Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM OCT. 4, 2025 15 95 Years Ago: Oct. 4, 1930 Although its official dedication was a week away versus Navy, the first game ever was held in Notre Dame Stadium when Knute Rockne's defending national champion Fighting Irish survived a hard-fought 20-14 victory against SMU. Only 14,751 in attendance witnessed the Mustangs' passing attack that is way ahead of its time and completed 17 of 32 attempts for 265 yards. The visitors stunned Notre Dame with a 7-0 lead on the opening series — but Joe Savoldi answered with a 100-yard kick return (an unbreakable record) to help knot the score. With the game still tied at 14, Irish halfback Marchy Schwartz scored the game-winning touchdown from 4 yards out with four minutes remaining in the contest. Tommy Yarr iced the victory with an interception — Notre Dame's fourth of the game — deep in his territory. 75 Years Ago: Sept. 30, 1950 After a 36-0-2 run and three national titles during the amazing four-year stretch from 1946-49, Notre Dame hung on to remain unbeaten through 39 straight games with a 14-7 victory versus No. 20 North Carolina in the 1950 opener at home. Just 2:40 into the game, Notre Dame took a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard touch- down pass from quarterback Bob Williams to Jim Mutscheller on fourth down. From there, the Tar Heels settled in and tied the score in the second half. With only 2:40 remaining in the contest, Williams connected with Mutscheller for a 26-yard touchdown, and the Irish defense held North Carolina in check to keep the unbeaten streak alive. 55 Years Ago: Oct. 3, 1970 For the first time in 21 years, No. 4 Notre Dame achieved victory in Spartan Stadium with a 29-0 whitewash of Michigan State. From 1951-68, the Fight- ing Irish were 0-8-1 in Spartan Stadium while totaling only 57 points (6.3 points per game) and never more than 17. The game also has historic significance because it is the first that Notre Dame ever played on artificial turf, or "Mod Sod" as it was known back then. Notre Dame dominated on the new turf by outgaining Michigan State 513- 174 in total yardage, highlighted by 366 rushing yards. Senior Joe Theismann joined Paul Hornung as the lone quarterbacks at Notre Dame to both pass for more than 100 yards (12 of 17 for 147 yards) and rush for more than 100 (13 carries for 107 yards) in the same game. 45 Years Ago: Oct. 4, 1980 Sophomore halfback Phil Carter carried a Notre Dame-record 40 times while rushing for 254 yards in a 26-21 victory at Michigan State. Carter eclipsed Vagas Ferguson's single-game rushing record of 255 yards, but he was thrown for lost yardage on his final carry, which also resulted in an injury that sidelined him several weeks. Meanwhile, kicker Harry Oliver tied a single-game school record with 4 field goals to help the Irish rally from a 9-0 deficit that saw them still trail 16-15 in the second half. 20 Years Ago: Oct. 1, 2005 Forty years after Purdue quarterback Bob Griese scorched Notre Dame by completing 19 of 22 passes for 283 yards in a 25-21 Boilermakers victory, Fighting Irish signal-caller Brady Quinn had almost identical numbers, com- pleting 20 of 23 passes for 283 yards at Purdue. The difference was Quinn put up his stats in the first half alone while building a 28-0 cushion. Quinn finished 29-of-36 passing for 440 yards with 3 touchdowns in the 49-28 victory, with Jeff Samardzija catching 7 passes for 153 yards (and 2 scores) and Maurice Stovall snaring 8 for 134 yards. UNDER THE DOME Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Sept. 28-Oct. 4 ✦ 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. End Jim Mutscheller caught a pair of touchdown passes to help Notre Dame to a 14-7 victory over North Carolina in 1950. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS