Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1491978
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2023 89 The 1988 Irish had an unproven of- fense and knew they might have to rely on defense and special teams, especially to start the year. They snuck past Michi- gan, 19-17, in the opener on a Ricky Wat- ters punt return and four Reggie Ho field goals. Then the Irish defense turned in a superlative effort at Michigan State, holding the Spartans to 89 rushing yards. Stonebreaker sealed the 20-3 victory with a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The midseason meeting with No. 1 and defending national champion Miami, the legendary "Catholics vs. Convicts" game, became a battle royale. Trailing 31-24 late in the game, Miami nearly scored but fumbled near the goal line and Stonebreaker recovered. Miami did manage to pull within 31-30 on a contro- versial late touchdown, but Terrell batted away Steve Walsh's two-point conver- sion attempt to preserve the win. The Irish defense stiffened down the stretch, holding Navy to just 192 yards and seven points, Rice to 11 points and Penn State to a mere field goal. At Southern Cal, in a battle of No. 1 versus No. 2, the ND defense again made a se- ries of huge plays to secure a 27-10 vic- tory. Then in the Fiesta Bowl, the Irish held off No. 3 West Virginia, 34-21, to nail down the national title. Stonebreaker sat out the 1989 season after pleading guilty to driving under the influence, then returned in 1990 and replicated his 1988 honors — a con- sensus All-American and Butkus Award finalist. He led the team with 95 tackles and made several game-saving plays. His fourth-quarter interceptions in back-to-back weeks preserved victories over No. 4 Michigan (28-24) and Michi- gan State (20-19). His fumble recovery secured a 29-20 win over No. 2 Miami. Stonebreaker played three NFL sea- sons, finishing with his hometown Saints in 1993. He remains in New Or- leans, where he is the owner and op- erating partner of N.O. Brew Coffee, a cold-drip, handcrafted coffee product. The 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be inducted during the 65th National Football Foundation awards dinner at the ARIA Resort & Ca- sino in Las Vegas on Dec. 5, 2023. ✦ Jim Lefebvre is an award-winning Notre Dame author and leads the Knute Rockne Memorial Society. He can be reached at: jlefebvre@blueandgold.com A two-time consensus All-American at linebacker (1988 and '90), Stonebreaker will join his team- mates Chris Zorich (2007) and Raghib "Rocket" Ismail (2019) when he is inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 5, 2023. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS For more informa on, please visit: www.RockneSociety.org The Knute Rockne Memorial Society is dedicated to preserving and promo ng the life story of Coach Knute Rockne and all he stood for. Through its annual Rockne Awards, the Rockne Society recognizes and inspires great achievement in athle cs…and in life.