A Battle Rages Within...

We're eight days away from the opening of the season and right now there's a tug of war going on in my mind.

On one side is the part of me that says, "Dropping $350 for a flight to go to South Bend without a ticket locked up for the game is crazy! You'll be out at the Michigan game next week so cool your jets. You can watch Purdue somewhere on a big screen, save the money, and it'll give you an opportunity to get the first running diary of the year up on the WNG asap."

On the other side is the part of me that's blowing about a .35 on the BKAC (Blood Kool-Aid Content) scale screaming, "IT'S BRIAN KELLY'S FIRST GAME! It's the dawn of a new era! Think of what that stadium is going to be like when they rush out of the tunnel! Isn't that worth $350?!?! You'll probably end up buying $350 worth of shots at the bar during the game if you end up staying home anyway. Man up and get out to South Bend by any means necessary!"

It's a vicious battle raging within. Loyal readers, give me some guidance here: should I sack up and make the trip even though it makes no financial sense or should I wait a week since I'll be there for the beginning of RichRod's final season anyway? It should be noted that I've been at the opening game for both Willingham and Weis' careers and while the individual games turned out well (thumped Maryland in '02 and Pitt in '05), their tenures did not.

To keep the Kool-Aid flowing let's take a look at Lou at the '08 Michigan pep rally. This is proof that pep rallies can still be good--tell me you don't get chills as you watch the students during the Overture of 1812.

Irish Football 101: The Glory Days of Lou

Q: So Notre Dame wins the championship in '88. How did their title defense go?

A: The Irish sprinted to an 11-0 record and the #1 ranking with senior quarterback Tony Rice at the helm, setting up a regular season finale showdown in Coral Gables with the Miami Hurricanes. Unfortunately the Canes got their revenge for the '88 game, defeating the Irish 27-10 en route to a national championship. Notre Dame finished with an identical record to the Hurricanes but were placed #2 in the polls since they'd lost head-to-head to Miami.

Q: That makes sense and seems fair that we'd end up #2, doesn't it?

A: Yes, can't disagree at all. If two teams finish with identical records and one team beat the other head-to-head then the most blatantly obvious/fair/logical thing to do is award the higher ranking to the team that won that head-to-head matchup.

Q: Why do you belabor that point?

A: You'll see later.

Q: Alright. A national championship in year three, a 12-1 season in year four. Did Holtz sustain this sort of success the rest of his tenure?

A: The next two years the Irish slipped just a bit after Tony Rice graduated. In 1990 the Irish posted a 9-2 regular season record. After defeating Miami in the final Catholics vs Convicts contest (thanks in large part to The Rocket) the Irish received a bid to the Orange Bowl against #1 Colorado.

It would be the final game in the collegiate career of Rocket Ismail and he did everything he could do go out in style. With 1:05 remaining the Irish trailed 10-9 and Colorado was forced to punt. Instead of kicking it out of bounds, the Buffs inexplicably gave Rocket one last chance. This is what happened:

In what would have no doubt gone down as one of the greatest and most clutch plays in college football history, the Rocket emerged from the pack and raced 92 yards for what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown. But a line judge threw a flag for what will forever be known as "The Phantom Clip."

Q: Wait, where was the clipping penalty in that call?

A: There was no clipping in that play. It was a call that deserves as much ignominy as Jim Joyce's call to screw up Galarraga's perfect game this year. We were robbed of one of the greatest Notre Dame Moments ever.

Q: Damn, so how did the Irish bounce back from that the next year?

A: It was another down year by Holtz's standards, going 9-3 in the regular season and gaining what many thought was an undeserved berth in the Sugar Bowl against #3 Florida. Notre Dame went into the contest ranked #18 and was a heavy underdog against the Gators and their high-octane offense led by Shane Matthews and head coach Steve Spurrier.

Many in the media cried that Notre Dame only got an invite because of their name and that their team didn't stand a chance against Florida. In the weeks leading up to the showdown it became known as "The Cheerios Bowl," because the joke was that the difference between Notre Dame and Cheerios was that Cheerios belonged in a bowl.

Q: Were the critics right?

A: Final Score - Irish 39, Gators 28. Notre Dame kept holding Spurrier's Fun n' Gun to field goals and eventually wore down their defense with running backs Rodney Culver, Reggie Brooks, and Jerome Bettis. Bettis ran for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter (3, 49, and 39 yards), all right up the middle of the Gators' defense. The Irish outscored them 32-12 in the second half and the media got to eat a whole lot of crow.

Q: How did the next couple years go?

A: The 1992 season was probably Holtz's most disappointing as head coach. It was a stacked offense led by senior quarterback Rick Mirer, tailback Reggie Brooks, and fullback Jerome Bettis (they would finish 1-2-3 in NFL Rookie of the Year voting the next season). Expectations were through the roof preseason, but they couldn't escape September without stumbling to a tie against Michigan. Then in a game that took place over the Notre Dame student body's fall break, the Irish fell at home to heavy underdog Stanford which essentially ended their national title hopes. They regrouped to finish the season 10-1-1, stomp Texas A&M 28-3 in the Cotton Bowl, and claim a final ranking of #4.

Expectations were lower the next season because so much talent had graduated, but at the same time the most highly touted recruit in Notre Dame history arrived on campus. Ron Powlus was a quarterback from Berwick, PA that ESPN analyst Beano Cook proclaimed would win multiple Heisman Trophies by the time he'd graduated from ND. He was installed as the starter before the first game before breaking his collarbone in practice. This opened the door for senior quarterback Kevin McDougal to take the reins. The Irish burst out of the gate with nine straight victories, setting up a November #1 vs #2 showdown with top-ranked Florida State in South Bend. It was billed as The Game of the Century.

Q: Were the Irish favored?

A: No, much like in the Cheerios Bowl two years earlier the experts proclaimed that the Irish could not keep up with the speed of the Seminoles on both sides of the ball. It was set up almost exactly like the Catholics vs Convicts game in '88--Old School vs New School, Brawn vs Speed, Catholics vs Criminoles.

The brash Seminoles showed up on campus before the game and let the trash talking flow. When quarterback and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward was asked whether his team respected the history of Notre Dame he responded, "What’s the Gipper? Rock Knutne? The Three Horsemen? I’m not here for a history lesson."

In one of Holtz's greatest masterpieces the Irish staked a 31-17 lead with just 1:37 left in the fourth quarter thanks to some creative play-calling and the rushing of fullback Ray Zellers, tailback Lee Becton, and cornerback/goal line specialist Jeff Burris. The defensive line, led by Bryant Young and Jim Flanagan, contained the ballyhooed Florida State attack and their leader Charlie Ward for most of the day. Late in the game though Ward broke through and after cutting the lead to seven, the Seminoles had one last chance with time running out.

Unfortunately, it was the last time Notre Dame was ranked #1 and the last truly iconic Notre Dame Moment to date.

Q: Did Notre Dame win the national title?

A: No. The next week they were upset in the final game of the season at home against Boston College, 41-39. The Irish were trailing 38-17 in the fourth quarter before engineering a furious comeback to take the lead 39-38 with just over a minute to go. Linebacker Pete Bercich had a chance to clinch the game with an interception with under a minute to go but it slipped through his hands. Boston College kicked a field goal as time expired to win the game. It was one of the three most heartbreaking losses in school history (along with '64 Southern Cal and '05 Southern Cal).

Q: Wow, how did they bounce back in the bowl game?

A: They defeated Texas A&M in a rematch of the previous year's Cotton Bowl, 24-21. #1 Nebraska took on Florida State in the Orange Bowl and the thought was that if Florida State won Notre Dame would be crowned national champions. The Seminoles squeaked out a victory over the Huskers and ended the season with the same record as Notre Dame but were awarded the national championship.

Q: Wait, didn't they lose to Notre Dame just two games earlier?

A: Yes.

Q: So they had identical records...and Notre Dame beat Florida State head-to-head...and Florida State was still given the national championship?!?!

A: Yes.

Q: But where's the logic in that?

A: You can't find it. It's hiding somewhere with Lane Kiffin's integrity.

Q: Still, despite that disappointment it was quite a six year run for Lou wasn't it?

A: You better believe it. During that stretch he pieced together a 23-game win streak, won a national title, finished #2 twice, finished in the top 6 five times, went to six major bowls (winning five of them), and posted a 64-9-1 record (.877 winning percentage). It was one of the most successful runs in modern college football.

Unfortunately that gut-wrenching loss to Boston College seemed to sap all momentum from the Irish juggernaut. It marked an abrupt end to Irish dominance and the beginning of a free-fall that plagues the program to this day.

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This Week's CliffNotes:

* Notre Dame followed their national championship season with a 12-1 campaign, losing only at Miami. The 23-game win streak they pieced together is a school record that stands today.
* The Rocket was robbed of one of the greatest plays in college football history when some idiot official threw a flag for clipping. The play is forever known as The Phantom Clip and cost Notre Dame a victory over #1 Colorado in the Orange Bowl.
* Notre Dame won the 1992 Sugar Bowl over Florida 39-28 despite being a heavy underdog in what was known as "The Cheerios Bowl." Fullback Jerome Bettis rushed for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to ice the victory.
* After a disappointing '92 campaign, Notre Dame won their first ten games of the 1993 season, including a 31-24 victory over Florida State in the Game of the Century.
* They were upset in the final game of the 1993 season at home against Boston College, 41-39. This is the greatest moment in Boston College history, even greater than Flutie's Hail Mary pass. This is the root of the reason we hate Boston College.
* Florida State and Notre Dame ended the season with identical records, but in the final poll Florida State was ranked #1 and ND #2 despite the fact Notre Dame defeated FSU head-to-head. This defies logic, much like Illinois deciding to give Ron Zook another year to coach their football team.
* Lou's run from '88-'93 was one of the best in the modern era of college football.

Irish Football 101: Lou to the Rescue

Q: So Notre Dame is in dire straits when they tap Lou Holtz to replace Gerry Faust. What was Holtz's background?

A: Well he'd coached at William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, and Minnesota and experienced success at all four stops. He had a short stint at W&M, but in his second year led them to a conference championship and earned a berth in the Tangerine Bowl before accepting the job at NC State.

His record in Raleigh was 31-11-2, leading the Wolfpack to bowls in each of his four seasons at the helm. After an unsuccessful one year stint with the New York Jets he landed at Arkansas where during his first season he took the Razorbacks to an 11-1 record and a berth in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma. Prior to the game his top two running backs violated teams rules and Holtz chose to send them home. The Hogs went on to thump Oklahoma 31-6 despite being shorthanded (ironically, by knocking off the Sooners Holtz helped seal Notre Dame's 1977 national championship).

His final stop before South Bend took him up to Minnesota prior to the '84 season, where he took a floundering program to a bowl game in only his second season. Before having the chance to coach that bowl game though Holtz was offered and accepted the Notre Dame position. He had actually put a "Notre Dame Clause" in his contract at Minnesota that said if offered the Notre Dame head coaching job he could accept it without penalty.

Q: What was Holtz like?

A: He had the reputation of disciplinarian and master motivator. His victory in the aforementioned Orange Bowl helped put him on the map as a coach who delivered in big games and his work turning around the programs at NC State and Minnesota made people believe he could do the same when he arrived at Notre Dame.

Q: Was everyone excited when he accepted the job?

A: From everything you read back then people were happy with Holtz but he was far from a slam dunk to lead the Irish back to the "Promised Land." He had only posted a 6-5 record at Minnesota the year before he took the ND job so it's not as if he was setting the world on fire. He had a reputation as a program builder but his star had faded a bit after being a prime candidate to replace Woody Hayes at Ohio State in the late 70's.

Q: How did he differ from Faust?

A: In the book Talking Irish, offensive lineman Chuck Lanza recalls the team's first encounter with Holtz. It was cold November day, less than 24 hours after the season ended the Faust Era with the mortifying Miami game and Faust had just said his final goodbye. Then Holtz walked in the door.

As Lou came in the room Lanza was leaning back, slouched in his chair with a foot up on the stage the coach stood upon. Holtz looked down at Lanza and said, "What's your name?" Lanza told him and Lou asked him how long he'd been playing football. Lanza said, "about ten years." Lou glared down and responded, "if you want to play one more you better move your foot, you better sit up in your chair, and you better pay attention."

There was a new sheriff in town that wasn't going to allow the slacking that had gone on under Faust. Holtz instantly injected discipline, toughness, and swagger to the program--three things that had been sorely lacking.

Q: Was he an instant success a la Parseghian?

A: Not quite. The Irish showed a lot of promise in the 1986 campaign but their final record didn't reflect it. After nearly upsetting #3 Michigan in the season opener, Notre Dame stumbled to a 5-6 record. There were signs of vast improvement though and perhaps the tipping point that pushed the Irish in the right direction came in the season finale against 17th ranked Southern Cal.

Notre Dame was trailing the Trojans 37-20 with under 13 minutes left when quarterback Steve Beuerlein engineered a furious rally that culminated when kicker John Carney--who had missed two game-winning kicks earlier in the season--split the uprights to secure a 38-37 victory for the Irish.

The victory set the tone for 1987. Notre Dame jumped out to an 8-1 record and in November was right in the thick of the national title hunt. Unfortunately they stumbled to the finish line with three straight losses, including a 24-0 loss to the hated Miami Hurricanes and a 35-10 drubbing at the hands of Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.

Q: Were people happy with the direction of the program under Holtz after year two?

A: The disappointing finish to the '87 campaign led some to question whether Holtz could ultimately take the Irish to a title, but there were plenty of positive signs in those first two seasons. The days of being totally man-handled in games against high-caliber opponents were gone, the defense showed a toughness that had been sorely lacking, and the offense sprung to life leading to Notre Dame's first Heisman Trophy winner in 23 years--wide receiver Tim Brown. Brown set the school record of All-Purpose Yards and provided an electric element that Notre Dame fans hadn't seen since the days of Nick Eddy.

Q: I mean this was in the 1980's, an era that Youtube covers pretty well. Got any videos with Brown highlights?

A: I'm glad you asked. There are plenty of highlights on Tim Brown's reel that are worth checking out, but at the top of the list was the 1987 game against Michigan State. In the second half Brown returned two consecutive punts for touchdowns, sparking an Irish victory and his Heisman campaign.

Q: So expectations were a bit higher going into Holtz's third campaign. Did he deliver?

A: You better believe it. It started in the season opener against Michigan in a night showdown at Notre Dame Stadium.

Q: Wait, they played night games at Notre Dame Stadium?!?!

A: Yes.

Q: Was the homefield advantage significantly greater at night?

A: Well at one point the crowd noise was so loud that Michigan protested and refused to take another snap until the crowd quieted down. The fans were so loud they were actually penalized at one point. Don't believe me? Let's go to the tape!


(Side question to Bill--has the vaunted Penn State student section adorned in their undershirts ever been so loud that the team was assessed a penalty?)

Q: Wow, Michigan wouldn't run a play because there was too much noise? Did they delay the game when there was wind too or when it got too hot or cold on the field?

A: What can you say--the Michigan Wolverines are a bunch of sissies. The Irish went on to win that game 19-17 and rolled to a 5-0 start. Notre Dame ascended to #4 in the rankings, setting up an October 15th showdown in South Bend with the top-ranked Miami Hurricanes. For the first time in years the Irish were expected to have a chance against the vaunted "U."

Q: Were there still hard feelings from the 1985 game when Jimmy Johnson ran up the score?

A: Um, yes. The Notre Dame senior class had witnessed the 58-7 drubbing their freshman year so the embarrassment was still fresh in their minds. The two schools were on opposite ends of the spectrum on just about everything, adding to the intrigue of the matchup. South Bend vs South Beach. Grit vs Flair. Old School vs New School.

Some entrepreneurial Notre Dame students added "Catholics vs Convicts" to that lineup, printing now famous shirts in preparation for the game that played on the fact that most Miami players had more misdemeanors on their record than C's on their transcripts (and more felonies than B's).

The venom between the two teams was palpable and during pregame warmups it boiled to a head. Notre Dame was in the endzone doing light special teams drills when Miami made its way to the locker room. A few of the Hurricanes decided to run through the Notre Dame drill as opposed to going around it and then stayed at the edge of the tunnel jawing at the Irish players in the endzone. Much of Miami's "mystique" and "aura" was based on intimidation even before the opening gun sounded. With the bully once again running its mouth some Irish players decided it was time the bully got punched in the mouth...literally.

A brawl broke out and became so large that it flooded into the tunnel. Police separated the teams and ushered them into their respective locker rooms. The Irish stewed in anger in the locker room, unsure of what Holtz would say about the events that had just taken place. He tried to refocus their attention on the game and not let the taunts and actions of the Canes distract them.

After a brief talk about the strategy the room fell silent. According to both Rocket Ismail and Pat Eilers, just before the players were to take the field Holtz lowered his voice and said, "I want you guys to go out there and play the Miami Hurricanes...but I'll tell you one thing: SAVE JIMMY JOHNSON'S ASS FOR ME." The team erupted, all but knocked the hinges off the door to the locker room and took the field.

In what is arguably the greatest Notre Dame moment ever, the Irish knocked off the trash-talking Hurricanes 31-30. Notre Dame's defense stepped up and forced seven turnovers, ran back an interception for a touchdown, and held off a late Miami charge by batting down a two-point conversion in the games waning moments. The Irish had slayed the giant, setting the stage for a run for the title.

Q: Did the Irish have an easy path the rest of the way to the national title game?

A: There was still one huge hurdle to clear: the Trojans of Southern Cal, who were ranked #2 in the country. The final game of the season required a trip to the LA Coliseum--a place that had haunted so many Irish teams in the past--and though the Irish were ranked #1 they entered the contest as underdogs. There would be no heartbreak during this trip. The Irish manhandled the Trojans 27-10, landing them a spot in the Fiesta Bowl with a shot at the national title.

The #3 West Virginia Mountaineers possessed a vaunted offense led by do-everything quarterback Major Harris, but on that day they were no match for an Irish team on a mission. Notre Dame handily defeated the Mountaineers 34-21, wrapping up their first national title in 11 years. Holtz--like Rockne, Leahy, Parseghian, and Devine--had taken Notre Dame to the summit in his third season on the job.

Q: Who were some of the key players that led the way?

A: On offense quarterback Tony Rice brilliantly engineered the option attack all season, delivering with both his arm and legs. He was accompanied by playmakers Ricky Watters and arguably the most electrifying player in college football history, The Rocket.

Q: The Rocket?

A: Raghib "Rocket" Ismail was one of the fastest players in the history of college football. He was a jack of all trades for the Irish--returning punts and kicks, taking handoffs and option pitches in the backfield, and splitting out wide as a receiver. Holtz came up with innovative ways to get Rocket the ball each game since every time he touched the ball he could go the distance in the blink of an eye. During that national championship season he averaged almost 28 yards per catch and returned two kicks for touchdowns.

Q: How about on the defensive side of the ball?

A: There were a host of future NFL players like defensive backs Pat Terrell and Todd Lyght, but the most memorable are nose tackle Chris Zorich and "The Three Amigos" that made up the linebacking core: Frank Stams, Wes Pritchett, and Michael Stonebreaker. Zorich was an undersized defensive tackle from Chicago who seemingly willed himself into opposing backfields while wearing his signature cut-off jersey while the trio of linebackers terrorized defenses and set the tone for a revamped toughness that had formed under Holtz's tutelage.

