The University of Notre Dame football team is 81-72 against BCS teams in the post-Lou Holtz era. Despite the recent struggles, there's still plenty to like about the Irish.
Irish History
- In 1924, Harry Stuhldreher, Jim Crowley, Don Miller and Elmer Layden formed the Four Horsemen. In three years of play, the group lost only twice.
- The Fighting Irish own 11 official national championships.
- Knute Rockne has the highest win percentage--.881--in the history of football.
- Frank Leahy led Notre Dame to four national titles.
- Lou Holtz was the last man to bring a title to South Bend.
Memorable Notre Dame Games
- Called the "Game of the Century," Notre Dame played Army to a scoreless tie in 1946.
- In 1966, head coach Ara Parseghian let time expire, and settled for a 10-10 tie against Michigan State in East Lansing.
- A missed extra point, a late field goal, and a key third-down play gave the Irish a 24-23 victory over Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl.
- In the 1979 Cotton Bowl, an ailing Joe Montana emerged from the locker room to lead Notre Dame to a comeback victory.
- In the "Catholics versus Convicts" game, the Irish faced the University of Miami in 1988. Notre Dame won the game on a missed two-point conversion.
Notre Dame Players
- Rudy Ruettiger was an inspiration.
- Joe Montana began his legacy at Notre Dame.
- Paul Hornung, Leon Hart, Johnny Lujack, and George Gipp are just a few former Notre Dame greats.
- Former Notre Dame players like Jerome Bettis, Mark Bavaro, Tim Brown, Joe Theismann, Bryant Young, and Justin Tuck found NFL success.
- Manti Te'o returns for his senior year to the delight of Irish fans.
Tradition
- Painted before every game, the gold helmets are undeniably Notre Dame.
- Every gameday, fans can accompany the players from the chapel to the stadium.
- The end-of-the-game helmet raising is cool to experience in person.
- The view of "Touchdown Jesus" from the stadium is memorable.
- This year marks 125 years of Notre Dame football.
The Rest
- The deal with NBC ensures Irish games are always on.
- Notre Dame hasn't won a title since the 1980s, but the Irish remain relevant. I can't explain it.
- Notre Dame will again face some of the top teams in the country this year.
- Top recruits continue to commit to Notre Dame.
- I was fortunate enough to visit Notre Dame. The campus was as beautiful as I imagined, and the stadium was magnificent. Standing in the student section in a packed stadium is an experience I'll never forget.
I became a Notre Dame fan in the 1980s. A fan of the San Francisco 49ers, I rooted for Joe Montana's alma mater. Making the trip to South Bend strengthened my bond to the Irish. No matter the outcome, I am, and always will be, a Notre Dame fan.
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