Kinda brought a tear to my eye to see Rodney Culver carrying the ball. He was gone way too soon. Died thanks to ValuJet negligence in a plane crash in 1997.
Green, Waters, Brooks, Stonebreaker, Bolcar, Stams, Pritchett, Alm, G. Williams, Smagala, Zorich, Streeter, Lyght, Terrell, Heck, Rice, Banks, Culver, Grunhard, Eilers, D Brown, and of course... Raghib Ismail!! That team was absolutely LOADED on both sides of the ball, and they had excellent Special Teams as well!! Hell of a Team!
I can vividly remember watching this game with my dad and grandfather’s in our family room on New Year’s Day. I was only 7 at the time but I’ve been enamored with notre dame football ever since. IMO 88-93 was last great era of notre dame football. Go Irish ☘️
I'm not a Notre Dame fan by any stretch, but I loved Lou Holtz's Notre Dame teams. Well-coached, disciplined and loved their style of play. I miss the option offense and loved how Notre Dame ran it out of multiple formations. I have the book Holtz wrote about this season, and it is amazing!
Tim Marsh I saw this Irish team play. I was at Stanford Game, 2 weeks before Miami game. I had the infamous Catholics vs Convicts shirt too. Holtz had loads of talent on both sides of the ball, but it had a lot to do w Him on why his Irish teams were so good. He is such a good motivator and big game coach. He always had his teams ready to play. I’m a life long ND fan and ND hasn’t been the same since he left.
I’m Spartacus I was in the 5th grade this season...I remember watching Catholics vs Convicts live. Tony Rice was a winner, bottom line. And, I agree they were talented. But Holtz made this team gel. Just wish football was like this again...
Tim Marsh i was 12, so I’m about your age. I remember standing outside the old Notre Dame bookstore and a guy walked up w a box of shirts and dropped them in front of us. They were the Catholics vs convicts shirts. I think they were $10, but I’m not for sure. What’s funny is they were all the same size, XL, so the shirt looked like a night gown on me. It was a very quick transaction. The dude got his money handed my dad the shirt and he was gone. There was no trying anything on. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but after watching the 30 for 30 on it, I see why he was so quick in getting rid of the shirts. They got in a lot of trouble over that. Those were great times to be a ND fan. Holtz put life back into an ND program that Gerry Faust ran into the ground
Tim Marsh One thing I loved about that offense was how Holtz could use the rocket in multiple formations. He’d put him in the backfield, then he’d be in the slot, then he’d be at WR. It gave D coordinators fits because they always had to know where he was at all times. Kinda the same w Ricky Waters. I miss the use of the FB too. Nobody uses them anymore, they just slide a TE over on power run plays.
@@swedejohanson7739 I love that 30 for 30. I thought it was going to be more about the game than the story behind the shirts, but I still loved hearing that story!
The '88 Notre Dame football team was one of the best teams ever, I'll always remember this National Championship game as well as the epic battle against Miami in the regular season.
One of the best college football teams ever. They beat #1 Miami, #2 USC (at the Coliseum), #3 West Virginia, and #4 Michigan. Also beat very tough opponents in Pittsburgh and Michigan State.
I'm not a Notre Dame fan, but I have the book Lou Holtz wrote about that season, and I still love to go and read from it. It was truly one of the best seasons for a team in college football!
@@Old-Dog00 can't find 1 Neb video where mostly Neb fans counter refs calls. Are you gonna make me watch whole game to find it. If early and TD is not called it changes coaches strategy after.
@@johnmcpherson1161 You're really salty about a Big East team that looked way better than they actually were because they beat up on the Marylands, Rutgers and Syracuses of the cfb world all that season.. aren't you? Be real man, WVU had a great season but never had ANY chance of beating this historically great Irish team with 20+ NFL starters playing in it's 2-deep in this game back in 88'. Whike WVU was blowing out regional teams that weren't very good football teams, this Notre Dame team had run a gauntlet of top 5 teams(Michigan, Miami, USC, etc.) and was the only traditional national power left standing at the end of that season. Major Harris hurt his shoulder late in the 2nd by the way.. The Irish had already bullied it's way to a 20 point lead by then and the game was effectively over. Get over it, you bunch of babies.
I was at this National Championship victory with a bunch of my ND-SMC alum friends. We went down without tickets, went to the bars the night before and I immediately went into ticket scouting mode. After a couple of hours I was getting worried, because I was trying to buy 6 tickets. Finally I come across a guy who had 4 tix together and I got them at a decent price. We then set out looking for 2 as close as possible and either got them that night, or early on game day. What I didn't realize until Game Day was how good our 4 seats were. 40 yard line, lower deck, awesome view. Couldn't believe we stumbled upon them. We somehow worked out the 4/2 split to everyone's satisfaction and proceeded to Shake Down the Thunder!! What an awesome year. I had been at the Michigan game season opener won on a last second FG, the awesome Catholics over Convicts game 31-30 over the U, still the best football game I've ever been to, and this Coronation of Irish supremacy. We ended up beating the final #2 (Miami), #4 (Michigan), #5 (West Virginia) and #7 (USC) in the nation. At the time we played them, Miami was #1, USC was 10-0 and #2, West Virginia was 11-0 and #3, and Michigan was #9. What a year.
Don Nehlen loved that counter & handing the ball off deep in the backfield. Love Nehlen one of the great coaches those counters hurt WVU in a lot of big games. Won a lot of games too.
Your rite. College football aint the same, the game is to soft now, offence.s have the advantige, defence has to think how they need to tackel, or they,ll get thown out of the game
That year was a bad year for college football, the only team good anough to play notre dame was a weak west virgina team, that natty was gift wraped and handed to ND on a platter
@@randyware9645 If I'm not mistaken, Notre Dame beat the Pac-10 Champion, the Big-10 champion, Penn State and Miami in the 1988 regular season. That's not too shabby.
Little known fact....Irish RB #40 Tony Brooks is the father of Viking’s Pro Bowl LB Anthony Barr. Barr actually started playing RB at UCLA before moving to LB. Poor f’n Harris, seems like he was under pressure nearly every time he dropped back.
Not sure. Notre Dame was insanely talented in 1988. Some say they're one of the most underrated champions in recent decades. I think the game would have definitely been closer though.
Agreed I love watch old school games! 90’s wise brings back nostalgia! I was born in 85. Late 80’s games are pretty much brand new to me since I would’ve been too young during original broadcast lol.
When you watch these older games it shows just how far TV technology has come. They’ve made it so easy nowadays to watch a game. Back then - no scoreboard, time remaining, timeouts, down and distance graphics, and line of scrimmage or first down field markings. As a kid, I remember having to always look at the sideline markers to figure out how many yards were needed for a first down, etc. Also, look at shoulder pads back then. They were massive. You also didn't see too many skill players back then running around without some combination of knee, hip, thigh, or tailbone pads like today. Gee, do you think that could be one reason why so many skill position players are getting hurt?? My god, WRs and RBs today are basically running around playing the game in knee high spandex shorts and peewee shoulder pads. They’re sacrificing safety for speed.
A lot of other stuff stands out too. How many players leave their feet on the line of scrimmage, I mean most of those run plays just end in a massive pile of bodies. Absolutely brutal hits as well, guys clearly just using their pads and helmets as weapons of destruction. It's fun to enjoy the old film, but I definitely think football has gotten a little more graceful and a lot less brutal. I shudder to think how many concussions occurred in this game
More like they're sacrificing safety for speed. The reason all the pads (if any) are smaller/lighter for today's player is to gain waaay more speed and open the game up more so although you get more speed, the drawback is since the pads are smaller/lighter you don't have as much protection and the hard collisions when they actually do happen are more extreme/violent because they're coming a loooot faster with less cushion to absorb the impact. Don't get it twisted even back then you had some blasts cause it was way more physical back then with the way the rules were and you had your K.O's/injuries then too ... buuut ... with today's rules and pads you'll notice when someone finally actually connects real good it's almost a guaranteed concussion or devastating injury whereas back then even with a good pop most players could somewhat walk away from it cause they had more padding. That's why the league had to make all these rule changes to reduce physicality because they knew they had a problem on their hands with today's game, the pads, and the speed in which it's played.
@@hutchoo21 Yep, sacrificing safety for speed is what I meant to say. The crazy thing is I wonder how many guys back then played with concussions regularly. It had to have happened all the time. I know pads were bigger back then, but the helmets were for shit and some guys weren't even properly fitted. Concussions simply weren't treated seriously. I remember back in the 70s and 80s you'd occasionally see a guy miss a game due to a concussion, but it was because the week before the guy took some massive hit and his head rolled off to the sideline. In other words, you knew it was a kill shot. I also remember a game in the 70s where the Rams' Jack Youngblood picked up a Vikings QB, threw him over his shoulder, and then drove the QB's head into the turf. No surprise he was knocked unconscious, but he actually suffered a seizure on the field. He was stretchered off and ended up in the hospital. As brutal as the NFL was back then, I think they did actually throw a flag on the play.
@@PlaySA 100%...As a teenager I remember being taught to actually lead with the crown of your helmet. If you buried your helmet into a guy's head or chest you were a tough player doing it correctly.
Michael Mars I was Delivering for Domino’s Pizza at the Time of the Game. I remembered at one point when it was 27-10, Irish, against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Cavalcade of Fred Couples Barry Alvarez of Wisconsin(And later West Virginia) was An Assitant to Lou Holtz in 1988? I’ve never been to Julie’s Trojan Barrel. What’s it like over there? How the Trojans lost the Rose Bowl later to Michigan State is still beyond me.
My dad took me to this game back when I was a freshman in high school. My dad liked Notre Dame. I hated them so I hoped and believed West Virginia could steal the National Championship. As witnessed that did not go well 😂. We had to fly back home that night because I had school the next day and had to face the heat from my friends who were Irish fans.
You were a fortunate kid. I love Notre Dame I’m born and raised in Texas but my Dad and my family were living in poverty at the time so he couldn’t even afford a plane ticket to another state, I’d die to see any Notre Dame play in a national championship. You’re dad sounds like a Great Pops for trying to get your football spirit up I’d thank him for his effort any chance I got. God bless you Kaminator
@@CrAzY_Bam I’ve been a loyal ND fan since 1990 (my brother actually went to school there starting in 1990, so I became a fan by association) I’ve stuck with them through the good and bad times and it’s been about 95% bad since I’ve been a fan. I’ll give Freeman a pass on this latest season, but let’s see if he can actually get next years recruiting class to sign. But I’m to the point where if they don’t actually become a serious contender after the 2025 season I think I might be done with them. That would be 35 years as a disappointed fan. That would be a nice round number to end on.
@@michaelconnor5378 I don’t know. Even as a Notre Dame fan I think I have to say that Florida St. deserved the title that year. They beat 6 ranked teams to ND’s 3 and their one loss was to the 2nd ranked team (ND) on the road. ND’s one loss was at home. Florida St. also played one more game. I don’t know. It is what it is. It was a shame that they lost to Boston College. Had they won I guess I don’t know who they would have played in the bowl game. Probably Nebraska and they were tough that year.
I was at the Purdue Vs ND game. Watch up close as Barry Alvarez challenge his defense He asked who would be his hero that day. I had pictures of Tony Rice and Rocket up close. Had no idea they would be National Champions. Great memories
No doubt about it....Those ND teams loved going on the road and winning big games against big time opponents. Me and my buddies actually went to the 1990 Tennessee game which was (looking back) and unbelievable game...If you remember, Tennessee then came back up to ND and were down huge but made one of the better comebacks ever....Although it sucked I was kinda happy for the TN fans who were awesome people and treated me great in 90 and only said "what a great game" when ND beat them in 90 so in 91 I said the same....Its the best back to back game, against common opponent, or anyone for that matter that I ever saw, live or otherwise (fortunately saw both live). Its why I'd really love to see TN become an sec power again...so tired of Bama and those TN teams were absolutely loaded. Really don't know why they've sucked for so long.?.? Sorry to get side tracked but u got me going down memory lane.
Holtz was a very unappreciated HC at ND. The fans ran him out of town and I’m still upset about it. He was a great recruiter and game day coach. They played a brutal schedule year after year and we were always in the hunt for a National Championship. Unfortunately, he only won one in his tenure however he could’ve easily won more if it weren’t for a little bad luck.
Wow that’s incredibly wrong. Kelly led ND to wins in the regular season quite often. The difference is that REGULAR SEASON LOSSES NO LONGER MEAN ANYTHING. 1988 ND beat Michigan in September and you never heard ANYONE say Michigan was better than ND….unlike 2018 when ND beat Michigan; so it took them losing a SECOND GAME for ppl to shut up about Michigan being better than ND-despite ND having led them by two touchdowns. Same thing when ND beat #1 MIA (the defending national champions btw) in October and NOBODY said Miami was better than ND-unlike 2020 when ND beat #1 Clemson (ALSO the defending champion) and immediately ppl said that Clemson “deserved” a rematch. Why? Because regular season losses are entirely meaningless now. Under Holtz, ND did NOT win a lot of big bowl games tbh. One regular season loss USED TO COST YOU THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Now? It’d take two for you to be even considered ineligible for the title-unless you’re ND.
I attended this game with my Notre Dame-graduate father, the tickets and trip were a surprise Christmas gift. It was great to see the Irish win the National Championship after having such a great season. I think West Virginia was a very good team this year while the Irish were a great team. I recall both of us being rather disgusted with the the Irish players' behavior toward the end though, with the taunting, personal fouls and ejections. Sort of put a damper on our enthusiasm.
Yeah. If you watch the Catholics vs. Convicts 30 for 30, the players talk a lot about how Miami had kind of punked them out the year before when running back to the locker rooms and how they weren't going to let that happen again, which is what triggered the pregame brawl there. I think this ND team kinda kept that attitude throughout the season, which definitely would contribute to the late game issues. And yeah, I think West Virginia being in this game was a combination of circumstances. Miami/ND would have been a good game obviously but it had already happened. Florida State/ND probably would have been good, but giving them a crack at Notre Dame and potentially a National Championship after they lost 31-0 to Miami wouldn't have made a lot of sense. Michigan nearly beat both ND and Miami, but were obligated to the Rose Bowl. Given all of that and that West Virginia and ND had similar results against common opponents. West Virginia definitely didn't give ND the best game but the matchup made sense.
@@mfdixon1985- I agree with your assessment of this game and NCAA season. Obviously, Miami would have been the most difficult matchup for ND in this game and I think Miami would have beaten them on a neutral field. FSU had no business being in this game after the 31-0 drubbing they got from Miami in the Orange Bowl. That’s a rivalry game and a loss like that kills your season without a lot of help. Michigan was a two loss team so they were out even though their losses to Miami and ND were very close. They could have easily won both of those games but they didn’t. The only argument you could make against West Virginia being in this game was their strength of schedule. There’s no question their schedule didn’t come anywhere close to being as difficult as Miami, FSU, or Michigan. That being said, they dominated every team they played with the exception of the Rutgers game late in the season and they still won that game by 10 points. It is what it is. ND beat West Virginia convincingly and won their first National Championship in quite some time. Unfortunately, they haven’t won one since. Miami avenged their questionable loss to ND in 88 by beating them convincingly in the Orange Bowl in 89. This paved the way for Miami to win another National Championship despite a loss to FSU in Tallahassee.
I miss QB's like Tony Rice. He was a "game manager" of the option offense, an incredible leader, and someone who did more with less. Not a ND fan, but I really liked this team and Tony Rice.
The sequence after the Willie Edwards interception killed WV. Getting zero points after the sack, then giving up a TD drive to make it 34-13. Ballgame.
This game was over early in the 2nd Q my man. The Fiesta Bowl this season was a de facto national championship game and noone wanted to watch a 52-3 blowout.. Use your noodle a little? 😉👍
Football was huge for the Ohio Valley! You can reflect on your life and youth aligning with sports. Turnbull lived up the street from where I lived on Sunnyside.
Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen were assigned the 1989 Fiesta Bowl because in previous years 1980 to 1988 they were assigned to the Rose Bowl on New Years Day, NBC had lost rights to the Rose Bowl to ABC.
@@juliansmith4352 If only we could go back to the days where 1-2 of the major bowls were each on a different station. It made the coverage so much more unique. ESPN getting ALL of them on cable is a disgrace to sports.
@@thunderbird1921 Let ABC\ESPN simulcast the Allstate Sugar Bowl while CBS broadcast the Sunkist\ Tostitos\ PlayStation Fiesta and Capital One Orange Bowl NBC broadcast the Rose Bowl presented by Capital One
I've been watching football many many years and you're 1000% correct....They played much better fundamentally no doubt about it. The part of football that we all love im guessing. I don't care how fast and big the kids are today, the product was better back then. I feel the same for NFL and its really glaring in the NBA not to get off track. That West Va team would be really good today.....with the training , diet, etc.
As a Canes fan, I would’ve loved to see a Catholics vs. Convicts Part 2. But the Irish richly deserved to be NTs in 1988. Their schedule was brutal, but they beat Michigan, Michigan State, Miami, and ended the year beating a 10-0 USC (and ripped the Heisman from Rodney Peete), and snuffed the 11-0 WVU team in this game. But be honest, wouldn’t that bowl rematch with Miami have been awesome?
1988 was a CRAZY year. Think about it, if you guys don't make that late FG against them and they get one more score against ND, Michigan plays for the national championship and possibly gives Schembecler a title. The Wolverines were so close, yet so far. As for Notre Dame, some argue that squad is one of the most underrated national champions of the last 30-40 years.
yes my thoughts exactly, it clearly would have been better to have a rematch with miami, but they did the fair thing to let west virg play since they were undefeated
I know it's been over 30 years ago but if Major Harris doesn't get his right shoulder dislocated on the 3rd play of the game on a late hit by the non human Zorich, this is a different game. Just saying.
And if you look at the replay Stoney had as much to do with it as the Z-monster did. However that said he(numbnutz Nehlen) puts Greg Jones in to start the second half it could have become a much more competitive n interesting game that the Irish still would prevail in the end!
I was at this game as a WVU fan. It definitely would have been more competitive had Major Harris not been injured, but ND was just better. On a side note, the most overlooked play was when Major missed a wide open Keith Winn in the end zone.
ND was the better team; but as a WVU fan, I would like just once-once-for us to be able to play a big game without a team crippling injury (Major Harris, third play of the game).
Fullbacks are making a comeback! But yeah all those handoffs to the fullback would never happen these days. That only rarely happens on trick plays and short yardage situations and it rarely seems to work
@@allengreene9954I was so shocked that ND got such an excellent cakewalk matchup for the title. It was over before it started. West Virginia didn’t deserve to be in this game but luckily they were only other undefeated team.
9th grade year....i remember watching this game......Major and Tony were the men.....well for college...we all know NFL did not like these QB and would rather have Rick Mirer LOL.
To think i was 32 when we won our last NC. Ive been a fan since 7, seen my first game at JFK stadium against Navy in 1970, 56-7. Mr Freeman, please bring that Trophy back to South Bend, its been much too long
Notre Dame just cannot compete with the SEC powers. Mighty Bama just had the greatest and most dominant dynasty ever in the history of college football.
Catholics Vs Convicts was the real National Championship Game that year. Who ever won that game was going to smoke West Virginia in this game. The Miami Hurricanes would have probably beaten their asses even worse.
Major Harris hurt on the third play from scrimmage made a big difference in the game...WVU may not have won this game but they would have made better showing. Notre Dame as the better team that day.
Is this the last National Championship game that was played during the day? I can’t recall another game of this magnitude that was not played in prime time.
I remember watching this game. A reporter asked Major Harris if he was in awe of Notre Dame tradition and legends like Knute Rockne and The Four Horsemen. Harris replied, "Only if they show up." CLASSIC!!
@@timmcdowell4092 They literally intentionally injured him with a dirty hit after he gave himself up, and you're going to say that? Man you Notre Dame fans are fucking morons and dirty.
Scored NBC scalped tickets lucky. Sat in front of Norm from cheers(George Wendt) couldn't of been a better guy and loved his school. Didn't think I would see 🤔anything more special than Catholics vs Convicts at ND that year, but being on the field again after winning was even better than sticking it to Jimmy Johnson! Rip Rodney Culver! @MarkGreen I wanted that chin strap man🤘 Sis
DA Mag I’d give you that but Nebraska’s schedule in no way shape or form matched up against Notre Dame’s who damn near played top 10 teams week in and out. Tony Rice is the GOAT running the option bro
@matthew tant Smart has won several regular season games against top 10 ranked SEC opponents. He's also won several NYE6 Bowl games too. Same thing with stoops. BK's only win against a top 5 opponent (Oklahoma) comes from the 2012 vacated season. As a die-hard Irish fan, it's been really frustrating to watch them lose all the big games every year.
@@gocubsgo721 Saban. Now Smart. Dabo. Are great recruiters. Acedemic standards hurt irish. Freeman can recruit but now with Transfer portal and Nil the irish just cant seem to get 5 star guys. Add early Nfl guys . Irish have been weak on def for 2 years. Then lose players on off. When def is good. Freemans defense will be ok in 2 years. Can off skill poaitions deliver.
22:55: Buzz: “Woody what are you doing?? Woody: Hold still Buzz!!!! (Lights Rocket) 😆 😆😆😆 Buzz: You did it!!!! Next stop Andy👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿 Woody: Wait a minute, I just lit a Rocket...... Rockets explode!!!!”
Lou Holltz was the last ND coach to win the national. I am a ND fan. Brian Kelly is the best coach ND had since Lou. I really don't think ND will win another national championship. But Brian Kelly will be able to coach ND into a a consistent new year's 6 bowl game.
Coach Kelly's biggest problem is his failure to make adjustments during games. His play calling is too predictable, which is a huge reason why the Irish can't win the big games nowadays. As an Irish fan, it's really frustrating to watch this go on for 10 straight years. I really hope we can beat Clemson this year and win a NYE's 6 Bowl game but the odds are against us as usual.
@@gocubsgo721 Agree on the coaching side, but really guys it's about 5 stars in skill positions. Back in the day, ND could recruit them. Not any more...in the playoffs the 5 stars make the difference every time.
ND won but it wasn't nearly as overmatched as you say. WVU's QB was injured and they still only lost by two scores. Also, the ball definitely bounced ND's way. Had they lost their fumbles it could have been a different outcome. WVU earned the right to be there. Not the convicts.
I see hip pads and thigh pads. I see grass and dirt. I see hard nose football. U dont see this anymore Nowadays it's a bunch of premadonnas wearing skin tight pants playing on fake synthetic grass
ND beat Michigan, Michigan State, Miami, Penn State, Stanford and USC that year. WVU schedule was pedestrian compared to ND's that year. QB sophomore Major Harris was injured in the Fiesta Bowl and ND went on to take it all. I am HERE to answer any and all of the "What if's?" Anybody?
yeah a rematch with number 2 miami would have been a better national championship game, i know west virgina was undefeated, but their schedule was loaded with cupcakes, plus a rematch would have been a one vs two in the polls, the miami loss to notre dame was early in the season and it was only a one point win by notre dame, plus in that first game miami had a touchdown that was called a fumble, that would have giving a win to miami, they definally messed that bowl season up
Kinda brought a tear to my eye to see Rodney Culver carrying the ball. He was gone way too soon. Died thanks to ValuJet negligence in a plane crash in 1997.
Yeah for real. It was 96 though
I do understand. We played at the same HS in Detroit.
May 11, 1996
It's sad Rodney Culver died in 1996 and he was a great player and that's terrible Valujet had negligence
Green, Waters, Brooks, Stonebreaker, Bolcar, Stams, Pritchett, Alm, G. Williams, Smagala, Zorich, Streeter, Lyght, Terrell, Heck, Rice, Banks, Culver, Grunhard, Eilers, D Brown, and of course...
Raghib Ismail!!
That team was absolutely LOADED on both sides of the ball, and they had excellent Special Teams as well!!
Hell of a Team!
I can vividly remember watching this game with my dad and grandfather’s in our family room on New Year’s Day. I was only 7 at the time but I’ve been enamored with notre dame football ever since. IMO 88-93 was last great era of notre dame football. Go Irish ☘️
I'm not a Notre Dame fan by any stretch, but I loved Lou Holtz's Notre Dame teams. Well-coached, disciplined and loved their style of play. I miss the option offense and loved how Notre Dame ran it out of multiple formations. I have the book Holtz wrote about this season, and it is amazing!
Tim Marsh I saw this Irish team play. I was at Stanford Game, 2 weeks before Miami game. I had the infamous Catholics vs Convicts shirt too. Holtz had loads of talent on both sides of the ball, but it had a lot to do w Him on why his Irish teams were so good. He is such a good motivator and big game coach. He always had his teams ready to play. I’m a life long ND fan and ND hasn’t been the same since he left.
I’m Spartacus I was in the 5th grade this season...I remember watching Catholics vs Convicts live. Tony Rice was a winner, bottom line. And, I agree they were talented. But Holtz made this team gel. Just wish football was like this again...
Tim Marsh i was 12, so I’m about your age. I remember standing outside the old Notre Dame bookstore and a guy walked up w a box of shirts and dropped them in front of us. They were the Catholics vs convicts shirts. I think they were $10, but I’m not for sure. What’s funny is they were all the same size, XL, so the shirt looked like a night gown on me. It was a very quick transaction. The dude got his money handed my dad the shirt and he was gone. There was no trying anything on. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but after watching the 30 for 30 on it, I see why he was so quick in getting rid of the shirts. They got in a lot of trouble over that. Those were great times to be a ND fan. Holtz put life back into an ND program that Gerry Faust ran into the ground
Tim Marsh One thing I loved about that offense was how Holtz could use the rocket in multiple formations. He’d put him in the backfield, then he’d be in the slot, then he’d be at WR. It gave D coordinators fits because they always had to know where he was at all times. Kinda the same w Ricky Waters. I miss the use of the FB too. Nobody uses them anymore, they just slide a TE over on power run plays.
@@swedejohanson7739 I love that 30 for 30. I thought it was going to be more about the game than the story behind the shirts, but I still loved hearing that story!
Tony Rice was absolutely unreal. Superb athlete, super strong arm.
The '88 Notre Dame football team was one of the best teams ever, I'll always remember this National Championship game as well as the epic battle against Miami in the regular season.
One of the best college football teams ever.
They beat #1 Miami, #2 USC (at the Coliseum), #3 West Virginia, and #4 Michigan. Also beat very tough opponents in Pittsburgh and Michigan State.
Miami blundered the game away against ND and would have been NC had they not done so. Didn't learn their lesson in the PSU blunder the year before.
I'm not a Notre Dame fan, but I have the book Lou Holtz wrote about that season, and I still love to go and read from it. It was truly one of the best seasons for a team in college football!
@@robjohnson8861 They counted a Miami TD that should not have counted if you watch the 30 on 30 special about the ND-Miami game from that season.
@@Old-Dog00 can't find 1 Neb video where mostly Neb fans counter refs calls.
Are you gonna make me watch whole game to find it. If early and TD is not called it changes coaches strategy after.
@@Old-Dog00 What the hell am I talking about? Tired and had been on Neb videos.
These Irish teams were so disciplined and strong in the trenches.
back then i was in the 9th grade playing backyard football all the fellas trying to play like tony rice and Major harris ..good ole days
Maybe were you lived.
Me too im from Fayetteville wva loved major harris i wish he went pro go mountaineers
Same age range n doin the same thing back then LOL
First year I really followed college football. I was 10. Those were good times. It's not the same anymore.
I was in the 8th grade! And at that game!
I actually remember watching this game. I had just gotten out of the military.
Thank You for your service!
WV was very, very good that year. Major Harris was a FANTASTIC athlete.
Unfortunately he got hurt early in the game. I believe he tore his shoulder.
@@gregariousguru WVU also lost two OL, NG, RB, and safety. Yet, only lost by 13.
@@brendanwelsh6898 And healthier.
@@brendanwelsh6898 - Way better in taking cheap shots and late hits to intentionally injure players… the Lou Holtz way.
@@johnmcpherson1161 You're really salty about a Big East team that looked way better than they actually were because they beat up on the Marylands, Rutgers and Syracuses of the cfb world all that season.. aren't you?
Be real man, WVU had a great season but never had ANY chance of beating this historically great Irish team with 20+ NFL starters playing in it's 2-deep in this game back in 88'. Whike WVU was blowing out regional teams that weren't very good football teams, this Notre Dame team had run a gauntlet of top 5 teams(Michigan, Miami, USC, etc.) and was the only traditional national power left standing at the end of that season. Major Harris hurt his shoulder late in the 2nd by the way.. The Irish had already bullied it's way to a 20 point lead by then and the game was effectively over.
Get over it, you bunch of babies.
I was at this National Championship victory with a bunch of my ND-SMC alum friends. We went down without tickets, went to the bars the night before and I immediately went into ticket scouting mode. After a couple of hours I was getting worried, because I was trying to buy 6 tickets. Finally I come across a guy who had 4 tix together and I got them at a decent price. We then set out looking for 2 as close as possible and either got them that night, or early on game day. What I didn't realize until Game Day was how good our 4 seats were. 40 yard line, lower deck, awesome view. Couldn't believe we stumbled upon them. We somehow worked out the 4/2 split to everyone's satisfaction and proceeded to Shake Down the Thunder!! What an awesome year. I had been at the Michigan game season opener won on a last second FG, the awesome Catholics over Convicts game 31-30 over the U, still the best football game I've ever been to, and this Coronation of Irish supremacy. We ended up beating the final #2 (Miami), #4 (Michigan), #5 (West Virginia) and #7 (USC) in the nation. At the time we played them, Miami was #1, USC was 10-0 and #2, West Virginia was 11-0 and #3, and Michigan was #9. What a year.
Don Nehlen loved that counter & handing the ball off deep in the backfield. Love Nehlen one of the great coaches those counters hurt WVU in a lot of big games. Won a lot of games too.
Nd is my favorite team I been watching them since I was young now I'm 43 and still waiting for nd to win it again I hope they deserve it
I’m 47 and still waiting 😂🇺🇸🇮🇪☘️
bowl games just aren't the same
Your rite. College football aint the same, the game is to soft now, offence.s have the advantige, defence has to think how they need to tackel, or they,ll get thown out of the game
That year was a bad year for college football, the only team good anough to play notre dame was a weak west virgina team, that natty was gift wraped and handed to ND on a platter
Randy Ware you must be butt hurt that Notre Dame won the title honestly the ND vs Miami game was the title game go Irish ☘️
@@Manny______ facts..
@@randyware9645 If I'm not mistaken, Notre Dame beat the Pac-10 Champion, the Big-10 champion, Penn State and Miami in the 1988 regular season. That's not too shabby.
I watched that game on TV when it happened. Great to see Lou Holtz win a National Championship.
This was the year before they beat CU in the orange bowl isn't it?
@@MrNihilist74 yes
Drumgoole, Stonebreaker, and Flash Gordon. This was the Name Bowl.
Major Harris, Todd Leight, Rocket Ismail... I think you're right. This should be remembered as the name bowl.
Don’t forget Stan Smagala!! Picked off Rodney Peete for 65 yds in the Colosseum 🍀
Little known fact....Irish RB #40 Tony Brooks is the father of Viking’s Pro Bowl LB Anthony Barr. Barr actually started playing RB at UCLA before moving to LB.
Poor f’n Harris, seems like he was under pressure nearly every time he dropped back.
Ouch didn’t get his last name. Talk about baby mama Drama Lol
Tony Rice is the reason i started rooting for ND. 30+ yrs later its still GO IRISH!
Met him socially more than once over the years in South Bend. Rest assured, he's the real deal all smiles and gracious as they come!
Third play of the game and WVU was done. The great "what if" moment for many Mountaineer fans.
Not sure. Notre Dame was insanely talented in 1988. Some say they're one of the most underrated champions in recent decades. I think the game would have definitely been closer though.
They would have lost regardless. They couldn't stop the ND offense
The TRUE National Championship game was ND vs Miami
Michigan now has 1004 wins.
Thank you for all of your uploads SteelBuck 6 !
Agreed I love watch old school games! 90’s wise brings back nostalgia! I was born in 85. Late 80’s games are pretty much brand new to me since I would’ve been too young during original broadcast lol.
When you watch these older games it shows just how far TV technology has come. They’ve made it so easy nowadays to watch a game. Back then - no scoreboard, time remaining, timeouts, down and distance graphics, and line of scrimmage or first down field markings. As a kid, I remember having to always look at the sideline markers to figure out how many yards were needed for a first down, etc.
Also, look at shoulder pads back then. They were massive. You also didn't see too many skill players back then running around without some combination of knee, hip, thigh, or tailbone pads like today. Gee, do you think that could be one reason why so many skill position players are getting hurt?? My god, WRs and RBs today are basically running around playing the game in knee high spandex shorts and peewee shoulder pads. They’re sacrificing safety for speed.
A lot of other stuff stands out too. How many players leave their feet on the line of scrimmage, I mean most of those run plays just end in a massive pile of bodies. Absolutely brutal hits as well, guys clearly just using their pads and helmets as weapons of destruction. It's fun to enjoy the old film, but I definitely think football has gotten a little more graceful and a lot less brutal. I shudder to think how many concussions occurred in this game
@@PlaySA Well stated. It was much more vicious back then.
More like they're sacrificing safety for speed. The reason all the pads (if any) are smaller/lighter for today's player is to gain waaay more speed and open the game up more so although you get more speed, the drawback is since the pads are smaller/lighter you don't have as much protection and the hard collisions when they actually do happen are more extreme/violent because they're coming a loooot faster with less cushion to absorb the impact.
Don't get it twisted even back then you had some blasts cause it was way more physical back then with the way the rules were and you had your K.O's/injuries then too ... buuut ... with today's rules and pads you'll notice when someone finally actually connects real good it's almost a guaranteed concussion or devastating injury whereas back then even with a good pop most players could somewhat walk away from it cause they had more padding.
That's why the league had to make all these rule changes to reduce physicality because they knew they had a problem on their hands with today's game, the pads, and the speed in which it's played.
@@hutchoo21 Yep, sacrificing safety for speed is what I meant to say. The crazy thing is I wonder how many guys back then played with concussions regularly. It had to have happened all the time. I know pads were bigger back then, but the helmets were for shit and some guys weren't even properly fitted. Concussions simply weren't treated seriously. I remember back in the 70s and 80s you'd occasionally see a guy miss a game due to a concussion, but it was because the week before the guy took some massive hit and his head rolled off to the sideline. In other words, you knew it was a kill shot. I also remember a game in the 70s where the Rams' Jack Youngblood picked up a Vikings QB, threw him over his shoulder, and then drove the QB's head into the turf. No surprise he was knocked unconscious, but he actually suffered a seizure on the field. He was stretchered off and ended up in the hospital. As brutal as the NFL was back then, I think they did actually throw a flag on the play.
@@PlaySA 100%...As a teenager I remember being taught to actually lead with the crown of your helmet. If you buried your helmet into a guy's head or chest you were a tough player doing it correctly.
I attended this game as a freshman with some co-residents of Sorin Hall! Awesome memories. ‘92
I was at the game at the Coliseum #1 vs. #2
Michael Mars
I was Delivering for Domino’s Pizza at the Time of the Game. I remembered at one point when it was 27-10, Irish, against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Cavalcade of Fred Couples
Barry Alvarez of Wisconsin(And later West Virginia) was An Assitant to Lou Holtz in 1988?