Stams actually was a fullback that Holtz switched to defense. This was something Holtz was well-known for over the course of his time in South Bend. On that '88 squad there were quite a few contributors that were playing a different position than when they arrived as freshman--including Stams, Terrell, and starting offensive tackle and converted tight end Andy Heck.

Q: Wait...there was a linebacker named Michael Stonebreaker?

A: Yes.

Q: Has there ever been a more perfect name for a linebacker?

A: No chance...though I suppose Manti Te'o maybe be an acceptable alternative.

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This Week's CliffNotes:

* Lou Holtz had experienced success in three previous stops at major college football programs, taking all three (NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota) to bowl games.
* Holtz was known as a disciplinarian and someone whose teams came up big in high-profile games. He also had grown up admiring Notre Dame and even had a clause in his contract at Minnesota that said he could take the Notre Dame job without penalty should it be offered to him.
* There were some growing pains in the first two seasons, but the Irish showed many signs that they were on the verge of re-entering the elite of college football in '86 and '87.
* Tim Brown became Notre Dame's first Heisman winner in 23 years when he won the award in 1987.
* They used to play night games at Notre Dame Stadium...and they...were...AWESOME.
* Michigan cries about EVERYTHING, including but not limited to: the opposing crowds being too loud, the air being too humid, the lights of the stadium being too bright, the opposing defenses being too mean, and their coach being a complete sleaze who is in over his head. Actually, they don't cry about the last thing. But they should. Long and short of it is they're a bunch of sissies and morons.
* Three years removed from one of the most embarrassing losses in Notre Dame history, the Irish knocked off the trash-talking Miami Hurricanes and their hair-spray addicted hick of a coach Jimmy Johnson 31-30 in the original Catholics vs Convicts game.
* After vanquishing #2 Southern Cal on the road and #3 West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl, Notre Dame was crowned national champion for the first time in 11 years.
* Some of the stars of the national championship team were quarterback Tony Rice, running back/flanker Ricky Watters, jack of all trades Rocket Ismail, defensive tackle Chris Zorich, and the Three Amigos--linebackers Frank Stams, Wes Pritchett, and Michael Stonebreaker.
* Stonebreaker is probably the front-runner for the coolest name in football history and Rocket might be the best nickname ever. This team had everything.

AbsoLOUtely?

As I watch House and try to draw parallels between House and Cuddy's relationship and the one between Urban Meyer and Notre Dame (think about it...it's scary...in a great way...I think), I thought I'd share this little nugget with you. This weekend at our tailgate we spent some time with a family friend who also happens to be close friends with Lou Holtz. He said Lou told him that if the University asked he would coach for two years at no salary while they figured out what to do long term.

Now as giddy as the thought of seeing Lou on the sidelines makes me, I realize this makes no sense right now for a couple reasons. First of all, it'd be a stopgap solution and what we need is a long-term answer. Knowing that Lou wouldn't be at the helm long would make recruiting nearly impossible. If the intention would be to transition to Skip I think I'd pass.

The bigger reason though is the fact that in his latest life as a television personality he's almost become a caricature. How can 18 to 21 year olds be expected to take the inspirational pep talks Lou is famous for seriously after seeing them as a borderline joke on ESPN the past few years? I think this move could've worked in 2001, but right now I just can't see players suddenly buying into Dr. Lou. In reality that's really all they know him for; they were barely alive the last time Holtz took the Irish to #1. Bringing him back would be like asking today's NFL players to follow John Madden into battle. The history books will show that both Lou and Madden deserve places on the pantheon of great coaches, but the generation they'd need to lead right now would have an impossible time trying to get over the coaches' television (or video game) personas.

I truly don't believe that the game has passed him by and I think he'd be incredibly effective in utilizing the immense talent that resides on our roster...but when he chose to go the route he has these past few years on ESPN it ended any chance of him finding his way back to the sidelines.