Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/176703
Under the Dome Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Sept. 24-30 65 Years Ago: Sept. 25, 1948 For the first time in three seasons, 19 games and 75 quarters, the twotime defending national champion Notre Dame football team trails in a game. Purdue takes a 13-12 lead in the third quarter before Notre Dame's John Panelli returns a blocked punt for a 70-yard touchdown and kicker Steve Oracko — who had missed all three of his point after attempts — boots a 34-yard field goal to build a 21-13 Fighting Irish advantage. The lead is extended to 28-20 before a late Purdue touchdown and PAT (the two-point conversion didn't come about until 1958) makes the final score 28‑27. The 8-0-1 and 9-0 national champs from 1946‑47 under head coach Frank Leahy achieved maybe the most amazing, and overlooked, streak in college football history by never trailing. The only other national champion since then never to fall behind was the 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide. 60 Years Ago: Sept. 26, 1953 Notre Dame's first home-andhome series with Oklahoma concludes with the No. 1 Fighting Irish defeating the No. 6 Sooners 28-21 in Norman, almost the identical score of the previous year's 27‑21 victory in Notre Dame Stadium. Trailing 14-7, Notre Dame tackle Frank Varrichione blocks a Sooners quick kick that sparks 21 unan- Head coach Frank Leahy's Irish teams did not trail for 19 games and 75 quarters over the course of three seasons until Purdue took a brief lead before falling 28-27 in a September 1948 contest. photo courtesy notre dame media relations