Notre Dame Football: 5 Irish Teams that Seized the Moment

As summer gives way to fall, the 2011 Notre Dame football season is nearly upon us.  

After overcoming tremendous adversity, the Irish used a strong finish and excellent recruiting class to excite their campus, alumni and national fan base about the future of Notre Dame football.  

Many analysts have predicted a modest improvement for the Irish and perhaps a better bowl.  Others have forecast continued struggles for Notre Dame.  That begs the question of why can’t the Irish compete for a championship this year? Did anyone forecast that Oregon and Auburn would play for the BCS National Championship last year? 

Let’s take a look at five supposedly non-contending Notre Dame teams that seized the moment to turn in a great season and, in some cases, walk away with a title. 

5. 2005 (9-3; Final Ranking No. 9 AP, No. 11 Coaches)

The Irish were coming off a dismal 6-6 season that saw the firing of Tyrone Willingham, and to make matters worse the Irish were jilted by Urban Meyer when he opted to coach at Florida.  That left Notre Dame with Charlie Weis and some very low expectations. 

I know some people still like to bash Weis, but that fall he was roundly seen as genius for quickly turning the Notre Dame fortunes.  All of us had visions of “schematic advantages” and Tom Brady-like clones leading us to multiple national championships. 

Unfortunately, we all know how the story ended. 

Nevertheless, a team that was expected to give us so little gave us a BCS appearance, Heisman candidate and a top 10 finish in Charlie’s first year. 

4. 1993 (11-1; Final Ranking No. 2 AP)

Much excitement abounded that fall as the Ron Powlus era was supposed to commence in South Bend.  However, shortly into camp Powlus broke his collarbone, leaving first-time starter Kevin McDougal to take the reins at quarterback. 

After upsetting No. 2 Michigan in Week 2, the Irish cruised into a Week 10 showdown with No. 1 Florida State.  Notre Dame took a commanding 31-17 lead late into the fourth quarter only to see a furious Florida State rally fall short. 

Unfortunately, the Irish dreams of a national championship ended the following week when Boston College stunned the Irish on Senior Day, 41-39. 

Notre Dame would go on to win the Cotton Bowl and finish ranked No. 2 in the final poll.  However, no one could have predicted that a little known backup quarterback would lead Notre Dame to the brink of a national championship.

3. 1977 (11-1; Final Ranking No. 1)

Notre Dame would begin the season with high expectations. 

Following a stunning loss to Ole Miss in Week 2, Notre Dame would fall all the way out of the top 10, and much has been made of the controversy between Dan Devine and Joe Montana regarding the starting quarterback position. 

This particular team makes my list because of its climb in the polls. 

Following the loss to Ole Miss, Montana would lead Notre Dame to 10-straight wins, including comeback victories on the road at Purdue and Clemson, which further cemented his nickname as the “Comeback Kid.”  

In the final stretch of the season the Irish would destroy No. 5 USC 49-19 in the famous “green jersey game” and No. 1 Texas 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl. 

When it was all finished the Irish climbed five spots in the final poll to claim the championship.  The expectations may have been high to start, but Montana, Vagas Ferguson, Ken McAfee, Bob Golic, Willie Fry and many others rescued a team that was left for dead and led them a title.

2. 1964 (9-1; Final Ranking No. 4)

The Irish were coming off a brutal 2-7 campaign and welcomed the start of the Ara Parseghian era.   Although Parseghian had some success in his previous stops at Miami of Ohio and Northwestern, no one was quite ready for the magic he spun with the 1964 edition of Notre Dame football. 

The Irish would feature Heisman-winning quarterback John Huarte and run their record to 9-0 and a No. 1 ranking before falling to USC and the officiating crew in the final game of the regular season. 

Nevertheless, this season gave Irish fans a glimpse of the consistently great teams that would typify the “Era of Ara.”

1. 1988 (12-0; Final Ranking No. 1)

It was year No. 3 of the Lou Holtz era and the Irish had closed the previous season with a three-game losing streak that culminated in a blowout loss to Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.  Many experts felt Notre Dame was a year away from competing for a national championship.   

Were they ever wrong! 

Despite starting the season ranked No. 13, Notre Dame would go on to defeat the No. 1(Miami), No. 2 (USC) and No. 3 (West Virginia) ranked teams in the nation on their way to claiming an unexpected national championship.