Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Under the Dome Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: April 40 Years Ago: April 4, 1973 On National Signing Day ��� held in April back then ��� 40 players ink with Notre Dame. Generally, Notre Dame allowed about 30 to 35 football grants-in-aid per season, signing 35 in 1971 and 32 in 1972. But with new NCAA legislation that allows only 30 per season and 95 over four years, the Irish and other schools load up proactively before the rule takes effect several years later. (Pitt would sign 76 this year, 67 of whom would show up, most notably running back Tony Dorsett.) Headlining Notre Dame���s group is All-American defensive lineman/tight end Ross Browner from Warren, Ohio. Browner is one of a program-record nine black student-athletes signed by head coach Ara Parseghian���s staff. Others include lineman Willie Fry from Tennessee, running back Al Hunter from North Carolina, running back/defensive back Luther Bradley from Indiana, and lineman Gene Smith (the current Ohio State athletics director) from Ohio. Previously, Notre Dame had never been able to sign more than five black student-athletes in one season, and inked only three a year earlier. 25 Years Ago: April 23, 1988 Few, if any, of the 15,699 fans in Notre Dame Stadium on this overcast day for the Blue-Gold Game could imagine they would be witnessing the national champs of that season. All-American defensive lineman/tight end Ross Browner of Warren, Ohio, was among a then-programrecord nine black student-athletes signed by head coach Ara Parseghian���s staff in 1973. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS