Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com DECEMBER 2016 15 UNDER THE DOME 90 Years Ago: Dec. 4, 1926 In their first meeting ever, 8-1 Notre Dame defeats 8-1 USC, 13-12, in front of a capacity crowd at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (74,378). Trailing 12-7 in the closing minutes, Fighting Irish head coach Knute Rockne inserts 5-7 left-handed backup quarterback Art Parisien, who drives the Irish 61 yards to the game-winning touchdown, high- lighted by a 23-yard touchdown pass to halfback John Niemiec while scrambling away from pressure on third-and-13 with two minutes left. 70 Years Ago: Dec. 2, 1946 Two days after defeating No. 16 USC at home, 26-6, No. 2 Notre Dame usurps No. 1 Army in the final Associated Press poll to win its second national title under head coach Frank Leahy. The decision is considered controversial. First, Army was the two-time reigning national champion and did not lose for the third straight season. Second, when the Cadets and Fighting Irish played to a 0-0 draw at Yankee Stadium Nov. 9, Army remained No. 1 because of the unwritten rule that in a draw, the challenger cannot take the crown from the champion. The tipping point was whereas Notre Dame ended the season with "style points" against USC, Army managed only a 21-18 win over Navy, with the Midshipmen in the shadow of the Army goal line when time expired. Notre Dame had defeated Navy 28-0 earlier in the year. The Irish received 104 first-place votes from the AP, while Army had only half of that total with 52. Unbeaten and untied Georgia and UCLA had 23 and two, respectively. 60 Years Ago: Dec. 5, 1956 For the fifth time in 14 years, a Notre Dame player is awarded the Heisman Trophy — the most unique one in college football history. The first four Irish players — quar- terbacks Angelo Bertelli (1943) and John Lujack (1947), end Leon Hart (1949) and running back Johnny Lattner (1953) — all played on un- beaten and/or national title teams. In 1956, quarterback Paul Hornung starred on a 2-8 Fighting Irish unit. The "Golden Boy" collected 1,066 points in the balloting while running back Johnny Majors of unbeaten Tennessee finished a close second with 994. Oklahoma's Tom McDon- ald (973) and Gerry Tubbs (724) were third and fourth, respectively, while leading the Sooners to their third straight unbeaten season. The top eight were rounded out by fu- ture All-Pros Jim Brown (Syracuse), Ron Kramer (Michigan), John Brodie (Stanford) and Jim Parker (Ohio State). Hornung remains the lone player to win the award while playing for a losing team. 15 Years Ago: Dec. 2-31, 2001 One of the most tumultuous months in Notre Dame history begins Sunday morning, Dec. 2, hours after a 24-18 victory at Purdue ends the Irish season at 5-6. Fifth-year head coach Bob Davie, who signed a five-year contract extension 12 months earlier, is fired by athletics director Kevin White, who says the Irish football program has lost credibility and admits the extension was a "misread." A week later, on Dec. 9, 55-year-old Georgia Tech head coach George O'Leary is hired as Davie's suc- cessor after Notre Dame conversations with "The People's Choice," Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, reportedly break down. Four days later, on Dec. 13, O'Leary submits his resignation after it is discovered there are inaccuracies in the biography of his résumé, including his academic background. By New Year's Eve, reports leak out that Stanford head coach Tyrone Willingham will be introduced as the new coach the next day. — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Football History: December 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 Paul Hornung earned the Heisman Trophy in 1956 despite being on a 2-8 Irish squad, and he remains the lone player to win the award while playing for a losing team. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS