Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/366772
UNDER THE DOME 25 Years Ago: Aug. 31, 1989 Defending national champion Notre Dame roars to a 33-0 halftime lead and then puts it into cruise control during a 36-13 victory versus Virginia in the Kickoff Classic held in East Rutherford, N.J. The Fighting Irish score touchdowns on their first five possessions with fullback Anthony Johnson tallying twice and quarterback Tony Rice and tailbacks Ricky Watters and Rodney Culver once apiece. Watters paces the 300-yard rushing attack with 80 yards on 12 carries while Rice adds 70 on eight at- tempts. Rice also completes 7 of 11 passes for 147 yards, five of them to sophomore flanker Raghib "Rocket" Ismail for 121 yards. Defensively junior cornerback Todd Lyght intercepts two passes after recording none during the 1988 national title season. A school-record 14 freshmen clear the bench in the second half for the Irish, including quarterback Rick Mirer. 15 Years Ago: Aug. 28, 1999 In Notre Dame's earliest opener ever, the third annual Eddie Robinson Classic (discontinued after 2002) is held at Notre Dame Stadium in 87-degree heat. Third-year Fighting Irish head coach Bob Da- vie's No. 18-ranked team dispatches Kansas 48-13 while racking up 363 rushing yards. The ground assault is led by sophomore running back Tony Fisher's 13 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a 46-yard tally in the second half. Fifth-year senior quarterback Jarious Jackson (12 carries for 85 yards) opens the scoring with a 38-yard run, and then senior defensive back Deveron Harper returns an interception for a 22-yard score less than four minutes into the contest. The defense scores in the second half, too, on a 31-yard fumble return by junior linebacker Anthony Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: Aug. 26-Sept. 1 Tailback Ricky Watters had 12 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown to pace a Notre Dame attack that racked up 300 yards on the ground in a 36-13 defeat of Virginia in the 1989 Kickoff Classic. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS