Blue and Gold Illustrated

August 2017

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2017 15 UNDER THE DOME 40 Years Ago: Aug. 27, 1977 The preseason college football edition of Sports Illustrated features Notre Dame defensive end and 1976 Outland Trophy winner Ross Browner on the cover and selects Notre Dame No. 1. The rationale for the ranking is led by Browner and the school's record-setting defense from a year earlier (21 quarters without allow- ing a touchdown) that returns all 11 starters. Meanwhile, the offense returns top playmakers in tight end Ken MacAfee and running backs Je- rome Heavens and Vagas Ferguson, although quarterback is a bit of a question mark with junior Rusty Lisch having made only one career start. Finally, the schedule is manage- able, most notably with USC — which had lost only once to the Fighting Irish the previous 10 years — at home. 30 Years Ago: Aug. 4, 1987 Former Notre Dame basket- ball All-American Dick Rosenthal is named athletics director at his alma mater. He succeeds Gene Corrigan (1981-87), who resigned from the po- sition to become the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Rosenthal led the Irish to con- secutive Elite Eight advancements in 1953 and 1954, and became even more prominent locally in business. When he was named president of South Bend St. Joseph Bank in 1962 at the tender age of 29, it had $22 million in assets. During his 25-year stint there they increased to $550 million. When asked if his lack of experience in athletic administration might be a liability, Rosenthal replied with a smile, "Hopefully, I'm not a stranger to the function of administration." 15 Years Ago: Aug. 31, 2002 With Notre Dame coming off a 5-6 record that led to the firing of head coach Bob Davie, the Tyrone Willingham era debuts with a 22-0 shutout of No. 21 Maryland — which finished 10-2 and No. 11 in the Associated Press poll the year prior — at the Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J. The Fighting Irish defense limits the Terrapins to 133 yards of total offense, and fifth-senior corner- back Shane Walton ties a single-game school record with three interceptions. Willingham becomes the first coach at Notre Dame to debut with a shutout since Terry Brennan in 1954 (21-0 versus Texas). Just like the 1988 national champs with a 19-17 win over Michigan in the opener, all the points are scored on special teams. The lone TD is a 76-yard punt return by cornerback Vontez Duff, and Nicho- las Setta ties a single game school record with five field goals, the longest from 51 yards to open the scoring. 10 Years Ago: Aug. 6, 2007 Following back-to-back BCS bowls (also known as major bowls) and a 19-4 regular-season mark his first two seasons as the Notre Dame head coach, Charlie Weis bristles when he is asked if the Fight- ing Irish are in a "rebuilding" stage because of the graduation of quarterback Brady Quinn and other standouts, plus poor recruiting classes from 2004 and 2005 in which a combined 17 scholarship players remaining now having major roles. "May God strike me dead if I use that word," Weis said of rebuilding. "I'll never use that word. You use it. … It's easy for me to throw in the towel and start playing a bunch of young guys, take the pressure off of me and buy me more time — but that's garbage." — Lou Somogyi Anniversaries In Notre Dame Athletics History: August BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PO Box 2331 Durham, NC 27702 www.BlueGoldOnline.com 1-800-421-7751 DELIVERY LIMITED TO CONTINENTAL U.S. PLEASE ADD SALES TAX FOR ITEMS SHIPPING TO: (NC 7.5%, IN 7%, MI 6%) (Item #6622) GRILL MAT $49.95 + FREE S&H (Item #6621) CUSTOM GRILL COVERS Recycled, mold-resistant, breathable vinyl with drawstring bottom. Logo printed with UV-resistant ink. AVAILABLE IN 2 SIZES & 3 LOGOS: Small: 55" wide x 36" tall x 21" deep $51.95 + $15.00 S&H Large: 66" wide x 36" tall x 21" deep $54.95 + $15.00 S&H Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. Grill covers are made to order and shipped direct from the manufacturer. Prior to the 1977 campaign, Sports Illustrated featured defen- sive end Ross Browner on the cover and tabbed the Irish No. 1.

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