Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 24, 2018 15 UNDER THE DOME 100 Years Ago: Sept. 28, 1918 Thirty-year-old Knute Rockne, a 1914 Notre Dame graduate, makes his head coaching debut with a 26-6 victory at Case Tech (now Case Western Re- serve in Cleveland). After falling behind 6-0, Notre Dame scores four touchdowns — two each from two of the most legendary names in football: Curly Lambeau of "the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field" fame, and George Gipp. 70 Years Ago: Sept. 25, 1948 After back-to-back national titles in 1946 (8-0-1) and 1947 (9-0), Notre Dame finds itself in an unusual situation in its 1948 opener — trailing for the first time in three seasons, 19 games and 75 quarters. Purdue takes a 13-12 lead in the third quarter at Notre Dame before a blocked punt by the Fighting Irish results in a 70-yard touchdown return by John Panelli to give them the lead back for good. Trailing 28-20, Purdue scores a late touchdown, but because the two-point conversion isn't a part of college football until 10 years later, Notre Dame holds on for the 28-27 win. 65 Years Ago: Sept. 26, 1953 Four years earlier, after Notre Dame finished 10-0 and No. 1 while Oklahoma was 11-0 and No. 2, coaching titans Frank Leahy and Bud Wilkinson agree to a home-and-home series that begins in 1952-53. The Irish win the first at home in 1952, 27-21 — and then as the No. 1 team again to open 1953, defeat the No. 6 Sooners in Norman, 28-21. After trailing 14-7, Notre Dame scores 21 straight points that begin with tackle Frank Varrichione blocking a quick kick. The go-ahead score comes on a 41-yard pass from quarterback Ralph Guglielmi, who set up the tally by intercepting a pass on defense, to Joe Heap. John Lattner, the Heisman Trophy winner that year, seals the victory with a late interception at his 32-yard line. Oklahoma would not lose again, posting an NCAA-record 47 consecutive wins, until November 1957 — also a home defeat to Notre Dame. 40 Years Ago: Sept. 23, 1978 For the first time since fielding a football team in 1887, Notre Dame begins a season 0-2 following a 28-14 loss at home to Michigan, which it played for the first time in 35 years. The reigning national champion Fighting Irish, led by quarterback Joe Montana, fell at home in the opener as well to Missouri, 3-0. 30 Years Ago: Sept. 24, 1988 After scoring only one touchdown on offense after the first two games, the unit detonates with seven during a 52-7 romp over Purdue. Freshmen Derek Brown at tight end and Raghib "Rocket" Ismail at wideout both record touchdowns on their first career catches with the Fighting Irish. Following a 38-yard run by quarterback Tony Rice to open the scoring, he tosses eight- and 54-yard touchdowns to Brown and Ismail, respectively. The victory elevates the Irish from No. 8 to No. 5 in the Associated Press poll. 20 Years Ago: Sept. 26, 1998 Sophomore free safety Tony Driver, who enrolled as a USA Today first-team All-American running back, intercepts two passes by Purdue sophomore quarterback Drew Brees in the final three minutes of the game to help No. 23 Notre Dame rally from 14-0, 24-14 and 30-21 deficits and emerge with a 31-30 victory. Driver had left the campus earlier in the week to contemplate his future before coming back. He returns his first interception 37 yards to the Purdue 5-yard line to set up Jim Sanson's 17-yard field goal, giving the Irish a 31-30 lead with 57 seconds left. Seconds later, Driver picks off a Brees pass that he returns 17 yards to clinch the outcome. — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Sept. 22‑28 NOTRE DAME AUTO MATS *PLEASE ADD SALES TAX IN IN, MI, AND NC Mats are shipped direct from manufacturer. Please allow time for processing and delivery. Returns not accepted unless item is damaged. BLUE AND GOLD ILLUSTRATED PO BOX 2331 • DURHAM, NC 27702 800-421-7751 www.BlueGoldOnline.com #6503 - 2pc Vinyl Front Mat Set $39.95 + $9.99 S&H #6504 - 2pc Vinyl Utility Mat Set $27.95 + $7.99 S&H #6518 - 4pc Vinyl Front & Utility Mat Set $59.95 + $12.99 S&H Front Mats 18"x27" • Utility Mats 14"x17" 31"x31" VINYL CARGO MAT $39.95 + $12.99 S&H CHOICE OF LOGO DESIGN: ND Logo (Item #6519-ND) Leprechaun Logo (Item #6519-LEP) VINYL AUTO MATS Available in 2-pc or 4-pc Sets Logo Choice: ND or Leprechaun Quarterback Ralph Guglielmi (right) and half- back John Lattner (14) made crucial intercep- tions on defense in the 1953 win at Oklahoma. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH DIGITAL MEDIA