Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 26, 2018 15 UNDER THE DOME 105 Years Ago: Nov. 27, 1913 Notre Dame's watershed first season under head coach Jesse Harper concludes with a 30-7 victory at Texas on Thanksgiving Day. The 7-0 campaign ends with a unique November barnstorming tour that begins with the shocking 35-13 win at Army, continues the next week with a 14-7 win at Penn State, and is capped by triumphs in St. Louis and Austin, Texas. Quarterback Gus Dorais, Notre Dame's first consensus All-American, kicks three field goals — a feat that would not be duplicated by an Irish kicker until 58 years later — and also scores on a 15-yard run. The season sets a standard and new template of national scheduling at Notre Dame, which proved it can compete with the finest across the land. Harper's Notre Dame Express with captain Knute Rockne spends more than a week in railroad cars in November 1913 while covering 5,000-plus miles. 45 Years Ago: Nov. 22, 1973 For the first and only time in Notre Dame Stadium's history, the No. 5-ranked Irish play on Thanksgiv- ing Day, a 48-15 rout of Air Force after building a 28-0 lead in the first quarter. The 57,236 in attendance (59,075 capacity) marks the last time there is not an "official" sellout at home. Two days later, No. 1 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan play to a 10-10 draw, which eventually helps move No. 2 Alabama to No. 1 and No. 5 Notre Dame to No. 3, setting up a national title showdown in the Sugar Bowl Dec. 31. 40 Years Ago: Nov. 25, 1978 In one of the greatest comebacks in school history, No. 8 Notre Dame rallies from a 24-6 fourth- quarter deficit at No. 3 USC to take a 25-24 lead with less than a minute remaining. Quarterback Joe Montana completes 11 of 15 passes in that span for 196 yards with two scores while leading touch- down drives of 80, 98 and 57 yards. However, USC's Frank Jordan kicks a 38-yard field goal with two seconds remaining after the Trojans are aided by the Pac-10 officiating crew on a fumble by quarterback Paul McDonald that is ruled an incomplete pass. USC goes on to win a share of the national title with Alabama, which they had defeated 24-14 earlier in the year on the road. 30 Years Ago: Nov. 26, 1988 For the first (and still lone) time in the 60-game rivalry, No. 1 and 10-0 Notre Dame and No. 2 and 10-0 USC meet as the top two teams in the As- sociated Press poll. Drama unfolds on the eve of the contest when Fighting Irish third-year head coach Lou Holtz suspends and sends home leading rusher Tony Brooks and top receiver Ricky Watters for repeated tardiness. "There is never a right time to do the wrong thing, and never a wrong time to do the right thing," Holtz phi- losophized. Already paired with 11-0 West Vir- ginia in the Fiesta Bowl in a potential national title showdown if they can get past the Trojans, the galvanized Irish burst to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 65-yard touchdown run off the option by quarterback Tony Rice, and then use a short field after a turnover to move ahead 13-0 on a short scoring run by Mark Green. Shortly before halftime, cornerback Stan Smagala intercepts a pass by Rodney Peete (the Heisman runner-up to Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders) and returns it for a 64-yard tally and a 20-7 lead. Although USC finishes with more first downs (21-8) and total yards (356-253), the Irish defense con- tinually makes the critical stops. Green scores on a second short run, and a 4-1 advantage in turnovers lead to a 27-10 conquest — Notre Dame's record sixth in a row against USC. — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Nov. 22‑28 Helmets are made-to-order and shipped direct from the manufacturer. Please add Sales Tax if you live in NC (7.5%), MI (6%), or IN (7%) Blue & Gold Illustrated PO Box 2331 Durham, NC 27702 1-800-421-7751 www.BlueGoldOnline.com • Medium-size shell, same facemask and 4-pt. chinstrap as authentic version • Includes non-wear plate and molded foam jaw pads. • Official ND gold color. • Approx. 9.5" tall. • For display purpose only. • Available in plain classic or shamrock designs. ND "Speed" Deluxe Replica Display Helmets Reg. $139.99 + S&H SALE! $129 + $10 S&H (Delivery Limited to Continental U.S.) #6641 Gold #6641 Shamrock Cornerback Stan Smagala's 64-yard interception return for a touchdown helped propel the Fighting Irish to a 27-10 vic- tory at USC in 1988. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS