The Irish are 9-4-1, most recently the 19-16 win at Fenway Park versus Boston College in 2015 to improve to 10-1, despite committing five turnovers, three inside the BC 10-yard line. Quite a coincidence that two of the games highlighted today are the same opponent 28 years apart with three-point wins in contrasting situations.
Bronze Medal, 1953: No. 1-ranked Notre Dame salvages a 14-14 tie versus No. 20 Iowa when QB Ralph Guglielmi and end Dan Shannon connect on a 9-yard score with six seconds left and Don Schaefer kicks the extra point. The two tallied the same way with two seconds left until halftime. Both times the Irish were out of timeouts and admittedly used fake injuries to stop the clock for one more play, with All-American lineman Frank Varrichione specifically designated for the role (although others also participated).
The backlash and negative publicity costs ND the national title while it finishes 9-0-1 and No. 2. Moreover, it accelerates head coach Frank Leahy stepping down after 11 seasons, six unbeaten seasons and four national titles, though it is hardly the sole reason.
Silver Medal, 1998: One of the wackiest games ever in Notre Dame Stadium history sees the No. 10 Irish improve to 9-1 with a 39-36 win over LSU. The game includes three touchdowns by the defenses (two by Notre Dame, among them an 87-yard interception return by Bobby Howard when trailing 34-27), a kickoff return for a score by LSU's Kevin Faulk, several missed extra points and a knee injury in the closing seconds to QB Jarious Jackson when he takes a knee in the end zone in the closing seconds that sidelines him in a loss at USC the next week.
Gold Medal, 1970: On Senior Day in a game with national title implications, No. 2 Notre Dame defeats No. 7 and SEC champ LSU, 3-0, when Scott Hempel kicks a 24-yard field goal with 2:54 left in the game. Remarkably, this defensive slugfest features two QBs who would be future NFL MVPs, Notre Dame's Joe Theismann in his home finale and LSU's Bert Jones. Irish defensive end Walt Patulski, a future No. 1 overall NFL pick was credited with eight tackles for minus 42 yards in this game. Highlights of him against LSU making four of those stops for lost yardage can be found at the 3:45 mark. (Thom Gatewood is featured right beforehand, along with a quick shot of cheerleading legend Terri Buck.)
Bronze Medal, 1953: No. 1-ranked Notre Dame salvages a 14-14 tie versus No. 20 Iowa when QB Ralph Guglielmi and end Dan Shannon connect on a 9-yard score with six seconds left and Don Schaefer kicks the extra point. The two tallied the same way with two seconds left until halftime. Both times the Irish were out of timeouts and admittedly used fake injuries to stop the clock for one more play, with All-American lineman Frank Varrichione specifically designated for the role (although others also participated).
The backlash and negative publicity costs ND the national title while it finishes 9-0-1 and No. 2. Moreover, it accelerates head coach Frank Leahy stepping down after 11 seasons, six unbeaten seasons and four national titles, though it is hardly the sole reason.
Silver Medal, 1998: One of the wackiest games ever in Notre Dame Stadium history sees the No. 10 Irish improve to 9-1 with a 39-36 win over LSU. The game includes three touchdowns by the defenses (two by Notre Dame, among them an 87-yard interception return by Bobby Howard when trailing 34-27), a kickoff return for a score by LSU's Kevin Faulk, several missed extra points and a knee injury in the closing seconds to QB Jarious Jackson when he takes a knee in the end zone in the closing seconds that sidelines him in a loss at USC the next week.
Gold Medal, 1970: On Senior Day in a game with national title implications, No. 2 Notre Dame defeats No. 7 and SEC champ LSU, 3-0, when Scott Hempel kicks a 24-yard field goal with 2:54 left in the game. Remarkably, this defensive slugfest features two QBs who would be future NFL MVPs, Notre Dame's Joe Theismann in his home finale and LSU's Bert Jones. Irish defensive end Walt Patulski, a future No. 1 overall NFL pick was credited with eight tackles for minus 42 yards in this game. Highlights of him against LSU making four of those stops for lost yardage can be found at the 3:45 mark. (Thom Gatewood is featured right beforehand, along with a quick shot of cheerleading legend Terri Buck.)
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