Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME 35 Years Ago: Sept. 6, 1980 The earliest opener (at the time) ever for Notre Dame sees No. 9 Purdue ranked ahead of the No. 11 Fighting Irish in the Associated Press poll for only the third time in the series' 52-game history. Coming off their worst record (7-4) in 16 years, including a 28-22 loss at Purdue, needing to replace all-time leading rusher Vagas Ferguson and with head coach Dan Devine considered a lame duck after announcing he would step down at the end of the season, Notre Dame is expected to struggle again. However, a thumb injury suffered earlier in the week by Purdue senior quarterback and Heisman Tro- phy candidate Mark Herrmann forces the Boilermakers to start freshman Scott Campbell. He completes 17 of 26 passes for 178 yards, but Notre Dame rolls to a 31-10 victory to move up to No. 8. Irish senior quarterback Mike Courey completes 10 of 13 passes for 151 yards, with a touchdown to split end Tony Hunter, and adds 59 yards on nine rushing attempts, featuring a 14-yard score. Sophomore Phil Carter's 29 carries accumulate 142 yards. 15 Years Ago: Sept. 2, 2000 Notre Dame enters the season unranked for the first time in 14 years — which was Lou Holtz's first season in 1986 — but posts a 24-10 victory at home versus No. 23 Texas A&M. On the proverbial hot seat after a 5-7 record in his third season the year prior, head coach Bob Davie defeats the school where he excelled as a defensive coordinator before getting hired for the same posi- tion at Notre Dame in 1994. The heat was also felt inside the stadium when the on-field temperature was Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: Sept. 1-7