Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/747744
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 14, 2016 15 UNDER THE DOME 70 Years Ago: Nov. 9, 1946 For the sixth time since the advent of the Associated Press poll in 1936, the No. 1 and No. 2 teams meet — and for the fourth time it involves Notre Dame. No. 1 Army, the two-time reigning national champion, and No. 2 Notre Dame, returning a plethora of service men from World War II, engage in a slugfest that results in a scoreless tie, prompting one headline story to read "Much Ado About Nothing-Nothing." The game's most memorable moment occurs in the second quarter. With the ball at the Army 44, the Cadets' Heisman Trophy-winner Felix "Doc" Blanchard finds a gap and races toward the left sideline in Yankee Stadium (with a capacity audience of 74,121 in attendance) before safety John Lujack, the final line of defense, comes across the field to make a diving shoestring tackle at Notre Dame's 36. The drive ends with Terry Brennan intercepting a Cadet pass at the 10-yard line. On the prior series, Notre Dame had driven to the Army 4-yard line, but eschewed the field goal at- tempt — Irish head coach Frank Leahy believed it would be an affront to the team imposing its will on Army — and failed to convert on fourth down. 40 Years Ago: Nov. 13, 1976 In the first regular season meeting ever between two tra- ditional superpowers, No. 18 Notre Dame defeats No. 10 Alabama, 21-18, in Notre Dame Stadium. Entering the game 6-2, the Irish were stunned 23-14 in an upset at Georgia Tech the pre- vious week. Second-year head coach Dan Devine's team re- sponds by defeating a Crimson Tide juggernaut that would fin- ish as the national-runner-up to Notre Dame a year later before winning titles in 1978 and 1979. Senior quarterback Rick Slager complete 15 of 23 passes for 235 yards before getting injured in the fourth quarter, while fresh- man running back Vagas Fergu- son makes his first career start and romps for 107 yards, high- lighted by a 17-yard touchdown dash to give Notre Dame a 21-7 halftime advantage. Junior Jim Browner's intercep- tion of a Jeff Rutledge pass in the Irish end zone late in the contest helps preserve the win. Notre Dame improved to 3-0 against Alabama icon/head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant after also having defeated his 11-0 Crimson Tide teams in the 1973 Sugar Bowl (24-23) and 1975 Orange Bowl (13-11). The former won the consensus national title for the Irish. The two would meet again in Birmingham in 1980. "It's getting worse with age," the 63-year-old Bryant said after the 1976 defeat. "One, two and three points. I doubt very seriously I'll make it to the four-pointer." 25 Years Ago: Nov. 9, 1991 The No. 5-ranked Fighting Irish build a 31-7 first-half lead versus Tennessee and drive to the shadow of the Volunteers' goal line … only to lose 35-34. It ties the 55-24 loss at USC in 1974 for the biggest lead ever squandered by Notre Dame in a game. "This is the most difficult loss I've ever been associated with," said Notre Dame's Lou Holtz, in his 23rd season as a head coach. "It's the most disappointed I've ever been in my life … I really don't know how we'll come back from this. It's a crazy game." — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: Nov. 9‑15 NOTRE DAME Great Gift Ideas! *Please add sales tax if shipping to: IN (7%), MI (6%), and NC (7.5%) Call for best shipping rates on multiple items! Wall Calendars Ship Within Cont. U.S. Only BLUE AND GOLD ILLUSTRATED PO BOX 2331 • DURHAM, NC 27702 800-421-7751 www.BlueGoldOnline.com 2017 Vintage Football Calendar Item #6451 • 11"x14" Vintage FB Calendar $ 18 95 + $7 S&H This unique series of frame-ready prints fea- ture archival-quality reproductions of home and away game souvenir programs that were sold at the stadiums during the early 1900s to the 1960s. Each year has different images. Collect the 2017 edition before they sell out! ON SALE! (Reg. $21.95) The Greatest Team DVD Item #6213 The Greatest Team DVD $ 26 99 The most incredible story in college foot- ball history — this film features excit- ing game footage and rare interview clips from the ND 1 9 4 6 a n d 1 9 4 7 national champion- ship teams. Expert commentary by Ara Parseghian, Lou Somogyi and other legend- ary writers, coaches and players. FREE SHIPPING Senior quarterback Rick Slager connected on 15 of 23 throws for 235 yards to help the No. 18 Irish edge No. 10 Alabama 21‑18 in 1976. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS