The Irish are 3-4 on this day, with only one game played on this day since 1973 — and that was because of a postponement.
Bronze Medal, 2001: The finale at Purdue is a result of the 9/11 tragedy earlier in the year in which the Sept. 15 games that weekend are postponed both at Division I-A colleges and in the NFL.
The 4-6 Irish limp into West Lafayette with reports hovering of fifth-year head coach Bob Davie likely to get fired shortly after the game. Amid the turmoil, the Irish snap a two-game losing in West Lafayette with a 24-18 victory, with the touchdowns coming on a run by freshman Ryan Grant, a kickoff return by Vontez Duff and an interception return by cornerback Jason Beckstrom.
Silver Medal, 1951: Because of the Korean War, the NCAA allows freshman to be eligible for this one season. It pays off when freshman quarterback Ralph Guglielmi is inserted as a first-time starter in the finale at USC, which is led by star halfback Frank Gifford. Guglielmi calmly rallies the Irish from a 12-7 deficit to 19-12 victory for a 7-2-1 finish. The future College Football Hall of Fame selection and first-round pick would fashion an impressive career record of 26-3-2, with top 4 finishes each of his last three seasons.
Gold Medal, 1973: This regular season finale at Miami, a 44-0 Irish victory, was significant for several reasons. One, it was the first 10-0 regular season finish under head coach Ara Parseghian in his 10 seasons with the Irish, and the first at the school since 1949. Parseghian had 9-0 starts in 1964 and 1970, only to lose at USC. He took special pride in writing “10-0” on the game ball. (This week, Brian Kelly could reach 10-0 for the third time in nine years at Notre Dame, and fourth time in 12 seasons.)
Second, it was played in Miami’s Orange Bowl, where exactly 11 months earlier the Irish experienced the Nebraska debacle, a 40-6 loss in the Orange Bowl, but had come full circle. Finally, long-time Irish assistant coach and Notre Dame mainstay Brian Boulac, who passed away this June, said that in Parseghian’s 11 seasons with the Irish, this was one of the most flawless performances he had seen against a quality team. Earlier in the year, Miami had upset Sports Illustrated pre-season No. 1 Texas (20-15) and took Oklahoma, which finished No. 3 that year, to the brink before losing 24-20.
Receiver Pete Demmerle scores twice on touchdown passes from Tom Clements while the Irish also pile up an astounding 448 yards rushing, led by fullback Wayne Bullock's 116 and Art Best's 92.
Bronze Medal, 2001: The finale at Purdue is a result of the 9/11 tragedy earlier in the year in which the Sept. 15 games that weekend are postponed both at Division I-A colleges and in the NFL.
The 4-6 Irish limp into West Lafayette with reports hovering of fifth-year head coach Bob Davie likely to get fired shortly after the game. Amid the turmoil, the Irish snap a two-game losing in West Lafayette with a 24-18 victory, with the touchdowns coming on a run by freshman Ryan Grant, a kickoff return by Vontez Duff and an interception return by cornerback Jason Beckstrom.
Silver Medal, 1951: Because of the Korean War, the NCAA allows freshman to be eligible for this one season. It pays off when freshman quarterback Ralph Guglielmi is inserted as a first-time starter in the finale at USC, which is led by star halfback Frank Gifford. Guglielmi calmly rallies the Irish from a 12-7 deficit to 19-12 victory for a 7-2-1 finish. The future College Football Hall of Fame selection and first-round pick would fashion an impressive career record of 26-3-2, with top 4 finishes each of his last three seasons.
Gold Medal, 1973: This regular season finale at Miami, a 44-0 Irish victory, was significant for several reasons. One, it was the first 10-0 regular season finish under head coach Ara Parseghian in his 10 seasons with the Irish, and the first at the school since 1949. Parseghian had 9-0 starts in 1964 and 1970, only to lose at USC. He took special pride in writing “10-0” on the game ball. (This week, Brian Kelly could reach 10-0 for the third time in nine years at Notre Dame, and fourth time in 12 seasons.)
Second, it was played in Miami’s Orange Bowl, where exactly 11 months earlier the Irish experienced the Nebraska debacle, a 40-6 loss in the Orange Bowl, but had come full circle. Finally, long-time Irish assistant coach and Notre Dame mainstay Brian Boulac, who passed away this June, said that in Parseghian’s 11 seasons with the Irish, this was one of the most flawless performances he had seen against a quality team. Earlier in the year, Miami had upset Sports Illustrated pre-season No. 1 Texas (20-15) and took Oklahoma, which finished No. 3 that year, to the brink before losing 24-20.
Receiver Pete Demmerle scores twice on touchdown passes from Tom Clements while the Irish also pile up an astounding 448 yards rushing, led by fullback Wayne Bullock's 116 and Art Best's 92.
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