They Wanted to Win-1988 Notre Dame Highlights

I first addressed a squad in August I explained the schedule was very very difficult I also explained that we weren't picked very high in the preseason polls but with good justification we lost our entire offensive line all our receivers including a Heisman award winner we couldn't throw the football we lost her entire defensive line we lost our last three games of the 1987 season by a substantial margin I also felt we had a chance to be a good football team if it started with attitude and if they are willing to work attitude a willingness to work dedication spirit and a little bit of Fighting Irish luck all our critical components in any championship season it would be no different for the Notre Dame football team during its magical 1988 campaign [Music] the Irish came into August with their fair share of both assets and liabilities and no one could identify those better than coach Lou Holtz yep seldom has a team see more of his question marks emphatically replaced by exclamation points as Holtz had promised Notre Dame's defense evolved into a dominant unit led by all-americans Michael Stonebraker and Wes Pritchett at linebacker Frank stamms at end and Chris Origin tackle with a premium placed on improved speed the Irish ranked third nationally in permitting only twelve point three points per game enthusiasm and quickness easily made up for a lack of experience on the neophyte defensive line stam's turned into a dominant big-game player Paul Stonebreaker Pritchett and Ned Volk are comprised the linebacking trio few teams could match the secondary four times held opponents to less than 100 aerial yards the all new offensive line led by all-american tackle Andy heck actually paved the way for more rushing yards than the previous year Notre Dame's rebuild receiving corps boasted a big play capability that permitted the Irish to average 30 yards per catch in the Fiesta Bowl victory but a lovely Denis back spots more than carried their weight and on the Sun quarterback Tony Rice's competitive instincts and upgraded passing skills earned him his stripes especially in matchups against Miami Steve Walsh USC's Rodney Peete and West Virginia's major Harris for all those involved in Notre Dame's storybook 12 anno season there was a time crystallized in their memory of the moment the Irish of 88 took on that special glow for Lou Holtz that feeling came on a balmy late summer Monday afternoon on the Irish practice fields there's one day that I think really stands out in my mind where I felt we had a chance to be a good football team was August 29th because it's an August 29th where we went out and we had a very very long rigorous practice I walked off that field completely convinced it's a player's attitude to say we're not going to question anything you asked us to do all we want you to do is tell us and show us how to win that's all we want to do from that point on I felt that if we didn't have a real good season was because we didn't lead them in the right direction because one thing was obvious they wanted to win [Music] Eldar Dame's season opener against the Michigan team ranked number one by the Sporting News Lenin heir of electricity to the primetime matchup in Notre Dame Stadium although Irish fans wondered about the experience level of a team featuring Tim first-time starters coach Lou Holtz had no intention of compromising the goals of his third Notre Dame team we want to be the best team in the country and that's going to be the standard and we're going to work to achieve that and don't expect well because we got some problem that we shouldn't be expected to win [Music] if replacing Heisman Trophy winner tim brown mark Holtz's most visible challenge and sophomore Ricky Watters wasted little time [Music] bunch of Notre Dame's early success in 1988 would depend on the progress of a defensive unit that impressively blended a nucleus of veterans with three new starters on the defensive line led by junior linebacker Michael Stonebraker and his 16 tackles the Irish stymied Michigan's heralded ground game in the early going coming into the season Notre Dame's rushing attack had been rated tops in the country by the Sporting News with five new offensive line starters paving the way sophomore Tony Brooks and junior Anthony Johnson helped the Irish rush for 141 yards of their own in the first half yet another newcomer first-year place kicker Reggie Howe had an immediate impact by kicking a pair of first half field goals Notre Dame's early 13 to nothing advantage gave Lou Holtz a little chance to relax as the eventual Big Ten on Rose Bowl champions poised for their inevitable comeback beginning with a one-yard plunge by Leroy hoard and finishing with a 49 yard field goal Michigan State disclaimed 1 point lead with just over 5 minutes left in the game [Music] junior quarterback Tony rice quickly moved the Irish downfield first on a 21-yard first down scamper [Music] Maxon an 18-yard throw to sophomore tailback Tony Brooks [Music] and finally on a rice option play that gained four more yards [Music] the Irish had driven 71 yards of a Michigan nine setting the stage for heroics by hole as the diminutive walk-on prepare for a record-tying fourth field goal I wasn't aware there was an important Kitchener like every taker but the part of it being a last lesser minute field goal that could win the game I I just don't got that out of my mind and with a little over a minute remaining the capacity crowd rose to its collective feet as hole prepared for his 26 yard attempt the ball down at the 16th here it comes the ball game on the line [Applause] [Music] but Notre Dame's celebration would have to wait Michigan marched to the Irish 32 for a last-ditch field goal try on the game's final play for the second straight year a victory over the always tough Wolverines proved to be a confidence-building debut for the 13th ranked Irish I think we came out and we proved a lot of people in the country that game is gonna play people tough I think it gave it a lot of confidence or a young defensive line our young offensive line and prove that they can play against a major college football team and we can't win with them I think the Michigan game was a very significant win because they had an outstanding football team had the best offensive line in the country according to Sporting News and great running backs an outstanding defense it was a very very good Michigan team well I think a game was very very special was I talked to our squad in pre-season about we were going to be a team and had a lot of good things happen to us but this would be a team and if they believed in the spirit of Notre Dame and played with that true spirit that it would just be some strange things happened during the course of the year that we could not explain why or how but if we believe good things that happen [Music] never before a winner in Spartan Stadium Lou Holtz took his Irish on the road for the first time in 88 versus defending Big Ten champions state on this day the Spartans would suffocate under the smoldering Notre Dame defense [Music] slow to start themselves the Irish got a special team spark from brookie Raghav is smile I know we hit my hand and I didn't know if I really blocked it or not and so I saw the squirrel on the ground I saw microphone Berger trying to go after in a couple of other guys and then at that time I folks well we got accomplished this miles block set up a 22 yard Reggie ho field goal that gave the Irish a 6 to 3 halftime lead Notre Dame's offense took command on its initial second half possession with Mark Green gaining a season-high 125 yards in the versatile Tony Brooks switching game Lee to fullback despite a stress fracture in his foot the Irish drove 71 yards and six plays [Music] vice-captain soaring drive-by sprinting nine yards against the grain for a ten point Notre Dame advantage [Music] [Music] notre dame's defense snuffed out any hope of a Spartan comeback and Michael Stonebraker out of the finishing touch Bobby McAllister winning the snap drops back that just looks looks looks fired the pants over that'll get her something it's come back to 30 25 20 down to the 15 thunders under the touchpad Irish Mike Baker the Irish limited Michigan State 289 rushing yards while gaining 195 on the ground in the second half alone against the Spartan defensive ranked number one versus the rush in 1987 Notre Dame's 22 3 victory brought a smile to Lou Holtz face as the Irish knocked off both Michigan and Michigan State for the second straight year [Music] without missing a beat the Irish offense exploded the following week against Purdue in slot to the left here's Weiss on the option right cuts in down to the 35 Tony Rice's 38-yard scouring - marked the first of six first half touchdowns for Notre Dame but it was Rice's arm that tickled the fancy of Notre Dame fans after he had completed just five of 21 passes in the first two games freshmen Derek Browns first collegiate reception was good for six points [Music] not to be outdone first-year split and rakia his smile also scored on his first catch a 54-yard bomb as the irish offense appeared unstoppable here the long pass by [Applause] [Music] even backup quarterback Steve bellows got into the act tossing to Tony Brooks for 34 yards to complete the first half scoring as the Irish stormed to a 42 to nothing lead [Music] notre dame's defense quietly did its part to stifle the Boilermakers intercepting five Purdue passes including two by senior safety George Streeter [Music] the Irish faithful were rewarded with a convincing 52 to 7 triumph Ricky Watters second punt return for a touchdown in three games this one good for 66 yards helped give the Irish a clean sweep over its trio of Big Ten foes analyzing those three trials proved a pleasant task for lou holtz who clearly emphasized the bottom line i think that we've made an awful lot of progress in a short period of time here at Notre Dame because a lot of people write in and they complain about the way we win now we're not throwing the ball enough we're not doing this and I said well that's really encouraging because therefore they used to complain about the fact that we weren't winning so as long as we can continue to win we don't care whether we win pretty or anything else all we want to do is win and like our baby says just win [Music] notre dame's first matchup with Stanford in 24 years was punctuated by a Tony rice touchdown run on the very first possession [Laughter] [Music] for the second straight week Notre Dame's offense rolled high numbers early the Irish stormed with 21 to nothing lead in the first 20 minutes with a potent backfield of Tony rice Mark Green Tony Brooks and Anthony Johnson all scoring in the first half [Music] more of the same awaited the Cardinal defense after intermission a 16-yard gain by elusive biker Ricky Watters on the first play of the second half continue the offensive onslaught [Music] on his way to 107 rushing yards in a record-tying 10 straight completions twice finished the 73 yard parade with a three yard pass to Derrick Brown the freshman tight ends second catch of the year like his first also gave the Irish six points once again the Irish defense carried the day as Stanford earned only one first down in its first five possessions [Music] the next week at Pittsburgh the Irish faced a seven-point deficit for the only time all season but Notre Dame quickly answered the 7 to nothing Panther Lee with a 60 yard for play drive [Music] Tony Brooks's 52-yard galloped his longest of the year preceded a two-yard sneak by Tony rice [Music] [Music] the Irish you made a habit of answering the challenge of opponent's scores all year long properly marched 86 yards on the next possession to take the lead [Music] Anthony Johnson finished the work by scoring from a yard out [Music] tackle Jeff almond the Notre Dame defense held tight to the seven-point advantage [Music] but hip turnovers played a major role weather forced by the physical play of cornerback Todd light or gathered in by opportunistic corners stands no one play more of a part than junior fullback Braxton banks who hadn't been expected to play because of a knee injury a crucial 30 yard reception helps set up his 1 yard scoring dive that broke his 17 - 17 tie late in the third period [Music] after a pip field goal Notre Dame's clinching Drive lasted nearly seven minutes and was highlighted by a ground attack that accounted for all 64 yards on the 14 play possession [Music] sucking down to all the goal from the 9 again the ITM has gifted mark green green on the doís green down to the 5 green down to the two green touchdown what a great run by Mark Green [Music] motor names pass coverage through a blanket over Pitts receivers throughout the second half as Darnell Dickerson was held to 3 completions for 29 yards after the break [Music] rookie Arnold Ali's sealed a verdict with three minutes left in the game as the 3220 Irish victory set the stage for a classic showdown between five and Oh Notre Dame and top-ranked Miami [Music] one thing about Notre Dame we have a history arrived into this occasion we have a history and the tradition of playing except three well when people really don't expect that to happen on a perfect 70 degrees Saturday in South Bend this game would be one that would more than live up to its advanced billing a first period pickoff by senior Guan Francisco and an emotional Chris Sarge stop sent a message to the visiting hurricanes but it was a forced fumble on the very first miami possession that enabled veteran m'd frank stamms to let Steve Walsh have a hint of the harassment he would face early in the game I created a fumble I think that set the tone for the rest of the game I think they went on to have six turnovers in the game and I think that sort of set the tempo for our defense in gave our offense good field position the Irish struck hard and swiftly with a 22 yard completion to rajab his mile and a barreling 13 yard gain by Braxton banks doing most of the damage quarterback Tony Rice did the rest [Laughter] [Applause] [Laughter] [Applause] much of the pregame quarterback conversation revolved around Walsh but rice let it be known that Walsh wasn't the only passer in the stadium after Miami even the score at seven rice began an 80 yard drive with a 57-yard pass to his smile and ended it with a nine yard pass to wide open banks to make it 14 to 7 not to be outdone Notre Dame's defense got into the scoring column four plays later as junior safety PAP Terrell shocked to hurricane offense we had a great rush by on the whole defensive line including Frank stamms and Frank happened to get a tip or a hand on the ball and it was up there and I took it a race down the sidelines I knew had to get in the end zone I couldn't let Steve Wallace catch me [Music] other names two-touchdown advantage left Jimmy Johnson perplexed but not for long Walsh even the score with a pair of touchdown passes in the last three minutes the first on a fourth down and four call the second capping of 54-yard Miami Drive but the artistry of the hurricanes signal caller couldn't diminish the spirit of the Irish defenders and I think that woke us up a little bit and then and made us see that we had to play that much harder in the second half we decided then secondary and on the defense that no matter what happened the money how many yards they got no matter how many passes they completed they wouldn't scored enough touchdowns to be this notre dame's defense made good on his promises as Jeff farm forced a turnover on Miami's very first play after the half one-possession later after steve Bellis halted the hurricanes on a fake punt attempt price struck again with deadly precision this time on a first down 44 yard strike to Ricky Watters the Irish mated 28 to 21 on the very next play [Music] Wright will take the snap give it to eilers either they're down to about the two cut [Applause] [Music] a regi whole field goal put Notre Dame up by ten after three periods then Walsh went to work again but the Irish forced a sixth turnover this time on a hit at the one by George Streeter and a recovery by Stone breaker [Music] Miami came knocking at the door again on its next possession but stam's cancelled the threat himself Pammy was you know the number one team and you know for me personally Steve Walsh has not been sacked the whole year so I knew that was a heck of a challenge for myself the Hurricanes mounted a final attack but the Irish stood their ground first Streeter and then West Pritchett denied Miami's access to the endzone forcing Walsh into a fourth and seven situation on a final desperate attempt the Hurricanes quarterback locker throw in the corner of the end zone to andre Brown it was only fitting that the game of the year would come down to a two-point conversion attempt in the final seconds oh we knew the game would come down to a play like this so the feeling was actually relaxed and everyone knew what they had to do and um I think since we were confident that's why we did come out you know like we did and everyone had their man locked down really good and personally I had a feeling he was coming to my man and made play the capacity crowd held its breath as the Irish defended their end zone one last time [Applause] [Music] people had their mind set on Miami and I every play the game was like the last play of their career and the emotion has stayed into motion on the sidelines they come robbery on the sidelines you know I'll never forget that that's a thrill for me ironically the night before the game Lou Holtz ed uncharacteristically promised an Irish victory oh we were in the locker room after the Pittsburgh when I said to the football team and we could beat University of Miami but there would be certain things that have to happen number one they would have to believe in the spirit of Notre Dame number two that have to believe in each other number three that have to believe in the coaches I was hoping to have a very very positive week's practice however we lost most starting offensive guards against Pittsburgh had to move to tack was in and we could have the type of week that I really expected it wasn't very upbeat it wasn't very positive there's too much negative coaching out of necessity because of position switches etc so as I went to the pep rally and I stood up here I just didn't feel real good and yet I felt we were capable win it but I've never predicted we're gonna do anything in my entire life and I said that I felt we were going to win and I said you go tell him I said South I didn't feel that was going to fire Miami up because they didn't believe there's any way they could lose anyway and they're always so very very confident which is always good in a football team but I do think it helped our football team come to the realization and hey coach Schultz does believe in it but I also did not think that would make the news because I thought it was past deadline and when I got up the next morning and read that and the headline guy that I did what and fortunately our football team went out and backed that up but once again I think it all starts with the faith and a belief it was a season in the Sun for Notre Dame in 1988 it was a time for emotion a time for intensity a time for Marie's [Music] second-ranked Irish had to shift gears quickly a week later as the passing slants of Miami gave way to the wishbone wizardry of air force yet Notre Dame's ground game was a match for the Falcons as the Irish proved early on a 71 yard drive that featured 11 straight running plays quarterback Tony rice tried only two passes on Notre Dame's second scoring excursion but his completions to Ricky Watters for 22 yards in Derek Brown for tempt proved to be big gainers during the following Irish possession Vice concluded this 73-yard drive himself with a four yard round [Music] later a third Notre Dame's Corey Marsh began with a scintillating 36 yard punt return by Watters who finished the year right fourth nationally in that category [Music] blowing books took a Kent Graham for 27 yards down the left sideline [Music] and Anthony Johnson's tackle braking power gave the Irish at 22:6 advantage [Music] notre dame's defense made the necessary adjustments to the wishbone but not without a diligent week of preparation when you play an absentee that's the worst kind of team for the secondary because that involves us in a lot of run support plus we have to be allotted enough to watch the play fake streeter and todd light proved just alert enough to put the clamps on a falcon offense that led the nation with his 432 average rushing yards their handiwork help put Holtz rice and the Irish offense in an enviable position out of a 20 to 13 halftime lead Brooks put the icing on an 81 yard march that ended with this 42 yard player pass from rice [Music] personals Steve ballasts gained his share of Notre Dame's 267 rushing yards and he also fooled the Falcons with the scoring pitch from midfield they're coming on the Blitz the toss that filleth fella to quarterback in the game meanwhile the top-ranked air force ground forces manage just 29 second-half rushing yards in the 41 to 13 Irish victory [Music] unbeaten Notre Dame's trip to venerable Memorial Stadium in Baltimore to face navy didn't produce a particularly stellar all-around effort by the Irish but Lou Holtz's physical defense again did a more than credible Joe who's shutting down a dangerous wishbone attack our queen got notre dame's offense clicking on all cylinders with three straight carries for 30 yards and rookie rodney culver broke a handful of tackles on his way to the endzone [Music] Green eluded the midis for seven of his 45 yards while Anthony Johnson made a nifty one-handed grab for 19 [Music] that enable Reggie ho to boot a 29-yard field goal for the Irish at the halftime gun coming a 50-yard Drive Johnson began the second half with this 13 yard Gator then Brooks is second effort pounding pushed the Irish deeper into enemy territory [Music] why he's accounted for 18 of his team-high 88 yards in reaching the two a bear's sophomore Ryan Mahal ko bulldoze his way for Notre Dame's final points of the afternoon [Music] the Irish defense limited Navy to only 192 total yards and Notre Dame's eight success of the season was good enough to push the Irish to number one following UCLA's loss to Washington State [Music] I've never put a lot of stock in being number one because I hadn't been there before and then to play very poorly in beat Navy and be elevated to number one because another team lost I didn't think meant to you're a great football team but it's very difficult to remain number one and one of the reasons is because people feel that they have to perform like a number one team and yet nobody told me what a number one team is everybody feels they go score two touchdowns on one player nobody should make a yard against you so when you really sit down the in lies that being number one wasn't any different touchdown only counted six points not eight you had to make ten yards not nine for a first down if you're fun when they recovered you didn't get it back also when you look into it you find that during any advantage at all to being number one and it's strictly mental so all we said to the football squad is if they were right they would have to vote every week I wasn't any different no I wasn't very Switzer they weren't looking at a football coach it used to being number one each and every week but let's just make sure we're the best football team in the stadium on Saturday [Music] Notre Dame brought that number one ranking into its own stadium for the first time since 1970 yet a rice team featuring the nation's along this losing streak loomed dangerously following the Owls near upset of Arkansas the previous week the visitor is impressively rolled 70 yards for an early field goal before Raghib his smile took matters into his own a bigot if there's no I will at the 13th because early salvo marked the first Notre Dame score and an effort that befit at the number one ranked team mark green exploded 440 yards to the rice eight then short yardage specialist Anthony Johnson followed that up with the first of his two consecutive touchdown run six foot 7 inch defensive tackle Jeff owl made life miserable for all quarterback cuentas Roper by picking this past attempt out of midair [Music] Tony Brooks that option his way to the one and negotiated the last yard for a 28 to 3 lead [Music] Irish rushers continued to batter away in the second half with Brooks and Rodney Culver pulverizing the Owls for chunks of the 294 Irish ground yards [Music] now forced to throw the football twice moved as far as the Notre Dame 16 until a Chris saw each sack pushed the owls out of field goal range less pritchard meted out the same sort of treatment to Roper on third and goal another rice field goal did nothing more than give the rocket another chance to blast off it was kind of a little squib kick and I can went with me for a while to the fill coach I was telling everyone on our team that no matter how they kept it he want to be the hand of a ball and it was just a situation where everyone was again blocked and no one really was in position to make tackle on me and I saw a hole off to my left I believe and I just try to get to as fast as I could and the whole sideline was cleared and I tried to run as fast I could three students on his smiles to scoring run backs in a game tied an NCAA record yet the Irish weren't finished yet jojo's notched the last of the seven Notre Dame touchdowns as the Irish more than justified their lofty standing [Music] coming off an open date Notre Dame was primed to finish unbeaten at home for the second straight season but the Irish would have to do it against the Penn State team that the seniors had never beaten it would be an emotional final home appearance for the Notre Dame veterans the senior leadership could never be minimized I said over and over that whenever you find a good football team you find the seniors playing the best football their career and I think it was certainly true at this year's class but they assured me that we would be the most disciplined dedicated group of seniors that's ever been at Notre Dame that they were going to provide Notre Dame leadership in this they really truly did the Irish promptly tipped a Penn State quarterback Lance Lonergan to the fact that it would be a topsy-turvy afternoon for the Nittany Lions yards wouldn't come easily by any route as senior Corney Southall at the visitors know as they tried to avoid their first losing season in 50 years [Music] notre dame's first possession opened at its own 13 but a 16 yard burst by Braxton banks on second down proved just the start of a 502 yard day for the home team mark Greene's 22 yards sideline scamper capped a 60 yard drive midway through the second period as the Irish battled their way to 301 rushing yards [Music] early in the third quarter Notre Dame would make it a twenty-one to three Irish advantage when Tony rice and Rock give his smile would connect on a 67 yard touchdown along this completion in Rice's career [Music] fires they might the Nittany Lions simply could not find their way to the Notre Dame endzone George Streeter nearly picked off this Penn State pass [Music] MCR Steve rowdy end of the last Nittany Lion try with an interception forced by prank stands [Music] with a ps2 bowl bid in hand it was time for the Irish to turn their sights to unbeaten and second ranked USC Southern Cal was very very important as we talked to the squad we said after the Michigan game it was really a big game but the next games bigger because we won the last one I said as long as you keep winning the next game becomes even bigger I think what was important for the Southern Cal game was to put it in a proper perspective it wasn't bigger in life and it wasn't any more important in the Navy game and the other football game we played during the course of the season it was for a championship and what a championship performance it would be for Irish quarterback Tony rice as he found himself matched up against us C's Heisman candidate Rodney Peete it was number one versus number two or the 24th time in college football history Lou Holtz and Larry Smith each brought perfect tanana records into the regular season finale for the first time in the storage 60 years series history [Music] sixteen minutes later there would be no question who was number one and who was number two [Music] in that his own to rice shocked the record 94 thousand spectators by going for broke on Notre Dame's first play from scrimmage [Music] just minutes later Notre Dame's jr. signal caller made the next of a series of Irish big plays rights on the option caring for the first time to the 40 to the 45 down the sideline cut the 40 cut the 30 hexa Clooney he could go all the way to ten the five 65-yard run down beside prices ninth rushing touchdown marked a high point in the season which he led Notre Dame in rushing becoming the first Irish quarterback to do so since Paul hornings Heisman season in 1956 [Music] the first of four USC turnovers in the first half came when Frank stamms recovered a fumble knocked loose by George Williams [Music] stanzas second recovery of the year was turned into six points by Mark Greene just five plays later the 14 to nothing Fighting Irish advantage was one they would never lose notre dame's defense disrupted the Trojans all day long as George Williams and Jeff ohm combined on yet another USC turnover a 66-yard Trojan drive cut the Irish lead in half but that would be the only touchdown of the afternoon for USC and Rodney Peete we knew Rodney Peete was a good quarterback we knew he could do a lot of things we need to scramble and we knew he could throw so our game plan was to put pressure on and make him throw the bad ball make him throw it earlier than he wanted to and that's what we did we blitzed a lot you know we came from the outside a little bit more and we were successful in the finish things are good while stamms put the heat on p43 Sachs it was cornerback stance Megillah who struck one of the most decisive Irish blows medallas first interception of the year netted six points for Notre Dame and rested the momentum away from the Trojans in the second half USC tried to make it close but the Irish defense was equal to the task twice they turn back the Trojans from inside the Notre Dame for USC settled for a field goal and Notre Dame's offensive line of Andy heck Dean Brown Tim Ryan Tim grunting Mike held took command in the victory clinching drive despite a sore ankle fullback Anthony Johnson did his part to put the game out of reach he broke the Trojans back with a critical 23 yard gain on third down on the screen right [Music] when native Californian Marc dreamed oh the final yard it was all over with the shouting the convincing Road victory gave the Irish six straight wins over the longtime rival Trojans [Music] with only West Virginia left on the agenda Notre Dame had finished its first perfect regular season since 1973 for the Irish just one more obstacle remain in the cross for college football's top prize we come a long way since my freshman year but I also realized that we have one more game left and as West Virginia and I'm just happy to be here right now and to be part of this with the battle for the national crown on the horizon the Notre Dame squad regrouped in Phoenix the day after Christmas the Irish went back to basics in hopes of shaking off the rust and regaining their touch after a five-week layoff the scene was Sun Devil Stadium as Notre Dame brought the number one ranking into a postseason bowl game for the first time the Irish faced the most successful West Virginia team in history but Lou Holtz tried to understate the magnitude of the contest we weren't played for national championship once again that's too big of a burden just go out here play the very best of your ability and when you get done let's evaluate where we are and go from there with an early Billie Hackett field goal the Irish quickly picked up where they had left off at USC dominating the line of scrimmage Notre Dame's diversified running game continually kept the Mountaineers off-balance [Music] Anthony Johnson climax the possession with a fourth down surge for six [Music] Anthony Johnson goes in for a score [Applause] the average post 61 yards in in play the Irish were in control after one period but the best was yet to come with West Virginia gear to stop the run Tony Rice's play-action passing produced the most profitable throwing day of his career tight end Derek Browns second reception of the afternoon left Notre Dame knocking at the door [Music] the diversity and extent of the Irish Arsenal was apparent as another freshman number five Rodney Culver scored to make it 16 to nothing [Music] the quickly game Notre Dame advantage stunned the Mountaineers who had never trailed all season law [Music] major harris gamely tried to mount a comeback but frank stamms and his mates had other ideas [Music] mutterings philosophy of making West Virginia pay the price paid dividends of its own [Music] twice's aerial talents continue to baffle the Mountaineer defense first Anthony Johnson and rugged ismail found chinks in the West Virginia secondary [Music] notre dame's lead a commanding one at twenty-three to three was in part a tribute to the impact of notre dame's junior quarterback I know where I'm in the huddle let's see it's only across every kind of list me up and you makes me one of you put out even more because he's such a great guy in such a leader in the field at all times despite a 17 point halftime bulge Irish defensive coordinator Barry Alvarez knew the Mountaineers would come back with guns blazing but PAP terrell quieted the west virginia faithful with an interception early in the third period [Music] two plays later rice struck again this time on a sideline Ralph to mark rated at set up a 32-yard Reggie whole field gold and made it 26 to 6 [Music] sit down but not out the mob near has made their most impressive surge of the day a major Harris touchdown pass and an interception throw by Rice put the pressures squarely on the Notre Dame defense as they had all year long the Irish defenders responded on first down from the Notre Dame 26 eros is hemmed-in for a loss of two on second down stands smog Allah makes it touchdown saving deflection [Music] on third down pranks Tamsin Arnel lolly pushed the mom Neer's out of field goal range dree fries netted minus 14y arse as frustrated West Virginia could not crack the staunch Irish defense [Music] a downcast Harris gave way to rice who converted a key third down on the fourth periods first place [Music] the very next place our rice go deep to Ricky waters for a 57-yard Gabe has set the Irish up at the West Virginia [Music] Jacob's first career touchdown put a final nail in the West Virginia coffee and gave Lou Holtz a feeling it was a national championship kind of day now leading 34 to 13 after Isis two-point conversion he was left for the Notre Dame defense to secure the victory [Music] Don Malins proud squad put one more score on the board but it wasn't enough against the defense that knew Harris's options were limited [Music] the Irish contained Harris with only 11 net rushing yards and the Notre Dame's secondary did the rest as the seconds tick down in the 34 221 triumph elation rained on the Notre Dame sideline as the thought of a national championship began to sink in [Applause] for the first time since 1977 and for the 11th time in history Notre Dame moved atop the college football world again it hadn't been an easy road for a youthful Irish team that many experts thought was a year away from greatness but Lou Holtz's fundamental week-by-week approach kept each Notre Dame achievement in perspective yet never left the Irish lose sight of their ultimate goal from the last-second victory in the opener against Michigan through spirited triumphs over Miami USC and West Virginia the Irish did whatever it took to win head coach Lou Holtz had no question how his team would be remembered I think there are certain things that we stand out on this squad his history records their achievements number one they achieved it when nobody and I mean nobody in the country thought that they could do it number two they did it against one of the most difficult schedules the buildings ever played now the top six teams in the country other than Notre Dame I believe we defeated four of those top six teams I think the other thing that will probably stand out was it very young football team a good senior leadership and basically instantly the most important of all was the football team and liked one another and played that their real true spirit another day you talk about the spirit another name is football team believed in it and they played for it [Music]

Channel: Grey Beard

Views: 9,243

Rating: 4.9200001 out of 5

Keywords: Notre Dame, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Fiesta Bowl, Sunkist Fiesta Bowl, Lou Holtz, Tony Rice, Ricky Watters, Rocket Ismail, Chris Zorich

Id: _A5sT_YARUk

Length: 62min 16sec (3736 seconds)

Published: Fri Oct 25 2019