Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/408565
Oct. 26, 1968 Fifth-ranked Notre Dame trailed 21-17 at Michigan State, faced third-and-goal at the 3-yard line, and wideout Jim Seymour broke free in the end zone — when he was clearly tackled before quarterback Terry Hanratty's pass fell incomplete. The Irish fumbled on fourth down and the Spartans ran out the clock. The sideline official had slipped on the third-down play and didn't see it, but Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian said it was irrelevant because the back judge, right by the play, didn't call the infraction. Nov. 25, 1978 Quarterback Joe Montana rallied Notre Dame to a 25-24 lead with only 46 seconds remaining at USC. On the Trojans' final possession, quarterback Paul McDonald, in the midst of bracing for a sack, fumbled it away to the Irish. The officials ruled it an incomplete pass and the Trojans capitalized with a long completion on the next play to set up a 42-yard field goal with two seconds left. USC went on to share the national title with Alabama. Nov. 27, 1982 In USC head coach John Robinson's finale before heading to the NFL (the Trojans were on probation and ineligible for a bowl), the Irish led 13-10 when USC tailback Michael Harper dove over from the one-yard line and past the goal line with 48 seconds left in the game. Photo and video evidence clearly showed Harper left the ball at the two-yard line as he began the dive. Defensive end Kevin Griffith recovered the loose ball and held it triumphantly aloft … all for naught. The Pac-10 officials conferred and ruled it a touchdown. Sept. 13, 1986 Lou Holtz's debut as the Irish head coach saw Notre Dame trailing No. 3 Michigan 24-20 when Irish QB Steve Beuerlein found tight end Joel Williams in the back of the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown — but it was ruled out of bounds, with no chance back then at instant replay. Irish kicker John Carney booted a field goal the next play with 4:26 left to trail 24-23, the end result (Carney missed a field goal in the closing seconds). Later, the Michigan ball boy near the play said Williams was in bounds. Jan. 1, 1991 Trailing No. 1 Colorado 10-9 in the Orange Bowl, Notre Dame's Raghib "Rocket" Ismail fielded a punt at his nine-yard line with 1:05 left in the game, evaded and bounced off of several would-be tacklers, and broke free at his 30 — where Notre Dame safety Greg Davis hit Colorado's Tim James in what would be deemed a clip. The score was erased and the Buffaloes went on to finish No. 1. Oct. 15, 2005 With time left for only one play, no timeouts remaining and No. 1 USC trailing 31-28 at Notre Dame, Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart called his number from the 1-yard line. A strong surge by the Irish front pushed Leinart back to the two until tailback Reggie Bush propelled him forward and past the goal line. In the rulebook it is referred to as "illegal interference for helping the runner," an infraction that wasn't called.