Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 12, 2016 15 UNDER THE DOME 35 Years Ago: Sept. 12, 1981 Gerry Faust makes his coaching de‑ but at No. 4 Notre Dame with a 27‑9 victory at home versus LSU in a game where he rotates incumbent sopho‑ more quarterback Blair Kiel with fifth‑ year senior Tim Koegel, who starred for Faust at Cincinnati Moeller High School. Kiel (3‑of‑6 passing for 29 yards with two interceptions) tosses a touchdown to fullback Larry Moriarty on the open‑ ing series, but Koegel finishes 6‑of‑7 passing for 101 yards with no intercep‑ tions, and his six‑yard scoring toss to fellow Moeller graduate Dave Condeni gives Notre Dame a 27‑3 cushion in the third quarter. Another Moeller prod‑ uct, Tony Hunter, moves from receiver to wingback, where he carries 11 times for 42 yards and a score, plus catches two passes for 40 yards. Coupled with No. 1 Michigan's loss at home to Wisconsin, Notre Dame is elevated all the way to No. 1. It was a repeat of history because 27 years earlier (1954), first‑year head coach, 26‑year‑old Terry Brennan, moved from No. 2 to No. 1 after just one game, following a 21‑0 whitewash at home of No. 4 Texas. "I think I'll retire now," Faust joked to members of the media after his Fighting Irish come in at No. 1 that Monday. 30 Years Ago: Sept. 13, 1986 In Lou Holtz's inaugural game as Notre Dame's head coach, his Fighting Irish make history with a 24‑23 loss at home to No. 3 Michigan. Although it is a school record third straight year Notre Dame loses its opener, it becomes the first team in the 50‑year history of the Associated Press poll to go from unranked to ranked (No. 20, which is all the AP ranked back then) after a defeat. Against a vaunted Michigan defense that surrendered only five touchdowns a year earlier, Notre Dame racks up 455 yards of total offense and never punts. Its downfall is three red‑zone turnovers, with fumbles at the Wolverine 7‑ and 15‑yard lines, and an interception in the end zone on a fade by quarterback Steve Beuerlein, who finishes 21‑of‑33 passing for 263 yards. The Irish also lose a fumble on a kickoff that sets up a Michigan touchdown. Trailing in the fourth quarter 24‑20, a Beuerlein pass into the end zone is caught by tight end Joel Williams, but the official rules him out of bounds — even though the Michigan ball boy standing right by the play admits after the game that Williams was in bounds. Finally, stellar senior kicker John Carney not only misses an extra point in the defeat, but his 45‑yard field‑goal attempt with 18 seconds left in the contest — he had been 15 of 16 in his career from 40 to 49 yards — goes awry. "I've never seen so many things go so wrong on close little things in my life," Holtz said afterwards. The Irish depart the field to a standing ovation. A year earlier they had finished 5‑6, capped by a 58‑7 loss at Miami. 15 Years Ago: Sept. 12, 2001 Notre Dame's scheduled game at Purdue Sept. 15 is canceled shortly after the Tuesday, Sept. 11 al‑Qaeda attacks on the nation that take 2,977 American lives at New York's World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and from the four plane crashes orchestrated by 19 members of the terrorist organization. The game is rescheduled in West Lafayette for Dec. 1. It is the first time a Notre Dame football game is aborted since Nov. 23, 1963, at Iowa, one day after President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: Sept. 7-13 Check out the ALL NEW www.BlueGoldOnline.com Everything You Need To Know Before The Game! Blue & Gold Report, your weekly game preview digital newsletter, is emailed every pre-game Wednesday during the season. It has the latest information on the Irish's upcoming opponent, and it includes rosters, stats and depth charts that can be printed on 8½-by-11 paper. ✦ Complete opponent preview ✦ Depth charts and rosters and stats ✦ Quotes and videos from pressers ✦ Read it on your computer or mobile device Get on the mailing list at bluegoldonline.com In his debut as head coach in 1981, Gerry Faust guided Notre Dame to a 27-9 victory over LSU that helped elevate the Irish to No. 1 in the national rankings. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS