Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/380743
UNDER THE DOME 60 Years Ago: Sept. 25, 1954 Only 26 years of age, first-year Notre Dame head coach Terry Brennan makes his debut with the No. 2-ranked Fighting Irish by posting a 21-0 shutout of No. 4 Texas in Notre Dame Stadium. A stellar Irish halfback from 1945-48, Brennan is Notre Dame president Rev. Theodore Hesburgh's handpicked succes- sor to replace the iconic Frank Leahy. Brennan coached the Irish freshman team prior to his promotion. In an era when players had one-platoon football, Notre Dame quarterback Ralph Guglielmi intercepts a school-record three passes, returning the first 42 yards to set up his 19-yard touchdown pass to Dan Shannon. He completes 6 of 10 passes for 125 yards and adds 26 yards rushing, scoring the last two touchdowns on three-yard runs. The victory moves Notre Dame to the No. 1 position in the Associated Press poll. 50 Years Ago: Sept. 26, 1964 Amidst pouring rain and whipping wind in Madison, Wis., first-year Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian's inaugural game with the Fighting Irish is a rousing success with a 31-7 triumph against the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin won the Big Ten two years earlier, defeated the Irish at Notre Dame in 1963 (14-9), and had vanquished Parseghian's Northwestern teams three straight years from 1961-63. Meanwhile, Notre Dame was 14-25 since 1960, including 2-7 the previous year. Offensively, senior quarterback John Huarte completes 15 of 24 tosses for 270 yards. In 1963, with Huarte in reserve, the leading passer the entire year was Frank Budka with 251 yards. On the receiving Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: Sept. 16-29