Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MAY 2025 13 50 Years Ago: May 3, 1975 First-year head coach Dan Devine's initial spring ended with a rainy Blue-Gold Game. Rebuilding with the graduation of 13 starters, most notably quarterback Tom Clements, who di- rected the 1973 national title run, Notre Dame had its top two candidates to take over as signal-caller, Frank Allocco (severely separated shoulder dur- ing a scrimmage) and Rick Slager (bruised ribs), sidelined. The staff turned to two freshmen who were Pa- rade All-Americans. Starting for the No. 1 Blue team was Gary Forystek, while Joe Montana got the call for the Gold. The Blue took a 10-3 halftime lead with Forystek completing 8 of 20 passes. Montana missed on his first 9 attempts before going 4 of 5. In the second half, Devine moved Montana in with the starters, and he proceeded to rifle a per- fect 33-yard touchdown aerial to converted quar- terback Ted Burgmeier, a 58-yard score to running back Mark McLane and a 9-yard tally to tight end Ken MacAfee in the 38-6 Blue victory. He guided a fourth touchdown march while finishing 7-of-12 passing for 138 yards after halftime. Allocco and Slager remained the frontrunners, but a new candidate in Montana — who was sev- enth on the 1974 depth chart — emerged. 45 Years Ago: May 3, 1980 Cincinnati Moeller head coach Gerry Faust, who owned a 161-17-2 career record at the nation's top high school program, traveled to Notre Dame to watch five of his former players in the Blue-Gold Game: All-America linebacker Bob Crable, wide receivers Tony Hunter and Dave Condeni, quar- terback Tim Koegel and kicker Harry Oliver (a sixth, linebacker Rick Naylor, enrolled in the fall). Prior to the game, Faust visited the Grotto and lit candles for his family and parents, and a third with which he promised the Blessed Mother that if he fulfills his dream of becoming the head coach at Notre Dame, he will visit the Grotto every day he is in South Bend. Three weeks later, Faust received a call from Notre Dame executive vice president Rev. Ned Joyce, C.S.C, who requested a private audience with him in Cincinnati. In the meeting, Joyce revealed that current head coach Dan Devine likely would be leaving at the end of the 1980 season — and then asked if Faust would be interested in being the successor. Faust answered that that has been his dream all along. Joyce then told Faust to keep the conversation confidential and he would remain in touch. 25 Years Ago: May 1, 2000 With Notre Dame coming off a 5-7 season and a sixth straight finish outside of the top 10, Sports Illustrated ran a cover headline that asked: "What- ever happened to Notre Dame football?" In a multi-page spread that featured Notre Dame admissions director Dan Saracino in a defiant cross- armed pose, author Tim Layden wrote how the combination of stringent academics, difficult sched- ules and head coach Bob Davie's inexperience as head coach endangered Notre Dame's place in college football. During the 1920s, Notre Dame and the New York Yankees became the eminent sports dynasties. Wrote Layden: "At the turn of the 21st century, the Yankees are thriving, having won three of the last four World Series. They haven't simply adapted to the changes in the way baseball business is con- ducted, they have exploited those changes. The same can't be said for Notre Dame. … There's a feeling that while Notre Dame's football program is still significant, its aura is fading — as measured in sliding television ratings and mediocre results — and that once that magic is gone it will be irretrievable." 15 Years Ago: May 22, 2010 The Notre Dame men's lacrosse team advanced to the Final Four for just the second time in pro- gram history with a 7-5 triumph over No. 3 Maryland at Princeton Stadium in Princeton, N.J. Sophomore attackman Sean Rogers' second career hat trick and an Irish defense that allowed just 5 goals for the second straight game was the story of the day for the Fighting Irish (9-6), who never trailed in the contest. The Notre Dame defense stifled a Terrapin offense that entered the game averaging 11.71 goals per game. The 5 goals allowed were the fewest in pro- gram history for an NCAA Tournament game. The Irish held Maryland's Grant Catalino, who had team-high totals in goals (34) and points (54), without a point while senior goalie Scott Rodgers made 8 saves. "Our guys just played their hearts out," Irish junior defenseman Kevin Ridgway said. "I thought we matched up pretty well with them. We locked down and did what we always do, give them low-angle shots for the big guy [Rodgers]. We came in with that game plan and I think we executed pretty well today." The Irish went on to defeat Cornell 12-7 in the national semifinals May 29 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, before falling 6-5 in overtime at the hands of No. 5 Duke in the national championship game two days later. UNDER THE DOME Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: May ✦ Your home address will be automatically changed to the mailing address on file with the US Postal Service? ALL addresses are cross-referenced with the USPS National Change of Address database. ✦ Your postal forwarding order expires in 60 days or less? Most forwarding requests expire in 60 days and DO NOT include periodical mail. Issues are discarded at their discretion. ✦ It can take up to 7 days for the USPS to update your address in their database? Don't assume the post office knows your vacation or moving schedule! To prevent missed issues, please notify the US Postal Service ASAP and verify your delivery address with your local post office. DID YOU KNOW... AVOID COSTLY DELAYS & REPLACEMENTS! Blue & Gold Illustrated Customer Service: 1–800–421–7751 (Monday – Friday, 10 am to 4 pm) We are happy to assist, but due to privacy laws all postal address changes must be completed by you. Senior goalie Scott Rodgers' strong play helped the Notre Dame men's lacrosse team advance to the Final Four for just the second time in pro- gram history in 2010. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS