SHAMROCK SERIES
Indianapolis
This is the sixth game of the “Shamrock Series”—a home game for Notre Dame to be played in Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS), home of the Indianapolis Colts. The Irish are 5-0 taking this annual “home” game on the road. This includes the 37-34 victory over ASU last year in the magnificent AT&T Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
LOS is just six years old with a retractable roof. The weather forecast for Saturday night is clear skies and 44 degrees at the 7:30pm kickoff. As of now, the roof is scheduled to be open.
The stadium holds 63,000 and it is not yet deemed a sell-out. However, this would not figure into ND’s sell-out streak, which is now 239 straight games dating back to Thanksgiving Day 1973,
There is a dubious memory of 1984 when Gerry Faust brought his 8th ranked Irish to Indy for the dedication game of the old RCA/Hoosier Dome. A 21-point favorite, the Irish crashed and burned losing 23-21.
Gerry Faust was an outstanding H.S. coach at Cincinnati Moeller. And he However, that success did not transfer to the college level. He is also a fine Catholic and human being who loves Notre Dame.
Coach Gerry Faust on the sidelines
Double-Domer Ron Dallas was a successful attorney in Ft. Lauderdale and a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas H.S.–a football powerhouse which has sent a number of fine players to ND. When Faust was recruiting that area, Ron would drive the Coach around. Ron recalled what a gentlemen Gerry was.
Speaking of STA, notable graduates would include Michael Irvin, Chrissy Evert, Sam Young and Brian Piccolo. As you probably know, “I love Brian Piccolo…and I want you to love him, too.”
As an aside, in the movie, did you know that Bear’s Assistant Coach Abe Gibron played himself in that film? He was brilliant.
ABE GIBRON
Shamrock events will include:
- Friday Night Pep Rally at the Georgia Street/Pan Am Plaza downtown at 4:30pm
- Saturday morning Shamrock Series Run
- Saturday morning Mass celebrated by ND President Fr. John Jenkins and Archbishop Joseph Tobin at St. John the Evangelist
- Shamrock Series Fan Fest in the plaza area with tents, food, beverages, merchandise and VIP appearances
- ND Marching Band pre-game concert beginning at 4:15pm at Monument Circle
- KICKOFF at 7:30pm!
- GO IRISH!
REMEMBERING the BOILERS
Notre Dame and Purdue maintain one of the longest inter-state rivalries in the college game. Separated by just a 90-minute drive from South Bend to West Lafayette, the school’s first met in 1896. Only Michigan (1897) and Northwestern (1889) appeared on the Irish schedule earlier.
There have been 85 meetings, including annual consecutive meetings since 1946. This will be the 69th straight meeting. Very few people can remember Purdue NOT being on ND’s football schedule. In history, ND leads the series 57-26-2. Notably, for a period many of us recall best, ND was victorious in 18/21 games from 1975-1996. This included 11 straight wins from 1986-1996…and of course, Lou Holtz never lost to Purdue while at ND.
The annual winner receives the coveted Shillelagh.
The last two games in the Purdue series have been decided late in the 4th quarter and by a combined 10 points.
Since 2007, ND now has six consecutive wins. This includes last year’s victory at Purdue 31-24…in a game that turned out to be much closer than predicted or should have been.
A small group of devoted pals and ND alums watched that Away game from the Rock Creek Cattle Company ranch– a simply magnificent piece of real estate in Montana.
Rock Creek Cattle Company
Where we golfed…
We fished and kayaked
And we hiked, rode ATV’s, shot skeet and critters…and of course–watched the ND-Purdue game on satellite dish. The rewards were sipping some fine 20-year Reserve Pappy Van Winkle bourbon and firing-up victory Macundo’s.
Also for that Montana memory, was any other cabin in Montana that night listening to a tunes playlist of Pure Prairie League, Cheap Trick, Styx, Jackson Brown, or Warren Zevon?
In history, Purdue has had some great teams and players. There have been upsets from the “Spoilmakers” featuring stars like Bob Griese, Leroy Keyes, Mark Hermann and Drew Brees. But mostly, Notre Dame has won overall.
Among those of us of a certain age and era, some of most memorable games would be:
1975 ND 17 PU 0
This is Dan Devine’s first season as Head Coach. ND has a slim 3-0 lead to start the 4th quarter. The regal Luther Bradley leaps high for an ND interception and returns it for a TD.
Luther is fit to play even today. And he would crush somebody.
1977 ND 31 PU 24
One of our greatest college memories…for sure.
Coming off a loss to Ole Miss 20-13, the fans were flat. Was this season over so soon?
The ND starting QB for this away game is Rusty Lisch, of Morrissey and Burke Memorial Golf Course. He is ineffective with the Irish trailing so Devine yanks him for back-up Gary Forystek—famously of Dillon Hall and Bookstore Basketball fame.
The rush is on. Forystek is decked. Like a scene from “the Longest Yard”, the fans are aghast as he lay motionless (“I think I broke his f****** neck…). An ambulance drives right onto the field. The Paramedics do not even attempt to take off Gary’s helmet. They whisk him away.
ND is down 24-14 in the 4th quarter and it looks bleak in every way.
Having not played since he was a freshman back in 1975, 3rd-stringer QB Joe Montana is summoned.
The Comeback Kid & Coach Dan Devine
The Irish defense was alive and aggressive. The offense behind Montana scored 17 unanswered points.
The rest is history as ND stormed through the schedule and onto the National Championship with a 38-10 dismantling of Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
Secondary memories of that game:
- Digger Phelps sitting 2 rows behind us and offering commentary throughout
- Early Times & Coke—sweet at the time; many headaches later
- A young ND Doctoral candidate in Economics striking a John L. Sullivan boxing pose before he warned and then struck an obnoxious Purdue fan in the McDonald’s parking lot. (“Down goes Frazier…down goes Frazier…down goes Frazier”!)
- A great road trip drive back from West Lafayette to ND knowing that we had a QB and a great team back in 1977
- When Gary Forystek arrived back in Dillon Hall much later that night, his compassionate roommates, Bill Grades Grady and Tom Noodles Noonan greeted him with towels wrapped around their necks
“Down goes Frazier…down goes Frazier”
1979 PU 28 ND 22
Rusty Lisch is back! But three QB’s replace the injured QB. Purdue takes an intentional late game Safety downing the ball in the end zone out of a punt formation.
1980 ND 31 PU 10
In Devine’s final season, the Irish are 9-2-1 and lose to eventual National Champion Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. As a Coach, Devine was under-appreciated. His record during that five year tenure was outstanding. Yes; he may have been a bit quirky (delivering post-game speeches to his team with no pants and in his boxer shorts)…but he brought us many wins and memories.
1988 ND 52 PU 7
In Lou’s national championship season, ND was up 42-0 at halftime in this blow-out. Lou cleared the bench for all non-starters to play the entire 2nd half.
2001 ND 24 PU 18
Because of the horrific 9-11 terrorist’s attacks, the ND-PU game was re-scheduled to December 1. The team was dismal that season at 5-6. And while Bob Davie won that last game in his ND coaching career, our long nightmare was finally over. Davie was fired the next day.
ND commemorates 9-11
Just as an aside for the year 2001, as in “2001: A Space Odyssey”, a lawyer friend sent this. It is direct to the point.
LONG ISLAND ROMO
He will make you smile…
He will make you weep…
You will never be so moved!
A triple option threat. John Romanelli in action for the Sorin Interhall football team, circa 1975-78.
Editor’s (Abe’s) note:
We are honored and privileged to add a new Guest Columnist for pre- and post-game analyses. His knowledge of the “X’s & O’s” is superb. Romo’s insight for the strategies is unparalleled. In addition to leading Sorin Hall to success on the gridiron, Romo was a legendary LAX player in the early days of ND lacrosse as the Club was building toward eventual Varsity status. He is an ND LAX forefather.
LONG STICK ROMO
ND Purdue – September 13, 2014
Random Musings
In its glorious and legendary history in college football, ND has won 73% of its games. Tomorrow’s game with Purdue (who, along with Navy and USC, the three most frequent opponents historically) will be its 86th of the series. Irish have prevailed 69% of the time. Honestly, would have thought that, relative to its overall winning percentage, the Irish would have beat Purdue with higher than average rate.
Eye test, supported by above statistics (thank you, Professor Curme) over the years leads one to believe Purdue seems to consistently overachieve vs. Notre Dame.
After deflating period since the NC game vs. Alabama, Irish entered season with muted expectations from national media and much of its fan base. Another strong performance and expectations and excitement will be materially raised.
Purdue has below average play from its QB and LB/S positions, two weaknesses that in today’s college football are difficult to overcome. Irish offense need to improve on between the tackle run game, in large part since it will very much help the passing attack – especially in the middle of the field – against superior opponents down the road, and will be critical in closing out tough games.
For Purdue, always a challenge when you step up in class in opponents on the schedule. Patsy scheduling may feel good with the W, but, makes it hard for team to engage with superior opponents.
Irish skill position talent will overwhelm Purdue’s defense, and, absent Irish falling victim to turnover-fest, Irish will win very easily.
GO IRISH.
QB Cooper Rush and Central Michigan Rush past Purdue
ND-Dillon Hall has already had a hand in Purdue’s season.
Cooper Rush is the son of Matt Dillon ‘ND-Dillon ’81–former Irish second baseman. Cooper is also the Godson of Pat Conklin,former Dillon President and prominent Irish Guardsman in his day.
Cooper was a high school superstar at Lansing Catholic and now the starting QB for the Central Michigan Chippewa’s.
Last Saturday, without his best WR (team MVP out with a knee injury), Coop lit up Purdue.
He ended up 11-16 passing for 172 yards and 2 TD’ in a game were Central Michigan dominated Purdue and had to throttle back in a 38-17 win.
For Central Michigan, this was a stunning rout for their second win in three seasons against a Big Ten foe.
Coop methodically carved up Purdue’s secondary with well-timed and well-executed throws.
By the time the first half ended, the Boilermakers had cost themselves field position with three penalties on kickoff and punt returns, lost their best defensive player, Frankie Williams, after he hit a defenseless receiver in the head and was called for targeting, and gave away a fourth-down conversion because of an illegal substitution.
Let’s hope the Boilermakers are as inept against the Irish Saturday night.
Way to go, Cooper Rush (and proud Dad, Matt)!
Proud Godfather Pat, QB Coop and Very Proud Dad Matt
Well…Time to wrap this up and head to Indianapolis.
Your Fighting Irish should be 3-0 Saturday night heading into a BYE week. Then, it is onto another manageable game with Syracuse in the New Meadowlands. When we return home, there should be great anticipation and hype for a 4-0 ND vs. the Stanford Cardinal.
Glad to have Everett back. The Offense has many weapons this season. The Defense is spirited and fast. Special Teams may be the best in years. Lots of young players are contributing.
GO IRISH!
BEAT BOILERMAKERS!!