Notre Dames Greatest Bowls: No. 8
After Notre Dame rescinded its non-bowl policy in 1969, it became college football "Belle Of The Bowls" the next quarter century. In the 25 years from 1969-93, the Fighting Irish won 10 major bowl games (Cotton, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta or Rose, although they were ineligible for the latter).
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No other school won more than eight over that same span (with the Fiesta officially becoming a "major" in 1981). The trio of Oklahoma, Penn State and USC won eight apiece.
Incredibly, in the 21 years hence from 1994-2014, Notre Dame has failed to win a major, going 0-6 in that span and losing by an average of 20.5 points. It is a dubious streak the Irish will attempt to snap on Jan. 1, 2016, versus No. 7 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Our countdown from 10 to 1 — going from most memorable, valuable and greatest — continues with …
Jan. 1 1975 Orange Bowl: Notre Dame 13, Alabama 11
One year earlier in an all-time classic, 10-0 Notre Dame defeated 11-0 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, 24-23, to capture the national title.
In November 1974, the football gods set up a rematch between the two superpowers for another national title showdown.
Alabama was 11-0 again under head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and ranked No. 1 by the United Press International (UPI). It was No. 2 to Oklahoma in the Associated Press poll — but the Sooners were on probation (UPI didn't rank teams on probation) and could be leapfrogged because they were ineligible for a bowl.
Notre Dame was upset at home by Purdue (31-20) in September, but it then won its next seven to improve to 9-1 and No. 5 in the country. If it could beat No. 6 USC, the Pac-8 champion, in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the regular-season finale to finish 10-1, then it would play for the national title again.
Through 29 minutes, the Irish were virtually flawless while taking a 24-0 lead at USC on Nov. 30. And then, two shocking events transpired.
First, in a span of 17 minutes, USC scored 55 points to defeat the Irish, 55-24. Never had a football game seen such a dramatic shift in momentum.
Fifteen days later (Dec. 15), news leaked out that Irish head coach Ara Parseghian was resigning after 11 seasons at Notre Dame. One day later, the 51-year-old Parseghian, in the prime of his coaching career, confirmed he was "emotionally drained and physically exhausted," and would step down.
The Orange Bowl went from a national title rematch to a Notre Dame crusade to send out Parseghian with a win. Still, the Irish were listed as an 11.5-point underdog because it was believed team unity had been fractured after the loss at USC. Plus, Alabama was bent on vengeance after the Sugar Bowl loss a year earlier. Furthermore, the Crimson Tide was 0-6-1 in its last seven bowls. The law of averages said that streak was overdue to end.
Game Notes
• Relying on its defense to carry the night, Notre Dame played conservatively while totaling merely 204 yards of total offense. Senior quarterback Tom Clements attempted only seven passes and completed four for 19 yards with an interception.
• Notre Dame took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when senior fullback Wayne "The Train" Bullock bulled in from four yards after Al Samuel recovered a fumbled punt at the Crimson Tide 16.
• The lead expanded to 13-0 in the second quarter when Mark McLane's nine-yard run ended a 17-play, 77-yard drive.
• Leading 13-3, Notre Dame safety John Dubenetzky intercepted a Richard Todd pass at the Irish 10 halfway through the fourth quarter.
• After Alabama cut the deficit to 13-11 with 3:13 left, it drove to Notre Dame's 39 with about 1:20 remaining. On a quick out intended for Ozzie Newsome, senior corner Reggie Barnett picked off Todd's pass and the Irish were able to run out the clock.
Game Standouts
Offense: Coming off intense influenza and dysentery, and barely able to stand at the end of the game, the workhorse Bullock still carried 24 times for 83 yards and a score.
Defense: Barnett's interception was the highlight, but it was collectively an extraordinary effort to limit Alabama's vaunted Wishbone to 62 rushing yards. The Irish front four included future first-round picks Steve Niehaus and Mike Fanning, and second-round selection Greg Collins led the linebacker corps.
Why No. 8 On Our List?
Notre Dame not playing for the national title took a bit of an edge off the game, and neither offense generated much production. There also was some melancholy realizing it was Parseghian's last game at Notre Dame.
However, to emerge victorious as a heavy underdog — similar to the 1992 Sugar Bowl (No. 9 countdown) — and send out Parseghian with a win was extremely gratifying.
"I told them they didn't owe me anything," Parseghian said after the game. "They owed it to themselves, and they won it that way."
Notable Stat
In the five bowl games that Parseghian took his Notre Dame teams to, four of the opponents were unbeaten: 10-0 Texas in the 1970 Cotton Bowl, 10-0 Texas in the 1971 Cotton Bowl, 11-0 Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl and 11-0 Alabama in the 1975 Orange Bowl.
After losing in the closing minute in his first contest versus Texas (21-17), Parseghian was 3-0 in the next three matchups against unbeatens.
Epilogue
Parseghian's 11-year Notre Dame career from 1964-74 ended with a 95-17-4 record (.836), two consensus national titles (1966 and 1973) and one shared (1964), and eight top-five placements in either the AP or UPI rankings.
Incredibly, this loss dropped Bryant's record to 0-7-1 in his last eight bowls. The trend would reverse the next year when he won his next six, and seven of his last eight, highlighted by national titles in 1978 and 1979.
The Countdown
10. 1994 Cotton Bowl: Notre Dame 24, Texas A&M 21
9. 1992 Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame 39, Florida 28
8. 1975 Orange Bowl: Notre Dame 13, Alabama 11
