This article reminisces about the intense rivalry between Penn State and Notre Dame during the 1980s and 1990s. It highlights memorable games, iconic moments, and the recruiting battles between Joe Paterno and Lou Holtz.
Classic Penn State - Notre Dame games in the 1980s and ’90s: Two-point tries, frigid cold, and a tug at a kilt
Before 1981, these gold-standard programs hadn’t squared off in the regular season since 1928. But by the late 1970s, Joe Paterno realized that having Notre Dame as an opponent would impress potential recruits and those who voted in national polls. The latter was particularly important. In 1973, Penn State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, and Oklahoma finished unbeaten. The Nittany Lions wound up fifth in one poll, sixth in the other.
Joe Paterno, meanwhile, provided tickets to that same game for his Irish pastor at Our Lady of Victory, Msgr. Patrick Fleming. Following Penn State’s 24-21 win, however, the coach’s relatives informed him that Fleming and his clerical friends had been cheering vigorously for Notre Dame. “Look, Monsignor,” Paterno admonished him, “it’s hard enough to beat Notre Dame without you putting priests and nuns in our seats to pray for them.
“I don’t think you can lose a kid like Ismail and not have it hurt,” Joe Paterno said in 1999. “He still may be one of the three or four best college players ever.” When Mirer released the ball, Penn State players were momentarily optimistic. “Brooks was known to have absolutely horrible hands,” Jay Paterno said. “To this day, when I see Bettis, he says that when the ball went up, everyone on Notre Dame thought, ‘Oh no.’” This time, Brooks made a spectacular diving grab, and the Irish triumphed.Nov. 21, 1987, the day Penn State won by stopping Rice on that two-point try, was the worst weather day in Beaver Stadium history.
“Joe comes into the locker room and says, ‘Listen, I just saw Touchdown Jesus,’” Curkendall said. “‘The history here is unbelievable. But unless the Four Horsemen, the Gipper, and Touchdown Jesus come down tonight, they aren’t going to beat you.’”
FOOTBALL COLLEGE SPORTS RIVALRY NOTRE DAME PENN STATE JOE PATERNO LOU HOLTZ
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