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November Calendar
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On this date in Notre Dame Football History: Sources for the calender are 100 Years of Notre Dame Football by Gene Schoor, The Fighting Irish 1999 Calender, Knute Rockne by Francis Wallace, The Notre Dame Football Scrapbook by Cohen, Deutsch and Neft and The Fighting Irish Football Encyclopedia by Mike Steele, Shake Down The Thunder by Murray Sperber, One for The Gipper by Patrick Chelland, Knute Rockne by Francis Wallace. November 11913: In a game that serves as the school's springboard to national prominence, Notre Dame shock's Army 35-13 on the plains of West Point. Quarterback Gus Dorais and end Knute Rockne help to popularize use of the forward pass by introducing it as a staple of their offense. The forward pass had been legal for seven years, but until this game, most of the eastern teams had viewed the aerial mode of attack at worst as gimmickry, at best as unnecessarily risky. 1935: In one of the most anticipated games in the history of intercollegiate football, Notre Dame shocks 81,018 onlookers at Ohio Stadium by overcoming a 13-0 forth quarter deficit - and a 13-6 deficit with only three minutes remaining - to conquer the undefeated Buckeyes of Ohio State, 18-13. Such a comeback is unheard-of in this era, a major reason why the game would be remembered, more than any other, as "The Game of the Century." The winning score comes with thirty-two seconds left, on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Bill Shakespeare to Wayne Millner. Many feel that the term "Hail Mary Pass" originated with this play. At this time, Joe Paterno was in his third year as an assistant coach for the 1928: Knute Rockne's Fighting Irish defeat Penn State 9-0 at Philadelphia, improving Notre Dame's all-time record against the Nittany Lions to 3-0-1. The teams wouldn't face each other again for forty-eight years. At this time, Joe Paterno was in his third year as an assistant coach for the Penn State. 1916: The Army team, led by their all-time great runner Elmer Oliphant, defeated the Irish 30-10 at West Point. Rockne referred to Oliphant as in the '16 game as a "one-man team phenomenon. If anybody asks me who was the greatest player Army ever had, my vote goes to Oliphant." George Gipp, then a freshmen, was schooled to imitate Oliphant in the Notre Dame practice sessions. Rock said: "He gave a perfect imitation of Oliphant's veering style of ball-carrying, which arched his body so that he could spin or pivot at any fraction of an instant. The only drawback was that in the actual game with Army, Oliphant gave a perfect imitation of Gipp." 1938: In 1938 Hal Williams worked in the Notre Dame publicity office with Charlie Callahan. When Notre Dame travelled to Baltimore to play Navy, he introduced his younger brother Bob to Coach Elmer Layden. "Coach Layden, meet Notre Dame's quarterback in ten years. This is my kid brother Bobby." Eleven years later Bob Williams was a junior quarterback at Notre Dame with two years spent as an understudy to the Irish's first-string quarterback Frank Tripuka. In 1948 and 1949 he led the Irish to a record of 19-0-1, and the National Championship in '49. 1988: Ragib Ismail returns to kickoffs for touchdowns to propel Notre Dame over Rice 54-11. 1909: Notre Dame defeats Michigan for the first time in Ann Arbor 11-3. The team was led by the incredible running of halfback Red Miller, father of future Notre Dame star of the forties, Creighton Miller. Notre Dame's coach Frank "Shorty" Longman had been a star on Fielding Yost's powerful "point a minute" Michigan teams of 1903 to 1905. So when he became the first pupil ever to defeat Yost in 1909, he was "bereft of his senses," according to the Detroit News. What's more, Longman lived in Ann Arbor in the off-season and he couldn't help but gloat. He often paraded his pet bulldog around town, which wore a jacket advertising the 11-3 score. 1920: In what was the first Homecoming game ever at Cartier Field, Notre Dame, led by George Gipp, deafeated Purdue 28-0. 1982: Blair Keil and Joe Howard team on a Notre Dame record 96-yard touchdown pass and catch to propel the Irish over Georgia Tech 35-3. 1952: In its first television appearance ever, Notre Dame defeats Oklahoma 27-12 1969: Linebacker Devon MicDonald was born. 1946: A titanic struggle between two powerhouse teams ends in a 0-0 tie for Notre Dame and Army. Notre Dame students, stung by two consecutive losses with military depleted teams, 59-0 and 48-0, chanted "59 and 48, this is the year we retaliate!" The game is also famous for Leahy distaining to go for the game winning field goal late in the game, and Notre Dame was stopped on downs near the goal line. Also famous was Johnny Lujack's diving touchdown and game saving tackle of Doc Blanchard. 1928: In one of the most famous game and moments in Notre Dame football history, Knute Rockne gives his "Win one for the Gipper" speech. An outmanned ND team defeats the favored Army team 12-6 At Yankee Stadium. Jack Chevigny, who was later killed on Iwo Jima, shouts "There's one for the Gipper" as he scores ND first touchdown. 1990: Notre Dame defeats Tennessee in a shootout in Knoxville. "Rocket" Ismail makes an incredible touchdown run in the forth quarter to seal the victory, 34 to 29. 1989: Ricky Watters returns an SMU punt 97 yards for a touchdown to break a 90-year Irish record. 1928: Heisman Trophy winner and all-time Irish great Leon Hart is born. 1966: Notre Dame defeats Duke 64-0, setting the modern record for Irish victory margin. 