Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM PRESEASON 2023 17 35 Years Ago: Aug. 31, 1988 The buzz of August camp in head coach Lou Holtz's third season was that eight of the 21 incom- ing freshmen were clocked at 4.48 or less in the 40- yard dash. At the top of the list was wideout/return man Raghib "Rocket" Ismail with a 4.28. However, Notre Dame was deemed "a year away" from top-10 contention because the of- fense was in complete flux with the graduation of Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown, questions at quarterback with 40-percent passer Tony Rice and the loss of four fifth-year senior starters from the offensive line. "If you ask me what is going to be the key to this year, I would say overachieving," Holtz said. "I would use the word transitional instead of re- building. A football team is like a relay race. These people have [the baton], they run for a while and then they pass it on to other people." The Irish overachieved and then some, going 12-0 and winning the national championship. 30 Years Ago: Sept. 4, 1993 The quickest Notre Dame touchdown ever to open a season was tallied during a hard-fought 27-12 victory versus Northwestern. On the first play from scrimmage, a pass at- tempt by Wildcats quarterback Len Williams bounced off tight end Luther Morris' hands and senior linebacker Pete Bercich snared it for a 21- yard pick-six at the 14:52 mark. Northwestern then built a 12-7 lead early in the third quarter after Notre Dame had its own snafu on the first play of the second half. Irish senior quarterback Kevin McDougal, in his first career start, lost a fumble on the snap. McDougal bounced back to lead four scoring drives — highlighted by 50- and 42-yard comple- tions to Mike Miller and Derrick Mayes, respectively. Because the victory was deemed so lacking in style points, Notre Dame fell from No. 7 to No. 11 in the Associated Press poll. 25 Years Ago: Sept. 5, 1998 For the fourth time ever, Notre Dame began a new season by defeating a top-five foe — No. 5 Michigan, the defending AP national champ. The 36-20 victory also marked the first time in those four contests the Fighting Irish were ranked lower (No. 21) than their opponent. The conquest was an immense relief for be- sieged second-year head coach Bob Davie, who not only debuted with a disappointing 7-6 cam- paign the year prior, but then saw the university lose an age discrimination lawsuit during the summer to 1988-96 Fighting Irish offensive line coach Joe Moore, who was not retained by Davie during the head coaching transition. With junior and first-time starter Tom Brady at the throttle most of the game, Michigan amassed 472 yards of total offense but also missed 4 field goals and lost 2 fumbles, while the Irish had no turnovers. First-time Notre Dame starting quarterback Jarious Jackson tallied 4- and 35-yard scoring tosses to tight end Dan O'Leary and wideout Raki Nelson in a span of 2:38 in the third quarter to erase a 13-9 deficit and take a 23-13 lead that would balloon to 36-13. Senior running back Autry Denson added 162 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, highlighted by a career-high 58-jaunt on the first Irish play from scrimmage. 20 Years Ago: Sept. 6, 2003 Senior Nicholas Setta converted a 40-yard field goal in overtime for No. 19 Notre Dame's second- ever victory in an extra session, 29-26 versus Washington State. Second-year head coach Tyrone Willingham's Fighting Irish trailed 19-3 at halftime and 19-6 at the start of the fourth quarter before knotting the game at 26 by the end of regulation play. Through the first three quarters, Notre Dame's future NFL 1,000-yard rushers Ryan Grant and Julius Jones combined for 14 carries that gained 32 yards. In the fourth quarter, their 14 carries totaled 138 yards, with Grant finishing with 17 at- tempts for 98 yards and Jones 11 attempts for 72. 15 Years Ago: Sept. 6, 2008 Wide receiver Michael Floyd joined the select company of Raghib "Rocket" Ismail and Derek Brown in 1988 and Derrick Mayes in 1992 when his first catch as a freshman resulted in a touchdown. The 22-yard score helped knot the game at 7-7 against a San Diego State team that lost the previ- ous week to Cal Poly and went on to finish 2-10. The Aztecs had the ball at the Notre Dame 5-yard line with a 13-7 lead and 11:55 left in the contest. A forced fumble and recovery by safety David Bruton began an Irish rally to a 21-13 win on 38- and 6-yard touchdown passes from Jimmy Clausen to Golden Tate and David Grimes, respectively. Five Years Ago: Sept. 1, 2018 Notre Dame's offense set the table early, and its defense finished the feast in a season-opening 24-17 conquest of No. 14-ranked Michigan. Touchdown drives on its first two series of the game, crucial third-and-long conversions and four quarters of consistent ball-hawking defense propelled No. 12 Notre Dame to a victory that in- stantly provided credibility to its College Football Playoff aspirations come November. On offense, senior quarterback Brandon Wim- bush accounted for 229 total yards on 12-of-22 passing for 170 yards with a touchdown and an in- terception, plus a team-high 19 carries for 59 yards. Defensively, senior linebacker Te'Von Coney was credited with 10 tackles and a fumble recov- ery, which came with 46 seconds left to help end Michigan's final drive. Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Aug. 31-Sept. 6 UNDER THE DOME Wide receiver and return man Raghib "Rocket" Ismail was one of eight incoming freshmen in 1988 who were clocked at 4.48 or less in the 40-yard dash, leading the way at 4.28. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS