1. Navy beats Notre Dame for first time in 43 years: 11/3/2007
Remember hearing about how the people of Milan beat the crap out of Benito Mussolini’s dead body as it hung upside down on a meat hook?
Same basic concept here…
2. Seniors forced to leave Notre Dame Stadium after loss in home finale against Pitt: 11/13/2004
Allow me to summarize:
- Team shows minimal effort in loss to Pitt at last home game of the year.
- Team gets booed off the field by the Senior Class (of 2005).
- Senior Class collectively wonders aloud why they paid $150,000 for cold weather, unattractive girls, ridiculous rules, and shitty football.
- Senior Class refuses to leave stadium.
- Senior Class threatened with imprisonment by police.
- Senior Class leaves stadium.
3. "The Push": 10/15/2005
This is back when people still thought that Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and Dwayne Jarrett were good football players. But I digress…
Sitting on the same side of the field, but near the opposite end zone, there was little doubt that Notre Dame won the game when Dancing Matthew fumbled at the goal line.
There’s nothing like having a full-blown celebration and rushing the field after breaking your rivals 27 game win streak, only to find out that it was all a big mistake.
USC wins 34-31.
Heart-wrenching as…
4. "The Shovel Pass": 11/2/2002
The week before this infamous BC game, Notre Dame destroyed Florida State in Tallahassee, and improved their record to 8-0. This was the single best football moment during my tenure in South Bend.
One bad call, a back-up quarterback, and a shovel pass later:
The Dream. Was. Over.
5. Michigan Routs #2 Notre Dame at ND Stadium: 9/16/2006
The expectations in Charlie Weis’ second season were extremely high. With the return of All-Americans Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija, and Tom Zbikowski, the 2006 Irish team was supposed to compete for a national championship.
It was in this game when it became apparent that Weis couldn't give Notre Dame a 'strategic advantage' that would compensate for a lack of talent. It also became apparent that his teams could get blown out of the water.
6. Notre Dame Quits Against Florida State: 11/1/2003
For anyone who was there, this was the lowest of the low during “The Tynasty.”
It was also the only time I walked out of a game during the First Quarter.
Let me set the stage:
- Florida State has the ball on their own 1 yard line.
- Much-maligned FSU quarterback Chris Rix takes the snap and scrambles into his own end zone.
- Several Irish defensive linemen, including the great Justin Tuck, take turns finding new ways to not tackle Rix.
- Rix eventually heaves wobbler 40 yards down the field toward the left sideline.
- Irish cornerback Vontez Duff elevates to make what should be an easy interception.
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11 months ago
Is it bad that I sort of chuckle thinking how bad ND has been in the past decade, other than when Brady Quinn literally won games by himself? I'm supposed to get angry, upset, violent even, when thinking how low ND has sunk. But I just laugh. By the way Dave, you should have included the part about us stealing beers from Sophomores during the FSU game. I don't think we can get a reslife violation for that anymore.
11 months ago
Thanks, Dave....for that.
But I'd reorder the list a little. I'm not that torn up about Navy, since this was probably the best year for that streak to happen. And Navy's really not that bad, and has been a competitive football team for years. Good for the Middies. USA, patriotism, War on Terror, so on and so forth.
Bush Push goes No. 1. Talk about blue balls. And never before has a coach gotten so much mileage out of a loss.
The Dillingham game goes No. 2. Kelly green still haunts my dreams, along with 750 atrocious BC fans packed into Boat Club that night. Brutal.
Senior game vs Pitt goes No. 3. Where art thou, Tyler Palko?
No. 4 is the BYU opener, which was pretty much the beginning of the end for Ty. This is the patented Willingham loss-to-a-team-you-have-no-business-losing-to. Just ask Washington fans...
And...the rest is a wash of pain and misery I don't care to re-live during the holiday season. As if my sports teams don't bring me enough depression as is.
Except you, Warriors—don't break my heart.
11 months ago
This is an awesome article. I agree with Mike, the "kelly green massacre" should prolly be on the list.
I like the imagery of the seniors being kicked out of the stadium the best. It makes you feel warm inside.
11 months ago
The Bush Push was heartwrenching, but it was a fantasticly coached and played game and one of the best sporting contests I've ever been witness to (win or lose). Therefore, I'd have a difficult time putting it at number one. The BC game in 2003 would be my #1, as we were riding an 8-0 high, playing against a team that prides its entire season on that game.
The police aren't as much of an issue now being of age, but watch out underage tailgaters....
11 months ago
I'm not a Notre Dame fan, but I really feel the pain of the Irish from reading this article. How about as another honorable mention, Urban Meyer turning down the job at Notre Dame then winning a Championship at Florida a year after?
from 11 months ago
At the time (meaning last year when Urban Meyer won his national championship), I think most of ND Nation was convinced that the program was headed in the right direction.
The offense was in great shape, we were bringing in a promising defensive coordinator, and top recruiting classes were on the way.
It seemed like we'd probably suffer through an 8-4 season, and then get ready to compete in 2008 and 2009.
So Florida's triumph didn't affect us all that much...
11 months ago
"- Senior Class collectively wonders aloud why they paid $150,000 for cold weather, unattractive girls, ridiculous rules, and shitty football."
I'm still waiting to get an answer on this one...and holding any donations until I do.
Michael makes a good point on the BC game. As if it's bad enough our undefeated season came to a screeching halt (though after watching those first 8 games I can only call this inevitable), it had to be to the most irrelevant team in college football.
I also couldn't agree more with the German SS being included. There's nothing like being pulled aside by an officer to find yourself staring at 5 SBPD's in full dress, 3 Excise Police officers, and one jackass on horseback (you know, in case I make a break for it) all for spraying beer on people as I blessed them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Last I checked it was a Catholic school assholes, get off my back.
The "Bush-Push" was the best game I have ever seen. It also broke my heart. I equate that moment with finding out Santa wasn't real and that Frank Dux lied about Bloodsport.
How about a top 10 best moments in the post-Davie era? I'm sure Michigan State would appreciate some sort of recognition in list form. I guess until then, "Girish."
11 months ago
How about when the HUSKER NATION invaded the house that Knute built and turned it into another SEA OF RED.
11 months ago
the far and away #1 game was BYU 2004 - the usc and nc state games the year before planted the doubt, but the BYU game was the proof. nd brought a talented senior laden team and they looked absolutely clueless. the fluke michigan game next week covered it up, but anyone who saw that game knew the program was doomed under ty.
#2 florida state 2004. everyone remembers the craphonso thorpe play. most embarrassing play in nd history. mostly because chris rix was involved.
#3 syracuse 2003. blown out by a horrific syracuse team. team essentially mutinies against the coaching staff afterward. laid the groundwork for 04 debacle.
#4 michigan 2007. similar to fsu. too painful to watch.
#5 navy
#6 the bc lime-green jersey game.
none of the off the field shit compares to any of those game disasters. the gestapo tailgate police / the lame ass campus are the university's fault, not the football teams so thats probably a separate list
11 months ago
I have to agree with #8. I have been a life long ND fan and have tailgated every home game for as long as I can remember. Police and security do their best to take any fun away from the tailgating experience. (Including the cop that I gave Kaluha to this year) I would hate to see what would happen to the poor security guard that has worked for ND and gets transferred to an SEC school. Probably die of a heart attack with all the action tailgating down there. The ND tailgate environment only gets worse in the game. I am a die hard ND fan that likes to cheer for the team. This is clearly not the way that is appreciated by the majority of lazy fans. With the exception of the student and visitors section, watching a game at ND stadium is like watching porn with your parents. Uncomfortable!
11 months ago
You're right about that USC triumvirate, their photos should appear on Wikipedia or m-w under 'overrated'. Don't even get me started on Reggie "3rd string RB" Bush, LOL. Not being an ND fan or having anything to do with Notre Dame and that fine institution, I still can't believe they didn't get the call for that infamous push.
11 months ago
That's a pretty good list you put together. As an outsider I can *almost* feel your pain. I thought the LSU/USC blowouts were pretty bad for you guys because everyone in the nation saw ND exposed, but losing to Navy is pretty embarrassing too (even if they were respectable).
They say you either love Notre Dame or you hate it. Not the people or the institution, but the football team (similar to Duke, only with Duke people hate everything about the place). Well, my feelings fall toward the hate side. So this post-Davie era has been highly enjoyable for me. Full of laughs and triumphs by teams who have millions of dollars less at their disposal.
But at least part of me has to like something about ND football. Cleveland has Brady Quinn and if he's not busy delivering Subway sandwiches, I hope he turns into the Browns' franchise QB. But that's neither here nor there...Good stuff
10 months ago
You forgot about the game in the 2006 season also aganst USC when they got blowned out in another game they were supposed to win in wies secound year
10 months ago
now that ive read this ive finally realized that i wasted 150 grand on cold weather, ridiculous rules, UNATTRACTIVE GIRLS, and shitty football the only reason i came was cuz of my dad (i coulda gone to texas for free with my friends)
from 6 months ago
And you would have wasted 4 (or I mean 6 years) of your life in Austin. Don't ever forget it -- you were given a chance that you would have never received from Austin. I am an ND grad that could have gone to other high-brow collegiate destinations (as I am certain you were as well), and I thank my God that I stuck with our Our Lady's University. Any time you come back to ND, I will fly from DC to meet you and have a good brew and good conversation about where our lives would have been without ND (and where they have gone with ND). I guarantee you that, after that conversation (if you don't know it already), we will both agree that our years at Notre Dame served us well.
Aaron -- class of 1995
9 months ago
Excellent article. I now understand a little about the pain ND fans have been feeling.
8 months ago
good stuff, except for the unnecessary bashing of Leinart, Reggie, and DJ...we both know full well they disembowled you. Just sayin'
8 months ago
good stuff, except for the unnecessary bashing of Leinart, Reggie, and DJ...we both know full well they disembowled you. Just sayin'
7 months ago
Good article, it's painful to read about some of those games. Even more painful, when you watched them. And that USC win-loss, was a case of classic Penn-teller B******T!
6 months ago
That Pitt Story seems very similar to what happened in 2005 when the Vols lost to Vandy for the first time in 22 years.
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