Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 3, 2016 15 UNDER THE DOME 85 Years Ago: Oct. 3, 1931 For the first time in 21 years, the Notre Dame football program is without Knute Rockne. "The Rock" was an end (1910‑13), an assistant coach to head coach Jesse Harper (1914‑17), and then succeeded Harper as head coach (1918‑30) before perishing in a plane crash on March 31, 1931. Assistants Hunk Anderson and Jack Chevigny are given the title "senior coach" and "junior coach," respectively. With the nation's economic Depression in full swing, only 12,098 are in attendance in Bloomington, Ind., to witness a 25‑0 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers. Joe Sheekestski scores the first and lone touchdown of the first half on a 70‑yard run before the two‑time reigning national champs pull away in the final 30 minutes. 70 Years Ago: Sept. 28, 1946 The four‑year post‑World War II dynasty at Notre Dame begins with a 26‑6 victory at a powerful Illinois team that would go on to win the Big Ten and finish fifth in the Associated Press poll. Among the many returning WWII veterans for Notre Dame are quarterback John Lujack and lineman Ziggy Czarobski; stars who had previously played for war‑time programs such as Great Lakes (running backs Emil Sitko and Jim Mello, among others); lineman George Connor, who transferred from Holy Cross to Notre Dame after the war; Bronze Star recipient "Jungle Jim" Martin, a 22‑year‑old freshman end; and a dynamic freshman class led by end Leon Hart. The victory at Illinois comes in front of a capacity audience of 75,119. Four different Irish players — Mello, Bob Livingstone, Terry Brennan and Corwin Clatt — score touchdowns, while Mike Swistowicz intercepts two passes. 50 Years Ago: Oct. 1, 1966 Third‑year head coach Ara Parseghian returns to his former stomping grounds in Evanston, Ill., where he coached Northwestern from 1956‑63 before accepting the Notre Dame position, and sees his No. 4 Fighting Irish roll to an easy 35‑7 victory over the Wildcats. Parseghian was 4‑0 against Notre Dame as the Northwestern coach — and then would be 8‑0 versus Northwestern as the Fighting Irish coach. A week after nabbing a single‑game school‑record 13 passes for 276 yards (and three scores) in a win over No. 8 Purdue, sophomore wideout Jim Seymour encounters double‑coverage and is "limited" to nine catches for 141 yards. Halfback Nick Eddy opens the scoring on a 56‑yard run, and Notre Dame finishes with 200 rushing yards and 225 passing yards. The defense allows 159 yards overall and is led by linebacker John Pergine's 11 tackles, one interception, a pass broken up, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery. 15 Years Ago: Sept. 29, 2001 For the first time in its 114‑year history, Notre Dame football begins a season 0‑3 after a 24‑3 loss at Texas A&M. Sophomore quarterback Carlyle Holiday makes his first career start, supplanting classmate Matt LoVecchio, but the Irish manage only 191 yards of total offense. Holiday completes 6 of 13 passes with two interceptions, while LoVecchio in relief is 6‑of‑12 passing for 48 yards with an interception. Embattled Fighting Irish head coach Bob Davie, who 10 months earlier received a five‑year contract extension through 2005 from athletics director Kevin White, is summoned to White's office later in the week and told that a re‑evaluation will be forthcoming. — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Sept. 28-Oct. 4 The University of Notre Dame ® Fine Jewelry Collection Our new website: www.notredamefinejewelry.com Toll-free: 1-866-333-3715 950 N.E. Loop 410 San Antonio, Texas 78209 Phone (210) 930-3900 Fax (210) 930-3903 Alamo City Gold & Silver by: Alamo City Gold & Silver Exchange irish@notredamefinejewelry.com Quarterback John Lujack (32) and tackle Ziggy Czarobski (76) helped lead the Irish to a 26‑6 win at Illinois in 1946. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS