Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM JANUARY 2025 15 100 Years Ago: Jan. 1, 1925 Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Knute Rockne, Notre Dame earned its first consensus national title in football with a 27-10 victory versus Stanford, coached by Glenn "Pop" Warner, in the Rose Bowl. Stanford outgained Notre Dame and its legendary "Four Horsemen" 316- 186 in total yardage, prompting one West Coast writer to state that the losing team was superior. "Yeah, and next year they'll award the World Series to the team that left the most men on base," shot back Notre Dame halfback Jim Crowley. Although Notre Dame committed 4 turnovers, Stanford had 8 — and three of them lead directly to touchdowns by Notre Dame. Fullback Elmer Layden tallied twice on 78- and 70-yard interception returns, while lineman Ed Hun- singer, one of the "Seven Mules," had a fumble return for a score. Leading 20-10, Notre Dame also made a crucial goal-line stand in the fourth quarter when it stopped All-American Ernie Nevers on fourth down with about eight inches to go for the touchdown. 50 Years Ago: Jan. 1, 1975 The 51-year-old Ara Parseghian won his final game as Notre Dame's head coach, a 13-11 victory versus 11-0 Alabama in the Orange Bowl, denying the Crimson Tide a national title. Listed as an 11.5-point underdog after a season-ending 55-24 loss at USC, the Irish were led by a defense with first-round linemen Mike Fanning and Steve Niehaus and second-round linebacker Greg Collins. Notre Dame played conservatively while totaling only 204 yards of total offense, but took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when senior fullback Wayne "The Train" Bullock bulled in from 4 yards after the Irish recover a fumbled punt at the Crimson Tide 16. The lead expands to 13-0 in the second quarter when halfback Mark McLane's 9-yard run ended a 17-play, 77-yard drive. After Alabama cut the deficit to 13-11, it drove to Notre Dame's 39-yard line with about 1:20 remaining. On a quick out intended for Ozzie Newsome, senior corner Reggie Barnett picked off quarterback Richard Todd's pass and the Irish were able to run out the clock. Parseghian's 11-year Notre Dame career ended with a 95-17-4 (.836) record, two consensus national titles (1966 and 1973), one shared champi- onship (1964) and eight top-five finishes in either the Associated Press poll or UPI rankings. 35 Years Ago: Jan. 1, 1990 With its 21-6 triumph against 11-0 and No. 1 Colorado in the Orange Bowl, Notre Dame defeated an unbeaten or No. 1-ranked team — if not both — for the seventh time in nine tries in a bowl game. Six of them occurred in the 20-year period from Jan. 1, 1971, through Jan. 1, 1990, an unparalleled feat in college football bowl history. After a scoreless first half highlighted by an Irish goal-line stand, Notre Dame opened the second half with consecutive touchdown drives. Senior fullback Anthony Johnson scored from the 4-yard line on the first, and sopho- more flanker Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, replacing the injured Ricky Watters at tailback, sprinted for a 35-yard tally on the second. The Irish closed with an 82-yard march that took 17 plays — all runs — and milked 8:55 off the clock. It culminated with a 7-yard Johnson touchdown with 1:32 remaining. Despite finishing 12-1 while defeating seven teams in the final Associated Press top 18, the Irish were voted No. 2 behind Miami, which won the head- to-head meeting in November. 30 Years Ago: Jan. 2, 1995 For the third time in six seasons, Colorado and Notre Dame met in a New Year's bowl game, this time in the Fiesta Bowl after back-to-back matchups in the Orange Bowl in 1989 and '90. Despite a 6-4-1 record during an injury- marred season, the Fighting Irish earned a bid to face the No. 4-ranked and 10-1 Buffaloes. Not surprisingly, a Colorado team that featured seven All-Americans posted a convincing 41-24 victory over the green-jersey-clad Irish. Bill McCartney, who said the Fiesta Bowl would be his last game as a head coach, was car- ried off the field, with his players showing their appreciation for 13 years of service to the Colorado program. The Buffaloes seized control of the game, racing out to a 31-3 lead before the Irish battled back to make the final score more respectable. Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart racked up 348 yards of total offense — with 143 coming on the ground — and 2 touchdowns, while Rashaan Salaam — the 1994 Heisman Trophy winner — ran for 83 yards and 3 touchdowns. On defense, the Buffaloes posted a Fiesta Bowl-record 7 sacks, led by Shannon Clavelle with 3. 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Quarterback Kordell Stewart racked up 348 yards of total offense, includ- ing 143 on the ground, and 2 touchdowns in Colorado's 41-24 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, 1995. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS