I know this is so impertinent this morning, but I started this on September 1 and have to see it through to the end. The Irish are 12-3-1, most recently a 55-31 defeat at Arizona State in 2014.
Bronze Medal, 1947: Army, which never lost from 1944-46, visits Notre Dame Stadium for the first time after almost all the previous games had been held in New York, specifically Yankee Stadium. Terry Brennan returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the 27-7 Irish victory en route to their second straight national title. In fact, from 1943-47, Notre Dame (3) and Army (2) had won all the national titles.
Silver Medal, 1952: The first meeting ever between Notre Dame and Oklahoma results in what many old-timers have classified as one of the 5-10 most exciting games in Notre Dame Stadium, a 27-21 Irish victory. Heisman winner Billy Vessels rushes for a record 195 yards against Notre Dame, but Dan Shannon’s thundering tackle on the kickoff after tying the Irish tied the score at 21-21 leads to a lost fumble that sets up the go-ahead TD. Notre Dame would finish No. 3 while defeating the champs of the Big 8 (OU), Southwest (Texas), Pac-8 (USC) and co-champ of Big Ten (Purdue).
Gold Medal, 1975: Jerome Heavens sets a Notre Dame freshman single game rushing record with 148 yards during a 24-3 victory versus Georgia Tech on Senior Day, but the show — or movie, in this case — is stolen when 27-year-old walk-on Dan “Rudy” Ruettiger is inserted in the final seconds to fulfill a life-long dream, and records a sack to end the game.
Personally, the '52 Oklahoma game would be my choice for the Gold from a sheer excitement standpoint, but the effect of the movie is more everlasting and impactful through the decades.
Bronze Medal, 1947: Army, which never lost from 1944-46, visits Notre Dame Stadium for the first time after almost all the previous games had been held in New York, specifically Yankee Stadium. Terry Brennan returns the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the 27-7 Irish victory en route to their second straight national title. In fact, from 1943-47, Notre Dame (3) and Army (2) had won all the national titles.
Silver Medal, 1952: The first meeting ever between Notre Dame and Oklahoma results in what many old-timers have classified as one of the 5-10 most exciting games in Notre Dame Stadium, a 27-21 Irish victory. Heisman winner Billy Vessels rushes for a record 195 yards against Notre Dame, but Dan Shannon’s thundering tackle on the kickoff after tying the Irish tied the score at 21-21 leads to a lost fumble that sets up the go-ahead TD. Notre Dame would finish No. 3 while defeating the champs of the Big 8 (OU), Southwest (Texas), Pac-8 (USC) and co-champ of Big Ten (Purdue).
Gold Medal, 1975: Jerome Heavens sets a Notre Dame freshman single game rushing record with 148 yards during a 24-3 victory versus Georgia Tech on Senior Day, but the show — or movie, in this case — is stolen when 27-year-old walk-on Dan “Rudy” Ruettiger is inserted in the final seconds to fulfill a life-long dream, and records a sack to end the game.
Personally, the '52 Oklahoma game would be my choice for the Gold from a sheer excitement standpoint, but the effect of the movie is more everlasting and impactful through the decades.
