Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 1, 2018 15 UNDER THE DOME 45 Years Ago: Sept. 29, 1973 In an era when college football teams by NCAA rules are permitted to be on national television five times over two years, No. 7 Notre Dame's appearance in a national game on ABC versus Purdue results in a 20‑7 victory. During pre‑game player introductions, Fighting Irish sophomore halfback Art Best sticks his thumb in his mouth and wiggles his finger to the audience to demonstrate that football "is not life or death." Although he would later be called to the carpet by a school administrator for this an‑ tic, Best tears off a 65‑yard run on the game's opening play from scrimmage to set up a score. Later he helps force and recover a fumble on a punt and tallies from nine yards out to put the Irish up for good, 10‑7. Best is named ABC‑TV Chevrolet Player of the Game on of‑ fense with 125 yards rushing. 40 Years Ago: Sept. 30, 1978 A 26‑yard touchdown by fullback Jerome Heavens in the third quarter helps lift Notre Dame to a hard‑fought, 10‑6 victory against Purdue, one week after becoming the first Fighting Irish team to start 0‑2 with home losses to Missouri (3‑0) and Michigan (28‑14). During that three‑game home stand, defending national champion Notre Dame totals 24 points, an 8.0 per game average despite returning what was believed to be the nation's top backfield with quar‑ terback Joe Montana, Heavens and tailback Vagas Ferguson. 30 Years Ago: Oct. 1, 1988 Much maligned for his passing woes after beginning the year 5 of 23 in the first nine quarters of the season, junior quarterback Tony Rice ties a Notre Dame record by completing 10 straight passes during a 42‑14 romp at home in a night game versus Stanford. The streak actually stretched over two games — the last four passes versus Purdue the week prior and the first six versus the Cardinal. He finishes 11‑of‑14 passing for 129 yards with a touchdown to freshman tight end Derek Brown, and adds 107 rushing yards on 14 carries, opening the scoring with a 30‑yard run off the option and closing it with a six‑yard tally. He becomes only the third Irish quarterback ever to eclipse 100 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in the same game. The first was 1956 Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung in a loss that year to SMU when he completed 5 of 9 passes for 113 yards and added 101 yards on 11 carries. The second was 1970 Heisman runner‑up Joe Theismann during a 29‑0 win at Michigan State that year when he was 12‑of‑17 passing for 147 yards and carried 13 times for 107 yards. Rice credits his newfound accuracy to practicing dart throwing with touch. "He's a winner, he's a leader, and he's the guy they get their meal ticket from," head coach Lou Holtz said afterwards, defending Rice from a bevy of critics. 5 Years Ago: Oct. 5, 2013 In the fifth Shamrock Series outing held by Notre Dame, the unranked Irish hold off No. 22 Arizona State 37‑34 in the opulent new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Quarterback Tommy Rees completes 17 of 38 passes for 279 yards, tossing touchdowns to tight ends Ben Koyack (19 yards) and Troy Niklas (21 yards), plus wideout TJ Jones (eight yards). Kicker Kyle Brindza converts three of his four field goal attempts, highlighted by a school‑record‑tying 53‑yarder. Defensively, linebacker Prince Shembo records three sacks, while linebacker Dan Fox's 14‑ yard interception return for a touchdown gives Notre Dame a 37‑27 cushion with 1:08 left in the game. — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Sept. 29-Oct. 5 Free spirit Art Best followed his antics during pre- game introductions in a nationally televised game with Purdue by earning game MVP honors for the eventual 1973 national champs that year. PHOTO COURTESY FIGHTING IRISH DIGITAL MEDIA