Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com DECEMBER 2019 13 UNDER THE DOME 45 Years Ago: Dec. 15, 1974 At an age when most football coaches just begin to reach their prime, 51-year-old Ara Parseghian officially announces in a hastily called Sunday night press conference he is resigning after 11 seasons at Notre Dame because he is "physically exhausted and emotionally drained." The news breaks when Parseghian's successor Dan Devine, on the verge of getting fired by the Green Bay Packers after four seasons there, leaks the story to Minneapolis Star Tribune journalist Sid Hartman. A week earlier Parseghian had informed Notre Dame executive vice president Rev. Ned Joyce, C.S.C., of the decision, and the plan was not to reveal his departure until after the Jan. 1, 1975 Orange Bowl versus 11-0 Alabama, whom Notre Dame had defeated a year earlier in the Sugar Bowl to capture the national championship. Parseghian's career record of 95-17-4 (.836 win percentage) with the Fighting Irish is highlighted by consensus national titles in 1966 and 1973, and a shared one in his remarkable debut campaign in 1964 after the program had finished 2-7 a year earlier. One day later, after the news of Parseghian's departure, Devine is officially announced as the new coach by Joyce. Devine had posted a glittering career college record of 120-40-4 in three seasons at Arizona State (27-3-1 from 1955-57) and Missouri (93-37-3 from 1958-70) before heading to the NFL. Joyce had developed a friendship with Devine and met with him in 1963 when head coach Joe Ku- harich abruptly resigned that March and freshman coach Hugh Devore was promoted to interim head coach. When Parseghian was hired that December, Joyce purportedly told Devine the next time the job opens it would be his, helping explain the quick transition in the coaching "search." 15 Years Ago: Dec. 13, 2004 New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis becomes the first Notre Dame graduate (1978) named full-time head coach at his alma mater since Joe Kuharich in 1959. After striking out on the sweepstakes for Utah head coach Urban Meyer and also considering former Notre Dame quarterback Tom Clements (1972-74), the school turns to Weis, who is on the threshold of seeing his organization win their third Super Bowl in four years. He will coach with the Patriots through the playoffs. "You are going to have a hard-working, intelligent, nasty football team on the field because the at- titude of the head coach will be permeated through the players," Weis said at the press conference introducing him as head coach. "And I hate to include the 'nasty,' but that is part of being a winning football team. "… It comes down to X's and O's. To be honest with you, when it gets to that point, I think that's when we have the greatest advantage. … If it comes down to everything being [even] and it's X's and O's, I have to believe we're going to win most of the time." 10 Years Ago: Dec. 10, 2009 Named the consensus 2009 National Coach of the Year while leading the University of Cin- cinnati to a 12-0 record — and a missed Texas field goal away from playing Alabama for the national title — Brian Kelly is named the new Notre Dame football head coach. He replaces Charlie Weis, who was fired 10 days earlier with a 35-27 career record, 16-21 in his last three seasons, and four straight losses to end 2009. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops report- edly was considered the top choice before the school turned to the 48-year-old Kelly. "There is a football coach — and then there's the football coach at Notre Dame, because nobody, nobody does it like Notre Dame," Kelly said at his introduction. "… That is the mission of Notre Dame: excellence in academics and athletics, and I wanted that challenge, and I'm excited about that challenge — that you can do it both in the classroom and be prominent in the athletic arena, as well." — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: December Upon being hired to be the head football coach of the Fighting Irish on Dec. 10, 2009, Brian Kelly said: "There is a football coach — and then there's the foot- ball coach at Notre Dame, because nobody, nobody does it like Notre Dame." PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND 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 + $12.99 S&H #6504 - 2pc Vinyl Utility Mat Set $27.95 + $9.99 S&H #6518 - 4pc Vinyl Front & Utility Mat Set $59.95 + $15.99 S&H Front Mats 18"x27" • Utility Mats 14"x17" 31"x31" VINYL CARGO MAT $39.95 + $14.99 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 ORDER BY DEC. 2 FOR HOLIDAY DELIVERY