Shenanigans
A story told by Notre Dame
star Red Miller:
"Allerdice was probably then the best punter as well as place-kicker in
the country. He certainly punted well and often that day. I was catching
practically all of his kicks. They were of all varieties-floaters,
end-over-ends, and the various spirals-and very high, giving his fast ends
the opportunity to be down under them. In fact they often had to slow up
until just before I caught the ball when with all their speed they would hit
me, and more often than not as I gazed skyward, one high, the other low,
nearly wrecking me on the spot each time. Then I thought of the fair catch.
I waited almost to the last moment and signaled for a fair catch. The
Michigan ends never saw it, but hit me as usual and were penalized fifteen
yards. Three times I did this and three times Michigan was penalized,
although the last time one end merely brushed me. After that the ends had to
wait and I was given opportunities to return the ball.
A day later when Shorty Longman introduced me to Mr. Yost, who had been my
ideal for years, I was thrilled beyond measure and my heart was beating
fast. To my utter amazement and consternation he greeted me by saying
"Miller, you were guilty of the most unsportsmanlike conduct that I've
ever seen in all my days." I couldn't believe my ears. I was shocked. I
don't believe I had ever done an unsportsmanlike act in my life. I could not
speak for a few moments. After an appreciable silence I finally blurted,
"I really don't know what you're talking about." "You do,
too," he replied. "In the game Saturday you waited three times
until the last moment before signalling a fair catch, knowing my ends
couldn't avoid hitting you, and you got fifteen yards each time" Then I
flared up. "Why was the rule made, Mr. Yost? When do you think I ought
to tell your ends? When do you think I can decide whether I can run with the
ball or whether I'm going to be hit just as I catch it? I can't catch a ball
with one arm while I signal with the other. Your ends had plenty of notice.
Anyway, if you hadn't taught your ends one to hit me high and the other low
when I'm not looking and just as the ball hits me, I wouldn't have had to
make a fair catch." He tried to interrupt and said some things I didn't
hear; and probably he didn't hear what I said. I walked away. I was deeply
wounded. I often wondered if he could be right however illogical it might
be. Of every official and coach I met thereafter I made inquiry as to
whether or not it was unsportsmanlike to signal for a fair catch at the last
moment under the circumstances, and invariably the answer was an emphatic
"no" and that one of the two purposes of the fair catch was to
protect the catcher at the last moment. Later in the light of more mature
years I know he was absolutely wrong."
* * * * * *
It must have been quite a ball
game. For years thereafter Rev. Matt Walsh indoctrinated incoming freshmen
with an engaging and expanding tale of how fullback Pete Vaughn had hit the
line so low for the winning touchdown in the 12-3 Irish victory that the
mark of the goal post (then on the line) showed clearly on the back of his
jersey.
* * * * * *
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