Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/542018
UNDER THE DOME 40 Years Ago: Aug. 20, 1975 On media day, first-year head coach Dan Devine experiences one of the greatest upheavals a Notre Dame football roster ever has had since the end of World War II. On offense, only one starter returns from the previous year: senior guard Al Wujciak (whose son Con- nor currently is an All-ACC candidate along the defensive line at Boston College). Meanwhile, senior fullback Art Best, who Devine had projected to carry 20 to 25 times per game, is dismissed from school. Two freshmen, Jim Browner and Jerome Heavens, are pegged as his replacement. Defensively, the news is much better due to the reinstatement of five players suspended all of 1974 because of university violations (a sixth would transfer). Ends Ross Browner and Willie Fry are readmitted to school, as is safety turned cornerback Luther Bradley. Browner and Bradley started and starred for the 1973 national champs as freshmen. Also back are running backs Al Hunter and Dan Knott. 35 Years Ago: Aug. 15, 1980 A week into the preseason practices, Notre Dame head coach Dan Devine sud- denly announces he will step down at the end of the season because of "fam- ily considerations and personal reasons." His revelation comes on a Friday night and is broadcast during an NFL pre- season game on national television. Hired in 1975, Devine's 44-14 career record still is compared unfavorably to predecessor Ara Parseghian's 95-17-4 ledger from 1964-74 with two consensus national titles — although Devine and Co. won the 1977 national champion- ship. Devine denies there was any pres- sure stemming from a 7-4 finish (with no bowl game) the previous year, the most losses by a Fighting Irish team since a 2-7 finish in 1963. Notre Dame is not expected to do much better in 1980 with a team trying to find a new quarterback — Parade All- American freshmen Scott Grooms and Blair Kiel are among the top candidates — needing to replace all-time leading Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: August Sixth-year head coach Dan Devine out of nowhere announced on Aug. 15, 1980, that he would step down at the end of the season. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS