with a lot the Irish had extended their home unbeaten nalline surge. couldn't capitalize, allowing Michigan State from the friendly confInes of Notre Dame of steam- not to mention avenge the previous streak to 13 games with a 21-13 victory. Two plays later, Rice scampered 18 yards another chance they wouldn't pass up. After , Stadium and the fIrst two of this season on the year's 20-3 loss at home to the Irish. "We're gratifIed to win," said Notre to the Spartan 25. After a three-yard loss on Ian Johanson Lyght's interception the Irish offense took road as well, the 2-0 Irish were anxious to The Irish were gracious hosts on this cool Dame Head Coach Lou Holtz afterward. "I first down, Rice hit senior utility man Steve ... then coasted 53 yards for his second over on the 20, and on third and 10 Rice, score of the game. 16 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 17 . • .. , ~.'. I.' - • " " ." , " . -' '_ .. '.. _ - , " '

unable to find a receiver down Spartans to run in his direction, he of a guy to defend. His judgements were field, was pressured to leave the answered without hesitation. good. He ran the ball and that's when he's pocket. He tossed a soft pass up "Yes." most dangerous (Rice had 78 rushing yards for grabs that Carlos Jenkins inter Notre Dame took over with just on the day). He threw the ball on occasion cepted on the Notre Dame 32. over three minutes to go and ran pretty well. He was a pretty well-rounded Three plays later the Irish de out all but the last 11 seconds player out there today. He was really the big fense finally broke when Enos, remaining on the clock. Sexton difference. He's a legitimate great football with lots of time, hit junior wide punted on fourth and two to the player and God bless him. I'm glad I'll never receiver James Bradley in stride Spartan 30, where freshman quar. see him again." behind Irish defensive backs Stan terback John Gieselman came in When told of Perles' comments, Rice Smagala and Pat Terrell for the and fumbled the snap. The miscue admitted being "surprised," adding that "it touchdown. Langeloh's conver sealed Michigan State's fate and will go down as a win, but in my book it was sion cut Notre Dame's lead to one Notre Dame's third consecutive only so-so." He wasn't going to dwell on the with 6:36 remaining in the third win against the Spartans, the 18th day, though. "I have to learn from the mis quarter. in their last 21 meetings. Once the Spartan offense made takes and make things better next week," he The offense struggled and the said. the big play, the defense re passing game faltered, but the sponded in kind. Rice, looking to "Next week" would send the Irish to Irish. defense kept them in the Purdue, and Holtz was his usual distraught throw to a wide-open Watters on game by intercepting two passes, third and 12 from his own 45, had self at the prospect of facing a team the Irish coming up with key sacks, and have manhandled in recent years. "I under his pass blocked by MSU line keeping the Spartans out of the end backer Percy Snow to force an stand that they've beaten Notre Dame every zone after what could have been year after they (NotreDame) won a national other Irish punt. Snow, an All- costly Irish turnovers. In the end, championship," he said. "I'm concerned in a America and Butkus award candi- Ian Johanson the offense came through 'with a date, was the main reason the Irish Although throttled in the first half, Enos threw for lot of areas." !, 62-yard drive to seal the victory. Uh-huh. had zero net yards rushing for the 200 yards on the day. Perles was disappointed after· Todd Lyght (1) and Andre Jones celebrate a big defensive stop. halfwithjust4:051eftin the third quarter. His passes while playing every down. ward, but not discouraged by his team's ef" 15 tackles led both teams and his inspired Following an exchange of possessions, fort. "It was a tough loss because our team play seemed to lift his team. the Irish offense finally gave Notre Dame a played so hard," he lamented. "It's a game of "We aren't being very productive inside point cushion with which to work. Starting mistakes, and they made the mistakes and for the type of defense we're seeing," said from their own 38 they ran nine plays on the stilI won." Holtz, reacting to his team's struggle with the ground, punctuated by a one-yard scoring run Perles thought Rice played exceptionally, 0, Spartan defense. "But let's give them credit. by Johnson to give thelrisha21-131ead with despite the quarterback's self criticism. ''The '" Percy Snow is a great linebacker. There was 8: 16 left in the contest. credit goes to Rice," he said. "He's one heck some great hitting out there on the field on Michigan State both sides." wasn't finished, though. , ,i : i MSU later drove to Notre Dame's 38, but They took the kickoff i I: the Irish defense was determined not to allow and marched to the Irish I' another score. Sure enough, Enos dropped 25, where they faced a back to pass on third and 10 and was sacked fourth and one situation. ! : i: by junior end Andre Jones for a loss of 16. Enos handed to Hickson, The sack knocked the Spartans out of field who ran right- right into goal range and forced them to punt once a wall, to be exact. ": again. McDonald stood up Notre Dame's own failure to generate MSU guard Matt Keller, more offense gave the Spartans new life, but and wi th nowhere to go not for long. On the first play of the fourth Hickson was brought quarter Enos took the snap from the Irish 46 down by Bryan Flannery on second and 10. Drifting back with no for no gain. pressure at all, he threw a weak pass that "We knew they'd run junior linebacker Donn Grimm intercepted at and we had the perfect the 38. Grimm and Bolcar anchored the Irish defense," McDonald defense on this day, combining for 18 tack- said afterward. When Ian Johanson PursuIt by the likes of Bolcar (47) held the Spartan les, a sack, an interception and two blocked asked if he wanted the ! ! ground attack In check. ! :

18 : : Scholastic 1989 Football Review 19 , 0'

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drove 55 yards, capped off by an Anthony season led the squad, was.in the right spot at and effectively put the Boilermakers away Johnson touchdown run up the middle. the right time when Purdue quarterback for good. The halftime statistics tell a story of Freshman kicker Craig Hentrich converted Craig Letnich unleashed a'wild pass while dominance. Notre Dame tallied 17 fIrst the point after and the Irish held a 7-0 lead. under heavy pressure from nose tackle Chris downs, Purdue four. Notre Dame amassed Purdue's offense got another chance but Zorich. AIm juggled the pass for a yard or 344 total yards, Purdue 93. Notre Dame had was shut down again, forcing a punt to the two, then held on tight as he bulled his way one turnover, Purdue five- three of which led Notre Dame 43. The Irish followed with a into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown directly to Notre Dame touchdowns. Laugher 57-yard drive which could have served as the return. Purdue Head Coach Fred Akers was Tony Rice Heisman highlight film~ First, "It was just one of those freak things that disgusted with the turnovers and realized that II Rice tossed a swing pass to Ricky Watters happened," said AIm of his interception. they were the reason for the lopsided score. good for 10 yards. Then, after a Johnson "Once I had the ball in my hands and I saw the "It was pretty plain to me that when you In plunge good for three, Rice kept on the option end zone, ,there was no way that anyone was play the number one team, you have to play for a 15-yard gain to the Purdue f,8 .. Follow going Jg.bring.me down.", almost perfect football, and we didn't do ing a four-yard loss, Rice threw',&' strik:e to a ..The iris'h"w'ould score two more touch that," said Akers. "Eight turnovers eliminate wide-open Brown' for' a gain., of 23~Rice do\~/n;""b~iorejlalftime .. o~ J ohns6n' sand the chance to win against anybody ,much less Lafayette capped off the textbook drive by 'keeping on Watters' one~yard runs to take a 34~0 lead . against Notre Dame." an option left for the touch down and a 14-0 Irish lead. After the game, Holtz Impressive, 34-point showered praise on his quarterback and team first halfpropels leader, who by virtue of this victory improved his rec Irish, leaving Purdue ord as Notre Dame's start in the dust ing quarterback to 20-2. "I evaluate Tony Rice solely on how many times he gets the team into the end of the younger'players saw action against the BY JONPAUL POTTS zone," said Hbltz~ "He ran the option well and had a Sept. 30, West Lafayette, IN- passing performance to date. He a,lso rushed caught four passes for 10Iyard$; which strong day passing, but that t was said to be a gaine ripe for upset. 12 times for 67 yards and on,e touchd()wn. prompted some good words from Irish Head is not unexpected from a I After all, Purdue had pulled off ten , Another big plus hadto be the play of Coach Lou Holtz. player the caliber of Tony major upsets of Notre Daine since the sophomore tight end Derek Brown. Brown "Derek played a fine game, with the Rice." inception of the series, including six the exception of the fumble by the end And what of Rice him year after the Irish had'won the national zone. The fumble was due to his extra self? As usual, he evalu championship. effort in going in for the score," said ated his best day thus far as But overmatched is the best way to Holtz. "He made a lot of yardage today Notre Dame quarterback describe' the PUrdue Boilermakers of that the average tight end would not be by deflecting all the praise 1989 on this beautiful Saturday after- , able to make." to his teammates. noon, as the Irish delivered a thorough The Boilermakers won the coin "Purdue played man 40-7 whipping. toss and' elected to receive. After a to-man defense and we Besides extending their winning decent return, Purdue went four downs took advantage of what streak to 16, other positive aspects of and out. After the punt, Notre Dame they gave us," said Rice. this game surfaced for the Irish as well. began ,a drive which would carry them CIA game like this gave me One would have to be the reemergence to the Purdue38 yard line. The drive and my receivers confi of senior quarterback and tri-captain ended abruptly, however, when sopho- I dence. It was a total team Tony Rice as a legitimate Heisman more tailback Rodney Culver fumbled. effort." Trophy candidate. Rice was spectacu Purdue apparently felt one good Notre Dame's next lar in breaking out of a two game funk turn deserved another as fullback Jer touchdown would come that saddled him since the season-open- ' ome Sparkman fumbled at the Notre from a inost unusual ing victory over Virginia in the Kickoff Dame 46 and senior cornerback Stan source. Defensive tackle Classic. He completed 12 of 15 passes Smagala recovered. Notre Dame capi Jeff Aim, whose three in for 270 yards on the day, his best career Frank Jacobs prepares to release his block~oe talized on Purdue's generosity and terceptions during the 1988 The majority of I;lerek Brown's 101 receiving yards, resulted from running after the catch. 20 '. , Scholastic 1989 Football Review 21 a ..

,!i = two in a row, the fans went wild. The beat goes on. The winning streak thrashing. Next stop: Palo Alto, California The second half gave Holtz a chance to Hentrich field goal made it With 33 seconds remaining in the game, stood at 16 in a row and counting with this for a date with the Stanford Cardinal. III play some of his second team, but the results 37-0, deja vu- Hunter Purdue finally scored on abizzare-play at the were not what Holtz was looking for. The de fumbled the snap, and Notre Dame three. Letnich was flushed from fense played well, but the offense sputtered. Ridgely recovered. Fi the pocket and scrambled to his right. Under Freshman quarterback Rick Mirer led the nally, after Hen trich heavy pressure, Letnich shovel-passed the Irish to two Craig Hentrich field goals of 19 missed a 37-yard field goal ball under his arm and the waving hands of a and 22 yards, but overall the second team attempt, Steve Lesniewicz Notre Dame defender to ~od "Dennis for a offense lacked cohesion and did not impress, fumbled the snap and touchdown that ~ccounted for Purdue;s lone a fact which disturbed Holtz. freshman Brian Ratigan score. "We had too many fumbles in the second fell on it. Hentrich drilled After the game, Akers assessed Notre half to say that we played well," said Holtz. his second field goal, and Dame's overwhelming squad. "They have "Our second unit lacked consistency and the Irish led 40-0. great team speed and talent, and you all know needs great improvement." The Boilermaker fans how deep they are," he said. "They're the The second half for Purdue was an exer got so fed up with the com most talented group I've ever seen put to cise in futility, best evidenced in a bizarre edy of errors on the field gether in a long time, maybe the best ever. fourth-quarter sequence where Purdue quar that when Purdue finally They are clearly the number one team iri the terbacks fumbled and lost three straight executed a snap from cen country." snaps from center. First, Eric Hunter ter, the fans gave a deri Zorich, though, was not pleased with the fumbled the snap and Notre Dame defensive sive, 30-second standing performance of the defense. "1 don't think end Troy Ridgely recovered. Then, after a ovation. When they got we are a good defense yet," he offered. "Purdue had too many yards rushing and that is not good." And what ofLau Holtz himself? He was his typically laconic self and looked at Notre Dame's progress game-by-game. "We're just happy to have another road victory and .look forward to another road challenge next week," he said. Jerome Sparkman breaks into the open field with Pat Terrell hot on his heel~~ v~acc:o

Irish fullback Anthony Johnson (22), who tallied two touchdowns, Is dragged to the ground by Smith (28) ahd Jackson (1J}~VilaCC! 22 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 23 ...

Irish fullback Anthony Johnson (22), who tallied two touchdowns, Is dragged to the ground by Smith (28) ahd Jackson (1J}~VilaCC! 22 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 23 .'" ',f I ...., ~ ~ '. '. \ .~,. J . -' r

sent way short was BY BRIAN McMAHON called back when the Oct. 7, Palo Alto, CA· officials whistled tanford Stadium was in a Notre Dame's S frenzy. Notre Dame was. D'Juan Francisco for in a battle. roughing the kicker. Cardinal junior running back Four plays later, Tommy Vardell had just dashed Hopkins punched a over the right side for a two-point 34-yard shot for a 3-0 conversion, bringing the score to Stanford lead. a 14-14 deadlock with a quarter _ The drive pro- and a half to play. The Cardinal vided an indication of had played the top-ranked Irish things to come from close all afternoon, even leading the Cardinal offenSe. 6~0 after the first quarter, but this Freshman quarter- marked the first time that the back Steve Smith Stanford fans had really come to went to the air ten life. times on the 14-play Through two and a half quar- drive, completing ters, one felt that the Irish would seven passes, only eventually explode, burying the oneofwhicb went for Cardinal as their position ~ three, .. more· than ten yards. touchdown favorites indicated . All afternoon, Smith they should. Now, with the score nickled and dimed

tied .and the Irish showing few • The score was tied at 14 when Ismail fielded this kickoff and John Dlugoleckl· thetlritosh 3dgefense len signs oflife, upset seemed pIau· < . . rou e . comp e· sible. '.' searched for a seam in the Stanford coverage... tions for 282 yards on '. Stanford's John Hopkins teed up the ball alive forthe Cardinal that led to Stanford's 68 attempts. The 68 attempts were a Stanford to kickoff while most. of the Cardinal fans first score. and Pac-l 0 Conference record. were still basking in the glow of the score. He A 47 -yard field goal attempt that Hopkins Two and a half minutes later, Hopkins booted it to the left hash mark on the Notre Dame 18 where it was caught by Raghib "Rocket" Ismail. Rocket tookthe:ball and blew 66 yards to the Stanford16, where he was rUil out of bounds by Alan Grant. Four plays later, Irish fullback Anthony Johnson bulled into the end zone from one yard out. Craig Hentrich converted the PAT and Notre Dame, in less than a minute and a half, had regained the lead and summilarily ended Stanford's upset hopes on the way toa 27-17 victory before a sellout crowd or" 86,019. "When they tied it up and the stadium got involved," Notre Dame Head Coach Lou Holtz said afterward, "our team responded. Something was on our sideline when it be· came 14-all. Something in here," he boasted, pointing to his heart. "It made me feel good." The Irish struggled offensively in the first quarter, netting just 53 yards and making just one fIrst down. Thirty-five yards in penalties didn't help either, one of which kept a drive ... Moments later he took his 4.28 speed deep into Cardinal territory. 2S Scholastic 1989 Football Review .'" ',f I ...., ~ ~ '. '. \ .~,. J . -' r

Nine plays after Francisco's interception, Cardinal Head Coach Dennis Green, be minute left, preserving the Irish's 27-17 vic good man to man," he said. "We played a kicked a 42-yard field goal and Stanford led oriented offense is to avoid being burned by . Rice pitched to sophomore fullback Rodney hind by two, elected to go for the tie. tory. zone to avoid the big play, dropping eight by six heading into the second quarter. The the long pass and hit the receiver where he Culver, who went in untouched from the two Smith's pass for Jon Pinckney fell incom "It was a hard fought, difficult game," guys back .. He (Smith) wasn't taking time to score' was set up by a shanked punt by Hen catches the ball, the theory being that an for his second touchdown of the season. plete, but the Irish were called for interfer Holtz concluded. "I wasn't surprised they throw but we had a good rush for the defense trich, which gave Stanford the ball on the offense putting the ball in the air that much Hentrich's kick made the score 14-6 entering ence again. This time Francisco was the played that well. Dennis Green and his we played." Notre Dame 32. will self-destruct. the second half. culprit, setting up Vardell's one-yard coaches deserve all the credit in the world. "Notre Dame is a fine team," summed up Notre Dame got on the board early in the Smith's thirty-fifth pass of the first half Stanford's game-tying score half way plunge to tie the score. That set the stage for "We played well on defense," he contin Green afterward. "They don't make mis second stanza. It took the Irish just four plays set up Notre Dame's second touchdown. The through the third quarter came at the end of a Ismail's heroics. ued. "Our plan was to cover them and let takes and they have good balance... good to go 64 yards, keyed by runs of 25 and 38 pass, intended for senior tight end Jim Price, 79-yard drive when Smith found junior re Up 21-14, the Irish threatened late in the them dump it off or mix it up." teams make key plays." from Anthony Johnson and Tony Rice. was deflected into the hands of Francisco, ceiver Ed McCaffery in the end zone from quarter but failed to eam a first down on Irish linebacker Donn Grimm put Smith's At Stanford Stadium that day, those quali Johnson carried into the end zone from seven who returned it 20 yards to the Stanford 32. five yards out. On the previous play, third and fourth and one from the five. The quarter apparent success into perspective. "We ties proved too much to overcome for the yards out and Craig Hentrich 's PAT gave the "We knew they'd pass a lot," said Irish goal from the ten, Stanford got a break when ended with Notre Dame up by a touchdown. didn't want to blitz a lot because they are so gritty Cardinal. II Irish the lead, 7-6. safety Pat Terrell, who finished with two Irish cornerback Stan Smagala was called for The fourth quarter opened with the Irish Stanford's propensity to pass caught up interceptions on the day. "They were drop interference for tripping Stanford receiver driving from the Stanford 40. Hentrich with them seven minutes later. Notre ping the ball off in the flats, going to the Chris Walsh. kicked his first of two fourth-quarter field Dame's defensive philosophy against a pass- sidelines. We didn't get frustrated." goals, a 20-yard kick that widened the lead to 24-14. Stanford answered four and a half min utes later when a 70-yard drive culminated in Hopkins' third field goal of the game, this one from 27 yards. Smith threw on nine of the drive's 12 plays, completing six, but couldn't engineer a touchdown, as the Irish defense tightened deep in its own end. The Cardinal would not threaten again. Terrell picked off Smith passes on each of the Cardinal's lasttwo drives, the first of which led to an 18-yard field goal by Hen trich and the last coming with just over a

Despite Smith's (9) two-step drop, Chris Zorich manages to hurry this particular throw. 27 26 Scholastic 1989 Football Review

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Despite Smith's (9) two-step drop, Chris Zorich manages to hurry this particular throw. 27 26 Scholastic 1989 Football Review

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!i \ from Ismail. The Rocket had the Falcons, yard reverse while rushing for 92 on the Dame's "money man." Entering the game, I.' I 1"'I! ~ ; who fell to 6-1, seeing double- make that evening. Johnson had carried an average of five times I'i; II: "triple" - as he ran out of the backfield, caught But the statistics don't quite convey the per game more than starting tailback Ricky I' i passes, and returned both kickoffs and punts. significance ofIsmail' s performance. While Watters and was always called on for the 1~ ;ii, When the flames subsided, Ismail, seeing his he rolled up yardage on two spectacular important carries. But things changed in first extended action in the backfield and scores, the Rocket fumes still clouding the Colorado Springs, and Johnson's ankles rbo returning punts, accounted for 180 yards, minds of Air Force players were memories of were thankful. more than one third of Notre Dame:s 529 Ismail blastingoutofthe backfield. On many Johnson carried the baIl only 13 times on total yards..) of those plays he skirted to the outside, break this day as Watters (96 yards on 11 carries) "We put [Rocket] at tailback a couple of ing tackles and dragging Air Force defenders and Ismail (10 carries) helped divy up the plays early in the game and hedid things very for, much-,needed yards. But even more rushing duties. Johnson was needed on first well. We just decided to keep him there," importantly for the Irish, he gave senior full down only five times, and his only key runs o t said Holtz, as Notre Dame won its 18th back Anthony Johnson a much-needed were on two fourth-down plunges. Aside straight game. Ismail's statistics spoke for break. from that, Ismail and Watters set up most of Sophomore Raghib themselves. The five-foot-ten, 175-pound Johnson entered the game as Notre, the drives. native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania caught Dame's second-leading rusher (291 yards) Ismail wasn't the only star, though. Rice Ismail propels two passes for 32 yards, returned a punt 56 and leading scorer (eight touchdowns). was just as much a factor in taking the pres More importantly, Johnson had been Notre sure off Johnson and in Jeading the Irish to Notre Dame to a yards for a touchdown, and scored on a 24- convincing road win over Air Force

BY PETE LaFLEUR Oct. 14, Colorado Springs, CO- : I , EXcited" described theaunosphere as the Air Force Academy pre pared to face the first top-ranked opponent ever to visit Falcon Stadium, with a record 53,533 fans looking on in anticipa tion of an upset. An unprecedented. four flyovers preceded the game, as jet fighters screeched in from the south and bomber planes rumbled over from the east. Three hours later, Notre Dame had un leashed its own weapon. Powered by the multi-dimensional attack of Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, the Irish soared to an early lead on their way to a 41-27 win, smothering the upset hopes of the Air Force faithful. , "Our team is very hurt and very disap~ 'pointed," sai9 Air Force coach Fischer DeBerry. -"We felt the stage was setfor us to win; But we didn't play well enough to beat the,national champions." , .' 'Ismail stole the show in a game billed as a battle between two Heisman Trophy con tenders, quarterbacks Tony Rice of Notre Dame and Dee Dowis of Air Force. "Every body talks about Tony Rice and Dee Dowis, but we just wanted to do whatever it takes to win," said Irish Head Coach Lou Holtz. Dean Brown salutes Ismail (25) followirig the Rocket"s 56-yard punt return. South Bend What it took was a vintage performance Although Heisman candidate Dee Dowis had a career day throwing the ball, he sputtered running the option attack. courtdesry . Tribune , South Ben nbuns 28 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 29 lr'

.. quick points .. Rice completed his first seven block by junior Scott Kowalkowski sprung set to put the game away. certainly didn't play well against the pass." the Falcons failed to score at least 43. Notre Dame guessed our option right a bunch." passes, finishing with nine of 13 completions the Rocket, who, slanting towards the left After two rollouts by Rice and a spurt by "We take pride in our run defense, and I Dame's defense of the Falcon wishbone The Irish defense turned in an assortment for 123 yards. He also rushed for 71 yards on end zone marker, avoided a last-ditch diving Ismail came up short, Holtz and the Irish think our people matched up pretty well with proved to be the key. of big plays. Cornerback Todd Lyght smired 14 carries. Said DeBerry, ''I'm really im attempt by the Falcons' Jason Jones. Air were forced with a decision. They decided to them," said Kowalkowski. "The key with "The main thing the coaches told us was Dowis' first interception of the season in the pressed with Rice. He's the catalyst for Notre Force never recovered, while Ismail and the go on fourth and one. Johnson bulled over for Dowis was that we had to force him to pitch to play Dowis back and wait for him to com third quarter, thwarting what seemed a certain Dame." Irish only got better. two on the left side, picking up the first down. the ball." mit," explained defensive end Devon Air Force score. On that play, linebacker Ned The Irish went up 21-0 before Air Force The Falcons managed toput 14 first-half Ismail, rapidly becoming the most po Air Force ground out only 182 yards McDonald. "My job was to buy time for the Bolcar tipped the ball as Lyghtout-jumped the had even recorded a first down, scoring with points on the board, thanks to scoring passes tent weapon on the Air Force campus, then rushing (260 below its season average) while defensive backs to come up and take the Air Force receivers in the end zone for his fIfth a deadly combination of execution and from Dowis to fullback Greg Johnson and took the ball on a reverse and sped toward the Dowis picked'up only 39 of his own (95 running back. The big thing was to stop interception of the year. Instead of closing to speed. The first two scores came off sus wide receiver Steve Senn. The Irish an same comer where he had scored minutes below his standard). Their 27 points were a Dowis hurting us when he's rolling out" 38-22 with five minutes to play in the third tained drives, the first covering 80 yards in swered with a 27-yard Rice-to-Johnson scor earlier. This time nobody was there. Ismail season low and marked only the second game DeBerry summed it up nicely, saying, "Notre quarter, Air Force lost any hope of momentum ten plays and the second logging 69 in 14. On ing toss sandwiched between the Falcon's coasted in as Dowis' fumble suddendly took as Notre Dame added a field goal to go up 41- those drives, Johnson plunged in from the two touchdowns. But when Dowis fumbled on added significance. DeBerry probably 14. one-yard line and Watters scampered in from on first and 10 from his own 40, the Irish were best exemplified his team's frustration when But in the end it was Ismail receiving the five yards out to give the he ripped the hat from his star billing. Talk of the Rocket as an emerg Irish a lead they would head, throwing it to the ing Heisman Trophy candidate could be heard never relinquish. ground in disgust. among departing fans and writers. But this First quarter events Maybe the cadets was just another day for Ismail in this, only his truly devastated the Fal took DeBerry's "throw sophomore season. cons. They stood idly by ing in the hat" to heart. "I just tried to get what I could out of as the Irish racked up Entering the second half every play," Ismail said, dismissing any talk i.. ,.,. 149 yards in 24 plays, down 35-14 they took to about himself as a Heisman contender; ''The I'. including three success the air, throwing like the holes were there and I think I got the maxi ful third down conver wishbone-oriented team mum. It was nothing out of the ordinary. sions. On the other side hadn't all year. TheFal "Dee Dowis is real good, a great athlete. of the ball, the Irish cons rallied behind But I'd vote for Tony Rice for Heisman." defense held the Air Dowis' throwing and The Air Force faithful won't soon forget Force to only 11 yards Senn'sreceiving. Dowis . tJ1e exhibition the Rocket put on here, a fIyo on eight plays. Things posted career highs with . verthatmade their F-16's seem like plastic didn't get much better in 15 completions for 306 Bob Dahl and the defensive line controlled the trenches limiting South C:~~:irlbune models. Ismail won't soon forget, either .• the second quarter. yards, with Senn latching Air Force to 168 yards on the ground. . Following its sec on to six of those passes ond successive "four for 101 yards. and out" drive, Air "I didn't know they Force set up in punt for were going to throw that mation. Ismail fielded much. I'm sure they did Eric Olsen's 35-yard get the idea to throw so boot on the Irish 44. He much from Stanford," quickly burst up the said defensive end Andre middle, sliced through J ones, in reference to the first wave of defend Notre Dame's narrow ers and found himself win the week before in halfway to a score. As California where the Ismail neared the 30, Cardinal attempted 68 two Air Force tacklers passes. "Ifeltgoodabout ' lunged at him from each how we played consider ~. ' side but came up empty ing that we prepared for as they tumbled over one one thing [the run] and another. had to adjust" As he neared the Holtz, as usual, goal line, Ismail used an wasn'tsopositive. "I did official in front of him to not think we could play ward off some of the as well against the run as pursuit. A crunching Johnson scored on a one yard plunge and a 27 yard reception. SOUthC~~~~fribun9 we did," he said. "But we

30 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 31 ..

30 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 31 slightly more than four minutes and eight plays to punch it in. Ricky Watters went the final two yards on . a pitch froil1 quar terback Tony Rice as the Irish cut the Trojan lead to three. ame Later in the third quarter, Lyght again made the big play. After Rice fumbled the for the ball deep in Notre Dame territory, quarterback Todd Marinovich (333 yards passing on the day) threw the , last of his three . ; '., ,) Ages interceptions. Watters (12) follows his blockers into treacherous territory. Lyght stepped in front of Marinovich's pass in the end zone after the ball was tipped by linebacker Donn Notre Dame and Southern Cal provide another Grimm. . With the Notre Dame defense making all thrilling moment in a classic rivalry the big plays, the Irish offense waited until Tim Ryan (99) helped USC make Rice's life miserable In the first half. early in the fourth quarter to go to work. They drove 80 yards to put the Irish on top for the first time in the contest. . the other was at fault for the pre-game fisti sleepwalking through much of the first half, Even this drive, however, was . , BY DAN FLYNN cuffs. Some Irish players went so far as to they found themselves trailing the Trojans. set up by the defense. After Grimm i:', I ~

':: 'I blame Southern Cal coaches for taunting the 17-7.' However, the Irish received a rather and Ned Bolcar sacked Marinovich Oct. 21, Notre Dame- Notre Dame band. rude, but nonetheless timely wake-up call in and forced USC to punt, the Irish efore the 1989 chapter of Notre In the end, it was Lou Holtz who took the form of a USC serenade. ground game moved the ball suc B Dame-USC football was written, responsibility for his team's part in the fra The Trojans reportedly sang a mocking cessfully against the vaunted the rivalry between these two per- cas. "I sincerely apologize to Southern Cal," rendition of the Notre Dame fight song to the , Southern Cal rush defense and were ennial collegiate heavyweights had already he said after the game. "I promise this will Irish as both teams headed off to the locker '\ at the USC 35 when Holtz wanted been called the greatest inter-sectional com never happen again at Notre Dame, regard room at the half. If anything, it only served to . his team to "just get a first down." 1"'1' petition in college football. This year's game less who is at fault." stir the slumbering Irish. What Holtz received was a 35- did nothing but enhance that reputation. Soon after all the taunts, accusations and The Irish appeared fired up to open the yard touchdown gallop on third and The 61st, and possibly the greatest stories had been traded, it was fullback An second half as the defense led the charge. On one from Johnson. meeting between the teams had all the ele thony Johnson who probably summed up the . USC's first possession, cornerback Todd "It was just an off-tackle play ments of a classic football game: big offen tunnel tussle most accurately. "It was some Lyght shoved tight end Scott Galbraith back designed to get the first down," said sive plays, goal-line stands, controversy and thing we didn't want to get involved with," two yards after what appeared to be a certain Johnson, who rushed 13 times on unfortunately, a pre-game fight which in the said Johnson. "Adrenaline is high and first down at the USC 20. Notre Dame the day for 78 yards. end overshadowed Notre Dame's remark people's emotion takes over." received a favorable call, however, and the The game was an emotional abie28-24 victory. Emotion certainly did take over during Trojans were forced to punt. The Irish got the ride. Unfortunately, Johnson be After the game, naturally, each side felt the game, especially for Notre Dame. After ball back at midfield, where they needed came seasick on the next series. USC Coach Larry Smith (left, In yellow) holds his breath as Bob Dahl hunts down Marlnovlch. i;

32 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 33 . i. slightly more than four minutes and eight plays to punch it in. Ricky Watters went the final two yards on . a pitch froil1 quar terback Tony Rice as the Irish cut the Trojan lead to three. ame Later in the third quarter, Lyght again made the big play. After Rice fumbled the for the ball deep in Notre Dame territory, quarterback Todd Marinovich (333 yards passing on the day) threw the , last of his three . ; '., ,) Ages interceptions. Watters (12) follows his blockers into treacherous territory. Lyght stepped in front of Marinovich's pass in the end zone after the ball was tipped by linebacker Donn Notre Dame and Southern Cal provide another Grimm. . With the Notre Dame defense making all thrilling moment in a classic rivalry the big plays, the Irish offense waited until Tim Ryan (99) helped USC make Rice's life miserable In the first half. early in the fourth quarter to go to work. They drove 80 yards to put the Irish on top for the first time in the contest. . the other was at fault for the pre-game fisti sleepwalking through much of the first half, Even this drive, however, was . , BY DAN FLYNN cuffs. Some Irish players went so far as to they found themselves trailing the Trojans. set up by the defense. After Grimm i:', I ~

32 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 33 . i. - I

After catapulting his team ahead and rushing convince you it let the big one get away, their Colter. Catching the ball in full stride, Ismail Notre Dame lead. Behind Marinovich, the for almost more yards on one play (35) than Reisman hopeful quarterback always seems carried it to the Trojan 15. On the next play, Trojans closed in fast. From their own 37, the Trojan defense had given up per game to grasp and, somehow, create another big Rice optioned left, broke two tackles and four short passes got USC to the Irish 10. (36), the usually sure-handed fullback moment. dragged Colter into the end zone with 5: 18to After a five-yard run and two incompletions, fumbled at the Irish 34 and USC's Brian Surprisingly, Rice did it this time with play. the Irish defense tightened and tacked on Tuliau recovered. his throwing arm. For three quarters, the Irish . The Irish offense had put together a another big play to its ever-expanding list. Johnson's miscue opened the door and quarterback completed just four of 15 passes scoring drive when the team needed it the On fourth down, Marinovich felt the pressure Marinovich kicked it in, wasting no time in and had turned the ball over twice. Then, most. Notre Dame rushed for 197 of its 266 of defensive -end Scott Kowalkowski and putting USC back on top. In just four plays with nine minutes to play and the Irish trail yards on the day in the second half, and the threw to the middle of the end zone, where the Trojans struck paydirt, Marinovich hit ing, Rice grabbed his magic wand and waved offensive line gave Rice all the time he D'Juan Francisco batted it down. ting Brad Wellman on third down from 15 it over the 80 yards of Notre Dame Stadium needed to· find the streaking Ismail for the The Trojans nevertheless refused to yards out for the score. turf separating his team from the goal line. long gainer. concede defeat and found themselves with Trailing 24-21, it seemed like the Irish On second and eight from the Notre It was the defense, however, that would yet another chance to pull the game out in the had finally done themselves in. One too Dame 44, after four consecutive running end up saving the game with a stand of its closing moments, but a Hail Mary pass fell many turnovers and one too many touch plays, Rice threw his first pass of the quarter own- one of the goal-line variety. short as Irish won their 19th straight. down passes from golden-armed Mari a perfectly lofted strike to Raghib Ismail, USC, led by the surprising poise of the "This was a great game," said USC Read novich. But as quickly as Notre Dame can who beat All-America safety Cleveland young Marinovich, did not stop pressing the Coach Larry Smith. "It was a very intense game. 1 think everyone watching was enter tained. It was college football at its best." Holtz agreed with Smith's assessment, - , but admitted that "it seemed like we were fighting uphill all day." For the most part, the Irish were. Two fumbles by Ismail, one on a kickoff and the other on a punt, left the Irish in 7-0 and 14-7 holes early in the contest. In the end though, the Irish surged to their seventh win of the season behind a stingy second-half defense and an opportun

Joe Vitacco istic offense. Once more, Notre Dame and Southern Cal truly gave us a game for the Johnson scored on a 3S-yard run to help put the Irish ahead 21-17 In the fourth. ages. •

Lyght's third quarter interception stopped the Trojans on third and goal. Joe vnacco

34 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 35 - I

Joe Vitacco istic offense. Once more, Notre Dame and Southern Cal truly gave us a game for the Johnson scored on a 3S-yard run to help put the Irish ahead 21-17 In the fourth. ages. •

Lyght's third quarter interception stopped the Trojans on third and goal. Joe vnacco

34 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 35 engs

that failed to stop some writers from making have helped the team's state of mind enter BY JONPAUL POTTS very negative comments about the Irish: ing the October 28th confrontation with the Panthers . . Oct. 28, Notre Dame- Several Trojans brushed shoulder pads On paper at least, the Pittsburgh inally. with their Irish counterparts. who had gone game looked to be tough. Coach Mike F Despite a 7-0 start and a num out of their way to block the path to the Gottfried came to Notre Dame Stadium ber one national ranking, the Fight . tunnel ... Unpleasantrieswere exchanged and with a 5-0-1 record and a high-powered ing Irish had yet to put together a complete about 20 Southern Cal players. surrounded offense averaging 31 points per game. game. Lou Holtz' charges would put to by a sea ofblue and gold. had to brawl their Freshman quarterback VanPelt led the gether one good half and one sloppy half, or way free .. .As for Notre Dame, it survived. Panther offense, having thrown 10 touch the defense would play well and the offense though without style and without much class. down passes in his first six collegiate would sputter. Now Holtz has to get the Irish cranked up games for an amazing 146.8 quarterback But on this day, the Irish came out with again this weekfor a home game against Pitt. rating. fire in their eyes, thrashing the seventh Let's hope that while he's doing it. he also In fact, against West Virginia, Pitts ranked Pittsburgh Panthers 45-7 while im teaches his children some tunnel etiquette. burgh had trailed 31-7 entering the fourth proving their season mark to 8-0. quarter but roared back with an amazing "This is the first time that we played a - Douglas S. Looney 24 points to tie the Mountaineers 31-31. complete game as a complete team," said Sports Illustrated. October 30, 1989 . Till this point, the Pitt offense was crank Holtz. "I thought our football team played ing on all four cylinders. well and they played together. It was just one Another side show was playing up in Sure enough, the first Panther drive of our days." Minnesota, where Holtz was being linked to did nothing to dispel Irish fears of an upset. Using a bend-but-don't-break philoso several NCAA rules violations. Holtz was Van Pelt marched the Panthers on a 12- phy, the defense allowed some yardage to the cleared of all allegations, but this incident, play, 68-yard drive capped by a Van Pelt Pitt offense but came on strong in the turn combined with the tunnel fracas, could not to-Ronald Redmon pass. A successful over department. The secon extra point followed and, dary intercepted three of. Pitt before you could blink, the quarterback Alex Van Pelt's Irish were in a 7-0 hole. passes and Notre Dame line The first Irish possession backer Scott Kowalkowski was anything but promising. I: fi recovered a Van Pelt fumble Anthony Johnson took a \.' for another key takeaway. handoff and fought up the " The offense responded, middle for four yards. The

too, racking up 339 yards of Rocket gained five yards on a " I total offense, mosty on the pitch left and quarterback 1 : t,; ground. Leading the way, T.ony Rice got a first down on i, sophomore Raghib "Rocket" asneak. Butthreemoreplays Ismail rushed for 74 yards on yielding only five yards re only eight carries, including a sulted in a Jim Sexton punt 50-yard touchdown dash in the which Pitt fair caught at its third quarter. seven yard line. But this game may be re From here on, the Irish membered more for the tur defense took over. moil of the week leading up to On first down, Pitt was it than the game itself. In a called for an illegal proce series of episodes worthy of an dure penalty which forced afternoon soap opera lineup, them into a first and 13 from , . Irish-bashing became high their own three. After an i ~ ;" fashion. The brawl in the tun incompletion and a run for no nel prior to the Southern Cal gain by Redmon, Van Pelt game the previous Saturday dropped back to pass but was caused quite a stir. Holtz ac flushed from the pocket. He cepted his share of the blame lost his footing, falling in the and apologized for Notre end zone for a safety, making Dame's part in the fight, but Ismail and Watters celebrate the Rocket's the score 7-2 Pittsburgh. touchdown run. Scholastic 1989 Football Review 37

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I; ~ ; a it· , I Ii1'1' II I The running game was key I! said Terrell. "I got some d to this drive, as it was all day. a day of inconsistent I Hi great blocks from the Behind big holes opened by the play and frustration. :: iiI';;1 entire defense, and guys likes of Tim Grunhard and Dean "Notre Dame just iii were just flying all over whipped us in every Il!' Brown, the Irish backs ran roughshod over Pitt for 310 the place and Ijusttook it area," said Pitt coach to the house. We are Mike Gottfried. "We I!ii.I': yards on an astounding 57 car iii ries (out of 66 total Irish plays always looking for the unravelled and we III; Iii': from scrimmage). big play." played inconsistent. i! : "If we get that kind of per The second half was We made so many mis W formanceeach week from the all Irish. Ricky Watters, takes, we self~destru Iii Ismail and Steve Belles iii" line, we will do very well," said cted. I said a long time Ii all rushed for touch Grunhard. "We don't get the ago Notre Dame and h:'1' downs, and Culver pow 'Ii:. hype, but the guys across from Miami are on a different ered in his second touch us know who won the battle." plane." Just what plane illl down for a 28-0 second that was would be deter il,1 The Irish would score once II[ half margin and a 45-7 mined in a pre-New I'll· more before the haIf on a Pat iii Terrell interception return. Van final spread. Year's bowl soiree l~ It : A negative, if one· ir H Pelt overthrew his receiver at the November 25th in the !Iil could be found in this Notre Dame 46, and Terrell Orange Bowl. !lJl: : superb Irish effort, may Notre Dame's win 1.il I'·.' . picked it off, broke a tackle ~nd iJII':i' have been in the Irish streak now stood at 20, jt 1,1 I was off to the races. Terrell cut passing attack. Rice only 111J! across' the field and sprinted The Irish scoring machine kept Hentrlch busy on extra points. one victory shy of the hlj; completed one of nine all-time Notre Dame 'lll' down the left sideline just ahead '.," I',I[ of Pitt tacklers for his second pass attempts, and, though he ran well, did know we have to throw the ball and not be record. The Midshipmen of Navy lay as the ::1" , Devon McDonald demonstrates the kind of punishment Notre Dame inflicted not playas well as he is capable. one-dimensional. " next unlucky opponent on the 1988-1989 U"I ' on Van Pelt all evening. long. career touchdown. JI!I, "It felt like a punt return," "We can't continue to play unless we Overall, though, it was a solid effort on Irish spin down Legendary Lane. iHJ,·. i Notre Dame got the ball on its start Lo throw the ball," said Holtz. "We behalf of the Irish. For Pitt, however, it was 1:1.. , ! own 40 after the Pitt free kick, but 1 • ,'!;'I, the Irish could not convert and had :11., to punt. The Irish defense played II:h tough again, however, stuffing the I:'!!:I !~ilL Panthers on four plays, including !:r! an Andre Jones sack of Van Pelt ""i foranine-yardloss. AfterthePitt l{:: punt, Notre Dame embarked on a !'ij:: ,. touchdown drive which would til: provide all the scoring the Irish fill; would need. i ;1:,. The Irish drive would go for U, :.: ~~~:~' 1~~ ~:~~ !~:~ ~f~ ftf· left tackle for a 16-yardrun. Then, J; "'1· . Johnson carried on three consecu ~. ;ilj fIr live plays for 12 yards. After an lJ Ismail one-yard gain, the Irish jj ! again called Johnson's number as '1 he carried to the Pittsburgh one- H: .' yard line to set up third and one. :) I'! : Sophomore Rodney Culver burst 1::1::: dthrough the left side for the touch- nji .. own, and Rice successfully exe- ,; I' cuted a two-point conversion to .1:1:i . give the Irish a 10-7 lead. II'I':: ;;38;------~-=~~ 'j ·1, . Scholastic 1989 Football Review 39 iii, . ·1 ',' I, ·1,. a it· , I Ii1'1' II I The running game was key I! said Terrell. "I got some d to this drive, as it was all day. a day of inconsistent I Hi great blocks from the Behind big holes opened by the play and frustration. :: iiI';;1 entire defense, and guys likes of Tim Grunhard and Dean "Notre Dame just iii were just flying all over whipped us in every Il!' Brown, the Irish backs ran roughshod over Pitt for 310 the place and Ijusttook it area," said Pitt coach to the house. We are Mike Gottfried. "We I!ii.I': yards on an astounding 57 car iii ries (out of 66 total Irish plays always looking for the unravelled and we III; Iii': from scrimmage). big play." played inconsistent. i! : "If we get that kind of per The second half was We made so many mis W formanceeach week from the all Irish. Ricky Watters, takes, we self~destru Iii Ismail and Steve Belles iii" line, we will do very well," said cted. I said a long time Ii all rushed for touch Grunhard. "We don't get the ago Notre Dame and h:'1' downs, and Culver pow 'Ii:. hype, but the guys across from Miami are on a different ered in his second touch us know who won the battle." plane." Just what plane illl down for a 28-0 second that was would be deter il,1 The Irish would score once II[ half margin and a 45-7 mined in a pre-New I'll· more before the haIf on a Pat iii Terrell interception return. Van final spread. Year's bowl soiree l~ It : A negative, if one· ir H Pelt overthrew his receiver at the November 25th in the !Iil could be found in this Notre Dame 46, and Terrell Orange Bowl. !lJl: : superb Irish effort, may Notre Dame's win 1.il I'·.' . picked it off, broke a tackle ~nd iJII':i' have been in the Irish streak now stood at 20, jt 1,1 I was off to the races. Terrell cut passing attack. Rice only 111J! across' the field and sprinted The Irish scoring machine kept Hentrlch busy on extra points. one victory shy of the hlj; completed one of nine all-time Notre Dame 'lll' down the left sideline just ahead '.," I',I[ of Pitt tacklers for his second pass attempts, and, though he ran well, did know we have to throw the ball and not be record. The Midshipmen of Navy lay as the ::1" , Devon McDonald demonstrates the kind of punishment Notre Dame inflicted not playas well as he is capable. one-dimensional. " next unlucky opponent on the 1988-1989 U"I ' on Van Pelt all evening. long. career touchdown. JI!I, "It felt like a punt return," "We can't continue to play unless we Overall, though, it was a solid effort on Irish spin down Legendary Lane. iHJ,·. i Notre Dame got the ball on its start Lo throw the ball," said Holtz. "We behalf of the Irish. For Pitt, however, it was 1:1.. , ! own 40 after the Pitt free kick, but 1 • ,'!;'I, the Irish could not convert and had :11., to punt. The Irish defense played II:h tough again, however, stuffing the I:'!!:I !~ilL Panthers on four plays, including !:r! an Andre Jones sack of Van Pelt ""i foranine-yardloss. AfterthePitt l{:: punt, Notre Dame embarked on a !'ij:: ,. touchdown drive which would til: provide all the scoring the Irish fill; would need. i ;1:,. The Irish drive would go for U, :.: ~~~:~' 1~~ ~:~~ !~:~ ~f~ ftf· left tackle for a 16-yardrun. Then, J; "'1· . Johnson carried on three consecu ~. ;ilj fIr live plays for 12 yards. After an lJ Ismail one-yard gain, the Irish jj ! again called Johnson's number as '1 he carried to the Pittsburgh one- H: .' yard line to set up third and one. :) I'! : Sophomore Rodney Culver burst 1::1::: dthrough the left side for the touch- nji .. own, and Rice successfully exe- ,; I' cuted a two-point conversion to .1:1:i . give the Irish a 10-7 lead. II'I':: ;;38;------~-=~~ 'j ·1, . Scholastic 1989 Football Review 39 iii, . ·1 ',' I, ·1,. £

good today was that the second and third teams came in and played really well. We need them to perform well to really be a complete team," stated senior captain Ned Bol car. Sunk n Notre Dame took advantage of the opportu nity to take the wind out of the Navy sail. Rodney Culver's II-yard scoring Middies run culminated a 64-yard scoring drive for the Irish to make the score -14-0. The key play in the drive came when Raghib Navy's offense stays "Rocket" Ismail took a in drydock as Notre pitch from Rice and sprinted for a 30-yard Dame rolls to its first gain. Ismail hurt his groin . on the play and sat out the shutout since '83 rest of the way. But the Irish would need no Rocket to sink the Navy Notre Dame's constant pressure had Grizzard (16) on the run all day long. Zorich, alias "The Human Groundhog," prepares to dig through the· on this afternoon. Navy offensive line. Navy's last chance to make a game of it . came with 13:47 remaining in the second quarter, when Navy cornerback David Lerch snared a Rice pass intended for tight end Derek Brown. The interception was the first off back to back impressive wins against of two for Rice, whose poor day passing (1- BY KEVIN T. KERNS Navy then mounted an attack which Southern Cal and Pittsburgh', Holtz worried brought them from their own 13-yard line 8, two interceptions, 28 yards) damaged his about another Irish letdown. Nov. 4, Notre Dame- into Irish territory. On third andfive from the Heisman hopes. "Can we maintain this pace?" he asked. 42, No~e Oame nose tackle Chris Zorich This Irish miscue proved to be merely a he Infantry was too much forthe "Can we plliy in all phases th,e way we did hammered Navy quarterback Alton Griz. stay of execution as linebacker Scott Kow T Navy. The Notre Dame ground against Pitt?" As usual, Holtz' ritualistic pre zard, forcing a fumble and an 18-yard loss alkowski threw Grizzard for a 14-yard loss attack led the way as the Irish game pessimism turned out to be unfounded. after Michael Kirchner recovered for the on third down, stalling yet another Navy pounded the outmanned Midshipmen, 41-0. once again. Middies. ' \ drive. Notre Dame rolled up 414 rushing yards "Obviously, Notre Dame was too much . "The defense helps the offense for Notre Shortly thereafter, Watters broke up the on 60 attempts while utilizing ten different for us today," observed Navy coach Eliot Dame," said Uzelac. "We had drives going, middle and deftly eluded three would-be ballcarriers. The Irish posted their 21st con Uzelac. This fact became manifest early on and they would make a big play like an tacklers on a remarkable 48-yard touchdown secutive victory to run their season mark to 9- in the contest. interception or a sack on third down." scamper. The run was the best of the day for 0, tying a school record which was set from After forcing the Midshipmen to punt on The Irish defense did indeed help the Watters, who turned the game into a taping of 1946-48 under legendary coach Frank their initial possession, quarterback Tony offense, recovering two fumbles and inter his personal highlight film. His nine rushes Leahy. Rice and the Irish offense took over on their cepting two Midshipmen passes while post netted 134 yards, a career high. Coming into the game, Irish coach Lou own 36. On the first play , tailback Ricky ing their first shutout of the Lou Holtz era, "I have to give credit to the offensive Holtz stated, "All I know is that our worst Watters burst off tackle for a 43-yard gain to and the first since a 42-0 drubbing of Ann y in line," said the junior tailback. "They were performance all last season came against the Navy 21. Three plays later Rice, sprung 1983. awesome. It was like the (parting of the) Red Navy." He was referring to Notre Dame's by a Rodney Culver block, turned the comer Notre Dame's dominance was a total Sea. I can't even make my arms as wide as lackluster 22-7 victory over the Midshipmen on an option left and scored from six yards team effort as Holtz cleared his bench, ena that hole was." in Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. Coming out. bling everyone to get into the act. "What was Walter Boyd matched the Rocket against Navy_ Both rushed for 36 yards in a With the game well in hand, Holtz used balanced Irish ground attack. 40 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 41 first freshman to score a touchdown," said Levens. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time." Freshman wide receivers Adrian Jarrell and William Pollard were other bright spots for the future of the Irish, who, next season, figure to move away from the option-ori ented ground attack which has been so suc cessful under,Tony Rice." "It was relaxing just getting to be able to watch other people play," stated Rice, "and there was no slack-off." The final blow to the Navy ship was the opportunity to give fans a glimpse at the future of delivered by a Tank. Senior walk-on Ted Notre Dame football. He instilled the second unit with : "Tank" McNamara rounded out the Irish more than three minutes remaining in the half. scoring with a two-yard touchdown with Freshman quarterback Rick Mirer engineered a 4:40 remaining in the game, making the final 50-yard, 14-play drive culminating in a 27-yard field tally 41-0. goal by Billy Hackett, making the halftime score 24-0. "It was the greatest moment of my life," Mirer's performance (12-18, 64 yards, no intercep gushed McNamara after the game, perhaps !:. tions) was encouraging to Holtz. overwhelmed by the personal significance of "It was nice to see some of the younger players in the moment. It was the first score of the game," offered Holtz. "Rick Mirer threw the ball McNamara's career at Notre Dame. and ran the team well." The loss left Uzelac wondering if the In the second half, sophomore running backs longest intersectional collegiate football ri . By the fourth quarter, the Midshipmen had absorbed more of a pounding than I Walter Boyd and Rusty Setzer, along with freshman valry in existence should continue. The I~ they would have liked. "~ Dorsey Levens, cashed in on their chance to showcase Midshipmen haven't beaten Notre Dame Joe V~acco' their talents. since 1963, when a quarterback named Roger me determine it." Summarized Watters, ''These are the Watters found a seam in the Navy defense (above) and raced 48 In the fourth quarter, Levens powered off tackle to Staubach was at the helm for Navy. Notre Nevertheless, the victory over Navy was teams you have to beat in order to get to yards for the touchdown (right). score his first collegiate touchdown. "We were all Dame now leads the series 53-9 with one tie. a much needed breather in the murderous Miami and those other guys. These are tough kidding each other this week about who would be the "I don 'thave anything to do with it," said Irish schedule, allowing Holtz to utilize some games because you can easily let down. But ... Uzelac of the scheduling. "Powers beyond of his lesser-used players. we don't take anyone lightly." II

