Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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20 PRESEASON 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED when the perception was that the school was living mainly on the per- fume of a wilted rose — somewhat similar to today. The topics in 1964 were similar: College football's landscape had changed forever. The dynasty days for Notre Dame were over. The aca- demics were too stringent, and the school rules archaic, if not draconian. Top recruits couldn't be attracted to a non-coed school (until 1972), and star black players wouldn't want to enroll at a small, Midwest, private school with few minorities. The schedule was too treacherous. Shepherded by Parseghian, the dy- ing ember that was Notre Dame foot- ball was relit with a roaring inferno, winning a share of a national title his first year and then achieving a con- sensus national championship in his third (1966). Highly photogenic and mesmeriz- ingly charismatic — you can't spell aura without Ara — he became even more esteemed and better defined as a man than a football coach. Few ever in college football in- spired better loyalty than Parseghian, whose yearly salary was going to top out at $35,000 his final season. That was a plenty good living in northern Indiana in that time, but he also was known to split the earnings from his television show, endorsements and speaking engagements among his assistants. Despite numerous opportunities, not one member of his staff left in his final five seasons from 1970-74. THE 'BIG ONE' Ironically, such enormous prosper- ity through his first three years led Parseghian to become a victim of his own success that would ultimately hasten his departure. Beginning in 1967, the era of "Ara can't win the big one" commenced. He was 0-4-2 against archrival USC from 1967-72, and top-10 Purdue vanquished him three straight years from 1967-69 in each season's second game to destroy national title hopes. Even after winning the 1966 na- tional title, the 10-10 tie with No. 2 Michigan State led to his vilification of "playing for the tie," and contin- ued to gain momentum thereafter. In 1971, his Irish were the pre- season favorites to win the national title, but the 8-2 season was so dis- appointing, the team voted to turn down a bowl game. The two losses — 28-14 to USC and 28-8 at LSU in the finale — were the "big ones" on the schedule. The 1972 season ended with a 45- 23 drubbing at No. 1 USC and an epic 40-6 collapse to Nebraska in the Or- ange Bowl, his worst defeat at Notre Dame. It was also the first time in his nine seasons the Irish lost three games. The year before Parseghian's ar- rival, Notre Dame had lost eight straight to Michigan State, five of the last six to Purdue, four of the last six to Pitt, three of the last four to Navy — and was even 0-4 against his teams at Northwestern. When the Fighting Irish routinely dispatched of those teams under his watch, they were ridiculed for play- ing "easy schedules." "The big one is usually any game you lose," he said with a chuckle a few decades ago. Then in 1973, a perfect 11-0 Notre Dame team captured yet another national title, forever cementing his legend. A nightmare 1974 offseason — in- cluding the season-long suspension of six players, most in major roles, and higher expectations — helped hasten his departure after a 10-2 cam- paign. Although he was approached by numerous college and NFL teams after his 1974 retirement, Parseghian opted to remain out of coaching and served as a college football game an- alyst for both ABC and CBS until his retirement in 1988. DEALING WITH TRAGEDY Far greater anguish than the result of a football game often trailed Par- seghian in his last 50 years. In November 1994, two months af- ter learning that three of their four children had a rare, fatal, genetic disease called Niemann-Pick Type C (NP-C), Dr. Michael Parseghian (Ara's son) and his wife Cindy, plus a cadre of volunteers, founded the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation that the 71-year-old Par- seghian dove into with all his mind, heart and soul. Back in 1967, Parseghian was dev- astated when his oldest daughter, Karan — whom he outlived — was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Despite his hectic schedule at Notre Dame, Parseghian became chairman of the National MS Foundation, and his experience in that endeavor has helped him raise awareness and a potential cure for NP-C. The valiant efforts weren't enough to save Cindy and Michael's three youngest children. Michael, 9, lost his battle with NP-C in 1997. Christa, 10, passed away in 2001. Marcia, 16, died in 2005. "We're all scarred from this expe- "AMONG HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE WILL REMEMBER HIM ABOVE ALL AS A TEACHER, LEADER AND MENTOR WHO BROUGHT OUT THE VERY BEST IN HIS PLAYERS, ON AND OFF THE FIELD." NOTRE DAME PRESIDENT REV. JOHN JENKINS ON PARSEGHIAN The Era Of Ara Year Record Associated Press Finish 1964 9-1 No. 3 Was awarded the MacArthur Bowl, and shared the national title with Alabama and Arkansas. 1965 7-2-1 No. 9 Season was highlighted by a 28-7 win over No. 4 USC, which finished No. 10. 1966 9-0-1 No. 1 Notre Dame won its first consensus national title in 17 years. 1967 8-2 No. 5 Posted the school's fourth straight top-10 finish, a first for Irish since 1946-49. 1968 7-2-1 No. 5 A tie at No. 2 USC in the finale elevated Notre Dame into the top five again. 1969 8-2-1 No. 5 The school ended a 45-year ban on bowls with an 11th-hour loss to No. 1 Texas. 1970 10-1 No. 2 Notre Dame ended No. 1 Texas' 30-game winning streak to cap the season. 1971 8-2 No. 13 At 8-1, Irish players rejected a minor bowl bid because of the "disappointing" year. 1972 8-3 No. 14 The season concluded with a 45-23 loss to No. 1 USC and a 40-6 crushing by Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. 1973 11-0 No. 1 Parseghian became the third multiple na- tional title winner at Notre Dame. 1974 10-2 No. 6 His Hall of Fame career came to a close with a 13-11 win over 11-0 Alabama in the Orange Bowl.