Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: August trated picks Notre Dame No. 1, a first since 1971, when the Irish ended up "only" 8-2 and voted not to go to a bowl game. Notre Dame is chosen over No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 3 Michigan for three main reasons: • All 11 starters return from a defense that set a school 35 Years ago: aug. 27, 1977 In its preseason college football edition, Sports Illus- ministration," Rosenthal said with a smile when asked if a lack of experience of running an athletic department might hinder him in his new job. record by not allowing a touchdown in 20 consecutive quarters the previous year. Headlining the unit is 1976 Outland Trophy winner Ross Browner, who is on the front cover of SI. • The offense, though unsettled at quarterback, fea- tures a bevy of playmakers in All-America tight end Ken MacAfee and running backs Jerome Heavens and Vagas Ferguson. • The schedule is deemed favorable for third-year head coach Dan Devine, including USC at home and all three service acad- emies (Army, Navy and Air Force) on the docket, which also happened when the Irish won their most recent national title in 1973. can Dick Rosenthal is named athletics direc- tor by his alma mater. He succeeds Gene Corrigan (1981-87), who left the post to become commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Rosenthal led the Irish to the Elite Eight in 1953 and 25 Years ago: aug. 4, 1987 Former Notre Dame basketball All-Ameri- Tyrone Willingham became the first head coach at Notre Dame to begin his Irish career with a shutout since 1954. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS 1954, but became even more prominent locally in busi- ness. When he was named president of St. Joseph Bank in 1962, it had $22 million in assets. In his 25-year stint there, he oversaw an increase to $550 million. meets with his entire team — varsity, freshman and coaching staff — for the first time and lets his elation flow by saying from here on out it's "all ball." "I told our players I've prepared for this meeting for 15 Years ago: aug. 12, 1997 Forty-two-year-old first-year head coach Bob Davie a long time because I've sat in the back of these meet- ings for 20 years," Davie said. "That's what's fun about this whole phase … you have a chance to put a plan into action that you've developed over your whole career." 10 Years ago: aug. 31, 2002 The Tyrone Willingham era de- buts at the Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J., with a 22-0 victory versus No. 21 Maryland, which won 10 games the previous year. Senior cornerback Shane Walton "Hopefully, I'm not a stranger to the function of ad- on a 76-yard punt return by cornerback Vontez Duff and a school-record-tying five field goals from Nicholas Setta, the longest from 51 yards to open the scoring. AUGUST 2012 24 The Irish special teams also shine, tallying all the points picks off a school-record-tying three passes to lead a defense that lim- its the Terps to 133 yards of total offense. Willingham becomes the first coach at Notre Dame to debut with a shutout since Terry Brennan in 1954 (21-0 versus Texas). continued on next page