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;,' Scholastic 1989 Football Review 43 ! i. first freshman to score a touchdown," said Levens. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time." Freshman wide receivers Adrian Jarrell and William Pollard were other bright spots for the future of the Irish, who, next season, figure to move away from the option-ori ented ground attack which has been so suc cessful under,Tony Rice." "It was relaxing just getting to be able to watch other people play," stated Rice, "and there was no slack-off." The final blow to the Navy ship was the opportunity to give fans a glimpse at the future of delivered by a Tank. Senior walk-on Ted Notre Dame football. He instilled the second unit with : "Tank" McNamara rounded out the Irish more than three minutes remaining in the half. scoring with a two-yard touchdown with Freshman quarterback Rick Mirer engineered a 4:40 remaining in the game, making the final 50-yard, 14-play drive culminating in a 27-yard field tally 41-0. goal by Billy Hackett, making the halftime score 24-0. "It was the greatest moment of my life," Mirer's performance (12-18, 64 yards, no intercep gushed McNamara after the game, perhaps !:. tions) was encouraging to Holtz. overwhelmed by the personal significance of "It was nice to see some of the younger players in the moment. It was the first score of the game," offered Holtz. "Rick Mirer threw the ball McNamara's career at Notre Dame. and ran the team well." The loss left Uzelac wondering if the In the second half, sophomore running backs longest intersectional collegiate football ri . By the fourth quarter, the Midshipmen had absorbed more of a pounding than I Walter Boyd and Rusty Setzer, along with freshman valry in existence should continue. The I~ they would have liked. "~ Dorsey Levens, cashed in on their chance to showcase Midshipmen haven't beaten Notre Dame Joe V~acco' their talents. since 1963, when a quarterback named Roger me determine it." Summarized Watters, ''These are the Watters found a seam in the Navy defense (above) and raced 48 In the fourth quarter, Levens powered off tackle to Staubach was at the helm for Navy. Notre Nevertheless, the victory over Navy was teams you have to beat in order to get to yards for the touchdown (right). score his first collegiate touchdown. "We were all Dame now leads the series 53-9 with one tie. a much needed breather in the murderous Miami and those other guys. These are tough kidding each other this week about who would be the "I don 'thave anything to do with it," said Irish schedule, allowing Holtz to utilize some games because you can easily let down. But ... Uzelac of the scheduling. "Powers beyond of his lesser-used players. we don't take anyone lightly." II

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Nick Smith blocked the extra-point and the ball and attempted a lateral Andre Jones returned it 91 yards for two inside their own five. Unfortu points. Jones' return marked the first-ever nately for the Mustangs, Jones defensive extra point conversion in Notre was there to make the stop at the Dame history. three. Three plays later Notre A Leading 16-6, Notre Dame received Dame's defense scored again the kickoff and started at their 34. Rick when SMU punter Casey Clyce Mirer entered,the game at. quarterback and stepped out of the end zone for a safety. Merciful Notre Dame received the free kick and started at its own 25. With Graham at quarter back the Irish came out throw ing. Graham completed two Mauling passes to William Pollard, the first good for 10 yards and the second for 37. Walter Boyd

Bill completed the drive with a 14- Under Holtz's orders not to score if given the chance, Setzer stepped out of yard touchdown run up the bounds short of the end zone. middle with 15 seconds left in First-stringers like Ismail saw limited action ... the half. by game's end. Setzer scored on a two-yard The 42-point first half may have run, Billy Hacket kicked his second field The Mustangs suffer severe growing pains at the hands o/the Irish, showed off Notre Dame's offensive goal of the game from 32 yards out and Rod power, but the defensive unit was equally West blasted into the end zone from one if not more dominant. Through the first yard out to finish the day's scoring. .1 who take measures to hold the score down /~ half the Irish defense had allowed only Four Irish players scored their frrst ca one touchdown, and that occurred after a reer touchdowns in this game. While 80- . turnover deep in their own end. The pass phomores Boyd and Setzer scored on runs . defense was unyielding, holding Romo of 14 and two yards, respectively, senior and the Mustang Run-and-Shoot offense role players Graham and Westtook advan after an NCAA imposed two-year proba After scoring only once in the first Bill Leheny to merely 70 yards passing. They also tage of this game to score the frrst and only BY KEVIN SPROULE tion. Consequently, the Mustangs brought quarter,the Irish were a ticking bomb. That QB Mike Romo was pushed around often .. held SMU to -1 yards on Nov. 11, Notre Dame- nothing that could combat the Irish arsenal. bomb detonated furiously in the second, completed his first pass to Watters over the the ground. This Notre Dame-SMU match-up scoring 32 points offensively, defensively, middle for a 31-yard gain. After failing to The second half fter an intentional delay of wasn't exactly what players and fans and through special teams. convert a first down after that, Billy Hackett saw a change in the face game penalty late in the third A wanted as the last home game of a memo On the first play of the second quarter kicked a 34-yard field goal. of the game. The domi quarter, Irish reserve tailback rable 1989 season. Most wondered not if Ismail swept around the right side for a 26- The Notre Dame defense once again nation continued but the Rusty Setzer took a pitch right and broke Notre Dame would win; rather, by how yard gain, getting knocked out of bounds at stopped the Mustangs' Run-and-Shoot of scoring and high-pow free toward th.e Southern Methodist end much. the one. Holtz then inserted Pete Graham at fense and forced a punt. The punt sent ered offense was toned zone. Before scoring, though, Setzer pur Notre Dame began its scoring barrage quarterback, allowing him to score his first . Watters backpedaling inside his own five down. Holtz took ad posely stepped out of bounds at the eight. '--- midway through the frrst quarter. Starting career touchdown on a one-yard quarter- yard line and left fans wondering why he vantage of the large lead The scenario was typical of this game. on its own 21, Notre Dame drove to the back sneak. would field a punt so deep in his own terri to clear his bench, al Notre Dame's scoring oppurtunities were SMU 35 on six running plays. Ricky SMU bounced back, scoring a touch tory. Watters answered quickly by breaking lowing his younger so frequent and easy to come by that Head Watters then took an option pitch right" down with a little help from an Irish mis t~ee tackles en route to a spectacular 97- players a chance to . .~ . Coach Lou Holtz was forced to take un broke one tackle and scored a: touchdown. cue. After forcing SMU to punt, Ismail shine. Notre Dame's usual measures to keep the score down. "I yard touchdown run. The punt return gave Watters' 35-yard run would be the longest tried to catch the punt with his facemask. defensive unit didn't let wanted to score and I could have," ex him two touchdowns for the game to go run of the game. The ball bounced away and SMU recov-· up at all as freshmen, plained Setzer. "Coach Holtz told us that along with 69 rushing yards on seven car SMU was forced to punt on their next ered on the Notre Dame 19. Three plays ries, a team best for the day. walk-ons and other re we could run up and down the field but he possesion. Raghib "Rocket" Ismail fielded later quarterback Mike Romo threw five didn't want us to score." Notre Dame drove 64 yards on its very serves recorded three the punt at the 35, broke loose, and returned yards to a diving Andy Bergfeld in the next possesion for a touchdown. A 29-yard interceptions in the sec The 59-6 blowout came as no surprise it for an apparent touchdown. What would comer of the end zone. It was the pass from Rice to Ismail keyed a drive that ond half. to anyone, though. Notre Dame came in at have beenIsmail's second punt return for a Mustang's frrst and only score of the day. Anthony Johnson finished with a four-yard The Irish still man 9-0 and ranked number one in the country touchdown of the season was called back After the touchdown the Irish defense plunge up the middle. aged to score two touch Rob Corrao while SMU was 2-6 and trying to rebuild for clipping. decided to take matters into its own hands. On the ensuing kickoff SMU fielded downs and a field goal . .. while freshmen like Shawn Smith got a chance to shine. 44 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 45 2 .. ~. ------~---~---.----~------. i

touchdowns of their collegiate careers. Though watching reserves finish a game usually isn't very exciting, it was most fitting in a game of this nature. Not only was it a show of the future for Notre Da'me football, but also a deserved chance for many older reserves who paid their dues for four years. Said senior D'Juan Francisco, "I am very happy with today's game notformyself, but that some of the people who have been here since I got here got the chance to show themselves out on the field today." Even this game, so dominated by the Irish, was not perfect. Notre Dame fumbled seven times, losing three. Said Holtz, "It was a good game because we got to playa lot of people. It was a bad game because we made some mistakes and got away with them." Perfect or not, Notre Dame was a convincing winner. They moved their record to 10-0 and retained their number one ranking. The Irish also finished a third consecutive undefeated home schedule. As Johnson summed up, "It's Johanson still great to go out with the win." The leprechaun shouldn't have looked at the scoreboard after Notre Dame's last touchdown. He only had 58 more to go. .

on the Ground

Notre Dame met the challenge of Penn State's highly regarded rush defense by sprinting for over 400 yards

dium," wamedNotre Dame coach Lou Holtz Stadium four times, and each time had come BY KEVIN T. KERNS before the game. away saddled with a defeat. Those setbacks Nov. 18, University Park, PA- True, "Happy VaUey"in University included a November 1987, heartbreaking 21-20 loss which dashed Notre Dame's na ne thing that jumps out. at. you is Park, PA, has been anything but happy for the ,0 tional title hopes for that season. that Notre Dame has never Fighting Irish in this decade. Coming into the beaten Penn State in Beaver Sta- contest Notre Dame had travelled to Beaver Now Lou Holtz brought a 10-0 Irish 47 Scholastic 1989 Football Review .' .

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on the Ground

Notre Dame met the challenge of Penn State's highly regarded rush defense by sprinting for over 400 yards

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break, and Penn State's defense did. netted a career high 141 yards, including two the first Irish possession and promptly drove pass. Holtz. "They scored, and we came back and With a startling display of power touchdowns. Tailback Ricky Watters carried 79 yards for the score. Tailback Blair Tho Penn State then got possession, but was scored, and then we did it after the field goal. " football, top-ranked Notre Dame for 128 yards and a touchdown, while Raghib mas, whose 133 yards rushing was the most stopped on a third and one from their own 21 The touchdown play came on fourth and one, rolled to a 34-23 Victory over the for a Notre Dame opponent this year, capped as cornerback Stan Smagala dropped Tho as Holtz elected to pass up a short field goal #17 Nittany Lions in a game that the drive with a one yard touchdown plunge. mas for a four-yard loss. attempt. Johnson powered in to make the featured considerably more offense The Irish struck back, moving 65 yards With Penn State still reeling, the Irish score 21-10. That would be the halftime tally than one might have expected. on 13 plays, all but one on the ground. Rice went in for the kill. Rice threw to Ismail for as Craig Hentrich's 49-yard field goal at ''They just physically man scored from five yards out to finish the drive a gain of 15 to the Lion 32. Four plays later, tempt went wide as time expired. handled us," commented Lion with 2: 19 remaining in the quarter. On third Notre Dame had a fust and goal from the five. Trailing by 11, the Lions would be given strong safety Sherrod Rainge. "We and four from the Lion 49, Rice kept the drive Fullback Anthony Johnson has been the one more chance to climb back into the game. basically knew what they were alive with a five-yard toss to Watters coming bread and butter of the Irish short yardage of That opportunity presented itself when de going to do, and that was run. And out of the backfield. fense for the past three seasons, and this oc fensive tackle Jim Deter intercepted a Rice we still couldn't stop them. We "The catalyst is Tony Rice. He is just un casion was no different. Johnson got the call pass at the Penn State two-yard line. The were just out-manned physically." believable," commented Holtz. "He does the four straight times and finally found pay dirt. Lions returned the favor when tailback Gerry Lou Holtz could have sent the things that we need to get done." "I thought we rose to the challenge," said Collins, spelling Thomas, fumbled the ball plays into both huddles and the re The Nittany Lions sults probably would have been the got the ,ball back and same. The Irish rolled up 425 yards again drove with sur rushing on the day, the highest prIsmg ease. They single game total ever given up by were aided by a ques Penn State in its proud and storied tionable personal foul Rice ran the option with precision... Paul Webb football history. whistled against Irish, : squad, riding a school record 22-game win "That's an outstanding offensive free safety Pat Terrell, ning streak, into State College to face a Penn team," said a shell-shocked Penn State giving Penn State a frrst Ii State team which led the nation in scoring coach Joe Paterno. "They have a lot of down at the Notre defense, having surrendered an average of guns and an outstanding offensive line." ...whlle Watters also gained over 100 'yards Dame 13. I~ ! just 9.2 points per game. It would be the most 1,1' Foremost among those guns was Tony Ismail burned the Lion defense for 84 yards The Irish defense I I prolific rushing attack in America versus the stiffened as defensive • i o' I Ric~, who conduct~ a clinic on how to run an Those totals marked the, fust time Notr~ :: , stingiest scoring defense. Something had to optlon offense. Hls 26 rushing attempts Dame had two backs go over the 100-yard end Devon McDonald mark since they accomplished sacked quarterback ., i· the feat in a 1983 loss to Michi TOI1Y Sacca for an gan State. eight-yard loss, forcing But the real stars of the the Lions to settle for game were the members of the Ray Tarasi's 38-yard Irish offensive line. "I thought field goal. going into the game that it would That would be the be tough, and we were really extent of Penn State's going to have to tighten up," said first half offense, and Watters. "But the offensive line the Irish were just get did a great job. There were times tingwarmedup. Notan I saw three holes and would have e~y task on this day, " ! to make a choice." with the wind chill The vaunted 'Penn State reading zero and winds i, defense had been allowing just gusting upwardS of 25 I' 2.8 yards per rush, but Notre miles per hour. Dame gained six per carry in Notre Dame amassing 425 on the day. "I scored twice in a span wouldn't expect to run for that of less than nine min many yards in a marathon," said utes. The frrst came Holtz' of the Irish rushing domi courtesy of a, 12-yard nance. run by Watters, culmi Early on, things looked nating a six play, 58- promising for the partisan crowd yard drive in which the 's power running only added to the Nlttany Lions' woes. Irish were not forced to of 86,023. Penn State stopped AlthoughSmagala stopped Thomas on this play, the Helsman hopeful gained 133. yardson the day. 48 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 49

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and Smagala recovered. Six plays later, Rice fell to 6-3-1 on the season. "If you were to "Notre Dame compares with Oklahoma and went in for the score, making it 28-10 with watch the films, you'd see how the backs some ,of the clubs we've played," said an 8:42 remaining in the third quarter. aren't getting touched until they're two or obviously impressed Paterno. The frigid temperatures and gusting three yards past the line," said Johnson. The convincing Irish victory set up a winds, coupled with Joe Paterno's conserva Nothing Penn State did up front fazed showdown with the Hurricanes from the Uni tive offensive philosophy, did not bode well the experienced Irish offensive front. versity of Miami, to be followed by a New for a Penn State comeback. Facing one of the "We've seen about any defense possible," Year's Day Orange Bowl clash with Colo most talented defenses in the country, the stated tackle Dean Brown. rado. Just how this team would be viewed in Nittany Lion offense responded well behind Notre Dame had ended their Beaver college gridiron lore depended on how they Tom Bill, who had replaced Sacca at quarter Stadium jinx in dominant fashion, prompting would fare in the Sunshine State in the com back late in the first half. some to try and place this team in history. ing weeks. II "I never thought this would be an offen sive game," said Holtz. "I was disappointed in the defense, but YOIl have to give Penn State credit." Taking over on their own 21, the Lions drove 79 yards to make the score 28-17. Bill threw for32 yards and scrambled for 25 more on the drive, which ended on Thomas' three yard run. The Irish added two short Billy Hackett field goals, and the scoreboard read 34-17 with just 6:53 remaining. Bill went to Terry Smith for a five-yard touchdown toss, and a failed two-point conversion attempt left the margin at 11. That was as close as Penn State would get The Irish missed a chance to add to their total when Pat Eilers fumbled in the I: Lion end zone with under two minutes re maining. Notre Dame's ball control offense had proved to be too much for Penn State, which II Land of Confu I n Notre Dame cannot solve its Orange Bowl woes as the Hurricanes dim Irish National Championship hopes

For all its apparent invincibility, Lou team merely kill the opposition; only a good BY JIM MAGGIO Holtz' top-ranked squad fell victim to the dismemberment or two would suffice. Upon Nov. 25, Miami, FL- same old story in that same old, dreaded first sight of a Notre Dame player on the orget 58-7, Catholics vs. Convicts stadium. First-year Miami coach Dennis Orange Bowl turf, they reacted with all the F and all that business. With the 1989 Erickson got his first taste of the home chaim and grace of a rabid pit bull. Some installment of Notre Dame-Miami cookin' Howard SchnellenbergerandJimmy where between loud chants of "F- Notre came a new coach, new expectations and a Johnson enjoyed so much against the Irish in Oame" and "Tony Rice Sucks" flew a wide whole new brand of fever-pitch hype and the 1980s, directing his blood-thirsty charges range of projectiles into the closed end of the hysteria. Last season's thrilling, 31-30 Irish to a convincing 27-10 victory on this balmy field, directed at the Irish during pre-game win did nothing but bring emotions to an Saturday evening. warm-ups. Welcome to the jungle, baby. even higher boiling point for this year's clash Miami may as well have scheduled this The problem for the Irish, though, lay of the titans in the Orange Bowl. game for the Coliseum-Rome, that is. The not nearly as much in the hostile surround Oops, there's the hitch. Maybe some 80,000 or so Hurricane fans who jammed this ings as in the Hurricanes' balanced offensive things don't change after all. downtrodden facility didn'tcome to see their attack and swarming defensive unit. Yet the

50 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 51 • •• ~. • • 'j ,j ,~j • 'l " ¥ • ( '"",', •

50 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 51 , _ , , . . .' ~ ~ .' . ,_ ..' -!:;,' >,. .." ,} '""'. . ", J . ~. , / /

off a long Rice pass to squelch one drive, and Bolcar in his path. Bolcar snared the errant it at their own three-yard line. After game within seven midway through the final Cortez Kennedy and Greg Mark teamed up to pass, then leaped over the sprawling quarter McGuire's run netted only four yards, Miami period. Rice's second and 17 bomb to Wil dump Rice for a loss of seven on third and back -turned-defender to race 49 yards for the faced a third and 44 situation. The Hurri liam Pollard netted 42 yards and put the Irish five to end another. score. "They were having breakdowns here canes needed a thrill, and they got it. into Miami territory at the 34, but the threat No sooner than another Hentrich punt and there. I knew they'd look for the tight Erickson entered the huddle and called would once again die inside the Hurricane's I did the 'Canes offense strike again. Four end," Bolcar explained. "I just came off and "80 double zone" as Randall "Thrill" Hill ten-yard line. On fourth and six from the i plays was all it took for Erickson to find a stepped in front of him." lined up wide to the right side. Hill slipped eight, Rice threw incomplete over the middle I. breakdown in the Irish secondary as he hit With the score tied at ten late in the half, past cornerback Stan Smagala on the right to Ismail to extend Notre Dame's offensive I ':1 Dawkins on another long pass, this time for a the Irish had the b.all once more at the Miami sideline as Erickson unleashed a prayer. Hill futility in the Orange Bowl in this decade. 55-yard touchdown over the middle and a 46. Rice came out passing on second and answered, hauling it in at the Irish 49 to "We had two 9O-yard drives and put quick 10-0 Miami lead. one, looking to move the Irish into field goal squeeze out the first down and prolong Notre three points on the board," lamented Holtz. The Irish fought back to start the second position and give them the halftime lead. The Dame's agony. "One thing we've had some success with is quarter with a sustained drive and found plan backfired as Clark became his receiver Miami strung together 12 more plays, the ability to score when we got inside the themselves knocking at the door on Miami's instead; returning Rice's second interception mixing in the run with pass completions to ten-yard line. We were not successful in that one-yard line. Brit the next three plays typi down to the Notre Dame eight-yard line. Hill and Conley. Erickson's five-yard scor endeavor today, and I thought that was criti- fied the intensity with which the Hurricane Steve McGuire's five-yard score three plays ing strike to Dawkins culminated a 22-play cal." . defense played all evening. The lightning later gave Miami the lead once more. "The journey covering 80 yards and consuming a From there, Miami chewed up another quick unit dropped Rice and Anthony pass before the half increased their momen whopping 10:47 off the clock. The Irish five minutes off the clock, and Huerta's 32- Johnson for losses, and an incomplete pass tum," said Holtz. "We could have had offense had yet to touch the ball in the second yard field goal all but ended it, 27-10. His on third down forced Notre Dame to settle for halftime at 10-10, and I think that's what half as the game began slipping out of their players gave Coach Erickson a victory ride Billy Hackett's 22-yar~ field goal. changed the game." hands. on their shoulders, erasing any doubts that "We didn't really know what they'd do If Clark's interception changed it, then "It hurt us in that it didn't give our this Hurricane football team could win the on goal line. That was a main problem," what followed to start the second half merely offense a chance to get on the field," said big one under its new leader. explained Holtz. "If you see someone on helped ice it for the 'Canes. It will go down Bolcar. Added Irish safety Pat Terrell, "Our ''This football team has been through a Fumbles didn't go Notre Dame's way as this one was blown dead despite Mike B~nnett goal line you see that they'll run at least four in Miami lore and Notre Dame infamy sim defense was not used to seeing anyone drive lot of adversity," said Erickson, reflecting on the pleas of an excited defense... looks. We didn 'treally know what to do, and ply as "The Drive." the ball like that. Take away three or four various key injuries and a 24-10 loss earlierin Oddly enough, the Hurricanes had to plays, (and) it might have been a different the season to bitter cross-state rival Florida tone for the evening may well move a lot in reverse before actually getting story." State. "Any time there's a coaching change, have been set on the opening the Drive in gear. Following a gutsy fourth Notre Dame had a chance to pull the everybody's checking the new coach out, and kickoff, where, following a and one running heated verbal exchange at play that gave midfield between the two arch them a first down enemies, Raghib Ismail at their own 41, the bobbled the ball in the end zone officials flagged and had to settle for a touch Miami for a per back. sonal foul to move Rice took the first snap the ball right back from center and darted up the to the 26. Irish middle for a gain of 12. That defensive end Eric was all the 'Canes defense Jones then needed to get going. Line dropped Erickson (Jacker Bernard Clark gave an behind the line of lrish ballcarrier a rude greeting scrimmage ·to on each of the next three plays, force a fumble. and following a 21-yard punt Fellow defensive 'JY Craig Hentrich the Miami 't d . M' I' . Mike Bennett ••• W hll e thl s go Id en oppo rtUn! y eep In lam territory slipped away from the Irish. end Devon offense quickly went to work. McDonald had a Quarterback Craig Erickson (no relation cracked the scoreboard with a 35~yard field in all honesty they didn't run what we worked shot at the ball but to Dennis) came out frring, hitting Leonard goal to give Miami the early lead. on. They ran something rather conventional, couldn't recover, Conley and Dale Dawkins on successive pass Meanwhile, Notre Dame's offense sput and we worked on some different things." and Miami center completions of six and 26 yards to shove the tered. The rushing attack cracked a standout Consequently, the rest of Notre Dame's Bobby Garcia ball right back in Notre Dame's end at the 21. ii, Huiricane defensive front with a few good offense came from its defense. With the ball saved the 'Canes ,: il The Irish defense stiffened on the three fol gains, but, when forced to throw the ball, the 1 at his own 43, Erickson drifted left looking to from potential dis lowing rush attempts, but Carlos Huerta Irish met with disaster. Roland Smith picked throw, only to find Irish linebacker Ned aster by faIling on Wherever Notre Dame ball carriers roamed, Miami's Bernard Clark was not far away. 52 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 53 the team has to adjust I don't think anyone gave us very much credit and we came out today and proved that the transition is over." Meanwhile, the Irish had once again fallen victim to the Orange Bowl Curse that plagued them throughout the 1980s, holding them Risin to one offensive touchdown there in this decade. That came in the 58-7 debacle marking Gerry Faust's coaching finale at Notre Dame in 1985. Other losses include a 37-15 from Orange drubbing in 1981 and shutouts in 1983 (20-0) and 1987 (24-0). This year's loss ended Notre Dame's 23- game winning streak dating back to Ashes the start of the 1988 season. "Sure, it's frustrating," said Ter rell in the locker room following the game. "But we've come too far to throw in the towel. It's hard to put Notre Dame erases any thoughts of a your head down after 23 straight wins." He then gave the assembled Miami jinx with a convincing 21-6 press corps a look of conviction. "We'll play real Notre Dame victory over top-ranked Colorado football the next time we take the field." The Irish defense got pushed around a bit but was That would be January 1, 1990, unyielding when It counted the most. in the Orange Bowl against unde feated Colorado. The Irish could only hope that a new decade would Although the defense consistently pressured Erickson, he was still "able to burn Mike Bennett outstanding football team and they're going Colorado learned the hard way. Three exorcise an old demon. II them for 210 passing yards. BY JIM MAGGIO to see one," he told his players. "They're times in the fIrst half they had the gun loaded, going to see the best Notre Dame. And we're aimed and ready. Three times they misfrred. ii'" Jan. 1, 1990, Miami, FL- going to whip 'em." After an exchange of possessions to I is voice neither· wayered nor As the six-o'clock news aired Holtz' open the game, the Colorado offense took its H showed any twinge of anxiety. comments, the emotion-charged Buffs now second tum and marched the ball down to the His step was slow but deliberate had added incentive to go along with their Notre Dame 35-yard line. -On second and as he paced before his assembled troops, season-long quest for a national champion five, tailback Eric Bieniemy received the outlining the battIe plan for how the war ship for their spiritual leader, Sal Aunese, hand-off from Darian Hagan and rambled 16 would be won. This was aman in all his who died last September of inoperable stom yards through the right side of the defense, MacArthuresque glory. This was not the Lou ach cancer. Aunese's parting request to his headed for an apparent touchdown. Butas he Holtz that the public, much less Colorado, teammates was simple: "Go get 'em, and tried switching hands, the ball popped loose was supposed to see. _ bring home the Orange Bowl." and Irish free safety Pat Terrell recovered. "Let me tell you what, they've been If anything, though, Holtz' remarks may Strike one. living a lie, they've been living a lie all have contributed to emotional overload for Notre Dame's running attack got them season," Holtz declared in reference to the Colprado this New Year's Night For all the no further than their own 42, and the Buffa Buffaloes, unaware of the Denver television lessons they learned, for all the detractors loes had the ball again on their own 18 fol crew filming his pep talk four days prior to they proved wrong on their way to an ll-O lowing a 49-yard punt by Craig Hentrich. the Orange Bowl. "Remember, I told you." mark in 1989, the Buffs forgot Rule #1 in Hagan -complemented Colorado's impres Holtz' public concern over his team's Approaching a Sleeping Giant. sive option attack with long pass completions ability to bounce back from last month's 27- Ifyou' re going to kill him, make sure you to John Perak and Erich Kissick. Suddenly 10 loss to Miami gave way to (seemingly) do it in less than three attempts. Otherwise, the Buffs found themselves knocking on the private conviction. "They're expecting an the big guy just might wake up. door again with a first down at the Irish 12.

Scholastic 1989 Football Review 55 the team has to adjust I don't think anyone gave us very much credit and we came out today and proved that the transition is over." Meanwhile, the Irish had once again fallen victim to the Orange Bowl Curse that plagued them throughout the 1980s, holding them Risin to one offensive touchdown there in this decade. That came in the 58-7 debacle marking Gerry Faust's coaching finale at Notre Dame in 1985. Other losses include a 37-15 from Orange drubbing in 1981 and shutouts in 1983 (20-0) and 1987 (24-0). This year's loss ended Notre Dame's 23- game winning streak dating back to Ashes the start of the 1988 season. "Sure, it's frustrating," said Ter rell in the locker room following the game. "But we've come too far to throw in the towel. It's hard to put Notre Dame erases any thoughts of a your head down after 23 straight wins." He then gave the assembled Miami jinx with a convincing 21-6 press corps a look of conviction. "We'll play real Notre Dame victory over top-ranked Colorado football the next time we take the field." The Irish defense got pushed around a bit but was That would be January 1, 1990, unyielding when It counted the most. in the Orange Bowl against unde feated Colorado. The Irish could only hope that a new decade would Although the defense consistently pressured Erickson, he was still "able to burn Mike Bennett outstanding football team and they're going Colorado learned the hard way. Three exorcise an old demon. II them for 210 passing yards. BY JIM MAGGIO to see one," he told his players. "They're times in the fIrst half they had the gun loaded, going to see the best Notre Dame. And we're aimed and ready. Three times they misfrred. ii'" Jan. 1, 1990, Miami, FL- going to whip 'em." After an exchange of possessions to I is voice neither· wayered nor As the six-o'clock news aired Holtz' open the game, the Colorado offense took its H showed any twinge of anxiety. comments, the emotion-charged Buffs now second tum and marched the ball down to the His step was slow but deliberate had added incentive to go along with their Notre Dame 35-yard line. -On second and as he paced before his assembled troops, season-long quest for a national champion five, tailback Eric Bieniemy received the outlining the battIe plan for how the war ship for their spiritual leader, Sal Aunese, hand-off from Darian Hagan and rambled 16 would be won. This was aman in all his who died last September of inoperable stom yards through the right side of the defense, MacArthuresque glory. This was not the Lou ach cancer. Aunese's parting request to his headed for an apparent touchdown. Butas he Holtz that the public, much less Colorado, teammates was simple: "Go get 'em, and tried switching hands, the ball popped loose was supposed to see. _ bring home the Orange Bowl." and Irish free safety Pat Terrell recovered. "Let me tell you what, they've been If anything, though, Holtz' remarks may Strike one. living a lie, they've been living a lie all have contributed to emotional overload for Notre Dame's running attack got them season," Holtz declared in reference to the Colprado this New Year's Night For all the no further than their own 42, and the Buffa Buffaloes, unaware of the Denver television lessons they learned, for all the detractors loes had the ball again on their own 18 fol crew filming his pep talk four days prior to they proved wrong on their way to an ll-O lowing a 49-yard punt by Craig Hentrich. the Orange Bowl. "Remember, I told you." mark in 1989, the Buffs forgot Rule #1 in Hagan -complemented Colorado's impres Holtz' public concern over his team's Approaching a Sleeping Giant. sive option attack with long pass completions ability to bounce back from last month's 27- Ifyou' re going to kill him, make sure you to John Perak and Erich Kissick. Suddenly 10 loss to Miami gave way to (seemingly) do it in less than three attempts. Otherwise, the Buffs found themselves knocking on the private conviction. "They're expecting an the big guy just might wake up. door again with a first down at the Irish 12.

Scholastic 1989 Football Review 55 ~------~~~~======------""""I"""""""""""""""""--.--.--.--.--.----.-...... ,.

tacular leaping effort over the right side, only to be stopped in more spectacular fashion head-on by strong safety D'Juan Francisco. Second and goal. Hagan tries his luck on a keeper up the middle. Chris Zorich & Co. say no. , Third and goal. Hagan rolls right, finds a wall of Notre Dru:ne defenders in his face and pitches in desperation to Bieniemy. The I ball flutters out of bounds for a loss of two. i Frustrated and scoreless, the Buffs lined up for an apparent field-goal attempt on fourth and three to get something, anything on the scoreboard. Instead, Colorado Head, Coach Bill McCartney reached into his grab bag of tricks and pulled out a lemon . . Normally a linebacker, Chad Brown lined up at tight end on the play and was supposed to release from the line of scrim mage when the ball was snapped, making himself an eligible receiver on the fake. But In the first quarter, Colorado's Eric Bieniemy (1) appeared headed for a touchdown ... when holder Jeff Campbell took the snap and looked for an open receiver, Brown didn't But Scott Kowalkowski, Jeff AIm and The Irish offense followedthat up with a position at its own 4l. From there Hagan, release. With no one to throw to, Campbell Ned Bolcar helped stuff three successive futile three-play, eight-yard drive. The Buf- Bieniemy and J. J. Flannigan combined to ran to the right in desperation and Troy running plays short of the first down marker, falo defense, led by the inspired play of pound the ball over the right side to the Irish Ridgley flattened him a yard short of the end The Buffs kept the clamps on Rice for much of the first half. and Colorado had to settle for Ken Alfred Williams, MichaeIJ ones and Kanavis I-yard line. What followed was one of the zone. Culbertson's 23-yard field goal attempt McGhee, once again stuffed the Irish attack greatest goal-line stands in Notre Dame his Strike three. second half 0-0, but we knew that as soon as arm had not suffered from disuse. He hit Culbertson turned the chip shot into a night- deep in its own territory, and Hentrich's tory. "He (Brown) said he got jammed," our offense got into a rhythm that we would Johnson on third and nine for a gain of13, and mare, hooking it wide left. Strike two. shanked PUilt gave Colorado prime field First and goal. Bieniemy makes a spec- McCartney explained dejectedly as he tried be fine." his perfect strike to Eilers for 18 pulled the to justify the play. "It looked like a broken . The Irish came out for the second half as Irish out of a frrst-and-32 hole created by two play, but it wasn't." if their lives depended on it-which, accord penalties. If anything, it was the alarm clock the ing to their bespectacled leader, it did. "How With Rice having found success against Irish needed. Notre Dame proceeded to you respond to the challenge in the second the Buffalo secondary (5 of 9 completions, march the ball downfield in their own attempt half will determine what you become after 99 yards), many expected him to be throwing to crack the scoreboard. Long runs by Tony the game," Holtz told his troops at the inter again on third and 14 at the Colorado 35. Rice and Ismail set up Rice's first two pass mission, "whether you are a winner or a loser, Instead, Holtz crossed everyone up by calling completions of the day- 12 yards to Derek for the rest of your life." for "Reverse 8." A simple nameJor a play Brown and 29 to Pat Eilers over the middle. The offense got the message, picking up with a simple purpose: Give it to the Rocket, Colorado blocked Billy Hackett's 27-yard where it left off at the end of the first half and and see if anyone can catch him. field goal attempt two plays later to end the marching down the field with the help of the Rice dished off to Ismail streaking right scoreless first half, but Notre Dame entered big play. Rice found Tony Smith over the from his flanker position, and, with key the locker room confident. Colorado's fail middle for 27 on third and 11, followed two blocks from Johnson and Tim Grunhard, the ure to score on its last drive convinced the plays later by Anthony Johnson's 29-yard Rocket scorched a path down the right side- - Irish they had the Buffs where they wanted run to the Colorado II., Johnson scored on a line quicker than you can say "touchdown." them. two-yard plunge soon after, and the Irish had Following a halftime spectacle of six break "!fyou try a fake play, that means you've their first offensive touchdown, in the Orange dancing elephants and a guy named Chubby, gone away from your game plan," said Zor Bowl since 1985. the IriSh were suddenly putting on a show of . ich. "Once they didn't score on that, we knew Bolcarpicked off a deflected Hagan pass their own. Call it "14-0." we were in good shape." on Colorado's opening series of the half, Ismail's run typified the kind of grief he "When it came down to 'crunch time' in giving Notre Dame the ball at the Buffalo 46. caused the Buffs all evening long. Still the first half, we (the defense) just dug a little Time for Rice to show once again, as he did nursing a sore right shoulder he dislocated

deeper," said Bolear. "We went into the in the Fiesta Bowl last year, that his throwing . against Miami, his status remained uncertain ~ .; •.. 0nIY to fumble the ball into the hands of Notre Dame's Pat Terrell. , 56 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 57

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I Each team ex 17 plays, all on the ground. Hentrich' s extra changed possessions to point put Notre Dame up by 15, leaving only begin the fourth quarter, 1:32 on the clock and a long off-season for and Notre Dame had the Colorado to reflect on what could have been. ball once more at their "Coming away from the first half with own 18 with 10:27 re out any points after controlling the game for maining. With an eight awhile was too much to overcome," mused point lead and the run McCartney. "Anytime you're playing a team ning game hitting its like Notre Dame, you've got to capitalize on stride, Holtz had no more your chances. We didn't." surprises for Colorado. "That's something that's going to haunt Just a return to smash us for a long time, knowing we had three or, face football. four opportunities to score," said Flannigan, Ismail right for ten. looking away in disgust. "We gave the game Johnson right for nine. away. You just don't not score when you're Rice right for eight. Rod inside the 20 yard line that often." ney Culver left for four. For the Irish, victory in the Dade County When the dust finally Snakepit tasted ever so sweet. "Everyone settled after Johnson's kept on saying that there was a jinx on us in seven yard touchdown here," said Rice in I-told-you-so fashion. run, the Irish had con "Well, the jinx is definitely over." sumed almost ni~e min Only the final polls remained for Notre utes to drive 82 yards on Dame to mull over. A Miami loss in the

