1973 Sugar Bowl against Alabama when Hunter had the kickoff return and Tom Clements threw the long pass from the endzone to tight end Chris Weber for a huge first down late in the game to clinch the victory. Turns out ND's punter pointed out to Ara before the game that the field sloped downward to either end, and kicking a punt would be like trying to kick uphill. If we had to punt Alabama would have had a short drive for a game-winning field goal.
1970 Cotton Bowl against Texas. Younger guys don't know what a huge deal it was for ND, which had been stung by criticism in the '20s that it was a football factory, to play in a bowl game. Good old Fr. Hesburgh insisted the bowl proceeds be used to provide scholarship money for minority students. We got beat when wishbone-running Texas miraculously completed a wounded duck pass late in the fourth quarter to set up the winning TD. It was a heartbreaking loss, but if you are a Notre Dame fan you know that heartbreaking losses are woven in among the thrilling victories.