I unpacked a 1963 book of Football's Unforgettable Games (soem haven't aged well). We older people keep ourselves busy with useless things. If you're interested, here's my long summary of some of the ND games. Actually some of the facts surprised me.
1. 1913 Army – The start of the ND legend and misconceptions on the game
It seems sacrilegious to say that the fate of a small Indiana college hinged on the performance of one of its sports teams. The hard reality is that the impoverished school, situated in the boondocks, shunned by its public school neighbors, would have had difficulty surviving, let alone becoming a distinguished national university if it had lost to Army in 1913. But fortune smiled on the intrepid band of players, who won the hearts of new immigrants, Catholics, and those cheering for the underdog.
There are many misconceptions about this contest. The forward pass was already in use by the time of the game. In fact a recent change in the rules allowed passes longer than 20 yards from scrimmage.
Army was not unaware of the pass play. It was a part of their attack, although admittedly more of a change of pace. In fact a key plays in one of their touchdown drives was a pass.
Army was not unaware of Notre Dame. They were aware of the recent success of the Irish and had sent a scout to their previous game, a 60-0 win over Alma.
Notre Dame did not pass Army silly. Gus Dorais’ passing statistics were 13 completions from17 passing attempts for 247 yards. Although the final score of 35-13 might might indicate a rout by the Irish, they led on 14-13 at the start of the fourth quarter. Army had adjusted to the passing attack and three of the Irish touchdowns were runs.
Yale had dropped their scheduled game with Army and Notre Dame agreed to take their place for $1000 (up from an initial offer of $600.
Notre Dame lost two early fumbles and once reached the Army 25 before being held. They were able to take a 7-0 lead after Rockne caught a 25-yard pass. He had faked a limp for several plays before this to get relaxed coverage.
Army stormed back with the help of one of their pass plays, but missed their extra point. The powerful Cadets scored again on their next possession to take a 13-7 lead, but Notre Dame marched down the field with the help of their passing attack to take a 14-13 halftime lead.
In the third period Army adjusted their defense to stifle the Irish and had threatened to take back the lead, reaching the 2 yard line before Gus Dorais intercepted a pass. The Irish were heartened by the stand and scored three finishing touchdowns.
Notre Dame was able to capitalize on this victory in the most influential American city. Coupled with barnstorming across the country, partially due to the Big 10 snub, the Irish became many fans favorite team. It was the start of a more open passing game and a break in the stranglehold of the game by Northeastern powers.
2. 1946 Army – the true game of the century
The term “game of the century” is tossed around as freely as the terms “unique”, “iconic”, generational talent”, and “100 year storm” are nowadays.
The 1946 Army versus Notre Dame football game was the game of the century from the standpoint that fans had been awaiting this game for at least 3 years. Army and Navy had dominated the landscape during the war years with their older rosters, laden with transfers, demolished the freshmen-filled teams for three years. Supposedly there had been over 1 million ticket requests for the game and the teams had 14 current or future All-American players between them.
Army received the opening kickoff and were forced to punt, but recovered the fumbled punt on the Irish 24 yard line. They were stopped inches short of a first down on a fourth down run.
Early in the second quarter Army reached the Notre Dame 21 after a long Davis to Blanchard pass. However, they were pushed back to the 37 and forced to punt.
Notre Dame then marched down the field. Gerry Cowhig made a 20 yard run to the Army 12 with Arnold Tucker making a touchdown-saving tackle. ND would fail on a 4th and 1 run from the Army 3 when the tackler fought off two blockers to stop a sweep.
In the third quarter Notre Dame recovered a fumble on the Army 35, but Tucker intercepted a Lujack pass to thwart the drive.
Army had reached the Irish 35 yard line six times without scoring with Lujack preventing one touchdown with a saving tackle on Tucker.
3. 1924 Army and the Four Horsemen
Two points stood out to me after re-reading Grantland Rice’s famous column of the game ("Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore they are known as Famine, Pestilence, Destruction and Death. These are only aliases. Their real names are Stuhldreher, Miller, Crowley and Layden". …):
First the lead-in and the framework of the story could very well have been written in advance and changed slightly, depending upon who won. Arguably the image of the four horsemen fits Army and the old cavalry image better thsn Notre Dame, whose backs had never ridden a horse before the famous picture.
Second, the tone of the article conveys the image that the game had been a genuine curb-stomping victory. The final score of 13-7 is a truer indication of a hard-fought narrow victory.
This was the third game of the season for both teams, each of which had shut out both of their earlier opponents. Army had the upper had early in the game. They had a fake field goal attempt stooped one yard short of a first down. Then after three punts, they marched down the field only to miss on a drop-kicked field goal attempt that was wide.
Notre Dame then broke the ice with an 80 yard drive with Mike Layden (brother of the coach) scoring on a 3 yard run. Befoe the end of the first half ND would march to the Army 10 before an interception ended the drive.
Notre Dame took the opening kickoff of the second half and aided by a 40 yard run by Don Miller threatened again. But Harry Stuhldreher was intercepted to end threat. Shortly thereafter Elmer Layden intercepted an Army pass. The Irish marched and scored on an 18 yard run by Sleepy Jim Crowley.
Army elected to kick off after the ND touchdown and recovered a fumble on the return on the Irish 32. They would again miss a field goal, leaving the score at 13-0. The Irish would then march 70 yards before being stopped at the Army 9.
Army later punted to the Notre Dame 5 yard line. On an ensuing Irish punt, a fair catch penalty was called, giving Army a starting position of the ND 29 from which they scored.
An interception by Adam Walsh, playing with two broken hands, ended Army’s last drive.
4, 1935 Ohio State – first national radio broadcast
Notre Dame had entered the doldrums of the post-Rockne era at the time of this game and Ohio State had emerged as a new power, losing only 3 games in the previous four years. Still the Notre dame name carried a cachet and interest was high for this game. The game would end with Andy Pilney becoming a household name and Bill Shakespeare being one, along with some old hack writer.
Ohio State started the scoring with a 65 interception plus lateral return for a touchdown. Late in the first period Notre dame recovered a fumble on the Ohio State 23, but failed to get further. In the second period OSU intercepted a Shakespeare pass and marched in for a 13-0 lead.
Notre Dame had several scoring chances in the third period, but were held scoreless. Pilney returned a punt fro the 50 to the OSU 12 on a weaving, twisting run as the period ended.
Notre Dame would score, but the extra point kick bounced off the crossbar. After stopping OSU again Notre Dame marched to the 1 yard line before fumbling into the endzone.
On its next possession the Irish marched from their 20 yard line to the OSU 38 where a potential disaster lurked. The next play was a pass from Layden to Pilney; however an OSU player stole the ball. Fortunately Irishman Danny Danbom ran into him and the ball popped in the air and he caught it. Notre Dame would score on a Pilney to Layden pass only to have the extra point blocked to trail 13-12 with 90 seconds left.
The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Ohio State. Then miracle of miracles they ran a reverse play that ended in a fumble recovery as the ball was going out of bounds by ND on its 49 yard line. Pilney went back to pass on the next play and was run out of bounds after a sensational, nearly miraculous run at the OSU19. However, he was injured on the play, and Shakespeare was brought in for the final act. With 32 seconds left he completed a touchdown pass to Wayne Millner.
Interestingly, Shakespeare was a Protestant, joining a number of other non-Catholic players who were instrumental to its early successes.
5. Oklahoma 1957 – First of the Streak-busting Irish Games
Notre Dame ended the 47-game unbeaten string by Oklahoma in this game. In fairness many of the games in the streak were against weak conference opponents; and Oklahoma, as part of the Redneck Belt, refused to play northern teams with their integrated (somewhat) teams and fan bases.
Notre Dame was to book-end the Oklahoma streak since they had been the last team to beat the Sooners (28-21 in 1953). Two other Notre Dame sports teams were also able to book-end long winning streaks, Men’s basketball versus UCLA nad Women’s basketball versus Connecticut.
The Irish had lost to Oklahoma 40-0 the previous year and were a decided 18 point underdog for the game. From stories others have related, the Redneck Army was out in full force for the game.
On the first drive of the game Oklahoma reached the Notre Dame 13 before being stopped. At the 9 minute point, the Sooners recovered an Irish fumble at the Notre Dame 34, but were stopped again.
Soon thereafter Oklahoma reached the Notre Dame 23, but fumbled. After a mad scramble Notre Dame recovered on its 48. From there they marched to the Oklahoma 3 and were stopped on a 4th and 1 play. On its next possession, the Irish used a fake field goal play to advance to the 6. However, they were foiled by a pass interception in the end zone.
The third period remained scoreless with four Oklahoma punts inside the 15 yard lane keeping the Irish in poor field position. Late in the fourth period, Notre Dame started from its 20 and made headway against Oklahoma’s second string (remember this was still the single platoon era). The drive continued against the Sooner first string. On fourth down and goal to go from the 3 yard line, ND faked a handoff to Nick Pietrosante and pitched to Dick Lynch for an untouched touchdown run with 4 minutes left.
The last Oklahoma drive ended with a pass interception. Notre dame outgained Oklahoma 169-98 on the ground and 79-47 in the air.