Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/421584
Don Gmitter. Sophomore linebacker Jim Lynch, a future College Football Hall of Fame member, also cracked the starting unit. The combination of the team's veteran wisdom and hunger, immense youthful talent and a new, invigorated coaching staff created an ideal chemistry in the locker room, on the field and in daily interaction. Still, none of that would matter if wins weren't produced. THE DREAM SEASON During his 11 years at Notre Dame from 1964-74, Parseghian would win consensus national titles in 1966 and 1973, barely miss in 1970 and was in the conversation right to the final regular- season game of 1974. Yet the ascent to No. 1 in 1964 while starting 9-0 elicited a unique rapture that no other campaign could duplicate. When you inherit wealth, it will never be treasured as much as building your own fortune with your own toil. "When you come into a program that hasn't had success, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose," said Par- seghian, now 91 and still active and in- trospective. "Once you win, then you become a victim of your own success and you can't ever recapture that re- newed invigoration you once had. Go- ing to the mountain is easier and more fun than staying on top of it." During the 9-0 start, six teams that had defeated Notre Dame the year prior lost to the Irish. In the season-opening 31-7 win at Wisconsin, Huarte passed for more yardage in that one game (270) than the top Notre Dame passer in 1963 had all season (239). Snow's 217 receiving yards against the Badgers nearly matched the 1963 team high of 233 by halfback Nick Eddy. After losing five of the previous six years to Purdue, the Irish rolled 34-15 past the Boilermakers. Navy — with Heisman Trophy win- ner Roger Staubach — had pounded the Irish in Notre Dame Stadium a year earlier, 35-14, and had played for the national title. In 1964, the Irish crushed Head coach Ara Parseghian's arrival in 1964 gal- vanized a football program that had fallen on hard times and began a new era of prosperity for years to come. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS