Rockne's Roundtable

Play No. 1 would definitely be either Gordon missing the field goal or Bercich intercepting the pass prior to the FG. In that situation, my guess is No. 1 and 11-0 Notre Dame could have played unbeaten Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, where I think it would have clinched the national title. Or maybe the Fiesta would have liked an ND-FSU rematch. I don't think ND would have gone for that.

No. 2 is Craig Fertig to Rod Sherman on 4th-and-8 from the Irish 15 with 1:33 left. He made a superb pass when it looked like he was about to be sacked, and All-America DB Tony Carey slipped at the last second. It cost No. 1 and 9-0 ND a perfect season and consensus national title (the Irish did get the MacArthur Bowl for a share of the four major outlets recognized by the NCAA).

Another extremely play I'd mention is USC QB Paul McDonald getting sacked by Jeff Weston with about 30 seconds left and losing a fumble — only to have the official rule it an incomplete pass. That helped set up USC's game-winning FG with two seconds left to end an 8-game Irish winning streak.

Others might remember Michael Harper's "Phantom TD" to beat ND, 17-13, in the closing seconds of USC's 1982 victory. But that year, the Irish had already turned down a bowl invitation and finished 6-4-1.

I would go with Gordon missing that fg or Bercich making the pick first, then the bush push and the other two USC games Lou listed above because they were terrible childhood memories,lol.

Coachcft, rather than the Bush Push, the do-over, and bigger play, I would pick is the mind numbing blown coverage by Ambrose Wooden on the 4th and 9 pass. Had he been close enough, or aware enough, even a pass inteference call is a win.

The Bercich drop was the killer play in that BC game, although, there was a phantom penalty on ND during the kickoff return that improved BC's field position by 15 yards and set up what was a very makeable field goal. Fact is BC controlled the game for all but most of the 4th quarter.

nice call on ambrose wooden, but i think that play falls a smidge outside the "reasonable" domain, b/c I guess I feel that was something that THEY did, I'll give them credit.

BETTER call on the Jeremy Sample phantom penalty. He did nothing on the ONE time we pinned BC back and ditn yield a good return... this time on their own 10 yard line... that "play" goes unnoticed

I agree logically Lou, but it wouldnt have happened. That was the peak of anti-Lou in the AP.

Plus, we HAD our chances at home on Senior Day ranked #1 vs Penn State.

Mr. Rice,

Define "you all missed the big one." Most of the early posts in the thread have the Gordon field goal, and it is definitely No. 1 for me.

The program has never been the same since then ... although I do believe a fall was imminent given the way recruiting was hitting a downswing in 1991 and 1992. The 1990 class with Bryant Young, Aaron Taylor, Jeff Burris, Tim Ruddy, Lake Dawson, Jim Flanagan, Oliver Gibson three-year players Jerome Bettis and Tom Carter, and many, many others, including QB Kevin McDougal, carried that program for a couple of years. Once the well dried up with that group, it's been a tough climb to get back.

Mr. Rice,

I'm only wrong about a couple of times per hour (more when my wife is around), so I've got you beat.

The first game where I was really into ND football was the 24-11 upset of No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl, so I barely missed another all-time and somewhat overlooked stinker, the 1970 loss at USC, 38-28, that ended up costing the then 9-0 Irish the national title. It seems to be less remembered than the 1964 loss at USC, also at 9-0, and then Miami 1989 or BC 1993.

I do remember watching that 1970 game in a monsoon, and seeing No. 7 go back time after time trying to desperately rally his team. It was a day where literally every bounce went the other way. ND had eight turnovers and USC none. I don't know if there have been many games in ND history with that kind of turnover margin.

Now that is some kind of funny!

While the implications may not have been quite as large as some of the others discussed, one of the plays I've always wanted back was Rob Leonard's 27-yard field goal attempt at the end of the 1991 Tennessee game. For those who don't remember, #5 ND led the #13 Volunteers at home 31-7 before a furious Tennessee comeback saw them take a 35-34 lead over the Irish. With four seconds left, Leonard entered the game to try the field goal, as Craig Hentrich had gone out with a knee injury earlier in the game. Unfortunately, the butt (yes, the butt) of Tennessee's Jeremy Lincoln ended up catching enough of the ball to send it off course and handing the Vols an improbable victory. The following week, a totally demoralized Irish team was thumped by Penn State, 35-13, and then struggled to beat a four-win Hawaii team to end the the season. Finally, and on a positive note, all of this culminated in the legendary "Cheerios" win over Florida in the Sugar Bowl, but that season might have been more. Would it have been a national championship? Probably not; both Miami and Washington finished undefeated and beating Penn State was no sure bet even with a win over Tennessee, as they finished third. Still, the combination of losing at home after blowing a 24-point lead and then having a makeable field goal missed because of an opposing player's posterior makes this one of the more gut-wrenching losses in Notre Dame history. Man, would I love to have that Rob Leonard attempt over again.

My top 5

1) Rocket's PR for a TD in the 1991 Orange Bowl.

2) David Gordon's FG would've sailed wide at the end of the 1993 BC game.

3) Matt Leinart's 4th and 9 pass would've been deflected by Ambrose Wooden.

4) Fertig's TD pass in 1964 to beat ND in the Coliseum would've fell incomplete.

5) In 1992, Michigan's FG is wide and ND wins 17-14 instead of having the 17-17 tie. An 11-1 ND would've played for the title.

Agreed, they were the clear #1 and #2 team. FOr the last 30 years, there have been about 5 instances where it was clear, without debate who should be playing in the "national chamionship game". That was one of them. And without much explanation, Stanford and Bill Walsh drubbed us that year.

As for the RO Leonard kick, I thought about it. But again, a title wasnt on the line. With one one earlier that year to Desmond Howrd's catch in the MIchigan game, and MIami and Washingtpn sitting undefeated with us looking in from the outside, we stood with little hope. But the collapse that started with seconds remaining in the first half with a blocked chip shot returned for a TD, we had little chance at anything...other than just avoiding the embarrassment of being the owners of an all out collapse.