Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 17, 2020 53 warnings, McCarthy concluded with, "Remember, the automobile replaced the horse — but the driver should stay on the wagon." Initially, mocked laughter, eyebrow raises and groans filled the Notre Dame Stadium air — but at least now McCarthy knew they were listening. It became a point of pride the first couple of years that the audience would quiet down just to listen to how "corny" his next message would be. In 1978, McCarthy retired as a state trooper and thought his gig with the Fighting Irish program had con- cluded. However, Notre Dame leg- endary athletics director Ed "Moose" Krause asked him to continue his public service announcement be- cause it had become such an an- ticipated staple of the home games. Thus, it continued right through 2015 when McCarthy did his final announcement live — and ever since then his archive of recorded mes- sages have been played back over the public address system. A m o n g t h e m a n y f a v o r i t e s through the years and at more than 300 games: "Safe drivers get the cheers by avoiding the booze." "Drinking drivers are not very funny, but they can still crack you up." "Don't short-change yourself, by driving without any sense." "Having that itch to get home fast could cost you a rash of trouble." On the days when rain or even snow were present, he was prepared with lines such as: "With all the rainfall today, we do not need a drip behind the wheel." "When the weather is wet, never let your driving get rusty." "Remember, do not let your driv- ing make you Grumpy or Dopey when the roads are Snow White." When Thanksgiving was around the corner, there was: "Remember, driving like a turkey is a fowl way to go!" There were other themes that in- cluded laundry, the zoo or music, and numerous other areas of everyday life: "You won't be taken to the cleaners if your driving is spotless." "Monkey around in traffic, and you may end up in a cage." "Drive like a musician: C sharp or B flat." "You'll never find that bluebird of happiness with too many swallows." "A drinking driver is like a gun: both are dangerous when loaded." "Drive like a happy doctor: have a lot of patience." "Driving half lit is not very bright." "The reason we hammer at safety is to prevent you from getting nailed." "Remember, no one relishes a pick- led driver." "Drive when you're stoned and you may hit rock bottom." "You may be at the end of your rope if you tie one on." "Don't let your day go down the drain by forgetting today's safety plug." In 2009, he and public address an- nouncer Mike Collins, with whom he had worked since 1982, released the book, "May I Have Your Attention ... Wit And Wisdom From The Notre Dame Press Box." In 2010, his 50th anniversary at Notre Dame games, McCarthy was awarded an honorary monogram by the university. He didn't see himself as a man of letters, but it was well earned. ✦ Jim Snowden: 1942-2020 The last of Notre Dame's misused "Elephant Backfield" from the early 1960s, Jim Snowden, died Oct. 3 at age 78 near his home in Gainesville, Va. In an era when offensive lines averaged about 220 pounds per man and a 230-pound figure was consid- ered almost a behemoth, the 6-4, 235-pound Snowden was already as a sophomore the largest man on the 1961 team while lining up in the backfield and carrying 32 times for 169 yards and a score. Joining him in the backfield that year and in 1963 was 6-4, 230-pound halfback Paul Costa and 6-2, 220-pound fullback Pete Duranko. Despite their size and what would prove to be professional football level talents, they were mainly reserves in their roles when players lined up on both offense and defense. In 1963, Duranko carried 26 times for 93 yards and Costa 21 times for 82 yards, while Snowden was credited with 15 tackles on defense during a 2-7 campaign. The next year (1964) under new head coach Ara Parseghian, Notre Dame finished 9-1 and No. 3 in the Associated Press poll, but was awarded the MacArthur Bowl, emblematic of a national title. It also marked the first season where players moved to two-platoon football, lining up either on offense or defense. Parseghian made a plethora of position changes that proved beneficial to both the individual and the collective team. • Snowden, still one of the five largest players on the squad, was positioned at right tackle on offense under Parseghian, and he would start 97 out of a possible 98 games at offensive tackle while with the NFL's Washington Redskins from 1965-71. • Costa, who died in 2015, shifted to defensive end. He was the No. 55 overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft and became a two-time AFL All-Star at tight end for the Buffalo Bills, where he had an eight-year career. He also played for Birmingham in the short-lived WFL in 1974-75. • Duranko, who died in 2011, moved to linebacker in 1964, but suffered a season-ending injury in the opener that led to a redshirt. He became a stalwart defensive tackle for the 1966 national champs, and was named first-team All-America by UPI, second-team All-America by Sporting News and third-team All-America by the Associated Press, and played eight years with the Denver Broncos, starting 77 games. — Lou Somogyi Snowden began his Irish career as a running back in 1961, but was moved to offensive tackle in 1964. He went on to start 97 out of a possible 98 games for the NFL's Washington Redskins from 1965-71. FILE PHOTO " A drinking driver is like a gun: both are dangerous when loaded." MCCARTHY