1900: Eddie Anderson, a great lineman and end on Rockne's teams of 1919 and 1920 is born. 1920: In a near upset, Indiana leads the undefeated Irish 10-0 in Indianapolis. With Gipp out with a shoulder injury the Irish fight back to score and close the gap to 10-7. Then Rockne sends in Gipp to score the final touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Some feel that this injury weakened Gipp and left him suseptible to the infection that killed him four weeks later. 1942: In a classic battle against an ancient rival the Irish lost a 32-20 in one of the most exciting games of the year. Red Miller, hero of ND's first victory over Michigan was in the stands at South Bend to see his son Creighton Miller in action. 1987: Seventh ranked Notre Dame rips 10th ranked Alabama 37-6. 1969: In a rare night game appearance, Ara Parseghian's Irish beat Georgia Tech, 38-20 at Atlanta. 1957: In one of the greatest upsets in college football history, Terry Brennan's Irish defeat Oklahoma 7-0 in Norman. The victory broke the Sooners 47 game winning streak, the longest ever in football history. 1928: ND loses to Carnegie Tech 27-7. This was the first home defeat for Notre Dame since 1905, when the Irish lost to the "Little Giants" of Wabash College, 5-0. 1951: Notre Dame picks up its 400th victory by defeating North Carolina, 12-7. 1967: Notre Dame wins game number 500, 36-3 over Georgia Tech. 1969: Rahgib "Rocket" Ismail is born. One of the greatest ever... 1978: Vegas Ferguson sets an Irish record, rushing for 255 yards versus Georgia Tech. 1910: Irish get win number 100 against Ohio Northern 47-0. 1955: Paul Hornung's 28-yard field goal with 2:15 to play gives Notre Dame a 17-14 win over Iowa. 1966: The famous 10-10 tie against Michigan State. One of the three or four games with a legitimate claim to the moniker "Game of the Century." 1920: George Gipp's last game, against Northwestern. Although Gipp was ill and still suffering from the shoulder injury sustained in the Indiana game, he entered the game as the fans, a record 20,000 for a Wildcat game, chanted "We want Gipp!." He did not disappoint his fans as he promptly threw a touchdown pass to end Eddie Anderson. The Irish won 33-7.but the ice covered field and cold weather did not help his weakened condition, and three weeks later he was dead at 25. 1931: In one of the greatest comeback in Trojan football history, USC rallies from a 14-0 deficit with six minutes to play. In the final minute, John Baker kicked a 23 yard field goal to beat the Irish 16-14. After the game, USC coach Howard Jones took his entire team to visit the grave of his friend Knute Rockne in Highland Cemetary. In the chill November evening, they paid silent tribute to the fallen Irish coach. The streak of twenty-six undefeated games had been broken. 1958: In a loss that probably sealed Terry Brennan's fate Notre Dame loses to Iowa, 31-21. 1887: Notre Dame plays its first game, losing to Michigan 8-0. The Notre Dame band is there to cheer on the first time gridders. 1963: The Irish game with Iowa is cancelled due to the death of President John F. Kennedy. 1934: Army was favored this year and the game attracted "the biggest turn out of fans in the East this season." Eighty-one thousand "jammed the huge triple-decked Yankee Stadium, overflowed into the aisles and furnished a brilliant, vociferous background...for the football battle." (AP) Paul Gallico estimated that three-quarters [of the fans were] were bawling at the top of their lungs for Notre Dame du Lac," and, on this day, they cheered a satisfying Fighting Irish win. They also embraced the new head coach [Elmer Layden], some running on the field after the game to lift him onto their shoulders. The press emphasized the point that, in this victory, a symbolic torch passed from Rockne to Layden because the player scoring the winning touchdown was "the last remaining Rockne coached member of the Fighting Irish." (New York Post) Fullback Don Hanley of the switched-jersey fame (1931 USC game) had sat out 1931-1932, but Layden sent him into the Army game as a substitute and with time running out, Hanley plunged over to secure the 12-6 win. 1946: Jim Seymour, great end and favorite target of Terry Hanratty on the 1966 National Championship team, is born. 1979: Notre Dame beats Miami 40-15 in the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan. 1989: Miami ends Notre Dame's all-time longest winning streak at 23 games by defeating the Irish 27-10 at the Orange Bowl. Top-ranked Notre Dame handles second-ranked USC 27-10 to finish the regular season 11-0. 1943: Angelo Bertelli is handed a telegram in boot camp on Parris Island, South Carolina informing him that he had one the Heisman Trophy for 1943. 1985: Notre Dame names Lou Holtz as its 25th coach. 1964: Notre Dame loses to USC 20-17 on a last second pass play. The loss crushed ND's hopes for a National Championship season. Questionable calls, the norm at the Coliseum, proved crucial in the loss. One mystery off-sides call negated an Irish touchdown that would have given ND an insurmountable 24-13 lead. Coach Ara Parseghian would find humor in the fact that the Irish dominated the game for more than three quarters. " I like to think our record in 1964 was 9 and 3/4 and 1/4." 1970: Joe Theismann passes for an incredible 526 yards in a driving rain storm, as the Irish lose to the Trojans 38-28 at the Coliseum. 1961: Notre Dame quarterback Blair Kiel is born. 1986: John Carney's field goal as time runs out lifts the Irish to a 38-37 win over USC. 1946: Irish clinch the first of two straight national titles by romping past USC 26-6 at Notre Dame Stadium.
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