Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2018 17 UNDER THE DOME 65 Years Ago: March 10, 1953 Although the policy of not attending football bowl games remains because the national title is decided at the end of the regular season, Notre Dame decides to rescind not competing in postseason basketball. On this day, head coach John Jordan's Fighting Irish play and win their first-ever NCAA Tournament game with a 72-57 victory against Eastern Kentucky at the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Coliseum. Three days later, the Irish then defeat Penn in Chicago (69-57) to advance to the Elite Eight of the 22- team tournament, but on the ensuing day fall to eventual national champ Indiana (79-66). 60 Years Ago: March 14, 1958 Led by All-American Tom Hawkins, Notre Dame advances to the Elite Eight for the third time in six years following a 94-87 victory versus Indiana, after having dispatched Tennessee Tech (94-61) in the first round. Like five years earlier, though, the Irish lose to the eventual national champs — Kentucky (89-56), on its home floor — in the round of eight. 55 Years Ago: March 13, 1963 With spring practice about to begin, Notre Dame head coach Joe Kuharich turns in his resigna- tion after a four-year record of 17-23. Kuharich had been the head coach of the Washington Red- skins from 1954-58 before return- ing to his alma mater, but when offered the newly created posi- tion of "supervisor of officials" by fourth-year NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, he accepts. Rozelle had been Kuharich's student pub- licist at the University of San Fran- cisco from 1948-51. With no time for a coaching search, Notre Dame promotes freshman coach Hugh Devore to interim coach, a position he also held in 1945 during World War II. 45 Years Ago: March 25, 1973 Under second-year head coach Digger Phelps, who debuted with a 6-20 mark and began year two 1-6, Notre Dame loses at the horn to Virginia Tech (92-91) in the 16-team National Invitational Tournament. The NIT was prestigious back then because all the games were in New York's Madison Square Garden, and the 25-team NCAA Tournament took only conference champions and at-large independents. The Irish upset Pac-8 runner-up USC (69-65), plus Louisville (79-71) and North Carolina (78-71) — both in the NCAA Final Four the previous year — prior to the heartbreaking loss. Irish junior center John Shumate makes 20 consecutive field goals against the Cardinals and Tar Heels and is named Tournament MVP. 40 Years Ago: March 19, 1978 For the first time in 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, Notre Dame wins three consecutive games in "The Big Dance," capped with the 84-64 victory versus DePaul to finally make the Final Four. So depth-laden are the Irish that the second unit features three players who would play at least 10 years in the NBA: junior center Bill Laimbeer, freshman forward Orlando Woolridge and sophomore guard Bill Hanzlik. The No. 2 unit is rounded out by future No. 25 overall pick Tracy Jackson at forward and another freshman, Stan Wilcox — the current director of athletics at Florida State — at guard. The starting five features junior center Bruce Flowers, senior Dave Batton and freshman Kelly Tripucka at forward, and senior Don "Duck" Williams and sophomore Rich Branning in the backcourt. Tripucka is named Regional MVP with 18 points and 11 rebounds versus DePaul, while Branning adds 15 points and seven assists. A month earlier, the Blue Demons under Notre Dame graduate Ray Meyer had defeated the Irish on the road, 69-68 in overtime. "Our top five players can beat Notre Dame's top five players," Meyer said after the defeat. "But our top 10 players against their top 10, no way." — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: March Please add Sales Tax if you live in NC (7.5%), MI (6%), or IN (7%) Blue & Gold Illustrated PO Box 2331 • Durham, NC 27702 1-800-421-7751 Visit our online store! BlueGoldOnline.com/store 62" UMBRELLA #6486 $34.95 + $10 S&H WHEELED TRAVEL COVER #6488 $229.95 FREE S&H VICTORY CART BAG #6483* $229.95 FREE S&H CLUBHOUSE CART BAG #6479* $169.95 FREE S&H S P E C I AL O FF ER ! *FREE DIVOT TOOL SET WITH PURCHASE OF GOLF CLUB BAG! ($23.95 Value!) Head football Joe Kuharich resigned in March 1963 following a four-year stretch that resulted in a 17-23 record for the Irish. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS