Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: March 85 Years Ago: March 5, 1927 Notre Dame concluded its basketball campaign under fourth-year head coach George Keogan with a 32-16 victory at Creighton and a 12-game winning streak for a 19-1 record. With a 5-0 ledger against the Big Ten and quality victories against Marquette, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Creighton, Notre Dame was awarded the 1927 Helms Athletic Foundation national title nine years later. It was founded in 1936 by a panel of basketball experts to select national collegiate basketball champions from 1901-82. The NCAA Tournament began in 1940, but the Helms Athletic Foundation continued to select champs into the early 1980s anyway. Pacing the scoring for the 1927 national champs was senior All-American center John Nyikos, whose 8.6 points per game almost doubled second-leading scorer Louis Conroy's 4.4. In an era when a center jump followed each basket, it was Notre Dame's tenacious defense that led the program's breakthrough into the elite. Keogan also would guide the Irish to the 1936 Helms Foundation title. 35 Years Ago: March 5, 1977 In an unprecedented move by NBC-TV, Notre Dame's student body was awarded "Game MVP" when head coach Digger Phelps' unranked and 19-6 Irish de- feated 29-0 and No. 1 San Francisco, led by center Bill Cartwright, 93-82. A day earlier, Phelps implored his "sixth man" to be in the stands a half-hour before the game and begin a rhythmic chant pertaining to the Dons' record: "29 (clap, clap) — and 1 (clap, clap)! 29 (clap, clap) — and 1 (clap, clap)! …" In a deafening atmosphere throughout the game, Notre Dame's student body was awarded "Game MVP" by NBC Sports after a racous atmosphere helped the Irish upset 29-0 and No. 1 San Francisco 93-82 in 1977. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS guard Rich Branning and junior forward Dave Batton added 14 and 13 points, respectively. The victory helped clinch a spot for Notre Dame in the then 32-team NCAA Tournament field. "What people talk so much about and see at Duke with the Cameron Crazies — that was us in the 1970s," Phelps said. 25 Years Ago: March 14, 1987 For only the sixth time in its history, Notre Dame won back-to-back games in the NCAA Tournament while advancing to the Sweet 16 for the last time under head coach Digger Phelps. On March 12, No. 18 Notre Dame defeated Middle Tennessee State in the first round, 84-71, and then two days later used six three-pointers from junior guard David Rivers to eke out a 58-57 decision against No. 19 TCU. The run came to an end with a 74-68 loss to No. 2 North Carolina five days later. It took 16 more years before the Irish advanced to the Sweet 16 again. Jerome Bettis autographs March 10 3:30-5:30 p.m. GibraltarTrade.com ✦ 586-465-6440 Flats up to 11x14 $75.00 Flats 11x14 and above and mini helmets $90.00 Full size helmets, Jerseys, Footballs. $135.00 Product available to purchase including Notre Dame items www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2012 11 — Lou Somogyi Notre Dame took the lead for good at 59-58, and junior guard Don "Duck" Williams scored 17 of his game-high 25 points in the final 11 minutes. The balanced attack also featured 19 points and 14 rebounds from senior center Toby Knight in his final home game, while class- mate and forward Bill Paterno chipped in 16. Freshman