Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME 30 Years Ago: August 1986 The United States Postal Service announces that former Fighting Irish head coach Knute Rockne (1918-30) will be honored with a commemorative stamp in 1988, the year that marks the centennial anniversary of his birth. Rockne becomes only the sixth person to be honored with a commemorative stamp in the sports series, joining golfers Bobby Jones and all-around women's phenom Babe Didrikson Zaharias, baseball players Babe Ruth and Roberto Clemente, and football/track superstar Jim Thorpe. Rockne's Notre Dame teams compiled a 105-12-5 record for an all-time best Football Bowl Subdivision (to this day) .881 winning percentage. The unbeaten Irish won consensus national titles in 1924, 1929 and 1930, and his 1919, 1920 and 1927 squads also received some national title recognition. He died March 31,1931 at age 43 in an airplane crash. 20 Years Ago: August 1996 Lou Holtz begins his 11th season at Notre Dame by meeting with the media to preview the year. He says it's difficult to believe he will match Fighting Irish coaching icons Frank Leahy (1941-43, 1946-53) and Ara Parseghian (1964-74) for second place at Notre Dame in most years as the head coach (Knute Rockne's 13 from 1918-30 were the most). However, Holtz describes it as his "senior year," or fourth season with the program. That's because Holtz was 35-2 (.946) in the three seasons of 1988, 1989 and 1993, with a national title and two debat- able No. 2 finishes. The other seven he was 57-25-2 (.690). "The alumni think I've coached here only three years, and the other seven I took a sabbatical or just watched," he quipped. 15 Years Ago: Aug. 15, 2001 Head coach Bob Davie enters his fifth season at Notre Dame a lot less on the hot seat than the year prior after a 21-16 record his first three seasons, notably 5-7 in year three. In his fourth year (2000), Davie led the Irish to a 9-2 regular season, highlighted by winning the final seven games with freshman quarterback Matt LoVecchio, replacing the injured Arnaz Battle and then former and future tight end Gary Godsey. This prompted a five-year contract extension through 2005 from first-year director of athletics Kevin White. However, a 41-9 loss to Oregon State in the Fiesta Bowl put a damper on the finish, and questions linger about whether LoVecchio or sophomore classmate Carlyle Holiday, a dynamic runner, will lead the of- fense. It's not unlike 15 years later where after sophomore DeShone Kizer did an exemplary job replacing the injured Malik Zaire early in the season — including a bid to the Fiesta Bowl, where Notre Dame was throttled by another OSU (Ohio State) — the job is still open. Davie joked that he and LoVecchio were like transplanted brothers-in-law. "Whether you're the head coach at Notre Dame or whether you're the quarterback, Notre Dame fans love to discuss the issue of who is going to replace you and how quickly," Davie said. "Matt is Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: June/July