I’ve never been to Julie’s Trojan Barrel. What’s it like over there?
How the Trojans lost the Rose Bowl later to Michigan State is still beyond me.
Jiltedin2007 They lost to Michigan not Michigan State but yet that was a weird game. Although they did get them back the next year👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
My dad took me to this game back when I was a freshman in high school. My dad liked Notre Dame. I hated them so I hoped and believed West Virginia could steal the National Championship. As witnessed that did not go well 😂. We had to fly back home that night because I had school the next day and had to face the heat from my friends who were Irish fans.
You were a fortunate kid. I love Notre Dame I’m born and raised in Texas but my Dad and my family were living in poverty at the time so he couldn’t even afford a plane ticket to another state, I’d die to see any Notre Dame play in a national championship. You’re dad sounds like a Great Pops for trying to get your football spirit up I’d thank him for his effort any chance I got. God bless you Kaminator
@@JETX25 STFU NOTRE DAME RETARD...ND SUCKS BTW!!!
@@mrtnt3462 u first
Ricky Watters and the Rocket !!
Hope I live long enough to watch Notre Dame to win another Championship
next 3 years, it'll happen man.
@@CrAzY_Bam I’ve been a loyal ND fan since 1990 (my brother actually went to school there starting in 1990, so I became a fan by association) I’ve stuck with them through the good and bad times and it’s been about 95% bad since I’ve been a fan.
I’ll give Freeman a pass on this latest season, but let’s see if he can actually get next years recruiting class to sign. But I’m to the point where if they don’t actually become a serious contender after the 2025 season I think I might be done with them. That would be 35 years as a disappointed fan. That would be a nice round number to end on.
@@Whoopdido7774 years after this game, Notre Dame won the championship but it was stolen from them
@@michaelconnor5378 I don’t know. Even as a Notre Dame fan I think I have to say that Florida St. deserved the title that year. They beat 6 ranked teams to ND’s 3 and their one loss was to the 2nd ranked team (ND) on the road. ND’s one loss was at home. Florida St. also played one more game. I don’t know. It is what it is. It was a shame that they lost to Boston College. Had they won I guess I don’t know who they would have played in the bowl game. Probably Nebraska and they were tough that year.
I was at the Purdue Vs ND game. Watch up close as Barry Alvarez challenge his defense He asked who would be his hero that day. I had pictures of Tony Rice and Rocket up close. Had no idea they would be National Champions. Great memories
Lou Holtz was a really great coach that could win the big games. Sadly enough to say as Irish fan, we haven't seen that since he left.
@Killa Mike Pretty much
Brian Kelly is a good coach. But you’re right
No doubt about it....Those ND teams loved going on the road and winning big games against big time opponents. Me and my buddies actually went to the 1990 Tennessee game which was (looking back) and unbelievable game...If you remember, Tennessee then came back up to ND and were down huge but made one of the better comebacks ever....Although it sucked I was kinda happy for the TN fans who were awesome people and treated me great in 90 and only said "what a great game" when ND beat them in 90 so in 91 I said the same....Its the best back to back game, against common opponent, or anyone for that matter that I ever saw, live or otherwise (fortunately saw both live). Its why I'd really love to see TN become an sec power again...so tired of Bama and those TN teams were absolutely loaded. Really don't know why they've sucked for so long.?.? Sorry to get side tracked but u got me going down memory lane.
Holtz was a very unappreciated HC at ND. The fans ran him out of town and I’m still upset about it. He was a great recruiter and game day coach. They played a brutal schedule year after year and we were always in the hunt for a National Championship. Unfortunately, he only won one in his tenure however he could’ve easily won more if it weren’t for a little bad luck.
Wow that’s incredibly wrong.
Kelly led ND to wins in the regular season quite often. The difference is that REGULAR SEASON LOSSES NO LONGER MEAN ANYTHING.
1988
ND beat Michigan in September and you never heard ANYONE say Michigan was better than ND….unlike 2018 when ND beat Michigan; so it took them losing a SECOND GAME for ppl to shut up about Michigan being better than ND-despite ND having led them by two touchdowns.
Same thing when ND beat #1 MIA (the defending national champions btw) in October and NOBODY said Miami was better than ND-unlike 2020 when ND beat #1 Clemson (ALSO the defending champion) and immediately ppl said that Clemson “deserved” a rematch. Why? Because regular season losses are entirely meaningless now.
Under Holtz, ND did NOT win a lot of big bowl games tbh.
One regular season loss USED TO COST YOU THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Now? It’d take two for you to be even considered ineligible for the title-unless you’re ND.
I remember when NBC didn't broadcast any college regular season games, only bowl games!
I remember watching this and thinking Major Harris would be an NFL star. I was only 12 so obviously I knew nothing. 😂
I attended this game with my Notre Dame-graduate father, the tickets and trip were a surprise Christmas gift. It was great to see the Irish win the National Championship after having such a great season. I think West Virginia was a very good team this year while the Irish were a great team. I recall both of us being rather disgusted with the the Irish players' behavior toward the end though, with the taunting, personal fouls and ejections. Sort of put a damper on our enthusiasm.
Yeah. If you watch the Catholics vs. Convicts 30 for 30, the players talk a lot about how Miami had kind of punked them out the year before when running back to the locker rooms and how they weren't going to let that happen again, which is what triggered the pregame brawl there. I think this ND team kinda kept that attitude throughout the season, which definitely would contribute to the late game issues.
And yeah, I think West Virginia being in this game was a combination of circumstances. Miami/ND would have been a good game obviously but it had already happened. Florida State/ND probably would have been good, but giving them a crack at Notre Dame and potentially a National Championship after they lost 31-0 to Miami wouldn't have made a lot of sense. Michigan nearly beat both ND and Miami, but were obligated to the Rose Bowl. Given all of that and that West Virginia and ND had similar results against common opponents. West Virginia definitely didn't give ND the best game but the matchup made sense.
@@mfdixon1985- I agree with your assessment of this game and NCAA season. Obviously, Miami would have been the most difficult matchup for ND in this game and I think Miami would have beaten them on a neutral field. FSU had no business being in this game after the 31-0 drubbing they got from Miami in the Orange Bowl. That’s a rivalry game and a loss like that kills your season without a lot of help. Michigan was a two loss team so they were out even though their losses to Miami and ND were very close. They could have easily won both of those games but they didn’t. The only argument you could make against West Virginia being in this game was their strength of schedule. There’s no question their schedule didn’t come anywhere close to being as difficult as Miami, FSU, or Michigan. That being said, they dominated every team they played with the exception of the Rutgers game late in the season and they still won that game by 10 points.
It is what it is. ND beat West Virginia convincingly and won their first National Championship in quite some time. Unfortunately, they haven’t won one since. Miami avenged their questionable loss to ND in 88 by beating them convincingly in the Orange Bowl in 89. This paved the way for Miami to win another National Championship despite a loss to FSU in Tallahassee.
Major Harris was tough👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
Great player too. We were big Major fans.
@@usmc-veteran73-77 Best college QB I saw in 60 years.
@@dustyrustymusty3577 yes he was. He really helped putting WVU on the football map.
Now why he didn't make the league and my brother lshimeal was the best athletic on the field brother Musa daroo shabazz's
@@musaddaroo2525 He left a year too soon. Family got his ear. Had he matured a bit more...who knows.
I miss real football...
Just because you can't win a National Championship in modern day football doesn't make current football fake
@@joshuasimmons8160 You know nothing... probably a millennial, FFS.
Rodney Culver RIP
Damn, I did not know he died young...
@@kgatch113a He and his wife died in the ValuJet plane crash into the Everglades in 1996.
RIP Jeff Alm
Tony Rice made me a ND fan as a kid
I miss QB's like Tony Rice. He was a "game manager" of the option offense, an incredible leader, and someone who did more with less. Not a ND fan, but I really liked this team and Tony Rice.
Two classic teams on NCAA football franchise back in the day.
The sequence after the Willie Edwards interception killed WV. Getting zero points after the sack, then giving up a TD drive to make it 34-13. Ballgame.
This game was over early in the 2nd Q my man. The Fiesta Bowl this season was a de facto national championship game and noone wanted to watch a 52-3 blowout.. Use your noodle a little? 😉👍
An amazing team, and culture of collegiate football. ND
As a lifelong WVU fan I think the game would have been different if it had been played on turf. WVU didn’t play many games on natural grass.
Football was huge for the Ohio Valley! You can reflect on your life and youth aligning with sports.
Turnbull lived up the street from where I lived on Sunnyside.
Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen were assigned the 1989 Fiesta Bowl because in previous years 1980 to 1988 they were assigned to the Rose Bowl on New Years Day, NBC had lost rights to the Rose Bowl to ABC.
And now ESPN puts all the major bowls including the Rose Bowl on cable only. Disgustingly greedy move.
@@thunderbird1921 The capital One\ Fed Ex Orange Bowl in Miami Florida was also shown on NBC back in the day
@@juliansmith4352 If only we could go back to the days where 1-2 of the major bowls were each on a different station. It made the coverage so much more unique. ESPN getting ALL of them on cable is a disgrace to sports.
@@thunderbird1921 Let ABC\ESPN simulcast the Allstate Sugar Bowl while CBS broadcast the Sunkist\ Tostitos\ PlayStation Fiesta and Capital One Orange Bowl NBC broadcast the Rose Bowl presented by Capital One
@@juliansmith4352 Just like the NFC should be given back to CBS and the AFC to NBC.
Just watching this gave me CTE
Is it just me or do these guys just play much better football then they do now seriously
I've been watching football many many years and you're 1000% correct....They played much better fundamentally no doubt about it. The part of football that we all love im guessing. I don't care how fast and big the kids are today, the product was better back then. I feel the same for NFL and its really glaring in the NBA not to get off track. That West Va team would be really good today.....with the training , diet, etc.
@@charliebabbitt3314 it could be the amount of precaution these days when it comes to head injuries. Trying to prevent lasting brain injuries etc.
Notre Dame was so great that year no one could touch them
My late pops and my oldest bro went to this.i watched on t.v. met lou last year and got his autograph class act.go irish
As a Canes fan, I would’ve loved to see a Catholics vs. Convicts Part 2. But the Irish richly deserved to be NTs in 1988. Their schedule was brutal, but they beat Michigan, Michigan State, Miami, and ended the year beating a 10-0 USC (and ripped the Heisman from Rodney Peete), and snuffed the 11-0 WVU team in this game. But be honest, wouldn’t that bowl rematch with Miami have been awesome?
1988 was a CRAZY year. Think about it, if you guys don't make that late FG against them and they get one more score against ND, Michigan plays for the national championship and possibly gives Schembecler a title. The Wolverines were so close, yet so far. As for Notre Dame, some argue that squad is one of the most underrated national champions of the last 30-40 years.
yes my thoughts exactly, it clearly would have been better to have a rematch with miami, but they did the fair thing to let west virg play since they were undefeated
I agree! I’m a diehard ND fan but the canes would’ve been a great rematch!
Oh, how I miss the ND - Miami rivalry. Look though, both schools are recruiting at a high level. Maybe we’ll see part 2..
UM would have beaten them a bad fumble call on Cleveland Gary and 6 turnovers still lost by a failed 2pt conversion instead of the tie
this brings back some disappointing memories
What a great game that was.
That offensive line was smashing that D Line
Now this is football 💯
They play flag football in pads now.
Lou Holtz one of my all time favorite coaches
Tom Osborne
Woody
In that order
I know it's been over 30 years ago but if Major Harris doesn't get his right shoulder dislocated on the 3rd play of the game on a late hit by the non human Zorich, this is a different game. Just saying.
Absolutely.
And if you look at the replay Stoney had as much to do with it as the Z-monster did. However that said he(numbnutz Nehlen) puts Greg Jones in to start the second half it could have become a much more competitive n interesting game that the Irish still would prevail in the end!
True
I was at this game as a WVU fan. It definitely would have been more competitive had Major Harris not been injured, but ND was just better.
On a side note, the most overlooked play was when Major missed a wide open Keith Winn in the end zone.
ND o line and d line controlled the line of scrimmage ALL game long. Games are won in the trenches and wvu was just outmatched
WVU's left tackle was my line coach in high school. RIP coach Phillips.
Wow did not know he passed.
The Sunkist Fiesta Bowl! Does anyone else like Strawberry Sunkist?
Good football back then.
Love all your videos…I get to watch when Nebraska was good 😂
I was at this game and will never forget it! Go Irish!!
Rip to Rodney culver one of my favorite nd players sad he died in the plane crash
ND was the better team; but as a WVU fan, I would like just once-once-for us to be able to play a big game without a team crippling injury (Major Harris, third play of the game).
I didn't remember how dominant the Irish were in this game.
Sweet.
Best ND team of my lifetime. I was born in 1973.
Fullback - how quaint
Fullbacks are making a comeback! But yeah all those handoffs to the fullback would never happen these days. That only rarely happens on trick plays and short yardage situations and it rarely seems to work
IKR ? Defense - also quaint.
I was -8 years old when this happened
I loathe ND but ND was $ in bank this day. ND made a sizable deposit this game. MUST RESPECT ND.
Nah, major Harris was injured
@@tracetucker8212 I like Major but no way he could beat Notre Dame by himself.
@@allengreene9954 when major got injured he brought the whole team morale down, that would’ve atleast made a difference
@@allengreene9954I was so shocked that ND got such an excellent cakewalk matchup for the title. It was over before it started. West Virginia didn’t deserve to be in this game but luckily they were only other undefeated team.
This game should have been a Notre Dame vs Miami rematch. West Virginia had no business playing this game
I mean, they took care of business during the regular season so why not?
@@clearlycaribbeanreb2895because he thinks blue bloods only exist 🤣
Hey Major Harris is fun to watch to good old days Man Captain Lou out there with his Squad
9th grade year....i remember watching this game......Major and Tony were the men.....well for college...we all know NFL did not like these QB and would rather have Rick Mirer LOL.
To think i was 32 when we won our last NC. Ive been a fan since 7, seen my first game at JFK stadium against Navy in 1970, 56-7. Mr Freeman, please bring that Trophy back to South Bend, its been much too long
Notre Dame just cannot compete with the SEC powers. Mighty Bama just had the greatest and most dominant dynasty ever in the history of college football.
I wasn't born yet
Catholics Vs Convicts was the real National Championship Game that year. Who ever won that game was going to smoke West Virginia in this game. The Miami Hurricanes would have probably beaten their asses even worse.
WVU beat Miami in 88 the big East used to be a “P5” Confrence
@@tomburgess3372beat them in 93, not 88
Back when bowl games meant something
Major Harris hurt on the third play from scrimmage made a big difference in the game...WVU may not have won this game but they would have made better showing. Notre Dame as the better team that day.
Is this the last National Championship game that was played during the day? I can’t recall another game of this magnitude that was not played in prime time.
I was there
I remember watching this game. A reporter asked Major Harris if he was in awe of Notre Dame tradition and legends like Knute Rockne and The Four Horsemen. Harris replied, "Only if they show up." CLASSIC!!
The ND defense rode him like a dime store pony.
@Gator McClusky Naw. Those guys were already dead and buried. I doubt very seriously if they showed up for that game.
@@timmcdowell4092 They literally intentionally injured him with a dirty hit after he gave himself up, and you're going to say that? Man you Notre Dame fans are fucking morons and dirty.
@@JacksonPM23 😂
For the record Miami beat Nebraska in the Orange Bowl 23-3
So Notre Dame gave SOUTHERN CAL, WEST VIRGINIA and MIAMI their only loss' of the season...
Also beat Michigan, whose only other loss was by 1 against Miami. Beat both Rose bowl participants in both '88 and '89.
Its fun watching this film, because nowadays there would be so many flags thrown.
Armyguy00 its fun watching this film, because most of these players have severe brain damage because of the lack of penalties
Point them out to me! Where do you see a penalty that wasn’t called then and would be called now in this game?
Notre dame center and guards absolutely bullied the WV nose tackle all game. Complete non factor
WVU lost starting NG Jim Gray near the end of the 1st quarter. Prior to that ND could not move the ball up the middle.
Scored NBC scalped tickets lucky. Sat in front of Norm from cheers(George Wendt) couldn't of been a better guy and loved his school. Didn't think I would see 🤔anything more special than Catholics vs Convicts at ND that year, but being on the field again after winning was even better than sticking it to Jimmy Johnson! Rip Rodney Culver! @MarkGreen I wanted that chin strap man🤘
Sis
The guy at 1:44 he was waiting for that moment.
Tony Rice best option QB ever!!
DJ DreWills ehhh Tommy Frazier had 34 TDs in his final season at Nebraska. Rice had 36 total in his 3 years at ND. Rice was good but no Tommy Frazier.
DA Mag I’d give you that but Nebraska’s schedule in no way shape or form matched up against Notre Dame’s who damn near played top 10 teams week in and out. Tony Rice is the GOAT running the option bro
Jammal Holloway Oklahoma....go back and watch him ....
Anno Domini nope
Frazier....the best.
When Holtz was coach I knew to never give up hope, that ND would always have a fighting chance to win. Not so much these days.
@matthew tant I wouldn't take Kelly over Dabo, Saban, Urban Meyer, Ed Orgeron, Bob Stoops, or Kirby Smart. Those coaches have actually won something.
@matthew tant Smart has won several regular season games against top 10 ranked SEC opponents. He's also won several NYE6 Bowl games too. Same thing with stoops. BK's only win against a top 5 opponent (Oklahoma) comes from the 2012 vacated season. As a die-hard Irish fan, it's been really frustrating to watch them lose all the big games every year.
@matthew tant I really hope the Irish can pull off that win at home. Trevor Lawrence is still a hell of a QB.
@@gocubsgo721 You got your wish👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
@@gocubsgo721 Saban. Now Smart. Dabo. Are great recruiters. Acedemic standards hurt irish. Freeman can recruit but now with Transfer portal and Nil the irish just cant seem to get 5 star guys. Add early Nfl guys . Irish have been weak on def for 2 years. Then lose players on off. When def is good. Freemans defense will be ok in 2 years. Can off skill poaitions deliver.
22:55: Buzz: “Woody what are you doing?? Woody: Hold still Buzz!!!! (Lights Rocket) 😆 😆😆😆 Buzz: You did it!!!! Next stop Andy👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿 Woody: Wait a minute, I just lit a Rocket...... Rockets explode!!!!”
#25 for West Virginia is my defense coach and neighbor
Lou Holltz was the last ND coach to win the national. I am a ND fan. Brian Kelly is the best coach ND had since Lou. I really don't think ND will win another national championship. But Brian Kelly will be able to coach ND into a a consistent new year's 6 bowl game.
Coach Kelly's biggest problem is his failure to make adjustments during games. His play calling is too predictable, which is a huge reason why the Irish can't win the big games nowadays. As an Irish fan, it's really frustrating to watch this go on for 10 straight years. I really hope we can beat Clemson this year and win a NYE's 6 Bowl game but the odds are against us as usual.
@@gocubsgo721 Agree on the coaching side, but really guys it's about 5 stars in skill positions. Back in the day, ND could recruit them. Not any more...in the playoffs the 5 stars make the difference every time.
Irish rolled their A$$es! National Champs!
WV was overmatched. This should have been another ND MIA game
ND won but it wasn't nearly as overmatched as you say. WVU's QB was injured and they still only lost by two scores. Also, the ball definitely bounced ND's way. Had they lost their fumbles it could have been a different outcome. WVU earned the right to be there. Not the convicts.
Tony Rice heisman
I see hip pads and thigh pads. I see grass and dirt. I see hard nose football. U dont see this anymore
Nowadays it's a bunch of premadonnas wearing skin tight pants playing on fake synthetic grass
*Primadonnas.
Not one player in this video could play today.
Cleveland Gary didn't FUMBLE
Nehlen basically handed the game to ND when he insisted on playing Major Harris after he broke his collar bone on the third play of the game.
Never understood why coaches like Holtz and McCartney at Colorado won titles running the option only to switch to pro-style offenses
times were a changin....so were QBs
@@bartdogggy That's true but Nebraska continued to run the option for three national championships in the 90s
ND beat Michigan, Michigan State, Miami, Penn State, Stanford and USC that year. WVU schedule was pedestrian compared to ND's that year. QB sophomore Major Harris was injured in the Fiesta Bowl and ND went on to take it all. I am HERE to answer any and all of the "What if's?" Anybody?
That Dline was so savage...
Reggie Ho's technique was impeccable- He should of tried his luck in the NFL instead of going to med school. What a story!
@Kelvin Carter Kickers rarely get hurt.
I remember Harris grew up in the Pittsburgh area
Notre Dame played some dirty football.
Stopped watching the game when Major Harris got injured cause he was the heart of the team that year !!!
yeah a rematch with number 2 miami would have been a better national championship game, i know west virgina was undefeated, but their schedule was loaded with cupcakes, plus a rematch would have been a one vs two in the polls, the miami loss to notre dame was early in the season and it was only a one point win by notre dame, plus in that first game miami had a touchdown that was called a fumble, that would have giving a win to miami, they definally messed that bowl season up
Bullshit.