Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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The 'Other' Notre Dame-Oklahoma Encounters One of the dozen most famous games in Notre Dame's 125-year history would be its greatest upset, 7-0 at Oklahoma in 1957 (see Murphy's Law column). However, each of the "other" eight Irish-Sooner contests had their own notable achievements. Here's rundown of Notre Dame's history with the Sooners leading into their 10th all-time meeting in Norman in the upcoming week. Notre Dame, Oklahoma's 1952 Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessels rushed for 195 yards on 17 carries and recorded an interception, while Notre Dame's 1953 Heisman recipient John Lattner amassed 144 yards of total offense plus an in- terception. The game is most famous for Irish end Dan 1952: Notre Dame 27, Oklahoma 21 In one of the greatest games ever played at Shannon's hit on Oklahoma's Larry Grigg on a kickoff that temporarily knocked both out, forced a fumble and set up the game-winning touch- down in the fourth quarter. vailed again by almost the same score en route to a 9-0-1 finish under head coach Frank Leahy, his sixth unbeaten season for the Irish in his 11th and final season. Oklahoma would tie Pitt the next week — and then embark on an NCAA record 47-game win- ning streak. ers won a second straight national title, played respectably on defense, limiting Oklahoma to 235 yards of total offense and 12 first downs. But six turnovers and a 23-yard punting average were Notre Dame's undoing. It remains the worst home loss in school history. 1956: Oklahoma 40, Notre Dame 0 The Irish, who would finish 2-8 while the Soon- 1953: Notre Dame 28, Oklahoma 21 In the season opener at Norman, the Irish pre- Dabiero run for 176 yards on 11 carries, high- lighted by a 51-yard touchdown. His 17.3 yards per carry remains a single game Notre Dame record with a minimum of 10 attempts. 1961: Notre Dame 19, Oklahoma 6 This opener saw Notre Dame halfback Angelo Dame went 89 yards on 19 plays that took 11:35 — believed to a be a school record — capped by fullback Bill Ahern's nine-yard score. In the fourth quarter, the Sooners had a first- 1962: Notre Dame 13, Oklahoma 7 On the first series of the second half, Notre worst home loss in 21 years while steamrolling toward the national title. That season, the Irish also would win 51-0 at USC to clinch the top ranking. No other team can say it won at Oklahoma and 1966: Notre Dame 38, Oklahoma 0 The No. 1 Irish handed the No. 10 Sooners their and-goal at the Irish 3-yard line, but Notre Dame dug in and recovered a fourth-down fumble at the 12. USC by a combined 89-0 in the same year. 1968: Notre Dame 45, Oklahoma 21 Head coach Ara Parseghian's No. 1 Irish proved too much again for the No. 5 Sooners, rushing for 357 yards and passing for 202, with quarter- back Terry Hanratty tossing two scoring passes to wideout Jim Seymour. became the first (and still lone) Notre Dame player to pass for at least 200 yards (270) and reach the 100-yard rushing mark (107) in the same game. Notre Dame finished 5-7 — while Oklahoma 1999: Notre Dame 34, Oklahoma 30 Fifth-year senior quarterback Jarious Jackson would go on to win the national title the next season. — Lou Somogyi