The Irish ground attack ate up nearly nine minutes In their fourh-quarter scoring drive to put the game on Ice. Sugar Bowl would have erased any doubts. going to vote on a national champion in case." But with the Hurricanes handing Alabama a October, give it to Florida State. Thus began the debate that won't end 33-25 loss in New Orleans, Holtz was left to "But we were number one 11 weeks and milil October 20, when Notre Dame and state the case for his 12-1 team. the one week we were out of number one we Miami lock horns in South Bend one last "I can honestly say we have the best came back and beat number one by 15 points. time-presumably to determine once and for Ismail scored on a reverse to put the Irish up 14-0. record and have played the toughest sched- I believe in my heart if you have the best all who really is number one. ule," said Holtz emphatically. "If you're record with the toughest schedule ... I rest my Stay tuned. until game time. But when tailback Ricky Watters went down with a knee injury on Notre Dame's third play from scrimmage, the Irish had to press the Rocket into backfield action. "I was going to playa lot more at tailback, but (my) injury put a damper on the game plan," said Ismail. "(But) Coach told me that after a few hits he wanted me to go a few plays in the backfield." From there he inflicted much more pain than he felt, pounding out 108 yards on the ground on 16 carries. "He was terrific," obseIYed McCartney. "He's very, very dangerous. We saw more of him in the backfield than I would have wanted." But Hagan responded to Ismail's score with his own phenomenal effort On first and ten at the Notre Dame 39, Hagan rolled right to the short side of the field. With little room to maneuver he eluded the reaches of Terrell and Devon McDonald and cut back left, scrambling 39 yards for the touchdown and the longest rush against the Irish this season. Culbertson's point -[. after attempt hit the left upright and bounced away, ending the i " third quarter at 14-6 and prolonging the kicker's disastrous ,J evening. Ian Johanson Hagan~s 39-yard touchdown scramble kept the Buffs close. 58 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 59

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The 1989 Schola tic II-Opponent Tealll

Harlon Barnett Tripp Welborne Defensive backlMichigan State Defensive BacklMichigan

Cleveland Colter .. Percy Snow Defensive backlUSC LinebackerlMichgan State Bernard Clark Mark Carrier LinebackerlMiami Defensive BacklUSC

Shawn McCarthy Andre Collins Alfred Williams LinebackerlPenn State PunterlPurdue Greg Mark Tim Ryan Marc Spindler Linebacker/Colorado Defensive LinelMiami Defensive LinelUSC Defensive LinelPitt

::'

Bob Kula Joe Garten Roy Brown Greg Skrepenak Jim Price TacklelMichigan State Guard/Colorado GuardNirginia TacklelMichlgan Tight End/Stanford

Dale Dawkins John Jackson Wide ReceiverlMiami Wide Receiver/USC

,i Ray Tarasl KlckerlPenn State Stephen McGuire Blair Thomas FulIbacklMlami Tailback/Penn State 60 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 61

------' , ' " ' r ' ,~, • " • I I J • J 1 \ ' ..... '," _ I , "... • .! . ',' _ • ('

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The 1989 Schola tic II-Opponent Tealll

Harlon Barnett Tripp Welborne Defensive backlMichigan State Defensive BacklMichigan

Cleveland Colter .. Percy Snow Defensive backlUSC LinebackerlMichgan State Bernard Clark Mark Carrier LinebackerlMiami Defensive BacklUSC

Shawn McCarthy Andre Collins Alfred Williams LinebackerlPenn State PunterlPurdue Greg Mark Tim Ryan Marc Spindler Linebacker/Colorado Defensive LinelMiami Defensive LinelUSC Defensive LinelPitt

::'

Bob Kula Joe Garten Roy Brown Greg Skrepenak Jim Price TacklelMichigan State Guard/Colorado GuardNirginia TacklelMichlgan Tight End/Stanford

Dale Dawkins John Jackson Wide ReceiverlMiami Wide Receiver/USC

,i Ray Tarasl KlckerlPenn State Stephen McGuire Blair Thomas FulIbacklMlami Tailback/Penn State 60 Scholastic 1989 Football Review 61

------' , ' " ' r ' ,~, • " • I I J • J 1 \ ' ..... '," _ I , "... • .! . ',' _ • ('

'1_ , • ,1 ~ " r ; • 0 • I r' _ -"' __.... _...... !..L.:...... _~.~~ , ~ . . . '. _ .... ' . .i: I;. . , J • • ,,' • • ". ~ • : Final Word Tan 's Turn Senior walk-on gets a chance to share his

thoughts on the 1989 season BY TED "TANK" McNAMARA

t would be an understatement to say Dame was back, and many critics were about to give up. I. the 1989 Irish football season was an forced to eat their words. After some rest and recuperation, uphill battIe-unless the hill hap As the season progressed, our luck be preparation began for the Orange Bowl. pened to be Mount Everest. Never before gan to fade. Injuries plagued the team, pre Many thought the Irish would give up after had I encountered as much adversity as this venting key players such as Anthony such a devastating loss to Miami. In addi football team experienced. Johnson, Rod West, Stan Smagala, and Jeff tion, we would be playing Colorado with Fate dealt us a hand which would have AIm from seeing action in some games. out defensive starters AndreJones and Bob devastated any other team. However, we Tight end Frank Jacobs had to sit out the rest Dahl. endured the hard knocks, and for the second of the season because of a broken ankle he But something special happened dur straight year we can boast the best record in suffered in the Stanford game. Injuries were ing those practices before the Bowl. Signs Division I football. Only one game kept us ever-present, and as a result many young and . of last August's Notre Dame team began to from our ninth national championship, but inexperienced players had to step in and take reappear as we started to practice with en having experienced what we did, we know up the slack. thusiasm and cohesion. Not only were we we are deserving of that honor. To top it off, we had also been dubbed getting better, but we were having fun in the I will always remember the three the "bad boys" of college football. When process. weeks before the Kickoff Classic, for dur you're on top, you come under close scrutiny We ignored Colorado's propaganda ing this period we were dealt our most as those around you try to find fault. Such campaign because we knew it was a futile severe blow. At a time when most students was our case. Many sportswriters were no effort. We had overwhelming confidence were still enjoying their summer vacations, longer concerned with the fact that we were in ourselves. Coach Holtz and his staff are we were engaged in two-a-day practices in winning. Instead, they criticized our "class master motivators, and by game day they preparation for the coming season. As if less" style of play. As untrue as that label had us convinced we could not lose. And practicing in the humidity of an Indiana was, they nevertheless attempted to paint just we couldn't. There was no way Colorado August was not enough, we also faced the such a picture for the public. The USC could ever beat us; the coaches had pre harsh reality that nine players, including incident provided them with the perfect pared us too well. We walked onto that field four starters, would not be joining us for the opportunity to do so. Never mind the lack of knowing we would leave it as Orange Bowl season. But we did not waste time feeling class USC displayed before the game, on the champions, and we did. sorry for ourselves. We felt remorse for field and during halftime. We were-still the It was a fitting ending to a season so those teammates who would not be with us, "thugs" and "hooligans" at fault. valiantly played. We fmished 12-1 with a but we continued to move forward, deter Despite our misfortunes we ignored our schedule that included ninct bowl teams. It mined to win with the playe11l we had. critics and continued to play like a number was without a doubt the toughest schedule Our purpose remained the same, but one team, and we entered the final game of in college football. Yet-the polls did not we now viewed the season in a different the regular season with an unblemished rec deem us worthy of the national champion light. We saw it as the ultimate challenge, ord. As much as we wanted to beat Miami, ship. We know in our hearts, however, that a challenge just waiting to be taclded. As a the fatigue and accumulated injuries from a we are the best team in college football, and team we had no doubts that we could rise to marathon season prevented us from doing so. the people of this country seem to agree the occasion, but many people' truly be The season ended in disappointment, but the with us. To them we are the national cham lieved we were not capable ofdoing so. The Orange Bowl and a possible national cham pions. II Kickoff Classic proved otherwise. Notre pionship awaited, and Notre Dame was not

Scholastic 1989 Football Review 63

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. r, . . . ,I. .':-~~.~ . , ~ . . . '. _ .... ' . .i: I;. . , J • • ,,' • • ". ~ • : Final Word Tan 's Turn Senior walk-on gets a chance to share his

thoughts on the 1989 season BY TED "TANK" McNAMARA

Scholastic 1989 Football Review 63

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I : I ALUMNI , , SEN R ======:r: t- 1033 LAKE STREET DANCING EVERY NILES, MICHIGAN FRIDAY & SATURDAY FORMERLY 9 PM - 2 AM FRANKY'S RESTAURANT WORLD of SOUND & LIGHT WISHES TO CONGRA TULATE THE SAME OWNERS DEE-JAY CO. 1989 FIGHTING IRISH FOOTBALL TEAM AND WISHES ITS SENIORS * Appetizers * Bar-B-Qued Babyback Ribs THE BEST OF LUCK:

Jeff Aim Pat Eilers Ted McNamara *French Fried Shrimp * Deep Fried Chicken Shawn Anderson Joe Farrell Kevin McShane Steve Belles Bryan Flannery Dave Prinzivalli * 1/2 lb. Burgers * Boboli Pizza * Sandwiches Ned Bolcar D'Juan Francisco Rick Purcell Mike Brennan Tom Gorman Tony Rice Dean Brown Pete Graham Chris Shey * Burritos & Fajitas * Pasta * Refreshing Salads * Michael Crounse Tim Grunhard Stan Smagala Doug DiOrio Ted Healy . Pat Terrell *and More! Marc Dobbins David Jandric Rod West Rich Earley Anthony Johnson FUN FOR EVERYONE IN SATURDAYS: BLOODY MARY'S GAME ROOM- MISFITS IN DISGUISE * VIDEO FOOTBALL * POOL TABLES * BLOODY MARYS LAKE ST. (Your Comedy Improv Company) *DARTS*PThrnALLGAMES*FOOZBALL* o February 10th, 24th March 3rd, 31st THIRTEENTH April 21st YOUR PLACE TO WATCH OAK BANDS & ENTERTAINERS: SPORTS! 5 Screens with ((Surround Sbund)) Boat House Blues...... Fri. March 23rd, 9:30 DON'T Sf. Paul and the Martyrs .. ~ ... Fri. February 9th I 9:30 Billy "Stix" Nicks ...... Dates To Be Announced DIRECTIONS: MISS 33 North into Niles. Cliff Erickson ...... Thurs. & Fri. Feb. 15th & 16th I 9:30 KITCHEN HOURS: 11 am - Midnight' East on Main 1 Block. 33 N. Phoenix...... Fri. Feb 23 OUT! PHONE: 684-MARY North on Thirteenth. W est on Lake St. i - -- *The Groove ...... •. Fri. March 2nd MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED I'. - 2 blocks West on the Right. ! - - Smoke Taxi...... Fri. March 30th , •• ' ~. •••• L-' • ",,,~ • 'I~' _ '..... • , • ~ , • • • ,.'. ~ • •

Jeff Aim Pat Eilers Ted McNamara *French Fried Shrimp * Deep Fried Chicken Shawn Anderson Joe Farrell Kevin McShane Steve Belles Bryan Flannery Dave Prinzivalli * 1/2 lb. Burgers * Boboli Pizza * Sandwiches Ned Bolcar D'Juan Francisco Rick Purcell Mike Brennan Tom Gorman Tony Rice Dean Brown Pete Graham Chris Shey * Burritos & Fajitas * Pasta * Refreshing Salads * Michael Crounse Tim Grunhard Stan Smagala Doug DiOrio Ted Healy . Pat Terrell *and More! Marc Dobbins David Jandric Rod West Rich Earley Anthony Johnson FUN FOR EVERYONE IN SATURDAYS: BLOODY MARY'S GAME ROOM- MISFITS IN DISGUISE * VIDEO FOOTBALL * POOL TABLES * BLOODY MARYS LAKE ST. (Your Comedy Improv Company) *DARTS*PThrnALLGAMES*FOOZBALL* o February 10th, 24th March 3rd, 31st THIRTEENTH April 21st YOUR PLACE TO WATCH OAK BANDS & ENTERTAINERS: SPORTS! 5 Screens with ((Surround Sbund)) Boat House Blues...... Fri. March 23rd, 9:30 DON'T Sf. Paul and the Martyrs .. ~ ... Fri. February 9th I 9:30 Billy "Stix" Nicks ...... Dates To Be Announced DIRECTIONS: MISS 33 North into Niles. Cliff Erickson ...... Thurs. & Fri. Feb. 15th & 16th I 9:30 KITCHEN HOURS: 11 am - Midnight' East on Main 1 Block. 33 N. Phoenix...... Fri. Feb 23 OUT! PHONE: 684-MARY North on Thirteenth. W est on Lake St. i - -- *The Groove ...... •. Fri. March 2nd MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED I'. - 2 blocks West on the Right. ! - - Smoke Taxi...... Fri. March 30th III II 11111111111i'" Program Guide , Specialty Shows 7 - 9 pm Daily Request Line: Monday: Jazz Thursday: Reggae ___ _, I(~. a41D ~e~s~ea:~ay:NeS~~;dte°rtsM ~1~~ua~:ay~iP H~~~core 239-6400 , '6 un ay: eta These are the oices of the Fighting Irish