Rockne's Roundtable

Joe Perkowski's field goal after time had expired to beat Syracuse 15-14. Syracuse fans are still crying over the outcome of that game. I lived about a half mile from the late,great Ernie Davis, who played for the 'Cuse that day in November 1961. The next month, Ernie became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. After the game, I remember Ernie and Notre Dame's tailback Angelo Daberio shaking hands. Both players wore number 44. While shaking hands Ernie had his head down. Ernie was my hero and so was Angelo. Even though I knew Ernie, a perfect gentleman, I wanted Notre Dame to win.What a memory. Listened to the game on the radio and watched Notre Dame highlites on Sunday. I remember running home from church to actually see the incredible game!!!

There was no one defining moment that jump-started my passion for ND, but there is one event that stands above the rest. I have always been, and always will be, first and foremost, an ND football fan, but the closest thing to a transcendent moment that I experienced as a fan came in an ND basketball game, on January 19, 1974, when the Irish ended UCLA's 88 game winning streak. I watched the game on a small black and white TV screen in Tucson, Arizona, the first time in my life that I had been to the desert. The Irish had trailed by 11 with 3:30 remaining, and proceeded to sink six straight field goals, including the game winner by Dwight Clay, who had been, at best, the fourth option on that final shot. This occurred less than three weeks after ND's incredible Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama, that Lou described, above. There may never be a more glorious three weeks to have been an ND fan than that period, though one can always hope.

I grew up rooting for ND - so I'll have to go for the MOST memorable ND game. For me that would be the 1973 Sugar Bowl game. ND vs 'Bama - ARA vs 'THE BEAR' and THE play was 'THE THROW' - Clement to Weber from ND's end zone(pure clutch call & excecution) to preserve ND's win over 'Bama - NC 1973!! That was a "Moment of Rapture"! GO IRISH!!

I have been following the Irish since the 1973 Sugar Bowl....remember my dad screaming and hollering at the TV...my oldest brother was in old Tulane Stadium for that memorable game.

However for me personally my ND rapture moment came on October 15th while sitting or should I say standing in Notre Dame Stadium watching as Pat Terrell batted down Miami 's 2 pt try as ND beat the hated Canes.....the jubilation in that building was something that I will remember for the rest of my life. I knew Notre Dame was back and I didn't need anyone to tell me so, you just knew it.

Now if only my 12yr old son can have his ND moment......

October 12, 1957

Philadelphia

Beneath a cloudless cerulean sky, Monty Stickles kicked a 35 yd. FG late in the 4th quarter to beat Army 23-21. ND trailed late into the 3rd Q. 21-7.

I was 9 years old and there with my dad. No game ever meant more to me.

Or ever will.

I've said many times before that I was born a ND fan so it's hard to pick one game that "hooked" me but the 1980 game vs Michigan was the one that made me a "real fan" as my Dad said. I was 11 at the time and was more interested in playing football outside in the backyard than listening to some game on the radio. I usually was content watching the replays the next morning. I'm not sure what kept me inside listening to this game instead of doing my usual pop-ins to see what the score was but I could tell this game was going to be big just by the way my Dad acted before kickoff.

For some reason that game had me pacing the family room right next to my father. After every play my dad would flip the pages of a program he had and try to find a picture of the player that just made the play. By the end of the game I pretty much had all the players' jersey numbers memorized. When Oliver kicked that field goal my Dad knew that my love for Notre Dame just went to another level. I watched the delayed broadcast the next morning almost as intense as I listened to the game live on the radio.

I cried when ND lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl that year, hate Herschel Walker for that to this day.

The win over Miami in 1988. My hatred (or strong dislike, if you prefer) of Jimmy Johnson and the Miami program made this one the sweetest.

This is comming way out of left feild but watching a brief stint on Randy Kinder and being called Rudy in 8th grade football, i was destined to be a Notre Dame fan

NDguy7! When I saw the title of this thread, this was the game that popped into my mind! Perkowski (who was also a backup fullback) missed his first attempt as time ran out but Syracuse was called for 'roughing the holder'! Second attempt was good while the clock read all zeros. I also had been listening on the radio and had been praying for Joe to make that kick! I couldn't believe it when the announcer said there was a penalty on the miss!
I saw Angelo Dabiero play in person at ND, my first trip there with my Dad. ND lost 12 -10 to Northwestern and their hot new Coach, Ara Parseghian. In that game (QB was Daryl Lamonica) Dabiero had a long run of about 50 yards. He was a smallish guy but, I'm told, was nasty as a snake on the field.