Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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14 NOV. 5, 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME 75 Years Ago: Nov. 8, 1947 For the first time in the 34-year history of their series, No. 9 Army visited No. 1 Notre Dame a year after their famous 0-0 tie in Yankee Stadium. Other than 1918 because of the Spanish Influenza epidemic, the two rivals played every year from 1913 to 1947 either at West Point or mainly Yankee Stadium, with a 1930 outing at Chicago's Soldier Field the nearest Army ever came to South Bend. Fighting Irish halfback Terry Brennan returned the opening kickoff for a 97-yard touchdown and then scored on a short touchdown run on the ensuing Irish series for a quick 14-0 lead in Notre Dame's 27-7 victory. The two powers would not meet again until 10 years later. 70 Years Ago: Nov. 8, 1952 In the first nationally televised game (NBC) in Notre Dame history, the No. 10 Fighting Irish, sur- prisingly a 14-point underdog at home, defeated No. 4 Oklahoma 27-21 to snap the Sooners' 13- game winning streak. The first meeting ever between the two schools was arranged by head coaching titans Frank Leahy and Bud Wilkinson after the 1949 sea- son when the Irish finished No. 1 at 10-0 (their third national title in four years while never los- ing during that time) and the Sooners with the 33-year-old Wilkinson came in at No. 2 with an 11-0 ledger. After tying it 21-21 early in the fourth quar- ter, Notre Dame end Dan Shannon's thunderous hit on Sooners return man Larry Grigg forced a fumble that Irish end Al Kohanowich recovered to set up a short field and the game-winning quar- terback sneak for a score by Tom Carey. Oklahoma running back Billy Vessels, that year's Heisman Trophy winner, rushed for a re- cord 195 yards and 3 touchdowns, highlighted by 62- and 47-yard tallies. Meanwhile, 1953 Heis- man recipient Johnny Lattner rushed for 75 yards, caught a 36-yard pass to help tie the score at 21, and on defense intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble. 45 Years Ago: Nov. 5, 1977 A year after a stunning 23-14 setback at Geor- gia Tech, Notre Dame crushed the Ramblin' Wreck 69-14, with Joe Montana posting career highs in attempts (25), completions (15), passing yardage (273) and touchdown passes (3). The aerial scores went to Terry Eurick (8 yards), Kris Haines (18 yards) and Dave Waymer (68 yards). The Irish poured it on because in the loss the previous year the Georgia Tech players in inter- views referred to Notre Dame players as out of shape and described them as "hog mollies" and "mud womps." 40 Years Ago: Nov. 6, 1982 For the first time since 1936, when the Associ- ated Press poll began, Notre Dame defeated a No. 1-ranked team during the regular season with a 31-16 upset of Pitt, which was led by quar- terback Dan Marino. Second-year head coach Gerry Faust's Fighting Irish outscored the Panthers 21-3 in the fourth quarter in the Steel City. The fireworks began with a 54-yard flea-flicker for a touchdown from quarterback Blair Kiel to Joe Howard to take a 17-13 lead. With 8:09 remaining, freshman running back Allen Pinkett took a sprint draw, cut back and outraced the Pitt defense for a 76-yard touch- down burst. He later iced the game with a 6-yard scoring run. 30 Years Ago: Nov. 7, 1992 While filming for football game action of the motion picture "Rudy" took place during half- time of this Notre Dame-Boston College game at Notre Dame Stadium, on the field the No. 8 Fighting Irish crushed the No. 9 and 7-0-1 Eagles by a 54-7 count. BC had been allowing only 12 points per game, but the Irish outgained the Eagles 576-176 in total yardage, with tailback Reggie Brooks' 18 car- ries accounting for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns, one from 73 yards. Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Nov. 5-11 UNDER THE DOME Allen Pinkett's 76-yard touchdown run helped the Fighting Irish register a 31-16 win over Pitt in 1982, marking the program's first-ever victory versus a No. 1 team during the regular season. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS