Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: December 65 Years Ago: Dec. 2, 1946 In the final Associated Press poll, Notre Dame usurps two-time defending national champion Army from the throne with a combination of two occurrences on Nov. 30. First, No. 1 and 9-0-1 Army barely hangs on to defeat 1-7 Navy, 21-18, needing a late goal-line stand and the clock running out before the final play by the Midshipmen can be run. Second, No. 2 and 8-0-1 Notre Dame handily defeats No. 16 USC, 26-6. Thus, even though the Irish and Black Knights played to a scoreless tie three weeks earlier in Yankee Stadium, Notre Dame leapfrogs Army in a somewhat controversial decision (see pages 18-19 for more). Interestingly, the Irish rout USC with assistant Ed "Moose" Krause replacing Frank Leahy as the acting head coach. Leahy was confined to his home with an attack of flu and laryngitis, aggravated by a recurrence of the spinal arthritis that sent him to the Mayo Clinic in 1942. To the surprise of many, Krause inserts sophomore fourth- team running back Coy "Scooter" McGee from Longview, Texas, into the lineup after a brilliant week of practice. McGee runs back the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touch- down, but it is called back because of a penalty. However, he later gives the Irish a 6-0 lead on a dazzling 77-yard touchdown run and finishes with 146 yards rushing on six carries. He adds another score on an eight-yard run — but remains fourth team the next two years on the ultra-talented Irish squads that never lose. When Krause visits Leahy after the victory, he receives a cold reception. "He said, 'I gave you the lineup at the start of the week, Moose. Who the hell is this Coy McGee you put in?' " Krause remembered in a 1990 interview with Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I said, 'Coach, you weren't with us all week, but if you would have seen what we saw, I know you would have done the same thing.' "Then he smiled and said it was a good idea." 35 Years Ago: Dec. 27, 1976 Notre Dame plays its first "minor" bowl game, a 20-9 victory versus 7-4 Penn State in the Gator Bowl. Because bowl games began to be included in the final AP voting after the 1968 season, Notre Dame rescinds its non-bowl policy in 1969, a first since 1924, but with the stipulation that it wants to play in only the three "major" games that it is eligible for: Cotton, Orange or Sugar. In both 1971 and 1975, a player vote turns down invitations to secondary bowls, but this season the decision is made to play in the postseason to use as a springboard for 1977. Twenty of the 22 starters on offense and defense are in line to return in 1977, and pundits already are projecting a national title for the Irish. Junior running back and game MVP Al Hunter rushes for 102 yards and two one-yard touchdowns on 26 car- ries. Senior quarterback Rick Slager completes 10 of 19 passes for 141 yards, with junior tight end Ken MacAfee grabbing five receptions for 78 yards. The victory improves Notre Dame to 9-3 and lifts it from No. 15 to No. 12 in the final AP poll. 10 Years Ago: Dec. 2, 2001 One year after Notre Dame head coach Bob Davie receives a BCS bid and a five-year contract extension through 2005, Irish athletics director Kevin White fires the fifth-year head coach. It comes the morning after a 24-18 Irish victory at Purdue, which leaves the final Irish record at 5-6 and Davie's overall mark at 35-25, an average of 7-5 per season. When Davie asks White why, White responds: "We've lost credibility." One week later, Dec. 9, 55-year-old Georgia Tech head coach George O'Leary is hired as Davie's successor af- ter conversations with "The People's Choice," Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, reportedly break down. Four days later, O'Leary submits his resignation after it is discovered there are inaccuracies in the biography of his résumé, including his academic background. "Due to a selfish and thoughtless act many years ago, I have personally embarrassed Notre Dame, its alumni and fans," says O'Leary in a released statement. "The integrity and credibility of Notre Dame is impeccable, and with that in mind, I will resign my position as head football coach effective Dec. 13, 2001." "I understand that these inaccuracies represent a very human failing; nonetheless they constitute a breach of trust that makes it impossible for us to go forward with our relationship," responds White. The search for a coach resumes that month, and by New Year's Eve reports leak out that it will be Stanford head coach Tyrone Willingham. 12 DECEMBER 2011 Sophomore fourth-team running back Coy "Scooter" McGee carried the ball six time for 146 yards and two touchdowns (77 and eight yards) in Notre Dame's 26-6 win over USC in 1946. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS Getting To Know … Before the season finale at Stanford, the JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER ROBBY TOMA 5-9, 185-pound Toma had started two games this year in place of in- jured wide receiver Theo Riddick. The Hawaiian had 15 catches for 173 yards (11.5 yards per re- ception), most of which came in victories over Maryland and Boston College. Toma is doing his best to make head coach Brian Kelly's decision as to which player to start in 2012 very difficult. Nickname: " 'Rob Job' and 'Rob Job 293' [293 is his area code back home]." Major: "Film and Television." Dorm: "Dillon Hall." Favorite Class: "Sports and TV. I love editing and I wouldn't mind being in front of the camera one day." Favorite Off-Campus Spot: "The Amer- ican Pancake House. The food there is awesome. It's good for college students." Dream Vacation: "Go back home to Ha- waii. It's a vacation every time I go home. I would say the Bahamas [if I have to pick a place other than home]." Best Movie You've Seen Lately: "I haven't really seen any new movies, but 'Step Brothers' is one of my favorites." TV Show You Hate To Miss: "I've really gotten into 'Lost.' I've been watching it on Netflix." Musical Artist You're Listening To Most Right Now: "I would say 'Ehu Girl' by Kolohe Kai — it's a Hawaiian group." Role Model: "Obviously my dad is one of my biggest role models. He's always been there for me. He works real hard and never complains. He's a flight attendant and has been doing it for 21, 22 years. He's a trooper. Growing up he was gone a lot, but he never missed my games. He always scheduled around it." Favorite Pro Player: "I have two of them: [New England Patriots wide re- ceiver] Wes Welker and [Miami Dolphins wideout] Davone Bess." Best Player You've Gone Up Against: "Ev- ery day I go against Harrison Smith. Harry is one of those guys that gets the other guys around him better." Dream Job If Football Didn't Exist: "I would want to be maybe a 'SportsCenter' analyst." You Have One Last Meal, What Is It: "Loco moco. It's rice with brown gravy, a hamburger patty with an over-easy egg on top of it." BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED