Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482392
14 OCT. 29, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME 85 Years Ago: Oct. 30, 1937 For the second consecutive week, Notre Dame All-American end Chuck Sweeney made the dif- ference on special teams, this time in the 7-6 upset win at reigning national champion and No. 4-ranked Minnesota. The Golden Gophers scored their touchdown in the second quarter, but Sweeney blocked the extra point to keep the Irish ahead. A week ear- lier at Navy, Sweeney tackled the Midshipmen's punter in the end zone for a safety in the fourth quarter that resulted in a 9-7 Irish conquest. Three weeks later at Northwestern, Sweeney blocked a punt that he returned for a touchdown in a 7-0 win. 45 Years Ago: Oct. 29, 1977 One week after Notre Dame's 49-19 romp over No. 5 USC elevated the Irish to No. 5 in the na- tional rankings, the Fighting Irish defeated Navy 43-10 — the first time it tallied at least 40 points in back-to-back games in four years, and only the second time in seven. Quarterback Joe Montana completed only 11 of 24 passes, but they were good for 260 yards, with half the yardage compiled by tight end Ken MacAfee on 5 catches. 20 Years Ago: Nov. 2, 2002 History repeats itself when No. 4 and 8-0 Notre Dame loses at home to Boston College, 14-7, the week after upsetting No. 11 Florida State. In 1993, the Irish had defeated No. 1 Florida State to move up to claim the top spot — only to lose the next week to the Eagles, 41-39. For the first time all season, Notre Dame came out in green jerseys. The Irish fumbled 7 times, losing three, and commit 5 turnovers to Bos- ton College's 1. The most damaging is a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown by Eagles linebacker Josh Ott to take a 14-0 halftime lead. 15 Years Ago: Nov. 3, 2007 Navy snapped an NCAA-record 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame with a 46-44 victory in triple overtime in South Bend. Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Campbell on the first play of the third overtime, and then found him again in the end zone for the 2-point conversion. Notre Dame cut the lead to two on a 5-yard TD run by Travis Thomas. But after a pass interfer- ence call gave Notre Dame a second-chance at the 2-point conversion, defensive lineman Mi- chael Walsh and linebacker Irv Spencer tackled Thomas well short of the end zone. It was the first time the Midshipmen beat the Fighting Irish since a 35-14 win in 1963 when Roger Staubach was their quarterback. 10 Years Ago: Nov. 3, 2012 Notre Dame sophomore quarterback Everett Golson scored from 1 yard out on the game's final play to salvage a 29-26 triple-overtime win over Pittsburgh. The Irish improved to 9-0 and in the process and kept their hopes for a national championship bid alive. The Irish trailed 20-6 heading into the fourth quarter, but put together an impressive rally. Golson capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown toss to freshman wide receiver TJ Jones with just more than 13minutes to go, though sophomore Kyle Brindza missed the extra point. The Irish still trailed 20-12 with just more than three minutes to go in regulation when sopho- more wide receiver DaVaris Daniels hauled in a 45-yard reception from Golson on a broken play. On the next snap, Golson rolled to his right and found senior running back Theo Riddick wide open in the back of the end zone to pull the Irish within two points with 2:11 remaining on the clock. On the 2-point conversion attempt, Gol- son found a crease at the line of scrimmage and leaped across the goal line to tie the score 20-20 to force overtime. After the two teams traded field goals in the first overtime and the Irish failed to score on their second possession of overtime when senior run- ning back Cierre Wood lost control of the football while diving into the end zone, Pitt had a chance to win but senior Kevin Harper missed a 33-yard field goal attempt. In the third overtime, Harper redeemed himself by making a 44-yard field goal. However, the Irish drove 25 yards in six plays capped by Golson's 1-yard scoring run to win it. "It was not our best effort," head coach Brian Kelly said. "Now having said that, we played a team that played extremely well, and we found a way to win. That's a good thing." Golson finished the game with 227 passing yards and 2 touchdown passes. He also ran the ball 15 times for 74 yards, 11 shy of Riddick's team-high 85 yards. Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Oct. 28-Nov. 4 UNDER THE DOME Sophomore quarterback Everett Golson rallied the Fighting Irish to a 29-26 victory over Pitt in a triple-overtime thriller in 2012. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA